An Old Woman's Reflections

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An Old Woman's Reflections is the autobiography of Peig Sayers' life, as recounted to her son at old age. The story is of monumental simplicity, moving in its description of everyday events such as collecting turf for roots and catching seals as well as life-changing events such as wakes, drowning at sea.

It was a compulsory item on the Irish Leaving Certificate examination up until 1998 as a part of an attempt to revive the dying native language of Ireland. It has been accused of scarring a whole generation of young Irish people and entrenching them in a philosophy of victimhood and isolation.