Factory Girls

By: Michelle Gallen

Narrated by: Amy Molloy

A funny, fierce, and unforgettable story about a young woman working a summer job in a shirt factory in Northern Ireland, while tensions rise both inside and outside the factory walls.

It’s the summer of 1994, and all Maeve Murray wants are good final exam results so she can earn her ticket out of the wee Northern Irish town she has grown up in during the Troubles—away from her crowded home, the silence and sadness surrounding her sister’s death, and most of all, away from the simmering violence of her divided community. And as a first step, Maeve’s taken a summer job in a local shirt factory working alongside Protestants with her best friends, kind, innocent Caroline Jackson and privileged and clever Aoife O’Neill. But getting the right exam results is only part of Maeve’s problem—she’s got to survive a tit-for-tat paramilitary campaign, iron 100 shirts an hour all day every day, and deal with the attentions of Andy Strawbridge, her slick and untrustworthy English boss. What seems to be a great opportunity to earn money before starting university turns out to be a crucible in which Maeve is tested in ways she may not be equipped to handle. Seeking justice for herself and her fellow workers may just be Maeve’s one-way ticket out of town.

Bitingly hilarious, perceptive, and steeped in the vernacular of its time and place, Factory Girls is perfect for fans of voice-driven stories with bite, humor, and realism, such as the Netflix series Derry Girls and novels by Douglas Stuart, Roddy Doyle, and Anna Burns.

©2022 Michelle Gallen (P)2022 Algonquin Books

Critic reviews

"Factory Girls is full of the stuff that we're starting to expect of Michelle Gallen; wild, hilariously angry characters, and language that is vital, bang-on, and seriously funny."—Roddy Doyle, Booker Prize-winning author of Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha and Love

"Gallen manages to take a dark and violent period in history and turn it into one of the most moving and hilarious novels I have ever read. The rich cast of characters will break your heart and make you laugh out loud, sometimes within the same paragraph. I found it difficult to put this book down; while reading it the rest of the world fell away and I was transported to Northern Ireland via an unforgettable voice and a steadily boiling story of friendship, grief, and determination. Factory Girls is one of the best books ever written about The Troubles, and one of the best books I've read in a very long time."—Silas House, author of Southernmost and Lark Ascending

"A wee novel with an enormous, furious heart, Factory Girls transported me into Maeve's world. You can almost taste the tension and claustrophobia as Gallen effortlessly captures the stories of young women teetering between stasis and escape. Honest, hilarious and such a recognisable portrait of 90s Northern Ireland, Factory Girls is an essential read."—Jan Carson, author of The Raptures

OK when the story finally starts

Good writing, good characters, interesting situation. So what's the problem here? Not much really happens until halfway through the book, when the author finally gets around to telling a tale. This book either needed more plot, or needed to be sliced by half. Terrific narrator.

So funny and heartbreaking

This book is so funny and heartbreaking. I felt like I had known the characters my whole life before the book was over. Beautiful writing and narration.

It was very good, dragged a little at times but loved the overall story.

I liked the book, and the person who read it was great. Easy to understand and the accents were wonderful

“Real” people

Although a work of fiction, all of the characters seemed believable. From the tough, yet sensitive Maeve to the hard and feisty Fidelma, the women seemed so real with their smoking, drinking, and swearing. Easy to imagine what it was like to come of age in such desolate conditions during the 90’s in Northern Ireland. It would have been easy to depict the situation as a good side/bad side but this novel demonstrates how both sides suffered and endured to differing degrees.

Excellent depiction

My father was involved with the Desmond’s shirt factory in Derry so this story really resonated. It was the last major shirt factory in the area - closing in 2003 employing around 2,000. The shirt industry in Ireland has a fascinating history going back over 150 years - with the British Empire being a major market. At one time there were 27 shirt factories. I clearly heard my sister in Maeve - the accent, swearing, and mannerisms. I smile at those reviewers who found the narration hard to understand- it’s an integral part - as is the coarse language- maybe not for everyone but it’s an accurate depiction. Derry Girls on Netflix is a must watch.

Never predictable

Maeve is a smart but very hard character, but she won me over. Whenever I thought I knew was coming next in this novel, I was wrong. I loved that. Especially since it all worked. Performance was also outstanding I thought.

Fantastic! A great read!

The everyday insanity and resilience of the people during the troubles, dealing with sharp wit and strength, I cannot get enough of this author and will be sure to devour her works as they appear!

Good read

Book was interesting and well written. Not a book I couldn’t put down though. But it was informative and a good story. I would read it again. Narrator was very good.

Wish it was about Fidelma 💔

A story with an interesting backdrop, and where nothin’ really happens. The only likable character in the book is Fidelma, who becomes more than a tertiary character in the second half of the book. Sure, at the end of the book, you’re hoping for the best for the main trio. But the only one you’re actively rooting for is Fidelma. I wish Fidelma had more of a role. She sort of just… falls into the story, rather than earns a spot.

Loved!!

Great story about a small town in Ireland in the 90’s. Humorous even within serious circumstances.