The Miracle Man

By James Skivington

When old Limpy McGhee swears he’s seen the Virgin Mary and received a miraculous cure at the ancient Mass Rock, the villagers of Inisbreen are sceptical. But they reckon without the religious fervour and ambition of Father Burke, the youngest parish priest in Ireland.

It’s not long before the devout, the hopeful and the gullible arrive, one of whom is an apprentice hack from the Northern Reporter who believes he’s stumbled upon a major scoop and a shortcut to a Pulitzer Prize.

The owner of the local hotel, Dermot McAllister is delighted at the rise in business, as tourists, pilgrims and journalists continue to pour in, but he’s not so happy with the fall in his libido, which is having an adverse effect on his illicit affair with a local schoolmistress. But perhaps some holy water from the Mass Rock might work a miracle!

And through all of this, the Miracle Man himself is plotting to get back with his lost love of forty years before.

Set in a tiny village on the Irish coast, this is a humorous novel in the classic tradition of Clochemerle and Whisky Galore, packed full of colourful characters, comical situations and hilarious incidents.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd
• Release date: Jun 7, 2010
• ISBN: 9781848769342

James Skivington

James Skivington was born in the Glens of Antrim and has a house there, although he has lived in Northampton for a number of years. He has written non-fiction books as well as comedy and drama for film and television. This is his first novel and he is currently writing a second, set in the same location.

Reviews for The Miracle Man

[dlga_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This enjoyable, funny book comes across as a literary version of the BBC's Mrs Brown's Boy's in that it was an over the top humorous comedic farce set in the fictitious village of Innisbreen in the Glens of Antrim seemingly in the 1980's? (No date mentioned) There was good cross-linkage and continuity between the characters and their lives with comedic hyperbole being drawn from highly exaggerated extremes. On a geographical note the fact that the Glens of Antrim are part of Northern Ireland, U.K. is never even mentioned, although, to finish on a positive note, the strong links to Scotland and the tough Scottish character certainly is!

[bridgey_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I very rarely read comedy books, but after winning this on Librarything I thought I would give it a try, and I am glad I did.If I had to describe the book I would say it is a cross between Last of the Summer Wine and Father Ted written with the warmth of James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small. We follow the colourful villagers of Inisbreen and the various reaction to the recent miracle cure of Limpy McGhees gammy leg. Mcghee is well known as the local drunk so when he proclaims a visitation of the Virgin Mary at Mass rock has cured him the villagers are sceptical, but when the benefits of the added publicity start rolling in the attitudes soon alter.Along the journey we encounter a randy gay pensioner, devious businessmen, over enthusiastic priests and an abundance of larger than life characters.A wonderful book that has the reader laughing out loud. I really hope Mr Skivington writes a sequel, and it would make an amazing TV series. Please give this novel a try, it'll cheer up your day.