It's a Long Way from Penny Apples

“A book I just couldn’t put down! Finally we get to read a story of inspiration to counterbalance the exquisite pain in Angela’s Ashes.” —Dr. Denis Waitley

There are many tragic stories in Ireland of those who have succumbed to the despair of abject poverty, those who were unable to save themselves or their loved ones from the harsh realities of oppression.

But It’s a Long Way from Penny Apples is a different view of the Irish experience, one man’s journey out of the grinding poverty that held an entire generation of Irishmen in its thrall.

Born and bred in the rough inner city slums of Summerhill in Dublin, Bill was one of fourteen children. Through hard work and determination, Bill went from selling flowers and newspapers on the street to owning the biggest Ford dealership in Ireland, and eventually became a multimillionaire.

Bill Cullin’s story is an account of incredible poverty and deprivation in the Dublin slums—and incredible success. It highlights the frustration of a father and mother feeling their relationship crumble as they fight to give their children a better life. It’s a story of courage, joy, and happiness—of how a mother gave inspiration and values to her children, saying to them, “The best thing I can give you is the independence to stand on your own feet.”

“An exhilarating example of what one can achieve with determination and good humor. Cuchulainn and Brian Boru would be proud of this latter-day hero.” —Morgan Llywelyn, New York Times–bestselling author