Spike Milligan was born in India, the son of an Irish father who was serving in the British Indian Army. He spent most of his life in England and served in the British Army in World War II - though he took Irish citizenship. Milligan was an undoubted comedy genius and was the principal writer of The Goon Show. He was one of the few people who could get away with referring to a member of the British Royal Family - Prince Charles - as a "little grovelling b@$t@rd" on live television.

The story is set in Puckoon, a fictional village located a few miles northeast of Sligo . Dan Milligan probably the closest thing to a central character we get – and is, presumably, based a little on Spike himself. Dan lives in one of the Peat Cutters’ Cottages – although he isn’t actually a peat-cutter. (He’s a skiver through and through. The peat ran out several years previously, and the peat-cutters didn’t take long in doing the same. The Free State Government then awarded the cottages to those who’d fought for Irish independence). Milligan the character is, naturally, at the centre of much of the book’s daftness : for a start, he can hold a conversation with Milligan the author. He isn’t at all impressed with Spike’s writing abilities, and is particularly unimpressed with his own legs. In an attempt to even things up a little, Spike gives Dan a magical word – squorrox – that’ll get him out of any trouble. (Dan could’ve used that word on his wedding day – his wife’s a fearsome looking creature, and is described by some as a “danger to shipping”. Dan’s two brothers had arrived with his wedding suit, just in time for him to make it to the church…he never forgave them).

Dan’s wife sends him to the church to try and find some work – the grass needs cut, and Father Rudden, despite his own good health, is obviously too busy with religious matters to deal with the problem himself. (It’s the first time Dan’s been to church since his baptism, but at least it’ll be a little money for him. Well, it would if the parish wasn’t broke – there are so many buttons going into the collection plate, it’s a miracle how the faithful can walk to mass without their trousers falling down).

However, Milligan and money aren’t Fr Rudden’s only problems. Although the majority of Ireland has now wriggled free from the United Kingdom, part of the country is staying put - which means a new border has to be drawn up. Unfortunately, thanks to a group of idiotic bureaucrats, the border gets drawn right through the church grounds. The chapel is in the new Free State , the graveyard is in the UK – which, being a Spike Milligan book, leads to all sorts of complications with Dan Doonan’s funeral.

While it is (unsurprisingly) a hugely funny and very daft book, there is the very occasional touch of sadness here and there. (The story of Farmer O’Mara particularly stands out, probably because it contrast so much with the rest of the book). Totally recommended.

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