Austin moves back to Ireland with his mother after she fails to procure an abortion in the UK and gives birth to him there.

Austin 'Occi' Byrne is brought home to Ireland from London, where he was born after his mother failed to have an abortion. He spends his childhood with his alcoholic mother, being bullied by his peers, and feeling isolated much of the time. Although he doesn't know who his father is, he is certain that someday the father will return and meet him. Later Occi spends years in a mental institution, and when the place is forced to close down, he finds work as a fisherman. While at sea, a death occurs on his trawler. Occi makes it safely back onto land, but things are not exactly looking up for him there either.