Last read when i was 8 (48 years ago) and I still recall bits of it. This is a beautiful magical tale, a cross between a fairy tale and an odyssey, and one which could only happen in Ireland.
Betsy, a runaway, adventurous goose encounters Sheila, a little Cinderella type, living with nasty Fat Maggie Fagan. When Sheila is sent off on a spurious errand to get butter from Bridgie Swallow (is there any such person or is it a ruse to get rid of the child?), the pair fall in with the Ballad Singer and his lad, and the good natured apple woman.
All manner of events occur, from the everyday (railways, horse races, fairs) to the magical - the Children of Lir pop up(Irish mythical children turned into swans), along with talking animals, a magic scarecrow and much more.
I guess the test of a book is that it still engrosses the reader as an adult. Read in one sitting - it's a delight! ( )

One of my favourite books as a child, still worth reading as an adult. Betsy meets a magical goose, and escapes to a new life. ( )