Read Ireland Book Reviews
Issue 363 - 20 January 2007
Tom Crean: An Illustrated Life by Michael Smith
Hardback, with full-colour and black-and-white illustrations throughout; 30 Euro / 40 USD / 24 UK; 180 pages
This pictorial biography celebrates the life of Tom Crean, a great Irish hero of Antarctic exploration in an age of epics of endurance and survival against the odds. Tom ran away from his Kerry farm at 15 to play an outstanding role in three expeditions with the legendary Shackleton and Captain Scott. But his incredible story was largely forgotten until the publication of the best-selling "An Unsung Hero" in 2000. Only then was the modest, unassuming Irishman given the recognition he deserved. The extraordinary highlights of his adventures in the ice were captured in some exceptional photographs taken under the most difficult conditions. These have now been assembled for the first time to present a photographic record of a truly astonishing man, together with other rare and previously unseen pictures. The range of photographs illustrates his early life, the incredible feats in the Antarctic and a peaceful retirement in Kerry. Supported by complimentary text, diary extracts and maps plus new information on Tom Crean's life, this is a lasting celebration of a true hero.
Gunrunners: The Covert Arms Trail to Ireland by Sean Boyne
Large Format Paperback; 20 Euro / 25 USD / 15 UK; 475 pages [Add To Basket]
Sean Boyne, an expert on defence and arms trafficking gives us a facinating but disturbing insight into the shadowy world of arms dealers, spies and moles. With interviews with the dealers, agents and traffickers involved in the movement of huge quantities of arms into Ireland in the 1970s and 1980s, Sean Boyle exposes many of the little-known aspects of this part of Irish history, such as the IRA's connections to the KGB and Libya. Fully illustrated, with high quality photographs and graphs throughout, Gunrunners lays bare the hidden world of some of the most dangerous people who played a part in this often misunderstood part of Irish history. (Also Available in Hardback: Hardback; 30 Euro / 40 USD / 24 UK)
I Signed My Death Warrant: Michael Collins and The Treaty by T. Ryle Dwyer
Paperback; 13 Euro / 16 USD / 10 UK; 286 pages
To Michael Collins, the signing of the treaty between Ireland and Britain in 1921 was a 'stepping stone'. Eamon de Valera called it 'treason'. The controversy surrounding the treaty and how it led to the Civil War of 1922-1923, is examined here. T. Ryle Dwyer not only takes an in-depth look at the characters and motivations of the two main Irish protaginaists but also gives many insights into the views and ideas of the other people involved on both sides if the Irish sea.
Watching the Door: A Memoir 1971-78 by Kevin Myers
Hardback; 20 Euro / 26 USD / 14 UK; 275 pages [Add To Basket]
A young Irish Leicester-raised catholic, fresh from UCD with a first in history, socialist in sympathy, is sent north as a junior reporter in the Belfast bureau of RTE News to cover the increasingly vicious conflict erupting on the streets of a hate-filled city as the IRA campaign began. Reporting for Hibernia in Dublin, the "London Observer" and NBC Radio in North America, Myers becomes the eyes and ears for an uncomprehending world during a bloody decade that saw the collapse of Northern Irish society, from internment to the La Mons bombing. Raw, candid, courageous and vivid, these wartime dispatches chronicle loyalist gangs, paratroopers, provos, politicians, British agents, and an inimitable citizenry, forming a remarkable double portrait of a divided society and an emergent self - a witness to humanity, and inhumanity, on both sides of the sectarian faultline. This title offers a wonderfully vivid, trenchant first-hand account of life on the streets of Belfast during the height of 'the Troubles', as a young reporter witnesses the blood-fueds and chaos of a divided society on the brink of civil war: a litany of violence, observation and emotional free-fall, combining humour and reflection with history in the making. It interweaves the political and the personal in a very human tale at once funny, self-deprecating and sexual, a coming-of-age story like no other, on the streets and between the sheets. It gives a beautifully written, evocative and shockingly honest narrative record of a pivotal time in Ireland's recent past, blending articulacy with savage indignation.
In Search of Iraq: Baghdad to Babylon by Richard Downes
Trade paperback; 15 Euro / 18 USD / 11 UK; 264 pages
Spanning the years until the chaotic aftermath of the American led invasion in 2003, RTÉ reporter Richard Downes has witnessed first hand the incredible changes that have occurred in Iraq. Not only is In Search of Iraq an account of a nation's suffering as it moved from dictatorship to foreign occupation and guerrilla warfare, it also focuses on the people of Iraq and their customs: religious and cultural, and their historical diversity. We find Abu Aseel Abbas, Shia Muslim and media fixer extraordinaire; David George, Christian student and man about town; Mohammed Darwish, Sunni Muslim academic and Joyce scholar; Ra'ad Baqim, camera man and former militia member, as well as members of the new occupying power - Corporal Wayne Wylie, U.S. soldier patrolling the streets of Baghdad and Captain St. John Pryce, upper class British officer in Basrah. In Search of Iraq goes beyond the daily distilled news reports seen by the Western World. Its unflinching focus on the humanity of all those involved reveals the true horror and impact of the war, as well as the friendships that can blossom in a country torn to shreds.
Irish Companion: A Think Book by Brendan Nolan
Hardback; 13 Euro / 17 USD / 9 UK; 160 pages
Over the centuries, Ireland has established itself as one of the world's most vibrant countries, forging a legacy of huge economic and artistic value and generously exporting its eccentric sense of humour. "The Irish Companion" offers a broad sweep of history, culture, myth and folklore through the hills, valleys and towns of the Emerald Isle. From the windy summit of Croagh Patrick - where St Patrick himself is said to have fasted for 40 days and nights as part of a covenant with God - to the carnival of literary luminaries that have decorated the annals of fiction and poetry, Ireland's worldly treasures are entertainingly catalogued and displayed. From this lyrical tome we will learn: plenty of Irish jokes, old and new; why WB Yeats claimed he could see fairies; just how tricky it is to kiss the Blarney Stone; which goddess tried to reclaim Ireland for the pagan gods; how to make a perfect stout; and, the most important Celts and where they really originated from.
The Irish Hedge School and Its Books, 1695-1831 by Antonia McManus
Trade Paperback; 25 Euro / 30 USD / 20 UK; 270 pages [Add To Basket]
This definitive book studies the hedge schools and texts that were common in the country for over one hundred and thirty-six years. For most of that time, they worked underground due to the strictures of the Penal Laws. Impoverished parents valued this education so highly that they bartered flitches of bacon and miscawns of butter for it. Being independent of church and state they incurred the wrath of both on occasions. The state regarded their reading books as objectionable. In fact their books were an eclectic mix of romantic chapbooks, as well as the best available literature of the eighteenth century, purchased by parents as cheap piracies of expensive English originals. The beginning of the end for the masters came when their erstwhile allies, the Catholic hierarchy, concurred with the official view of them as incompetent, at a time when the church were seeking state aid for Catholic education. But the masters remained deep in the affections of the Irish people as they fulfilled a multiplicity of roles such as local scribe, historian, poet, defender of religion, Bible Society teacher, land surveyor, lawyer, parish clerk, revolutionary and political activist.
Timeless Wonders: What Irish Proverbs Tell Us About Ourselves by Aidan Moran and Michael O’Connell
Paperback; 20 Euro / 26 USD / 14 UK; 194 pages [Add To Basket]
What can we learn from the folk wisdom of our ancestors? For centuries, Irish proverbs or seanfhocail have provided memorable insights into everyday experiences such as love, marriage, happiness and death. In doing so, they give us a unique insight into human nature as well as an understanding of the lives and outlook of our forebears. But is such "timeless wisdom" still relevant in the modern world - or merely the dying echo of a bygone era? In this fascinating book, Aidan Moran and Michael O'Connell reflect on this question and provide a systematic exploration of the psychology of Irish proverbs. In particular, the authors examine a wealth of Irish wisdom about food, drink, weather, money, markets, land, health, happiness, love, marriage and death - all the essentials of life! Thoroughly researched and written in a lively, accessible style, the book is enriched by a selection of beautiful photographs. Often provocative, sometimes witty but never dull, these proverbs will encourage you to slow down and look at the world in a different way. This book is an essential purchase for students of Irish society, people who share a love of folklore, and anyone who is interested in learning more about the meaning and significance of Irish proverbs.
Irish Tales of Mystery and Magic by Eddie Lenihan
Hardback; 20 Euro / 25 USD / 14 UK; 220 pages, with full colour illustrations throughout [Add To Basket]
A stunningly illustrated compilation by Irish storyteller that will charm, entertain and amuse children of all ages. From the story of Fionn McCumhaill s bunions, to the Fianna s concern over their rotting teeth, these stories tell of the adventures and bravery of the ancient Irish heroes in the face of scary and spooky challenges. Eddie Lenihan is a celebrated storyteller, born in Kerry, who now lives in Clare
John Devoy’s Catalpa Expedition edited by Philip Fennell and Marie King
Hardback; 40 Euro / 50 USD / 40 UK; 224 pages [Add To Basket]
The story of John Devoy's 1876 Catalpa rescue is a tale of heroism, creativity, and the triumph of independent spirit in pursuit of freedom. The daily log on board the whaling ship Catalpa begins with the typical recount of a crew intact and a spirit unfettered, but such quiet words deceive the truth of the audacious enterprise that came to be known as one of the most important rescues in Irish American history. John Devoy's men aided in the break-in and subsequent rescue of Irish political prisoners from the Australian coast, allowing millions of fellow Irishmen and American-Feninans, many of whom secretly financed the dangerous plot, to draw courage from the newly exiled prisoners. Philip Fennell and Marie King, both descendants of pardoned Fenian prisoner, tell the story from the John Devoy's own records and from the ship's logbooks. "John Devoy's Catalpa Expedition" includes an introduction by Terry Golway and the personal diaries, letters, and reports from John Devoy and his men.
The Dark Sacrament: Exorcism in Modern Ireland by David Kiely and Christina McKenna
Trade Paperback with Endlfaps; 13 Euro / 17 USD / 9 UK; 410 pages [Add To Basket]
"The faces were disfigured: all sores, terrible teeth and mouths, and they were all biting, like biting towards me. It was like a vision from hell, worse than anything you could ever dream about, and the stench coming from them was terrible. They just rose up out of the ground, staring at me, trying to attack me - but they couldn't because they had no bodies that I could see. Just the heads. I'll never forget them. I thought I was going to die." - from Mr Gant and the Neighbour from Hell. An innocent housewife, a callow young curate, a curious schoolboy, an amiable pensioner, and others like them - ordinary people, leading ordinary lives in present-day Ireland. Until unwittingly, each opened a door into the unknown, and allowed strange forces to enter their lives. Through their shocking, true stories, "The Dark Sacrament" charts the terrifying struggle against the preternatural, battles that only ended with the intervention of that most valiant of churchmen - the exorcist.
Lost Lines: Ireland by Nigel Welbourn
Large Format Paperback; 22 Euro / 28 USD / 15 UK; 128 pages, with black-and-white photos throughout [Add To Basket]
In this book, the author traces some 35 lines, both broad and narrow gauge that once operated in Ireland. These put an indelible stamp on the landscape and even where lines have long been closed, buildings, bridges, and many physical remains can still be found. As in earlier volumes, each chapter provides the reader with a history of the line and its current status.
Overheard in DublinPaperback; 7 Euro / 10 USD / 5.50 UK; 155 pages [Add To Basket]
Contains over five hundred quotations from the website, interspersed with cartoons.
Foxrock and Cabinteely: Memories compiled by Liam Clare and Padraig Laffan
Large Format Paperback; 18 Euro / 24 USD / 13 UK; 160 pages, with black-and-white illustrations throughout [Add To Basket]
"Foxrock & Cabinteely Memories" features images from the parishes of Foxrock and Cabinteely. Residents who have lived there since it was a rural idyll and those between arrivals who have accompanied the development of the area contribute their stories and personal histories to this engaging book. With the changes that have occurred all over South Dublin in recent decades, this is an invaluable book and an enjoyable one for locals and others.
Golf Days 2007
Large Format Paperback;; 20 Euro / 26 USD / 14 UK; 496 pages, with full colour photos and illustrations throughout [Add To Basket]
This book is now in its 15th edition and contains information on over 380 of Ireland’s finest golf courses (north and south). Unique 3D maps of each course reflect Ireland’s priceless golf heritage.
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