Read Ireland Book Reviews
Issue 374 - 21 April 2007
Fianna Fail, Irish Republicanism and the Northern Ireland Troubles, 1968-2005 by Catherine O’Donnell
Trade Paperback; 28 Euro / 36 USD / 20 UK; 240 pages
Fianna Fail, the Republican Party, has been defined by its emphasis on partition and its ideological commitment to reunification. Through its use of anti-partitionist rhetoric it has been the most vociferous political party in the Republic of Ireland on Northern Ireland. Its emotive and divisive response to the outbreak of the troubles in Northern Ireland was seen most clearly in the Arms Crisis of 1970 which threatened to destroy the party and the stability of the state in the Republic. However, the party has also been at the centre of the Northern Ireland peace process, and the attempts at reconciliation between Unionists and Nationalists and North and South. Yet there has been no substantive study of Fianna Fail's language, ideology and policy on Northern Ireland since the outbreak of the troubles. How could 'The Republican Party' be such a central player in the political changes in Northern Ireland? Has Fianna Fail changed its traditional republicanism and anti-partitionism? This fascinating and important new book provides an examination of Fianna Fail's record on Northern Ireland since 1968. It outlines the party's response to the Troubles and its guiding principles in the search for the solution. Catherine O'Donnell argues that the relationship between Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein is central to understanding Fianna Fail's role in the peace process, which began with the Fianna Fail-Sinn Fein talks in 1988. She investigates the implications of the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement for Fianna Fail's ideology and policy on Northern Ireland and highlights the continued centrality of the relationship between Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein to the peace process and politics in the Republic of Ireland. As Sinn Fein make further electoral gains in the Republic of Ireland, this book will be essential reading for anyone wishing to understand how Republicanism is a contested electoral resource within southern politics.
I’m Glad You Asked Me That: Irish Political Quotations by Eoghan Corry
Paperback; 10 Euro / 13 USD / 7 UK; 348 pages [Add To Basket]
In this compilation of Irish political quotations, we come face-to-face with the good, the bad and the ugly of Irish political life. Using the words of those in the trenches, and spanning decades of Irish politics, we chart the sometimes glorious but always eventful history of Irish politics. Covering everything from addresses to the nation, diplomatic incidents, and political gaffes to insults, state scandals, and the rise and fall of our best-known politicians, here is the very best and the very worst of Irish politics. Whatever your political tendencies, "I'm Glad You Asked Me That" will raise a smile - and a grimace - as Irish politicians and well-known political pundits bare all.
How to Read Joyce by Derek Attridge
Paperback; 11 Euro / 15 USD / 8 UK; 120 pages
James Joyce is known most widely as a "difficult" writer, even if he is no longer thought of as a "dirty" one. Yet many readers - and not just in colleges and universities - have discovered his books to be funny, moving, illuminating, and packed with memorable moments. There are some simple ways to overcome the initial intimidation that Joyce's style can cause. In this book, Derek Attridge shows how even the shortest passage of Joyce's writing can yield its humour and its insights without the need for immense learning or lengthy training. Moving through all of Joyce's major books, from the deceptive clarity of Dubliners to the apparent craziness of Finnegans Wake, he demonstrates that they all, in their different ways, are a pleasure to read - even if we have to make some adjustments to our understanding of what "reading" is.
Shadowlord: Theobald Bourke Tibbot-ne-Long, 1567-1629: Son of the Pirate Queen, Grace O’Malley by Anne Chambers
Trade Paperback; 15 Euro / 20 USD / 11 UK; 210 pages, with a black-and-white photo insert [Add To Basket]
It is perhaps providential that this the youngest son of Ireland's famous Pirate Queen, Granuaile (Grace O'Malley) was born on the high seas aboard his mother's galley. This event, as well as inheriting her maritime skill, gave rise to his name, Tiboid-ne-Long (Theobald or Tibbott-ofthe-Ships). Saved at birth from kidnap and from a life of slavery by Barbery Coast pirates,Tibbott Bourke, seems destined to fulfil his birthright and, like his father, become a minor leader in the fragmented and twilight world of Gaelic Ireland. But national and international politics catapults him into prominence in a period of immense change and transition in Ireland, as the battle-lines between two incompatible protagonists – the antique Gaelic world of his birth and the exploitive, acquisitive world of Elizabethan England – are drawn. Survival becomes the spur. Only one side can win. Only the very few will survive. With a Machiavellian mind that out manoeuvers his opponents, both Irish and English, with opportunism, cunning and daring, Tibbott sets out to salvage what he can from the wreckage. Enduring imprisonment, torture, famine, dispossession and isolation along the way, earning the suspicion, envy and hatred of both sides, resorting to double-dealing, chicanery, even murder, Tibbott ducks and weaves his way through the military and political morass in his all-consuming passion to survive. Shadow Lord is more than just a portrait of Tibbott Bourke, it is also a unique commentary and insight into one of the most profound periods of Irish history. It incorporates much hitherto unpublished manuscript material to which the author was given exclusive access. Shadow Lord also presents new information on the descendents of Tibbott Bourke and on the legal controversy that surrounds his title, Viscount Mayo, to the present day.
The Little Big Book of Ireland edited by Christopher Measom and H. Clark Wakabayshi
Gift Hardback; 20 Euro / 27 USD / 16 UK; 352 pages
The Little Big Book of Ireland is a delightful treasury of text and art to indulge all lovers of Ireland. From Ireland's highly literate lineage to its storytelling traditions, from its intriguing history to its fantastical myths and folk tales passed down for thousands of years, from delectable Irish recipes to its inspirational cultural traditions, Irish and non-Irish alike will immerse themsleves in the spirited offerings of Ireland in this beautifully illustrated book. The Little Big Book of Ireland includes: LITERARY EXCERPTS from such writers as James Joyce, Frank McCourt, Samuel Beckett, and Edna O'Brien. POETRY by William Butler Yeats, Seamus Heaney, Patrick Kavanagh, Michael Longley, J. M. Synge, and others. FACTS & FANCY to inform and delight from A Wee Bit o' History and Emerald Isle Gems to Irish natural wonders and Irish toasts and blessings. SONGS include classics such as "A Bunch of Wild Thyme," "Danny Boy," "An Irish Lullaby," and "Wearing of the Green." RECIPES for traditional favorites including Irish potato griddle cakes, corned beef and parsnip, steak and Guinness pie, and Irish soda bread. MYTHS & FOLK TALES about such ancient figures as Deirdre and Naoise, Finn Mac Cumhal, banshees, leprechauns, and fairies. More than 150 full-color illustrations.
Myths and Legends of Britain and Ireland by Richard Jones, with photographs by John Mason
Large Format Paperback; 20 Euro / 27 USD / 14 UK; 160 pages with colour photos throughout
Whether you're a keen sightseer, an armchair traveller or just at a loose end at the weekend, this book will tempt you with gods and goddesses, ancient legends, popular myths, infamous murderers and more. Where can you get the best sightings of the Loch Ness Monster? Did you know Wales is the root of the King Arthur and Merlin legends? In this volume, renowned writer and historical expert Richard Jones brings Britain and Ireland's long history and ancient past to life. Region by region, the book reveals, delights and explains the legendary tales of kings and villains, monsters and fairies from our illustrious past, set against the landscapes and places where the stories unfolded. They are all included here - from pagan Celtic gods to the horrors of Jack the Ripper, from royal villains such as King Henry VIII and well-known characters like Dick Whittington to the mysterious Glastonbury Tor. Richard Jones's authoritative and entertaining guide to mythological and legendary sites around Britain and Ireland is handsomely designed and illustrated throughout with spectacular photographs and detailed maps. It is the perfect guide for those who wish to explore for themselves the myths and legends of these ancient islands.
The Magic of Ireland by Rob Vance
Gift Hardback; 9 Euro / 13 USD / 7 UK; 70 pages, full colour illustrations throughout [Add To Basket]
Ireland is clearly but indefinably different to other lands; it has a strange compound of weather, landscape, people...and that something extra, the remnants of a pagan and mediaeval past. These elements of people and place combine to give the country a magic all its own. This magic can be found throughout the country; it can be felt at ancient horse fairs or ruined castles, and even on the streets of modern Irish towns. This book encapsulates all that is wonderful about Ireland, from the natural landscape to traditional shop-fronts, to give an overall impression of what makes Ireland magical.
Irish Language and Culture
Small Paperback; 8 Euro / 12 USD / 6 UK; 256 pages [Add To Basket]
This book presents the history of Irish English language and culture. It includes clever pointers on common misunderstandings and the quirks of Irish English. A guide to the subtleties of Irish slang and jargon, it features terms for food and drink, and sports and entertainment; humorous and quirky expressions; a useful Gaelic section; and, a useful and easy-to-use lexicon index.
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