Read Ireland Book Review
Issue 246
None Shall Divide Us by Michael Stone
Hardback; 30.00 Euro / 35.00 USD / 22.00 UK; 302 pages
Michael Stone, deadly killing machine and freelance gunman, knew no loyalty but to Ulster and the gun. His 1998 attack on a Republican funeral, which left three men dead, and his audacious bid to execute Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams, earned him notoriety and a place at the centre of Loyalist politics. When justice finally caught up with him he was sentenced to more than 800 years in prison - he served only 12. Released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement in July 2000, he publicly renounced terrorism apologized for the suffering he had caused, and threw his weight behind the peace process. He now lives under a double threat of assassination: from Republicans and from extreme Loyalists who accuse him of selling out to the peace process. Here is his story told for the first time in his own words.
Phoenix Irish Short Stories 2003 edited by David Marcus
paperback; 11.50 Euro / 14.00 USD / 8.00 UK; 212 pages [Add To Basket]
With short stories set as far afield as North Africa, Florida, and a small village in Siberia, the annual Phoenix anthology of Irish short stories continues to reflect the wide landscape of contemporary Irish fiction, showcasing some of the best new voice to emerge as well as long-established favourites. This anthology contains stories by: Frank O'Connor, Mary J. Byrne, Jackie Blackman, Coilin O hAidha, Paul Grimes, Claire Keegan, Dermot Somers, Sean Coffey, Gerard Donovan, Lorcan Byrne, Mary Morrissy, Eilis ni Dhuibhne, Niall McCardle, Blanaid McKinney and Julia O'Faolain.
The Lordship of Ireland in the Middle Ages by James Lydon
Trade Paperback; 25.00 Euro / 30.00 USD / 20.00 UK; 256 pages
This book on Ireland in the Middle Ages is a coherent and comprehensive study of an important and fascinating period in the development of Ireland as we know it today. The medieval lordship of Ireland was invested in the English crown by the papacy in the mid-twelfth century. That remained the constitutional position until 1541 when Henry VIII became King of Ireland. But by then the political reality was very different. Ireland was fragmented, with a government in Dublin exercising limited power and the island mostly dominated by Anglo-Irish and Irish families who controlled the everyday life of most of the inhabitants.
The opening chapters provide essential background information on the causes of the English invasion and the founding on Anglo-Ireland. The central section of the book covers the thirteenth century - the high point in the history of the lordship. The increased prosperity and the stability resulting from the new English settlement made Ireland a valuable asset to England. But the strain imposed on the English exchequer by the king's involvement in making war, the excessive demands he made on the lordship for military and financial support, and the otherwise neglect of Ireland gradually resulted in a process of decline from which the lordship never recovered. Relative peace gave way to war and lawlessness. An endless struggle for power in the localities followed. The Anglo-Irish increasingly asserted their identification with Ireland as a 'middle-nation'. The Irish, through the so-called 'Gaelic revival', reasserted their own culture and in most areas their political independence. This all led to the effective collapse of the lordship as a political reality. The final section of the book examines this collapse, and summarizes the contribution made by the Middle Ages to the shaping of modern Ireland.
Ireland's Unknown Soldiers: the 16th (Irish) Division in the Great War by Terence Denman
Hardback; 35.00 Euro / 42.00 USD / 27.00 UK; 209 pages [Add To Basket]
The Great War of 1914-18 saw the Irish soldier make his greatest sacrifice on Britain's behalf. Nearly 135,000 Irishmen volunteered (conscription was never applied in Ireland) in addition to the 50,000 Irish who were serving with the regular army and the reserves on 4 August 1914. Within a few weeks of the outbreak of war, no less than three Irish divisions - the 10th (Irish), 16th (Irish) and 36th (Ulster) - were formed from Irishmen, Catholic and Protestant, who responded to Lord Kitchener's call to arms. An estimated 35,000 Irish-born soldiers were killed before the armistice came in November 1918. Over 4,000 of those died with the 16th (Irish) Division. This book is that story. Originally published in 1992 and quickly sold out, the book has recently been reprinted.
The End of Irish History?: Critical Reflections on the Celtic Tiger edited by Colin Coulter and Steve Coleman
Paperback; 22.50 Euro / 28.00 USD / 18.50 UK; 212 pages
In this book, academics from a range of different disciplines seek to offer a more critical understanding of the nature of contemporary Irish society. A number of contributors take issue with the widespread assumption that the advent of the 'Celtic Tiger' has been to the advantage of all. It is argued that while the economic boom has served the interests of the wealthy, it has conferred little benefit upon the more marginalised sections of southern Irish society. Other chapters in the text set out to counter the orthodox opinion that the last decade has been one of cultural advance within the Irish Republic. An alternative reading is advanced that suggests that the processes of social change associated with the 'Celtic Tiger' have in fact accelerated the cultural dislocation of southern Irish society. This book is a timely and radical attempt to characterise and evaluate a society in the throes of radical change.
Ten Years After: The Irish Film Board 1993-2003 by Kevin Rockett
Large Hardback; 25.00 Euro / 30.00 USD / 20.00 UK; 158 pages, with black-and-white photos throughout [Add To Basket]
Since its re-establishment in 1993, the Irish Film Board has been at the forefront of all aspects of Irish film, including script development, training, marketing and investing in one hundred feature films and television series, and nearly three hundred short dramas, documentaries and animation films. This book documents and celebrates the Film Board supported films made during the decade 1993-2003.
The Aran Islands: A World of Stone by Mairead Ashe FitzGerald
Paperback; 10.00 Euro / 12.00 USD / 7.50 UK; 100 pages, colour and b+w photos throughout [Add To Basket]
Lying in the Atlantic Ocean off Galway Bay, the Aran Islands are a place apart. Here island life has preserved many aspects of Irish culture - its language, customs and traditions. These islands bear witness to events from earliest times and have experienced Celtic occupation, the arrival of Christianity, invasions, sieges, famine and evictions. This history is evident in the massive Iron Age forts, the Early Christian ruins, and in the literature, songs and images from these three 'stepping stones out of Europe'. This book is a comprehensive, beautifully illustrated introduction to and lasting memento of these unique islands.
Paradiso Seasons by Denis Cotter
Hardback; 40.00 Euro / 47.00 USD / 33.00 UK; 285 pages with full colour illustrations throughout [Add To Basket]
Cooking in Café Paradiso, the internationally renowned restaurant in Cork City, Denis Cotter has gained a reputation for innovation in his approach to food and for the quality and personal style of his menus. This book represents a journey through the eternally shifting seasons, focussing on the chef's favourite vegetables, at their prime moment and, from them, creating sumptuous and thoughtful recipes. Featuring over 140 original recipes, prefaced by witty and informative introductions, this book offers a practical and inspirational approach to cooking and eating seasonal food. It also includes a unique section showcasing new and exciting approaches to outdoor cooking.
John Charles McQuaid: Ruler of Catholic Ireland by John Cooney
Paperback; 20.00 Euro / 25.00 USD / 15.00 UK; 550 pages [Add To Basket]
This is the first major study of the life and times of John Charles McQuaid, Archbishop of Dublin, who for more than three decades, from 1940 to 1972, dominated political and social and religious developments in Ireland. While Archbishop McQuaid ranks as one of the great social reformers of independent Ireland, he was also a 'control freak'. A superb administrator, and an admirer of J. Edgar Hoover's FBI, he imposed his iron will on Irish politics and society by instilling fear among his clergy and people. Resolutely opposed to Communism and liberals, McQuaid's 'vigilance committee' kept files on politicians and priests, workers and students, doctors and lawyers, nuns and nurses, housewives and trade unionists, writers and filmmakers. There was no room for dissent. His ambition was directed towards the building up of a truly Catholic State - he attempted to exclude Protestants, Jews, liberal Catholics and feminists.
This book tells the inside story of how McQuaid crushed the attempts of the reformist Minister for Health, Dr. Noel Browne, to introduce a free welfare system for mothers and children. It also shows how McQuaid exercised enormous power over all aspects of government: education, hospitals, the adoption services, penal institutions and criminal justice system. For Protestants in Northern Ireland, he embodied their fears of 'Rome Rule'.
This book for the first time looks at the career of this giant in Irish life, who also wielded enormous influence in defining Ireland's relations with the Vatican and the Irish Catholic diaspora worldwide. In this exceptional study, McQuaid comes to life as an extraordinary man, able to seize every opportunity to forward his ideals and those of his Church. (This book was our Book of the Month for Non-Fiction for December 1999.)
For the Kids: A Family-Friendly Guide to Outings and Activities for Children in Ireland
Trade paperback; 15.00 Euro / 18.00 USD / 10.00 UK; 210 pages [Add To Basket]
This book is an essential guide for families living or visiting Ireland, as well as for teachers, group leaders and others looking for a great day out! It contains detailed information on: museums, galleries and heritage centres; castles, stately homes and gardens; adventure centres, fun-parks and equestrian centres; zoos, aquariums and pet farms; national parks and nature reserves. The directory covers all four provinces and includes contact numbers, opening hours, entrance fees, location, facilities, special programmes for children, a brief description and a photograph. The book also features a number of short essays from various experts on getting children interested in art and culture; making learning about heritage fun; showing how to get kids involved in nature and the environment.
A Living Island: Ireland's Responsibility to Nature by Michael Viney
Paperback; 3.50 Euro / 4.20 USD / 2.80 UK; 34 pages [Add To Basket]
This small book is the first in an occasional series on issues related to sustainable development in Ireland.
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