Read Ireland Book Reviews
Issue 446
25/26 April 2009
Ireland: The Politics of Enmity 1789-2006 by Paul Bew
Large Format Paperback; 22 Euro / 30 USD / 15 UK; 612 pages
Bew has achieved a tour de force of historical interpretation in this work. The virtues of historical scholarship and stylish exposition, which have marked the best of Bew's work from the very outset, are here in abundance...He has written an absorbing, engaged, immensely learned and passionately argued interpretation of the last two centuries of political conflict in Ireland...an important book... Gearoid Tuathaigh Galway Archaeological and Historical Society Review Quotes: "It is without doubt the most reasonable, up to date, rational, liberal and accommodationist unionist history."--Brendan O'Leary, Dublin Review of Books "Explores his chosen themes with originality, iconoclasm and a range of unexpected quotations."--Roy Foster, Times Literary Supplement Books of the Year "Remarkable, formidably researched and fluently written."--Times Literary Supplement "A remarkable survey."--Diarmaid Ferriter,Irish Times "Finely nuanced history. Bew brings enormous authority to the subject."--Michael Burleigh, The Sunday Times "An historian of note and a distinguished commentator on the politics of modern Ireland; this study confirms his analytical skills."--Edward Norman, Literary Review "Bew is a master of elegant and pithy prose. Ireland: The Politics of Enmity is unfailingly absorbing."--Peter Hart, The Irish Times "Absorbing reading for all who are interested in Irish-British history."--Morning Star "The book is dense yet easy to read."--Edward Norman, Literary News "Paul Bew's book reconstructs the way that the language of hatred has been employed in Irish history; it also gestures towards much in politics that has been said or forgotten."--London Review of Books
Freedom to Choose: Cork & Party Politics in Ireland, 1918-1932 by Micheal Martin
Hardback; 23 Euro / 30 USD / 15 UK; 290 pages [Add To Basket]
In Ireland the period of 1918 1932 was one of upheaval and realignment as people suffered the hardship of war and came to terms with their new national and political identities. It was also an exciting period, which saw the beginning of a new era in electoral politics after the general election of 1918. Powerful influences were at work during this time: nationalism and socialism, Catholicism, the Gaelic League and the Gaelic Athletic Association. An air of unpredictability prevailed as Sinn Féin and the Irish Parliamentary Party battled for the hearts and votes of the Irish people. By 1932, the violence of the early years of the state was a thing of the past. But how did the political system that we know today evolve? Why did Fianna Fail become the dominant political force? With the demise of Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith, Éamon de Valera became the leading personality in Irish politics. Even he realised that he had to adapt to the changing concerns of the electorate and to deal with their day-to-day social concerns as well as the highly emotive issue of the national question . The parties that formulated policies to address social and economic issues were the ones to survive. This exploration of the development of party politics in Cork city offers important insights into the party politics of modern Ireland. It analyses how the Cork electorate engaged with these issues and interacted with Irish politics at this critical juncture.
Shipwreck Inventory of Ireland: Louth, Meath, Dublin, Wicklow compiled by Karl Brady
Large Format Hardback; 35 Euro / 50 USD / 25 UK; 610 pages
Ireland has a rich maritime heritage, and it is estimated that up to 15,000 shipwrecks may lie in Irish territorial waters. The Underwater Archaeology Unit of the Department of Environment Heritage & Local Government has spent the last 10 years quantifying Ireland’s maritime heritage and creating an archive of recorded incidences of wrecking around our coast. This has resulted in the production of a highly illustrated volume documenting over 3,000 vessels that were wrecked, prior to 1946, off the coast of counties Louth, Meath, Dublin and Wicklow. The information on wrecks was gathered from a broad range of cartographic, archaeological and documentary sources, and each entry in the Inventory gives information on the ship’s name, type of vessel, port of origin, owner’s name, cargo, date of loss and other relevant information where available. The Inventory has a detailed illustrated archaeological and historical introduction aimed at providing a narrative to the principal phases of the development of Ireland’s maritime heritage on the east coast. The Inventory also contains 11 illustrated narratives on wrecks where the loss of some of the more important ships are described in detail.
The Shipwreck Inventory of Ireland will appeal to both the specialist and the general reader and will be an essential reference guide to anybody interested in maritime affairs and Ireland\'s past. It should help raise awareness generally of the need to protect and record the many different elements of our maritime heritage and lead to a better understanding of the maritime history of the east coast of Ireland.
Michael Logue and the Catholic Church in Ireland, 1879-1925 by John Privilege
Hardback; 75 Euro / 100 USD / 55 UK; 220 pages [Add To Basket]
This book provides a review and consideration of the role of the Catholic Church in Ireland in the intense political and social changes after 1879 through a major figure in Irish history, Michael Logue. Despite being a figure of pivotal historical importance in Ireland, no substantial study of Michael Logue (1840-1924) has previously been undertaken. Through the medium of Logue, Privilege examines the role of the Catholic Church in the intense political and social changes in Ireland after 1879. Exploring previously under-researched areas, like the clash between science and faith, university education and state-building, the book significantly contributes to our understanding of the relationship between the Church and the state in modern Ireland. This book also sets out to redress any historical misunderstanding of Michael Logue and provides a fresh perspective on existing interpretations of the role of the Church and on areas of historical debate in this period.
In Search of Islands : A Life of Conor O’Brien by Judith Hill
Hardback; 30 Euro / 40 USD / 20 UK; 130 pages, with full colour illustrations throughout
Conor O Brien made history in 1925 having sailed around the world in his small yacht, Saoirse. Others had circumnavigated the world in small boats, but Conor was first to sail the clipper route and brave the screaming fifties despite difficulties with crew, desertion, robbery and hardship, no radio or electronic devices. After Joshua Slocum s epic voyage of the 1880s, it was the most noted sea journey of the time, not repeated until 1969. His book about the voyage, Across Three Oceans, was a bestseller. But O Brien wasn’t only a sailor. In 1913 he climbed Mount Brandon with Mallory and Young, and often climbed with them, Robert Graves and others. In pre-War Dublin he helped found the Arts Club and joined the Irish Volunteers. In 1914 he shipped guns to Ireland in his first boat, Kelpie, with Erskine Childers, yet served in the Royal Naval Reserve during WW1. He worked for the fisheries in newly-independent Ireland, sought election to the Senate, and sailed the Irish coast in Kelpie and Saoirse. After marriage to the painter, Kitty Clausen, in 1927, he spent time sailing around the Mediterranean. His family lived in Limerick where he spent much of his later life on Foynes Island in the Shannon Estuary. He died in 1952. Using the photographic archive of Gary MacMahon, and O Brien s drawings, writings and letters, this biography records O Brien s eventful life as sailor and mountaineer, fiction and travel writer, designer of boats ands buildings, Irish nationalist and defender of Britain, and celebrated sailor.
All Politics is Local: A Guide to Local Elections in Ireland by Liam Weeks and Aodh Quinlivan
Paperback; 13 Euro / 18 USD / 10 UK; 220 pages [Add To Basket]
All politics is local declared Tip O Neill, explaining that local concerns around a country affect the actions of local political representatives. Local politics will take centre stage in Ireland at the local elections in June 2009, as voters choose candidates to represent them at county, city and community levels. These races for public office do not involve huge campaign budgets or prime tv ads and debates. This book provides a timely insight into local elections in Ireland. Previous books about general and local elections are largely summaries of results and constituency profiles but lack detailed analysis of what local elections are about.
The Magic of Irish Nature: The Celtic culture and its mythology by Patrick O’Sullivan
Small Hardback; 18 Euro ; 24 USD / 12 UK; 130 pages, with illustrations [Add To Basket]
From the familiar tales of the Salmon of Knowledge and The Children of Lir to more obscure stories, The Magic of Irish Nature reveals how the physical world informed the Celtic culture and its mythology. Introduced by Don Conroy and illustrated by Michelle Russell, this book is sure to give you a renewed love for the myths and legends of Celtic culture.
An Adventure in Grief by Catherine de Courcy
Trade Paperback; 13 Euro / 17 USD / 8 .50 UK; 250 pages [Add To Basket]
Catherine de Courcy emigrated from Ireland in 1986 and, on her travels, met John Johnson, a larger-than-life figure, English runaway and Australian army officer. They were together for fifteen years. John was a Vietnam veteran devoured by post-traumatic stress, which eventually led him to take his own life. After his violent suicide Catherine was faced with an overwhelming grief, which she chose to confront head on. Unflinchingly and without self-pity, Catherine de Courcy looks at the hidden aspects of grief and how to manage the strange and unsettling challenges the loss of a loved one provokes. She also portrays with sympathy and honesty the devastating impact of post-traumatic stress on a Vietnam veteran long after the war. This is a deeply moving and inspiring story of one person s journey through grief.
In Sunlight or in Shadow by Karen Wilhelm
Trade Paperback; 15 Euro / 19 USD / 10 UK; 136 pages [Add To Basket]
This is the true story of the great "Danny Boy" marathon, held in a small cafe in the small town of Ferndale, Mich. AJ O'Neil had a dream; how could he pay tribute to a song that he so dearly loved which was first sung by him at his fathers funeral, but had become an over sung "joke"at his upstart music cafe. Easy! Just put together a "Danny Boy"marathon, in which over a thousand people, from all walks of life, including Michigan's governor; to sing,strum, pipe, and perform it for 50 non stop hours, gathering the excitement and adoration of the entire world!
O Theagasc Teanga go Sealbhu Teanga: Muineadh agus Foghlaim na Gaeilge ar an Triu Leibheal edited by Riona Ni Fhrighill and Mairin Nic Eoin
Trade Paperback with End Flaps; 15 Euro / 19 USD / 10 UK; 156 pages [Add To Basket]
Ta nios mo mac leinn ag gabhail don Ghaeilge ar an triu leibheal anois na mar a bhi riamh - agus tugann na haisti seo aghaidh fhuarchuiseach ar riachtanais foghlama na mac leinn sin. Is e dearcadh na n-udar go mbraitheann todhchai Leann na Gaeilge ar fheabhas theagasc na teanga fein, chomh maith le cumas aos acaduil na Gaeilge mic leenn a spreagadh le speis a chur i sainreimsi ar leith scolaireachta.
Cen t-am e? by Siobhain Grogan
Hardback; 9 Euro / 12 USD / 6 UK [Add To Basket]
Cen t-am e? Leanann an leabhar seo Saoirse i rith an lae, o mhaidin go hoiche, o am bricfeasta go dti am dul a chodladh. Is feidir leat i a leanuint ag baint usaide as na flapai - is an t-am ceart le haghaidh gach eachtra lae a aimsiu ar an gclog. Oiriunach do phaisti in aois 5-7 mbliana.
GF Woz Ere by Gabriel Fitzmaurice, with illustrations by Stella Macdonald
Paperback; 8 Euro / 11 USD / 6 UK; 84 pages [Add To Basket]
A new collection of poems for older children from one of Ireland’s most loved living poets. From the author of Really Rotten Rhymes comes a collection of poems for older children facing the challanges of growing up.
The Bardic Apostles of Innisfree by Seamus Tansey
Paperback; 15 Euro / 20 USD / 10 UK / 220 pages, with black-and-white photos throughout [Add To Basket]
The second volume of Seamus Tansey's collection of musicians from the Coleman Country - their lives, times and music. Stories of events, both personal and national, interwoven with humorous, reverential, hard hitting, and frank descriptions of musicians, who helped shape Irish traditional music today. Seamus' passion for passing on his beloved music to the next generation in its pure form shines throughout!
50 Great Irish Ballads compiled by Robert Gogan
Paperback with CD; 12 Euro / 18 USD / 9 UK; 82 pages [Add To Basket]
The Irish make great lovers, and these songs prove it! In this book you have all you need to learn to play and sing some of the greatest Irish love songs ever written - the lyrics, guitar chords and simplified music score.
With the second edition of this book the compiler has included the stories behind the songs, wherever possible. His research brought him down many alleyways of folklore, history and legend. He has also included some appropriate illustrations and images to enhance the songs.
The Songs: As I Roved Out, Banks Of Claudy, The Banks Of The Roses, The Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms Black Velvet Band, The Bonny Boy, The Boys From The County Armagh, The Bunch Of Thyme, A Bunclody Butcher Boy, The Carrickfergus Cliffs Of Doneen, The Curragh Of Kildare, The Danny Boy Easy And Slow, Galway Shawl, The German Clockwinder, The Golden Jubilee, The Good Ship Kangaroo, The Gypsy, The Henry My Son Hills Of Kerry, The Home Boys, Home I Know My Love, I Know Where I'm Going, I Never Will Marry, I Once Loved A Lass, I'll Tell Me Ma, Kerry Dances, The Lark In The Morning, The Last Rose Of Summer, The Leaving Of Liverpool, The Love Is Teasing, Maids When You're Young, Meeting Of The Waters, The Mountains Of Mourne, The My Singing Bird, Nightingale, The Nora, Peggy Gordon, Red Is The Rose, Rose Of Allendale, The Rose Of Mooncoin, The Rose Of Tralee, The Sally Gardens, She Moved Through The Fair Sliabh Gallion Brae, Snowy Breasted Pearl, The Twenty-One Years When You Were Sweet Sixteen
Please note: Prices were correct at time of original posting but are subject to subsequent change without notice.
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