Read Ireland Book Reviews
Issue 470
13/14 March 2010
Love of the World: Essays by John McGahern
Hardback; Publishers Suggested Retail Price – 26 Euro. Read Ireland Special Price – 21 Euro / 28 USD / 15 UK; 450 pages
This definitive book brings together all the surviving non-fiction of John McGahern, whose work has entered the canon of modern prose.
While nearly all of McGahern's creative energy went into his novels and stories, his non-fiction writings are of interest to anyone who cares about his work, and to all those interested in the recent history of Ireland and its culture. These writings were many and varied: reviews, essays, speeches and interviews. He rarely reviewed books, but when he did so - often in laconic ways - his insights were profound. On rare occasions, he would make a lucid and farsighted public intervention on large issues that concerned him: sectarianism, women's rights, the power of the church in Ireland. And fiercely discriminating as he was, he delighted in recommending the work of neglected or forgotten writers, such as the American novelist John Williams or the Canadian short story writer Alistair MacLeod.
His discussions of Irish writers who influenced him are generous, brilliant and substantial - among them Michael McLaverty, Ernie O'Malley and Forrest Reid. In many of these essays, McGahern's canon of great writers - Tolstoy, Chekhov, James, Proust and Joyce - is cited many times, with deep and subtle appreciation. Here too is McGahern's account of the life and work of John Butler Yeats, an acute and moving rediscovery of the poet's father.
'Love of the World' also contains surprises like the pieces he wrote on his travels (to Morocco, Paris and the Newcastle Hippodrome), and haunting descriptions of his native Leitrim and the tense border region between Ireland North and South. The book enriches our understanding of one of the finest writers Ireland has given the world in the last century.
Wildflowers of Cork City and County by Tony O’Mahony
Hardback; 30 Euro / 40 USD / 22 UK; 438 pages, with full colour photos throughout [Add To Basket]
Cork is the largest county in Ireland yet no general account of the flora of this extensive area exists. This work, comprehensive and enjoyable, is an enduring contribution to an understanding of our flora. Beginning with an account of the recording of Cork flora since 1745, the book then describes the floristic features of the county and city. A handsome mix of photography, maps and information, each chapter focuses on a specific habitat. Modern and historical botanical studies are combined to describe the particular species of each habitat, while plants unique to a habitat are highlighted. Attention is also drawn to species with special features, culinary and medicinal uses, distinctively scented or highly poisonous. Cork City and Cork Harbour are each accorded their own chapter, given their remarkable floral and ecological diversity. Over 200 species are included, both naturalised and native. Technical terms are kept to a minimum and explained in a glossary, while the text is clear and well organised. From the serious botanist to anyone needing a quick tool for identification, no one interested in Irish flora should be without this book, a classic of its kind
Border Crossing: George Clarke
Large Format Paperback; 15 Euro / 20 USD / 10 UK;
In the beginning there was little or no co-operation or contact between the RUC and the Gardaí. Clarke tells of how he and Special Branch officers in the south began to co-operate in the battle against the Provisional IRA — often without the knowledge of their superiors. This co-operation was to save many lives, and was strengthened as the political situation deteriorated.
The IRA was infiltrated north and south of the border; he tells many hair-raising stories of real events. He recalls how intelligence sources led to the arrest of Gerry Kelly, and the Price sisters, Marion and Dolours, for the 1973 London bombings.
There are other stories: Charlie Haughey confiscating surveillance equipment and using it in his own office; how the SAS operated on both sides of the border and some incidents in which they were involved; Clarke’s involvement with Robert Nairac, an astonishing man; a proposed bombing of the Kevin Street Offices of Provisional Sinn Féin in Dublin which was abandoned. He tells a story about attending an IRA commemoration ceremony and how he and his Garda friend had to wear black berets for that occasion.
In this book Clarke tells tales of what the conflict was really like on the ground, and the extraordinary lengths many brave police officers, north and south, went to in order to bring it to an end.
Ma, It’s a Cold Aul Night an I’m Lookin for a Bed by Martha Long
Large Format Paperback; 12 Euro / 18 USD / 9 UK; 346 pages [Add To Basket]
In the third installment of Martha Long's real-life account of abuse, deprivation and cruelty at the hands of her parents and the establishment, Martha is now sixteen, her time at the convent school is up. In "Ma, It's a Cauld Aul Night and I'm Lookin for a Bed", she leads us through her first months of freedom. With no friends or family to act as a safety net, Martha leaves the convent wearing a new set of clothes the nuns bought her, a suitcase with a second set of old clothes and a burning ambition to shake off her impoverished past. Hungry to become a person who will blend in with the middle classes, Martha yearns to be accepted as someone who can be loved, respected, and one day have a home of her own where she will be safe. But this is 1960s Dublin, where poverty is rife and the church works together with the Irish government to keep the poor and the ignorant in their place. Having been trained to work as a domestic by the nuns in the convent, Martha finds work as a skivvy, but finds that low pay and little free time is all she gets for her endeavors. This does not deter Martha. 'Life is a bowl of cherries!' she likes to think when the going is good. But further heartache awaits as people turn her away and predators await in the shadows.
Flown the Nest by Hanna Greally
Paperback; 10 Euro / 14 USD / 7 UK; 126 pages [Add To Basket]
Hanna Greally spent the best part of the 1940s and 1950s incarcerated in a psychiatric hospital in the Irish Midlands. In her first book "Birds Nest Soup" she recounted with vivid detail the terrible suffering she endured there. Hanna's story continues with account of her life in Coolamber Manor Rehabilitation Centre in Co. Longford, the place from where she hoped to gain freedom 'prodigously and for ever' and to 'soon be a citizen, vote, earn money, even do crosswords and perhaps become well off'. If Hanna became part of the civil dead in St. Loman's we can now, for the first time, read alongside her restoration to citizenship and to personal autonomy. After St Loman's Hanna stands at the door to another institution - this one without bars or punishment cells - to become the first person to cross the threshold of the new state run rehabilitation center. Here too, the story of cookery classes, renewed-first freedoms, the giddiness of young women together (and Hanna like an indulgent mother amongst them) is best told in Hanna's own words. Coolamber Manor ends with Hanna taking her first paid job in Ireland - she doesn't state so in the book but it was in Galway. Within some time, she moved again and eventually made her way to England where she worked as many single Irish women did, in service as cook or housekeeper. Several years and several different jobs later, she finally came to rest in a stable home of sorts, as a housekeeper for a retired doctor.
Eighteenth-Century Ireland: The Long Peace by Ian McBride
Large Format Paperback; 22 Euro / 28 USD / 15 UK; 300 pages [Add To Basket]
The eighteenth-century was the heyday of the Protestant ascendancy. McBride, however, acknowledges that the greatest advance in the history of the time has been the recovery of Catholic attitudes during the zenith of the ascendancy. McBride insists on the continuity of Catholic politics and traditions right through the century, so that the nationalist explosion in the 1790s is seen not as a sudden earthquake, but as the maturing of an underground tradition. This holistic survey cuts past the cliches and lazy thinking that has characterised our understanding of the eighteenth century. It sets a template for future understanding of that time.
Deep Deception: Ireland’s Swimming Scandals by Justine McCarthy
Paperback; 12 Euro / 17 USD / 9 UK; 255 pages [Add To Basket]
In recent years, the world of Irish swimming was shattered by an appalling series of child sexual abuse scandals. Renowned swimming coaches George Gibney, Derry O'Rourke and Frank McCann have become synonymous with some of the worst crimes against children ever to come before the Irish courts. These coaches, the most respected in the sport, preyed on young swimmers. They exploited their dreams of greatness and betrayed the trust of their parents. Between them, they are believed to have left hundreds of victims in their wake. And the failure of the sport's authorities to respond adequately to complaints paved the way for the abuse of many more young victims. In candid interviews, survivors outline the effects of the abuse - psychiatric illnesses, broken marriages, financial hardship, and alcohol and drug addiction. This book examines the structures of Irish swimming, looks at the reasons these men escaped justice for so long and assesses the measures that have been taken to protect children in the aftermath of the scandals.
Mean Streets: Limerick’s Ganglands by Barry Duggan
Paperback; 12 Euro / 17 USD / 9 UK; 282 pages, with two 8-page black-and-white photo inserts [Add To Basket]
This is a tale of two cities. Limerick city centre erupts with pride and glory as Munster seizes the Heineken Cup. The strife-ridden suburb of Moyross echoes with the screams of burning children. How did this vibrant, modern, sporting city become home to a ruthless criminal underworld? Barry Duggan reveals exclusive information on topics such as the rise of the gangs, the escalation of violence, the innocent victims and the Garda attempts to regain control of the city.
Rags to Riches: The Story of Munster Rugby by Barry Coughlan
Large Format Paperback; 28 Euro / 36 USD / 20 UK; 260 pages, with full colour photos throughout [Add To Basket]
Munster's pursuit of rugby glory has been long, often heartbreaking but also inspiring. The seeds for their ascent into the pantheon of great teams were sown long before Munster's current success, built on a reputation as a fearsome side for touring teams to play. The day Munster beat the All Blacks at Thomond Park by 12 points to nil will be forever ingrained in the minds of Munster rugby fans. That game on 31 October 1978 is enshrined in the annals of the game but other noble achievements by different Munster teams over the years have not been given the same recognition. Munster threw down the gauntlet to successive touring teams with no respect for reputation or achievement, as reflected in the magnificent 1992 victory over Bob Dwyer's Australia, then the reigning World Champions. This story begins with the recollections of 82-year-old Jim McCarthy, capped from 1948 to 1955 when Ireland won the Grand Slam, Triple Crown and Five Nations, and the first Munster player to captain Ireland in 1954. Modern day heroes Tom Kiernan, Noel Murphy, Moss Keane, Keith Wood and Paul O'Connell take readers behind the scenes. Former champions and pundits contribute accounts of acclaimed performances against touring superpowers the All Blacks, Springboks and Wallabies. Overseas signings such as Jim Williams and Rua Tipoki lend an international flavour to the story. Lavishly illustrated with colour and black & white images, this is a must for all rugby fans. Relive the draw with Australia in 1958, victory over them in 1967, the first European Cup win in 2006 and many more triumphs. Munster has emerged as a team to be respected and have stamped class and authority on the northern hemisphere game.
Roly’s Café & Bakery Book by Paolo Tulio
Large Format Paperback; 20 Euro / 28 USD / 15 UK; with colour photos throughout [Add To Basket]
Packed full of vibrant salads, hearty soups, tempting main courses, delicious desserts and good home baking, this book features recipes for every occasion from a light family lunch to a dinner party with friends. Learn how to create classic cafe dishes at home like French onion soup and goat's cheese tart or indulge in some baking with recipes such as bakewell tart and chocolate biscuit cake. This beautiful cookbook is more then just a collection of appetizing dishes: it reflects a changing Ireland and our desire for wholesome, nutritious food that tastes great. Roly's Cafe and Bakery goes behind the scenes of the busy restaurant and cafe and tells the story of the people and customers who make it the vibrant business it is, while offering readers the chance to recreate the wonderful Roly's experience at home. 'These are recipes for everyone - they don't require special equipment or specialist skills. Think of them as a guide to more interesting food that can be made in your own kitchen.' Paolo Tullio
About the Author & Photographer: Paolo Tullio is one of Ireland's best known food writers. He is the restaurant reviewer and wine correspondent for the Irish Independent and also contributes articles on lifestyle and travel to Food and Wine Magazine. Paolo is a resident critic on RTE's hit show The Restaurant. Paul Cartwright is Chef de Cuisine in Roly's Bistro. Born in Dublin, he trained in Ireland and France, and worked in The Savoy Hotel with chef and author Anton Edelman and La Tante Claire in London before returning to Dublin in 1996 to join the bistro. David Walsh trained as a chef in Tallaght IT and has worked for Roly's since graduating. He now leads the bakery team, having completed an advanced pastry degree. He has also completed a catering art degree and has a keen interest in the origin of food, photography and drama. The Photographer Neil Macdougald is a photographer based in Dublin. He specialises in food and advertising photography, working for many leading companies. He was the photographer for Roly's Bistro -The Restaurant and its Food.
The Shorebirds of Ireland: In Words and Pictures by Jim Wilson
Large Format Paperback; 23 Euro / 30 USD / 18 UK; 160 pages, with full colour photos throughout [Add To Basket]
Sandpipers and plovers are among the many shorebirds that live between the tides in Ireland, on mudflats and shingle, in estuaries and lagoons, on beaches and bays. Jim Wilson and Mark Carmody introduce this world and its birds, which we have all seen but may know little about. Description of how they adapted to this often harsh environment, and how they evolved ways of exploiting the food supply, is followed by an account of their amazing annual migrations between Ireland and places such as arctic Canada and Siberia. One chapter describes the special role of Iceland in the lives of many shorebirds. The species portraits of those most likely to be seen in Ireland are enhanced with outstanding images paying homage to the beauty and variety of these birds. Mark Carmody spent hundreds of hours in search of these photographs to capture the essence and beauty of our shorebirds and their environment. Jim Wilson s text is again informative and engaging, sure to increase appreciation and understanding of these birds and where they live.
The Story of the Cope by Patrick Boner
Large Format Paperback; 25 Euro / 30 USD / 20 UK; 604 pages [Add To Basket]
The story of the Templecrone Co-operative Society is one of triumph against almost impossible odds. Founded in 1906 in Cleendra, a small rocky townland four miles outside Dungloe in west Donegal, the Cope, as it is universally and affectionately known, became one of the largest co-operatives in Ireland. It was acclaimed by the Irish Co-Operative movement and by commentators across the world as a model of what a determined community could achieve in the most unpromising of circumstances. In the process, it overcame an economic system which had institutionalised seasonal migration to Scotland, emigration to America and the child slavery of working away in the Lagan. From a small agricultural supply business, the Cope quickly developed a breathtaking array of businesses: a chain of eight retail stores, a knitwear factory, a bakery and, in the 1940s, a fleet of boats for its fishing co-operative. It expanded into soapstone mining, granite quarrying, milling and brought electricity to Dungloe over 30 years before the ESB’s Rural Electrification Scheme.
The story is one of a resilient community working together in a spirit of cooperation, and courage in the face of adversity. The central figure is Paddy the Cope, who left school aged nine for the hiring fair in Strabane and for Scotland when he was 16 where he worked, like so many Donegal people had to then, on the land and in the oil shale and coal mines. However he never forgot where he came from and who his people were. On his return, he was determined to do what he could to improve their lot. Paddy captured this stirring tale with style and humour in his acclaimed autobiography, My Story, still regarded as a classic piece of storytelling and social commentary. This book, supplemented by Paddy’s wife Sally’s recently unearthed stories, written in the 1940s, illustrates the Cope’s first hundred years through new research material, personal memories and over 400 photographs.
Vintage Crop by Dermot Weld
Hardback; 23 Euro / 28 USD / 19 UK; full colour photos throughout [Add To Basket]
Vintage Crop won sixteen races in Ireland and England between 1992 and 1995, but his fame rested on his unique achievement in 1993 when he became the first overseas horse to win the Melbourne Cup. The conventional wisdom was that it was impossible for a Northern hemisphere horse to make the long trip to Australia and be in any condition to compete at Melbourne. Vintage Crop, which had suffered every vicissitude possible in terms of injury and frustrated preparation earlier in his career, proved the conventional wisdom wrong. And just to show that it was no fluke, Dermot Weld repeated the trick in 2002 when he won the Melbourne Cup with Media Puzzle. The Racing Post has rated the victory of Vintage Crop at Melbourne as the single greatest training feat in the entire history of horse racing. This is the story of how it was done, by the man who did it.
Please note: Prices were correct at time of original posting but are subject to subsequent change without notice.
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