Read Ireland Book Reviews
Issue 362 - 13 January 2007
Collected Poems by Michael Longley
Hardback; Publishers Recommended Price: 40 Euro. Read Ireland Book Review Special Price: 32 Euro / 40 USD / 18 UK; 350 pages
Michael Longley has been called ‘one of the finest lyric poets of our time’. In assembling the work of forty years, his Collected Poems displays a brilliantly sustained achievement, whose depth, beauty and wit can now be fully appreciated. Longley’s poetry combines intense concentration with remarkable variety. The formal and thematic range laid down in No Continuing City (1969) has undergone a series of rich metamorphoses up to Snow Water (2004), and the two new poems included here as an epilogue.
Longley’s genres span love poetry, war poetry, nature poetry, elegies, satires, verse epistles, poems that reflect on art and the art of poetry. He has extended the capacity of the lyric to absorb dark matter: the Great War, the Holocaust, the Northern Irish ‘Troubles’. His poetic landscape intermingles Belfast (where he lives), western Ireland, Italy, Japan and Homeric Greece. Longley’s superb translations from classical poets (such as ‘Ceasefire’, which greets the IRA ceasefire in terms of the Iliad) speak to contemporary issues.
A Gaelic Experiment: The Preparatory System 1926-1961 and Colaiste Moibhi by Valerie Jones
Large Format Paperback; 30 Euro / 39 USD / 24 UK; 319 pages [Add To Basket]
This is a fascinating story of efforts by successive governments to gaelicise Irish education. To enable teachers to become proficient at Irish, the preparatory system was established in 1926. It consisted of seven residential colleges providing second-level education for student teachers; each a 'mini' Gaeltacht with all activities conducted through Irish. Entry was gained through a highly competitive examination which favoured Gaeltacht students. Throughout its 35-year existence, the system was strongly opposed by the INTO and by the Department of Finance. These are some of the absorbing aspects of the story; others include the sudden closure of Colaiste Chaoimhin in 1939; and the role of notable figures of the period such as Archbishop McQuaid, Bishop Browne of Galway; de Valera, Ernest Blythe, Richard Mulcahy, Sean MacEntee, and Thomas Derrig. The story of Colaiste Moibhi, the Protestant college, and its contribution to the survival of the religious minority, is included.
Social Policy in Ireland: Principles, Practice and Problems edited by Sean Healy, Brigid Reynolds and Micheal Collins
Large Format Paperback; 28 Euro / 36 USD / 20 UK; 470 pages
In Social Policy in Ireland, 28 of the leading social policy commentators in Ireland contribute to 22 chapters ranging across the social policy spectrum. Some chapters look at issues of principle, others analyse practice while others focus on specific policy problems. Together the contributors provide a detailed analysis of a wide range of issues, articulate viable alternatives and identify pathways to move towards such alternatives. They also address the frameworks, models and paradigms which underpin policy analysis and policy-making in Ireland.
This unique publication, which draws on the expertise of people in economics, sociology, political science, social administration and policy-making, will be of widespread interest. It will be required reading for students of social policy and public administration, policymakers, activists and others who wish to analyse social issues and to generate change.
This second revised and updated edition of Social Policy in Ireland marks the 25th anniversary of the estsablishment of the Justice Commission of the Conference of Religious of Ireland (CORI Justice). It builds on and develops many of the major themes addressed over the past two decades in the annual social policy conferences organised by CORI Justice.
The Dubs: Dublin GAA since the 1940s by Sean Og O Ceallachain
Hardback; 25 Euro / 31 USD / 18 UK; 182 pages, with full colour and black-and-white photos throughout [Add To Basket]
This book traces the ups and downs of the Dublin hurling and football teams during and after World War II. With a text by the unique Sean Og O Ceallachain, himself a former senior Dublin player in both codes and one of Ireland's best-loved broadcasters, this is the ideal guide to the fortunes of the GAA in Dublin over sixty years. In that time, the Dubs have been through the tremendous highs and crushing lows of one of the most closely watched county teams in Ireland. The year 1942 was a unique triumph, with the Dubs reaching both finals; winning the football, but losing the hurling. In 1958, Dublin raised the Sam Maguire Cup and began a revival of Gaelic football in the county that has lasted to this day. Success followed again in 1963 and three times during the glorious seventies under Kevin Heffernan's management: in 1974, 1976 and 1977. Since then, however, the only triumphs have come in 1983 and 1995. No examination of the Dubs' history would be complete without a look at the famous Dublin-Meath saga of 1991. Rivalry between the two counties was intense and on 8 July, after playing three heroic games, the two teams lined out for the fourth in front of a crowd of over 61,000. The following 70 minutes were some of the most anticipated in GAA history and the Dubs' loss by just a single point illustrates how fiercely the battle was fought. All this and more is covered in "The Dubs", a must for every fan.
Golf: The Mind Factor by Darren Clarke and Karl Morris
Hardback; 28 Euro / 35 USD / 19 UK; 185 pages
The definitive guide to the mental side of golf, written by the massively popular multiple tournament-winning Ryder Cup golfer Darren Clarke. Darren Clarke, the hugely charismatic golfer from Northern Ireland, has a formidable record in three Ryder Cups as well as in international tournaments. He has beaten Tiger Woods in the Accenture 36 hole match final - one of the world's great tournaments. Here he uses his own experience to emphasise the mental aspect of golf and its vital importance to the game in this instructional book. However good the technical swing of a golfer, it will be of little use if he or she is not in control of the all-important mental game. In 'Golf - The Mind Factor', Darren Clarke guides the despairing and sometimes suicidal golfer through the nightmare scenarios that fill him with fear. Giving credit to Karl Morris, his own 'Dr Golf', Darren highlights the specific problems that have caused intermittent hiccups in his outstanding career, and answers queries that all golfers will be grateful for. This immensely helpful, well-structured book will appeal immediately to all amateur golfers and those who want to improve their game.
Beating Them At Their Own Game: How the Irish Conquered English Soccer by Patrick West
Paperback; 15 Euro / 18 USD / 11 UK; 240 pages
Soccer used to be regarded as a foreign sport in Ireland, derided as an alien and essentially Anglo-Saxon game, the 'garrison game' that no true Irishman would play. But this has all changed. Not only have the Irish taken soccer to their heart, they have taught the nation that gave the game - the same nation that ruled them for 800 years - how to play it. Beating Them at Their Own Game charts the involvement of Irish players in English soccer over the last forty years and discusses how they have in many ways changed the face of soccer in that country.
In Beating Them at Their Own Game Patrick West examines the success of Irish footballers in England in the post-war era, from Pat Jennings to Martin O'Neill, Kevin Moran, Frank Stapleton, David O'Leary, Mick McCarthy, Niall Quinn and Roy and Robbie Keane. It also deals with the success of Northern Irish players - George Best, Sammy McIlroy and Norman Whiteside - the consummation of Ireland's ascendancy with their victory over England in the 1988 European Championships; Tony Cascarino's admission that he is not Irish; and the debates about how "Irish" the international team was and is; and the way in which the favour has been returned, with Jack Charlton and now Bobby Robson coaching the Irish side.
On another level it is a microcosm of how Ireland and Anglo-Irish relations have changed in recent years; how Ireland has become more multiracial and tolerant of "foreign games"; and how the English have lost their ancient hostility towards the Irish and now in many ways have warmed to them. What is more, everyone likes it when a foreigner - Patrick West is from England - writes flatteringly and appreciatively about another culture (consider Bill Bryson's success in England; Paul Johnson in America; or Terry Eagleton and Pete McCarthy on Ireland).
Munster: Our Road to Glory by Alan English
Hardback; 25 Euro / 30 USD / 20 UK; 288 pages, full colour photos throughout [Add To Basket]
Munster's victory in the 2006 Heineken Cup was the culmination of an epic journey to the pinnacle of European club rugby. This book tells the story of that journey, in the players' own words. Based on exclusive interviews by Alan English with all of the 22-man squad whose names have already gone down in history, "Munster: Our Road to Glory" is the complete inside account of how they did it. The thrilling victory over Biarritz in the final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff was only the last in a series of matches in which the Munster team - and their legion of fans - created a legend. After a series of narrow defeats in European finals and semi-finals, the 2006 Munster team would not be denied. This book tells the story of the near-misses of previous years, and re-lives every tackle and try of the 2006 campaign, from the last-gasp, bonus-point victory over Sale at a delirious Thomond Park, through the glorious defeat of Castres on a bitterly cold night in France, to the comprehensive victory over Leinster at Lansdowne Road, when Munster's passionate fans vastly outnumbered their Leinster rivals in their own back yard. With searing honesty, Munster's players talk about the defeats of the past and their own personal reasons for needing to beat Biarritz and lift the elusive cup. Alan English also talks to the fans, who tell moving stories of how much the team means to them and how they celebrated their finest hour. Comprehensively illustrated with match photos by the Inpho team, and by Billy Stickland's stunning and exclusive series of shots of the players in their dressing room after the match, as well as a remarkable series of pictures of Team Munster with the Cup, "Munster: Our Road to Glory" is the ultimate account of an achivement that will be talked about for ever.
A Biographical Dictionary of Cork by Tim Cadogan and Jeremiah Falvey
Hardback; 35 Euro / 43 USD / 27 UK; 366 pages [Add To Basket]
This book is an original and comprehensive exposition of both native and "settler" Corkonians, covering such areas as politics, industry, sport, church history etc. Over 1600 entries are treated in alphabetical order with a relevant topographical index of those born both in the City and County of Cork. Of special interest would be the entries of those people, both native and otherwise, who have contributed much to the Cork area and are largely forgotten. Both editors are natives of County Cork and, collectively, have wide experience in genealogy and local history. The book will have wide appeal to readers of both casual and academic backgrounds and, probably most importantly to the curious. Famous profiles include those of Michael Collins, Rory Gallagher and Christy Ring.
Great GAA Moments 2006 by Finbarr McCarthy
Large Format Paperback; 20 Euro / 26 USD / 14 UK; 238 pages, with full colour photos throughout [Add To Basket]
Recalls the stories that made the headlines, reveals the drama behind the scenes, and portrays the colour and excitement of the big match days. Accompanied by action shots from the field, this book brings to the reader images and tales of a spectacular season in Gaelic sport.
Rough Shooting in Ireland by Douglas Butler
Hardback; 27 Euro / 33 USD / 21 UK; 183 pages with full colour photos throughout [Add To Basket]
For those who shoot game in Ireland, the sporting oportunities are many and varied. There are the challenges of snipe in the marshes and wet pasturelands; woodcock in the forests and scrubland; grouse in the heather uplands and pheasants and wood pigeon in all the counties. Vast flocks of golden plover descend on the country as autumn progresses. Mallard, wigeon, teal, shoveller and many other species of duck abound on Ireland's loughs, bogs and marshlands. With so many game birds about it is hardly surprising that game shooting is a popular sport throughout the country. Douglas Butler is well-informed about the state of rough shooting in ireland, and well-practised in the techniques. As well as sharing his knowledge, he caputres vividly the pleasures of rough shooting in rural Ireland: the camaraderie of the shooting party, the joys of days spent tramping across unspoilt countryside in search of game in the company of pointers, springers and setters, and the thrills of the hunt. This informative book opens with a fascinating historical backgorund to the sport, and ends with robust views about how it should be controlled and safeguarded for the future. Irish rough shooting has its own unique qualities and there is usually a delightful informality to it which is so different to the approach elsewhere in Europe. This is a book to be treasured by all game shooters.
No One Wants You: A Memoir of a Child Forced Into Prostitution by Celine Roberts
Trade Paperback; 13 Euro / 16 USD / 9 UK; 290 pages [Add To Basket]
The first rape was at age 7, in her communion dress. The next was two months later. Then Celine was considered initiated into the ways of sex. Illegitimate and unwanted, she was now ready to be a professional prostitute - with her foster mother as her pimp. Her bones were broken, her nose was broken, she ate wax candles in the church to stay alive - she just thought she was being punished. After six long years 13-year-old Celine was finally rescued and sent to an Industrial School. She tried to pick up the pieces of her shattered life and only a few years later started training to be a nurse. She also began the search for her parents. But her battered survival instincts could barely sustain the shock that came with that knowledge.
The Irish Spirit: Recipes Inspired by the Legendary Drinks of Ireland by Margaret Johnson
Large Format Paperback; 20 Euro / 26 USD / 14 UK; 160 pages, with full colour illustrations throughout [Add To Basket]
The Irish Spirit combines the Emerald Isle's favorite recipes with a touch of ale, stout, cider, or whiskey, creating terrific new flavor combinations. Whether scallops and shrimp are poached in single-malt whiskey, tender brisket is simmered in ale and topped with a golden cheese cobbler, or old-time pineapple upside-down cake is updated with a buttery, toffee liqueur topping, each recipe is enhanced by Ireland's famous spirits. In addition to the terrific recipes is the fascinating history of Irish whiskey, stories of classic events like Belfast's popular Pub Crawl, and the origins of the infamous "black and tan," making this spirited cookbook a delight for all with a touch of the Irish.
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Reading the Irish Landscape by Frank Mitchell and Michael RyanLarge Format Paperback; 25 Euro / 30 USD / 20 UK; 392 pages, with full colour and black-and-white photos throughout [Add To Basket]
Frank Mitchell and Michael Ryan have successfully undertaken the task of giving in one book the story of the shaping of the land from the beginning of time until now, by all the varying forces of nature, sea, climate, man and machine. The story takes in the shaping of the crust, the movement of glaciers, the first men and their primitive agriculture, their buildings and their effects on the forests, the growth of bogs, new migrations, the rise of the monasteries of the Early Christians and the castles of conquest, the devastation of war, urban growth, modern agriculture and afforestation, all set against the backdrop of the landscape, arguably one of Ireland's most precious resources.
The Concise History of Ireland by Sean Duffy
Large Format Paperback; 17 Euro / 24 USD / 10 UK [Add To Basket]
This attractive one-volume survey tells the story of Ireland from earliest times to the present. The text is complemented by 200 illustrations, including maps, photographs and diagrams. Sean Duffy, the general editor of the bestselling Atlas of Irish History , has written a text of exceptional clarity. Duffy stresses the enduring themes of his story: the long cultural continuity; the central importance of Ireland's relationships with Britain and mainland Europe; and the intractability of the ethnic and national divisions in modern Ulster. As a specialist in medieval Irish history, he gives the earlier period its due treatment - unlike most such surveys - thus introducing these recurring themes at an early stage.
Gregory Carr, Independent Bookseller
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