Read Ireland Book Reviews
Issue 354
Michael Collins and the Women Who Spied for Ireland by Meda Ryan
Paperback; 13 Euro / 16.50 USD / 9.50 UK; 225 pages
Michael Collins has exercised an enduring fascination since his untimely death in 1922 at the age of thirty-one. This is the first book to concentrate on an aspect of his life and work hitherto overlooked: the crucial role played by women in his personal and working life. From his boyhood in an overwhelmingly female household in West Cork onwards, women brought out the best in him and he brought out the best in women. Susan Killeen, his first girlfriend from his London days, remained a steadfast ally throughout the years of the Troubles. From 1917, his girlfriend, Madeline (Dilly) Dicker, vivacious and talented, helped to ease the burden of his huge workload as well as acting as a secret agent. Society ladies Moya Llewylen Davies and Lady Hazel Lavery were conduits between Collins and the British Establishment and active participants in his work of espionage. In the final years of his life the true romantic passion between him and Kitty Kiernan is testified to by their frequent correspondence. These woman and many others who participated in the national struggle, women such as Kathleen Clarke, Leslie Price de Barra, Peg Barrett, Nancy O'Brien, Madge Hales and Collins's sister Mary Collins Powell, are woven into this fascinating narrative of Collins's life.
Ireland’s Minstrel: A Life of Tom Moore Poet, Patriot and Byron’s Friend by Linda Kelly
Hardback; 30 Euro / 36 USD / 20 UK; 250 pages [Add To Basket]
'He will live in his "Irish Melodies", they will go down to posterity with the music; both will last as long as Ireland, or as music and poetry' - Lord Byron. In this enthralling new biography of Thomas Moore, Linda Kelly evokes the life and times of a great Irish writer - romantic poet, political satirist, pioneering biographer and above all creator of the "Irish Melodies", those heartfelt lyrics set to traditional Irish airs by which he is best remembered. Tom Moore, a Dublin grocer's son, was a student at Trinity College, Dublin, at the time of the doomed Irish rising of 1798. The experience intensified his sense of identity as an Irish Catholic, and though his charm and talents won him entry to the highest reaches of English society, he never lost sight of his own country's causes, and through his songs and satires became one of Ireland's most eloquent and persuasive advocates. Immensely successful in his lifetime, though always dogged by poverty, Moore was ranked with Walter Scott and Byron; his oriental epic Lalla Rookh was more widely translated than any other poem of the period. But like most modern readers Moore himself was in no doubt about the pre-eminence of the Irish Melodies, still known and loved on both sides of the Atlantic. The recent discovery of Moore's original journals provides fascinating new material on Moore's social and literary life, not least the vexed episode of the burning of Byron's memoirs. Linda Kelly draws extensively on these to give a warm and insightful picture of one of the most delightful figures of the age, capturing the charm of Whig society and casting new light on his relationship with Byron.
Ireland and the Global Question by Michael J. O’Sullvan
Hardback; 30 Euro / 39 USD / 21 UK; 215 pages
Angel Gurría, OECD Secretary General "Ireland and the Global Question" is a sound intellectual journey
Professor Cormac Ó Gráda, University College Dublin This book about globalization is also global in its references and its reading. I don’t know anything quite like it.
Ireland is often used as a test case for globalisation, and it has been heralded as one of the great success stories. Michael O'Sullivan presents the globalisation of Ireland in the context of international trends in economics, international relations and politics. His multi-disciplinary approach uncovers many of the weaknesses that lie behind the complacent and cliched view of the Celtic Tiger. In the examination of Ireland's great leap forward from developing to post-industrial economy, "Ireland and the Global Question" offers valuable lessons for other countries.
The Phoenix Park Murders: Conspiracy, Betrayal and Retribution by Senan Molony
Paperback; 13 Euro / 16.50 USD / 9.50 UK; 280 pages [Add To Basket]
In May, 1882, the Number One administrator of the British government in Ireland and his Number Two are assassinated by men wielding deadly surgical knives, while the pair are walking in the Phoenix Park. The killings are witnessed from the Viceregal Lodge, now Aras an Uachtarain, the official residence of her majesty's representative in Ireland. One of the dead men is Lord Frederick Cavendish - who is married to the niece of the prime minister, William Ewart Gladstone. The other man is Thomas Henry Burke, the head of the Irish Civil Service, a man denounced by Nationalists as the leading 'Castle Rat' in the British 'occupation'. The British government must solve this crime. But there are no clues. The witness descriptions are inconclusive and the local police do not know where to begin. Forensic evidence is non-existent, and they must try to penetrate the Fenian underworld. But even here, no one knows anything because the audacious crime has been carried out by an entirely new group, one styling itself the 'Irish Invincibles'.
The Burning of Bridget Cleary: A True Story by Angela Bourke
Paperback 14 Euro / 18 USD / 9 UK; 240 pages
In 1895 twenty-six-year-old Bridget Cleary disappeared from her house in rural Tipperary. At first, some said that the fairies had taken her into their stronghold in a nearby hill, from where she would emerge, riding a white horse. But then her badly burned body was found in a shallow grave. Her husband, father, aunt and four cousins were arrested and charged, while newspapers in nearby Clonmel, and then in Dublin, Cork, London and further afield attempted to make sense of what had happened. In this lurid and fascinating episode, set in the last decade of the nineteenth century, we witness the collision of town and country, of storytelling and science, of old and new. The torture and burning of Bridget Cleary caused a sensation in 1895 which continues to reverberate more than a hundred years later.
In St Patrick’s Footsteps by Alf McCreary
Paperback; 10 Euro / 13 USD / 7 UK; 130 pages
When St. Patrick first set foot in Ireland, it was as a captured slave with an uncertain future in a little-known country. But following his conversion and eventual escape back to his homeland (thought to be either in Wales or Scotland), he had a dream which changed his life and the future of Ireland and so Patrick came back to Ireland as a missionary. Alf McCreary takes us back through time "In St Patrick's Footsteps" to the places which the saint visited according to folklore, explaining the events which happened at each place. Even today, many of the places can be seen by visitors and Alf includes directions and visitor information for each. The locations include: Downpatrick, Saul, St. Patrick Cathedral in Dublin, Armagh, Croagh Patrick, Lough Derg, Slemish and many more.
Gridlock: Dublin’s Transport Crisis and the Future of the City by James Wickham
Paperback; 14 Euro / 17 USD / 9 UK; 256 pages [Add To Basket]
This book explains how Dublin - Ireland - got into its current transport mess and shows that its consequences are worse than we think. As a case study, it is a lesson for any major city worldwide. Living in Dublin without a car is almost impossible. This is not some inevitable by-product of the 'Celtic Tiger', since international comparisons show that inhabitants of wealthy and economically successful cities often have comparatively low levels of car usage. Dublin has become car dependent due to a lack of planning and as a result of extensive suburban sprawl, road development and no coordinated integrated public transport network. For Dublin, the slogan 'Boston or Berlin' is optimistic - the most likely destination is not even Los Angeles but Bangkok, the world's most famous traffic jam. This book maps a road for change for an issue that effects everyone in greater Dublin.
The Creaky Traveler in Ireland: Clare, Kerry and West Cork: A Journey for the Mobile but Not Agile by Warren Rovetch
Paperback; 17 Euro / 21 USD / 12 UK; 295 pages [Add To Basket]
This is the second in Warren Rovetch's "Creaky Traveler" series of entertaining and informative travelogues that include tips for "the mobile but not agile". This time, Rovetch goes to the Irish counties of Clare, Kerry, and West Cork, staying in charming B&Bs but also getting to know the locals. He mixes history and culture with sightseeing to give us a very personal look at the places and people he visits. Warren Rovetch, whose unique travelogue of his trek through Scotland was recommended by NPR, now brings to life the culture, history, and wondrous natural beauty of Ireland. Part travel story and part guidebook - but all charm and wit - this book transports us to another culture. Interesting for all readers, "The Creaky Traveler in Ireland" is a holiday in itself. It will appeal to all those who, while not planning a trip, are nonetheless captivated by the culture and natural beauty of the Emerald Isle. Particularly helpful to more mature travelers, the book includes lots of advice for executing smooth trips.
The Far Side of the World: Irish Servicemen in the Korean War, 1950-53 by James Durney
Trade Paperback; 15 Euro / 18 USD / 11 UK; 250 pages [Add To Basket]
On 25 June 1950 the North Korean People’s Army launched a surprise attack across the 38th Parallel, the border between communist North Korea and the Republic of South Korea. Within days American ground troops were committed to Korea and with them many Irishmen, recent emigrants to America, who were serving in the US Army on occupation duties in Japan. Several weeks later more Irish soldiers arrived as Britain committed a brigade to the United Nations cause. Hundreds of Irishmen from the Royal Ulster Rifles and the Irish Hussars arrived in the besieged port of Pusan preparing for the UN breakout and re-conquest of South Korea and the re-unification of all Korea by force of arms. This UN mandate was interrupted by the intervention of China and the Korean War dragged on for another three years resulting in millions of casualties. This is the first book to access the involvement of Irish soldiers in the Korean War, the first conflict of the Cold War.
Con Cremin: Ireland’s Wartime Diplomat by Niall Keogh
Trade Paperback; 20 Euro / 26 USD / 14 UK; 352 pages [Add To Basket]
Relying on a range of personal papers and diplomatic material from Ireland and France, "Con Cremin: Ireland's Wartime Diplomat" is the first biography of this leading Irish career diplomat. Cremin was sent to all of the major Irish missions abroad, Paris and Vichy in the late 1930s, Berlin during the later years of the war, on to Lisbon before concluding his service back in headquarters in Dublin. His diplomatic life was fascinating largely because of the timing and relevance of his postings. His career gives many insights into the role of the Irish state in a time of upheaval in Europe.
Golf Map of Ireland
Map; 8 Euro / 10 USD / 6 UK [Add To Basket]
This is a full colour map at 7.5 miles to 1 inch with golf courses clearly shown. 18 and 9 hole courses are plotted on the map and listed with their website address and telephone numbers. Main features include: This clear touring map includes all the golf courses in Ireland that are affiliated with the 'Golfing in Ireland' association. They are clearly marked up and cross referenced to a listing on the front of the map. It includes: clear easy-to-use road map at a scale of 7.5 miles to 1 inch; both 18 and 9 hole golf courses clearly marked; website addresses and telephone numbers for all golf courses listed; full index to place names; large scale inset maps of Dublin and Belfast; Tourist Information Centres marked on the map. Area of coverage includes the whole of Ireland. Who the map is of interest to: This is the ideal map for those planning a golfing holiday in Ireland. The quality of the detailed road map base also makes this a perfect product for general sightseeing and touring.
The Mob: The History of Irish Gangsters in America by James Durney
Trade Paperback; 16 Euro / 20 USD / 11 UK; 330 pages [Add To Basket]
The Irish Criminal gangs of America first surfaced in New York in the 1830s and from then until the present they have been a major force in organised crime. Irish gangsters dominated organised crime long before the mafia had appeared in the New World. The slums of America`s big cities produced some of the most vicious hoodlums who have left their mark on that country`s criminal history. Legs Diamond, Mad Dog Coll, Bugs Moran and Cockeye Dunn were all the products of the American dream turned sour. This is their story, beginning with the birth of organised crime through the turbulent Civil War, Prohibition and the founding of the present day Syndicate. It is a fascinating and rich account. Updated & Expanded reprint edition includes three further chapters dealing with Whitey Bulger’s bloody rise and fall; Henry Hill’s continuing mob career after he went in to the Witness Protection Program; and new revelations about the Jummy Hoffa murder by Frank ‘The Irishman’ Sheeran.
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