Product Description
A novel of rural Ireland: "Furious, raging, passionate and...very, very funny." -- Boston Globe "At once a rueful elegy to a vanished spirit and a comic celebration. For those who wear the green, this book will provide a bounty of tears and laughs." -- Publishers Weekly ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Keane was a great storyteller
Keane's wonderful storytelling skills draw you into the lives of the characters and not only vividly depict a time now gone, but a spirit which may also regretfully be long gone in Ireland. (No, I take that back, you can still glimpse a bit of that spirit in the "letters" page of the Irish Times!)Keane is tough on the Catholic church and clergy of that era, as well as, the social structures of the town vs. the country people. But it is an honest portrayal and never completely black and white or cartoonish. Although I have seen Keane's play "Sive" I had never read one of his books before and was delighted with this one. I didn't want to put it down and now that it's finished I wish I were still reading it!

Church of the poisoned mind? There's more than nostalgia
Keane reminds me of the type of Irish fiction that, after Frank O'Connor and Sean O'Faolain's masterful short stories, has not attained as much respect among the literati as it deserves. It appeared in 1986 even as younger writers like John Banville were adding a continental dimension, and as John McGahern was pursuing his own evocations--in stories and novels--of rural life as it was vanishing in a modernizing Ireland. Keane, writing after O'Connor & O'Faolain but earlier than Banville or even McGahern, takes on mid-20 c Ireland as it decayed by emigration to England, depopulation of townlands, and the pressure of relentless clerical and sexual repression.

I found this much less sentimental than I feared. The nostalgia some praise is tempered strongly but subtly by honest depictions of how the death of two calves could doom a small farm's survival, and how devastating and how alluring a flight to England could be for those raised in these bucolic but unforgiving, scrappy if scenic landscapes. The English midlands hover over the whole narrative. Sexuality and its variations appear in straightforwardly rendered yet non-explicit renditions, and the combination of lust and guilt makes for convincingly nuanced portrayals of all involved, clergy and laity. Keane's insights into parochial life in both senses of the adjective make for impressive insights that do not leap out too obviously--except in a few outbursts, one of which by a protagonist is answered as "you should be a politician."

The novel reads quickly, the prose is not purple, and the humor adds to the tension and quickens the pace. The making of the bodhran is the work's impressive set-piece, but the cast of so many skillfully detailed major and minor characters only strengthens the unobtrusive deftness with which Keane handles this superficially direct narrative arc. One corner of south-west Irish turfland and market town stands for the whole of the island in its fears and hopes within a stagnant economy, a growing population that saw England as its only career goal, and a church that controlled the schooling of its young and away from which--as is charted here down in a chillingly conveyed scene that shows the Church overpowering the last resister among nearly 4,000 parishioners--none could escape its scrutiny. While I wished the scenes of the parish mission and the sermons thundered would have been drawn more thoroughly, given their place in advancing these key last sections of the plot, as a whole, this provides a wide-ranging analysis of how the Church's rigidity poisoned traditions, bodies, and minds.

It wears its anticlericalism lightly but firmly, and to its credit does allow for nimble and sensitive variation in showing how all of the priests and a key nun respond with their own individual sensitivity to what occurs as the town fights the townland. Even the antagonist's dictatorial reign is explained by a fellow cleric as having flourished due to his isolation from episcopal or practical control. Such fair-mindedness that Keane shows makes for a valuable record of mid 20c Irish mentalities as well as a recommended good read.

Nice novel about old Ireland
I am planning a trip to Ireland and always enjoy reading some books set in the place I am visiting. This novel is a nice look at the older Ireland. It deals with the Church and the conflict with the Church of some local villagers who want to do their traditional "wren dance" celebration. It was a good read and I think I got a feel for the place I am going to be visiting.

Homage to a proud people who never demeaned themselves.
With the liveliness of a stepdance and the simplicity of a Dingle Peninsula landscape, Keane introduces us to the harsh life of the close-knit community of Dirrabeg, a community facing extinction in the mid-1950's.Many of the young have left for England or America, where there are opportunities and chances for secure lives.Those remaining behind love their land and their independence but fear for the future as the bogs get thin, the yields are poor, and the children have little hope of success.

For Donal Hallapy, devoted father of a large family, times are very tough.But Donal is a bodhran player, an expert in the ancient drums of his Celtic forebears, a musician in great demand whenever the once-a-year wrendances take place, all-night singing and dancing hooleys which can be traced back to pagan times.This paganism, the secret nature of the celebrations, the drinking that takes place, and the fact that the church has no control over them has made them anathema to "the clan of the round collar," in the person of Canon Tett, an ultraconservative and downright sadistic priest determined to bring the free spirits of Dirrabeg to bay by ending the fun of the wrendances.

The prose is straightforward and earthy, the dialogue salty and realistic, and the interactions of the characters so natural that one can share the joys and sorrows, the humor and anger, and the frustrations and all-too-brief personal satisfactions.The natural world, which is exquisitely described, even in its harshness, takes on almost human dimensions, influencing the action directly, while providing a vivid canvas upon which the contest between church and village is played out.The humor is broad, almost slapstick, but tempered by an overarching feeling of melancholy and impending doom.Though some may find the clergy to be caricatures and the message a bit too didactic, Keane provides us a rare glimpse of the last days of a now-vanished world.Mary Whipple

The old Ireland - a nostalgic view.
This is a poignant account of the activities of a vibrant rural Irish community in the lead up to the annual wrendance.The local manoevering,the after hours drinking, the religion, the sex, it's all there in the besttradition of JB Keane.What differs is the way we see the community guttedby emigration and all the rich lore and traditions lost as the inhabitantsare transplanted to sterile urban environments in Britain.Sad, funny,exciting, witty, thoughtful and warm, Keane at his very best. ... Read more

Product Description
A new edition of an invaluable collection of literary sources, all in translation, for Celtic Europe and early Ireland and Wales. The selections are divided into three sections: the first is classical authors on the ancient celts-a huge selection including both the well-known-Herodotos, Plato, Aristotle, Livy, Diogenes Laertius, and Cicero-and the obscure-Pseudo-Scymnus, Lampridius, Vopsicus, Clement of Alexandria and Ptolemy I. The second is early Irish and Hiberno-Latin sources including early Irish dynastic poetry and numerous tales from the Ulster cycle and the third consists of Brittonic sources, mostly Welsh. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A must for the Celtic scholar
I was privileged enough to take a class from Prof. Carey at Cork and we used this book.His translations are excellent and his academic style entertaining, yet rigorous enough for high caliber colleges and universities.Whenever anyone asks me about Celtic source material, I recommend this book.It's fantastic.

The best collection of Irish, Welsh, and Classical texts
This is quite simply an essential volume for any enthusiast of Celtic culture.It has the greatest collection of Gaulish texts available (which are few but still important), as well as the commentary of Roman and Greek neighbors.More than that, though, it also contains countless Irish and Welsh texts, most of which have been out of print and unavailable to the public for many years, such as "The Book of Invasions".

The Beginning of a New Celtic Heroic Age
What a gem! For those of us not able to afford the small fortune involved in buying dozens of original texts (which is still on the agenda- one day), Koch and Carey have supplied us with the translations of not only some of the most important texts in Celtic scholarship, but some of the rarest. The ancient Gaulish inscriptions which begin this book set the scene for the rest of the material in a manner quite unique in this field. Whereas usually one might find reference to Irish material in abundance, and some Welsh texts of the High Middle Ages, "The Celtic Heroic Age" provides us with a glimpse of the Golden Age of the Celtic peoples from the very beginning of their written record. Rather than painting a literary picture around these texts, the editors have provided us with a series of views of Celtic culture as seen by the Celts themselves and by their nearest contemporaries. An absolute must for any serious student of the Celts! ... Read more

Product Description
A fitting tribute to John B. Keane, for decades Ireland's favorite storyteller, this winning short story collection typifies the late author's folkloric imagination and storytelling arts. These are congenial tales, too, as this literary legend views the foibles and fallibilities of Irish country folk with abundant compassion as well as a shrewd, sometimes sardonic eye. Add to that Keane's glorious sense of fun and roguery that will make readers relish all the more how and why, in "Fred Rimble," Jim Conlon kills the best friend he ever had. Or how Willie Ramley determines that his future wife will be "Guaranteed Pure." Or how, to tragic as well as comic effect, a gasp, garlic, and gossip undo Denny Bruder in "The Hanging." In all, Keane uncovers the folly in the romantic pangs, exalted aspirations, misguided mischief, and everyday shortcomings of the characters in the village of his storyteller's mind-and beyond the folly finds their humanity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

the teacups are out and other eccentric tales from ireland
Sorry I bought it. Terrible writing and most of the stories make no sense at all.

The Teapots are out
Great book, easy read, I love the short stories of Irish life real or fiction

One of my favorite books
There is a story contained within this book titled Fred Rimble. I would have bought the book just to have that wonderfully witty story, but enjoyed the entire book.

A back roads rip in ireland
I enjoyed this book. It's not a collection of tales of the the "important," but of your neighbors and people down the road. If you lived in Ireland. Well told stories of people that you have met or might meet today. Warm, sad and funny a great book for a weekend read.

Enchanting
John B. Keane is my favorite literary discovery of the last 15 years.He's witty, compassionate and insightful.The stories in this volume run the gamut from heartbreaking and tragic to fully romantic and full of giggles.

Keane has a deceptively simple style that develops character without flashy turns of phrase, and reveals the secret corners of the human heart.But when he opens that door, you're astounded by what he shows you not only in the hearts of others, but in your own.

Don't miss a chance to read anything of his you can lay your hands on. ... Read more

Product Description
Lush green pastures and heather-covered mountains, wildly romantic moors, dramatic coastal cliffs and miles of sandy beaches - the "Emerald Isle" is famous for its stunning scenery. But Ireland is also known for its cultural heritage, rich in folklore and legends.Ancient monuments are scattered across the land, from Neolithic tombs and Celtic crosses to medieval monasteries and imposing fortresses.In contrast are the vibrant, cosmopolitan cities, some of the most dynamic in Europe.And what would a visit to Ireland be without experiencing the warmth and hospitality, music and banter of the Irish at one of their pubs? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Insight Guides - Ireland
Will be visiting Northern Ireland early next year for 2 months. Book is very informative, and makes the trip we are looking forward to much more interesting. Would recommend it, or any of the series by Discovery.

would recommend
i had to purchase this book for a study abroad trip to ireland. i also purchased 2 other books & looks thru a lot in libraries. i think this one was the best out of all of them. it was also easy to look thru while traveling.......

Loved the 'sights!
On planning a trip to Ireland (return trip for me, first trip for my kids) I wanted to dig up as much info as possible.
With so little time (and money) I wanted the most of what I had!!
After securing the Eyewitness guides and the Frommers guides, I stumbled upon Insights and was so impressed!!
It not only was a guide, but a reading book as well.
The pictures by far are the best!!
Looking through it makes me want to be there on my trip, NOW!
Let's just say, I HAVE to own this one!!
It's costly, more than the others, but well worth putting into your collection!
Slante' ... Read more

Product Description
One of Ourselves: John Fitzgerald Kennedy in Ireland is a fascinating and faithful account of President Kennedy’s 3-1/2 day visit to Ireland in late June of 1963.Author Jim Carroll provides yet another window into the Kennedy legacy, creating a complex portrait of the man and the presidency.Exhaustively researched, the book and photos tell a memorable tale of the president’s "homecoming" to a people and land long etched in his heart and at last on the verge of taking their place in the modern world’s politics and economy.It is a day-by-day, hour-by-hour look at the places JFK visited; the people he met—political and cultural luminaries and average Irish citizens alike; the throngs who lined the roads to catch a glimpse of him or gathered to hear him speak; and the events that crowded his schedule.He touched a nation, and it touched him, in part because they shared a history of perseverance and adversity.Indeed, the trip represented the culmination of his historic triumph in the election of an Irish Catholic as president of a country where people could still remember store signs warning, "Irish Need Not Apply."His brief sojourn to Ireland revealed more of the private and spontaneous John F. Kennedy than ever before seen in public.Historian Arthur Schlesinger wrote, "I imagine that [Kennedy] was never easier, happier, more involved and detached, more complexly himself" than in the days of his Ireland visit.Told with the help and recollections of many present during the trip, including aides, family, and friends, Carroll captures just such a Kennedy in this remarkable new book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

WHY THE ENGLISH HAD JFK HIMSELF MURDERED AND SET UP A PRO-ANGLO DYNASTY
This large, excellent complete chronicle of the John Fitzgerald Kennedy return to our ancestral homelands must be read by every American and every Irishman, and everyone else in between.

This little known historic journey which took place a mere six months before his bloody and cowardly murder by still hidden hands reveals much about the stature of the man, unequalled since by any President but Carter, and the apposition of the dynastic Nero and Caligula we suffer since the departure of that second greatest modern President.

Perhaps the present reader unfamiliar with those past times of honor, dignity, morality, truth, justice, equality, openness and compassion may suffer vertigo to contemplate such a different world, to which our present times resemble Superman's Bizarro land, where hello is good-bye and war is peace. But let us bravely recall those great days, that we may strive to live them once more as a nation, now deeply impoverished and abandoned, but a nation once again.

James Robert Carroll competently, carefully, academically, completely presents the historical record of those days, from the preparation of the voyage to the burial of our slain fallen last great leader, considering fully the context and meaning of those times. Several selections from the photogrpahic record also serve to bring those times more closely to us, now a more visually learning than a literate people. This book must be read, and read again, by one and by all.

A revealing celebration of his world
One Of Ourselves by James Robert Carroll isn't your usual historical/biographical focus on John F. Kennedy's assassination, but rather a finely crafted survey recalling JFK's happier times. Any fan of Presidently Kennedy will find year-round enjoyment in this superbly presented treatise which surveys his Irish roots, his meaning to Irish-Americans, and his visit to Ireland in 1963. A revealing celebration of his world, lovingly portrayed, One Of Ourselves is a welcome addition to personal and community library American History collections.

With 44 black-and-white photographs and prints
One Of Ourselves: John Fitzgerald Kennedy In Ireland by professional journalist James Robert Carroll is an informed and informative study of American President Kennedy's three and one-half day visit to Ireland in June of 1963. 44 black-and-white photographs and prints nicely illustrate the president's "homecoming" and its meaning at the time to both Americans and Irish alike. Meticulous attention to detail enhances a superbly written text in bringing to life this particular and unique intersection of human heritage and national office. No personal, academic, or community library Kennedy Studies collection can be considered complete without the inclusion of James Robert Carroll's One Of Ourselves!

A different JFK
I thought I had enough JFK books - the clan, the crises, the concubines.I used to read them all; now I find myself skipping through the pages of new books, over the same familiar stories.Even a good historian like Robert Dallek can only make news by turning up more tales of girls & pills.It starts to feel like aversion therapy.Please, I don't want to read any more!
Please!
I wanted to read this book, though - maybe for the same reason JFK wanted to go to Ireland.The trip was a sidelight.His advisors thought it a waste of time - he already had all the Irish votes!And Ireland washardly a front line in the Cold War - he'd just been to Berlin and was about to face up to 'regime change' in Vietnam.But he wanted to go & he went - it's good to be the president.And his reason for going - like the trip itself - shows a side of him that's much less familiar than what we usually see.I have assorted ideas of what Kennedy was like (I'm a few years too young to remember him - if your first presidential bonding was with Lyndon Johnson - Vietnam, not civil rights, vintage - you can understand the interest in JFK) - but emotion - the tenderer emotions - isn't the first to mind.
That's what this book so wonderfully celebrates - Kennedy's 4-day sentimental journey to Ireland.It wasn't a typical homecoming - not with helicopters, motorcades, speeches, public ceremonies.The whole country seemed to turn out to meet him - you get a very vivid sense here of the excitement - & pride - that Kennedy stirred in the Irish - & that they roused in him.The book covers all that beautifully, it makes you both part of Kennedy's travel party - & one of the Irish crowd, with fresh interviews of those who were there - family, reporters, Irish whose brush with JFK is a dearest memory.But what I liked best - & found most moving - were the little, more private moments.In the house of distant cousins, Kennedy sat down, sipped tea in front of a turf fire, looked around him & saw "Kennedy faces."And in a crowd of thousands, JFK found an old man who reminded him of his grandfather - "And his name is Fitzgerald!"Kennedy didn't like singing in public - for the same reason he didn't wear funny hats - but in Ireland he sang - offkey but with feeling.
And the feeling from 'the 3 happiest days I've ever spent in my life' lasted.Back home he couldn't stop talking about it.He watched the films over & over.
So it was reading 'One of Ourselves'.The feeling of the trip comes through & stays.This is the first Kennedy book in a long time that I've really wanted to dwell on.
(I'm not Irish but I love Irish music & poetry.The book's loaded with wonderful songs & verse -
Thus returned from travels long,
Years of exile, years of pain,
To see old Shannon's face again,
O'er the waters dancing. ... Read more

Product Description
This book involves both critical analysis of aspects of The Quiet Man as myth, commodity, and fetish and the celebration of a film that has sustained considerable academic attention and popular appreciation since its release in 1952. Among the topics considered are the complexity of the film's relation to Ireland, Irish literature, and to John Ford's other films; its perceived place with regard to indigenous Irish cinema; and the phenomenon of its circulation and reception as a cult film over the years. ... Read more

Product Description
In 1871, John Devoy, a young Irishman fighting for Irish independence, came to the United States in exile. Yet even while across the ocean, this Fenian greatly influenced Irish affairs. Terry Golway's assiduously researched biography of Devoy chronicles a lifetime of activism in which he garnered tremendous financial and moral support for the cause in Ireland. Devoy was instrumental in both the Easter Rising in 1916 and the creation of the Irish Free State.

Intimate details of Devoy's life and his work are artfully interwoven as Terry Golway captures John Devoy's valiant role in Ireland's struggle for freedom.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Soldier's Song for a Proud Fenian Man
My first introduction to John Devoy came as a student. I was studying the response of Irish-American newspapers to the outbreak of World War One and Devoy was a highly influential editorialist whose opinions were frequently reprinted in various Irish journals throughout the USA. He was a determined opponent of Woodrow Wilson's policy to intervene in the European conflict on behalf of the Allied Powers, generally, and in alliance with Great Britain specifically. When public opinion turned against Imperial Germany, Devoy argued in favor of neutrality.

Devoy was a tireless agitator and advocate for the cause of Irish independence. He was imprisoned as rebel and his sentence was commuted on the condition that he agree to live out the remainder of his days in exile. He had been arrested for his participation in the Irish Republican Brotherhood after British agents infilitrated the group as a means to disrupt the Fenian plan to invade British North America (Canada). It was thought that staging such an attack would provoke a war between the United States and Great Britain that would in turn serve to liberate Ireland. While Devoy was languishing in prison, Fenian troops were able to cross the border and enter the Province of Ontario from the State of New York. A brief skirmish followed and the invaders were quickly beaten and forced to withdraw.

Following his release and exile, Devoy committed the remainder of his life to promoting "The Cause." He attended meetings, wrote editorials, raised funds and organized membership campaigns over and over again. He traveled throughout the United States and worked alongside or quarreled with almost every important Irishman of note during his lifetime.

Terry Golway has done a commendable job of honoring the memory of an undeservedly forgotten Irish patriot who performed most of his labors in relative anonymity on a distant foreign shore.

Fenian's Rainbow
Golway tells the tale of John Devoy, greatest of the American Fenians, and a pivotal, if hitherto neglected, figure in the history of Irish nationalism. Devoy was an longlived agitator, fundraiser, journalist, convicted Irish revolutionary and American refugee who bankrolled Parnell, Patrick Pearse and Michael Collins, butted heads with the Ulster Presbyterian Woodrow Wilson and the egomaniacal Eamon de Valera, and sacrificed his personal happiness in the process. Golway's prose is sharp and terse, with a propulsive narrative drive. A fine work of history.

Valuable intro to Irish America's support for Irish rebels
I wanted to take the opportunity to write after finishing the book this past week; it's a good start for anybody curious about the roots of the support--in money, arms, rhetoric, and/or direct assistance--that IrishAmericans have long given for Irish freedom. Often, the zeal of the"exiled children in America", as we're referred to in the IrishProclamation of Independence from 1916, has surpassed that of those Irishwe've left behind back home.Golway's book gives you some of the reasonswhy this disparity may have emerged--the force of the Famine, deportationof many Fenians,the Civil War's effect in giving unwitting assistance tomany Americans who returned to agitate in Ireland and abroad, and theeconomic success gained by a few Irish emigrants and even more thesacrifices of a few dollars of many many more Irish who did the grunt-workwhich fueled the fortunes of those few, no doubt. Today, many of theseemigrants' descendants are criticized as "plastic Paddies" whoknow little about Ireland beyond a few ballads and sentimental slogans.Both their critics and their supporters among the Irish Americansthemselves should study this book, which uses Devoy's long career as abasis for a complicated study of how factionalism, quarrels, and a somewhatclumsy mixture of idealism and pragmatism all combined to effect changeback in Ireland. And it should also instruct those who still support theIrish struggle today--it shows the pettiness and begrudgery that has oftenplagued U.S. efforts at grassroots aid. Although at times in the latersections, I lost track of who was outwitting who in all of the internecinebackstabbing among the various claimants of The Cause, this is not todiscredit Golway's skill. He had an intricate story to narrate, and hekeeps it fresh and even witty, without pandering to his readers. His ownexperience as a journalist, a career shared by Devoy, undoubtably enrichesmuch of the ambiance behind this sometimes reticent figure, too. I oftenwonder how a biographer, faced with a subject who's written his or herautobiography already, can calculate a new angle from which to view theperson. Golway manages to integrate Devoy's own words sparingly, and byfilling in much of the context which Devoy would have kept mum about (ornot known of), the author presents a surprisingly relevant case study ofthe dangers and the seductions of trying to achieve an ideal in a messyworld of spies, politicians, revolutionaries, businessmen, and everydayfolks. In a time when many Irish and non-Irish alike are taking a renewedand justified pride in this island's heritage, this book introduces you tothe American contribution to the Irish situation. (I also was impressed bythe author's taking the time to comment on his work in response to asuperficial criticism posted; his graceful manner of answering his hastycritic shows real class.)

Accentuating the Negative
I hoped this book would confirm the above Synopsis and Kirkus and NY Timesreviews which I already knew to be accurate as to Devoy, the subject. It isnicely written and contains much valuable and interesting detail. But, forreasons known only to the author, he selected nearly exclusively negativequotes to characterize Devoy and his tens of thousands of supporters ofdemocracy for Ireland. It is on them, rather than on the genocidistsopposing them, that the author pours the vocabulary of abuse. Only apsychology textbook could contain more synonyms for mental disorder thanthis book. It is full of "bitter; hate; hateful; hatred; grievance,old resentments; vengeance; murder; folly; ratholes of conspiracy; an Irishfight; a race of treacherous murderers; band of murderers; half-breed Jew;self-pity; divisive; slander; invective; irrational; acrimony; libel;firebrand; obsession; imbecile; foul; gross; vulgar; a murder society;destructive; decadence; raving lunatic; agrarian crime; wild tumult;fanatic; potatoes - neither man nor pig wanted more; perverse; turbulent;terrorists; violent; illicit; drunkenness and dishonesty; assassination;wretched quarrel; miserable; perfidy; stupid anger; vitriolic; contentious;treacherous; raged;" etc. Perhaps worst of all, the author indicatesthat it wasn't a republic (and all the benefits that flow therefrom) thatDevoy et al struggled for, but for "a mystical, martyr-producingorganism that could trace its bloody and tragic ancestry to Theobald WolfeTone." This grotesque slur that may well be explained by the author'sexecrable choice of sources: Cruise O'Brien, Edwards, O Grada, McCaffrey,et al. They constitute much of the "Potato Famine" school ofIrish history which denies the existence and central role of the 75 Britishregiments that murdered 5.2 millions in the Irish Holocaust. Still; threestars is about right. It was worth the read if not the price. From it Ilearned that Devoy wrote an autobiography; "Recollections of an IrishRebel" that I really want. ... Read more

Product Description
John Ireland (1838-1918), first archbishop of St. Paul,believed that the United States offered a new and tremendouslyfavorable opportunity for Roman Catholics and their church.Byvigorously and single-mindedly urging his fellow Catholic immigrantsto take their place in the mainstream of American life, he played amajor role in the growth of the American Catholic church.

Marvin R. O'Connell's masterful biography brings to life theexperiences that shaped Ireland's views and describes the battles thatmarked his career.In smooth and flowing prose, with rich detail andenlightening analysis, O'Connell traces Ireland's life, from hisboyhood to his years as a powerful player in Vatican politics and anadvisor to American presidents.

Ireland was one of the important and characteristic figures ofthe American Gilded Age, a man whose own rags-to-riches story followedclassic lines.Born in Ireland in 1838, he saw as a boy the horrorsof the Great Famine.In 1852 he and his family emigrated to St. Paul,Minnesota.Sent by pioneer Bishop Joseph Cretin to France for hiseducation, Ireland became a priest in 1861.His work for temperanceand Catholic colonization on Minnesota's western frontier gave himnational prominence and launched him on a long and impressive career.

Ireland was an Americanist, one of a group of Catholic leaderswho promoted the ideal of a truly American church.O'Connell'saccounts of Ireland's hard-fought and often acrimonious battlespresent a lively portrait of a complicated man, with impressivestrengths and surprising weaknesses.Ireland struggled to convincethe Vatican that the American church was more than a collection ofimmigrant churches; he argued to his fellow clerics that immigrantscould abandon Old World customs and languages without losing theirfaith; he encouraged Catholics to take advantage of the opportunitiesoffered in America; and he strove to demonstrate to ProtestantAmericans that Catholics were not hopelessly foreign.

O'Connell also tells little-known stories of the archbishop'spersonal politics and finances.Ireland became wealthy through landspeculation, but nearly lost all in the Panic of 1893.As a prominentand out-spoken Republican, he associated with William McKinley,Theodore Roosevelt, and William Howard Taft.

Though John Ireland was denied the ultimate accolade of acardinal's hat, and though his colleagues on the episcopal bench wereby no means unanimous in supporting him, his influence upon thedevelopment of American Catholicism was enormous.This forthrightbiography is a fascinating account of an important man. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an updated edition of John O'Beirne Ranelagh's short history of Ireland, covering the full sweep of Irish history from the earliest times up to President Clinton's second visit to Ireland in 1998, in the wake of the Omagh bomb and the surrounding peace initiatives. Throughout, the author's aim is to cast light on the people and the events that have contributed to present-day Irish society, in both North and South. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Brilliant Book
For anyone who wants to understand the war on terror and its Irish formulation, this is essential and fascinating reading.Ranelagh is remarkably balanced and fair-minded, while at the same time providing the necessary information and facts without burdening the reader with excessive and obfuscatory detail.He deals with Irish prehistory quickly and interestingly, giving more space to the modern age and its complex of idealism, heroism, nationalism, murder and terror, explaining the motivations and historical prisons so many people in Ireland have endured, coming right up to the present North and South.It is a Short History.More detail would make it something else.But as a short history that is satisfying, well-written and authorative, it cannot be bettered.A remarkable achievement.

So much history so close to home
Ranelagh does a fantastic job of condensing a couple thousand years of history into a readable couple hundred pages.This book is a first-rate shortened version of Irish history.

At times, one thinks more and deeper connections could have been drawn (such as the resurrection, by twentieth century hunger-strikers, of Brehon Law-era practices like fasting for the redress of grievances) and more discussion fostered on particularly hard-hitting aspects of Ireland's past and present.But this is, after all, a SHORT history, and a remarkable one at that.

There is good coverage of Ireland before the arrival of the English, in a way that touches on both historical developments and cultural ones.Likewise, the era of Cromwell and the disastrous run-up to and aftermath of Black 1847 are given good detail.One comes away feeling a bit as though more recent history (say, 1916 and on) has been slighted, but this feeling is probably just the product of years of weighted emphasis on the twentieth century; Ranelagh does well to bring a historical balance to the overall sweep of Ireland's development into what it is today.

And what it is today is, for Ranelagh, closely invested as well in the question of what England is and no longer is."A Short History of Ireland" may disturb those who view England as a still-unwelcome visitor into Irish history and culture, but Ranelagh concludes convincingly that the story of Ireland from the 13th century on is intimately related to its evolving relationship with its slightly larger neighbor and one-time persecutor/antagonist.Ranelagh quite usefully and realistically departs from other histories of the Emerald Isle in asserting that the England/Ireland relationship can, for a slew of reasons that he points to, only ever be one of co-dependence. ... Read more

Product Description
Hume recounts the struggle for the nationalist community's rights and presents a blueprint for peace. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Hume's message - reconciliation, inclusion, respect and peace
I grew up in Belfast, and always had a lot of respect for the SDLP - initially Gerry Fitt and then John Hume being my political heroes. The book sets out with clarity mapping the real world experiences of John Hume and the progress - or maybe that should be regress - of the troubles in Northern Ireland. This book should be compulsory reading for kids growing up in Israel and Palestine, and probably Darfur and other regions of unrest. And of course, in Washington DC as well. Acheiving peace is not easy and does not come from the barrel of a gun. I don't recall the exact quote, and a friend is reading the book now, but it is along the lines of "Victory does not bring about peace - it simply puts it off". Never a truer word was said.

A framework for true reconciliation in Northern Ireland
John Hume is a virtually unknown figure in the United States, but he hasbeen steadily gaining recognition due to his work in the Northern Irishpeace agreement.This recognition is overdue and much deserved.Thismonumental book outlines Hume's political philosophy - a philosophy whichseeks to brush aside the vengefulness and intransigence of NorthernIreland's past, searching instead for reconciliation through justice forall.Hume is heavily influenced by Matin Luther King, Jr. and John F.Kennedy, and quotes from these two figures flavor Hume's text.Hume'sthemes may seem repetitive, and his ideas seem to be based on the shakeyfoundation of human progress, but this work demonstrates that he is achampion for for a true peace in Northern Ireland - a peace that is justfor all. ... Read more

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An account of the origins of the Irish people discusses their customs, daily life, surnames, coats of arms, and clan tartans from prehistoric times to the present and includes full-color photographs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Clans & Families of Ireland
The book was delivered in a timely manner; was in the condition as advertised; and I would order again.

Found Nothing New
The price of this book was good - but there was nothing new in it - and it did not have 2 of my Irish lines in the book- so no help for my research.

good and clear guide to the irish and their origins
i got this as a gift for my husband (a Reilly) and congratulate myself on the purchase! The historical background is EXCELLENT - enabled me to understand the different ethnic roots of the Irish and also the complexity of the Catholics vs Protestants, etc.In addition, the description of themass exodus of the Irish to foreign lands was great, the author detailingthe emotional background exquisitely.Finally, it was a lot of fun lookingup the origins of Irish last names.The crests of each clan is shown incolour.

If I have a complaint, it would be that the significance of thecrest of each clan was not discussed along with the origin and history ofeach clan.If that was included, this book would be 100% perfect, insteadof 95% perfect.

An essential guide to the origins of 200 Irish Families
A beautifully illustrated and well written guide to the origins of the 200 most popular surnames in Ireland.

Also included is history of the Irish race in all it's forms, this alone is worth the price of the book as itwill allow anyone to form a clear understanding of Irish history, cuttingaway all the myths and confusions that surround the Irish and theirorigins.

This book is an essential read for anyone with Irish ancestry orany one with an interest in Irish History and you will find yourselfdipping into it again and again. ... Read more

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Product Description
Since 1968 when the current troubles began in Northern Ireland, hundreds of books and thousands of articles have been published on the subject. This book provides a guide to the mass of research that has accumulated. Whyte first surveys the research on the nature and extent of the community divide and then discusses various ideological interpretations, including unionist, nationalist, and Marxist. He assesses the various solutions that have been proposed and critically examines what the research has achieved. ... Read more

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While many agree Ireland can become a world leader in clean energy as conventional energy sources run out, there's little agreement on how. John Travers captures the challenge and opportunity from an Irish perspective. He reveals the role energy plays in our economy and lifestyles, our consequent thirst for imported oil, and how an energy crisis that could ravage the nation may be avoided. Ultimately, he assesses, in clear terms, practical energy alternatives to meet all our needs, achieve energy independence, and provide an opportunity for Ireland to be a world leader and global beacon of clean energy. ... Read more

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The history of the Irish is full of exhilarating stories, noble achievements, cliff-hanging dramas, profound tragedies, and indefatigable perseverance - a history Clan Kinsella helped create. Experience this history. Feel the rush of a warrior during battle, the thrill of a noble engaged in a cattle raid, the concern of a famished farmer during spring ploughing, and the comfort of a feasting clan listening to its file on Hallows Eve. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Well researched & written
This book can stand alone as either a history of Ireland, or as a history of the Kinsella Clan.Fortunately for us, it is both.The book takes us from the initial migration of people to the island, through the pre-Christian and Christian times, all the way to the eventual birth of an independent Irish nation.In addition to covering key historical figures from Irish history, it also covers both well known and lesser known Kinsella ancestors, including the infamous King Dermot MacMurrough.

I'd recommend this book both for those with an interest in Kinsella history - or a deep interest in Irish history.

Fine Irish historical geneology
Wonderful handsome volume of early and medieval Irish history and genealogy focusing on Leinster and the Clan Kinsella.Brian Boru and the later Norman invasion of Ireland and Dermot macMurrough are looked at carefully.Not another quick knockoff to make a quick buck this beautiful book had a lot of care in the book production and the footnoted research. This is for the hardcover edition. ... Read more

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The story of John Devoy's 1876 Catalpa rescue is a tale of heroism, creativity, and the triumph of independent spirit in pursuit of freedom. The daily log on board the whaling ship Catalpa begins with the typical recount of a crew intact and a spirit unfettered, but such quiet words deceive the truth of the audacious enterprise that came to be known as one of the most important rescues in Irish American history. John Devoy's men rescued six Irish political prisoners from the Australian coast, allowing millions of fellow Irishmen and American-Fenians, many of whom secretly financed the dangerous plot, to draw courage from the newly exiled prisoners.

Philip Fennell and Marie King tell the story from John Devoy's own records and the ship's logbooks. John Devoy's Catalpa Expedition includes an introduction by Terry Golway and the personal diaries, letters, and reports from John Devoy and his men.

Customer Reviews (1)

Indispensable prime source material published
The story of the Catalpa Rescue has been written about before. Over the years most books and articles on the famous rescue of the six Fenian military prisoners from Fremantle prison in Australia were pulp fiction style stories with the omissions and errors usually found in this genre. This includes the recent Peter Stevens' book "The Voyage of the Catalpa" and, the book Stevens got much of his information from, William Laubenstein's "Emerald Whaler," both of which ought to be called historical novels. Only one book until the Fennell-King publication, Sean O'Luing's out of print but excellent work, "Fremantle Mission," was actually written by an expert Fenian researcher. O'Luing drew heavily on the sources that Fennell-King have made available to us in their publication. The Fennells, who have spent many years researching the Catalpa rescue, have provided us a complete legible copy of the articles titled "The Story Of The Catalpa Rescue" from John Devoy's 1904 Irish-American nationalist newspaper, "The Gaelic American" along with significant excerpts from the minutes of a United Brotherhood (Clan na Gael) convention held in September 1877 in Cleveland (from the Catholic University of America archives) wherein a mutiny charge against Thomas Brennan, a Clan member who was part of the rescue team, was investigated.
John Devoy, editor of the Gaelic American, was the man who planned, raised the funds, and executed the mission. John Devoy had at his disposal his diary and his collection of Clan na Gael documents to refresh his memory as he writes. Many interesting episodes that are nowhere else in print come to light as Devoy describes his part in the planning and financing of the voyage. Heretofore only available on microfilm reels, the Fennells make these prime sources available to the ordinary reader. Devoy's articles include the report of the man chosen to lead the rescue mission, John Breslin. This report made to the Clan na Gael membership recounts his management of the actual rescue at Fremantle and John King's personal report of his part in the mission. King was an ex prisoner and Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood (IRB) man from Australia who boarded the Catalpa along with the rescued men for the voyage back to the United States. The footnotes given by the Fennells bring us up to date on the latest Catalpa Expedition research. As an Irish-American history researcher who has struggled through these micofilms, I find this book indispensable, as it will be for anyone interested in the Fenians, the Clan Na Gael or Irish American history.
Michael Ruddy, Union City, TN author of "Irish Army in America" (Civil War Times April 2003). ... Read more