This site includes the postings from the Irish Aires email list. This includes a listing of Irish/Celtic events in the Houston area and other information that the Irish Aires radio program posts.

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Read Ireland

Advertisement: So Mammy Said, by Patrick Burke. Publisher: Publish America (August 8, 2005) 207 pages; €18.63 available to order from Read Ireland and all other bookshops So Mammy Said is a powerful chronicle of a young boy's life growing up in a poor Catholic family of sixteen in a small Irish village. In describing the trials he faces and the triumphs he enjoys along the way to adulthood, the author makes wonderful use of humor to add levity to some desperate conditions. This book is storytelling at its best. ------------------------------------- Read Ireland Book Reviews - Issue 336 ------------------------------------- Star Sullivan by Maeve Binchy (Paperback; 5.00 Euro / 6.50 USD / 4.00 UK; 106 pages) Molly Sullivan said that the new baby was a little star. She was no trouble at all and she was always smiling...so she became known as Star and no one remembered that her name was Oona. Star Sullivan just wanted everyone to be happy - her father to stop gambling, her mother not to work so hard, her brother to stay out of trouble, her sister to stop worrying about every little thing she ate. Then the Hale family moved in next door, and from the moment Star saw 23-year-old Laddy Hale, everything began to change - until Star was no longer the sweet, thoughtful girl everyone loved and no one worried about... -------------------------------------- Irish Poems chosen by Matthew Sweeney (Paperback; 7.00 Euro / 9.00 USD / 5.00 UK; 220 pages) This is a sparkling collection of the very best Irish poetry. It is a beautiful gift book featuring a sumptuous and uplifting range of Irish poetry. Matthew Sweeney has chosen classics, such as 'Cockles and Mussels'; poems from such celebrated poets as Seamus Heaney and W.B. Yeats; and lesser-known gems that he has discovered on his journey through Ireland's rich poetic heritage. --------------------------------------- Oscar Wilde’s Stories for Children illustrated by P.J. Lynch (Paperback; 7.00 Euro / 9.00 USD / 5.00 UK; 112 pages) Includes Oscar Wilde's tales: "The Happy Prince"; "The Selfish Giant"; and more. This title contains illustrations by an award-winning illustrator P J Lynch. ------------------------------------ Dublin: 1001 Intriguing Facts by Gill Davies (Hardback; 8.00 Euro / 10.00 USD / 6.00 UK; 414 pages) Celebrates Dublin in its antiquity and its diversity. Both visitors to Dublin and Dubliners themselves will find this cocktail of history, geography, myth and legend a useful read. -------------------------------------- Phoenix Park: A History and Guidebook by Brendan Nolan (Large Paperback; 19.00 Euro / 23.00 USD / 14.00 UK; 255 pages, with black and white photos throughout) The Phoenix Park, one of the biggest enclosed parks in the world, provides a breath of fresh air amid the urban sprawl of modern Dublin. Brendan Nolan's comprehensive guide to the Phoenix Park covers its origins and history, buildings and monuments, wildlife, literary associations, local lore, military use, sports, self-guided walks, and its future in an urban environment. The author provides detailed histories and descriptions of all of the landmarks in the Park, including the Zoo, Aras an Uachtarain, Farmleigh, Ashtown Castle, the American Ambassador's Residence, Garda Headquarters, etc. He touches on such historical events as the infamous murders of 1882, the Eucharistic Congress of 1932, and the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1979. This book will be of interest to tourists and visitors, to locals and Dubliners in general, and to anyone interested in this most historic and scenic park. --------------------------------------- North Dublin: City and Environs by Dillon Cosgrave (Large Paperback; 19.00 Euro / 23.00 USD / 14.00 UK; 128 pages_Read Ireland Book Reviews – Issue 336 Star Sullivan by Maeve Binchy 0752879545 – Paperback; 5.00 Euro / 6.50 USD / 4.00 UK; 106 pages Molly Sullivan said that the new baby was a little star. She was no trouble at all and she was always smiling...so she became known as Star and no one remembered that her name was Oona. Star Sullivan just wanted everyone to be happy - her father to stop gambling, her mother not to work so hard, her brother to stay out of trouble, her sister to stop worrying about every little thing she ate. Then the Hale family moved in next door, and from the moment Star saw 23-year-old Laddy Hale, everything began to change - until Star was no longer the sweet, thoughtful girl everyone loved and no one worried about... Irish Poems chosen by Matthew Sweeney 0330415840 – Paperback; 7.00 Euro / 9.00 USD / 5.00 UK; 220 pages This is a sparkling collection of the very best Irish poetry. It is a beautiful gift book featuring a sumptuous and uplifting range of Irish poetry. Matthew Sweeney has chosen classics, such as 'Cockles and Mussels'; poems from such celebrated poets as Seamus Heaney and W.B. Yeats; and lesser-known gems that he has discovered on his journey through Ireland's rich poetic heritage. Oscar Wilde’s Stories for Children illustrated by P.J. Lynch 0340894369 – Paperback; 7.00 Euro / 9.00 USD / 5.00 UK; 112 pages Includes Oscar Wilde's tales: "The Happy Prince"; "The Selfish Giant"; and more. This title contains illustrations by an award-winning illustrator P J Lynch. Dublin: 1001 Intriguing Facts by Gill Davies 1904919731 – Hardback; 8.00 Euro / 10.00 USD / 6.00 UK; 414 pages Celebrates Dublin in its antiquity and its diversity. Both visitors to Dublin and Dubliners themselves will find this cocktail of history, geography, myth and legend a useful read. Phoenix Park: A History and Guidebook by Brendan Nolan 1904148786 – Large Paperback; 19.00 Euro / 23.00 USD / 14.00 UK; 255 pages, with black and white photos throughout The Phoenix Park, one of the biggest enclosed parks in the world, provides a breath of fresh air amid the urban sprawl of modern Dublin. Brendan Nolan's comprehensive guide to the Phoenix Park covers its origins and history, buildings and monuments, wildlife, literary associations, local lore, military use, sports, self-guided walks, and its future in an urban environment. The author provides detailed histories and descriptions of all of the landmarks in the Park, including the Zoo, Aras an Uachtarain, Farmleigh, Ashtown Castle, the American Ambassador's Residence, Garda Headquarters, etc. He touches on such historical events as the infamous murders of 1882, the Eucharistic Congress of 1932, and the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1979. This book will be of interest to tourists and visitors, to locals and Dubliners in general, and to anyone interested in this most historic and scenic park. North Dublin: City and Environs by Dillon Cosgrave (1845885333 – Large Paperback; 19.00 Euro / 23.00 USD / 14.00 UK; 128 pages) Originally published in 1909, this book explores the Dublin of the early 1900s. The narrative stretches from Church Street out to Howth by way of Clontarf, Fairview, Marino and the Phoenix Park. The author displays an impressive knowledge of the people, places and happenings of the city and its surrounds over the centuries that preceded publication. A comprehensive study of the city and county north of the Liffey this book provides a fascinating view of Dublin from the eyes of an Irishman in the early twentieth century. A re-publication of a classic history text widely quoted and referred to and not reprinted since 1977. The book covers a broad swathe of the city and county north of the Liffey; features interesting local content; and offers a fascinating perspective on the image of Dublin held by our predecessors and ancestors. -------------------------------------- Dublin 1745-1922: Hospitals, Spectacle & Vice by Gary Boyd (Large Paperback; 20.00 Euro / 25.00 USD / 15.00 UK; 224 pages, with black-and-white photos and illustrations throughout) This innovative book interprets architectural spaces in the light of the underlying tensions between 18th-century Dublin as a fashionable resort and the attempts by the authorities to deal with some of the results of its apparent profligacy. These include the creation of new institutions as well as other measures designed to remove ugly realities from the street and purify urban space. Based mainly on 18th- and 19th-century archival material from the Rotunda Hospital, the Lock (venereal) Hospital and the Hospital for Incurables, this book challenges the vision of 18th-century Dublin as an ideal Protestant city by investigating the hidden world behind its wide streets and magnificent Georgian facades. The decision to establish the British Isles' first maternity hospital on the northern edge of Sackville Street (today's O'Connell Street) was grounded in a series of imperatives where obstetrics and medicine were only part of the overall story. The adjacent Pleasure Gardens, created ostensibly to provide funds for the hospital, introduced new types of social engagement and an increase of commodified forms of entertainment to the city. The Gardens, characterised by acts of spectacle and display, soon acquired an additional reputation as a site of sexual adventure and louche behaviour, one which ultimately would be extended to the city. --------------------------------------- Wexford; A History, A Tour and a Miscellany by Nicky Rossiter (1845885287 – Large Paperback; 18.00 Euro / 22.00 USD / 13.00 UK; 160 pages, with black-and-white photos throughout) This book will give the resident and the visitor a broad as well as an intimate picture of the town or "ancient and historic borough" of Wexford as local politicians delight in calling it. It is filled with interesting, amusing, revealing and educational stories. Featuring three sections, A History, A Miscellany and a Tour, this book offers a sample of the unique flavour of Wexford. This is Menapia, Loch gCarman, Weisfiord, Wexford. Nicholas Rossiter is a financial Advisor based in Wexford Town. The history bug bit in the 1980s when he produced some very popular publications in association with several other local historians. "Wexford: A History, A Tour and A Miscellany", is the product of research, built up knowledge and commitment to local heritage. It features: nearly 200 images of Wexford, its sights and people; engaging tone. The author's excellent local knowledge lends itself well to the narrative. -------------------------------------- A History of Newtownbutler by Barbara Chapman (Trade Paperback; 18.00 Euro / 22.00 USD / 13.00 UK; 100 pages, with black-and-white photos throughout) Newtownbutler is a rural town on the south east of County Fermanagh, steeped in colourful history and tradition. In this publication of the local history of Newtownbutler, Barbara Chapman gives a fascinating account of the history of her town, gathers statistical facts and interviews many of the local characters. The book is nicely illustrated with old and new pictures of the town through her many changing phases. --------------------------------------- Tales from the Banks of the Erne by John Cunningham (Trade Paperback; 18.00 Euro / 22.00 USD / 13.00 UK; 100 pages, with black-and-white photos throughout) A place of great scenic beauty, Loch Erne has long been the inspiration for artists and draws tourists from far and wide. This is a unique collection of tales capturing the experiences and memories of people around the Loch Erne area through the last century, many of which have since passed away. These tales are charming in their humour and simplicity and touching in their honesty. --------------------------------------- A Thousand Years of Church Heritage in East Galway by Peter Harbison (Trade Paperback; 20.00 Euro / 25.00 USD / 15.00 UK; 140 pages, with endflaps, full colour photos throughout) East Galway, between Corrib and Shannon and Clare and Roscommon contain a treasure of major and minor church gems. The area includes earlier and late medieval monuments such as Kilmacduagh with its famous leaning tower and the attractive ruined fairies of Kilconnell and Ross Emily among others. But the major surprises of this book are the rich and largely undiscovered heritage of stained glass which can be explored there. Labane and Loughrea respectively saw the genius and the high point of ‘Celtic Revival’ stained glass in Ireland with some of the most famous products of Sarah Purser’s An Tur Gloine (Tower of Glass) studio. ------------------------------------------- Voices of Trim by Tommy Murray (Trade Paperback; 18.00 Euro / 23.00 USD / 13.00 UK; 100 pages, with black-and-white photos throughout) Featuring entries from the culchie of the year, local politicians, ordinary workers and FCA men and characters known throughout the town, Voice of Trim displays the colour and life of Trim at its remarkable best. Featuring images and postcards from the authors own collection and photographs and pictures from other collections, this book will appeal to all those who live in or know Trim. Tommy Murray is a well known author and poet living in Trim. He has produced numerous successful books and publications and has received many prizes and awards for his work and poetry. It features: Local Content; Engaging tone; Excellent collection of postcards and images. ---------------------------------------- Voices of the Donegal Corridor by Joe O’Loughlin (Trade Paperback; 17.00 Euro / 20.00 USD / 12.00 UK; 90 pages, with black-and-white photos throughout) "The Donegal Corridor", based along Lough Erne in County Fermanagh and up the Donegal coast, was a key contribution to the Allies in World War II. A place where ally soldiers trained for combat, where planes landed and refuelled and where many crashed and lost their lives. This intriguing book brings together a collection of memories, from home and abroad, of the Donegal Corridor. Joe interviews local people, family members and former comrades. The book is beautifully illustrated with pictures of many of these lost heroes, their aircrafts and the memorial sights of those who never made it home. This book will have a local as well as an international appeal. ---------------------------------------- A Class Apart: The Gentry Families of County Kildare by Con Costello (25.00 Euro / 30.00 USD / 20.00 UK; 128 pages, with a 16-page full colour insert) The landed gentry played a significant role in the history of Kildare. The highly impressive houses throughout the county stand as testimony to this. There has always been a deep fascination in 'The Big House' - the families living there, their treatment of the peasants, and their eventual fall. The Gentry of Kildare is a fascinating exploration into the lives of a number of gentry families, their rise and their demise. This study of the landed gentry is a wonderful read from both an historical as well as a local point of view. ----------------------------------------- Newgrange: The Mystery of the Chequered Lights by Hugh Kearns (Paperback; 15.00 Euro / 18.00 USD / 10.00 UK; 142 pages, with endflaps) 5,000 YEARS AGO, AN EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE LIVED IN IRELAND. THEY WERE FARMERS, HUNTERS AND BUILDERS. WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF THE WHEEL, AND WITH TOOLS MADE ONLY OF FLINT, THEY CARVED THEIR CULTURE INTO HISTORY. ALONG THE BANKS OF THE RIVER BOYNE, THEY BUILT IRELAND'S BIGGEST AND BEST-KNOWN NECROPOLIS, REPOSITORIES TO THEIR SPIRITS - MONUMENTS TO IMMORTALITY. At ten minutes to nine on the morning of the shortest day of the year, a pale and weak sun slowly rises above a ridge in the Boyne River valley. As its rays penetrate the dawn mist, a solitary building sits atop the hill waiting - Newgrange, waiting as it has every year for over fifty centuries to shine once again as a beacon to the Spirit of Man. In this dramatic new book, Hugh Kearns postulates that the Neolithic structure at Newgrange is even more sophisticated than the current archaeological establishment is prepared to accept. Everyone knows that the solstice sunrise is captured by the structure to illuminate a corbelled chamber deep in the interior of the huge mound. But what did the Neolithic engineers do with the captured sunbeam? The answer to that intriguing question illuminates some of the darkest passages of Irish history, validating even the most exotic of Irish legends as actual, prehistoric facts. --------------------------- New in Paperback This Week: --------------------------- Easter 1916: The Irish Rebellion by Charles Townshend (12.00 Euro / 15.00 USD / 9.00 UK; 442 pages) Before Easter 1916, Dublin had been a city much like any other British city, comparable to Bristol or Liverpool and part of a complex, deep-rooted British world. Many of Dublin's inhabitants wanted to weaken or terminate London's rule, but there remained a vast and conflicting range of visions of that future: far more immediate was the unfolding disaster of the First World War that had put home rule' issues on ice for the duration. The devastating events of that Easter changed everything. Both the rising itself and - even more significantly - the ferocious British response ended any sense at all that Dublin could be anything other than the capital of an independent country, as an entire nation turned away in revulsion from the British artillery and executions. As we approach the 90th anniversary of the rebellion, it is time for a new account of what really happened over those fateful few days. What did the rebels actually hope to achieve? What did the British think they were doing? And, how were the events really interpreted by ordinary people across Ireland? Vivid, authoritative, and gripping, "Easter 1916" is a major work. ----------------------------------- Highlights from the Previous Issue: ----------------------------------- The Bloody Sunday Inquiry: The Families Speak Out edited by Eamonn McCann (Paperback; 16.00 Euro / 20.00 USD / 11.00 UK; 183 pages) The Bloody Sunday Inquiry has been epic in its scale and implications. This is the story of how it came about and of the hopes and suspicions which surround it, told from a uniquely personal point of view. Twenty-one wounded survivors and relatives of the dead describe the campaign which led to the establishment of the Inquiry under Lord Saville. They reveal their bitterness at the 'whitewash' of the first inquiry under Lord Chief Justice Widgery, and describe the frustrations and elations of their long struggle to force the British Government to launch a new search for the truth. The relatives comment sharply on Saville’s performance, and on the attitudes of British and Irish politicians, the media and an array of celebrity lawyers. They reflect on whether soldiers and leading politicians should now be prosecuted for murder, and discuss whether the outcome of the Inquiry is likely to hinder or enhance the peace process. Will the truth about Bloody Sunday raise more ghosts than it sets to rest? This is the story of the longest legal proceedings in British or Irish history in the raw words of those most intimately involved. What they have to say puts a new focus on the significance of State atrocities in shaping perceptions of the past and aspirations for the future in Ireland. ---------------------------------------- Chaos at the Crossroads by Frank McDonald and James Nix (Large Paperback with Endflaps; 25.00 Euro / 33.00 USD / 19.00 UK; 410 pages) This book is a catalogue of the sloppy thinking, political chicanery, bureaucratic incompetence and pandering to vested interests that characterise so much of what is happening in Ireland today! It charts how the country is being wrecked by half-baked policies that fail, and are known to fail. Whether it’s the urban-generated housing in rural areas, the relentless sprawl of our cities, the madness of the motorway programme, the scatter-gun approach to decentralisation, the contempt for our heritage, or the failure to observe our international obligations to combat climate change, the Government has made a mess of it. Evidence that would underpin sensible decisions is either blithely ignored or never gathered in the first place. There is an alternative, but the lack of political leadership has thwarted its adoption to date. It’s the idea of closely knit cities, with Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford working together to counterbalance Dublin. This book also puts forward proposals on how to make urban life work better, how to get around cities and travel between them. It gives a warning of what is likely to happen if the current blasé to-hell-with-the-next-generation approach is allowed to prevail: chaos! (Also available in Hardback price at 40 Euro) ------------------------------- Torn Water by John Lynch (Hardback; 17.00 Euro / 21.00 USD / 13.00 UK; 265 pages) Set in his native Northern Ireland, John Lynch's debut novel is a lyrically told and exquisitely tender story of innocence and loss. 'He remembers when he was very young standing by water! How he had got there or where the pond was he couldn't remember, but he can vaguely recall a larger hand on his and being led through the high rooms of a large building, to a large garden, where bees wove dozy patterns in the air. At the bottom of this garden lay the large pond, and he remembers a face bending to meet his and whispering that he would be back in a little while. So he stood where he had been left, his small feet pointing at the stonework of the pond's rim. He remembers a wind brewing in the tops of the trees and tearing at the water of the pond for a moment, before subsiding, his face blurring into focus like a TV channel being tuned.' When James Lavery's father is blown to bits by a bomb he intended to maim and kill others with, the boy keeps him alive in his imagination as a superhero, escaping the daily grind of school, his mother's drinking and his own acute loneliness by inventing extraordinary adventures for them both. --------------------------------------- Easy Entertaining by Darina Allen (Hardback; 30.00 Euro / 36.00 USD / 24.00 UK; 306 pages, with full colour illustrations throughout) Almost everybody would like to entertain more often - but it's just too daunting. Planning an exciting, well-balanced menu which won't require a week of preparation and three nervous breakdowns is the first hurdle. Next there are the wines to consider. And what about - flowers, lighting, table decorations? In this much-needed book, cookery writer Darina Allen smoothes away the stress of entertaining with over 250 recipes that cover everything from three-course dinners to tapas and one-pot suppers. Chapters include Starters, Finger Food, Brunch, Formal Dinners, Family Desserts and Festive Meals and the recipes are balanced so that you can prepare some dishes in advance and include modern recipes from around the world as well as vegetarian options. Be inspired by Darina's styling ideas for decoration and place settings to help you create the perfect atmosphere, whether it is a romantic dinner for two or a lively evening with friends. Darina uses her own experience to show how you can use sea shells as butter dishes, shot glasses for soup and a sari as a tablecloth for an Indian feast. Or throw it over your table lamp to soften your lighting. There are also extensive menu planners to help you plan your event and practical advice on wine and other drinks. Darina covers everything from tapas to three-course dinners and from canapés to casseroles in this bible of entertaining. She includes chapters on Brunch, Prepare-ahead Meals, Picnics, Romantic Dinners, Finger Food, Formal Dinners, Festive Meals and many more as well as providing extensive menu planners and practical advice on wine and other drinks to complement your food. Style tips and ideas for table settings, flowers, lighting and even party games will ensure your soirée looks as sensational as it tastes. She also includes options for vegetarian and vegan guests throughout the book. ---------------------------------------- Under the Spotlight: Conversations with 17 Leading Irish Journalists by Roger Greene (Trade Paperback; 15.00 Euro / 18.00 USD / 9.00 UK; 217 pages) "Under the Spotlight", by Newstalk 106's Media Matters programme presenter Roger Greene, is a collection of 16 radio profiles of leading figures from Irish media which reveal the personal and professional motivations behind the people who bring news and entertainment to the public. Among the people interviewed in the book are Conor Brady, Fergal Keane, Lara Marlowe, Paddy Prendiville, Gene Kerrigan, Kevin Myers, Joe Mulholland, Vincent Browne, Hector O hEochagain and Tom Paulin. Each interviewee discusses their childhoods and upbringing and reflects on the journey that has brought them to their present position at the top of their profession. They deal with the reasons they chose the media, their career progress and the impact their chosen profession has had on their private lives. For instance, Fergal Keane describes his journalistic journey from Ireland to the BBC and onward to the world's war zones. He speaks about his upbringing with his alcoholic father and the subsequent break-up of the family. He talks about the emotional, elevating and terrifying experiences of being a war correspondent for the BBC and reveals that he has now lost the courage to cover wars --------------------------------------- Ireland: Railways Past and Present by Michael Baker (Trade Paperback; 27.00 Euro / 32.00 USD / 18.00 UK; 146 pages, with black-and-white photos throughout) Presents a past and present tour of Ireland's railway network, which embraces not only the main lines around Belfast, Dublin and Cork and developments in stock, services and electrification, but also the remote narrow-gauge outposts of the Far West, gone for ever. ------------------------------------- The Buildings of Ireland: Dublin by Christine Casey (Hardback; 45.00 Euro / 55.00 USD / 30.00 UK; 756 pages, with colour photos) This book is a uniquely comprehensive guide to the buildings of central Dublin, in the great tradition of the Pevsner series. Churches, public buildings and streets are described for every district, each full of new discoveries and lively detail. Illustrations include numerous maps, plans and specially taken colour photographs. The entire area within the canals is covered, along with the Phoenix Park. The grand 18th-century set-pieces - Custom House, Four Courts, Bank of Ireland - are offset by a graceful Georgian cityscape, much of which remains intact. The astonishingly rich and varied house interiors are also treated in full, many for the first time. Civic and commercial Victorian architecture features in strength, together with the highs and lows of post-war building, which culminate in some sensitive and resourceful buildings by a new generation of Irish architects. Two fine Gothic cathedrals remain from the medieval city, whose history is traced in a scholarly introduction that runs down to the present day. This is the third volume in the Buildings of Ireland series. For all who share an interest in the fabric of Dublin - architect or historian, tourist or armchair traveller. -------------------------------------- Ireland in the World: Further Reflections by Garret FitzGerald (Hardback; 25.00 Euro / 30.00 USD / 20.00 UK; 255 pages) Ireland in the World - Further Reflections is a collection of essays, many of which have not previously appeared in print, on Irish history and politics, contemporary Irish society and world affairs by the former Taoiseach and respected columnist Garret FitzGerald. What strikes the reader most forcefully is the breadth of Dr FitzGerald's interests, the range of his expertise and the clarity with which he presents his arguments, which are sometimes controversial and always compelling. ----------------------------------------- Fond Memory: Consoling Words from the Irish Tradition edited by Ide Ni Laoghaire and Mary Webb (Gift Hardback; 13.00 Euro / 16.00 USD / 9.00 UK; 180 pages) For times of sorrow and remembrance or to be read at funerals. In times of sorrow, grief or loss we often look to our poets and songwriters, to our heritage and tradition for words of comfort, hope and inspiration. We look too for those words that reflect our sense of place, of belonging, words that sum up our deepest feelings about a loved one. Here, for the first time, is a collection specific to the Irish experience. Old and modern - poetry, prayers, songs, phrases, blessings - fitting words to express your heartfelt grief and to bring solace and healing. ---------------------------------------- GAA: The Glory Years – Hurling and Football 1991-2005 by Ronnie Bellew (Hardback; 22.00 Euro / 26.00 USD / 17.00 UK; 276 pages with full coloutr illustrations throughout) During the past fifteen years, the GAA has gone through a renaissance. Despite the rising popularity of other sports, it has revolutionised itself to take its place centre stage in the Irish sporting arena, enjoying a greater groundswell of support than ever before. The developments have been astounding. The emergence of Ulster football and the revival in the West. In hurling, the men from Clare and Wexford and the domination of D.J. Carey. The amazing development of Croke Park and the rise in supporters' fanaticism. 'Jayo-mania' in 1995 heralding the era of the GAA superstar. The strikes and revolts of the Cork and Offaly hurlers and the emergence of player power. In "GAA: The Glory Years", Ronnie Bellew tells the story of these remarkable fifteen years - of the events, on and off the field, the breakthroughs, the controversies and the personalities behind a golden era that has seen the GAA reinvent itself to become the hottest ticket in town. This is the story of how the GAA got from there to here. ----------------------------------------- The IRB: The Irish Republican Brotherhood from the Land League to Sinn Fein by Owen McGee (Large Paperback; 30.00 Euro / 36.00 USD / 24.00 UK; 380 pages) This book analyzes the ideology and organizational traditions of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB), its role in Irish politics and its place in Irish history. While the IRB has long been associated with the insurrections of 1867 and 1916, Owen McGee argues that it was never primarily an insurrectionary conspiracy; rather it was a popular fraternal organization and propagandistic body, committed to bringing about popular politicization in Ireland along republican lines. Focusing primarily on the new departures in Irish politics between the land war of 1879 - 81 and the outbreak of the First World War, this study identifies this period as being a critical phase in the evolution of modern Irish republicanism, as well as being the pivotal stage in the history of the IRB itself. It throws fresh light on the social and political origins of the Irish revolution of 1912 - 23, as well as the IRB's intended political role during that eventful epoch. Prominent members included: Michael Collins, James Stephens, Arthur Griffith, Bulkmer Hobson, Eamonn Ceannt and Edward Daly (the latter two fought in 1916 and were executed as a result of their involvement). --------------------------------------- The Lemass Era: Politics and Society in the Ireland of Sean Lemass edited by Brian Girvin and Gary Murphy (Large Paperback; 25.00 Euro / 30.00 USD / 20.00 UK; 270 pages) This new book focuses on the impact of Seán Lemass on Irish politics and society between 1945 and 1973. It covers politics, economic policy, emigration, foreign policy (including the negotiations to join the EEC), cross-border co-operation with Northern Ireland, the Church, education, film and television policy. The Lemass Era shows that Lemass was the pivotal figure in the transition from the conservatism of de Valera's Ireland to the more open, progressive and modern society that takes form during the 1960s. Lemass was a 1916 veteran, a founder member of Fianna Fáil and a long serving Minister for Industry and Commerce, but this did not prevent him from ruthlessly questioning the state of Ireland after 1945. During the 1950s he sought to meet the challenge of economic crisis while also attempting to open up discussion on a moderate and realistic policy towards Northern Ireland. However, it was only in 1959 that Lemass had the opportunity to implement his new thinking. He became Taoiseach at the age of 59, but showed a capacity for new thinking and hard work that would have been impressive in a younger person. If de Valera characterised the main features of the first half of the twentieth century, then Lemass is the most formidable influence over the second half: it is his vision that has prevailed in the modernisation of Irish society and its economic success since the 1960s. ---------------------------- Strumpet City by James Plunkett (Paperback; 11.00 Euro / 14.00 USD / 8.00 UK; 550 pages) The classic, powerful novel of life and hard times in Dublin during the angry years leading up to World War I. A story bursting with memorable characters caught up in the bitter struggles of the age, driven by love and hate, pride and devotion. ---------------------------------- Roman Ireland by Vittorio Di Martino (Trade Paperback; 15.00 Euro / 18.00 USD / 11.00 UK 208 pages) Imagine Ireland untouched by Roman influence when Britain was part of the Roman Empire, a time when the distance was nothing for sailors routinely navigating the entire Mediterranean. Yet, the accepted view has been there was no Roman expedition to Ireland. The Irish lived in Celtic purity with little outside influence until St Patrick brought Christianity. Yet, many sites have produced Roman objects indicating a Roman presence in Ireland. "Roman Ireland" is a fresh reconsideration of Roman influence in Ireland. It outlines the influence of Latin on the Irish language, the Roman contribution to Irish art and the new contacts trade opened between the Irish and Roman worlds. Roman influence on social life, craftsmanship and farming is disclosed. Finally, new insights are provided on Christianisation as a vehicle of Romanisation in Ireland and the likely occurrence of at least one Roman military invasion of Ireland. ------------------------------------------------ Thank you for your continued support. It is vital for the continuation of this service! I respectfully request that if you are considering ordering any of these books that you do so through Read Ireland. I very much appreciate your patronage. To order books from the Read Ireland Book Review – simply return the Newsletter by clicking your reply button. Please DELETE the books you do NOT want and LEAVE the books you DO WANT to order. Alternatively, you can send an email to the order department at: gregcarr@readireland.ie Please be sure to include your full mailing address and credit card details including expiration date. You might like to split this information into 2 or 3 emails for security. You can of course also post your order to: Read Ireland, 392 Clontarf Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3,Ireland. Telephone and Facsimile number is: +353-1-853-2063. Read Ireland Web Site Home Page: www.readireland.ie or www.readireland.com I have added a new feature to the Read Ireland website. It is a page listing ONLY the newest books added to or updated on the website. This new feature page will itself be uperseded at least 3 times per month (next update 19 March). Checking this page on the Read Ireland website is an ideal way to keep abreast of what is happening in the world of Irish Interest publishing. Please visit often! If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you very much for your continued support and custom. Sincerely, Gregory Carr @ Read Ireland
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