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Traditions, folklore, history and more. If it's Irish, it's here. Or will be!
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Death Comes too Soon
A Bridget O’Hern Mystery
by Patricia Harrington
This not an edge of the seat suspense thriller but it is a very well written story that will appeal to those who enjoy a classic mystery in the vein of an Agatha Christie. A murder has been committed and our primary character - Bridget O’Hern - is the heroine who helps the authorities find out who did it and bring them to justice. This is the second in the Bridget O’Hern series, but it stands on its own as a satisfyingly good read.
Please click here for Death Comes too Soon.
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Joe was on a book-signing tour and graciously consented to an interview. Read our review of this, his latest book, which Roddy Doyle says is his best yet.
Click here for Star of the Sea
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Redemption Falls
by Joseph O’Connor
This book took my breath away. It is panoramic, yet dense and delicious in detail. It is written gloriously, as if Mr O'Connor toiled at some mighty cathedral organ containing the whole of the English language with its Irish and American flavourings. This is a brave book and only a brave heart could have written it." Frank McCourt, author of Angela's Ashes, winner of the Pulitzer Prize
Click here for Redemption Falls.
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Set around the great lockout when Dublin employers set out to break the unions in 1913, this is the story of the people at the bottom of the ladder who dreamed of something more but who worked for the next few shillings to get them to the end of the week. At a time in Irish history when so many novels focus on the politics of loyalist versus nationalist, this one tells the real tale of dirty oul Dublin - meaty, raw and captivating.
Edited and adapted from amazon reviews.
Click here for Strumpet City.
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Every table at Quentins Restaurant has a thousand stories to tell: tales of love, betrayal and revenge. There has been great hope and deep despair. The staff who come and go have stories of their own, and the restaurant itself has had times when it looked set fair for success and others when it seemed doomed to failure.
Click here for Quentins.
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As famine and plague sweep across Ireland, and foreign oppressors drive the people from their land, one man's words and music spreads a message of hope and courage.
Amazon review
See our Article on O'Carolan
Click here for Turlough
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Recipes for a Perfect Marriage
by Morag Punty
A tender, funny, heartfelt novel about Tressa, an uncertain bride and her Irish grandmother, Bernardine, who teaches her the unexpected ingredients of marital happiness. While they are generations and oceans apart, they learn that marriage, like brown bread, is both sturdy and fragile, and should never to be taken for granted.
Click here for Recipes for a Perfect Marriage
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The New Hennessy Book of Irish Fiction
Edited by Dermot Bolger
If you want proof that the storytelling tradition is still alive and well in Ireland, a quick scan through 'The New Hennessy Book of Irish Fiction' should dispel any doubts. Many of the names in the contents list have become familiar - Noëlle Harrison, Eileen Brannigan, Trudy Hayes, Pól MacReannachán, Deirdre Nally and more. The range of voices is wonderful and the stories really give you something to think about. Adapted from an RTÉ review by Katie Moten.
Click here for The New Hennessy Book of Irish Fiction.
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Whitethorn Woods
by Maeve Binchy
Binchy is at her best in this tender yet potent tale of a traditional land and people threatened and challenged by the forces of change - specifically, the village of Rossmore which overflows with visitors because of the shrine of St. Ann's Well in the woods and which is now threatened by a proposal to build a bypass highway.
Click here for Whitethorn Woods.
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Veneers
by Rita Shala
This is the story of what happens when an English parish comprised of Irish emigrants or their descendants become prime suspects in the murder of a middle-aged woman. Struggling to keep in place the polished veneers with which they have so carefully covered the rawness and decay of their existence, their lives start to unravel and we are exposed to a cast of characters that could be described as street angels and house devils.
Click here for Veneers.
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Brigid of Ireland
by Cindy Thomson
It seems an almost impossible task for writers not born and reared in Ireland to realistically convey the Irish idiom of the English language, but Cindy Thomson has been more successful than most. Her account of the early life of St Brigid is told with an obviously deep knowledge of the social history of fifth century Ireland and the rivalry between the old religion, represented by the druids, and the followers of St Patrick. Irish Emigrant
Click here for Brigid of Ireland.
To learn more about the author please click Cindy Thomson.
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Fiction Page: 1 {Next}
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Thu, Mar 27, 2008
Irish Furze
Called whin in the north and gorse in the east, furze was once a symbol of wealth and fertility of land as is emphasized by the saying: "gold under furze, silver under rushes and famine under heather."
As indigenous to the early summer landscape as rhododendrons, it is despised by farmers because of its invasive properties; but in the past, it had many good uses.
It ignites quickly, so it was used for starting the fire: it was also used for cleaning the chimney, tilling the soil, dyeing wool and fabric, and as a flavouring for whiskey (which may have improved its rating with the farmers!). It had medicinal powers and its magical powers were undisputed in preventing the good people from stealing the butter on May day. And, at mid-summer, blazing branches were carried round the herd to bring good health to the cows for the coming year.
Click for More Culture Corner.
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 Can't Find it?!
Our Library is compiled from what we know and like. If you can't find what you're looking for read on.
• First: go to Amazon -
There's no escaping the fact that they are the largest catalog.
Note: There are multiple Amazons and they do not carry exactly the same items. Any one of the U.S., U.K. and Canada sites may not have the item but another Amazon will. Each site will ship anywhere in the world. Try them all before you give up.
Click here for Amazon.US.
Click here for Amazon.UK.
Click here for Amazon.Canada.
• Second: Amazon doesn't have it? Try Powells. They are the largest book source in New York and they have a good selection of 'out of print' books. Click here for Powells.
This link brings you to a list of 600 Irish titles; if you're looking for something else, just Search.
• Third: Still can't find It? Alright, try ALibris they are the place for 'books you never thought you'd find'. We've found everything we were after. Click here for ALibris.
• Last: Nothing Worked?
E-Mail us, we'll give it a go. Click for Russ & Bridget.
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Celtic Bookmark
Elegant bookmark is made of silver over pewter. It measures 3" x 1". When in use, the pretty Celtic design sticks out of your book. Or choose Trinity Knot or Celtic Heart.
Click for Celtic Book mark.
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Oct 18 2006, 07:08:43 |
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