A Book of Irish Insults [Paperback]

Sean McMahon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1997

This is a compilation of insults through the ages. Insults may be defined at their simplest as remarks and descriptions not intended as complimentary. An element of wit or justifiable rage is essential if insult is not to degenerate into mindless abuse. Ireland can number among its sons and daughters some of the wittiest insulters ever - Swift, Joyce and Myles na Gopaleen are three who come to mind - and just as many exponents of mindless abuse, who on the whole did not find their way into this collection. Sean McMahon is the author of "A Short History of Ireland" and "Rekindling the Faith".

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Irish American Book Company (June 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1856351629
• ISBN-13: 978-1856351621
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,946,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Irish have a way with words! !, October 19, 2003

By 

J. Guild (Toronto,Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Book of Irish Insults (Paperback)

This is a greatlittle book.It would be easy to pass this book by as just another one of those little edited "gift books";but it isn't.It has something for everyone who has any intrest in Irish humor,history,poetry,culture,literature or whatever.Most of the book is more academic than I first expected while some is quite simple.It is very evident that a lot of effort went into researching and selecting the quotations chosen.I find that little books of this type gives one the impression that they were just thrown together in a couple of hours.This wasn't!
Here,s just a couple of examples:
May his pig never grunt,may his cat never hunt,
May a ghost even haunt him at the dead of the night;
May his hen never lay,may his ass never bray,
May his goat fly away like an old paper kite.
That the flies and the fleas may the wretch ever tease,
And the piercing north wind make him shiver and shake,
May a lump of a stick raise bumps fat and thick
On the monster that murdered Nell Flaherty's drake.
'Nell Flaherty's Drake'
More like a curse than an insult;but good nonetheless.

How about this one:

Here lies,praise God,a woman who
Scolded and stormed her whole life through;
Tread gently o'er her rotting form
Or else you'll raise another storm.
'Grave Humour'

Enjoy ! !