Customer Reviews

Pipes are Calling: Our Jaunts Through Ireland

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is truly a magnificent piece of writing. Niall Williams and Christine Breen describe their jaunts with their daughter Deirdre so clearly that you are with them in their car as they experience the excitement as they travel the back roads of Ireland -- all of the the sights, smells, sounds and feelings of the different places the travel to, and best of all their life back home in Kiltumper.

They fill the book with wonderful homey anecdotes about their travels, life at their farm and with their neighbors. Stories that not only open the door into their lives, but welcome you in with a steaming mug of tea and a hearty slice of Christine's Brown Bread.

This is a rather different style of travelogue about a couple and their new daughter exploring Ireland from their home base in County Clare in western Ireland. The book takes places over the year of 1989 and loosely centers around the question "is Irish hospitality still alive". As one would expect, they come to the conclusion, over the course of their journeys, that it is.

I found the individual stories to be well written and interesting, but the overall book left me wanting a little more about the places they visited and less about "then we went there and did this". I myself also lacked enough Irish geography to always picture where they traveled.

The chapters center around their trips to various parts of Ireland and focus on the hospitality they find at the various bed & breakfasts at which they stay. The observe a lot of interesting cultural events from a community dance, to street music festival, to a grayhound race to a horse fair. It is an interestingly eclectic mix that often surprised me.

If you have been to Ireland or have connections there, I suspect you will find this an interesting book as it touches upon places than you have a connection to. For me, I will be looking for other authors' travelogues.

I don't think anyone who loves Ireland will be disappointed in this book. It is very well written, moves right along. You get a sincere taste of life in Ireland as it was in the 80's. So much has changed now compared to then. I enjoyed this book so much that I have purchase the next 2 written in sequence to this book. Just about finished with the 3rd (got them out of sequence).
The thought of 2 city people uprooting their lives to live in the "wilds" of West Ireland is amazing. It's a wonder they stuck with the country life, considering how primitive it was in the 80's.
Just enjoy reading this relaxing enjoyable book. I am sure you will not be disappointed.

I can't say enought for this series of books as loved every one of them.If you are interested in Ireland or just want to read a excellent series I would give an A + for these books.