Seven Secrets of the Celtic Spirit: A Journey to the Soul of Ireland [Paperback]

William John Fitzgerald (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Thomas More Publishing; 1st ed edition (November 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0883474794
• ISBN-13: 978-0883474792
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,905,072 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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3.0 out of 5 stars I counted eight, but seven is close enough, April 14, 2009

By 

Byrne Hourihane "reporterbth" (Phoenix, Az. USA.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seven Secrets of the Celtic Spirit: A Journey to the Soul of Ireland (Paperback)

Readers are off on a journey to find the modern-day soul of Ireland in a land where many of the young-moderns deify only the Euro. Yet William John Fitzgerald says the ancient Celtic Spirit still weaves its way through the fabric of Irish society, and he's got a charming book to prove it.

Fitzgerald's first "secret" is not one but a trinity of Irish traits: Heroic Adventure, Compassion and Hospitality. Regarding the origins of world renowned Irish hospitality, one shouldn't be shocked by the phenomenon when considering that hospitality was written into fifth century Celtic Brehon law, during a time when citizens were expected to welcome uninvited guests into their homes. But are the three traits (adventure, compassion and hospitality) secrets? If they were, they're not any longer, for Fitzgerald does his inspired best to weave his holy trinity into a brief description of the six epochs of Irish history.

Drawing from his seven journeys to Ireland, Fitzgerald stirs a pot of personal experience, storytelling, ancient mysticism and poetry to create his Celtic Spirit stew. One delightful feature of Seven Secrets allows readers to open to any page for quaint anecdotes. From Fairies and Leprechauns: An old geezer in Ireland once told Fitzgerald, "Of course I don't believe in fairies, but the buggers seem to be everywhere!" From Seanachies: It was the magic of the storytellers that illuminated the lives of the Irish in good times and bad. Fitzgerald adds, "The top three novels of the recent twentieth century, according to the Modern Library, are by Irish authors. " Name them for ten bonus points.

Fitzgerald also makes a case for the critical link between historical Irish and the land. They were intrinsically bound to land; they "listened" to it when it spoke to them, and they treated the land lovingly. The book claims that language is rooted in the earth. "In Ireland the earth speaks and sings! My flesh comes from this land...." is a refrain from an old poem. The world has abandoned life-sustaining ties to the earth, and as we destroy the rainforests, we destroy ourselves, Fitzgerald asserts.

Seven Secrets of the Celtic Spirit dishes up a thought provoking, humor-filled glimpse into the Irish soul and psyche. Now, if I could just get through Ulysses, by Joyce, one of the top-three novels proclaimed herein. Oh, the other two are: The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and A Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man, also by James Joyce.

Residing in Scottsdale, Arizona, Father William John Fitzgerald is a pastor, teacher and writer.