Travelers' Tales Ireland: True Stories (Paperback)

~ James O'Reilly (Editor), (Editor), (Editor) "I COULD HARDLY HAVE PICKED A MORE TORN OR FRAGMENTED section of the entire Irish coast on which to make a lucky-dip landfall..." (more)
Key Phrases: little young fella, gaping vulva, confession box, Sister Keating, Mister Ireland, Great Blasket (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Travelers' Tales is a valuable addition to any pre-departure reading list."

Product Description

This memorable anthology reveals the soul of one of the oldest cultures in Europe, visiting Ireland's iridescent green hills, rural pubs, Dublin streets, hidden islands, and mossy Celtic ruins. Experience the magic of Ireland in this engaging illustrated collection.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 424 pages
• Publisher: Travelers' Tales; 1 edition (May 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885211945
• ISBN-13: 978-1885211941
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #446,589 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Sub-title says it all., August 16, 2000

By	Malcolm Massie (Cobourg, Ontario (60 miles east of Toronto)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ireland: True Stories of Life on the Emerald Isle (Travelers' Tales) (Paperback)

This book consists of a wide variety of stories from the humourous to the profound to the historical. There are stories that you want to sit down with a friend and read it to them: specically, "A Pub Fairy Tale" by Pamela Ramsey tells of a visit to an Irish pub by the author who wanted to take in the "ambiance" of the music and dancing. She hoped that she would be asked to dance, but as closing time drew near, her hopes seemed slim. Then an energetic old gentleman finally asked her, and she describes it this way: "I could feel the other dancers watching us, nodding, laughing, giving us encouragement, but the old man and I had eyes only for each other. We were two odd strangers caught in a moment of tenderness. A moment of magic. I was Cinderella, the belle of the ball, dancing with my Prince - an old, almost-blind man, wearing a black beret." Beautiful. Another story tells of the estrangement of a son and his father when he married outside the faith, and how, when the father died, a reconciliation of sorts was established with his brother with they go hiking on the hills where there father had hiked with them, and how he came to understand his father's secret strength and connection with the isle: "Walking the Kerry Way", by Tim O'Reilly. This brief description of Mr. O'Reilly's story does it a gross injustice, because there is a depth of feeling that only the author can convey. The brief biographical descriptions at the end of each story are informative and to the point. At the end of the book, there is an extensive, "The Next Step" which includes a number of websites, and a good bibliography. The book is well put together, and succeeds very well in conveying "true stories of life on the emerald isle."

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific read on Ireland, April 21, 2000

By	Paul Winston (Paris, France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ireland: True Stories of Life on the Emerald Isle (Travelers' Tales) (Paperback)

I'm on my way to Ireland in a few days. This is just a note to say that I found this book on Ireland, to my surprise as so many nice things can be, enormously sensitive and moving and classy. Classy because the type style, the paper stock, and the interior arrangement of the stories and back-of-the-book tips and advice show a lot of editorial thought, being so well done. I was deeply moved by the selection of the tales, each its own chapter, and I definitely felt a sense of coming to know Ireland in a way no other book I could buy would bring me. Lots of laughter and tears and thoughts arriving as I stared out a window, enveloping the mood of a story I'd just finished. They were wonderfully written for me, to my standards, which are impossibly high -- I admire the best, even if I can't write at that level -- and overall I sensed that the editing was careful, thoughtful. There'd been plenty of work put into this volume. The end of the book with all the tips was very enjoyable, and I've read it through twice so far as I sense it will all come true for me, all prove to be good advice, on this, my first trip to Ireland.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Descriptions pull you into the landscape, May 14, 2000

By	Tom Mullen (Panama) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ireland: True Stories of Life on the Emerald Isle (Travelers' Tales) (Paperback)

Like other books in the Travelers Tales series - this book gives excellent insight into the Irish way of life and provides excellent reading (I am slightly biased, having written one of the short pieces that is included - titled Cycling to Dun Aengus). The overall quality of the book is excellent and the descriptions pull you right into the landscape and geography of Ireland - from sitting in smoky pubs to driving past weather beaten coasts. Some of these pieces are also hilarious. Highly recommended not only as a prerequisite to a visit - but for a great read. [e-mail]