Ireland Books

Rick Steves' Ireland 2009

Rick Steves, Pat O'Connor

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Rick Steve's Ireland 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

great book with alot of information...loved the recommendations for B&B's and tour buses....will really use it in April

Editorial Review:

Get to know Dublin on a musical pub crawl, explore the towering ruins of Trim Castle, or stand 650 feet above the Atlantic on the Cliffs of Moher—Rick Steves’ Ireland 2009 allows any traveler to experience all that the country has to offer—economically and hassle-free. Rick covers all of the well-known sites, from the Book of Kells to the Blarney Stone, but doesn’t leave out where to grab a pint and chat with a local. With Rick’s expert advice, historical knowledge, and humorous asides, Rick Steves’ Ireland 2009 is tour guide that fits in your pocket.

Ireland (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

Tim Perry

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 52 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Buy it!! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Bought this guidebook for our trip to Ireland in 2007. Incredibly useful for picking out things to do/see, places to visit, what to avoid. There were even maps of the floorplans for historic buildings! This book was dog-eared long before the trip and carried in the totebag every day. Dublin seems to have a phobia with street signs so I used the hotel listings in the back to determine how much further was the walk from that hotel to Trinity College - worked like a charm! Galway was far and away the best part of the trip due to the extensive recommendations. And County Meath - we would never had gone to the mid-lands if not for this book and I am so glad that we did go. Trim was quaint and charming and convenient for traveling around castle gazing and visiting the Bru na Boinne and Tara.

Best advice from this book: ride the Iarnrod Eireann (train) cross country rather than driving - it's quicker, hassle-free and cheaper than car rental and a tank of very expensive European gasoline (buy tickets on-line while in America to cut down on the fees for turning dollars into the Euro). We also hired a driver for the day we spent traveling about the Bru and the fee was cheaper than renting a car. Not to mention you don't have to worry about getting lost on those very narrow, very winding roads. I still thumb through this book remembering how great our trip was....

Editorial Review:

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more comprehensive, engrossing and just plain fun-to-read guidebook than the Eyewitness Travel Guide: Ireland. Spilling over with all sorts of useful information for the traveler, you'll find three-dimensional drawings, floor plans, detailed neighborhood maps with a street-finder index, and even historical timelines. Broken into several sections (including "Introducing Ireland," "Region by Region," "Traveler's Needs," and "Survival Guide"), the guide paints a complete picture of the country. Readers will especially love the hundreds of color photos of everything from the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare to the Connemara landscape of County Galway to out-of-the-way pubs and street-by-street illustrated city walks (Dublin's Southeast walk takes in famed landmarks such as Trinity College, St. Stephen's Green and the Shelbourne Hotel). You'll also find listings for Aran sweaters, Waterford crystal, and Celtic recordings. --Jill Fergus

I Never Knew that About Ireland

Christopher Winn

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Subjects -> History -> Europe -> Ireland -> Troubles
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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Interesting read 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Actually bought this as a gift, but did take time and read about places I had been in Ireland, think I will have to borrow it back after Christmas.

More than a few Surprises... 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

2006's "I Never Knew That About Ireland" is a charming collection of anecdotes, stories, and a few tall tales about the Emerald Isle, by Christopher Winn. Ireland's long cultural continuity, its varied terrain, and its remarkable people are a source of all kinds of interesting items, ranging from stone tombs dating back to the dawn of Europe to some of the finest churches of the Middle Ages to some surprisingly modern firsts.

Winn breaks up his items by geographic area and further subdivides by county. The effect is a sort of travelogue around Ireland that visitors and tourists may find very useful in augmenting the regular travel guides. The book is nicely illustrated with sketches of some of the featured locations or items.

The effects of the Irish diaspora are on display here. U.S. Presidents Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson, U.S. Grant, Chester Arthur, Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy had relatives born in Ireland, as did Buffalo Bill Cody.

Some other samples: Belfast was once the home of the premier shipyards in the world (the Titanic was built there). The first trans Atlantic airplane flight ended with a crashlanding in Western Ireland, ironically, near the antennas that provided the first trans Atlantic telegraph service. Amelia Earheart completed her solo transatlantic flight in Ireland (to her surprise; apparently she expected to land in France).

This small volume is highly recommended as an entertaining and educational read for visitors, travelers, and friends of Ireland.

Editorial Review:

In this wonderful compendium, Christopher Winn gives a tour of the four provinces of Ireland---Connacht, Leinster, Munster, and Ulster. Find out where dreams were inspired, ideas were born, and where the unforgettable heroes of Ireland’s past now slumber. A treasure trove of fascinating stories, I Never Knew That About Ireland is packed full of information on the colorful history of the Emerald Isle.
This irresistible book gives a captivating insight into the heritage, memories, and monuments that have shaped each county in Ireland, searching out their secrets and unearthing their hidden gems.

The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition

Caroline Alexander

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Subjects -> History -> Australia & Oceania -> Polar Regions

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 161 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Melding superb research and the extraordinary expedition photography of Frank Hurley, The Endurance by Caroline Alexander is a stunning work of history, adventure, and art which chronicles "one of the greatest epics of survival in the annals of exploration." Setting sail as World War I broke out in Europe, the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, led by renowned polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, hoped to become the first to cross the Antarctic continent. But their ship, Endurance, was trapped in the drifting pack ice, eventually to splinter, leaving the expedition stranded on floes--a situation that seemed "not merely desperate but impossible."

Most skillfully Alexander constructs the expedition's character through its personalities--the cast of veteran explorers, scientists, and crew--with aid from many previously unavailable journals and documents. We learn, for instance, that carpenter and shipwright Henry McNish, or "Chippy," was "neither sweet-tempered nor tolerant," and that Mrs. Chippy, his cat, was "full of character." Such firsthand descriptions, paired with 170 of Frank Hurley's intimate photographs, which are comprehensively assembled here for the first time, penetrate the hulls of the Endurance and these tough men. The account successfully reveals the seldom-seen domestic world of expedition life--the singsongs, feasts, lectures, camaraderie--so that when the hardships set in, we know these people beyond the stereotypical guise of mere explorers and long for their safety.

Alexander reveals Shackleton as an inspiring optimist, "a leader who put his men first." Throughout the grueling ordeal, Shackleton and his men show what endurance and greatness are all about. The Endurance is a most intimate portrait of an expedition and of survival. Readers will possess a newfound respect for these daring souls, know better their unthinkable toil and half-forgotten realm of glory. --Byron Ricks

365 Days in Ireland Calendar 2009 (Picture a Day Wall Calendars)

Colum McCann

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Ireland wall calendar 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I bought this for a Christmas gift, but I think it's really nice and think the recipient will like it.

Editorial Review:

Theres just something about Ireland. The mysterious, ancient dolmens. The bright charm of cobblestoned villages. The shaggy, white sheep, impossibly green hills, rugged coasts, or perhaps it is all of this along with something intangible a sense of magic that hangs over the land like a mist after a shower. Size Closed: 12" w x 14" h. Size Opened: 12" w x 28" h.

Ireland (Country Guide)

Fionn Davenport, Ryan Ver Berkmoes

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 35 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

From Antarctica to Zimbabwe, if you're going there, chances are Lonely Planet has been there first. With a pithy and matter-of-fact writing style, these guides are guaranteed to calm the nerves of first-time world travelers, while still listing off-the-beaten-path finds sure to thrill even the most jaded globetrotters. Lonely Planet has been perfecting its guidebooks for nearly 30 years and as a result, has the experience and know-how similar to an older sibling's "been there" advice. The original backpacker's bible, the LP series has recently widened its reach. While still giving insights for the low-budget traveler, the books now list a wide range of accommodations and itineraries for those with less time than money.

From pub-hopping and leprechaun-chasing to Ogham stones and the Book of Kells, Lonely Planet presents the essential Ireland. In addition to the requisite lowdown on food and accommodations, a detailed activities section covers everything from walking and birdwatching to hang gliding and rock climbing. The book's intriguing "boxed asides" delve into topics ranging from the mystical to the environmental, including the witch of Kilkenny, the legend of Inishbofin Island, the Birr Observatory and Telescope, even Ireland's disappearing bogs. --Kathryn True

Ireland: A Photographic Tour

Carol Highsmith, Ted Landphair

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Another great book in the series. 5 out of 5 stars.
30 of 30 people found this review helpful.

Masterfully photographed, and printed on high quality paper, this book is a must have for any armchair traveller.
The book provides a map of the region on the inside cover, and then follows a brief and informative historical overview, which introduces the region to the reader. From that point onwards the book consists of one splendid photograph after the other, very often on a full page, or even spread over double pages, all with short descriptions to accompany them. The book depicts rural country scenes as well as historical landmarks, grand vistas to great architectural photos and even prominent statues. In short, everything the region has to offer.
I am also the proud owner of New England (Photographic Tour) by the same author and photographer and as such, I can highly recommend any one of the books in this series.

A Beautiful Country......A Beautiful Book 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

I purchased this book as a gift and was so impressed I had to buy one for myself! Photography which captures the distinct and rare beauty of Ireland and well-written text that describes and explains the many points of interest found in Ireland. If you've never been to Ireland this book will make you plan a holiday. If Ireland is already a favourite place to visit reading this book will make you want to return. High quality binding.

Editorial Review:

Ireland is a spectacular new addition to the series, with warm words and gorgeous photographs that perfectly capture the Emerald Isle's unique spirit.

Fodor's Ireland 2009 (Fodor's Gold Guides)

Fodor's

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Editorial Review:

Fodor’s. For Choice Travel Experiences.

Fodor’s helps you unleash the possibilities of travel by providing the insightful tools you need to experience the trips you want. Although you’re at the helm, Fodor’s offers the assurance of our expertise, the guarantee of selectivity, and the choice details that truly define a destination. It’s like having a friend in Ireland!

•Updated annually, Fodor’s Ireland 2009 provides the most accurate and up-to-date information available in a guidebook.

•Fodor’s Ireland 2009 features options for a variety of budgets, interests, and tastes, so you make the choices to plan your trip of a lifetime.

•If it’s not worth your time, it’s not in this book. Fodor’s discriminating ratings, including our top tier Fodor’s Choice designations, ensure that you’ll know about the most interesting and enjoyable places in Ireland.

•Experience Ireland like a local! Fodor’s Ireland 2009 includes unique photo-features that impart the country's culture, covering the music scene, the history-rich Rock of Cashel, Dublin's famed pubs, and much more!

•Indispensable, customized trip planning tools include “Top Reasons to Go,” “Word of Mouth” advice from other travelers, and tips to help save money, bypass lines, and avoid common travel pitfalls.

•8-pg. color insert; full-color pullout map

Visit Fodors.com for more ideas and information, travel deals, vacation planning tips, reviews and to exchange travel advice with other travelers.

The Wild Places (Penguin Original)

Robert Macfarlane

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

beautiful evocation of a disappearing landscape 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I love books about travel, esp in Britain, and I love nature. So I thought this book might be the perfect match. I was not disappointed! First, the book is filled with detailed descriptions of what he is seeing, so that you are seeing it too. His writing reminds me much of Chet Raymo's. I was esp fascinated with the map he made of the wild areas he is exploring. Its a map that doesn't look like any you've ever seen. But it connects all of the places he is visiting, and shows how all of these places are indeed connected. The book isn't all nature - he weaves in local history, interesting people, and stories along the way. I'd recommend this to anyone interested in the topic. My only complaint is that the book is making me want to return to that land, and thats just not going to happen any time soon! But I took that trip vicariously thanks to his writting.

Editorial Review:

“An eloquent (and compulsively readable) reminder that, though we’re laying waste the world, nature still holds sway over much of the earth’s surface.”
—Bill McKibben

Are there any genuinely wild places left in Britain and Ireland? That is the question that Robert Macfarlane poses to himself as he embarks on a series of breathtaking journeys through some of the archipelago’s most remarkable landscapes. He climbs, walks, and swims by day and spends his nights sleeping on cliff-tops and in ancient meadows and wildwoods. With elegance and passion he entwines history, memory, and landscape in a bewitching evocation of wildness and its vital importance. A unique travelogue that will intrigue readers of natural history and adventure, The Wild Places solidifies Macfarlane’s reputation as a young writer to watch.

Round Ireland with a Fridge

Tony Hawks

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 75 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

On his only prior visit to Ireland, English songwriter-comic Tony Hawks had seen a man hitchhiking with a refrigerator. For years, he was wont to tell the tale during late-night drinking matches, and after one particularly heavy-duty night of partying, he awoke to find a bet scrawled pillowside: a friend wagered 100 pounds that Hawks wouldn't travel Ireland for a month with a refrigerator at his side.

Out of this stupid premise, a ridiculously amusing book was born. Quickly discovered by the Irish media, the thumbing Englishman finds that he and his box fridge are elevated to celebrity status, and there's no dearth of rides, places to stay, or goofy people to meet, from kings to spoons players to locals who take his fridge surfing. As insightful about the strange inner workings of Hawk's mind as it is about charming peculiarities of Irishmen--it's doubtful that Hawks would have been similarly embraced by Germans, Italians, or the French--Round Ireland with a Fridge is an entirely silly, heartwarming tale told in a rollicking funny and refreshing style. --Melissa Rossi