History of Ireland Books

ANCIENT LEGENDS OF IRELAND
by Lady Wilde. Illustrated by Marlene Ekman (B&W). Condition: NEW 1995 Sterling Publishing Trade Paperback, second printing.. Tiny, tiny edgewear. Content: Over 100 years ago, Lady Wilde, mother of the famous writer Oscar Wilde, set out to capture the ancient tales of the magic and mystery of the people of Ireland before they were lost forever. Written down as they were told to her by local people, these spellbinding narratives retain the charm and authenticity of the original storytellers. (2 copies available)
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BARD: The Odyssey of the Irish (Historical Fiction/Fantasy)
by Morgan Llywelyn. Cover art by Don Maitz. Condition: Gently pre-read 1987 TOR paperback, second printing. Small edgewear and very pale spine crease. Interior clean & tight. Content: Reviewer: "This is what a novel based on Celtic legends should look like. Llywelyn certainly knows how to write, but where she goes above and beyond the call of duty is her willingness to extensively research scholarly and oftentimes dry sources. Likely, she heard the legends of Ireland's past growing up, yet she nevertheless presents extensive bibliographies at the end of her novels. Bard is no exception. While artistic license is taken in order to draw the modern reader into the tale, it is clear that Llywelyn knows what she is doing, breathing new life into the people of Ireland's mythological tradition while remaining faithful to the source. An exciting retelling of the events of The Book of Invasions." [1 copy available]
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THE BLACK CITY (Historical Fiction)
by M. F. Caulfield. Condition: Gently pre-read 1953 Dutton small hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), stated first edition. DJ shows light edgewear. Content: This is the story of families involved in the Black and Tans and IRA in Northern Ireland. [1 copy available]
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THE BOOK OF IRISH LEGENDS
by Iain Zaczek. Beautiful color illustrations by Emma Garner. Condition: NEW 2001 Cico Books (London) Trade Paperback, first printing. Content: This book celebrates the richness of Irish storytelling, presenting both evocative folk tales and classic legends from the epic story cycles. These tales of supernatural love, spiritual voyage, and heroism are accompanied by specially commissioned paintings and an appendix of principal characters and places. Also includes a pronunciation guide. [1 copy available]
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THE BOOK OF IRISH NAMES:
The Origins and Meanings of Over 150 Names for Children
by Iain Zaczek. Color illustrations by Jacqui Mair. Condition: NEW 2000 CIMA Books (London) hardcover (no DJ issued), first edition, first printing. Beautiful color Celtic artwork. Content: Reviewer: "The Book of Irish Names lists the most popular names for both boys and girls, giving their derivations, pronunciations, meanings and the legends associated with their historical and mythical namesakes. Comprehensive calendars of Irish saints' feast days also allow a baby's birth to be matched to the saint of the day." Excellent gift book for Irish parents-in-waiting. [1 copy available]
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THE BOOK OF IRISH WEIRDNESS: A Treasury of Classic Tales of the Supernatural, Spooky and Strange
edited by Mairtin O'Griofa. Condition: UNREAD 1998 Sterling Publishing large Trade Paperback (484 pages), no printing given. The interior is perfect - clean & tight, BUT the front cover has a problem: 2 inch tear (repaired as best I could) top edge into the front panel. Tiny edgewear. Content: Travel back to the old country and be bewitched by these tales of strange phenomenon and ghostly, bizarre happenings on the Emerald Isle. Witty, odd and always entertaining, this last testament to the wonderful talent of author and editor - and Ballinadee's favorite son - Mairtin O'Griofa (who died in the bogs of West Cork before its release - itself a strange coincidence), is a must-have for any student of Celtic folklore or historical Irish storytelling. This book is without doubt the weirdest collection of Irish tales ever put in one atmospheric volume. As spooky as the tale of O'Griofa's ashes, scattered over the Bandon River, which are said to still resemble a ghostly figure, forever telling tales in the Munster mist. Includes "The Canterville Ghost" and and Darby O'Gill - both made into movies you probably saw in your childhood. [1 copy available]
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THE BOOK OF IRISH WEIRDNESS: A Treasury of Classic Tales of the Supernatural, Spooky and Strange
edited by Mairtin O'Griofa. Condition: NEW 1998 Sterling Publishing large Trade Paperback (484 pages), no printing given. Perfect. Content: Travel back to the old country and be bewitched by these tales of strange phenomenon and ghostly, bizarre happenings on the Emerald Isle. Witty, odd and always entertaining, this last testament to the wonderful talent of author and editor - and Ballinadee's favorite son - Mairtin O'Griofa (who died in the bogs of West Cork before its release - itself a strange coincidence), is a must-have for any student of Celtic folklore or historical Irish storytelling. This book is without doubt the weirdest collection of Irish tales ever put in one atmospheric volume. As spooky as the tale of O'Griofa's ashes, scattered over the Bandon River, which are said to still resemble a ghostly figure, forever telling tales in the Munster mist. Includes "The Canterville Ghost" and and Darby O'Gill - both made into movies you probably saw in your childhood. [1 copy available]
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THE BRENDAN VOYAGE: A Leather Boat Tracks the Discovery of America by the Irish Sailor Saints
by Tim Severin. 3 color photo sections plus B&W photos and era drawings. Condition: Gentlyh pre-read, IF at all, 1978 McGraw-Hill hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), no printing given. The DJ shows serioius edge wear to the bottom and top spine. Interior clean & tight. Content: In an extraordinary attempt to recreate St. Brendan's journey from Ireland to America, Tim Severin and his crew embarked on an epic voyage across the vast North Atlantic. This is a brilliant story of their adventure in a small, open boat in the North Atlantic, being visited by inquisitive whales, reaching mist-shrouded landfalls, and receiving a welcome from seafaring folk wherever the crew touched land. Tim Severin and his companions built a boat using only techniques and materials available in the sixth-century A.D., when St. Brendan was supposed to have sailed to America. In the boat made of ox hides only a quarter inch thick stretched over a wooden frame, they sailed from Brandon Creek in Dingle to Newfoundland, surviving storms and a puncture from pack ice. Fabulous history & adventure. [1 copy available]
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BRIAN BORU: Emperor of the Irish
by Morgan Llywelyn. Condition: Very good pre-read 1997 TOR paperback, first MMPB edition, first printing. Spine crease with slight roll. Content: A lively adaptation of Llywelyn's adult novel, Lion of Ireland, relates the story of the tenth-century hero who repelled the Vikings and united his country to become Ireland's first High King. "One thousand years ago, Brian Boru was just a young boy in the west of Ireland when he witnessed the horrors of the Norse invasion--an attack that left his mother and two of his brothers dead. It was then that he swore to one day put an end to his country's suffering. Boru grew to be a great warrior. He fulfilled his dream and became the first High King of a united Ireland--a land where all people could live in safety and and without fear." An excellent introduction to Irish/Celtic history for young adults. [1 copy available]
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BRITAIN AND IRISH SEPARATISM: From the Fenians to the Free State 1867 - 1922
by Thomas E. Hachey. B&W maps illustrate. Condition: UNREAD 1977 Rand McNally Trade Paperback, first printing. Light tanning to white cover edges with light to no tanning interior pages. Content: Essentially a history of the struggle to found the Irish Free State. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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CAGE ELEVEN: Writings from Prison
by Gerry Adams. Condition: NEW 1997 Roberts Rinehart Trade paperback, first printing. Tiny edge wear. Content: Adams, a Sinn Fein activist [& President of Sinn Fein] who led sit-ins, marches, and protests in Northern Ireland, was imprisoned without benefit of a trial. He suffered interrogations and torture during his four years at Long Kesh Prison, most of it in cell block "Cage Eleven." This collection of his essays about prison life was smuggled out of Long Kesh and published by the Irish Republican underground press. Reviewer: "This is an important work if one understands that guerrilla movements are often strengthened through incarceration of their members and the subsequent political mismanagement by prison authorities. It is in prison where a movement shares hardship and forms lifelong bonds, where new members are indoctrinated into the undergound war, where up and coming guerrillas earn street cred, and where its leadership has the time and motivation to hone their strategy. Taken in this light, Cage Eleven is an interesting window into the life behind bars for members of the outlawed IRA. At the time that Adams wrote these series of articles, they were smuggled to the outside and openly published. Thus, the purpose of these writings was to give the movement hope and strength and while engendering public sympathy. Adams was an astute writer, filling his articles with Irish humor and references to Irish culture. However, this book is more of a specialty work for someone interested in learning more about Adams, the IRA, or the effect of prison on outlawed movements. If none of these areas draw your interest, this is most likely not the work for you. Questions welcome." Thought provoking for today's climate as well. [1 copy available]
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A CELTIC CHRISTMAS: Classic Tales from the Emerald Isle
edited by Mairtin O'Griofa. B&W illustrations by Sheila Kern. Cover art by Marlene Ekman. Condition: NEW 1990 Sterling Publishing small hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: Light a cozy fire, pour yourself a dram or a pint, and curl up with these charming tales of Christmas from Ireland's past. Here's a personal invitation to share an evening with a wealth of lively characters weaving fantastic, humorous, or sentimental, tales about love, drink, ghosts, and villainy. Rich with superstition and tradition, these aren't ordinary Christmas stories. They have the quintessential Irish spirit, and you can almost smell the succulent goose roasting and hear the glasses clinking. Start with "Galway Jack's Christmas", as three people ponder the past, and love lost and found. Read closely, and you'll see that "Ballymaconkey Christmas Club" plays a variation on Dickens' "Christmas Carol". Another tale drops you right into the middle of 1920s Dublin, where a whiskey-loving bachelor gets tricked into proposing marriage. You'll meet one-eyed, one-armed Barney Broderick, who undergoes a series of hysterical mishaps, and a miser who experiences a dark, gritty fate. Each of these 14 tales will entertain you throughout the holiday season! Wonderful!! [1 copy available]
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THE CLADDAGH RING: Ireland's Cherished Symbol of Friendship, Loyalty & Love
by Malachy McCourt. Condition: NEW 2003 Running Press Tade Paperback, first printing. Content: The titular bauble-a pair of hands clasping a crowned heart with the motto "Let love and friendship reign"-is a traditional Irish emblem passed from mothers to daughters and granddaughters, exchanged by betrothed couples or given to friends, and worn by Queen Victoria, Jennifer Aniston and the rock band U2. McCourt (Danny Boy) is wary of the subject's potential to evoke "dreary sentimentality, enough to make a person vomit," but he steadies himself and gives a pleasant rundown of associated lore-a classic Irish mixture of improbable legend and historical tragedy. Drawing on scholarly and literary accounts, he explores the history and eccentric folkways of the fishing village of Claddagh, whose taciturn inhabitants "had long been an enigma, even to the people of Ireland." One origin myth has the prototype ring dropped by an eagle into the lap of a saintly benefactress, and a second says it was forged by a goldsmith for his faithful fiancée after he returned from captivity among Algerian corsairs. Another tale recounts how scores of Claddagh natives pawned the gold rings for passage to America during the potato famine, while modern myth alleges that hundreds of the rings were recovered from the rubble of the World Trade Center, a testament to the heroism of Irish-American firefighters and cops. McCourt traces the development of Celtic jewelry, ponders the symbolism of the ring's motifs and generally celebrates Irish culture with frankness and warmth. Perhaps the most pertinent material to the book's likely female readership is in a long section on traditional Irish wedding rites that is sure to give be-ringed colleens plenty of ideas. [1 copy available]
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THE CROCK OF GOLD
by James Stephens. Condition: Good + 1981 Pan Books (London) paperback, 5th printing. Pale spine crease with tny edgewear/interior tanning but clean. Content: Originally published in 1912, this book served a dual purpose: saving and printing Celtic Irish folklore in danger of being lost and to flame the fires of Irish nationalism. The beauty of Stephens' work is that his subject is the folklore of daily Irish life. Happy and jolly tales of leperachauns and fairies, small events of great import, the philosophy of field and wood. It is at once grand and accessible. The tales have a childlike attraction and simplicity to them that is belied by the quality of the prose. A book of the "Celtic Revival." [1 copy available]
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THE EASTER RISING (Revolution! series)
by Richard Killeen. B&W maps and era photos illustrate. Condition: NEW 1995 Thomason Learning hardcover (pictorial boards), no printing given. Content: Ages 9 - 12. In this fascinating history of the beginnings of the Irish Republic, you'll meet men and women, like James Connolly and Countess Markievic, sho led the Irish to freedom from British rule. You'll also learn about the long historyh of Irish resistance, from unsuccessful revolts to the victory of the Easter Rising. Then you'll discover just how disorganized the resistance was, and why, through a series of accidents, they succeeded in winning independence. The book uses first-person accounts, documents, and photos. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 10.49 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

FALLS MEMORIES: A Belfast Life
by Gerry Adams. B&W drawings by Michael McKernon. Condition: NEW 1994 Roberts Rinehart Trade Paperback, no printing given. Originally published in Ireland. Content: Adams's memoir of growing up in the Falls Road region of Belfast, spiritual center of Northern Irish republicanism, is both a nostalgic recollection of the author's early life and a fond history of the city's Catholic working class. Adams asserts that "people in this part of the world have a benign and protective attitude towards militant republicanism," and presents a detailed colloquial history of Falls Road that considers Northern Irish sectarianism within economic and class contexts. Although his subject matter and themes are steeped in the Republican vernacular, Adams writes in an informal, conversational style, largely free of overt political tones, and even manages to inject a wry sense of humor into the most touching of histories. Relatively innocent episodes from Adams's Belfast boyhood contrast with his growing awareness of religious factionalism, which, "like all sectarianism, had nothing to do with religion and was merely, as always, a profitable ruse." Although Adams's analysis of the cultural background of the Northern Ireland conflict is lucid, this memoir reveals little of Adams himself, and less of Adams the politician. Using lyrics of children's songs, details of esoteric street games, reminiscences of local characters and illustrations of landmarks from his youth, Adams instead sketches a deeply felt and gentle portrait of a people whose "courage, self-reliance, hospitality, generosity and good humour . . . is as strong now as it ever was," despite a quarter-century of warfare. Quetions welcome. [1 copy available]
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FAMOUS IRISH LIVES
by Martin Wallace. Condition: NEW 2000 Barnes & Noble small hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: Beginning with Saint Patrick, the famed cleric who drove the snakes from the Emerald Isle, and featuring such present-day Irish figures as U2's Bono, this collection of one-page biographies celebrates the diversity of Irish genius and its contribution to life and politics throughout the world. Among those featured are Brian Boru, Thomas Moore, Lady Gregory, Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, W. B. Yeats, Michael Collins, Mary Robinson, Richard Harris, and James Joyce. [1 copy available]
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FINN MAC COOL
by Morgan Llywelyn. Cover art by Jim Fitzpatrick. Condition: NEW 1993 TOR paperback, first printing. Content: Third-century, legendary Irish warrior/poet Finn Mac Cool is re-created in this romantic and historical adventure. As a young warrior, he determines to become the strongest military leader in the country and trains his band of men to serve the High King, Cormac Mac Airt, in the first Irish army, the Fianna. Physical prowess, political skill, and personal charisma become issues of the young man's personal growth and parallel the development of an army, the consolidation of political power, and the protection from foreign attack. Llywelyn weaves the mythical and mystical side of Irish tradition into Finn's personality: his loves and liasons, his friendships, and his death. Irish wolfhounds, red deer, and boar hunts are here in happy abundance. Bards and storytellers have embellished the tale of Finn into myth, but Llywelyn breathes life into the legend. Her rich prose, many characters, and some unpronounceable Gaelic names may challenge all but strong readers, but readers who have enjoyed the historical fiction of Rosemary Sutcliff and of Lloyd Alexander, as well as anyone who has delighted in the Arthurian legends, will be glad to discover this novel. [1 copy available]
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FIONN MAC CUMHAIL: Champion of Ireland (Finn McCool) [Heroes & Warriors series)
by John Matthews. Beautiful color plates by James Field. B&W photos and maps also illustrate. Condition: NEW c. 1988 Firebird Books soft cover, no printing given. Content: The heroic legends of Fionn MacCumhail (Finn Mac Cool) and the exploits of his band of elite warriors The Fianna, are an essential part of Celtic history and myth. Fionn is to Irish mythology what King Arthur is to England. The Fianna were a roving band of professional soldiers of the 3rd century C.E. They owed allegiance to none but Fionn, and history remembers them as brave defenders of the sovereignty of Ireland. Their battles were against evil enemies, both natural and supernatural. Fionn was a mighty hero, a fierce warlord, a poet, and a leader with mystic and visionary powers. this book tells of Fionn's youthful exploits, his leadership of the Fianna and the tragic story of the elopement of his wife Grainne with Diarmaid, one of his most trusted followers. The adventures are told against the historical, military, and mythological background of the period and are illustrated by 4 colour plates, plus many maps, line drawings and photographs. [1 copy available]
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GREAT FAIRY TALES OF IRELAND
by Mary McGarry & various authors. Wonderful B&W illustrations by Richard Hook. Condition: Gently pre-read 1974 Avnel Books hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), 4th printing. The DJ back panel shows light edgewear and a few rubbings. Content: Jamie Freel and the Young Lady; The Fairies; Hie Over to England; The Captive Piper; Two Tales of Leprechauns; The Magic Shilling; The Leprechaun of Carrigadhroid; The Phouka; Fair, Brown, and Trembling; The Well of F'Yerree-in-Fowan; Country-Under-Wave; The Enchanted Island; The Fairy Tree; The Fairy Thorn; The Son of Bad Counsel; The Lady of Gollerus; The White Men; The White Fairy Horse; Edain the Queen; Earl Desmond and the Banshee; The Harp of the Dagda Mor; Bibliography. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.55 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

THE GREAT HUNGER: Ireland 1845 - 1849
by Cecil Woodham-Smith. B&W photo section. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1962 Old Town Books hardcover edition & DJ (in mylar jacket), 9th printing (c. 1980s). Problem: appears a price tag or name tag has been removed from the top end page. Otherwise perfect. Content: The story of the Potato Famine of the 1840's which killed one million Irish peasants and sent hundreds of thousands to the new world. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 9.89 + $ 3.39 media shipping.

HIBERIAN NIGHTS: Twenty-two Tales of Irish Mystery and Magic
by Seamas MacManus. B&W illustrations by Paul Kennedy. Condition: NEW 1993 Barnes & Noble hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), second printing. Originally published in 1963. Content: Here are stories of the days when heroes trod the earth. You will find giants to be outsmarted, witches to be scorned, dangerous journeys to make, and impossible feats to be accomplished. Here is Irish folklore in the true tradition. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 5.00 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

I AM OF IRELAUNDE: A Novel of Patrick and Osian
by Juilene Osborne-McKnight. Condition: NEW 2001 Forge Trade Paperback, first thus, first printing. Perfect condition. Remainder. Content: Anyone familiar with Ireland knows its patron saint, Patrick, who banished the snakes and Druids from the country. Few have heard the behind-the-scenes story about what happened before the legends. So, Patrick is a Roman captured as a slave when he was a teen. After he escapes, he vows never to return, yet God speaks to him, prompting him to return. As a traveling priest, he grumpily spreads the word of God to the "heathen" Irish, hating every second of it. His band of disciples meets Osian, a poet-warrior of the Fianna, who has been dead for 200 years. Osian shares his stories, challenging Patrick's strident disbelief of magic and disdain for Druids and fairies. As the two become close, and their band of men encounter hardship sharing their beliefs, Patrick is forced to reexamine and strengthen his faith in order to survive. Osborne-McKnight beautifully portrays the intricacies of faith, love, and humanity in this novel. [1 copy available]
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THE IRISH BOOK OF DAYS
by Hugh Lauter Levin Associations, Inc. Research by Catherine Eagan. Beautiful color photos of Irish artifacts and artwork from Irish history found in the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin. Condition: NEW 1994 MacMillian Publishing hardcover (pictorial boards) with ribbon marker. Content: Reviewer: Intended as a daily diary (any year - no specific year given) in which each day has notes detailing Irish history for that date. Beautiful and educational. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.95 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

IRISH LITERATURE: A Reader
by Maureen O'Rourke Murphy and James MacKillop. Condition: UNREAD 1995 Syracuse Univ. Press Trade Paperback, third printing. Content: The authors take us through Irish literature from the 8th century through the 19th century. Biographical sketches accompany each author's work. Reviewer: "Readers should understand that this is the ONLY overview of Irish Literature we have in print. It is a perfect text for American students, the best text there is to serve as the foundation text for any introductory Irish Studies course. The editors chose to forgo inclusion of literary works readily available for the most part (Yeats, O'Casey, and the like), to give precedence to more to those that are harder to find, but which need to be studied seriously in order to get an overall understanding of Irish literature." [1 copy available]
$ 9.79 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

THE IRISH MYSTIQUE
by Max Caulfield. B&W decorations. Condition: Gently pre-read 1973 Prentice Hall hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. No problems, just pre-read! Content: The Irish Mystique - America's Enchantress; England's Secret Envy; and Ireland's Despair or so says Mr. Caulfield. Reviewer: "Caulfield appears to know whereof he speaks and this collection of his thoughts on the special mystique of the Irish at home and abroad is intriguing reading. He covers all the bases and then some, discussing in a very readable way the inconsistencies and contradictions in the Irish character, the dark and light side of a race never easy to understand, the stage Irishman, the myths and exaggerations bandied about with respect to the Irish, the warmth and humor, the anger and belligerence, the devotion to country that are hallmarks of the people. It is hard to put this book down if you have an interest in what the Irish are really like and what makes them that way. [1 copy available]
$ 9.75 + $ 3.29 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

IRISH WITCHCRAFT & DEMONOLOGY
by St. John D. Seymour. Condition: Very Good 1992 Dorset Press hardcover & DJ (in mylar cover), first printing. Original work published c. early 20th century. Exposed water and has small stain bottom edge & bottom fore edges. Content: Discussion of Irish witchcraft in terms of Irish mythology and in history, covering the careers of famous Irish witches, i.e., Dame Alice Kyteler, Florence Newton, and others. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 7.79 + $ 3.19 media shipping. Priority & International shipping available.

THE ISLE OF NOISES: Rock and Roll's Roots in Ireland
by Mark J. Pendergast. B&W photos illustrate. Condition: UNREAD 1990 St. Martin's Press Trade Paperback, first U.S. edition, first pritning. Tiny edgewear at cover corners. Content: This book is the best informed and most accurate record f the phenomenon of Irish rock music. Beginning with the early days of the traveling showbands, carrying through to the sonic blasts that now bust down the basement doors of Dublin, Pendergast's tireless research has produced the finest book of its kind. Examining the roots, personalities, and the directions of rock i Erin, this book featues the great and small who have contributed to the Celtic beat heard from across the Atlantic. Features U2, Van Morrison, Sinead O'Connor, Sir Bob Geldof, The Pogues and hundreds of others. Dated but fascinating. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 7.79 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

THE LEPRECHAUN BOOK
selected by Mary Feehan. Condition: UNREAD 1997 Barnes & Noble hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ issued), second printing. Content: The Leprechaun is a most useful sprite: diligent in his work as official cobbler to the fairy world and sought after by humans for his notorious ability to locate buried treasure. The wee man loves his pipe and his drink, almost as much as he revels in his role as prankster. His tricks keep the fairies' treasure from greedy human hands, and his speed assures that the pot of gold is always one step ahead of the rainbow. In stories, poems, and legends, this book is a merry romp with these wondrous cratures through the greenest land of all - the land of enchantment. [1 copy available]
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LION OF IRELAND (Historical Fiction)
by Morgan Llywelyn. Wrap-around cover art by Gregory Manchess. Condition: Gently pre-read, if at all, 1996 TOR paperback, third printing. Tiny edge wear with seveal small rubbings back cover. Interior clean & tight. Content: Probably one of the most popular historical fiction books ever written. King, warrior, and lover Brian Boru was stronger, braver, and wiser than all other men-the greatest king Ireland has ever known. Out of the mists of the country's most violent age, he merged to lead his people to the peak of their golden era. His women were as remarkable as his adventures: Fiona, the druidess with mystical powers; Deirdre, beautiful victim of a Norse invader's brutal lust; Gormlaith, six-foot, read-haired goddess of sensuality. Set against the barbaric splendors of the tenth century, this is a story rich in truth and legend in which friends become deadly enemies, bedrooms turn into battlefields, and dreams of glory are finally fulfilled. Morgan Llywelyn has written one of the greatest novels of Irish history. [1 copy available]
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THE LITTLE BOOK OF IRISH CLANS
by John Grenham. Color photos of coat of arms for names. Condition: Gently pre-read 1994 Chartwell Books small hardcover (pictorial boads) & DJ (in mylar jacket), no printing given. Content: Reviewer: "John Grenham is a professional genealogist as was formerly with the Genealogical Office in Dublin. This book is like a mini version of "Clans and Families of Ireland". It includes a short account of the origin, distribution and coat of arms of about 100 of the commonest surnames in Ireland." Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.79 + $ 3.09 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

MICHAEL COLLINS AND THE TROUBLES: The Struggle for Irish Freedom 1912 - 1922 (AKA The Troubles)
by Ulick O'Connor. B&W photo section. Condition: UNREAD 1996 Norton Trade Paperback, first printing. Tiny edgewear. Content: This is not a proper biogrpahy of Michael Collins. Originally published as The Troubles, this was probably renamed for an American audience. When Asquith introduced his bill for Home Rule for Ireland in 1912, he sparked a decade of turbulence and violence for Ireland and her people. Michael Collins played a crucial role in rekindling Ireland's aspirations for freedom. A leading figure in the nation's bitter and bloody resistance to British Rule, he played a key part in reshaping Ireland's history as we know it today. O'Connor includes valuable new information about the secret war against England and provides a fresh and highly dramatic account of Ireland's fight for freedom. Using important material from the archives of General Richard Mulcahy, Collins's chief of staff, as well as personal interviews with Mulcahy, Eamon de Valera, and many other leading figures. This is a vivid and often horrifying account of a crucial time, the consequences of which are still felt today. [1 copy available]
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MYTHS AND FOLKLORE OF IRELAND
by Jeremiah Curtin. B&W illustrations. Condition: NEW 1995 Wings Books hardcover & DJ (in Brodart jacket), 6th printing. Tiny remainder dot top edges. Content: Twenty traditional tales of Celtic adventure, magic and romance, translated directly from the Original Gaelic. Originally published in 1889, I believe, the myths and tales are just as fascinating today. Some of the tales: The Son of the King of Erin, and the Giant of Loch Lein, The Three Daughters of King O'Hara; The Weaver's Son and the Giant of the White Hill; The King of Erin and the Queen of the Lonesome Island; The Fisherman's Son and the Gruagach of tricks; Kil Arthur; Shaking Head; Birth of Fin MacCumhail and the Origin of the Fenials of Erin; and Fin MacCumhail and the Son of the King of Alba, etc. A "Notes" section details language used in the myths as well as on the characters. [1 copy available]
$ 11.25 + $ 3.39 media shipping.

ON THE BLANKET: THE H-BLOCK STORY
by Tim Pat Coogan. Condition: Gently pre-read, IF at all, 1980 Ward River Press paperback, reprint. Light edge wear with tanning to edges and page edges. Content: Irish journalist Coogan's 1980 volume follows the story of the "H Block" protest waged by IRA prisoners trying to bring attention to the brutality of the British and the ongoing clash between the Protestants and the Catholics in Northern Ireland. Dubbed the "dirty" protest, the action involved prisoners slathering the walls of their tiny cells with their own excrement and hunger strikes that resulted in several deaths. This book chronicles it all in unrelenting detail; a real eye-opener. "Published just prior to the hunger strikes of 1981 which claimed the life of ten IRA prisoners, "On The Blanket" details the so-called "dirty protest" that led up to the horrors of that year. With several first-hand accounts from prisoners and actors in the struggle, Coogan presents an unflinching account of the events in Long Kesh (the Maze) and Armagh prisons. The descriptions of the conditions in both prisons will move even the most cold-hearted reader. Coogan puts forth an important work that will stand as testiment to this troubled period in Irish history." [1 copy available]
$ 8.49 + $ 3.09 media shipping. Priority & International shipping available.

POLITICAL ISSUES IN IRELAND TODAY
edited by Neil Collins. Condition: NEW 1999 Manchester University Press Trade Paperback, second edition, first prining. Content: This volume covers a wide range of policy areas in the Republic and Northern Ireland. It fills a major gap in the academic literature on Irish politics, providing a comprehensive introduction to the issues dominating political debates in both parts of Ireland. The contributors take a comparative approach to Irish politics -- first addressing constitutional issues and then discussing public policies. This thoroughly revised second edition has new chapters on corruption and ethics and the marketing of public services. [1 copy available]
$ 3.29 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

PRIDE OF LIONS (Sequel To Lion of Ireland)
by Morgan Llywelyn. Larry Selman (Cover). Condition: NEW 1996 Forge hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket) first edition, first printing. Content: Lion of Ireland described the rise of High King Brian Boru after he managed to briefly unite the tribes of the Emerald Isle at the end of the 10th century. Here it's Brian's 15-year-old son, Donough, who aspires to the throne, made ambitious by a brief initial success in battle against the Vikings at Contarf, where Brian has met his death. But Donough's brother Teigue also claims the crown, and when Teigue drives Donough from the family fortress, their father's carefully crafted alliances begin to crumble. Journeying north to the Scottish kingdom of Alba, Donough seeks his own political ties, through an arranged marriage that binds him to the King of England; also traveling with him is his treacherous, manipulative mother, who hopes to use him to regain the power she lost upon Brian's death. Llywelyn tells a strong story distinguished by its psychological depth and by his knowledge of ancient Irish history. [1 copy available]
$ 16.50 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

PRIDE OF LIONS (Sequel To Lion of Ireland)
by Morgan Llywelyn. Larry Selman (Cover). Condition: NEW 1997 TOR paperback, first printing. Light binder's string down spine. Content: Lion of Ireland described the rise of High King Brian Boru after he managed to briefly unite the tribes of the Emerald Isle at the end of the 10th century. Here it's Brian's 15-year-old son, Donough, who aspires to the throne, made ambitious by a brief initial success in battle against the Vikings at Contarf, where Brian has met his death. But Donough's brother Teigue also claims the crown, and when Teigue drives Donough from the family fortress, their father's carefully crafted alliances begin to crumble. Journeying north to the Scottish kingdom of Alba, Donough seeks his own political ties, through an arranged marriage that binds him to the King of England; also traveling with him is his treacherous, manipulative mother, who hopes to use him to regain the power she lost upon Brian's death. Llywelyn tells a strong story distinguished by its psychological depth and by his knowledge of ancient Irish history. [1 copy available]
$ 10.50 + $ 2.94 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

A SECRET HISTORY OF THE IRA
by Ed Moloney. B&W maps and a B&W photo section. Condition: Very gently pre-read 2002 W. W. Norton (London) hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. No problems at all - just pre-read. Content: An award-winning journalist and former Northern Editor of the Irish Times and Sunday Tribune, Moloney describes the delicate political maneuvering of Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams, which compelled the Provisional Irish Republican Army ultimately to accept what their constitution explicity forbade: a cease-fire in the fight to unify Ireland. Airing details of IRA political infighting for the first time, Moloney grants the lion's share of credit for the growing peace to Adams. Adams is the master insider, politician, and statesman who manipulated violence and the promise of peace in negotiations with England, Ireland, Ulster, and, to a lesser degree, America. By creating an internal bureaucracy that produced volumes of reports, more than the Army Council could digest, Adams kept control of the laborious negotiations. His greatest challenge, and success, was keeping the rank-and-file IRA in the dark about precisely what he was doing and how, working toward the cease-fire. The final push was the 9/11 attack, when the IRA dumped its weapons for fear of being lumped politically with al Qaeda by the Bush administration. Historians may ultimately apportion the credit differently, but Moloney does capture an important part of the process. [1 copy available]
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SHAMROCK & SPEAR: Tales & Legends from Ireland
retold by F. M. Pilkington. B&W illustrations by Leo & Diane Dillon. Condition: UNREAD c. 1966-68 Holt Rinehart hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ), although stated First Edition, I doubt it. There are two dates given: 1966 and 1968. I opt for 1968. Light taning to white cover edges. Interior clean & tight. Content: Pilkington presents a book of folklore and legends with almost no heroic legends included - "only those that are purely Irish and and traditional in origin. 23 stories. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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THE SHANNON: River of Loughs (Lakes) and Legends
by Nora Nowlan. B&W drawings and era photos illustrate. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1965 Garrard hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket). DJ shows light edge wear with small "chip" top DJ spine. Interior clean & tight. Content: This is a snapshot of ancient Ireland and the "present-day" Ireland of the mid 1960s. The story of the Shannon is the story of Ireland and the author tells it as only an Irishwoman could. She explains why Lough (Lake) Derg is called "the lake of the bloody eye," and she reports on the recent meeting of three priests with the monster of Lough Ree. You will not only find history and legend, but a portrait of Ireland today (1965). Warm & wonderful. [1 copy available]
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SIXTEEN DEAD MEN AND OTHER POEMS OF EASTER WEEK and
THE INSURRECTION IN DUBLIN: An Eyewitness ACcount of the Easter Rising, 1916
(2 for 1)
by Dora Sigerson Shorter and James Stephens. . Condition: Sixteen Dead Men: Good+ 1919 Mitchell Kennerley small hardcover, no DJ, probably first edition as it was not published in England until several years later. Small shelfwear to top and bottom spine with light tanning to interior page edges. Interior clean. Content: Published in 1919 to commerate the 1916 Easter uprising and British murder of the Irish Citizen Army and to honor the Tricolor. Slim volume of poetry (85 pages).Insurrection in Dublin: Literally an eyewitness account which was originally published in 1916. This is the Barnes & Noble 1999 edition, hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. B&W era photos illustrate. [1 set available]
$ 25.50 + $ 3.39 media shipping.

THE STORY OF THE IRISH RACE: A Popular History of Ireland (Fourth Revised Edition)
by Seumas MacManus. Condition: UNREAD c. 2000 Konecky and Konecky (UK) huge hardcover (724 pages) & DJ (in mylar jacket), no printing given. Originally published in 1921 and this is the fourth revised edition. Content: MacManus presents the whole saga of the Irish from the earliest times to our own. It is at once a work of sound scholarship and as easy to read as a superb novel. It is indispensable for anyone who wants to understand the Irish people and their political struggles, their magnificent literature and their great contribution to Western Civilization. Reviewer: ". . . a powerful story spanning the course of Irish history from the earliest times to the early 20th century. I found it fascinating in the first few chapters (before English Conquest) and horrifying in the subsequent chapters (Once England had taken control and set to exterminating the Irish people). Yes, it is old. It is a fabulous narrative and it isn't a textbook. It is biased toward the Irish. If you read only this book you're missing out and not seeing the whole picture but it tells a powerful story and made me want to know more about the Irish people." Detail upon detail of early Ireland. [1 copy available]
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STRONGBOW: The Story of Richard and Aoife (Historical Fiction/Romance)
by Morgan Llywelyn. Cover art and B&W illustrations by Ciruelo Cabral. Condition: NEW 1997 TOR paperback edition, first printing. Content: A fictionalized biography based on true events in 12th-century England and Ireland, and told in alternating chapters by the principals, Richard de Clare--Strongbow--and Aoife. Both are children of warriors who have been stripped of their titles by hostile kings. Richard and Aoife's desires to regain what has been lost bring them together in a war for control of Ireland. The events of the tale are inherently compelling. Llywelyn has created a book that, as an introduction to little-known historical incidents and people, is valuable and interesting [1 copy available]
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SUN DANCING: A Vision of Medieval Ireland (Life in a Medieval Irish Monastery And How Celtic Spirituality Influenced the World) (History & Historical Fiction)
by Geoffrey Moorhouse. Condition: NEW 1999 Harvest/Harcourt Brace Trade Paperback, first printing. Content: This is an unusual book. The first half is historical fiction - speculation on events in the monastery. The second half of the book, and the most interesting IMHO, is the actual history of monastery. Reviewer: "If you've ever stood on the rocks of Skellig Michael, or peered at them from safe ground across the tossing waves, you've thought to yourself, "only crazy people and seagulls would live there". You would be wrong - passionate maybe, maybe not crazy. This story of the monks on Skellig Michael, part history, part fiction, speaks of the loneliness and of being alone - which are not the same things - and the astonishing strength that can come from the most unexpected places when one person or a group of people who share a focus come together. Even the early pages that detail the types of ink used in the glorious illuminated manuscripts of Clanmacnoise draw you into this passion and this focus. It's an incredible story of life on a rock in the middle of nowhere that provided a continuous line of education and religion (like it or not) in a time beyond our imagination." [1 copy available]
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THE THRONE OF TARA: A Novel (Historical Fiction)
by John Desiarlais. Chuck Gillies cover art. Condition: UNREAD 1991 Crossway Books Trade Paperback, second printing. Light tanning to page edges. Content: The warrior blood of Erin's royal line pulsed through his veins, but he was called to a higher battle. As Crimthann, the Wolf, would he become the High King of Ireland, fulfilling his father's ambitions? Or as Colum, the dove, would he be a scholar in the Church, fulfilling his mother's prayers? This story is based on the thrilling true story of Columba of Iona, the best man the 6th Century could produce: a prince, poet, scholar, soldier, and holy man gifted with a thunderous voice, a prodigious memory, and the powers of Second Sight. Yet his pride and temper led him into battle over a disputed manuscript, and in remorse over the thousands slain, he entered exit among the savage Picts, where he dueled the druids - miracles versus magic. [1 copy available]
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THE TRANSFORMATION OF IRELAND
by Diarmaid Ferriter. Condition: NEW 2007 Overlook Press huge Trade Paperback (884 pages), first US printing. Content: This book isn't a political history of 20th-century Ireland; it's more a chronicle of the social reaction to the events that shaped that century. Perhaps the most interesting part covers the last 40 years of the century. In 1959 the brilliant Seán Lemass finally became prime minister and set the tone for the future by finding bright, young ministers and letting them run their departments without interference. The dark side of Irish life is also explored: the church/state role in the Magdalen laundries, cleric pedophilia and other secrets that have come to light in the last decade. And a very deep feminist streak informs the text, from the War of Independence, to the fight for birth control in the 1970s, and the election of two women presidents in the last 15 years. No stone of social significance is left unturned, be it the problems of the Traveling People (Gypsies), crooked politicians or the needs of the urban poor. This book can be a rogues' gallery at times and a good knowledge of Irish history is helpful but not necessary. Ferriter (coauthor, The Irish Famine), a lecturer in history at St. Patrick's College, Dublin City University, has written an informative, funny, at times derisive book that takes a fresh approach to 20th-century Ireland. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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THE VIKINGS IN IRELAND
by Morgan Llywelyn. Fab B&W drawings by David Rooney. B&W photos of sites and artifacts. Condition: NEW 2004 O'Brien (Ireland) trade paperback, second printing. Content: In Irish history the Vikings are often seen merely as attackers. Morgan Llywelyn gives a fascinating account of the wider picture - how the Vikings significantly influenced Irish art and trade and the growth of towns and cities. We witness their first landing as a raiding party, through to their settlement and gradual merging with the Irish by intermarriage and trade. She explores the customs and traditions as well as the arts and crafts which have become part of the Irish way of life. Cameos of the lives of individual Vikings, some real, some fictitious, bring a liveliness and freshness to the retelling of events which only an author of historical fiction can achieve. Authentic drawings as well as photographs of excavations and artefacts support the text. [1 copy available]
$ 38.50 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

WOOD QUAY: The Clash over Dublin's Viking Past
by Thomas Farel Heffrnan. Illustrated with B&W drawings, maps, and photographs. Condition: Very Good pre-read 1988 University of Texas hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket) first edition, first printing. The book is in excellent condition; the problem is the DJ - 3 "repaired" tears in the back panel but is now in a protective mylar cover. Content: This is a remarkable story on two levels. First that an entire preserved Viking village was discovered beneath the streets of Dublin. Second, the national museum was not willing to hold up commercial development to excavate and save this wonderful find, and the citizens of Dublin took it upon themselves to protect the site for 8 years until it could be properly excavated. Excellent read. It might make you want to get out "there" and protect something Big Business wants to destroy. [1 copy available]
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THE WORLD OF THE DRUIDS
by Miranda J. Green (Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend. 291 illustrations - B&W and color photos, maps, and artifacts. Condition: NEW 1997 Thames & Hudson hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), no printing given. Content: The white-clad Druid wielding a golden sickle and conducting secret ceremonies in remote forest glades is a familiar figure in art and literature. But how accurate is this view when compared with actual evidence from the past? This authoritative book unravels the truth about the Druids using myriad sources, including ancient Welsh and Irish myths, Celtic society, and the writings of early Roman invaders. Green discusses the Druids in depth. She begins by analyzing the classical writings on Druids. She also discusses the role of historical and archaeological analysis, showing how little is known and how scholarly inquiry may or may not arrive at the truth, particularly since the Druids based their learning and training on memorization and the oral tradition. The author examines the archaeological finds and the conclusions drawn from that. She discusses the Druid resurgence in the 19th century and the Druids' role in the 20th-century neopagan movement. Well written, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, this work would make an excellent companion to John Matthews's The Druid Source Book. A directory of Druidical societies is included. [1 copy available]
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