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Last of the Donkey Pilgrims
by
Kevin O'Hara
Kevin O’Hara’s journey of self-discovery begins as a mad lark: who in their right mind would try to circle the entire coastline of Ireland on foot—and with a donkey and cart no less?
But Kevin had promised his homesick Irish mother that he would explore the whole of the Old Country and bring back the sights and the stories to their home in Massachusetts. Determined to reach...more
But Kevin had promised his homesick Irish mother that he would explore the whole of the Old Country and bring back the sights and the stories to their home in Massachusetts. Determined to reach...more
Paperback, 432 pages
Published
February 1st 2005
by Forge Books
(first published February 1st 2004)
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I absolutely loved this book. Kevin O'Hara, after serving in Vietnam, was a bit lost and confused in his life and decided to make a trek around Ireland, just at the time the country was bracing for great changes. He did it in the old style, with a donkey and cart - leaving his Irish grannie's home in the West and taking a full year, going clockwise around the entire country. His memoir is very funny, as well as, insightful and at times even spiritual. It took him 30 years to finally finish this...more
Kevin O'Hara walked around Ireland with his donkey in the late 1970s because he longed to learn about the country where his mother grew up. His tale describes choosing the right donkey and setting off despite the disbelief of people in his starting point. His aim was to return there by Christmas, giving him about 8 months to complete the trip.
Along the way he paints achingly beautiful pictures of the people and places (and pubs) he encounters. He becomes a kind of seanachai (Irish storyteller),...more
Along the way he paints achingly beautiful pictures of the people and places (and pubs) he encounters. He becomes a kind of seanachai (Irish storyteller),...more
A delightfully charming memoir of an Irish-American man’s journey around the “ring” of Ireland’s coastline with a donkey (dear Missie McDermott) and cart. His affection for Ireland’s people, his passion for their history and struggles, and his uncanny ability to reproduce the rhythm and timbre of their colorful speech, made this book exceedingly enjoyable. Not too heavy, not too light – just right. I lingered over it for many long weeks – almost two months. I could have finished it more quickly,...more
I chose this book as a complete change of pace from scholarly/MFA readings…and as a salve to a breakup with an Irish girlfriend. Kevin O'Hara is a lovely man, aka British vet James Herriot, and his kindness comes across in his telling of his adventures riding 1,800 miles around Ireland in a donkey-drawn cart. If one is ever feeling cynical about humanity, this is a good book to restore your faith in people. O'Hare and his donkey Missie bring out the best in people, even in places like war-torn B...more
I started reading this book out of curiosity and then got hooked. It was so interesting to follow Kevin's travels around Ireland and meet,along with him, the many and varied types of people as he walked around the country. It inspired my husband and I to take a wonderful trip this year and drive around Ireland.
Absolutely charming! Makes one want to find a donkey, cart, some provisions and head out on a pilgrimage too. It reminded me of an Irish version of Travels With Charlie, only sweeter. Whether Ireland is on your must-see list or not, do yourself a favor and read this book.
There is a passage in the book that offers a good summary of this informative, enjoyable book:
The book "extolled the beauty and bounty of the island...
the spirit and cheek of the natives...
the commerce and customs,
the history and poetry of the land."
The book "extolled the beauty and bounty of the island...
the spirit and cheek of the natives...
the commerce and customs,
the history and poetry of the land."
Does it sound interesting to read about a guy taking a donkey and a cart around the perimeter of Ireland on a voyage of self-discovery? Read it and see. My guess is that you will enjoy the book, and, if you have Irish roots, you will find it even more entrancing. The first part, which sets the premise and gets Kevin started, is a bit slow. Once on the move, every encounter and stopping point is interesting and makes one wish one could have joined Kevin in his pilgrimage. Also to be admired is th...more
If you want to know Ireland, walk through it with a Donkey, if you cannot read this book. painted a very beautiful picture of Ireland. Great glimpses of its history.
Jan 23, 2009
Margaret
added it
This book made me want to be able to go back in time and take the exact same path that Kevin took. And it made me love Ireland even more than I already do.
A really lovely memoir wherein the author hires a donkey and a cart and travels around Ireland and N. Ireland.
Long. Totally worth it if you're Irish.
Having traveled across Ireland a few times and gone the way of Kevin O'Hara in this book I was so happy to read stories from some of the same places, read about how the island "was" (people, customs, places) and O'Hara's story telling gene is most certainly passed down to him.
I loved this book and was very sad when it came to an end.
I loved this book and was very sad when it came to an end.
The next best thing to being there!!!
Jan 05, 2013
Sandy
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Sandy by:
my husband & our bank's manager
I am still enjoying this wonderfully fun and light book..... but I've been traveling a lot lately so small paperbacks or audio books have been my constant companions..... I'll get back to it when I get back home. It IS fun! ............ my husband is loving it! .... now, in october, a cheerful and fun book to take a break from more serious works! More later!!
Pick up again sometime and start at chapter 36!
Pick up again sometime and start at chapter 36!
This is a great read. It is about a society that we can only imagine in the present day. A society where people took in other people in an effort to help them and to be just plain kind. Very interesting look at many personalities,places, and ways of life.
I'm really enjoying this book. It's a good read and funny too.
This author is my coworker in the hospital where I work, and so it certainly helps to know his voice and to picture him in these settings. A gentle, slight and incredibly genial man, a VietNam vet, he took a donkey and travelled around the coastal perimeter of his parents' native land, Ireland, in 1979, including right through the Troubles in Northern Ireland. A great tale (get it?)
It was a good book, but very slow. Man walks around Ireland with a donkey. They walk during the day, at night they find a house to spend the night at, he tells stories and amuses the children. Occasionally stops at a pub. Over and over...so after 300 pages I was bored. But I learned a lot about Ireland's history and culture. The donkey is pretty amusing.
This book recounts a man's journey around the perimeter of Ireland, accompanied by a donkey and cart, surviving on the goodwill and open hearts of Ireland's people. It's slow-going as he recounts every meal of mutton stew and pint at the local village pub, but hearing about the generous people he meets on the way makes it worth the read.
Kevin O'Hara is the perfect traveling companion: curious, engaging, sunny, and honest. Missie the donkey was a lucky lady. I'd jotted down quotes but gave up when I filled a full page. And the opening of Chp 43 is one of the saddest but most beautiful things I've ever read. I'll be thinking about that paragraph for a long time.
I wish the author had shared more of their "self" in this....one pub crawl after another!
Sep 07, 2008
Judy Plourde
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Judy by:
My nephew who shares my love of Ireland.
If you have traveled through Ireland this book is a delight. I revisited some places I loved and added some to my to see list. The people of Ireland that I have met are open and friendly as in this book. There are some very amusing stories. I loved the donkey.
This book was a constant delight. A virtual trip to pre-"Celtic Tiger" Ireland, complete with idiosyncratic charm and daily witticisms en route. I savored it slowly, and was sorry to see it end!
Wonderful descriptive journey around Ireland. It was easy to read; full of interesting people.
My favorite book about Ireland. Wish I'd read this one first.
Jun 13, 2013
Julie
marked it as to-read
Jun 07, 2013
Stefanie
is currently reading it
Jun 06, 2013
Brendan O'prey
is currently reading it
Jun 01, 2013
Conor
marked it as to-read
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