The Everything Irish History & Heritage Book: From Brian Boru and St. Patrick to Sinn Fein and the Troubles, All You Need to Know About the Emerald Isle

by Amy Hackney Blackwell, Ryan Hackney

There's more to being Irish than kissing a Blarney Stone!

Few places on earth match Ireland's romantic attraction and historical legacy. Every year, millions of visitors flock to the ancient sites and burgeoning cities of this enchanted island to immerse themselves in its rich literary, musical, and political heritage.

The Everything Irish History & Heritage Book introduces readers to the people, places, and events that have shaped the past and given rise to the unique culture of the Irish people. From the Iron Age to the economic renaissance, this comprehensive account familiarizes readers with Ireland's history and acquaints them with the climate, food, language, and sports that make it truly unique.

Features exhaustive coverage
Celtic mythology and ancient folkloreThe Irish literary tradition--from The Book of Kells to UlyssesThe potato famine and the Great HungerThe Irish in America and the immigration experienceThe Troubles and the road to peaceReligion and family life
Packed with historical information and cultural insights, The Everything Irish History & Heritage Book is a must-read for anyone interested in the magic and mystery of the Emerald Isle.

Genres: History, Ireland, Travel, Nonfiction, Irish Literature

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Roxie McClaine]

An excellent source of Irish history for beginners!

[Bukhari]

An interesting book that summarises quite well the history of Ireland, its traditions and culture. The book is easy to read though the chapters at the end are catered towards North Americans with Irish roots. This book might not be up-to-date as it was printed in 2004, I only noticed this when it mentioned somewhere that George Bush was still president. An enjoyable and quick read which presents the reader to a rapid overview of Ireland and the tumultuous history it has faced.

[Kevin Lester]

I started this book before my first solo trip to Ireland, then finished the last half after I returned. This book goes into just enough detail so that you kind of understand the cultural/political climate of Ireland but no so much you miss out on the feeling of new-ness that comes with traveling. I think it could have done a better job in explaining how the British exacerbated the potato famine but otherwise it is a good crash course.

[Homerun2]

3.75 stars

Nicely done overview of Irish history. I read it before my first visit to Ireland to learn a bit about the country and it was a great big picture introduction with just the right amount of detail.

[Gary Evins]

An easy, yet comprehensive read.

[Christine Kayser]

It was fun reading this in March, timed to finish around St. Patrick's Day. I learned so much about Irish history and culture. Some of it is a little dry, but overall it was an engaging read.

[Carrie Ill]

This book is very simplistic, but still provides a good overview on Irish history and culture. It was published in 2004, so it is also a bit outdated.

[Kevin Arth]

I really enjoyed reading this book. It covers the history of Ireland going back to prehistoric times, to the introduction of Christianity by St. Patrick in the 5th century to the conflict with England in the 10th century right up to the current efforts at lasting peace from as recently as 5 years ago. It talks about culture, tourism, traditions and mythology, political parties and social issues like abortion and gay rights in modern Ireland. Just a very nicely done and informative book.

[Krista]

Leaving for Ireland tomorrow and this book really helped me learn about their history and culture. The knowledge gained will make touring the towns more meaningful. A lot of information, but the book put it together in a very simple way.

[Julia]

I like this book! if you need information about Ireland here is the book 4 u!!!!!!

[Js]

This book seriously helped me write a huge paper when I was in school. This book is awesome

[Nicholas Zemanek]

Very good read. Learned more about religion than in religion school. Also learned about Cromwell and "the Troubles". Tiocfaidh ar la! %ScotlandWillBeFree%