Wandering Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way: From Banba's Crown to World's End 2016

by Paul Clements

Following the spirit of the world's longest coastal driving route, Paul Clements sets out on a meandering journey to discover the real west of Ireland. He travels from Banba's Crown, the farthest-flung northerly point in Ireland, to World's End in Kinsale, one of the metal gates embedded into the walls that originally enclosed the old town. Along the way he encounters memorable characters living on the Atlantic edge and presents a unique portrait of their lives. We meet the last man standing on a remote Galway island, listen to the banter at Puck Fair, and hear from a descendant of the original sixteenth-century wild Atlantic woman whose veins run thick with the blood of a warrior queen. Twenty-five years ago Paul hitchhiked the same route. Retracing his steps along the Wild Atlantic Way - this time by car and bike, on horseback and on foot - he looks at how Ireland has changed. He discovers that, although gossip and chatter on street corners has shifted to cafe culture and social media, everyone still has a story to tell. Laced with wry humour and endless curiosity, this is a distinctive mix of travel writing, social history and nature, while tagging along is the swashbuckling presence of the Celtic sea god, Manannan mac Lir.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Irish Literature

352 pages, Paperback

Published March 14, 2016

Reviews

[H. Daley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, evocative and entertaining, made me want to do some wandering of my own.

[Séamas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, not just because I've lived in and seen a fair bit of the west of Ireland.
I've read a lot of travel literature and some authors just do not write very well.
Paul Clements does write well, and transmits a genuine interest in the Irish countryside and in the stories of those he meets on the way. An interesting thread throughout the book is the old Celtic God Manannán Mac Lir. Mr Clements also proves very knowledgeable about flora and fauna. I came across many names of flowers and birds in this book that I had never heard of in my life.
As a fellow coffee-addict I understand the author's frequent search for a caffeine boost on his travels, though perhaps the level of detail concerning the type of coffee beans and which coffee-machines the cafés had was just a wee bit superfluous?
As an Irish-speaker I would have liked to learn more about the state of the language on the western seaboard in the early 21st century. The subject was broached, but not in great detail.
But all in all, an interesting book, and a welcome addition to Irish travel literature.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peppered with conversation and descriptions of what modern Irish rural life looks like now, this isn't your typical travel book, which is what I loved about it. Rather than just a list of things to see, the book is a snapshot of a living, breathing place. It reads like Bill Bryson, delving into the true nature and soul of Ireland's villages and cities beyond the tourist crowds. His descriptions of the landscape puts you right in the moment, watching the waves curl and the montbretia tremble in the breeze. I loved it!

[Iain Hamill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah sure it was grand.

Perhaps purchased in a hurry as was expecting wanderings to be on foot! (Appreciate there is a car on the cover!)

Too much mysticism for my liking but enjoyed the nature/history.

[Steve Dempsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having just completed the Wild Atlantic Way, I am in 2 minds about this book. Whilst it is an enjoyable book it tends to focus on coffee shops, bird spotting and a mythical character. However, it us not a book to help you to decide which parts of the WAW you should visit.

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would love to visit the Wild Atlantic Way, but I found his writing style a bit formulaic.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had so many interesting things mentioned, but the writing style wasn’t great. This book took me two months to finish. He keeps looping back to Manannán which ends up overshadowing the counties and places that he did visit. He did the whole Atlantic Way in 4 sections and had so much opportunity to really research and enjoy it, but instead focused on Manannán, Coffee and the Tourism aspects of the Wild Atlantic Way.

It would have been nice to have more focus on the actual recommendations of the Wild Atlantic Way

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good piece of travel writing. If you are interested in the Irish coast, this book is a delightful sojourn. It is not a tourist book per se ..... no recommendations on restaurants and hotels .... it is a travelers book. A great trip down the Irish coast, the byways and highways and villages, pubs, coffee shops and the Irish people. I love that Paul Clements includes bits of nature writing too .... birds and flora ...... and mythology thrown in for good measure. I loved this book. We just returned from County Clare in July and we're already planning a return trip to the Irish coast to Galway or to Kerry or to Cork ...... the hook is in.

[Melissa Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative. Not comprehensive but still a very well written book.