Book Description
Northern Ireland:Can Sean and John Live in Peace? explores the reasons for Northern Ireland's so-called "Troubles."In a compelling and detailed narrative, Professor Rasnic addresses the two primary causes of the conflict-religion and politics-and the source of response to the Troubles-the law.While serving as a Fulbright Distinguished Professor of Law at Queen's Belfast, she experienced the moods, hopes, and fears of those who have endured the atrocities.Interspersed with the author's personal interviews with many of the principals in the peace talks and vignettes that recall her childhood and adolescent years growing up in a small Southern town, Northern Ireland provides a clearer understanding of the essence of what has caused-and continues to cause-so much tragedy and grief in this beautiful province. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Northern Ireland: Compelling Reading
I have read many different types of books over the past 60 years, but this book is by far the best, fiction or nonfiction alike. Professor Rasnic has accomplished what many authors wish they had accomplished, by giving the legal perspective in a human and many time humerous way, makes for easier reading for those of us who may not always understand legaleaze. This book in my estimation should be on the required reading list for anyone who wishes to understand the legal aspects and history of American and Irish similarities during the same periods in time.

A Southern Belle looks at Northern Ireland
This book allows the American reader to gain insight into the true nature of what Irish call "The Troubles".

The conflict between Catholic and Protestant factions is viewed from the perspective of a American woman.Her experience with segregation in the American South enabled her to understand the cultural and economic factors that divide these groups.

Her insight clarifies the fact that this is not simply a religious issue.It is one of long standing cultural and economic differences between all factions.

I found this book to be an invaluable aid in understanding the complex and difficult social hostilities that afflict these people of a common background.

Professor Rasnic has spent a great deal of time in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.Her contacts with officials, politicians, clerics, and most of all, the Irish citizens gives her a special perspective.This was an enjoyable and educational read.

On the dreams under Northern Ireland's feet.
Ireland's history is a violent one and, as Fulbright Fellow Carol Daugherty Rasnic shows in this book's first chapter, this is not only true for the 20th century but dates back at least to the island's 1169 Norman conquest - and actually, even further, as the Viking invasion of the 8th, 9th and 10th centuries consisted of a series of rather aggressive campaigns as well.The difference, however, was that despite these bloody beginnings the Viking colonists were eventually absorbed into Irish culture and daily life; contributing thereto rather than continuing their attempts at its suppression.Conversely, throughout much of Ireland's subsequent history, suppression was the preferred method of government of both the Normans and their British descendants; who brought in English settlers not to cultivate the island together with their Irish neighbors but to drive those out, thus sowing the seeds of the hatred still plaguing its society today, and no more so than in the six provinces still constituting British-controlled Northern Ireland, after the ill-famed 1920 Partition which eventually brought independence to the island's southern part.

Inseparably linked to nationality was, particularly from the times of Henry VIII on, the issue of religion; the English settlers being Protestants belonging to the Church of England/Ireland, while the vast majority of the Irish hung on to their Catholic faith; thus suffering discrimination not only on the basis of their nationality but also that of their religious beliefs.Tracing the multiple facets of today's division to their historic origins, Professor Rasnic shows how the identification as "Catholic" and "Protestant" has long come to exceed a mere religious denomination, mixing with everything from a person's stance towards the British administration of Northern Ireland to his or her national/ethnic origin, area of residence and social environment; to the point that the religious label is used even by those who have little to no spiritual connection to the church whose faith they claim as their own.

In the eight chapters following the book's initial historic overview, the author takes an in-depth look at the major issues dominating contemporary Northern Ireland life and politics, from ethnic strife and the (particularly: "Orange," i.e. unionist) parades, apt to newly ignite the fires of hatred every summer, to issues of governance, the release of prisoners convicted of terrorist acts, "decommissioning" (i.e., disarmament of the paramilitary groups active on both sides of the conflict), the position of the police and the administration of (criminal) justice, human rights and instances of persisting discrimination, and finally, the sectarianism in the province's schools, threatening to perpetuate the existing divide for a long time to come.Particular emphasis is given to the terms and effects of the so-called Good Friday Agreement, the April 10, 1998 agreement between Northern Ireland's major political parties and the governments of Ireland and Great Britain designed to bring an end to the province's "Troubles."

Although the book is subtitled "An American Legal Perspective," this is by no means the work of an outsider:Professor Daugherty Rasnic herself is the daughter of Irish immigrants on both parents' sides, and prolonged stays in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have intimately acquainted her with an island which, quite obviously, is not merely her ancestors' home but an inseparable part of her own identity as well.A lawyer by training, she moreover brings to the subject the analytical skills necessary to digest problems as intricate as those ravaging the province of Northern Ireland; and her interest in and experience with the American civil rights movement provides for a truly unique perspective, enabling her to not only put the Northern Irish situation into a larger European context but also draw comparisons to similar issues of racial strife and discrimination in the U.S.

Aware that the issues she addresses - particularly with regard to the legal aspects of the Good Friday Agreement - may well have the effect of a strong barbiturate on her non-lawyer readership, the author apologizes for having to address matters which "only a constitutional [law] purist could love."Quite unnecessarily so, however, as she does a marvelous job in explaining a set of highly complex questions of constitutional and international law which, I am sure, are confusing to many lawyers as well.Moreover, Professor Rasnic's manifold comments, anecdotes relating to her own experience and sections entitled "A Personal Perspective" provide a truly personal tone; while scholarly in its overall approach to the subject and dedication to detail, the book nevertheless reads more like a conversation with the author, reflecting much of her doubtlessly vivacious nature, passion, empathy and sense of humor - humor even in the face of adversity proving her yet again, as cliche (and maybe not just that) would have it, a true daughter of Irish parents.

In addition to all its other merits, this book also benefits from its author's easy access to over twenty principals and other individuals involved in the Northern Irish peace process, from then-First Minister David Trimble and Police Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan to Northern Ireland Assembly members of virtually all political colors (with the notable exception of the Rev. Ian Paisley, whose camp seems to have been the only one to adopt an obstructionist attitude), judges, attorneys, clergymen, social workers and professors at various universities; all of who add their own insight and perspective on the "Troubles," and whose comments are faithfully reported; in many instances verbatim.

Professor Daugherty Rasnic concludes her analysis with the words of Irish poet William Butler Yeats:"I have spread my dreams under your feet.Tread softly because you tread on my dreams."Like the great poet's words, her book expresses the hope that, one day, Northern Ireland may find a lasting way out of its "Troubles" (and no doubt, she is watching the province's recent political developments with a certain sense of trepidation).With this book, she has made a contribution of her own to the search for such a path - and I have a feeling that it will not have been the only one.

A thoughtful, exhaustive, scholarly inquiry
Northern Ireland: Can Sean And John Live In Peace? An American Legal Perspective by Carol Daugherty Rasnic (Professor of Employment and Labor Law, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia) is an impressively researched and presented study of the conflict in Northern Ireland, including the religious and political forces that drive it, as well as the law and the legal system as a means to deal with what the Irish called "the troubles". A thoughtful, exhaustive, scholarly inquiry, Northern Ireland is a sober and informative account and a very welcome contribution to academic International Studies modern reference collections concerned with global issues and conflicts in general, and Contemporary Irish Political History reading lists in particular.

A must read before visitng Ireland
The world has too many Northern Irelands, and most of the time we form our opinions from some politcal ideology we have, or some news report or TV program. What we really need to be honestly informed about these "trouble spots" such as the Middle East or Kashmire or Ireland is to read a well reserched and well written book like Carol D. Rasnic work. She has certainly paid her dues and told us about something she has studied and live in for many years.And most important, she has not taken sides. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Enchanting
John B. Keane is my favorite literary discovery of the last 15 years.He's witty, compassionate and insightful.The stories in this volume run the gamut from heartbreaking and tragic to fully romantic and full of giggles.

Keane has a deceptively simple style that develops character without flashy turns of phrase, and reveals the secret corners of the human heart.But when he opens that door, you're astounded by what he shows you not only in the hearts of others, but in your own.

Don't miss a chance to read anything of his you can lay your hands on. ... Read more

Book Description
This is an updated edition of John O'Beirne Ranelagh's short history of Ireland, covering the full sweep of Irish history from the earliest times up to President Clinton's second visit to Ireland in 1998, in the wake of the Omagh bomb and the surrounding peace initiatives. Throughout, the author's aim is to cast light on the people and the events that have contributed to present-day Irish society, in both North and South. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Brilliant Book
For anyone who wants to understand the war on terror and its Irish formulation, this is essential and fascinating reading.Ranelagh is remarkably balanced and fair-minded, while at the same time providing the necessary information and facts without burdening the reader with excessive and obfuscatory detail.He deals with Irish prehistory quickly and interestingly, giving more space to the modern age and its complex of idealism, heroism, nationalism, murder and terror, explaining the motivations and historical prisons so many people in Ireland have endured, coming right up to the present North and South.It is a Short History.More detail would make it something else.But as a short history that is satisfying, well-written and authorative, it cannot be bettered.A remarkable achievement.

So much history so close to home
Ranelagh does a fantastic job of condensing a couple thousand years of history into a readable couple hundred pages.This book is a first-rate shortened version of Irish history.

At times, one thinks more and deeper connections could have been drawn (such as the resurrection, by twentieth century hunger-strikers, of Brehon Law-era practices like fasting for the redress of grievances) and more discussion fostered on particularly hard-hitting aspects of Ireland's past and present.But this is, after all, a SHORT history, and a remarkable one at that.

There is good coverage of Ireland before the arrival of the English, in a way that touches on both historical developments and cultural ones.Likewise, the era of Cromwell and the disastrous run-up to and aftermath of Black 1847 are given good detail.One comes away feeling a bit as though more recent history (say, 1916 and on) has been slighted, but this feeling is probably just the product of years of weighted emphasis on the twentieth century; Ranelagh does well to bring a historical balance to the overall sweep of Ireland's development into what it is today.

And what it is today is, for Ranelagh, closely invested as well in the question of what England is and no longer is."A Short History of Ireland" may disturb those who view England as a still-unwelcome visitor into Irish history and culture, but Ranelagh concludes convincingly that the story of Ireland from the 13th century on is intimately related to its evolving relationship with its slightly larger neighbor and one-time persecutor/antagonist.Ranelagh quite usefully and realistically departs from other histories of the Emerald Isle in asserting that the England/Ireland relationship can, for a slew of reasons that he points to, only ever be one of co-dependence. ... Read more

Book Description
Hume recounts the struggle for the nationalist community's rights and presents a blueprint for peace. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Hume's message - reconciliation, inclusion, respect and peace
I grew up in Belfast, and always had a lot of respect for the SDLP - initially Gerry Fitt and then John Hume being my political heroes. The book sets out with clarity mapping the real world experiences of John Hume and the progress - or maybe that should be regress - of the troubles in Northern Ireland. This book should be compulsory reading for kids growing up in Israel and Palestine, and probably Darfur and other regions of unrest. And of course, in Washington DC as well. Acheiving peace is not easy and does not come from the barrel of a gun. I don't recall the exact quote, and a friend is reading the book now, but it is along the lines of "Victory does not bring about peace - it simply puts it off". Never a truer word was said.

A framework for true reconciliation in Northern Ireland
John Hume is a virtually unknown figure in the United States, but he hasbeen steadily gaining recognition due to his work in the Northern Irishpeace agreement.This recognition is overdue and much deserved.Thismonumental book outlines Hume's political philosophy - a philosophy whichseeks to brush aside the vengefulness and intransigence of NorthernIreland's past, searching instead for reconciliation through justice forall.Hume is heavily influenced by Matin Luther King, Jr. and John F.Kennedy, and quotes from these two figures flavor Hume's text.Hume'sthemes may seem repetitive, and his ideas seem to be based on the shakeyfoundation of human progress, but this work demonstrates that he is achampion for for a true peace in Northern Ireland - a peace that is justfor all. ... Read more

Book Description
John Ireland (1838-1918), first archbishop of St. Paul, believed that the United States offered a new and tremendously favorable opportunity for Roman Catholics and their church.By vigorously and single-mindedly urging his fellow Catholic immigrants to take their place in the mainstream of American life, he played a major role in the growth of the American Catholic church.

Marvin R. O'Connell's masterful biography brings to life the experiences that shaped Ireland's views and describes the battles that marked his career.In smooth and flowing prose, with rich detail and enlightening analysis, O'Connell traces Ireland's life, from his boyhood to his years as a powerful player in Vatican politics and an advisor to American presidents.

Ireland was one of the important and characteristic figures of the American Gilded Age, a man whose own rags-to-riches story followed classic lines.Born in Ireland in 1838, he saw as a boy the horrors of the Great Famine.In 1852 he and his family emigrated to St. Paul, Minnesota.Sent by pioneer Bishop Joseph Cretin to France for his education, Ireland became a priest in 1861.His work for temperance and Catholic colonization on Minnesota's western frontier gave him national prominence and launched him on a long and impressive career.

Ireland was an Americanist, one of a group of Catholic leaders who promoted the ideal of a truly American church.O'Connell's accounts of Ireland's hard-fought and often acrimonious battles present a lively portrait of a complicated man, with impressive strengths and surprising weaknesses.Ireland struggled to convince the Vatican that the American church was more than a collection of immigrant churches; he argued to his fellow clerics that immigrants could abandon Old World customs and languages without losing their faith; he encouraged Catholics to take advantage of the opportunities offered in America; and he strove to demonstrate to Protestant Americans that Catholics were not hopelessly foreign.

O'Connell also tells little-known stories of the archbishop's personal politics and finances.Ireland became wealthy through land speculation, but nearly lost all in the Panic of 1893.As a prominent and out-spoken Republican, he associated with William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and William Howard Taft.

Though John Ireland was denied the ultimate accolade of a cardinal's hat, and though his colleagues on the episcopal bench were by no means unanimous in supporting him, his influence upon the development of American Catholicism was enormous.This forthright biography is a fascinating account of an important man. ... Read more

Book Description
Culture Smart! provides essential information on attitudes, beliefs and behavior in different countries, ensuring that you arrive at your destination aware of basic manners, common courtesies, and sensitive issues. These concise guides tell you what to expect, how to behave, and how to establish a rapport with your hosts. This inside knowledge will enable you to steer clear of embarrassing gaffes and mistakes, feel confident in unfamiliar situations, and develop trust, friendships, and successful business relationships.

Culture Smart! offers illuminating insights into the culture and society of a particular country. It will help you to turn your visit-whether on business or for pleasure-into a memorable and enriching experience. Contents include


* customs, values, and traditions
* historical, religious, and political background
* life at home
* leisure, social, and cultural life
* eating and drinking
* do's, don'ts, and taboos
* business practices
* communication, spoken and unspoken


"Culture Smart has come to the rescue of hapless travellers." Sunday Times Travel

"... the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries." Global Travel

"...full of fascinating-as well as common-sense-tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas." Observer

"...as useful as they are entertaining." Easyjet Magazine

"...offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world." New York Times
... Read more

Book Description
Politics in the Republic of Ireland is newly available in a fully revised fourth edition. Building on the success of the first three editions, it continues to provide an authoritative introduction to all aspects of politics in the Republic of Ireland. Written by some of the foremost experts on Irish politics, it explains, analyzes and interprets the background and processes of Irish government. Crucially, it provides the student with the very latest developments.

Ireland enters the twenty-first century as a country of cultural vitality, economic dynamism, and rapid social change, and its politics reflect this new air of liveliness. New patterns of government formation, challenges to the established political parties, ever-deepening, if sometimes ambivalent, involvement in the process of European integration, and sustained discussion of gender issues are among these developments -- along with evidence, revealed by several tribunals of enquiry, that Irish politics is not so free of corruption as many had assumed.

Politics in the Republic of Ireland combines real substance with a highly readable style. It is aimed particularly at undergraduates. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Mapping Irish Politics - a comprehensive guide
Politics in the Republic of Ireland is the most up-to-date and comprehensive text for both students and academics interested in Irish politics.

Now in its third edition, Gallagher and Coakley take the unusual step of adding substantially to their original text, bringing some of the most able commentators in the Irish field of political science together in the same volume. ... Read more

Book Description
One of Ourselves: John Fitzgerald Kennedy in Ireland is a fascinating and faithful account of President Kennedy's 3-1/2 day visit to Ireland in late June of 1963.Author Jim Carroll provides yet another window into the Kennedy legacy, creating a complex portrait of the man and the presidency.Exhaustively researched, the book and photos tell a memorable tale of the president's "homecoming" to a people and land long etched in his heart and at last on the verge of taking their place in the modern world's politics and economy.It is a day-by-day, hour-by-hour look at the places JFK visited; the people he met—political and cultural luminaries and average Irish citizens alike; the throngs who lined the roads to catch a glimpse of him or gathered to hear him speak; and the events that crowded his schedule.He touched a nation, and it touched him, in part because they shared a history of perseverance and adversity.Indeed, the trip represented the culmination of his historic triumph in the election of an Irish Catholic as president of a country where people could still remember store signs warning, "Irish Need Not Apply."His brief sojourn to Ireland revealed more of the private and spontaneous John F. Kennedy than ever before seen in public.Historian Arthur Schlesinger wrote, "I imagine that [Kennedy] was never easier, happier, more involved and detached, more complexly himself" than in the days of his Ireland visit.Told with the help and recollections of many present during the trip, including aides, family, and friends, Carroll captures just such a Kennedy in this remarkable new book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

WHY THE ENGLISH HAD JFK HIMSELF MURDERED AND SET UP A PRO-ANGLO DYNASTY
This large, excellent complete chronicle of the John Fitzgerald Kennedy return to our ancestral homelands must be read by every American and every Irishman, and everyone else in between.

This little known historic journey which took place a mere six months before his bloody and cowardly murder by still hidden hands reveals much about the stature of the man, unequalled since by any President but Carter, and the apposition of the dynastic Nero and Caligula we suffer since the departure of that second greatest modern President.

Perhaps the present reader unfamiliar with those past times of honor, dignity, morality, truth, justice, equality, openness and compassion may suffer vertigo to contemplate such a different world, to which our present times resemble Superman's Bizarro land, where hello is good-bye and war is peace. But let us bravely recall those great days, that we may strive to live them once more as a nation, now deeply impoverished and abandoned, but a nation once again.

James Robert Carroll competently, carefully, academically, completely presents the historical record of those days, from the preparation of the voyage to the burial of our slain fallen last great leader, considering fully the context and meaning of those times. Several selections from the photogrpahic record also serve to bring those times more closely to us, now a more visually learning than a literate people. This book must be read, and read again, by one and by all.

A revealing celebration of his world
One Of Ourselves by James Robert Carroll isn't your usual historical/biographical focus on John F. Kennedy's assassination, but rather a finely crafted survey recalling JFK's happier times. Any fan of Presidently Kennedy will find year-round enjoyment in this superbly presented treatise which surveys his Irish roots, his meaning to Irish-Americans, and his visit to Ireland in 1963. A revealing celebration of his world, lovingly portrayed, One Of Ourselves is a welcome addition to personal and community library American History collections.

With 44 black-and-white photographs and prints
One Of Ourselves: John Fitzgerald Kennedy In Ireland by professional journalist James Robert Carroll is an informed and informative study of American President Kennedy's three and one-half day visit to Ireland in June of 1963. 44 black-and-white photographs and prints nicely illustrate the president's "homecoming" and its meaning at the time to both Americans and Irish alike. Meticulous attention to detail enhances a superbly written text in bringing to life this particular and unique intersection of human heritage and national office. No personal, academic, or community library Kennedy Studies collection can be considered complete without the inclusion of James Robert Carroll's One Of Ourselves!

A different JFK
I thought I had enough JFK books - the clan, the crises, the concubines.I used to read them all; now I find myself skipping through the pages of new books, over the same familiar stories.Even a good historian like Robert Dallek can only make news by turning up more tales of girls & pills.It starts to feel like aversion therapy.Please, I don't want to read any more!
Please!
I wanted to read this book, though - maybe for the same reason JFK wanted to go to Ireland.The trip was a sidelight.His advisors thought it a waste of time - he already had all the Irish votes!And Ireland washardly a front line in the Cold War - he'd just been to Berlin and was about to face up to 'regime change' in Vietnam.But he wanted to go & he went - it's good to be the president.And his reason for going - like the trip itself - shows a side of him that's much less familiar than what we usually see.I have assorted ideas of what Kennedy was like (I'm a few years too young to remember him - if your first presidential bonding was with Lyndon Johnson - Vietnam, not civil rights, vintage - you can understand the interest in JFK) - but emotion - the tenderer emotions - isn't the first to mind.
That's what this book so wonderfully celebrates - Kennedy's 4-day sentimental journey to Ireland.It wasn't a typical homecoming - not with helicopters, motorcades, speeches, public ceremonies.The whole country seemed to turn out to meet him - you get a very vivid sense here of the excitement - & pride - that Kennedy stirred in the Irish - & that they roused in him.The book covers all that beautifully, it makes you both part of Kennedy's travel party - & one of the Irish crowd, with fresh interviews of those who were there - family, reporters, Irish whose brush with JFK is a dearest memory.But what I liked best - & found most moving - were the little, more private moments.In the house of distant cousins, Kennedy sat down, sipped tea in front of a turf fire, looked around him & saw "Kennedy faces."And in a crowd of thousands, JFK found an old man who reminded him of his grandfather - "And his name is Fitzgerald!"Kennedy didn't like singing in public - for the same reason he didn't wear funny hats - but in Ireland he sang - offkey but with feeling.
And the feeling from 'the 3 happiest days I've ever spent in my life' lasted.Back home he couldn't stop talking about it.He watched the films over & over.
So it was reading 'One of Ourselves'.The feeling of the trip comes through & stays.This is the first Kennedy book in a long time that I've really wanted to dwell on.
(I'm not Irish but I love Irish music & poetry.The book's loaded with wonderful songs & verse -
Thus returned from travels long,
Years of exile, years of pain,
To see old Shannon's face again,
O'er the waters dancing. ... Read more

Book Description
This is a bold and timely analysis of the conflict in Northern Ireland, offering a comprehensive, up-to-date and constructively critical evaluation of the massive outpouring of literature on the subject. John McGarry and Brendan O'Leary examine the most common explanations of the conflict - nationalist, unionist, Marxist, religious, cultural and economic - highlighting their shortcomings and placing Northern Ireland within a comparative context. Synthesizing their conclusions, the authors advance a realistic but imaginative prognosis for conflict-resolution in this most troubled region. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A must have for anyone in Int'l relations or Ethino-Conflict
At first Explaining Northern Ireland appears as a 'long read'. But once you start to read you'll become amazed at the details that is the Nothern Irish conflict.The authors detail the major points of view from the major political parties/influnce and the internal and external causes of the the current conflict.

Even though the book was published in 1995, it is a very good resource for anyone interested in international relations and ethino-conflicts.

Essential Guide to Understanding The Troubles
For anyone with a basic knowledge of Northern Ireland looking to delvedeeper into the causes of the Troubles, McGarry and O'Leary's masterpieceis the perfect place to start.In clear, well-organized chapters, the twopolitical scientists outline the arguments, philosophies and proposals ofall sides of the conflict, nationalist as well as unionist.They alsoexplore the religious and economic facets of the Troubles, and in doing sodebunk the myths that Northern Ireland is ravaged by easily-explainabletheological or class divisions.

The greatest strength of the book,however, is its use of comparative political analysis to illuminatefeatures of Northern Ireland's situation.By comparing the region toplaces such as the United States, South Africa, Belgium, and Israel,McGarry and O'Leary demonstrate to the reader that the Troubles, whileunique in many ways, also follow trends found in conflictselsewhere.

Though the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent establishmentof a Northern Ireland parliament render the authors' conclusions a bitobsolete, the book remains vital reading.It is perhaps the only politicalscience text available on Northern Ireland which tackles all the issueswith remarable clarity, even-handedness, and insight. ... Read more

Book Description
The very best of Irish folk songs. Each volume features 50 complete songs with music, words, guitar chords, and interesting background notes on the songs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

READ THE TITLE CAREFULLY: FOLKSONGS POPULAR IN IRELAND A QUARTER CENTURY AGO
AS Mr. Loesberg repeatedly indicates in his fine and clarifying introduction, these are not Irish songs, as alleged here in the editorial comments on amazon's product detail page, but rather are they songs popular in Ireland over a quarter century ago, when this pamphlet found collection and publication in the great coastal city of Cork.

Therefore we find included only two songs in the Irish tongue (a fact lamented and explained in the introduction), but some English, Scots and American tunes. Thank goodness the allegedly Irish song Danny Boy does not arise its dubious head. However we do find Leadbelly's House of the Rising Sun with the additional verses as recorded by the young Bob Dylan (copying Dave Van Rank) and Eric Burdon with the early Animals. We also find the English slaver's hymn Amazing Grace, as well Scarborough Fair.

Nevertheless with great and tearful joy I find several songs familiar from the early Clancy Brothers (inclduing Jug of Punch) and those reinvigorated by the mighty mighty Pogues. Thus you may once more rousingly shout The Leaving of Liverpool and the great Wild Rover (or just play their CD if you are alone as I).

Gratefully included here are some wonderful Irish nationalist and revolutionary tunes as well, including A Nation Once Again, The Foggy Dew, The Bold FEnian Men, The Rising of the Moon, and the great and mournful ode to Kevin Barry, whose life and death reads now like an insurgent in Gitmo or Abhu Graibh. Brief notes concerning each song are gathered at the end of thise broadside, and Mr. Loesberg mentions "Kevin was killed on Nov. 1, 1920. he tune is from a sea shanty- 'Rolling Home.'" The lyrics themselves give more of the history, as such songs were once part of the oral history of our great nation:

"In Mountjoy Jail one Monday morning High up on the gallows tree, Kevin Barry gave his young life, for the cause of liberty. But a lad of eighteen summers, yet no one can deny, As he walked to death that morning, he proudly held his head on high.

"Just before he faced the hangmen, in his dreary prison cell, British soldiers tortured Barry, just because he would not tell The names of his brave companions and other things they wished to know. 'Turn informer or we'll kill you!' Kevin Barry answered 'No.'

"( . . .skipping a verse)"

"Another martyr for old Ireland, another murder for the crown, whose brutal laws may kill the IRish, but can't keep their spirits down. ( . . .)"

We who cannot remember our history are condemned to repeating it now.

The bulk of this glorious book of course is filled with sentimental tunes of loves both near and far, including of course Will you go Lassie Go, and several others beside, well known and lesser remembered but exciting to find the beauty of this music.

Mr. Loesberg acknowledges the kind assistance of the Cork Library and schools and families in collecting the songs in this book, and includes guitar chords for each song, and some very useful pages of guitar and music theory at the end, inclduing regarding the transposition of keys and chords, and the use of a capo. The chord charts on page 60 alone are worth the slight price of the book, whose songs themselves are priceless.

Useful recordings of some of these songs include The Rising of the Moon: Irish Songs of Rebellion and Irish Songs of Rebellion/Irish Drinking Songs from the Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem, as well of course as the rousing pipes of Spider and the Pogues delivering in full Red Roses for Me and Rum Sodomy & the Lash, etc. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

An excellent book about Bards in Celtic history/mythology
I was surprised when I first read that this book was out of print and I am thankful that I bought it when it was first published.

Over the years, I have found it to be a valuable reference on the subject of Taliesin and Bards in genereal.There is controversy regarding the legitimacy of many of John Matthews' writings, but I have not yet been disappointed with his writing or research.

There has been rumour of this book being republished in the next year ot so.I hope this is the case as it is a book Iwould reccommend to anyone interested in knowing more about Taliesin and the Bardic practise.

Gateway to Talieisin, bard and shaman
The Matthews' Taliesin gives two unique contributions to our understanding. One is John and Caitlin's own translations of about thirty of Taliesin's poems, providing the greatest collection of Taliesin writings available in print in modern translation. The other is John Matthews' extensive demonstration of his understanding of the 6th century Taliesin as a "shaman", similar in social function and mystical abilities to shamans of ancient times in Siberia, the Americas and elsewhere.
John Matthews takes the exact opposite view of Taliesin from the scholar Sir Ifor Williams. Where Williams is interested only in the provably historical works of Taliesin, court bard, Matthews excludes these from his exploration. Matthews engages the reader's attention with Taliesin's timeless mystical works, and with Irish and occasionally Welsh texts that he sees as relevant to the understanding of pre-Christian shamanism. He interprets most of Taliesin's poems as cosmological myths.
Newcomers should beware of Matthews' errors on matters peripheral to his focus. He says "Gildas" when he should say "Nennius". He writes "Owain Gwynedd" when "Owain of Rheged" would be correct. He speaks unclearly of a sixth century "separation of the Welsh and British languages", when he means the separation of the unified fifth and sixth century British language into Welsh, Cornish and Scots Gaelic that surely began only in the seventh century after the merger of the Celtic kingdom of Rheged with English Northumbria. But none of this need deter the reader from diving into the rich understanding of Taliesin the mystic which this book provides.

Taliesin is a Legend of Mythic, Poetic Inspiration
I am surprised that this book is "out of print!" When I read this book, in '93, I was compelled to finish it in a few days, although Ihad little time to read. Taliesin is an epic adventure in Mythology,Legend, Oral Tradition and many other areas of interest. I recently loanedit out and my friend devoured it! Anyone interested in The Mysteries,History, Celtic Lore, etc. will find this book worthy of searching-for.Also, you may want to grab a copy of "The Mabinogi And Other WelshTales," by Patrick K. Ford. ... Read more

Amazon.com
The Vision of Peace: Faith and Hope in Northern Ireland is the first published collection of writings by Mairead Corrigan Maguire, winner of the 1976 Nobel Peace Prize. In October 1976 in Belfast, two of Maguire's nephews and one of her nieces, all young children, were run over and killed by the car of an IRA gunman who had been shot by a British Army patrol officer. Maguire, a housewife, channeled her grief and rage by organizing peace demonstrations and marches that drew more than half a million people in Northern Ireland, England, and the Republic of Ireland. These demonstrations led Maguire to found the Community of Peace People to further the cause of constructive non-violence in Northern Ireland.

The Vision of Peace collects two dozen of Maguire's essays and letters, many of which describe the connections between her political action and her faith. Although most of the writing concerns Northern Ireland, essays about the Holocaust, India, East Timor, and Yugoslavia are also included. Throughout, Maguire urges readers to develop a "politics of mercy and forgiveness," and communicates her belief that

hope for the future depends on each of us taking non-violence into our hearts and minds and developing new and imaginative structures which are non-violent and life-giving for all.... Some people will argue that this is too idealistic. I believe it is very realistic.... We can rejoice and celebrate today because we are living in a miraculous time. Everything is changing and everything is possible.

Customer Reviews (1)

READ AND LEARN TO RESOLVE IN PEACE NOT IN VIOLENT VENGEANCE ANY LONGER
This book by a Nobel PEace PRize winner is necessary for our present era in which the arms manufacturers who have most to profit pitilessly from warfare run our national and international policies to their own greatest benefit. Take and read. This is Christ's body.
... Read more

Book Description
The changing faces of Ireland—social, political, and cultural—documented by some of the greatest photographers of the modern era.

Since the invention of photography, Ireland has been a magnet for photographers, but this book is unique in bringing together the work done by the unrivaled talents of the members of Magnum. From Ireland's first attempts to forge a modern identity in the 1950s to the confident country of the twenty-first century, here is a stunning survey of a beautiful and complex place and people, through times of peace as well as trouble.

The photographs reflect the extraordinary insights of Henri Cartier-Bresson, Elliott Erwitt, Josef Koudelka, Inge Morath, Erich Lessing, Eve Arnold, Martine Franck, Martin Parr, Bruce Gilden, Donovan Wylie, Stuart Franklin, and others. They bring a truly international perspective to the book, reflecting the sensibilities of America, France, Germany, Iran, Japan, Morocco—and, of course, Ireland itself.

Organized decade by decade, the images show the lingering influence of rural life in the 1950s; the hidden story of ordinary Irish men and women—as well as the sectarian conflict—during the uneasy 1960s and 1970s; renewed confidence and the growth of prosperity and peace as the century passed through its last two decades; and the robust "Celtic tiger" of today. Each decade has commentary and context supplied by one of the most notable Irish writers of our time. With texts by: John Banville, Anthony Cronin, Anne Enright, Eamonn McCann, Nuala O'Faolain, Fintan O'Toole, and Colm Toibin. Over 250 photographs in color and duotone.

A touring exhibition of the photographs in Magnum Ireland will begin in Ireland in Spring 2006 before continuing in the United States. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

No rolling hills and green pastures here, this is Ireland -- Magnum style.
Magnum, a name synonymous with upper echelon of documentary photography.Just a mention of the name brings instant thoughts of Capa, Parr, and Bresson.The most recognized name in the photo world brings their take on a very photographic country: Ireland.

If you are looking for beautiful scenic and landscape shots of the Irish countryside, look elswehere.If you love reportage/documentary photography than this will instantly become a photo book favorite of yours, even if you do not have much interest in the country itself.

What lies here is Magnum's best work from the past 5 decades, breaking each into it's own section.We get some brief text to start each decade, drawing a light timeline for us, and then it's on to the pictures.

You would think the 50's would be mostly black and white shots, but think again.Along with some great shots by Henri Cartier-Bresson, we get some vibrant color images by Inge Morath.All the photos simply have one thing in common: capturing life in this country in all aspsects.Depicting people lounging, fighting, and dancing, and the objects, places, and buildings in which they dwell.

You get over 30 of Magnum's top names, including Eve Arnold, Martin Parr, Steve McCurry, and Bruce Davidson, who lend photos covering both Ireland and Northern Ireland.I didn't recognize of a few of the Parr photos, and I have nearly all his books including Photographs of the West of Ireland, so I am assuming that some of these photos may be appearing in book form for the first time.

It's a real treat for Magnum and documentary fans, and at the price I see right now on Amazon (way, way below list price) this is a must buy! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Found Nothing New
The price of this book was good - but there was nothing new in it - and it did not have 2 of my Irish lines in the book- so no help for my research.

good and clear guide to the irish and their origins
i got this as a gift for my husband (a Reilly) and congratulate myself on the purchase! The historical background is EXCELLENT - enabled me to understand the different ethnic roots of the Irish and also the complexity of the Catholics vs Protestants, etc.In addition, the description of themass exodus of the Irish to foreign lands was great, the author detailingthe emotional background exquisitely.Finally, it was a lot of fun lookingup the origins of Irish last names.The crests of each clan is shown incolour.

If I have a complaint, it would be that the significance of thecrest of each clan was not discussed along with the origin and history ofeach clan.If that was included, this book would be 100% perfect, insteadof 95% perfect.

An essential guide to the origins of 200 Irish Families
A beautifully illustrated and well written guide to the origins of the 200 most popular surnames in Ireland.

Also included is history of the Irish race in all it's forms, this alone is worth the price of the book as itwill allow anyone to form a clear understanding of Irish history, cuttingaway all the myths and confusions that surround the Irish and theirorigins.

This book is an essential read for anyone with Irish ancestry orany one with an interest in Irish History and you will find yourselfdipping into it again and again. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Canadian Journal of History, published by University of Saskatchewan on December 1, 2003. The length of the article is 6772 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the author: Nous procedons, dans cet article, a une analyse comparee de l'oeuvre d'Edmund Spenser A View of the Present State of Ireland et de celle de Sir John Davies A Discovery of the True Causes Why Ireland Was Never Entirely Subdued ... Until the Beginning of His Majesty's Happy Reign. Durant les deux dernieres decennies, Nicholas Canny a affirme que le View de Spenser avait un role central dans l'entreprise coloniale britannique en Irlande au dix-septieme siecle, tout en suggerant que le Discovery de Davies adherait de tres pres aux idees de Spenser sur les affaires irlandaises. Ces idees etaient impregnees par un plaidoyer sans pudeur pour la violence militaire et judiciaire et un scepticisme profond envers l'efficacite du droit coutumier anglais, ses procedures et ses valeurs dans le reglement des affaires irlandaises. Nous mettons au defi cette interpretation de Canny soutenant alternativement que ces deux textes n'ont non seulement des opinions opposees sur l'efficacite de la loi anglaise en Irlande en tant qu'agent de changement culturel mais aussi comme des modeles rivaux pour ecrire l'histoire du debut de l'Irlande moderne, l'un ethnologique provenant du View de Spenser et l'autre, ancre dans la souverainete, du Discovery de Davies.

Citation Details
Title: From a View to a Discovery: Edmund Spenser, Sir John Davies, and the defects of law in the realm of Ireland.
Author: D. Alan Orr
Publication: Canadian Journal of History (Refereed)
Date: December 1, 2003
Publisher: University of Saskatchewan
Volume: 38Issue: 3Page: 395(14)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description
Written by a leading group of scholars in the field, this unique volume examines post-Agreement Northern Ireland. It shatters the myth that Northern Ireland is 'a place apart' -its conflict the result of peculiarly local circumstances. Northern Ireland is compared with other dividedsocieties in four continents,including the Aland Islands, the Basque Country, Canada, Cyprus, Corsica, East Timor, Israel/Palestine, Lebanon, Puerto Rico, South Africa, South Tyrol and Sri Lanka.The collection shows that comparative analysis is essential for understanding the dynamics of Northern Ireland's conflict and ethnic conflict in general.It also shows the value of comparative analysis for conflict management.The contributors offer a wealth of suggestions on how to consolidate or change the landmark Agreement that Northern Ireland's political parties reached in April 1998. ... Read more