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Travel Ireland

Lonely Planet Ireland

by Tom Downs, et al.

When it comes to travel guides, Lonely Planet is the most consistently reliable brand on the bookshelf, going above and beyond the requisite fare on food and accommodations. Explore spectacular coastal scenery and delve into Dublin's renowned pubs and clubs. Boxed sidebars will fill you in on Irish culture, music, history and politics, and quickly get you off the beaten track in search of the authentic Irish travel experience.

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Rating: Absolutely Right-On
I travelled for two weeks through Ireland using this book. I was never steered wrong. I used it for lodging, routine tourist destinations and not so routine destinations. It even identified some really cool caves in the West of Ireland. Travelling light? This is all you need.

McCarthy's Bar: A Journey of Discovery in the West of Ireland

by Pete McCarthy

Although Pete McCarthy was raised in England, his mother hails from West Cork, and, despite never having lived there, he can't shake the strange feeling that Ireland is more home than home. A return pilgrimage reveals immediately why he (or anyone, for that matter) feels "involved and engaged" in Ireland. On arriving at the airport in Cork he's greeted by a guy in a giant rubber Celtic cross getup who's telling jokes with a latter-day St. Patrick (the guy who cast all snakes and pagans out of Ireland). Later, when McCarthy happens to mention that his surname matches that of the pub he's in (ever faithful to his Eighth Rule of Travel: "Never Pass a Bar That Has Your Name on It"), the owner buys him a Guinness, invites him to her raucous all-night birthday party, then insists he move to Ireland because, well, obviously he belongs.

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Rating: Hilarious and accurate.
This is what Ireland and it's people are like - forget the contrived, tear jerking Angela's Ashes. This book captures the humor, dialogue and social atmosphere of my country. The good and bad of a modernising and newly international Ireland are all in here. With small snippets of captured conversation McCarthy brings to life the heart and personality of my country. Makes me want to rent a car and take the trip myself. This is a book written for and about a country that can always laugh at itself and enjoy itself for it's faults (something McCourt lost in his travels and sour grapes).

A perfect read. God - I'd love a pint of Guinness.

Frommer's Ireland 2005 (Frommer's Complete) by Suzanne Rowan Kelleher

by Suzanne Rowan Kelleher

You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. Completely updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer's Ireland features gorgeous color photos of the fishing villages, seaside cliffs, and quaint country pubs that await you. It's a highly personal guide that's fun to read and even more fun to use on the road. Our expert author offers insights into how to discover the real Ireland. You'll find complete details on lovely small towns, natural wonders, castles, literary landmarks, world-class golf courses, mysterious ancient ruins, and Dublin's cutting-edge nightlife.

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Rating: Well rounded and very informative!
I had previously purchased "Frommer's Ireland on $50 a Day" for my first trip in '96 so I had a good idea of what to expect. Frommer's delivered once again. It has everything; top attractions, accommodations, shopping, night life, out-of-doors activities, places to eat and, of course, to drink. Each of these categories is then divided price-wise into Very Expensive, Expensive, Moderate and Inexpensive. There are phone numbers, dates and hours places are open, accurate prices and any relevant web addresses. For each major town, Frommer's includes basic facts (such as, where the tourist and post office is or where to go if you need a pharmacy), how to get around and a map. The book starts with a "Best Of" list then moves to all that you need to know to plan your trip. It also includes a new section of web addresses which is most helpful if you've never booked an on-line ticket or don't wish to search through Ireland's many web sites for the best ones. The next chapters go through the country almost county by county then concludes with all the same sort of information listed above about Northern Ireland. The last chapter of the book is dedicated to a deeper understanding of Ireland through it's history, people and art.

Bed & Breakfast Ireland: A Trusted Guide to over 400 of Ireland's Best Bed and Breakfasts

by Elsie Dillard, Susan Causin

A best-seller in Ireland and a real insiders' guide, Bed and Breakfast Ireland has been continuously in print since 1991. Completely revised and updated, this handy resource covers more than 400 of Ireland's best bed-and-breakfast accommodations, including guest houses, small hotels, country mansions, private homes, and farmhouses. Every accommodation has been visited by the authors, who provide informative, personal descriptions, as well as logistical information such as rates, addresses, and phone and fax numbers--all accompanied by a selection of helpful maps. Compact and comprehensive, this charming guide will help make any Irish holiday a trip to remember.

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Rating: Bed & Breakfast Ireland: A Trusted Guide by Elsie Dillard
"Trusted" is the key word here. My family has traveled to Ireland three times since 1999 and we always bring the most recent Elsie Dillard Guide with us. It is the only B&B guide you need for travel anywhere in Ireland. Competitors, like Frommers or Frodors, are aimed more at the tour bus trade, not independent travelers like ourselves. The author stays at the recommended establishments and gives accurate evaluations of each. We've never been disappointed.

Buy the Best of Ireland: A Shopping and Learning Guide to Irish Goods and Crafts

by Mary Jean Jecklin

This guide to shopping in Ireland is organized by product--pottrty and china, crystal, jewelry, linens, food and drink,ect. Other more general information covers Value Added Tax, currency, terminology and slang.

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Rating: Don't Go to Ireland Without This Book!
This a unique and most helpful book for the traveller to Ireland who is interested in coming home with more than the usual Aran sweater or piece of Waterford. Ireland is teeming with wonderful crafters making pottery, jewelry, linens, lace, leather goods, silver, and more - in addition to the familiar woolens and crystal. The authors show you how to find the small family workshops that are not on the tourist maps, as well as the major craft centers and shops. Some crafters will even give you a discount if you show them the book, making it a real bargain! Web site addresses are included for armchair shoppers, and there is a comprehensive list of Irish shops in the US (though no URLs for these). The authors' love of Ireland and its handicrafts comes through on every page. More photos would have been helpful, but this is really a one-of-a-kind book for the visitor to Ireland.

More Ireland Travel Books

Irish Castles

Castles in Ireland: Feudal Power in a Gaelic World

by Tom McNeill

Medieval times in Ireland saw a fierce competitiveness among different lordships: English vs Irish, European vs Gaelic, royal vs baronial. This historical drama of the struggle to gain power is played out in the physical evidence left behind, the castle ruins themselves. The ruins tell a story of a castle's builders and its lords, the relations between this castle and the next castle over, and the battles fought in and around its walls. Author McNeill surveys in minute detail the history of virtually every pile of rubble in Ireland, and arrives at a rather controversial thesis: Contrary to widely accepted historical accounts, the English didn't seize control of Ireland through purely military means, but through fostering divisiveness in the Irish aristocracy, often with the cooperation of Irish lords. McNeill contends that, to some degree, the Irish were complicit in and facilitated English conquest. It's an intriguing premise presented with a wealth of historical documentation and impeccable scholarship.

More Irish Castle Books