Happy St. Patrick’s Day. While we normally celebrate St Patrick today (and I have several books), I would rather focus a little on Irish culture, and their warmth and hospitality. Today, I have a few Irish books that were picked out personally for me by Kenny’s Book Shop in Galway, Ireland. A few years back (almost 20), Kenny’s Book shop had a book club service that you paid an agreed upon amount of money, and they would pick out a corresponding value of books based on your likes and wishes. I filled out a form and waited.
Instead of a letter back, they actually called me. From Ireland! It was a Kenny, I believe it was Des Kenny. After getting used to his accent, we discussed books: collecting them, reading them, reading to others, and a bunch of things. He really wanted a true feeling for what I would like in Irish books, and how he could help. We came to agreement that he would focus on old, Irish history books for me, and newer children’s books for my kids. For about a year, every month or so, I would receive new selections for my library. He did not let me down! Thanks to the incredible attention of the people at Kenny’s Books, I own some handpicked, wonderful, truly Irish books. Here are some favorites:
“Concise History of Ireland” by P.W. Joyce published 1924. The subtitle is “from the earliest times to 1908”. This is a wonderful way to begin an understanding of Ireland. It begins with the background of language, literature, folk tales, art, and music. Then into more modern history (at least up to 1908). I spent a week of evenings browsing through the book.
“A Popular History of the Insurrection of ‘98” by Rev. Patrick Kavanaugh, 1913. This is another great history book detailing the Irish rebellion of 1798. The author states:
” The Irish heart is of too generous a nature to bow down before the idol of power because success has crowned it, or to forsake a just cause because it has not proved triumphant. The Irish people know that the charter of their country’s liberty has been written by the hand of God, and that of man can never efface the sublime record.”
Then I have “Tramping through Ireland” by John Gibbons, published 1932. This is a good book about the author’s travels and observations through Ireland. I liked it enough to decide now to track down another of Gibbon’s books “Tramping to Lourdes”.
And lastly, “the Soul of Ireland’ by W.J. Lockington, published 1919. (#30 of 200 copies printed.) This is an interesting book about the spirit of Ireland, and the relationship with England. I like the ending:
“Here we have the reason why Ireland is Ireland, and why Ireland will always be Ireland. She has triumphed because she has fought on in the path St Patrick has marked out for her!”
Then I have a few items sent by Kenny’s Books for younger people. Easier to read, and have some illustrations, paintings, and photographs to help readers digest them. First is “Islands of Connaught” by Wallace Clark and Rod Harvey, 2005. This is a lovely book of paintings about the western shore of Ireland, and the look of the coastline. It is a beautiful book.
‘The Keeper of the Crock of Gold-Irish Leprechaun Tales’ by Bairbre McCarthy, 1998 (signed), is a book of ten leprechaun stories, The first tale is how to get to the end of the rainbow for gold.
“The Ancient Books of Ireland” by Michael Slavin, published 2005, is an illustrated, and well researched book about ten important treasures of Irish history. While it may sound like a dreary academic textbook, it is really quite accessible for the general public, even those who are not well versed in Irish history. There are tons of pictures, and it is written to please the eye as well as the mind. This is a great book about books.
This last book is a personal favorite book of mine, both for the stories and the great illustrations, “Irish Tales of Mystery and Magic” by Eddy Lenihan, and illustrated by Alan Clarke, 2006. These are old tales, that children in Ireland for generations, grew up on. The author says he “has a measure of hope. More and more people want their children to hear the old Irish tales. How much better for a child to hear the tales of the Fianna than sit day after day in front of the TV, or numbed by endless computer games. The old stories are making a comeback. ” I think these are magical stories, transporting me to a mystical Ireland.
Today, we can still go to the parades, drink green beer, eat a little corned beef and cabbage, see the river dyed green (guess which town I grew up near), but we can also try something new. The Irish are very proud of their heritage and how they have persevered. They also have rich history of folk tales and fables. Read something Irish today. I am keen to relax this evening with a wee bit of Baileys, and re-discover the Irish legend of ‘Taoscan Mac Liath and the Magic Bees.’
Éirinn go Brách
Librarytomes 