Never Pass a Bar That Has Your Name On It

[dotinthesky]

Pete McCarthy, McCarthy's Bar, 2002
This is a humorous - at times hilarious/laugh-out-loud funny/need to quote to the nearest person - travel book by an English man exploring his family ties to Ireland. Pete McCarthy travels across Ireland in the hopes of answering the question: "do I belong here?" Along the way, he paints the picture of a country that has changed due to a rapid economic boom - a place where the old and the new sit side-by-side in what seems to be a very tenuous balance.

Pete believes that one should always stop and have a drink in a pub that bears one's name. Since McCarthy is a popular surname in Ireland, he gets plenty of chances to sip the devil's brew while getting to know the local folk. This is, I suppose, how travel books should be written (if you discount the constant potshots at American and German tourists).

Comments

[margotmetroland.livejournal.com]

It is a very good book. He followed it up with "Road to McCarthy" then, tragically, died aged forty-something.

In a similar vein, have you read "Round Ireland With A Fridge" by Tony Hawks? If not, you should. Not as well-written as McCarthy, but the concept is hilarious.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

He died??? :-(

I think this may be the first travel book I ever read; I'll add Tony Hawks to my must read list. Would you recommed "Road to McCarthy" too?

[margotmetroland.livejournal.com]

Yes, sadly, about 2 or 3 years ago. Heart attack I think.

Road to McCarthy is good too, though it's been a while since I read it. Both McCarthy books and the first Tony Hawks book are good holiday/easy reads. The other Hawks books can be a bit crap, but his latest one, A Piano in the Pyrenees is a bit better.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

There's one travel book I've been meaning to read, about a writer to hires a donkey to cross the Pyrenees. Although she starts out meaning to write about that part of the world, the book ends up being about her relationship to the donkey! I can't remember its title tough.

[sallypointzero.livejournal.com]

Wot, Tony Hawks does shit-hot skateboarding travels too?

That's a great idea, him looping whilst writing informatively of all he sees

[live-life-like.livejournal.com]

i was wondering IF there is a pub with my name.....


i doubt that!
haha

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Botequim da Meire? Deve ter sim... :-P

[live-life-like.livejournal.com]

oh...fiz um seach alí no google e achei!!!
O_O

hahaha.

thanks for the reccomendation

[idioticpoet.livejournal.com]

my library has that book...and I'm going to borrow it.

Re: thanks for the reccomendation

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Cool. I hope you enjoy it.

[misspogeybait.livejournal.com]

Bit late replying, but, that's what too much gin does to you!
I got this book from Amazon for 1p + p+p, I've not read it all cus it's one of those you can dip into anytime isn't it.I really relate to it though as he had the exact same upbringing as me and my family, my Dad was Irish and we used to spend every summer over there as kids.Love the place but alas don't seem to have the time to visit as much as I would like.

Might aswell kill two birds with one stone and say that for me the Temptations 'With a whole lotta soul'is my favourite album ever.Give it a listen.David Ruffin=bloody wonderful!!

Back to the gin!
xxx

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Have fun with the gin!

I'll check out that Temptations album. :-)