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

[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. :-)