Recommended Reads: Irish Fiction
"When anyone asks me about the Irish character, I say look at the trees. Maimed, stark and misshapen, but ferociously tenacious."
- Edna O'Brien
Whether you were born on the Emerald Isle, have ancestors from there, or you're German and just have an Irish best friend, everyone thinks of Ireland in March. So, if you like reading fiction set in Ireland, be it a mystery, historical fiction, a romance, a folktale or a fantasy, then here are a few suggestions. And may the luck of the Irish be with you.
Recorded cassette (RC), braille (BR), and large print (LT) copies of these books are available from the Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library. Please contact the library to order any of these books.
Dublin Noir: The Celtic Tiger v.s. The Ugly American by Ken Bruen.
RC 64135, DB 64135
Nineteen short crime stories set in the Irish capital. In Laura Lippman's "The Honor Bar" a scorned American tourist exacts revenge on her ex-boyfriend with a new conquest. Also includes selections by Gary Phillips, Ray Banks, Jim Fusilli, and others. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language.
Drown All the Dogs: a Neil Hockaday Mystery by Thomas Larry Adcock.
RC 41439
New York detective Neil Hockaday has always wanted to know about his father, who disappeared before he was born. His only relative is dying in Ireland, so Neil goes there to learn more about his father. But several tragic events find Neil in trouble with the law on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Some strong language, some violence, and some descriptions of sex.
Legacy of Secrets by Elizabeth Adler.
RC 37314, LT 2290
Shannon Keeffe and Eddie Sheridan have come to Ireland to learn about their ancestors. Shannon also hopes to learn why her father was killed. The story of the Sheridan, O'Keeffe and Molyneux families is narrated by Maudie Molyneux, daughter of Ciel, sister of the infamous Lily. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex.
A Place to Hide by Evelyn Anthony.
RC 27495
Claire Arbuthnot Fraser, married to an important cabinet minister, is on her way to Ireland in search of her halfbrother, thought to have been kidnapped by the IRA. But she may be kidnapped herself before she can rescue him. Some strong language and violence.
Nell by Jeanette Baker.
RC 52069
Claire Arbuthnot Fraser, married to an important cabinet minister, is on her way to Ireland in search of her halfbrother, thought to have been kidnapped by the IRA. But she may be kidnapped herself before she can rescue him. Some strong language and violence.
The Book of Evidence by John Banville.
RC 31640, DB 31640, BR 8400
Frederick Montgomery's ways have brought him to the edge of ruin. He had returned to Ireland in a desperate search for money. His wife and son are held hostage by a drug pusher. Caught committing burglarly, Montgomery has killed a housemaid. Awaiting trial, he faces his guilt. Some descriptions of sex.
A Long Long Way by Sebastian Barry.
RC 62062, DB 62062
Booker Prize finalist. In 1914 young Willie Dunne leaves behind his family and girlfriend in Dublin and enlists with the Allied Forces to fight against the Germans. As a soldier he obeys orders, even when required to shoot at fellow Irishmen during the Easter 1916 uprising. Strong language.
The Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty by Sebastian Barry.
RC 48718
An Irishman from Sligo chooses a career at odds with his friends' commitment to a free Ireland. Joining the Royal Constabulary brings Eneas a death sentence with exile his best option. Lonely abroad, he yearns for his homeland. Some strong language.
Give Them Stones by Mary Beckett.
BR 7413
A novel about family life in Catholic Belfast. Martha's family is of humble origins, and when her father is imprisoned for supposed IRA connections, she leaves school to work in the mill. Later she returns, marries, has four sons and opens a small neighborhood bakery amid growing violence.
The Law of Dreams by Peter Behrens.
RC 64519, DB 64519
Ireland, 1846. Fergus O'Brien witnesses death and starvation in rural Ireland. After his parents die Fergus joins a gang of outlaws and strikes back at the British before eventually taking refuge in Wales and emigrating to America. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language.
Christine Falls by Benjamin Black.
RC 64333, DB 64333
Dublin, Ireland; 1950s. Widowed, alcoholic pathologist Quirke discovers his stepbrother, obstetrician Malachy, altering the files of a woman who died during childbirth. Quirke's unwelcome investigation takes him to Boston and implicates the Catholic Church and his own family. Some violence and some strong language.
The Silver Swan by Benjamin Black.
RC 66116, DB 66116
Bestseller. Ireland. Pathologist Quirke, from Christine Falls (RC 64333), is approached by acquaintance Billy Hunt, whose wife Deirdre committed suicide. Billy begs Quirke to bypass the mandatory autopsy, making Quirke even more curious about her death and shadowy history of poverty and abuse. Some violence and some strong language.
The Journey Home by Dermot Bolger.
RC 67511, DB 67511
1980s Ireland. Francis "Hano" Hanrahan and his friends Shay and Katie endure dreary Dublin office jobs or unemployment while yearning for adventure. After Hano inherits his dad's job working for the town boss, he encounters violence and corruption and flees. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex.
The Search of Mary Katherine Mulloy by Carole Bolton.
RC 54096
Driven from Ireland by the potato famine of the 1840s and the loss of most of her family, Mary Katherine Mulloy and her younger brother, Joe, arrive in New York to search for Mary's betrothed, Alan O'Dugan -- who, they discover, has left for the California gold fields. For senior high and older readers.
Black Baby by Clare Boylan.
BR 8365
Alice is an elderly spinster living alone in Dublin with her cat and thirteen clocks. A black woman appears and Alice is sure that she is the baby for whom she made a missionary donation years before. They form an unusual alliance and share an ambivalent love. Some strong language.
Murder Machree by Eleanor Boylan.
RC 35390
Elderly amateaur sleuth Clara Gamadge is astonished when Armand Evers, the brother of her old friend Racheal Shea, confesses that his look-alike cousin is trying to kill him. When Clara calls Rachael in Ireland, she is told that Armand is there with her. Before Clara knows which man is the imposter a suspicious death occurs. Some strong language and violence.
All Souls by John Brady.
RC 39431
Dublin Inspector Matt Minogue reluctantly agrees to go to his hometown to straighten out some family business. Awaiting him is ex-convict Jamesy Bourke who has convinced attorney Alo Crossan that he is innocent of the arson- murder he served time for. But Bourke and Crossan need Minogue's help to find proof. Strong language, violence and explicit descriptions of sex.
Kaddish in Dublin by John Brady.
RC 36391
When the body of Paul Fine, sone of a prominent Irish Jew is washed ashore, an unknown Palestinian group claims credit for the murder. Fine had been writing an article about Opus Dei, a secret Catholic organization, but someone has now wiped out his research. Inspector Matt Minogue wants to know more about the views and connections of Opus Dei. Some strong language.
Unholy Ground by John Brady.
RC 37190
When 73-year-old Combs is found murdered in his Dublin home, Sergeant Minogue is puzzled. Was it a burglary, or someone irate over a possibly homosexual Briton living in Ireland? Minogue doesn't realize that two sects of British Intelligence are in a dither over the death. Combs's "placement" in Ireland was linked to an incident in 1945. Strong language and some violence.
The Rose Garden by Maeve Brennan.
RC 51342
Twenty stories set in Dublin, Manhattan, and the New York area; most were published in the 1950s and 1960s in the "New Yorker." The title piece reveals the secret world of a difficult-to-love Irish shopkeeper, Mary Lambert, now widowed after ten years of marriage and left with two children.
The Springs of Affection by Maeve Brennan.
RC 48479
Twenty-one short stories about middle-class family circumstances in Dublin, by a former staff writer for the New Yorker. Seven are autobiographical, recalling her own family experiences. Six offer glimpses into the unhappy marriage of Hubert and Rose Derdon, while the last eight depict the home of Delia and Martin Bagot.
Down All the Days by Christy Brown.
RC 50955, DB 50955
A disabled boy observes the people and happenings in his poor Dublin household and neighborhood. Not wanting to miss out on any adventures, he sometimes travels through the streets by boxcart--hauled by his brothers. By the author of My Left Foot (RC 29488). Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence.
Brendan by Federick Buechner.
RC 26597
Novel of the obscure fifth century Irish Saint. Although he is described by his good friend and chronicler Finn as painfully shy, Brendan's eloquence his "lucky tongue for holy things" - and his burning faith launch him on a series of rousing adventures. Some strong language.
The Famished Land: a Novel of the Irish Potato Famine by Elizabeth Byrd.
BR 2105
A love story set in Ireland during the years of the potato famine. Moira McFlaherty and her big family live happily in a small village where she dreams of the day she will marry her childhood sweetheart. When the famine comes, her courage sustains the family.
Mothers by Mary Rose Callaghan.
BR 6503
When Ronnie, a vacillating, scatterbrained reporter for a religious paper in modern Ireland, discovers that she is pregnant, her choices boil down to marrying the boyfriend, aborting, or keeping the baby. While she waffles and daydreams, flashbacks draw out the histories of her aunt and her mother.
Supply of Heroes by James Carroll.
RC 25078
Two Irishmen fight for their country according to the dictates of their consciences, during World War I. One is loyal to England and the other to Ireland. Sister of one and lover of the other, Jane is forced to choose sides. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex.
Brida by Paulo Coelho.
RC 67527, DB 67527, RC proc spanish, LT 8970
Brida, a young Irishwoman, discovers she has occult powers and seeks out two masters--a magician and a witch--to guide her on a mystical and spiritual journey to enlightenment. Meanwhile, Brida faces a choice between two men in her personal life. Translated from Portuguese. Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller.
The Green Years by A. J. Cronin.
RC 32524, BRA 9289
Cronin has written a first-person narrative about Robert Shannon's youth, from his eighth year to his eighteenth. After losing his parents, he travels from Ireland to Scotland, where he begins a companionship with his greatgrandfather that gives him the love he has been missing.
The Bold Thing by Mark Danie.
BR 9712
Micky Brennan was a horseman before he was sent to Her Majesty's prison for running someone down while drunk and drugged. Now free, he agrees to go home to Ireland to run a disabled American woman's horse farm. But his troubles are not over, the woman is being pressured to pay extortion for being a guest of Ireland. Strong language, violence, and explicit descriptions of sex.
The Dower House by Annabel Davis-Goff.
RC 47772
In post-war Ireland, young Molly Hassard and her upper-class Anglo-English family live in genteel poverty. In order to change their fortunes, Molly and her cousin Sophie eventually relocate to England. But Molly misses the Irish traditions and longs to return to rekindle her secret love for a fellow countryman.
The Fox's Walk by Annabel Davis-Goff.
BR 15576
During World War I ten-year-old Alice Moore is left in County Waterford, Ireland, to live with relatives while her parents return to London. She gradually becomes aware of the nationalist movement as well as the dangers that threaten her aristocratic Protestant family with the outbreak of the civil war.
Renny's Daughter by Mazo De la Roche.
RC 65640, DB 65640, BR 02806
Renny's daughter travels to Ireland and becomes involved in a frustrating romance.
Reading in the Dark by Seamus Deane.
RC 48797
An Irish boy recalls events in his life, from his childhood in the 1940s until his parents' deaths in 1971. The third child in a large Catholic family in Northern Ireland, he grew up hearing stories about the past and puzzling over family secrets. The most intriguing ones concerned the death of his Uncle Eddie in 1922. Some violence and some strong language.
Ireland by Frank Delaney.
RC 59924, DB 59924
Bestseller. In 1951, at nine-year-old Ronan O'Mara's rural Irish home, an itinerant storyteller enthralled the boy and the villagers with tales of the country's past. Over the years Ronan, now a historian, absorbs all the land's myths and tragedies while he tries to find the old man again.
Tipperary by Frank Delaney.
RC 65226, DB 65226
Colonial Ireland. Itinerant folk healer Charles O'Brien falls in love with Anglo-Irish heiress April Burke and encourages her to restore Castle Tipperary. April rejects Charles to marry another, while Charles befriends the founders of Sinn Fein and the IRA. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller.
Dublin Crossing by Sandy Dengler.
RC 37135
Ireland, A.D. 793. Twenty-year-old Shawna believes her God will protect her and the people of the island of Lambay off Ireland's coast. Yet when the island is attacked by men from dragonships, Shawna is left alone except for her three nephews. They escape to the mainland where Doyle Dalaiin takes them in, and Shawna finds herself comforted by his son, Connleigh, a man of God.
The Black Lyon by Jude Deveraux.
RC 52135, DB 52135
Ranulf de Warbrooke is called the Black Lion because of his looks and demeanor. Yet Lady Lyonene, whose fiery spirit matches his, sees beneath the rough surface a man capable of being gentle. When vicious lies separate them, only Ranulf can save their marriage. Some explicit descriptions of sex.
Seasons by Anna Dillon.
RC 30474
The Easter uprising of 1916 is the climax of this story. Katherine Lundy arrives in London to become a servant in the household of John Lewis. She is torned by the love for her employer, whom she suspects is a spy, and a journalist committed to the cause of Ireland. Some descriptions of sex.
The Ginger Man by J. P. Donleavy.
RC 67518, DB 67518
American ex-G.I. Sebastian Dangerfield lives in post-WWII Dublin with his wife and child. Sebastian, who occasionally studies at Trinity College, attempts to satisfy his appetite for women, drink, and general roguishness while avoiding bill collectors and steady work. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex.
The Deportees and Other Stories by Roddy Doyle.
RC 67627, DB 67627
Eight tales by prize-winning Irish writer explore his homeland's changing demographics. In "Guess Who's Coming for the Dinner," a father who believes himself open-minded meets his daughter's new boyfriend. Includes "57% Irish" and the title story, which features Jimmy Rabbitte from Doyle's novel The Commitments (RC 35794). Strong language.
A Star Called Henry by Roddy Doyle.
RC 49579, LT 243
Henry Smart knows he is not the first Henry. His older brother died in infancy, and his mother believes a star in the sky is her first Henry. But regardless of his beginnings, Henry becomes a street-smart kid and an active participant in Ireland's 1916 Easter Uprising. Strong language.
The Gathering by Anne Enright.
RC 65634, DB 65634
Bestseller. Booker Prize. The nine surviving Hegarty siblings gather in Dublin for their wayward brother Liam's funeral. Thirty-nine-year-old sister Veronica, guardian of a long-held family secret, makes arrangements for Liam's body as she recalls years of betrayal preceding his suicide. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex.
Troubles by J. G. Farrell.
RC 33197, BR 8645
It is July of 1919 and Major Brendan Archer, recovering from shell shock in 1919, travels to a resort hotel in Kilnalough, Ireland owned by his fiancee's father. The hotel becomes a battleground as the Irish rebels battle the British "Black and Tans." The local gentry, unaware their world is collapsing, attend a great ball.
First Light by Harold Fickett.
RC 40431, DB 40431
Only eleven, Abram White leaves his home in northern Ireland and heads for America. On his trip, he becomes indentured to Captain Jack Hawks and spends the next ten years sailing around the world. When Abram meets Sarah Nicolls of New York, he knows that they are meant for each other, but they must face many hardships before they learn how to love one another.
The Tenants of Time by Thomas Flanagan.
RC 26959
An historian comes to Ireland to investigate the Fenian uprising of 1867, a milestone in the struggle for home rule. In Kilpeder he probes for details: memories of participants reveal the rebellion's lasting effects. Some strong language, some violence, and some descriptions of sex.
In the Woods by Tana French.
RC 66071, DB 66071
Irish detective Rob Ryan and his partner Cassie Maddox investigate the murder of a twelve-year-old girl from Knocknaree at an archaeological site near Dublin. The crime's similarities to the disappearances of Ryan's best friends twenty years ago in the same woods cause him intense personal anguish. Strong language.
The Likeness by Tana French.
RC 67436, DB 66071
Ireland. A murder victim found in an old cottage looks exactly like detective Cassie Maddox and has the name Lexie Madison--an identity that Cassie once invented to infiltrate a drug ring. Cassie goes undercover to find her double's killer. Sequel to In the Woods (RC 66071). Some strong language.
Death in Dublin by Bartholomew Gill.
RC 56143, BR 14793
A dangerous gang of criminals called the New Druids steal the ancient Book of Kells from the library at Trinity College, Dublin, and kill a guard. Chief superintendent Peter McGarr suspects an inside job and continues to investigate even after he is pulled off the case. Violence and strong language.
Death of a Joyce Scholar by Bartholomew Gill.
RC 30179, DB 30179
Bestseller. Chief Superintendent Peter McGarr, Dublin police, is up to his eyeballs in scholarly tomes and academic politics as he attempts to solve the murder of Kevin Coyle, professor of English literature at Dublin College. Some strong language.
The Death of an Irish Tinker by Bartholomew Gill.
RC 48977, DB 48977
Dublin detective Peter McGarr has been trying for years to put away drug dealer Des Bacon. Biddy Nevins, an illiterate, itinerant artist, witnesses a murder by Bacon and flees after he also kills her lover. Twelve years later she returns, seeking revenge. Strong language and violence.
The Death of Love by Bartholomew Gill.
RC 36600, DB 36600
Irish philantropist Paddy Power dies of heart failure and his doctor cries foul play. Power had been about to announce a radical plan to right some financial wrongs in Ireland -- but now his note cards are missing. Chief Superintendent Peter McGarr suspects everyone -- the ex-wife, the doctor, the jilted assistant. Some strong language and some violence.
McGarr and the Politician's Wife by Bartholomew Gill.
BR 3573
Chief Inspector McGarr of the Irish Police investigates the assault of a drunken American left for dead on an old yacht in Dublin. McGarr searches the coast of Ireland to uncover the identity of the assailant. Some strong language.
Pearl by Mary Gordon.
RC 60087, DB 60087
The State Department informs Maria Meyers that her twenty-year-old daughter, Pearl, studying in Ireland, has begun a hunger strike while chained to the U.S. embassy flagpole in Dublin. Maria and her friend, Joseph, fly to Dublin to be with Pearl and to reassess their lives. Some strong language.
Irish Cream by Andrew M. Greeley.
RC 62260, DB 62250, LT 6071
Nuala and Dermot Coyne hire Day O'Sullivan, a convicted felon, to take care of their two dogs. Nuala sees Day's golden aura and knows he is innocent. As she and Dermot try to discover the true culprit, Nuala unravels a mystery in an old Irish diary. Some strong language.
Irish Love by Andrew M. Greeley.
RC 55361, DB 55361
Nuala Anne McGrail and her husband, Dermot Coyne, vacation in western Ireland with their two children. Both Nuala and her daughter have psychic abilities, and the site of a 1882 mass murder haunts them. Soon someone is trying to kill them. Some violence and some strong language.
Song of the Silent Harp by B. J. Hoff.
RC 41303
First book in the "Emerald Ballad" series. The potato famine is devestating Ireland, and all Nora has left is her son Daniel and her faith in God. Her childhood friend Morgan, whom she has always loved, arranges for Nora and Daniel to make their way to America. There they are helped by Michael, now a New York City policeman, who loved Nora when they were children.
The Soul Thief by Cecelia Holland.
RC proc, DB proc
Corban witnesses the destruction of his family and their Irish farmstead and bondsmen by Vikings. He tracks his enslaved twin sister Mav to a sorceress, the Lady of Hedeby. Finding Mav raped and pregnand by Eric Bloodaxe, the man who murdered their people, Corban seeks revenge on Eric. Violence.
Ingram of the Irish by Angela Elwell Hunt.
RC 40291
One day Father Colum, an Irish monk, discovers a young girl being raped in the village. He rescues her, cares for her wounds, and stays with her until she bears a child. But she dies in childbirth, and Colum takes her son and flees to England. Now that child is twenty-six, and Colum has come to tell him of his birthright.
Ulysses by James Joyce.
RC 19994, BR 10287
Epic novel that deals with a single day -- June 16, 1904 -- in the life of Leopold Bloom, a Dublin advertising salesman. The stream-of-consciousness style and the use of interior monologues expose the personalities of the characters. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex.
Dubliners by James Joyce.
RC 17608, BR 1947, LT 696
Collection of short stories first published in 1914, dealing with the lives of Dubliners. Drawing on scenes of Catholic middle-class life, Joyce provides a memorable portrait of the world from which he fled.
Darby O'Gill and the Good People by Herminie Templeton Kavanagh.
BR 13158
A tale of Irishman Darby O'Gill's adventures after being captured by the leprechauns. But even when he eventually escapes, Darby remains friends with their leader, King Brian Connors of the Good People. Made into the 1959 Walt Disney movie.
Celibates & Other Lovers by Walter Keady.
BR 11694
Growing up in post-World War II rural Ireland, sixteen-year-old Phelim O'Brien attempts to distance himself from carnal temptation by becoming a priest. Amid the tumult of changing social mores, O'Brien's vow of celibacy is severely tested. Strong language and descriptions of sex.
The Dowry by Walter Keady.
BR 17568
Ireland, 1946. Kieran McDermott considers moving to England to earn money to buy his father's farm and marry Brideen Conway. Meanwhile, Brideen conspires to trade dowries among her eager-to-wed friends. Father Donovan, who secretly loves Brideen, has his own schemes. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language.
Anybody Out There? by Marian Keyes.
RC 62269, DB 62269
After a taxi injures her in New York, Anna Walsh from Watermelon (RC 47300), returns to Dublin, Ireland, to recuperate. She observes her wacky family's escapades but gets nervous when her husband doesn't answer her e-mails. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex.
Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes.
RC 62739
Twenty-seven-year-old drug addict Rachel Walsh is in denial. She returns home to Ireland and checks into an upscale treatment center. Through self-examination and group therapy Rachel confronts her addiction and memories of her ex-boyfriend, beginning the road to recovery -- and perhaps new love. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language.
This Charming Man by Marian Keyes.
RC proc, DB proc
Ireland. Playboy politician Paddy's engagement to social climber Alicia shocks many, including Paddy's recent girlfriend, Lola; his emotionally unstable former lover, Marnie; and Marnie's journalist sister, Grace. The women reexamine their relationships with Paddy while scandal erupts and Grace seeks revenge. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex.
Nothing Happens in Carmicross by Benedict Kiely.
RC 23789
Irish historian Mervyn Kavanagh winds his way back to the place of his birth from a teaching job in the States. He returns to the North-South border town of Carmincross for the wedding of his favorite niece. There he undergoes a series of adventures involving family and long-lost friends.
1916 by Morgan Llywelyn.
RC 48416
On the eve of the ill-fated Easter Rebellion, fifteen-year-old Ned Halloran enlists in the Irish Volunteers. A prize student of famed patriot Patrick Pearce, Ned joins his mentor and fellow countrymen in a valiant stand against a superior British force in the bloody Rising of 1916. Violence.
Bard, the Odyssey of the Irish by Morgan Llywelyn.
RC 22046
A narrative that draws upon Celtic history and legend to evoke the birth of Ireland and the life of Amergin, a fourth-century B.C. Celtic bard. His passionate, poetic vision inspires his people to leave Spain and attempt the conquest of fabled Erin. The only question is whether the new land will be won by the sword or by the harp. Some descriptions of sex.
Finn MacCool by Morgan Llywelyn.
RC 38549
Finn Mac Cool -- warrior, poet, and lover -- is a legendary figure in Ireland. Morgan recounts Finn's life from his orphaned childhood to his role as husband and father and his leadership of the Fianna -- the armed force that traveled across third-century Ireland. The author describes Finn's heroism, great love, and desperate betrayal. Violence and strong language.
Grania by Morgan Llywelyn.
RC 24360
Lusty, melodramatic saga based on the life and legends of the 16th century pirate-chieftan Grace O'Malley, often called Grania of Ireland. A formidable warrior, the seafaring leader of the Irish clans fought to preserve her people's land from the forces of Queen Elizabeth. Explicit descriptions of sex.
The Last Prince of Ireland by Morgan Llywelyn.
RC 36540
Near the end 1601, at the battle of Kinsale, English troops topple the rule of Gaelic nobility. Rather than surrender, Prince Donal Cam O'Sullivan, leads a band of men, women, and children on a fifteen-day trek through Ireland, fighting hunger, cold, and injury while dodging English and even Irish soldiers who are after the price on O'Sullivan's head. Violence.
Lion of Ireland: the Legend of Brian Boru by Morgan Llywelyn.
RC 17081, BR 4971
Fictionalized biography of one of Ireland's most exalted folk heroes, Brian Boru (Boroimhe, King of Ireland). Born the youngest son of a minor tribal chieftain in the tenth century, the twice-married demigod expelled the Norsemen from the island of their Golden Age.
Pride of Lions by Morgan Llywelyn.
RC 42914, BR 10690
In this sequel to Lion of Ireland, Donough, Brian Boru's son, vies for his father's crown after the latter's death in 1014. Plotting against Donough, however, is his formidable mother, Gormlaith, who was exiled by Boru. And Donough must choose between his bride, Neassa, and Cera the druid, of whom the church staunchly disapproves. Some descriptions of sex.
Blessed Are the Cheesemakers by Sarah-Kate Lynch.
BR 15154
Abbey returns to her grandfather's cheese-making farm in Ireland after twenty-four years of separation. Also arriving is just-fired New York stockbroker Kit Stephens, who goes there to dry out and get his life together. The two fall in love at the eccentric homestead. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language.
Father and Son by Peter Maas.
RC 29705
Jamie McGuire, supporter of the IRA agrees to crew a ship that is ferrying stolen arms to Ireland. The shipment is intercepted by the British and Jamie is the fall guy. His father follows a bloody trail to find out who is responsible for his son's death. Strong language and some descriptions of sex.
Dancing on Snowflakes by Malcolm Macdonald.
RC 43167
Katy O'Barry had her coming out during the 1897 Dublin Season. But her appalling behavior has led her parents to send her to relatives in Stockholm, where they hope she will learn proper manners. Katy has other plans, though, and when she arrives in Stockholm, she secures her own lodgings. Some strong language.
Grace Notes by Bernard MacLaverty.
RC 46663
After a five-year estrangement, Catherine McKenna returns to Ireland for her father's funeral. Catherine, a musician and composer, lives in Scotland with her illegitimate daughter. She immediately feels the repression of her small-town, Catholic upbringing, which aggravates her clinical depression. Some strong language and some violence.
Walking the Dog by Bernard MacLaverty.
BR 10533
Nine short stories that explore unsettling aspects of Irish life. In the title story, a man is kidnapped by the IRA while walking his dog and is disgustedly released. In both "Compensations" and "Just Visiting," the main characters must deal with the impending death of a loved one. Strong language.
Hidden Symptoms by Deirdre Madden.
BR 6878, BR 6878
Eloquent novel about death, belief, and despair in strife-torn Belfast. Centers on Theresa Cassidy, a twenty-three-year-old university student of English literature, who has been living in sorrow for the two years since her beloved twin brother was murdered by Protestant terrorists.
The Giant, O'Brien by Hilary Mantel.
BR 11996
London, 1782. A Scottish doctor, John Hunter, wants to acquire the body of the giant Irishman, Charlie O'Brien, for research purposes. But O'Brien is still alive, earning money as a spectacle, and he does not want to pre-sell his corpse for experimentation. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex.
Child of the Prophecy by Julier Marillier.
RC 54055
Sequel to Son of the Shadows (RC 53288). Final book of the Sevenwaters Trilogy. Fainne, devoted daughter of Niamh of the Sevenwaters clan of Ireland, faces the prophecy of her lineage. To end her father's torture, she must endure the tests of sorcery devised by her evil grandmother.
Daughter of the Forest by Julier Marillier.
RC 53155
Lord Colum of Sevenwaters has six talented sons -- Liam, Diarmid, twins Cormack and Conor, Finbar, and Padriac. But it is his seventh child and only daughter, Sorcha, who can restore his sons to humanity after Colum's new wife, Oonagh, changes them into swans. Some descriptions of sex and some violence.
Son of the Shadows by Julier Marillier.
RC 53288
Bestseller. This sequel to Daughter of the Forest (RC 53155), continues the saga of Sorcha, whose courage and love broke the magic spell that turned her six brothers into swans. Now Sorcha's daughter Liadan embarks on a journey to fulfill the destiny of the Sevenwaters clan. Some descriptions of sex and some violence.
The Rising of the Moon by William Martin.
RC 25638
A beautiful, impassioned Zionist, a rising young politician, and an Irish rebel sail from Boston Harbor in a ship carrying guns and ammunition. They are setting out to take part in the Irish rebellion of Easter Sunday 1916, all for a common cause. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex.
Melmoth the Wanderer by Charles Robert Maturin.
RC 31359, BR 8339
This classic gothic novel by an eccentric Anglican curate in Dublin was first published in 1820. The Faust-like hero, John Melmoth, has traded his soul for a long life. He can redeem himself if he finds someone to take his place in hell. He searches in Bedlam, Inquisition-era Spain, and elsewhere.
Breakfast on Pluto by Patrick McCabe.
RC 50615
The memoirs of Patrick "Pussy" Braden, a transvestite prostitute born in Tyreelin, Ireland, written at the behest of his prison psychiatrist. Records Paddy's brutally comic adventures in London in the 1970s, with an I.R.A. bombing campaign in full swing. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language.
The Butcher Boy by Patrick McCabe.
RC 37661
Set in Ireland in the 1960s. Francie Brady must figure life out for himself as his mother is in and out of "the garage," and his father is always drunk. Francie is hard on the Nugents after Philip Nugent's mother says the Bradys are pigs. Francie can't forget a song his mother sang about a girl who commits suicide over a butcher boy. Strong language and some violence.
Carn by Patrick McCabe.
RC 45528
Portrays life in the bleak Irish town of Carn during the mid-1960s. Laid low by the railroad's closing in the 1950s, the town gets a fresh lease on life with the opening of several new businesses. But the upswing also brings to Carn the sectarian troubles of Northern Ireland. Strong language, violence, and descriptions of sex.
The Dead School by Patrick McCabe.
RC 63283, DB 63283
Irish tradition clashes with modernity in this story of two schoolteachers. Traditional headmaster and Irish nationalist Raphael Bell oversees the younger Malachy Dudgeon, who is more into drugs and popular culture. Their power struggle ends in madness and mutual destruction. Some strong language.
Winterwood by Patrick McCabe.
RC 65766, DB 65766
Irish journalist Redmond Hatch returns to his mountain hometown and interviews old fiddler Ned Strange. Hatch's marriage collapses, and he becomes plagued by memories of his encounters with the fiddler. Strange's death sends Hatch spiraling downward, exposing disturbing truths about their relationship. Strong language and some descriptions of sex.
Getting It in the Head by Mike McCormack.
RC 49791
A collection of sixteen Irish tales, variously surreal, violent, and macabre. In "Old Man, My Son" a boy suddenly assumes the character of his deceased grandfather, a hero of the 1916 uprising. After the boy's death, an autopsy discovers the embedded bullet that had wounded his rebel ancestor. Strong language and violence.
Amongst Women by John McGahern.
RC 33398
Michael Moran, a brutal, bitter Irish Republican, dominates his wife, three daughters and one of his two sons by his often cruel strength. His oldest son, estranged from the family, has left permanently. As Michael ages his ability to control his family weakens. Some strong language.
By the Lake by John McGahern.
RC 54989, DB 54989
The childless Ruttledges have retired from the business world in London to return to a small Irish village. In the course of a year's seasons, they build a new life, entering into the rhythms of the rural community and finding an equilibrium for themselves among the ambiguities of a vanishing way of life.
The Ground She Walks Upon by Meagan McKinney.
RC 41829, LT 5698
Ireland, 1828. Reverend Jamie Drummond hears a scream from the woman cleaning the church -- the old druid cross is glowing. A note tells Father Nolan that the council must meet tonight. It is the eve of Niall Trevallyan's twentieth birthday, and the "geis" must be put into effect or Niall will suffer misfortune. Must he truly marry a newborn? Some explicit descriptions of sex.
Pomegranate Soup by Marsha Mehran.
RC 64270, DB 64270
1986. Three young Aminpour sisters escape the Iranian Revolution and immigrate to Ireland. There they open a Middle Eastern cafe in a small seaside village. Despite the cultural difference, Layla, Marjan, and Bahar charm all the locals except for pub owner Thomas McGuire. Includes recipes.
Rosewater and Soda Bread by Marsha Mehran.
RC proc, DB proc
Ballinacroagh, Ireland; 1987. The three Iranian Aminpour sisters, from Pomegranate Soup (RC 64270), operate a successful Persian café. Marjan falls in love, Bahar contemplates converting to Catholicism, and Layla intensifies her relationship with Malachy. Then a sickly girl is discovered near the bay. Includes recipes.
Passage West by Henry D. Miller.
RC 13991
Two young Irish immigrants, close neighbors in County Cork, leave the Ireland of the Easter Rebellion for the New York of the early 1900s. Although the exiles never meet in their new land, each conquers in a unique way.
Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning.
RC 66611, DB 66611, LT 8242
In the sequel to Darkfever, MacKayla Lane, a fledgling sidhe-seer, confronts a terrifying new challenge as she struggles to outwit the Unseelie minions of the Lord Master, as well as a vengeful, inhuman enemy determined to destroy the last living O'Connor Null.
Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning.
RC 66336, DB 66336
Her sister Alina's murder brings American MacKayla Lane to Ireland. Mac discovers a dangerous wold of vampires and fae and realizes that she's a siheseer, someone who can see faeries. With the help of bookseller Jericho Barrons, Mac seeks revenge. Stong language and some descriptions of sex.
Faeferver by Karen Marie Moning.
RC proc, DB proc
Ireland. Sidhe-seer MacKayla "Mac" Lane seeks the Sinsar Dubh, an ancient black-magic book. The search forces Mac into a dangerous alliance with Jericho Barrons and sexy fae prince V'lane, who are also pursuing the book. Sequel to Bloodfever (RC 66611). Strong language and some descriptions of sex.
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne by Brian Moore.
RC 14763, BR 11964
A story of loneliness and hope and what happens to a middle-aged spinster living in a Belfast boarding house when she pins all her dreams on capturing her landlady's brother. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex.
The Mangan Inheritance by Brian Moore.
RC 21717
An unsuccessful Canadian poet, set free by the death of his famous wife, travels to Ireland to find a literary ancestry that will link him to an illustrious past.
Water, Carry Me by Thomas Moran.
BR 14316
In southern Ireland where "the troubles" are never far away, Una Moss, a guileless orphan and university student, meets her first love, Aidan Ferrel. Aidan is a poetry-loving draftsman from "the North." As their relationship develops, she sees hints that he is hiding his past. Strong language and some descriptions of sex.
The Banyan Tree by Christopher Nolan.
RC 62228, DB 62228
Lonely Minnie O'Brien tends her farm in Ireland after the death of her beloved husband. She reminisces about her life and marriage while her three grown children struggle elsewhere with their own problems -- a miserable marriage, alcoholism, and unemployment. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language.
House of Splendid Isolation by Edna O'Brien.
RC 39279, DB 39279
Josie came to live in the remote Irish village with her husband. Now alone, Josie recalls her early days there, her troubled marriage, and her love affair. But her quiet world is shattered when McGreevy, and IRA terrorist, takes refuge in her house. They learn to co-exist amid the complexities of the Irish conflict in the 1990s. Strong language and some violence.
In the Forest by Edna O'Brien.
RC 55397, DB 55397
In this novel based on a true crime in Ireland, the author explores the damaged mind of Michen O'Kane, searching for the trigger that sent him on a killing spree. She delves into the psychological make-up of both the killer and his victims. Violence and strong language.
The Light of Evening by Edna O'Brien.
BR 17137
On her death bed in a Dublin hospital, Dilly recalls her brief immigration to America in the 1920s and the accompanying love affair, her return to Ireland, her marriage, and motherhood. Meanwhile her daughter Eleanora, a divorced writer living in England, regrets her own missed happiness.
Wild Decembers by Edna O'Brien.
BR 13304, LT 5286
When Mick Bugler returns to Cloontha, Ireland, to claim the land he inherits from his uncle, he befriends neighbors Joseph Brennan and his sister Breege. But a disagreement revives a long-standing feud between the families, and tragedy strikes. Strong language.
The Chisellers by Brendan O'Carroll.
RC 51681
Sequel. Dublin, 1970. Agnes's brood of seven -- whom she calls the "chisellers" -- are a few years older than in "The Mammy" (RC 51680), and causing her more heartache. But Mark, the eldest, makes a bold move at the furniture factory and finds his dream girl. Strong language and some descriptions of sex.
The Granny by Brendan O'Carroll.
RC 51682
Sequel to The Chisellers (RC 51681). Dublin, 1980. Agnes is forty-seven when Mark announces the birth of her new grandson and calls her "Granny." Agnes feels old for the first time, but manages to stay at the center of her family's activities. Strong language.
The Mammy by Brendan O'Carroll.
RC 51680
In 1960s working-class Dublin newly widowed Agnes Browne -- called Mammy by her seven children -- goes directly to Social Welfare on the day of her husband's death. She meets challenges head-on with plucky courage, great wit, and as much good humor as she can muster. Prequel to The Chisellers (RC 51681). Strong language.
Star of the Sea by Joseph O'Connor.
RC 63261, DB 63261
In 1847, the "Star of the Sea" sets sail from Great Britain carrying hundreds of Irish refugees fleeing famine and injustice. Passengers' lives unfold during the wretched twenty-six-day voyage to New York, while Pius Mulvey plots to murder an aristocrat. Some descriptions of sex and some violence.
The Despition of Father McGreevy by Brian O'Doherty.
RC 52375
Booker Prize finalist. After hearing a story in a pub in the 1950s about a defrocked priest, dead women, and an Irish village abandoned in 1940, William Maginn travels to Kerry. By luck more than skill, he obtains the written statement -- presented here -- of Father McGreevy concerning those events. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language.
No Country for Young Men by Julia O'Faolain.
RC 25496
For half a century, Sister Judith has harbored a terrible secret concerning the "Irish troubles" of the 1920s. Then, when she is living with a niece and nephew, an American filmmaker comes to record the oral histories of the survivors of the "troubles." Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex.
My Dream of You by Nuala O'Faolain.
RC 51906, LT 2171
Bestseller. Kathleen de Burca, an expatriate travel writer in London, is propelled into a midlife crisis by the sudden death of a friend and coworker. Returning to her native Ireland to conduct research for a novel, she finds her historical consciousness awakened along with long-dormant emotions. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language.
The Informer by Liam O'Flaherty.
RC 43629
A melodrama set in 1920s Dublin just after the Irish rebellion. Francis McPhillip, who has killed a man and been hiding for six months, has returned to Dublin to see his family. Gypo Nolan betrays him to the police, and when surrounded, Francis shoots himself. Hunted by members of the revolutionary organization, Gypo finds Francis's mother in church and begs her forgiveness.
Motherland by Timothy O'Grady.
RC 31380
To clarify and unify Ireland's history, the author tells this story of a middle-aged man who arrives at his mother's Dublin home and finds her gone. He and his grandfather search for her. Their journey is mythically woven through eight hundred years of Irish history.
The Tea House on Mulberry Street by Sharon Owens.
BR 16092
Daniel and Penny Stanley are owners of Muldoon's Tea Rooms, known for its cozy atmosphere and luscious desserts. There residents of Belfast seek refuge from their various dilemmas, including dieting housewife Sadie, struggling artist Brenda, retired twin schoolteachers Beatrice and Alice, and failed novelist Henry.
Remembrance Day by Henry Porter.
RC 51677
Arriving in London from Boston, Con Lindow becomes a bombing victim. When the British police learn Lindow is an Irish national, he becomes a chief suspect. He teams up with an out-of-favor policeman to find the real bomber--the only way to prove Lindow's innocence. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language.
The Hungry Grass by Richard Power.
RC 35721
Father Tom Conroy has not attended his ordination class's annual get-together for years, and when he finally does show up, the trouble-making Irish pastor dies during dinner. As Conroy's estate is being settled, hundreds of one-pound notes come to light, and the priest's life takes on a new aspect.
Recipes for a Perfect Marriage by Morag Prunty.
BR 17570
Two months after her wedding, New York food writer Tressa fears that her husband, Dan, may not be the love of her life. Plagued by uncertainty, Tressa finds comfort in the journals and recipes of her Irish grandmother, Bernadine, who had the perfect marriage--or so Tressa thought. Includes recipes.
The Dork of Cork by Chet Raymo.
RC 39572
Bernadette Bois is pregnant by an American soldier. An immigration official befriends her and helps her. A dwarf, Frank is now forty-three and solitary, and he has just written his life's story. Though irritated that his publisher is using Frank's dwarfism to sell the book, Frank agrees to come out of hiding. Strong language, some violence, and some descriptions of sex.
What Matters Most by Luanne Rice.
RC 64455, DB 64455
Sister Bernadette and Tom Kelly, from Sandcastles (RC 62148), return to Ireland to find the son they gave up. Meanwhile in Dublin, Seamus Sullivan seeks Kathleen Murphy, his childhood friend from St. Augustine's Children's Home. Commecial audiobook.
The Parting Glass by Emilie Richards.
RC 58062, DB 58062
Peggy Donaghue and her two-year-old autistic son leave Cleveland to visit a cousin in Ireland who needs help unraveling a family mystery. When Peggy's sisters Megan and Casey arrive the secret is revealed. Sequel to Whiskey Island (RC 58098). Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language.
Dance of the Gods by Nora Roberts.
RC 63650, DB 63650, LT 6318
Sequel to Morrigan's Cross (RC 63473). Bestseller. Goddess Morrigan and her assorted allies -- Hoyt, Cian, Glenna, Moira, Larkin, and Blair -- train in Ireland to battle the vampire Lilith. While Larkin and Blair fall in love, Lilith develops a surprise plan. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language.
Tears of the Moon by Nora Roberts.
RC 50766, LT 8371
Bestseller. In this sequel to Jewels of the Sun (RC 49482), Shawn Gallagher, musician and cook at his family's pub in Ardmore, Ireland, falls in love with a childhood playmate. But is Brenna O'Toole too practical to marry a daydreamer? Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language.
Heart of the Sea by Nora Roberts.
RC 51351
Bestseller. Sequel to Tears of the Moon (RC 50766). Wealthy American Trevor Magee returns to his ancestral village of Ardmore, Ireland, and falls in love with ambitious Darcy Gallagher. But the native ghosts have their own plans. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language.
Jewels of the Sun by Nora Roberts.
RC 49482, LT 2196
Bestseller. A depressed Jude Murray flees Chicago for her ancestral cottage in Ardmore, Ireland. She soon discovers Gallagher's Pub and the siblings who run it--Darcy and her brothers, Shawn and Aidan. Jude encounters banshees and faeries, and also falls in love. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language.
Morrigan's Cross by Nora Roberts.
RC 63473, DB 63473, LT 6131
Bestseller. Ireland, 1128. Morrigan, the goddess of battle, helps sorcerer Hoyt battle Lilith, a vampire who has destroyed Hoyt's twin brother, Cian. Hoyt travels to modern-day New York to enlist the help of witch Glenna Ward. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence.
A Woman Scorned by Malcolm Ross-Macdonald.
RC 38577
The Irish Bellinghams are celebrating their daughter's birthday when shots ring out. Most of the family is killed, leaving the girl, her brother Rick, and the girl's friend Judith Carty. Six years later, Judith returns from Dublin to find Rick an unknowing pawn of the castle's butler. Now Judith is determined to learn the truth behind the old tragedy. Some violence.
The Houseguest by Agnes Rossi.
BR 13220
In 1934, grief-stricken Edward Devlin buries his wife in Ireland, leaves his six-year-old daughter, Maura, behind with maiden aunts, and goes to America. With John Fitzgibbon's help, Edward finds a new job; he also stays in Fitz's home and has an affair with Fitz's young wife. Some strong language.
The Princes of Ireland by Edward Rutherfurd.
RC 58000, DB 58000, LT 3971
Fictional portrayal of Irish history over eleven centuries from the sacrifice of Celtic warrior Conall to Druid gods in A.D. 430 through Henry VIII's desecration of Catholic churches in 1537. Also focuses on the passions and struggles shaping the character of Dublin. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. Bestseller.
The Rebels of Ireland by Edward Rutherfurd.
RC 61342, DB 61342, LT 5605
Sixteenth to twentieth centuries. Continues the saga begun in The Princes of Ireland (RC 58000). Follows several families through the French aggression, the potato famine, migration to the United States, and the golden age of Irish literature. Some descriptions of sex and some violence.
Chase Royal by Donald Seaman.
RC 17768
In 1867, after the British have squelched an Irish uprising, Major Sean Donovan of the Irish Republican Brotherhood goes underground.
Field of Blood by Gerald Seymour.
RC 24275, DB 24275
Set in Northern Ireland, the novel centers on a captured IRA terrorist, McAnally, who must make a choice: either serve 25 years in jail or inform on his comrades, including an IRA chief, and accept dubious protection for himself and his family. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex.
The Dispossessed by Dell Shannon.
RC 30145, DB 30145
Fergal O'Breslin is the leader of a band of Irish who choose resettlement in remote Connacht in 1651 rather than accept Cromwell's terms. They become raiders, crossing the border and preying on the English in a desperate struggle for existence. Strong language, sex, and violence.
The Scalpel and the Sword by Dell Shannon.
RC 26577
Traces the fortunes of a brash, young, disillusioned surgeon just after the Irish rebellion at the end of the Eighteenth Century. Conal McDonagh leaves Ireland vowing never to return and joins the military in England, becoming a surgeon in the Royal Navy. Some strong language.
The Marching Season by Daniel Silva.
RC 49718
Ex-CIA agent Michael Osbourne accompanies his father-in-law, Ambassador Douglas Cannon, to Ireland, where radical groups are determined to undermine the 1998 peace accords. The hit man October, from The Mark of the Assassin (RC 46012), attempts to eliminate them on orders from a shadowy group. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex.
An Excess of Love by Cathy Cashman Spellman.
RC 23413
A romantic novel set during the beginnings of the Irish movement for independence and culminating in the 1916 Easter Monday holdout against the British Empire. Recounts the passions and patriotic fervor of two sisters and their offspring.
So Many Partings by Cathy Cashman Spellman.
RC 19313, BR 5485
Follows the loves and fortunes of Tom Dalton, illegitimate son of an Anglo-Irish aristocrat and an Irish domestic, who leaves Ireland for New York in 1900. The estrangement between mother and son is the core of the plot.
The Emancipist by Veronic Goeghegan Sweeney.
RC 23782
Aidan O'Brien, living in poverty in 19th-century Ireland, is deported to Australia as a convict laborer. There he rises to a position of wealth and power, but not without experiencing much torment along the way. He loses his first love for another man, narrowly escapes death, and endures a loveless marriage.
All Rivers to the Sea by Brodie Thoene.
RC 55845, DB 55845
In this sequel to Ashes of Remembrance (RC 55838), peace and prosperity have finally blessed Ballynockanor. Co-author, Brock Thoene. In spite of plots against him, Joseph Burke returns home to Kate. Then the potato famine hits Ireland and the lives of all the villagers hang in the balance.
Ashes of Remembrance by Brodie Thoene.
RC 55838, DB 55838
In this sequel to Of Men and of Angels (RC 48936), Joseph Burke is arrested for treason right after he marries Kate Donovan Garrity. Co-author, Brock Thoene. Once again, Kate and the villagers of Ballynockanor must fight to save their way of life, especially against Colonel Mahon's plot to destroy the Burke family.
The Blackwater by Colm Toibin.
BR 14354
Booker Prize finalist. Declan, hospitalized in the final stages of AIDS, sends for his sister Helen and their estranged mother. His request to visit his grandmother's house on the Irish coast creates an uncomfortable situation, bringing the three generations together -- along with two of his gay friends.
The Heather Blazing by Colm Toibin.
RC 36868
Eamon Redmond, an Irish judge, wonders where he fits in. He feels alienated from his family, past and present, and lately he's not so sure about the legal world. Even his wife questions his commitment. But slowly his repressed memories come to terms with a new order. Perhaps his new grandchild is the missing link.
Hemlock at Vestpers by Peter Tremayne.
RC 61958, DB 61958
Fifteen short stories featuring a seventh-century Irish nun of the Celtic Church who is also a trained lawyer. In "Murder in Repose" Sister Fidelma investigates a priest accused of murdering a girl. In "Tarnished Halo" a religious brother is killed.
Whispers of the Dead by Peter Tremayne.
RC 61547, DB 61547
Fifteen short stories featuring a seventh-century nun and trained lawyer, Sister Fidelma of Ireland. In the title tale an unknown peasant woman is discovered dead and Fidelma is challenged to identify her and the cause of death. In "The Banshee" she investigates a death wail.
A Bit on the Side by William Trevor.
RC 62728, DB 62728
Twelve short stories by an Irish writer that deal with personal struggles. In the title piece a married man ends an affair to maintain his lover's reputation. In "Sitting with the Dead" two sisters who do charity work listen to a widow lament her marriage to a nasty husband.
The Silence in the Garden by William Trevor.
RC 29167
In 1904, Sarah became governess to her cousins, on the island of Carriglas in County Cork, Ireland. Things seemed idyllic to Sarah, but years later she realizes that there were undercurrents which led to tragedy that touched the family and caused Sarah to return to Carriglas.
The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor.
RC 65189, DB 65189
Threatened by the mood of 1920s Ireland, the Gaults prepare to move to England. Desperate to remain in her beloved home, nine-year-old Lucy runs away. The act defines the rest of her life, affecting her parents and the community.
The Landleaguers by Anthony Trollope.
RC 35671
Trollope's final and incomplete novel, first published in 1883. From the time that Philip Jones buys Castle Morony in western Ireland until Jones confronts a poor man who has lost his share of the land in the last chapter, the problems that beset the characters are remarkable similar to the troubles that plague the Irish in the twentieth century.
Redemption by Leon Uris.
RC 40633, DB 40633, BR 10148, LT 506
Bestseller. In this sequel to Trinity, Uris continues his account of the Larkins, the Hubbles, and the Fitzpatricks. Liam Larkin settles in New Zealand and begins a family, while brother Conor remains behind to fight for Irish freedom. Liam's son Rory follows in his uncle's footsteps, returning to Ireland with a mission of vengeance. Strong language and some violence.
Trinity by Leon Uris.
RC 53391, DB 53391, BRA 14326, RC 14400 spanish
Historical novel that follows three Irish families -- hill farmers, shipyard workers, and aristocrats -- from the famine of the 1840s to the Easter Rising of 1918.
The Wilfe Trap by Tracy Anne Warren.
RC 66234, DB 66234
Ireland, 1817. Banished to her cousins' Irish estate after causing trouble in The Husband Trap (RC 66196), Jeannette is swept into a passionate relationship with a man she cannot have a future with, a mere architect. But he has hidden his true lineage. Explicit descriptions of sex.
The Promise of Light by Paul Watkins.
RC 38321
Ben Sheridan returns home with news of a bank job offer only to learn that his widowed father has just been injured. When the blood transfusion from Ben kills his father, Ben discovers his father's life has been a lie. Ben goes to Ireland to learn the truth, and walks into a war and a group of men who remember the man he called father. Strong language and violence
The Music Lesson by Katherine Weber.
RC 47898
New York art librarian Patricia Dolan is swept by love and passion into assisting her outlaw cousin in stealing The Music Lesson. Alone in Ireland with the valuable painting, Patricia begins a journal describing the event and her tragic life. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex.
The First Protector by James White.
RC 53380, DB 53380
Sequel to The Arrival (RC 53379). Ma'el, a Taelon planetary investigator, travels to Earth in the fourth century to explore human development. Ma'el arrives in Ireland and invites the fugitive Declan to become his protector. Ma'el must reveal Taelon technology to his human companions. Associated with "Earth: Final Conflict" television series.
The Fall of Light by Niall Williams.
BR 14411, LT 3072
Saga of the Foley family in nineteenth-century Ireland. Francis and his four sons, their mother gone, flee from their tenant farm after Francis steals a telescope. When their father is presumed drowned, the four brothers eventually separate and find their own destinies at home and abroad.
Four Letters of Love by Niall Williams.
BR 11656
When Nicholas is twelve, his family is torn apart the day his father quits his job because God has instructed him to paint. Isabel, believing she is responsible for her brother's becoming mute and lame, leaves her convent school and marries a man she doesn't love. Years later the siblings meet when Nicholas goes in search of the only remaining painting by his father.
The Deception of the Emeral Ring by Lauren Willig.
RC 64656, DB 64654
Twentieth-century Harvard researcher Eloise Kelly and Englishman Colin Selwick investigate nineteenth-century spies. In 1803, English agent Lord Geoffrey Pinchingdale-Snipe is called from his elopement to quash an Irish rebellion supported by Napoleon's agents. Geoffrey's bride Letty follows him and becomes embroiled in the espionage. Some explicit descriptions of sex.
The Riders by Tim Winton.
RC 42995
After years of wandering around Europe, Australian Fred Scully, his wife, and their daughter decide to settle in rural Ireland. While Fred works on the house there, the others return to Australia to settle affairs. When his daughter comes back alone, Fred sets out on a desperate search for his wife. Strong language.
A Difficult Truce by Joan Wold.
BR 10857
Niall MacCarthy, the earl of Clancarthy, is dead. He was the last great chief of old Ireland, and the Catholics would have followed him to become a nation again. Can his daughter Christina, nineteen, take his place as head of the clan? Dreams are dashed when enemies capture Christina. Her only hope is her marriage to Charles Standish, duke of Dacre. But she must not fall in love.
Quiet Man
DV 676, DVD 676
VIDEO. Sean Thornton, an American prizefighter recently retired from the ring, returns to his ancestral home in Ireland, hoping to find his roots. He soon falls in love with a redheaded colleen, Mary Kate, but her loutish brother opposes the match. Sean is finally forced to fight for her hand and her heart in a bareknuckled brawl. With John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara and Victor McLaglen. Directed by John Ford. MPAA Rating - NR. Not rated.
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