101 Things You Didn't Know About Irish History: The People, Places, Culture, and Tradition of The Emerald Isle
by Ryan Hackney, Amy Hackney Blackwell, & Garland Kimmer
This book is packed with fascinating facts and stories about Irish history, culture, and traditions, making it a great introduction to the island of Ireland.
A Brief History of Ireland
by Richard Killeen
Designed as an introduction to Irish history, this pocket-sized book details the history of the island, from Viking and Norman invasions, Plantation and the Cromwellian wars to the present.
Dubliners
by James Joyce
A seminal collection of fifteen short stories that provides a vivid and unflinching portrayal of life in early 20th-century Dublin. The narratives revolve around middle-class characters who grapple with themes of paralysis, disillusionment, and the quest for identity amidst the constraints imposed by society, religion, and politics.
How the Irish Saved Western Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland’s Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe
by Thomas Cahill
A compelling historical narrative that explores the crucial role of Ireland during a pivotal period in Western history, specifically from the fall of the Roman Empire to the rise of medieval Europe. First published in 1995, the book argues that as Europe descended into chaos and barbarism, Irish monks and scholars preserved the remnants of classical knowledge, ensuring its survival for future generations.
I Never Knew That About Ireland
by Christopher Winn
A treasure trove of fascinating stories, I Never Knew That About Ireland is packed full of information on the colorful history of the Emerald Isle. This irresistible book gives a captivating insight into the heritage, memories, and monuments that have shaped each county in Ireland, searching out their secrets and unearthing their hidden gems.
Ireland in the 20th Century
by Tim Pat Coogan
Ireland entered the twentieth century savaged by poverty and memories of the famine but inspired by the Celtic Dawn, a remarkable cultural renaissance led by Yeats, Synge and Lady Gregory. She left it in the era of the Celtic Tiger, with unparalleled prosperity and a new, confident, outward-looking view of herself and the world - although this prosperity and self-confidence is now giving way to uncertainty. In the intervening hundred years, Ireland has experienced more 'history' than almost any other country: beginning under the British crown, she was racked by revolution, the Anglo-Irish war, partition and civil conflict. Led by towering figures such as Michael Collins and De Valera, she has suffered terrible hardships and disputes but has nevertheless provided brilliant cultural and literary examples and is now a country of importance in the wider international community, providing leadership in a variety of moral and development issues. In this readable and authoritative study, Ireland's bestselling popular historian tells the extraordinary story of how contemporary Ireland came into existence. Covering both South and North and dealing with social and cultural history as well as political, this will surely become a definitive single-volume account of the making of modern Ireland.
Legendary Ireland – Myths and Legends of Ireland
by Eithne Massey
This captivating book takes readers on a journey through twenty-eight atmospheric sites, each linked to legendary tales of love, betrayal, courage, and revenge, featuring iconic figures from Celtic lore such as Cu Chulainn, the children of Lir, and Queen Maeve.
Milkman
by Anna Burns
This award-winning novel is set during the Troubles and tells the story of a young woman who becomes the target of unwanted attention from a local paramilitary.
Say Nothing
by Patrick Radden Keefe
A riveting work of investigative journalism by one of the most compelling U.S. reporters working today. Its starting point is the murder of a woman in Belfast in 1972. But it’s far more than the history of a crime.
The Rebels of Ireland
by Edward Rutherfurd
This historical novel spans over four centuries of Irish history, from pre-Christian times through to the establishment of the Free Irish State in 1922. Rutherfurd weaves together the lives of a diverse cast of characters—monks, noblemen, soldiers, and rebels—against the backdrop of significant historical events such as the Viking invasions, the Great Famine, and the Easter Rebellion.
This is Happiness
by Niall Williams
This historical novel spans over four centuries of Irish history, from pre-Christian times through to the establishment of the Free Irish State in 1922. Rutherfurd weaves together the lives of a diverse cast of characters—monks, noblemen, soldiers, and rebels—against the backdrop of significant historical events such as the Viking invasions, the Great Famine, and the Easter Rebellion.
Tracing your Irish Ancestors
by John Grenham
This book serves as an essential resource for both beginners and experienced genealogists, offering detailed insights into the various sources available for tracing Irish ancestry.
We Don’t Know Ourselves
by Fintan O’Toole
This acclaimed work intertwines O'Toole's own experiences with significant historical events, capturing the transformative changes in Ireland from 1958 to the present day.
