McCarthy's Bar : A Journey of Discovery in Ireland - Softcover

9780340766057: McCarthy's Bar : A Journey of Discovery in Ireland
View all copies of this ISBN edition:
 
 

Pete McCarthy's tale of his hilarious trip around Ireland has gained thousands of fans all over the world.

Pete was born in Warrington to an Irish mother and an English father and spent happy summer holidays in Cork. Years later, reflecting on the many places he has visited as a travel broadcaster, Pete admits that he feels more at home in Ireland than anywhere. To find out whether this is due to rose-coloured spectacles or to a deeper tie with the country of his ancestors, Pete sets off on a trip around Ireland and discovers that it has changed in surprising ways. Firstly obeying the rule 'never pass a pub with your name on it', he encounters McCarthy's bars up and down the land, and meets English hippies, German musicians, married priests and many others. A funny, affectionate look at one of the most popular countries in the world.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:
Although Pete McCarthy was raised in England, his mother hails from West Cork and, despite never having lived there, he can't shake the strange feeling that Ireland is more home than home. A return pilgrimage reveals immediately why he (or anyone, for that matter) feels "involved and engaged" in Ireland. On arriving at the airport in Cork he's greeted by a guy in a giant rubber Celtic cross getup who's telling jokes with a latter-day St. Patrick (the guy who cast all snakes and pagans out of Ireland). Later, when McCarthy happens to mention that his surname matches that of the pub he's in (ever faithful to his Eighth Rule of Travel: Never pass a bar that has your name on it), the owner buys him a Guinness, invites him to her raucous all-night birthday party, then insists he move to Ireland because, well, obviously he belongs. McCarthy's Second Rule of Travel states: The more bright primary colours and ancient Celtic symbols outside the pub, the more phoney the interior. While the island is turning into a haven for upmarket tourists--and McCarthy offers outstanding examples of bumbleheaded tourists in action--he still finds plenty of pubs where you can buy a bicycle and which still exist primarily as venues for conversation and Irish music sessions.

While most travel writers seek out opportunities to meet the famous--or the infamous--McCarthy has the charming knack of just bumping into them on his rambles, which is how he met Noel Redding, formerly of Jimi Hendrix's band, and the author Frank McCourt. Far more interesting, though, are the eccentric and talkative bachelors and landladies who turn up in pubs, B&Bs, and the middle of the road. McCarthy has mastered the art of getting creatively lost, wandering the back lanes of Ireland where the hype of tourism has yet to arrive, pursuing stone circles, impossibly romantic ruined abbeys, and, of course, pubs. What he discovers is that "In Ireland, the unexpected happens more than you expect," which makes for a hilarious tour through one of the most beautiful, friendly, and quirky places on earth with a comedian who has honed the art of telling a good story and of having fun.--Lesley Reed

From the Inside Flap:

The #1 Irish Bestseller

Despite the many exotic places Pete McCarthy has visited, he finds that nowhere else can match the particular magic of Ireland, his mother's homeland. In McCarthy's Bar, his journey begins in Cork and continues along the west coast to Donegal in the north. Traveling through spectacular landscapes, but at all times obeying the rule, "never pass a bar that has your name on it," he encounters McCarthy's bars up and down the land, meeting fascinating people before pleading to be let out at four o'clock in the morning.

Written by someone who is at once an insider and an outside, McCarthy's Bar is a wonderfully funny and affectionate portrait of a rapidly changing country.

Praise for Pete McCarthy and McCarthy's Bar:

"[McCarthy] is a worthy addition to the ranks of P.J. O'Rourke, Bill Bryson and Peter Mayle...He narrates a series of hilarious and surprising adventures with an acerbic eye and a comedian's gift for timing...This wonderful debut will appeal to readers who are looking for a well-observed travel guide, or simply for its incisive hilarity." - Publishers Weekly

"[McCarthy's] chronicle of what he heard in these neighborhood gathering places/social clubs/confessionals was quintessentially Irish, which means hilarious, sentimental, surprising and revealing." - The Dallas Morning News

"McCarthy makes an amiable traveling companion - witty, affable, with an endearing knack for meeting, or attracting, the most eccentric characters...With self-deprecating wit and a sly sense of the absurd, he makes even the most mundane experience entertaining." - Booklist

"Unfailingly sharp, good-humored, and offbeat: sure to please Celtophiles of every greenish hue." - Kirkus Reviews

"Fans of Bill Bryson will enjoy reading McCarthy's droll narrative of his rediscovery of his family's roots in Ireland." - Library Journal

"McCarthy's Bar is as far removed from the staid, traditional travel guide as one likely could get and still learn where to go, what to see, how much it might cost and what to expect." - San Antonio Express News

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

  • PublisherHodder & Stoughton
  • Publication date2001
  • ISBN 10 0340766050
  • ISBN 13 9780340766057
  • BindingPaperback
  • Number of pages384
  • Rating

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9780312311339: McCarthy's Bar: A Journey of Discovery In Ireland

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  ISBN 13:  9780312311339
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin, 2003
Softcover

  • 9780312272104: McCarthy's Bar: A Journey of Discovery In Ireland

    Thomas..., 2001
    Hardcover

  • 9780340766040: McCarthy's Bar: a Journey of Discovery in the West of Ireland

    St. Ma..., 2000
    Hardcover

  • 9780340829868: McCarthy's Bar: A Journey of Discovery in Ireland

    Hodder..., 2001
    Softcover

  • 9780754092124: McCarthy's Bar: A Journey of Discovery in Ireland (Paragon Softcover Large Print Books)

    Chiver..., 2003
    Softcover

Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace

Seller Image

McCarthy, Pete
Published by Hodder & Stoughton (2001)
ISBN 10: 0340766050 ISBN 13: 9780340766057
New Softcover Quantity: 5
Seller:
GreatBookPrices
(Columbia, MD, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 1400076-n

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 13.15
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 2.64
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Seller Image

Pete Mccarthy
Published by Hodder & Stoughton, London (2001)
ISBN 10: 0340766050 ISBN 13: 9780340766057
New Paperback Quantity: 1
Seller:
Grand Eagle Retail
(Wilmington, DE, U.S.A.)

Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. Pete McCarthy's tale of his hilarious trip around Ireland has gained thousands of fans all over the world. Pete was born in Warrington to an Irish mother and an English father and spent happy summer holidays in Cork. Years later, reflecting on the many places he has visited as a travel broadcaster, Pete admits that he feels more at home in Ireland than anywhere. To find out whether this is due to rose-coloured spectacles or to a deeper tie with the country of his ancestors, Pete sets off on a trip around Ireland and discovers that it has changed in surprising ways. Firstly obeying the rule 'never pass a pub with your name on it', he encounters McCarthy's bars up and down the land, and meets English hippies, German musicians, married priests and many others. A funny, affectionate look at one of the most popular countries in the world. Number One in Ireland!Number Two in Australia!Number Ten in Britain! Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780340766057

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 18.00
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Pete McCarthy
ISBN 10: 0340766050 ISBN 13: 9780340766057
New paperback Quantity: > 20
Seller:
Blackwell's
(Oxford, OX, United Kingdom)

Book Description paperback. Condition: New. Language: ENG. Seller Inventory # 9780340766057

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 14.28
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 5.68
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Mccarthy, Pete
Published by Sceptre (2001)
ISBN 10: 0340766050 ISBN 13: 9780340766057
New Softcover Quantity: > 20
Seller:
Brook Bookstore
(Milano, MI, Italy)

Book Description Condition: new. Seller Inventory # 6c62e8c254b034af0ce9548de2efef4a

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 15.54
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 8.65
From Italy to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

McCarthy, Pete
Published by Hodder & Stoughton (2001)
ISBN 10: 0340766050 ISBN 13: 9780340766057
New Paperback Quantity: 1
Seller:
GoldenWavesOfBooks
(Fayetteville, TX, U.S.A.)

Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. New. Fast Shipping and good customer service. Seller Inventory # Holz_New_0340766050

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 21.09
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 4.00
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Pete McCarthy
Published by Sceptre Lir (2001)
ISBN 10: 0340766050 ISBN 13: 9780340766057
New Paperback Quantity: 10
Seller:
Monster Bookshop
(Fleckney, United Kingdom)

Book Description Paperback. Condition: New. BRAND NEW ** SUPER FAST SHIPPING FROM UK WAREHOUSE ** 30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. Seller Inventory # 9780340766057-GDR

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 13.94
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 11.34
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Pete McCarthy
Published by Hodder & Stoughton Ltd (2001)
ISBN 10: 0340766050 ISBN 13: 9780340766057
New Paperback Quantity: 2
Seller:
Revaluation Books
(Exeter, United Kingdom)

Book Description Paperback. Condition: Brand New. 384 pages. 7.76x5.08x0.98 inches. In Stock. Seller Inventory # __0340766050

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 13.70
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 12.62
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

McCarthy, Pete
Published by Hodder & Stoughton (2001)
ISBN 10: 0340766050 ISBN 13: 9780340766057
New Softcover Quantity: 16
Seller:
Ria Christie Collections
(Uxbridge, United Kingdom)

Book Description Condition: New. In. Seller Inventory # ria9780340766057_new

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 15.58
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 12.59
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

McCarthy, Pete
Published by Hodder & Stoughton (2001)
ISBN 10: 0340766050 ISBN 13: 9780340766057
New Paperback Quantity: 1
Seller:
GoldBooks
(Austin, TX, U.S.A.)

Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. New Copy. Customer Service Guaranteed. Seller Inventory # think0340766050

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 26.75
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 4.25
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Pete Mccarthy
Published by Sceptre 2001-03-15 (2001)
ISBN 10: 0340766050 ISBN 13: 9780340766057
New Paperback Quantity: > 20
Seller:
Chiron Media
(Wallingford, United Kingdom)

Book Description Paperback. Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 6666-HCE-9780340766057

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 13.50
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 18.91
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

There are more copies of this book

View all search results for this book