Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Sceptre (2000), Edition: New Ed, 384 pages
Description
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.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member pjsullivan
This bloke is more cynical than I am, but he makes it work. Very funny book, hilarious at times. A solitary traveler’s eye view of modern Ireland, spoiled by modernity and money. Makes me grateful that I once had a chance to experience “a touch of De Valera’s Ireland” before it became
He would be a gifted people watcher but for his tendency to imagine the worst. He is fair to the Irish. After all, he is half Irish himself. He has mixed emotions about tourists, especially the “heritage” crowd, touring Yanks, “high on life and diet Coke.” He takes a dim view of the Christian Brothers, but has reasons: “I was taught by the Christian Brothers by the carrot and stick method of education, but without the carrot.”
Everywhere in Ireland he sees “fake pubs and theme parks” and regrets the good old days when the whole country was a Folk Park, “but no one had thought to sell tickets.” He wonders where he belongs. Is Ireland Irish anymore? Has it sold its soul to the tourist bonanza? Has it become a parody of itself?
A vivid and rather grotesque picture of modern Ireland. Worth the cover price—it could even save you the cost of a holiday in Ireland. Very entertaining read.
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“the Celtic Tiger.” He would be a gifted people watcher but for his tendency to imagine the worst. He is fair to the Irish. After all, he is half Irish himself. He has mixed emotions about tourists, especially the “heritage” crowd, touring Yanks, “high on life and diet Coke.” He takes a dim view of the Christian Brothers, but has reasons: “I was taught by the Christian Brothers by the carrot and stick method of education, but without the carrot.”
Everywhere in Ireland he sees “fake pubs and theme parks” and regrets the good old days when the whole country was a Folk Park, “but no one had thought to sell tickets.” He wonders where he belongs. Is Ireland Irish anymore? Has it sold its soul to the tourist bonanza? Has it become a parody of itself?
A vivid and rather grotesque picture of modern Ireland. Worth the cover price—it could even save you the cost of a holiday in Ireland. Very entertaining read.
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LibraryThing member justine28
I started reading “McCarthy’s Bar” months ago and unfortunately didn’t like it from the first page. In the end, after couple of months trying to give it another chance, I finally decided to give up and didn’t finish the book, which I hardly ever do. My biggest issue was probably pure
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disappointment with the book. I was expecting a lively and funny book that will do Ireland and its people justice. Unfortunately this wasn’t the case and throughout the approx. 150 pages I did manage to read, I’ve found the book boring and not so funny and the author very arrogant, pompous and simply repeating stereotypes while not being able to enjoy or understand Ireland. I’ve lived in Ireland (both Dublin and Cork where author was travelling) for 8 years and maybe this is the reason I did not like the book at all and thought it truly wasn’t a good representation of the country. I believe there are a lot of Irish authors out there more worthy of reading that would truly show the soul of Ireland, the good and the bad. Show Less
LibraryThing member deargreenplace
I'm reading this for the first time at the moment, probably several years behind everyone else. Almost finished now, and yes it's pretty funny, but I have my suspicions that some of the anecdotes have been somewhat embellished for comedy value. For instance, the part where an American tourist asks
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if the name for tuna mayo comes from County Mayo seems far-fetched to me. Given that the majority of Americans are reputed to not even have a passport, it's a bit insulting to imply that those who choose to travel would display the levels of gormlessness that McCarthy describes. Show Less
LibraryThing member gogglemiss
This was a really funny book, with McCarthy travelling around Ireland, discovering his roots, and staying in oddball B and B's, the loonier the better. The cars he used for getting around, had a personality of their own, and the rich assortment of characters he encountered were a delight. Apart
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from being entertaining. it was insightful and interesting on the Irish way of life. Show Less
LibraryThing member beserene
I ended up really enjoying this light travel memoir. McCarthy, as has been said, is reminiscent of Bill Bryson and, though I don't think he has quite achieved Bryson's panache, he does a fine job with Ireland, a country I am attached to in a big way.
There are a lot of chuckles to be had here. There
The only real disadvantage to this particular volume is that it is showing its age. Written nine years ago, this book is now participating in the "Ireland that has been" construction -- Ireland has changed so rapidly in the last decade that much of what is here in the book would no longer be there or be true in Ireland.
A bit of age not withstanding, this is a fun and funny read for anyone who has been to Ireland, has dreamed of being in Ireland, or has found themselves issuing the words "well, actually, I'm Irish myself" on more than one occasion. Worth the time.
There are a lot of chuckles to be had here. There
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is also some blushing involved -- McCarthy is English (or, Irish-English, if one wants to be ironic about it) and has a very dry perspective on the fat Americans who invade Ireland in a loud and intolerant way at all times of the year. Being a fat American myself, there were moments during the reading of this book when I hung my head in shame. There were also moments where I gritted my teeth and made a mental note to send Pete McCarthy a stern word (like "xenophobia"). Not all of his portraits are flattering and some aren't even accurate (though most are), but this is the advantage of writing travel memoir rather than travel guides -- one doesn't have to be nice.The only real disadvantage to this particular volume is that it is showing its age. Written nine years ago, this book is now participating in the "Ireland that has been" construction -- Ireland has changed so rapidly in the last decade that much of what is here in the book would no longer be there or be true in Ireland.
A bit of age not withstanding, this is a fun and funny read for anyone who has been to Ireland, has dreamed of being in Ireland, or has found themselves issuing the words "well, actually, I'm Irish myself" on more than one occasion. Worth the time.
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LibraryThing member debnance
McCarthy, son of an English father and and Irish mom, decides to travel to Ireland to search out his roots. In the process, he also decides to visit all the McCarthy's Bars he runs across during his trip. McCarthy has been described as "an Irish Bill Bryson" and this description is apt. Great fun.
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Recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member MarkKeeffe
Absolutely hilarious. I laughed so much tears were running down my cheeks.
LibraryThing member mazda502001
I loved this book - it was laughing-out-loud funny and a really good travel book about Ireland. It's observant, thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable.
Back Cover Blurb:
Never Pass a Bar That Has Your Name On It, says the eighth rule of travel: a very rewarding rule if your name is McCarthy and
Back Cover Blurb:
Never Pass a Bar That Has Your Name On It, says the eighth rule of travel: a very rewarding rule if your name is McCarthy and
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you're wandering through the west of Ireland. As he meanders from Cork to Donegal, Pete encounters many McCarthy's bars in which he explores his confused Irish-Anglo identity with colourful, friendly and funny people, before pleading to be let out at four o'clock in the morning. This book is a vivid and affectionate portrait of a rapidly changing country. Show Less
LibraryThing member richardgarside
Fun, amusing and sometimes absolutely hilarious. Remeniscent of everything we ever thought about rural Ireland
LibraryThing member rocketjk
Hugely entertaining memoir of the author's travels in Ireland. Funny and revealing.
LibraryThing member tonidew
The late Pete McCarthy at the top of his game recounting a trip around Ireland. Thoughtful, educational and very, very funny.
LibraryThing member SimonW11
very enjoyable. For those that dont know Peter McCarthy spends the book wandering through Ireland looking for his roots fortunately for us readers he is accompanied by his very english sense of humour.I believe truly funny books are invariably well written. This book is my witness.
LibraryThing member Hernibs
Different type of travel guide! A hoot! Absolutely hilarious! Loved it
LibraryThing member MiaCulpa
McCarthy takes a gentle stroll around Ireland, drinking loads of Guinness, eating the odd chowder and meeting many a stereotypical Irishmen and women.
He also writes of his own Irish background and whether he is Irish. Participation in a near-flagellant religious gathering raises eyebrows but
After "McCarthy's Bar" and its sequel "Road to McCarthy", I was looking forward to more from McCarthy so I was saddened to hear of his early death...
He also writes of his own Irish background and whether he is Irish. Participation in a near-flagellant religious gathering raises eyebrows but
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otherwise this is an at-times extremely funny travelogue around Ireland. If only my own trip through Ireland a few years back was so entertaining.After "McCarthy's Bar" and its sequel "Road to McCarthy", I was looking forward to more from McCarthy so I was saddened to hear of his early death...
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LibraryThing member Othemts
I didn't plan to read so many books about Ireland at once but it's fascinating how they all compliment one another. This one follows English writer Pete McCarthy -- son of an Irish mother -- as he travels through the west of Ireland trying to discover why he feels such a connection to Ireland and
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Irishness. At least that's the philosophical justification, but most of the book is a romp, and a hilarious one at that. McCarthy has several rules of travel, one being never to pass a bar with your name on it. So he spends several drunken nights in McCarthy's Bars across Ireland meeting eccentric Irish people and participating in outlandish events. Many of the stories are hard to believe, but I was laughing to hard to think too much on their verity. The book ends with a pilgrimage to Lough Derg where floods of Irish penitents deprive themselves of sleep and food for a three-day vigil of prayer. It's a fascinating description of a very modern continuation of a medieval tradition, and certainly not something one finds in your typical travel book. Show Less
LibraryThing member cfk
Combine a yearning to belong, a jaundiced view of modernization in a sometimes philosophical travelogue and you have McCarthy's Bar. His one rule of travel is 'never pass up a bar with your name on it.' In truth, I don't think he passed up any bars apart from those which were just too touristy for
McCarthy does include a healthy dose of standing stones, cemeteries and other sacred, historical spots, including a three-day pilgrimage at St. Patrick's Purgatory. For me personally, the best way to ready this in small bits at a time, otherwise the bars became too much.
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his taste.McCarthy does include a healthy dose of standing stones, cemeteries and other sacred, historical spots, including a three-day pilgrimage at St. Patrick's Purgatory. For me personally, the best way to ready this in small bits at a time, otherwise the bars became too much.
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LibraryThing member Thomas_Watson
McCarthy's Bar is a voyage of discovery that is by turns humorous and thoughtful. The author explores Ireland, the land of his mother's childhood, trying to find justify his on again, off again desire to identify with the place as an Irishman, not an Englishman - the land of HIS childhood. Along
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the way he confronts the changes reshaping the Ireland he remembers from childhood visits, usually with tongue-in-cheek humor, but often with commentary that might seem meant for a laugh, but in reality is darkly humorous at best. Following his journey was enjoyable, even though the way he characatures the people he meets along the way verges on mean spirited, at time. That he finds no easy answers in his question for identity is the aspect of the book that most rings true. Show Less
LibraryThing member varielle
This is Pete McCarthy's travelogue and spiritual quest for his roots in Ireland. His observations are wry and telling. His misadventures with old Volvos, German tourists and Irish cows will have you laughing. You don't have to be Irish to enjoy, but everyone is a little bit Irish.
LibraryThing member John_Warner
This Englishman returns to his mother's homeland exploring Ireland from Cork, west to the coast and north to Donegal and buying a pint of Guinness in every pub bearing his last name, which are many. The author did a good job in presenting the friendliness of the Irish.
LibraryThing member 3argonauta
If there is one book that I'm taking to the grave with me, this is it. Read more times than i can count. Hilarious and heartwarming. Wish the author was still with us.
LibraryThing member mahallett
not very funny or interesting. he kept talking about places and it was hard to know where he was. was he drunk?
LibraryThing member Tony2704
Hilarious in places, a very good, well written read
LibraryThing member cbertz
Written like a true would-be Irishman, McCarthy's Bar is an witty funny tale of the Englishman's travels throughout Ireland in search of his namessake's bar. Highly recommend to anyone who loves all things Irish.
LibraryThing member brittaniethekid
This was a wildly entertaining book. A lot of people here have complained that McCarthy is "too English" for this to be a good book about Ireland but I think that's why I enjoyed it so much. I'm not Irish (unless you count ancestry like just about everyone else in America does) so this is a witty,
I enjoyed the fact that, while McCarthy does take some undue cracks at Ireland and her people, he takes just as many cracks at himself and his own world view. This is an experienced traveler who isn't writing a travel novel, but is just talking to the reader as he goes on his own adventure. I like that he's not talking at you but to you through this, as if you're there with him. It made this book so much more enjoyable than the more academic travel books I've read before.
I would recommend this to anyone with a sense of humour and an interest in Ireland, even if to just expand their world view.
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charming look at Ireland from an outsider's point of view. Sure he has immediate family there and had been over the sea many times, but it still felt like this was the first journey and I could use this to help map out my own visit to Ireland. Who wants to see the same cities and things every other tourist does when you could take something like this book along and see a more behind-the-scenes Ireland. I enjoyed the fact that, while McCarthy does take some undue cracks at Ireland and her people, he takes just as many cracks at himself and his own world view. This is an experienced traveler who isn't writing a travel novel, but is just talking to the reader as he goes on his own adventure. I like that he's not talking at you but to you through this, as if you're there with him. It made this book so much more enjoyable than the more academic travel books I've read before.
I would recommend this to anyone with a sense of humour and an interest in Ireland, even if to just expand their world view.
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Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2000
Physical description
384 p.; 5.12 inches
ISBN
0340766050 / 9780340766057