Just one of McCarthy's travel rules was "never pass a bar that has your name on it".

The author, who was raised in England, visited his Mother's homeland, Ireland, each year. As an adult, he felt more Irish than English. So, he embarked on a journey through Ireland, hoping to validate his "Irishness".

The book that chronicles this adventure has some truly laugh-out-loud moments. It offers wonderful insights into the Irish people, their culture, and their way of life. However, it also has its drawbacks. At times, it goes on for too long about the mundane details of the author's travels.

Despite this, the book is still an enjoyable read. It gives readers a taste of Ireland and a sense of what it means to be Irish. It is a must-read for anyone who has an interest in Ireland or in travel writing.

An older book can often hold a wealth of charm and interest. This particular one is no exception. It offers a fascinating look at Ireland from around the year 2000.

As you turn the pages, you are transported back in time to that era. You can envision the landscapes, the cities, and the people as they were then.

The author's detailed descriptions bring Ireland to life. You learn about its culture, traditions, and history. You also get a sense of the country's development and progress during that time.

Despite being an older book, it remains relevant and engaging. It provides valuable insights into Ireland's past and helps us understand how the country has evolved.

Whether you have a particular interest in Ireland or simply enjoy reading about different places and times, this book is well worth a read. It will surely leave you with a deeper appreciation for the Emerald Isle.

I read this book in anticipation of my upcoming trip to Ireland.

From a travel memoir point of view, I truly relished it.

My actual rating might be around a 3.5.

Certainly, I would recommend it.

However, there are a few points to take note of.

This book was penned in 2000, and some of the observations are undeniably outdated, both culturally and politically.

Moreover, the author, being British, is frankly not overly fond of Americans.

He also exhibits extreme fat phobia.

Nevertheless, if one can overlook a few inappropriate remarks here and there, this book offers a really charming perspective into the countryside of Ireland and what makes travel genuine.

It provides valuable insights and descriptions that can enhance one's understanding and appreciation of the Irish landscape and its unique allure.

Despite its flaws, it still manages to capture the essence of travel and the beauty of exploration.

So, if you're planning a trip to Ireland and are looking for a travel memoir that offers a different take on the country, this book could be a worthwhile read.

Just be prepared to look beyond the author's biases and outdated views.

This piece was written approximately 20 years ago.

It makes use of numerous terms that are specific to British or Irish culture, which unfortunately made it less engaging for me.

Nevertheless, the author does possess keen observation skills and combines them with a certain wit.

As a result, I found myself chuckling and smiling on several occasions, although it wasn't the kind of hilarious laugh-out-loud experience that some blurbs had described.

There was also a bit of history incorporated into the text, but truth be told, I craved more of that.

The author's reflections, while perhaps interesting to some, didn't really resonate with me in any particularly unusual or profound way.

Overall, it was an okay read, but it didn't quite manage to fully capture my attention or leave a lasting impression.

Good craic.

The author presents a question that is not exclusive to Ireland but is rather prevalent among those who have heritage connections to the island. The query is: Can one truly belong to a place where they are merely a visitor?

In the pursuit of the answer, the author's journeys and musings prove to be highly entertaining. What really steals the show for me, however, are the characters he encounters along the way. Each character adds a unique flavor and depth to the narrative, making it all the more engaging.

The author's exploration of this concept of belonging takes the reader on a captivating adventure, filled with interesting anecdotes and thought-provoking insights. It makes one wonder about their own sense of belonging and how it relates to the places they visit or have a connection with.

Overall, this piece offers an enjoyable read that not only entertains but also makes the reader reflect on their own relationship with different places and the people they meet within them.

I entered into the world of this book completely devoid of any preconceived notions. I had never even heard of it before, nor had anyone recommended it to me. However, McCarthy's Bar has unexpectedly emerged as one of those truly life-altering, or perhaps life-affirming reads that come along only a precious few times in a person's life.

Pete McCarthy's writing is filled with such a delightful blend of humor, wit, and emotion. Even though he himself questioned his Irish identity throughout the length of the book, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he was Irish to the very core.

This book is a unique combination of a travelogue, an introspective autobiography, an exploration of human nature, and a gastronomical obsession. Without the slightest hesitation, I must say that the moment I finished reading it, I immediately went out in search of Singapore noodles.

While reading this book, don't plan on doing anything else. Don't allow a plethora of other distractions to pull you away. Instead, immerse yourself fully in the vivid colors, the enticing smells, the engaging conversations, and the beautiful visions that he shares. Because, in truth, they are truly exquisite.

I do not make this statement lightly. Out of all the books I have ever read, I am most deeply upset about discovering that Pete McCarthy has passed away. I so wanted to get to know this man. To write to him, to have a conversation with him, and to tell him just how hard he made me laugh and how I am still crying.

McCarthy, you Irish bastard. You broke my heart and yet, at the same time, you gave me hope.

So you’ve spent a long day driving through the scenic west of Ireland. You’ve had to deal with wide tour buses on narrow roads and constantly remind yourself to stay left, stay left! Finally, you pop into a local pub. The fellow next to you, who is half English and half Irish, starts sharing the hilarious and riveting stories of his own adventures traveling the length of Ireland. Oh, and his name is McCarthy, just like the pub.

It’s time to order a pint and prepare for a long, thoroughly enjoyable evening. Pete McCarthy provides sharp-edge commentary, such as “pouting pink lip gloss and Dusty Springfield mascara, which appears to have been applied with a table tennis bat.” He also includes descriptive passages that perfectly match the stunning coastal Irish landscape.

Here’s his description of the Beara Peninsula: “Sheep are attached to unlikely precipices as if by Velcro. Radiant shafts of sunlight piece the dark bruise of cloud cover and hit the water with a metallic flash as if to prove there is a Creator and his taste is for random and terrifying beauty.”

McCarthy searches for pubs named after him during his travels. Sometimes this proves unreliable and disappointing. But more often, he is rewarded with instant honorary family memberships, like when he crashes a McCarthy birthday party with perfect strangers and it lasts all night.

He plays with his mixed English-Irish heritage, allowing him to both embrace and criticize both national backgrounds. On a visit to a former English hippy enclave in Ireland, he writes about a friend: “… he doesn’t look like part of some English subculture anymore, but what he’s become: an old-style countryman, doing his best to raise his family, make ends meet, and have a good time, on a wild patch of Irish ground.”

McCarthy effortlessly captures the unguarded lilt and wonder of Irish speech. For example, here’s a woman’s tea-time account of a neighbor with sketchy sons: “And a few weeks later didn’t his brother fall off a balcony in the Canary Islands and kill himself? It’s the poor parents I feel sorry for, and her with brittle bones. Will ya have milk and sugar?”

Another theme in McCarthy’s writing is the constant tension between the older, ostensibly authentic Ireland and the new Celtic Tiger. The new Ireland comes with the baggage of leprechaun and Gaelic kitsch, slap-dash developments, and ever-greater tourism pressures. (McCarthy’s Bar was written during the country’s boom time, a bubble that later burst, leaving a wake of human and economic wreckage from which the country is only now recovering.)

Tourists, often but not always Americans, are an easy target. But McCarthy is so funny and so unsparing of his own people that you can’t help but sit back, order another pint, and say, “Tell me more.”

At the end, McCarthy makes the difficult pilgrimage to Lough Derg, a reputed sanctuary of St. Patrick and a Christian retreat since the 5th century. He endures three days of sleep deprivation, battered knees, and meditation. Later, he encounters Noel Redmond, formerly of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, and parties and makes music throughout the night. Both encounters seem to encapsulate McCarthy’s embrace of every possible aspect of the Irish experience.

Cheers!, or Slainte!.

Every author requires inspiration, and Pete McCarthy served as a great source of inspiration for me.

McCarthy's Bar is an incredibly gentle and humorous book that captivates the reader from the very first page. It chronicles his travels along the west coast of Ireland, not only reminding those who have been there of the wonderful journey it is but also enticing those who haven't to reach for their travel brochures.

Pete was a highly successful travel writer and broadcaster. He traveled the world with a programme called Travelog on Channel 4. He cherished his time there and once said, "We traveled to Zanzibar and China, Fiji and Corsica, Costa Rica and Laos; stood on the edge of volcanoes, had lunch with heroes of the Crete resistance, and got caught up in a military coup in Vanuatu." This statement truly emphasizes his passion for travel, for getting to know other cultures and people, and for undergoing adventures. However, Ireland always had a special pull on him.

Pete had several travel rules. For example, Rule 8: Never pass a bar that has your name on it, and Rule 13: Never ask a British Airways hostess for another glass of wine until she's good and ready. These rules are presented at the start of the book, making it impossible for the reader not to want to continue reading.

Pete was planning to write a follow-up book about the fun side and the historical side of Northern Ireland (my part of the world). Sadly, Pete McCarthy passed away in October 2004 before he could complete this task.

I am deeply grateful to Pete for this remarkable book (and his second book The Road to McCarthy). It is truly inspirational.

Pete McCarthy's travel book is truly the very finest travel book I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

Now, it must be granted that I have an intense love for Ireland, almost as much as I cherish my ability to breathe. But there is so much more to this book than just my personal affection for the country.

This remarkable work places the reader firmly in the hands of a genial, curious, thoughtful, and downright hilarious guide as he traverses the byways of western Ireland.

McCarthy's voice became so vivid in my mind that I was both shocked and deeply saddened to discover that the dear man passed away from cancer in 2004, just a mere five years after his travels.

If you are seeking a reading experience that makes one glad to be alive, no matter how wincingly corny that may sound, then Pete McCarthy's "McCarthy's Bar" is most definitely for you.

Pete McCarthy is, and I resolutely refuse to say "was", a masterful writer whose work will continue to inspire and delight readers for years to come.

The story unfolds in a meandering manner, filled with numerous side notes.

However, I believe this is precisely the style of travel biographies.

Although McCarthy may not present a great deal of original thought or revelation, the writing is of high quality and engaging.

It is constantly amusing to listen to a tourist who is engaged in touristy activities complain about other tourists doing the exact same things.

This aspect adds an element of irony and humor to the narrative.

Overall, despite its lack of profound insights, the book manages to hold the reader's attention with its well-crafted prose and the entertaining perspective of the author.

It offers a light-hearted look at the world of travel and the idiosyncrasies of tourists, making it an enjoyable read for those interested in travel literature.

I usually find “self-discovery” books dull and pretentious. However, this 20-year-old book by the late comedian Pete McCarthy is an exception.

Despite being raised in England, he sets out to discover his Irish roots, which means he truly is Irish. The humour throughout his adventures is extremely witty. His observations of the Irish and their culture and behaviours are not only very accurate but also very, very funny.

No one is spared. Americans, Germans, and the English all receive appropriate roastings as well. Although a couple of passages have become dated over time, the book is still highly applicable today. This is probably why you can pick up the book all over Ireland as you yourself discover your own roots, whether they are real or imagined.

The book offers a unique and entertaining perspective on self-discovery and cultural exploration. It combines humour with insightful observations, making it a truly engaging read.

Overall, Pete McCarthy's book is a refreshing take on the often-tired genre of self-discovery books. It is a must-read for anyone interested in Ireland, its culture, or simply a good laugh.

I received this book as a kind of parting gift when I left the island of Ireland after spending a decade there.

Thank God, I still haven't really had the time to fully process that departure.

This book is truly fantastic.

The most remarkable thing about it is how incredibly hilarious the author is.

He has a unique talent for capturing the unusual, the absurd, and the beautiful, all in one go.

As I read through the pages, I found myself laughing out loud numerous times.

I really LOL'ed a great deal while reading this book.

However, I was extremely saddened to learn about the passing of the author.

Damn it! It's such a great shame.

His talent and humor will surely be missed by all those who had the pleasure of reading his work.

I'm so glad I have this book to remember him by.

It will always hold a special place in my heart.