McCarthy, the son of an English father and an Irish mother, makes a significant decision.

He decides to embark on a journey to Ireland with the intention of searching out his roots.

During this process, he also resolves to visit all the McCarthy's Bars that he comes across during his trip.

McCarthy has been described as "an Irish Bill Bryson", and this description is indeed apt.

His adventures are filled with great fun as he explores Ireland and discovers the various McCarthy's Bars.

It is a journey that not only allows him to connect with his heritage but also provides him with numerous memorable experiences.

This account of McCarthy's travels is highly recommended for those who enjoy reading about cultural exploration and adventure.

It offers a unique perspective on Ireland and its pubs, making it an engaging and entertaining read.

This is one of those captivating travel books that has the power to inspire wanderlust within you even before you've reached the halfway mark. In this particular case, the destination is Ireland.

McCarthy, a British television personality with Irish roots, embarks on a journey back to Ireland to uncover his ancestral heritage. He adheres to a set of Rules of Travel, one of which is

Never pass a bar with your name on it.

And true to his word, he never does. As you read, you can't help but wish you were there with him, sharing in the pints of Guinness he enjoys. All in a spirit of pure investigation, of course.

During his travels, McCarthy makes a series of interesting discoveries. He stumbles upon the gravestones of the children of Lir, climbs Craigh Patrick, undertakes a religious pilgrimage, and indulges in a mouthwatering gourmet meal in an ex-convent. However, he is rather stingy and doesn't provide directions to this culinary gem.

He also wrote a sequel titled "The Road to McCarthy," referring to McCarthy, Alaska. That's how I initially came across his books.

Another related book worth mentioning is "Round Ireland with a Fridge" by Tony Hawkes. When he takes the fridge surfing... Well, you might not believe me, but I encourage you to read it for yourself. Just a word of advice: it's probably best not to read it when your bladder is full.

These travel books offer unique perspectives and adventures that are sure to transport you to different corners of the world and leave you longing for your own travel experiences.

This book has been sitting on my shelf gathering dust for a very long time. So, I finally decided to give it a try.

It turned out to be quite okay. It's amusing and in some places, it's laugh-out-loud funny. McCarthy takes us on what seems like a random journey around parts of Ireland in the early 2000s. His main goal is to drink in all the bars named McCarthy. Along the way, he meets some really eccentric characters who are the backbone of the book. It's the nosy, blunt-speaking B&B landladies and the guileless wanna-be-Irish Americans that kept me engaged. For example, an American lady seriously asks if County Mayo is named after the sauce!

However, my interest started to wane towards the end of the book. I found myself looking forward to the end of the pub crawl. But at least now, I have an empty space on my bookshelf.

\\"Never Pass a Bar That Has Your Name On it, the eighth rule of travel, offers an interesting perspective. If your name is McCarthy and you're traversing the west of Ireland, it can be a particularly rewarding experience. As Pete meanders from Cork to Donegal, he stumbles upon numerous McCarthy's bars. In these establishments, he engages with colorful, friendly, and funny people, delving into his complex Irish-Anglo identity. However, by four o'clock in the morning, he's pleading to be let out.

Written by someone who straddles the line between insider and outsider, McCarthy's Bar presents a vivid and affectionate portrayal of a country in rapid transformation. At the start, it's humorous, with its exploration of the Irish character and landscape. But after 250 pages, it begins to feel repetitive, with only the location changing. I found myself not enjoying it as much. I was reading more out of a sense of obligation, following the rule that you must always finish a book. Eventually, I decided to break that rule and cut my losses.

A brilliant recount of a place that might be any place in Europe,

where the ghosts of nationalism and Christianity still linger strong.

It initially presents a captivating picture, drawing the reader in with its vivid descriptions and the air of mystery that shrouds the location.

However, on a second read, much of the charm seems to fade away.

It's quite sad to see that the allure that was so prominent at the beginning diminishes.

Moreover, at least after page 100, there is a severe drop in readability.

The narrative becomes less engaging, and the flow that was once so smooth is disrupted.

Perhaps it's due to the overemphasis on certain aspects or the lack of a fresh perspective as the story progresses.

Nonetheless, it serves as a reminder that even the most promising of works can sometimes lose their shine upon closer inspection.

Well, reading this really gets me in the mood for my next trip to Ireland!

I don't think I would have a great deal of fun visiting pubs that share my last name. However, I thoroughly enjoyed McCarthy's stories as he toured the Emerald Isle. It is so strange to read about traveling in the days before smartphones. His writing reminded me of Bill Bryson, yet I'm not a huge nonfiction or memoir reader, so I don't have a great deal to compare it to.

I did smile a lot while reading though. Much of the book felt familiar to me as I recalled my own trips to Ireland. I don't pick up hitchhikers though! It's interesting to see how McCarthy's experiences in Ireland differed from mine. His descriptions of the landscapes, the people, and the pubs really brought the country to life for me. I can't wait to go back and create my own memories in Ireland, just like McCarthy did.

Pete McCarthy has cheerfully accompanied me on a tour of Ireland for the past 4 months, starting from before going on vacation until two months after returning. He has been a not-too-demanding companion, almost always fun and sometimes a bit mournful, like all travelers.

The author of this book, who is charming, irreverent, and a bit of a joker, tells us about the land of his ancestors with a road trip on board a "rocket" that he affectionately calls a tractor. McCarthy searches for his roots with lightness and irony. The book is a bit outdated, it's from 2000, but it still describes well the characteristic features of the green island.

The style, a bit like Bill Bryson's, gives that extra spark that always pays off in a travel book. Recommended for those who are planning a trip or for those who have just returned.

McCarthy is a rather lonely and somewhat sad British man. His distaste for Americans is palpable, which actually made me roll my eyes a few times during the narrative. However, despite this, his account of his solo travels across Ireland is solidly humorous.

He embarked on a journey that took him to tiny towns that are often overlooked and also to the well-known tourist traps. Along the way, he indulged in drinking impressive quantities of stout.

Overall, through his vivid descriptions and humorous anecdotes, he provides the reader with a wonderful feel for what it might be like to explore Ireland and interact with its people. It's as if the reader is right there with him, experiencing the beauty and charm of Ireland, as well as the idiosyncrasies and personalities of its inhabitants.

His writing style is engaging and entertaining, making it a pleasure to follow his adventures and gain a deeper understanding of this beautiful country.

This book was an absolute delight. I had very limited knowledge about Ireland, only knowing that it was a green and beautiful place, associated with plenty of drinking and friendly individuals. So, it was truly fascinating to learn a bit more about it and get a vivid picture of what the people, culture, and land are like.

The premise of the book is that the author, Pete McCarthy, has a rule never to pass a pub with his name on it: Pete's, P. McCarthy's, McCarthy's, and so on. As a result, he spends a significant amount of time in pubs throughout the book, meeting interesting and often eccentric characters.

I really enjoyed the book and read it at a fairly steady pace. However, when I reached the chapter on Croagh Patrick, I hit a wall. It was as if I had been traveling with the author and had grown tired of his company. I took a break for about a week and finally finished the rest of the book. I didn't love the last few chapters as much. Maybe they were just too similar to the previous ones. The chapter on St Patrick's Purgatory was also my least favorite. Perhaps the problem was that the author, who was clearly not religious, was trying to talk about religion. I'm not sure.

I also got a bit tired of his somewhat deprecating view of tourists. Given that he was from England and thus, by definition, a tourist himself, and considering that tourism has been a major contributor to Ireland's prosperity, it seemed a bit off. After reading the book, I actually feel more inclined to visit Ireland than before, but at the same time, I'm going to feel guilty for being so "touristy" if I do.

Overall, the book is definitely worth a read. I laughed out loud many times and learned a great deal. However, I wouldn't blame you if you decided to stop a few chapters before the end.

The appearance of this book brought it to us, and I have been browsing it ever since. At that time, we wanted to travel to Ireland, but it didn't happen, and the book also took a backseat.

That it will be funny and entertaining, that was already indicated by the drinking nun on the cover for me. Sometimes it was really like a cabaret, and there were moments when I laughed out loud easily. But in the end, when I think back, most of the jokes are related to 1. atrocities committed during drunkenness and carousing, 2. people's external appearance, 3. people's religion, 4. people's national affiliation - and this makes one feel a bit tense afterwards...

It either makes one want to visit Ireland or not. It goes to a lot of places and tells about things that I would most like to teleport myself to for a while, but many details rather repel than attract. Moreover, all kinds of carousing programs leave one absolutely cold. Well, I would drink a few beers during a one-day trip, but not every day! The amount of beer (and other liquid "food") that flows down Pete's and his friends', acquaintances', and relatives' throats here could fill a small swimming pool. The book also mentions the debate about whether the English or the Irish drink more, and I think they can't throw anything at each other.

Many years ago, my husband had a check-up. The doctor asked him about everything, including whether he consumed alcohol. He said, yes, from time to time. But how much?, the doctor insisted. Well, now that it's summer, I do drink a glass of beer. How often? Every day. Every day??!! Then you're an alcoholic! Whoever drinks every day is an alcoholic! But just one glass... Still! This is already alcoholism!

I'm curious what the doctor would say about this book, where they start the day with beer in the morning and also make sure during the day that the alcohol level meter doesn't go down... In the evening, they drink until they can no longer distinguish their front legs from their back legs. Although actually it doesn't matter if the person staggers home on all fours anyway.

3.5/5 stars

I truly relished this remarkable journey that traversed numerous regions of Ireland. Some of these places I had already visited, while others were entirely new to me. The author's pursuit to fathom why he feels such a profound sense of home in Ireland was captivating.

I thoroughly enjoyed the tales of his family and friends, as well as his childhood summers spent in Cork. The accounts of the strange and random individuals he knew who had later settled in Ireland added an element of intrigue.

His excursions to peculiar places via circuitous routes and the numerous immigrants to Ireland he encountered along the way were also fascinating. Moreover, I was charmed by the travel rules and his dry sense of humor.

However, there were times when I did not appreciate the language employed, especially certain words beginning with "f" and "c". Additionally, I was astounded by his unwavering devotion to intoxicating substances and Singapore noodles.

Overall, despite these minor drawbacks, this book offered a rich and engaging exploration of Ireland and the author's personal connection to it.

I was in Ireland for three glorious weeks, and during that time, I had the pleasure of reading this remarkable book.

It was truly a treasure trove of information, offering a wealth of insights into the country, its rich and diverse history, and the current state of tourism there.

Not only was it highly educational, but it was also an absolute delight to read. The author's engaging writing style and sense of humor had me laughing out loud on numerous occasions.

It was the perfect companion for my travels, enhancing my understanding and appreciation of Ireland even further.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone planning a trip to Ireland or simply interested in learning more about this fascinating country.

It's a must-read that combines entertainment and education in the most wonderful way.