This book has been an heirloom in my family home for as long as I can remember.

Coming from an English family with Irish roots, being a McCarthy, I'm certain there was a reason someone at home picked it up and read it one day.

It has been on my to-read list of books for many years now. Having traveled to Ireland a few times myself, I felt well-versed enough to read the book and truly appreciate it.

The book itself is an absolute pleasure to read. It is so, so, so funny! I found Pete's accounts and stories highly relatable to my own experiences, which made the book even better.

I have since purchased the next book by Pete, "The Road to McCarthy," and I can't wait to read it. Without a doubt, "McCarthy's Bar" is the funniest book I've ever read, and I'm extremely glad I did.

It has not only entertained me but also given me a deeper connection to my Irish heritage through Pete's engaging and humorous tales. I look forward to exploring more of Pete's works and continuing this literary journey.

I went to see my doctor today.

He examined me thoroughly and then informed me that I might have two cracked ribs and an issue with my lower back.

I told him that both my knees were painful, and my jaw also ached.

He inquired if I had been engaged in extreme sports such as boxing or if I had taken a nasty fall.

I told him that neither of these was the case.

Then I thought for a moment and told him, "But I have been reading McCarthy's Bar by Pete McCarthy.....and laughed 'til it hurt."

The doctor seemed a bit surprised by my response. I guess he wasn't expecting that kind of explanation. But it's the truth. That book was so funny that I couldn't stop laughing, and now I'm paying the price with all these aches and pains. I wonder if there's a connection between excessive laughter and physical discomfort. Maybe I should be more careful when reading humorous books in the future.

I absolutely adored this book. It was not only uproariously funny but also an outstanding travelogue about Ireland. It was highly observant, making one think deeply, and was thoroughly delightful to read.

The back cover blurb states, "Never Pass a Bar That Has Your Name On It," which is the eighth rule of travel. This rule proves to be extremely rewarding if your name is McCarthy and you find yourself wandering through the west of Ireland. As Pete meanders from Cork to Donegal, he comes across numerous McCarthy's bars. In these bars, he delves into his complex Irish-Anglo identity with colorful, friendly, and humorous individuals. Eventually, he pleads to be let out at four o'clock in the morning. This book presents a vivid and affectionate portrayal of a country that is changing rapidly.

It offers a unique perspective on Ireland, combining humor, personal exploration, and a keen eye for the country's transformation. It's a must-read for anyone interested in Ireland or simply looking for an entertaining and engaging travel book.

Not the best travelogue I’ve read on Ireland.

Mark McCrum’s The Craic is much better and owes less to Bill Bryson. However, this book has some entertaining moments and is engagingly written.

There is some smashing of stereotypes, like the Irish preferring pop music to diddly diddly, but others are reinforced, such as the Irish liking to go to the pub.

You can enjoy reading it while acknowledging that it’s nothing special.

The central premise of the book is ostensibly McCarthy’s search to discover whether his profound attraction to Ireland is genetic (through his Irish mother) or learned.

I didn’t find this convincing. He mentions his quest here and there, quite eloquently too, but he is rarely preoccupied by it.

He devotes far more space to making witty comments about rather unoriginal targets – the awful Irish weather, grotty Irish food, the exasperating Irish services industry, and of course loud and dim-witted tourists.

Some of the comments are witty, to be fair, and quite funny too, but it all got a bit tiresome after a while.

I was sorry to hear that Pete McCarthy died not long after the book was published.

Despite his insistence on providing every paragraph with a punchline, he comes over as a rather nice chap.

Pete McCarthy embarks on an exciting road trip across Ireland, driven by a desire to uncover his roots and find a meaningful connection to the land where he spent his summers growing up. At the time of his adventures, he resided in England, or Britain as some might call it, depending on one's perspective of the stoic nation.

McCarthy's vivid descriptions of Ireland's verdant countryside, numerous ancient ruins, and the local people are not only exquisitely beautiful and accurate but also often uproariously funny. No matter how dire or serious the situation may be, he always manages to find the humorous side, whether it's blatant or more subtle. His dry English sense of humor combines delightfully with his Irish forthrightness, creating a continuous stream of entertainment throughout the story.

McCarthy travels with a set of self-imposed rules. One of my favorites is, "Never pass a bar that has your name on it." The spelling of McCarthy doesn't matter; it's an obligation to share a pint with the owner and the customers. This rule leads him into some truly incredible situations, rarely resulting in lackluster disappointments.

His trusty but battered Volvo, affectionately dubbed "the tank," transports him along poorly marked roads, with unexpected consequences that highlight his spontaneous traveling style. He plans little and remains flexible, open to whatever the trip throws his way.

McCarthy's three-day stay at St. Patrick's Purgatory showcases his boundless wit even in extreme circumstances. He describes his enlightening visit in painstakingly interesting, thoughtful, and lighthearted detail. I'm certain I never want to go there myself, but McCarthy claims to have gained from the experience.

This was my first encounter with Pete McCarthy's work, and it left me eager to read more of this humorous and perceptive author. "McCarthy's Bar" has made me long to visit Ireland and experience its people, culture, and even its notoriously dreadful weather for myself.

This book meticulously documents McCarthy's meandering journey around Ireland in the year 2000. As he traverses the Irish countryside and interacts with its people, he finds himself deeply reflecting on his profound connection to this place. Is it the breathtakingly beautiful landscape that leaves an indelible mark on his soul? Or perhaps it is the warm and friendly nature of the Irish people that draws him in? Maybe it's the unique sense of time that seems to flow differently here. Or could it simply be his own romantic delusion?

Whatever the true nature of his connection may be, one thing is certain: this book has provided me with more laughter and entertainment than I've had in years. It's a delightful read that takes you on a whimsical adventure through Ireland, filled with charming anecdotes and humorous observations.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves travel, humor, and a good story. It's a literary gem that will transport you to the Emerald Isle and leave you with a smile on your face.

Pete McCarthy kicks off McCarthy’s Bar with the statement, “The Eighth Rule of Travel states: Never Pass a Bar That Has Your Name On It.” He wholeheartedly adheres to this advice as he meanders along the west coast of Ireland. For me, it was a surprisingly quick read. I discovered that the book is peppered with humor throughout, making it an overall enjoyable experience. However, I didn't find it to be hysterically funny as the numerous reviews on the back cover promised. In fact, I did come across some portions that were a bit dull, causing my eyes to glaze over. Fortunately, those sections weren't overly long.

I would have loved to see a map at the beginning. This is because I like to double-check the locations when the author mentions them. Additionally, a compiled list of McCarthy’s Rules of Travel would have been great, especially since he doesn't bring them up in order. But, these missing elements didn't really hinder my reading. As an American reader, I didn't struggle with McCarthy’s British and Irish colloquialisms, although a few took me a moment to figure out.

The part that struck a chord with me the most was McCarthy’s identity crisis, which cropped up intermittently throughout the book. McCarthy is both an insider and an outsider, being half English and half Irish but mainly living in England. McCarthy’s Bar is essentially his quest to figure out where he belongs and to validate his sense of Irishness. He ponders, “So what I’m wondering is this. Is it possible to have some kind of genetic memory of a place where you’ve never lived, but your ancestors have? Or am I just a sentimental fool, my judgement fuddled by nostalgia, Guinness, and the romance of the diaspora?”

While the book revolves around this central theme, McCarthy spends a significant amount of time drinking in pubs, attempting to drive in a straight line across Ireland, and griping about tourists spoiling the natural beauty of Ireland. He has a tendency to rely on negative stereotypes, and his almost constant drinking in the book meant that some sections were a bit hard to follow, but could be laughed off as a drunkard’s faulty memory. I didn't particularly enjoy the parts where McCarthy criticized tourists for ruining the ‘untouched’ places he used to visit as a child, especially since he himself was also a tourist. However, this is rather humorous in itself as near the end of the book, it's another tourist who provides him with an insight into his identity crisis. The tourist says, “‘Well, you’ll have a cultural inheritance learned from your family, and there’s nothing mystical about that. But in the mystical traditions and in early Christianity you have the notion of consciousness continuing from one embodiment to another. I think sometimes when people feel a connection with a place, it’s because strands of their consciousness have been there.’”

McCarthy’s Bar isn't one of my all-time favorite books, but it did give me a lot to think about. Knowing one's roots and family ancestry can be a crucial part of one's identity, and McCarthy is lucky in that he can trace his ancestry back many generations. But, McCarthy’s Bar still leaves us with the question: How do you know where you truly belong? Is it based solely on ancestry, or does it stem from what you feel within and immersing yourself in a particular place? From McCarthy’s obsession with Singapore noodles, I'm not entirely sure if Ireland is really the best fit for him. He concludes, “I suppose there’s a lesson here for me. Where’s the incentive to be frugal with life’s pleasures, to save up the pages in your book for later, if you’re going to be plunged into the darkened abyss at some arbitrary hour? If life is a book, then read it while you can. Don’t save up any pages for later, because there might not be one.” If that isn't enough motivation to spend the whole day curled up on the couch reading, I don't know what is. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a reading challenge to complete.

Every author requires inspiration, and Pete McCarthy served as a 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, reminding those who have been there of the wonderful journey it is and enticing those who haven't to reach for their travel brochures.

He was a highly successful travel writer and broadcaster, having traveled the world with a programme called Travelog on Channel 4. Pete 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 emphasizes his passion for travel, for getting to know other cultures and people, and for undergoing adventures. However, things always drew him back to Ireland.

Pete had a number of travel rules, such as 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 appear at the start of the book, making it impossible for the reader not to want to read on.

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 it.

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

I've never had the opportunity to visit Ireland, but this book has truly piqued my interest. It has made me long to explore at least some of its enchanting parts. Of course, it's been a while since 2000, and the country has undoubtedly undergone significant changes. However, my Irish friends who recently traveled there had some fascinating encounters that could easily have been part of this very book.

As I delved into these travel tales, I couldn't help but wonder about the extent to which the anecdotes might have been exaggerated or compressed into a single day. While some parts were highly engaging, the section on the fasting torture was perhaps the least interesting for me. Overall, I found the book to be quite entertaining and couldn't resist sharing it with friends who had read it years ago. It was a sad realization to learn that Pete McCarthy passed away shortly after the book was written, at the young age of 52. His untimely departure has left a void in the literary world, but his work will surely continue to inspire readers and travelers alike.

This is such a delightfully entertaining book to peruse.

It is a nonfiction work that chronicles his adventure throughout Ireland as he searches for his roots, considering his mother was Irish. The tales of the locals and tourists are uproariously funny. It also functions as a sort of travel guide. However, it's only somewhat of a guide because at times, he refrains from disclosing his exact location out of the concern that those areas might become overly popular and spoiled.

My absolute favorite chapter was the account of the ferry ride from Wales to Ireland. I myself have taken that very ferry, and his vivid description evoked a deluge of suppressed memories within me!

Regrettably, the author passed away rather unexpectedly from cancer not long after the book was published. It's truly a great loss as his work brought so much joy and inspiration to readers.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in Ireland, travel, or simply enjoys a good laugh. It's a must-read that will surely leave you with a lasting impression.

This book starts with an interesting premise.

It states that while traveling through spectacular landscapes and always obeying the rule of "never pass a bar that has your name on it," the protagonist encounters McCarthy's bars all over the land. He meets fascinating people and even pleads to be let out at four o'clock in the morning.

However, the theme doesn't seem to be fully carried through the book. In fact, it appears that the author talks about Singapore Noodles approximately five times more than he mentions seeing a McCarthy's bar.

Nevertheless, there are still some interesting tales within the book.

If you can endure the protagonist's antipathy towards other travelers or tourists (which seems rather hypocritical), then it could be a worthwhile read for those who have an interest in Irish travel.

It offers a unique perspective on the journey, despite the somewhat inconsistent theme and the rather strange focus on Singapore Noodles.

Overall, it's a book that has its flaws but also has some redeeming qualities for the right audience.

This book is truly outstanding. It is not just the captivating stories penned by Pete that I deeply appreciate, but also his remarkable personality, his unique sense of humour, and the artful way he uses words to vividly describe his feelings.

If you are seeking a conventional travel book, this might not be the ideal choice for you. However, if you渴望 something extraordinary and special about Ireland, then do not let this opportunity pass you by. McCarthy's Bar is a must-read!

This book has provided me with an answer to my long-standing question: "where do I belong to?" For the very first time, I experience a profound sense of relaxation and gain a deeper understanding of myself.

Thanks, Pete, for all that you have given us. May you rest in peace.