I read this book for a specific reason. I had actually been in the McCarthy's Bar in West Cork which is prominently featured on the book's cover. That very fact piqued my curiosity and made me eager to pick up the book.

Moreover, I had read reviews suggesting that the book was supposed to be hilarious. At that moment, I was in desperate need of some light-hearted humor to brighten up my day. However, to my great disappointment, it failed to amuse me even in the slightest.

It is quite evident that not everyone shares the same sense of humor. The only sections of this book that I found enjoyable were those in which the author vividly described the places in Ireland that we both had visited. One such place was the Bunratty Folk Park near Limerick. Reading about it brought back wonderful memories of the time I spent living in Ireland.

But apart from those few passages, the book simply wasn't to my taste. It didn't resonate with me on an emotional or intellectual level, and I found myself rather disenchanted with the overall reading experience.

\\n  Review originally published July 2003\\n

If you're in search of a distinct travel guide that leads you to hidden gems and offbeat locations, is filled with humor and brings to mind Bill Bryson, then McCarthy’s Bar: A Journey of Discovery by Pete McCarthy is the perfect choice for you! McCarthy has a penchant for getting lost and taking side roads. Sometimes he has a specific destination in mind, but often it's just a vague idea of where he wants to head, such as seeking out obscure stone circles or a ruined abbey. His descriptions of the countryside are vivid and enchanting:

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\\n  \\n    “West Cork is among the finest of Irish landscapes; not wild and melancholy and majestic, like Connemara and Mayo and Donegal, but undulating and welcoming, lush green fields rolling like waves down to the sea, always just a mile or two the left of this road.”\\n  \\n  
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This book evokes warm memories of my own trip to Ireland, with its single-track roads, confusing signs (many on the same post), and mileages that are far from precise. Off the main roads, it truly feels like traveling back in time. Outside every pub, there's a sign displaying the pub's name. Colorful row houses, each painted a different vibrant hue, stand side by side, enhancing the charm of the towns. The Irish are a friendly and unassuming people. As one Englishman aptly put it, "Do you know what I love about the Irish? The way they don’t seem to be after your money. Everyone else in the world is. But the Irish just want to know everything about you instead. I love it." McCarthy's talent for meeting interesting and eccentric individuals and sharing their stories adds to the hilarity of the book. In Ireland, you don't simply ask for directions; you start chatting about something else, and after exchanging a wealth of personal information, you may get an answer or, if not, at least have had a captivating conversation!

McCarthy clearly enjoys his travels as he adheres to the principle “Never Pass A Bar That Has Your Name On It.” However, pubs can also be a source of uproarious adventures, especially when recounted by a comedian like McCarthy. He also has a serious side, as seen in his moving account of his visit to the mass grave for potato famine victims and the grave of Michael Collins, where he finds himself alone. McCarthy’s Bar is brimming with history and offers an endearing, witty understanding and appreciation of Ireland and its unique people. I can't wait to return to Ireland!

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I've recently delved into a number of books regarding travel in Britain. Among them, this particular one truly warmed the cockles of my heart.

It is written in a tone that is somewhat similar to that of Bill Bryson, yet it is definitely more entertaining. The author has managed to infuse the narrative with a unique charm and humor that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

Every non-teetotaler should definitely give this book a read. It offers not only interesting insights into the various aspects of travel in Britain but also provides a great deal of entertainment. Whether you are planning a trip to Britain or simply interested in learning more about the country, this book is sure to delight.

So, pick up a copy and embark on a literary journey through the beautiful landscapes and vibrant cities of Britain. You won't be disappointed!

A half-Irish writer and radio/tv performer, Pete McCarthy is, quite naturally, a trickster. He has the gift of the gab and knows all about the craic. At times, his verbose nature can border on being overwhelming, with an abundance of words. His satirical wit has abraded many nations, but interestingly, not usually the Irish. (The Germans seem to get the worst of it).

However, I thoroughly enjoyed this travelogue. This is especially so since I myself traversed these very roads a few years ago and thus understand the origin of some of his jibes. Since Ireland joined the EU, it has transformed into a cosmopolitan melting pot. Moreover, with the crash of their economy, many Irish have felt compelled to emigrate in order to survive. After all, having a laugh does not fill an empty belly. It's like a second famine in a way. This has left the land vulnerable to outsiders and those looking for a bargain. I know this all too well as I've even considered buying property there myself.

McCarthy's mother was born in Cork, and he spent his childhood summers there. His "Journey of Discovery" takes him on a round trip from Cork to Donegal and back again in a beaten-up Volvo, leading him to pretty much every McCarthy's pub along the way. Interspersed with snippets from Thackeray's Irish Sketch Book and chats with the locals, we are able to experience a "real" western Ireland - more in the vein of Joyce than Yeats. It had me giggling on several nights, while at other times, it broke my heart.

"I look down at the patch of grass beneath my feet. The undulations in the ground suddenly resemble long human shapes, as if the ground is overly full and they are rising to the surface. How many must be buried here? Dozens; hundreds, perhaps … One million dead. One million emigrated. Skibbereen, the epicentre of this horror, suffered more than most. Here in the famine burial pits, the coffinless remains of nine thousand victims were laid to rest. Nine thousand."

The climax of McCarthy's journey is a three-day fasting, sleepless, and barefoot pilgrimage at St. Patrick's Purgatory in Donegal. Having only managed to make it halfway up Croagh Patrick myself, I must applaud him for this feat. Of course, I wasn't schooled by the Christian Brothers, so I haven't developed the same resistance or dedication to pain or self-abuse.

More than anything, reading McCarthy has inspired me to return to Ireland once again. I need to find this mysterious convent (not actually called that) - less than an hour's drive from Ringaskiddy, 12 miles south of Cork city centre, a "guest house with a great restaurant, offering gourmet cuisine in a deconsecrated chapel" (94). But I'll never, under any circumstances, take the 10-hour ferry ride from Swansea in Wales to Cork. Thank you for that tip, Pete McCarthy.