Donnachadh McCarthy

Advantages: Hilarious, will have you laughing out loud, but also informative
Disadvantages: Humour may possibly be lost on those with no Irish connections

...'McCarthy's Bar' is without a doubt the funniest book I have read for years. While reading I rarely went more than about five minutes without getting funny looks off my family for unexpected bouts of laughter. Pete McCarthy is born in England, with an Irish mother and English father. His book is based on a journey around Ireland with the intention of finding out whether he can 'belong' or feel at home to a country that he has never lived in but through some sort of 'genetic memory' from his ancestors. Perhaps my main reason for enjoying this book so much is because I am in a similar situation to Pete, British born but Irish by blood and understand completely his sense of belonging to Ireland. Also, I am able to identify immediately with many of his characters, as the Mrs Doyle like women who run many of the B&Bs are almost... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Rip Roaringly funny
Disadvantages: There are none at all...

...After reading McCarthy's Bar, you can take Bill Bryson and stick him up your Apalachian Trail! Bryson was, whilst informative, mildly entertaining for the first 100 pages or so (whereafter he lapsed into a dullness usually only experienced whilst queuing in the post office), Pete McCarthy practically caused me to be hospitalised due to a rare, heretofor unexperienced hysterical abdomen strain. McCarthy's Bar is the "diary" of Anglo-Irishman's mad and aimless ramble around Ireland whilst in search of a feeling of true belonging. His travels take the reader on a journey to a variety of both pleasant and terrifying bed and breakfasts (the chapter on the dead kid's room being one such b&b) and some of the less "touristy", more historical (both ancient and modern) sites around Ireland. McCarthy fills this tome with a plethora... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: It's about a country that is only an hour away
Disadvantages: The err 'humour'

...“The funniest book I’ve read this year” writes John Walsh of The Independent in his endorsement of Pete McCarthy’s first book ‘McCarthy’s Bar’. ‘I disagree’ writes hoof in his Ciao opinion. I had been looking forward to reading this book since bringing it home from Ottakar’s, particularly after reading the two whole pages of endorsements inside the front cover all of which echo the sentiments of John Walsh’s endorsement which is prominently displayed on the front cover of the book. These endorsements come from many varied and respected sources such as the Sunday Times and the Mail on Sunday, and so heightened the anticipation for me. Firstly a little background. Pete McCarthy was born to an Irish mother and an English father and in this book he attempts to find where he ‘belongs’. This is a book not only about Ireland but about... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful