Home Place, Heart Place: Journeys around Ireland

The Wild Atlantic Way, the Burren, the ruins of monastic shrines, and the literary workshop of Lady Gregorys Coole Park are all featured in this travelogue, which takes readers on a journey through Ireland's Ancient East. The journey is led by poets, musicians, and historians who offer a contemporary perspective on the region's rich history and culture.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 28 January 2023
Publisher: Troubador Publishing

This travelogue takes us along Ireland's stunning Wild Atlantic Way, passing through the Burren, a land of peculiar beauty that inspired J.R.R. Tolkien. We explore the ruins of remote monastic shrines and the serene chanting of monks, immersing ourselves in the rich literary and cultural heritage of the region. In Lady Gregory's Coole Park, the nineteenth-century literary workshop of Ireland, we relive the memories of W.B. Yeats, G.B. Shaw, John Millington Synge, Raftery, and others, who gathered there to plan the founding of the Abbey Theatre.

As we journey through Ireland's Ancient East, we enter a world where history intertwines with myth. We visit the legendary sites of Tara, the royal hill of Uisneach, Rathcroghan, the seat of the warrior Queen Medb, Emain Macha, the home of the kings of the Red Branch of Ulster, and witness the Viking raids that shaped this land. We also delve into the tumultuous times of the nineteenth-century land agitation, when revolutionaries joined forces with parliamentarians, giving the people the leadership they sorely lacked during the Great Famine.

But it is not only the historical landmarks that captivate us on this journey. The landscape, serene and unchanging since the great volcanic shake-up millions of years ago, serves as a constant reminder of the passage of time. However, it is the journeying companions who truly bring this trip to life. Poets Michael Farry, the Kennelly brothers, singer-songwriter Christy Moore, and local historian Gearoid OBrien join us, sharing their perspectives and visions of their youthful world. Their stories and insights add depth and richness to our understanding of this remarkable region.

As we wind our way through Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, we are transported back in time, yet firmly anchored in the present. This travelogue invites us to explore the beauty, history, and culture of Ireland, while also celebrating the enduring spirit of its people and the contributions of its literary giants.

Weight: 404g
Dimension: 137 x 215 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803135359