Ireland

The writings selected here are based mainly on talks and lectures delivered by Dr Norman Porter during the period 1994-1998. This period, stretching from paramilitary ceasefires through to the signing and endorsement of the Good Friday Agreement, represented the most promising in Northern Ireland's history. Norman Porter's advocacy of political change, as reflected in these writings, captured something of the period's promise. His advocacy also triggered fears and resistance, forms of which are still discernible. The writings included in this book retain a surprising salience.

Surrender - Die fesselnde Autobiografie von Bono, dem Künstler, Aktivisten und Sänger der legendären irischen Rockband U2.In seiner lang erwarteten Autobiografie Surrender gewährt Bono einen intimen Einblick in sein Leben voller Höhen und Tiefen. Schonungslos ehrlich erzählt er von seinen Ängsten, Selbstzweifeln und prägenden Erlebnissen, die ihn zu dem Menschen und Musiker gemacht haben, der er heute ist.Von seiner Kindheit in Dublin über den tragischen Verlust seiner Mutter bis hin zum kometenhaften Aufstieg von U2 zu einer der einflussreichsten Rockbands der Welt - Bono teilt seine persönliche Geschichte mit einer Offenheit und Selbstreflexion, die man von dem Ausnahme-Künstler so noch nicht erlebt hat. Dabei zeigt er auch seine weniger bekannte Seite als leidenschaftlicher Aktivist im Kampf gegen Aids und Armut.Surrender ist ein literarisches Memoir im Stil der großen irischen Geschichtenerzähler. In 40 Kapiteln, die jeweils nach einem U2-Song benannt sind, entfaltet sich eine faszinierende Lebensgeschichte voller Details über Familie, Freunde, Musik und Glaube. Bono selbst hat die einzelnen Kapitel mit aussagekräftigen Illustrationen eingeleitet.Ein Must-Read für alle U2-Fans und jeden, der sich für die Person hinter dem Künstler interessiert - Surrender ist eine ergreifende Hommage an die Kraft der Musik, der Liebe und des Glaubens. Begleiten Sie Bono auf seiner ganz persönlichen Pilgerreise durch ein außergewöhnliches Leben.

Sarah Cecilia Harrison (1863-1941) was one of Dublin's finest portrait painters but also immersed herself in the political and social fabric of Dublin life, becoming the first female City Councillor in 1912. Deeply involved in philanthropic, political, civic, and artistic efforts, she was a staunch supporter and ally of Hugh Lane in the establishment of a modern art gallery for Dublin. In tandem with her artistic talents, Harrison was a progressive and enlightened woman but her contribution to the cultural and political life of Dublin has previously been overlooked. This publication, generously illustrated with paintings by Harrison, will restore and champion Harrison's position as a woman who not only was a notable artistic talent but also made major contributions to the social and cultural fabric of Dublin life.

Catch a glimpse of the spirit of Ireland in the entertaining company of professional storyteller Doreen McBride as she recounts the local tales, ancient and modern, of County Louth. You will hear of the doomed love of Lassara and her harpist who haunt the waters of Carlingford Lough, of the origin of the River Boyne and of the jumping church at Kildemock. You will also discover St Brigid's association with Faughart, how the Hound of Ulster recovered from war wounds on the Death Mound of Du Largy, and where you might find leprechaun gold. And on the way you will encounter a killer cat, a fairy horse and the Salmon of Knowledge - as well as some talkative toes.From age-old legends and fantastical myths, to amusing anecdotes and cautionary tales, this collection is a heady mix of bloodthirsty, funny, passionate and moving stories. It will take you into a remarkable world where you can let your imagination run wild.

At the core of nationalism, the nation has always been defined and celebrated as a fundamentally cultural community. This pioneering cultural history shows how artists and intellectuals since the days of Napoleon have celebrated and taken inspiration from an idealized nationality, and how this in turn has informed and influenced social and political nationalism. The book brings together tell-tale examples from across the entire European continent, from Dublin and Barcelona to Istanbul and Helsinki, and from cultural fields that include literature, painting, music, sports, world fairs and cinema as well as intellectual history. Charismatic Nations offers unique insights into how the unobtrusive soft power of nationally-inspired culture interacts with nationalism as a hard-edged political agenda. It demonstrates how, thanks to its pervasive cultural and 'unpolitical' presence, nationalism can shape-shift between romantic insurgency and nativist populism. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

50 Jahre U2 - eine einzigartige Karriere'U2 waren, sind und bleiben das schlagende Herz der Rockmusik - wild klopfend, alarmiert pumpend oder sanft pochend. Niemals stillstehend.''Sunday Bloody Sunday', 'One', 'Beautiful Day': U2 hatten etliche Welthits und spielen seit Jahrzehnten in den größten Stadien. Und wenn Bono sich politisch äußert, lässt das niemanden kalt. U2 polarisieren, und das ist ihnen recht so. Entgegen aller Widerstände haben die Iren das Kunststück vollbracht, seit 50 Jahren in derselben Besetzung zusammenzubleiben. Birgit Fuß hat U2 zu etlichen Gesprächen getroffen - als eine von nur wenigen Journalist:innen in Deutschland. Sie porträtiert eine Band, die weitaus mehr ist als die Summe ihrer Erfolge.Mit 4-farbigen Abbildungen und Infografiken.

Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring Thomas More is an enduringly fascinating and profoundly controversial figure. A brilliant scholar, his Utopia of 1516 dared to imagine how society might be completely reordered. At the same time, his hatred of the Reformation caused him to advocate, and seek to implement, the death penalty for heretics. A friend and advisor to Henry VIII, More's refusal to support Henry's break with Rome led to his execution in 1535, and the start of a long argument about his legacy. This Very Short Introduction assesses More's life, writings and achievements, and examines changing views of his character, in both historical interpretation and various works of fiction. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

This book discusses and analyses the last three decades of British political history, looking at why Britain found itself shut out from its immediate neighbours on the continent in 2016, twenty years after the country was celebrated as a prosperous, optimistic and culturally influential "Cool Britannia".

"Those who were in Dublin on Easter Monday 1916 were privileged to witness a scene which for dramatic setting and for paradoxical conception is certainly the most extraordinary of any of the long line of rebellions in Irish history, for at a time when it seemed almost universally admitted that "Separatism" was from an economic, racial, and military point of view utterly impossible, there suddenly arose without warning, without apparent reason, and as if from nowhere, a body of men, fully armed and completely organized, who within the space of a single hour had captured every strategic point in the capital, and to its utter amazement held it up in the name of a new "Republic," in much the same way as a highwayman of old used to hold up coaches on Hounslow Heath."

A major new biography that reveals how politics profoundly shaped Joyce’s life, thought and writings<BR><BR>The young James Joyce (1882–1941) was forged in the smithy of Irish political controversies, and he took into his European exile a depth of political insight unrivalled among his fellow modernists. In this biography of Joyce in his youth and early exile, acclaimed Irish historian and biographer Frank Callanan reveals a Joyce who is markedly more politically conscious, informed and complex than the Joyce of Richard Ellmann’s classic account. Written in a sparkling style and rich with historical insights, Callanan’s deeply researched biography is the first sustained account of how Joyce’s Irish and European political and cultural context shaped his life, thought, and writings.<BR><BR>Joyce was eight years old in 1890 when the O’Shea divorce scandal tore Irish nationalism apart, leading to the split in the Irish Parliamentary Party, the death of nationalist leader Charles Stewart Parnell, and a long, bitter period dominated by the anti-Parnellites. This was the Ireland that Joyce grew up in and rebelled against, and which determined his literary direction. Callanan uncovers a Joyce who was a highly original and dissenting Irish nationalist, who refused to avow or vaunt his nationalism and whose understanding was refined by the experience of living in multicultural Trieste with its fraught ethnic politics and differing models of statehood. Callanan’s Joyce is as heroic as Ellmann’s defiantly modernistic artist but in a more interesting way—a writer who didn’t lack political conviction but whose views didn’t yield to the expectations of his time.<BR><BR>Energizing, witty, profound, and elegant, James Joyce: A Political Life is a magisterial biography that will transform how readers look at Joyce and his politics.

The head of the Guinness family tells the dramatic true story of how his ancestors created the largest brewery in the world.Growing up at Farmleigh, the country house outside Dublin, Arthur Edward Guinness - Ned for short - was fascinated by the secrets and legends that surrounded the early generations of his famous family of brewers.Against the backdrop of epic and convulsive times in Ireland and Britain, he explores the struggles and passions of his ancestors, who went from obscurity in Kildare to the pinnacle of Irish and British society.Each generation confronted new challenges until the dramatic events when the author's great-great-grandfather bought out his glamorous older brother and floated Guinness on the stock exchange. Overnight Edward Cecil Guinness became Ireland's richest man.This is a tale in which brewing genius, sibling rivalry, bounteous philanthropy and astonishing social mobility are interwoven with historic national events, including the Act of Union, Catholic Emancipation, the Famine, the Home Rule movement, the Dublin Lockout and ultimately Irish independence. It is the inside story, as told by Ned Guinness. "This book is far more than an account of the commercial success of Guinness; it's also a love letter to the city which produced it."- The Irish Independent "The definitive history of the Guinness brewing dynasty"- The Irish Independent "A fantastic book"- RTE The Business

Fictional representations of autism hold immense power over social perception, and yet such portrayals often remain stereotypical and one-sided. Based on discourse theory, Eva Charlotte Hesse explores the origins of autism stereotypes with regard to ideas of normality and deviance, their impact on the lives of autistic individuals, and the controversy surrounding autism definition. She offers criteria for the evaluation of autism portrayals while also pointing out prejudices and underlying power structures in the light of new medical findings, thus providing a critical perspective on current developments within the autism discourse.

The British Isles hold a unique position in the history of art, a place where local traditions fuse with international ideas in extraordinary ways<BR><BR>At once isolated by coastal boundaries, yet also part of larger networks of diverse peoples, these islands have always benefited from a dual perspective.<BR><BR> Artistic creativity in the British Isles stretches back to Ice Age engravings of reindeer, horses and birds. International networks were already shaping prehistoric art and by 1,000 CE artists working in Britain and Ireland were using lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, walrus tusks from Greenland, garnets from India and elephant ivory from Africa. The Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and Normans introduced new styles from overseas, as did later European artists, attracted by the wealth of royal courts. Art was traded and looted across the British empire by colonial explorers, merchants and the military.<BR><BR> In the course of the 20th century these islands have been a refuge, but also a place where migrants have faced resistance. Sculptures by Jewish immigrants fleeing Nazi death camps, paintings by post-war Caribbean artists and protest murals sparked by the Troubles in Northern Ireland all express artists’ complex relationships with the idea of home.<BR><BR> Artists today such as Grayson Perry, Lubaina Himid, Yinka Shonibare, Rachel Whiteread and Edmund de Waal consciously reflect on this long history in their work, exploring concepts of identity and belonging.<BR><BR> Fresh, pacy and surprising, The Art Isles tells the story of why art in Britain and Ireland is so rich and dynamic – and why it has always extended far beyond geographical borders.<BR>  

An indispensable guide, Frommer’s Ireland is a comprehensive and photo-filled look at one of the world’s most beloved destinations. Written by leading Emerald Isle expert, proud Irishwoman Yvonne Gordon, this book takes you to many places only locals know, along with giving tips on how to visit Ireland’s iconic sights with ease.With helpful advice and honest recommendations from Frommer’s, you’ll climb the stones of the Giant’s Causeway; kiss the Blarney Stone; marvel at the ancient ruins of the Burren, Newgrange, and the Hill of Tara; learn about the sobering history of The Troubles from former combatants in Belfast and Derry; taste the isle’s best whiskeys on distillery tours; and enjoy authentic music sessions at pubs across Ireland.Frommer’s Ireland is:<BR>- Completely updated printed in large, easy-to-read type- Packed with colorful photos and helpful maps, including a full-color fold-out map- Precise about pricing, with Euro and British Pound (for Northern Ireland) amounts listed for every attraction, restaurant, hotel, nightspot and shop in the guide—so there aren’t any nasty surprises- Insightful about the culture and history of Ireland, so you’ll better understand the places you visit- Filled with no-holds-barred reviews, which will introduce you to the country’s most authentic lodgings (B&B’s, castles, historic hotels), eateries, museums, historic sights and natural attractions. No entity has paid to be in this guide—or any Frommer’s guide. At Frommer’s, we pride ourselves on decades of journalistic integrity.- Savvy about saving money, with tips that work for everyone from luxury-seekers to backpackers- Mindful that your vacation time is limited, the book includes smart strategies for trips of differing lengths and for travelers with varying interestsAbout Frommer’s: There’s a reason that Frommer’s has been the most trusted name in travel for more than 65 years. Arthur Frommer created the best-selling guide series in 1957 to help American servicemen fulfill their dreams of travel in Europe, and since then, we have published thousands of titles became a household name helping millions upon millions of people realize their own dreams of seeing our planet. Travel is easy with Frommer’s<BR>

A new history of the Celts that reveals how this once-forgotten people became a pillar of modern national identity in Britain, Ireland, and France<BR><BR>Before the Greeks and Romans, the Celts ruled the ancient world. They sacked Rome, invaded Greece, and conquered much of Europe, from Ireland to Turkey. Celts registered deeply on the classical imagination for a thousand years and were variously described by writers like Caesar and Livy as unruly barbarians, fearless warriors, and gracious hosts. But then, in the early Middle Ages, they vanished. In The Celts, Ian Stewart tells the story of their rediscovery during the Renaissance and their transformation over the next few centuries into one of the most popular European ancestral peoples.<BR><BR>The Celts shows how the idea of this ancient people was recovered by scholars, honed by intellectuals, politicians, and other thinkers of various stripes, and adopted by cultural revivalists and activists as they tried to build European nations and nationalisms during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Long-forgotten, the Celts improbably came to be seen as the ancestors of most western Europeans—and as a pillar of modern national identity in Britain, Ireland, and France.<BR><BR>Based on new research conducted across Europe and in the United States, The Celts reveals when and how we came to call much of Europe “Celtic,” why this idea mattered in the past, and why it still matters today, as the tide of nationalism is once again on the rise.

The Economist, Best Books of 2024<BR>The Times, Best Ideas Books of 2024<BR><BR>A uniquely data-rich analysis of the British elite from the Victorian era to today: who gets in, how they get there, what they like and look like, where they go to school, and what politics they perpetuate.<BR><BR>Are Britain's power brokers a conservative chumocracy, born to privilege and anointed at Eton and Oxford? Or is a new progressive elite emerging with different values and political instincts? In search of answers, Aaron Reeves and Sam Friedman scrutinized the profiles of over 125,000 members of the British elite from the late 1890s to today. At the heart of this meticulously researched study is the historical database of Who's Who, but Reeves and Friedman also mined genealogical records, examined probate data, and interviewed over 200 leading figures from a wide range of backgrounds to uncover who runs Britain.<BR><BR> What they found is that there is less movement at the top than we think. Yes, there has been some progress on including women and Black and Asian Brits, but those born into the top 1 percent are just as likely to get into the elite today as they were 125 years ago. What has changed is how elites present themselves. Today's elite pedal hard to convince us they are perfectly ordinary.<BR><BR> Why should we care? Because the elites we have affect the politics we get. While scholars have long proposed that the family you are born into, and the schools you attend, leave a mark on the exercise of power, the empirical evidence has been thin-until now.

'Rüeggers lebendige, vielschichtige Bilder fangen die ganze Aufregung und das soziale Miteinander in den ländlichen Städten ein, indenen sich die Traveller traditionell treffen, um Pferde auszustellen, aber auch um an einer Vielzahl kultureller Aktivitäten teilzunehmen, einschließlich des Verkaufs von Waren und des gemeinsamen Musizierens. Rüeggers Titel "I Am a Stranger in This Country" spiegelt seinen Status als Besucher und auch den der Traveller als ¿Außenseiter:innen¿ in der britischen und irischen Gesellschaft wider. Als begeisterter Boxer ließ sich Rüegger von der Tatsache inspirieren, dass der Schwergewichtler Tyson Fury ein Roma ist - so entstand der Wunsch, eine ganze Lebensweise zu dokumentieren, die sowohl durch die Veränderungen in der heutigen Gesellschaft als auch durch die Vorurteile in einem nationalistischen Großbritannien nach dem Brexit bedroht ist.' (Gerry Badger)

'Tinniswood has created a tome of architectural brilliance, uncomfortable historical truths, and a complicated legacy of power and philanthropy.' - The Irish TimesStep inside the historic homes of the Guinness family and enter a world of power, privilege and palatial living.<BR> <BR>The Guinnesses became famous as brewers, philanthropists and socialites, but they also created some of the most distinctive homes in Britain and Ireland, where they lived, loved and entertained in high style.<BR> <BR>Royalty was a frequent visitor to Ashford Castle and Elveden Hall. At Luggala Oonagh Guinness welcomed rock stars, actors and artists. At Biddesden Bryan Guinness lived the life of an urbane country squire, while at Kelvedon his cousin Honor left her husband Chips Channon to play the country gentleman while she ran off with her land agent. The family's Dublin mansions - Farmleigh, St Anne's and 80 St Stephen's Green - were a byword for grandeur and opulence. And the Guinnesses spent a fortune buying two spectacular country houses, Kenwood and Castletown, not to live in, but simply to save them from destruction and to give them away.<BR> <BR>Adrian Tinniswood, the bestselling historian of the country house, opens the door to castles and mansions that once belonged to the greatest brewing dynasty the world has ever seen.'Tinniswood ... [is] an erudite historian of country-house life in all its anecdote-worthy vagaries.' - Financial Times'We are in the company of a confident and skilled historian who understands the mores of his era and wears his learning lightly...' - Virginia Nicholson, The Times<BR><BR>'Few authors can combine serious social history with the sometimes sad and often hilarious narratives of country-house life in the way that Tinniswood can.' - Jeremy Musson