1. "The Nana In The Chair and the Tales She Told, An Anecdotal Biography of Mary Dunne WARE (1860-1956)," by Edward C. McMANUS (AuthorHouse p/b). Per review - "The author met his grandmother in the 1940s and listened to her stories through the mid-fifties while he shared his family's pleasure in caring for a fascinating, gentle lady with a remarkable memory. The fact that she was blind did little to depress her spirits. She must have been a pleasure to know. A book to enjoy." ISBN 1-4184-4806-0 p/b. 2. "And So I Did, A Northern Irish Memoir," by Patricia SHEEHAN (Infinity Publishing.com, p/b.). "This is a delightful account of a girl who was 14 in 1956 when she left Belfast for Los Angeles with her family. The book ends as she enters her 20s when she meets the young man whom she is eventually to marry. She gives an extremely vivid account of the life of a Catholic working-class family in Belfast. Her description of how brilliantly they all adapt to life in the U. S. is equally exciting. Patricia SHEEHAN is a gifted writer, she transports the reader right into the middle, with the sight, sound, taste and the very smell of the event she is recalling. Definitely worth tracking down this book." ISBN 0-7414-1725-1 3. "Buried Memories," by David MARCUS (Mercier Press p/b). "David MARCUS is owed a great debt by readers of books. He has edited over 30 collections of poetry and short-stories, founded literary publications, and been a most influential Literary Editor with a popular Irish newspaper, sadly now defunct. We are greatly blessed to have him amongst us. Now in his early 80s he has written a delightful second volume of his splendid autobiography." My note - sounds like he has a connection to Cork. ISBN 1-86023-157-8. 4.. "Dublin's Lost Heroines, Mammies and Grannies in a Vanished City," by Kevin C. KEARNS (Gill & Macmillan, h/b). Per review, "This is an extraordinary book. There are seven sections in Professor KEARNS latest book dealing with wives and mothers budgeting, wives having babies, unwed mothers and grannies, mothers and Christmas, mothers and dead children, memories of mothers and deaths of mothers. Page after careful page, filled with personalities, anecdotes, descriptions - and ringing red with rage! Beleaguered women philosophically reasoned and religiously accepted - but the social historian from North Carolina carefully records the story as acid might incise a stone." 5. "The Life Of Other Days, A Memoir of Cork," by Tim CRAMER (Collins Press p/b). He started off as a humble proof reader, went on to become editor and on the board of directors of our national newspapers .... The recollections of 'an unrepentant Corkman' as he describes himself, brings one back to a past that is a much more gentle and kindly place, for all its poverty and hardship. The book first appeared to wide acclaim, in 1992, and the second edition is welcome." ISBN 1-903464-95-X. 6. "Two Little Boys, An Account of the Dublin & Monaghan Bombings and their Aftermath," by Timothy O'NEILL with Barry OJ. WHYTE (Currach Press p/b). "'The true cost of these atrocities in human terms incalculable. In addition to the loss of human lives, hundreds more were scarred by physical and emotional injuries. The full story of suffering will never be known and it is ongoing in many cases.' Mr. Justice Henry BARRON was referring to the investigation into a series of 1974 bombings which he undertook, at the behest of the Irish government. In truth, his remarks could be applied to the entire series of horrific events, over many years, of which these particular still unexplained outrages were only a part." ISBN 1-85607-909-0. 7. "A Life In the Wild," by Eamon De BUITLEAR (Gill & Macmillan h/b). "He ran businesses, organised, promoted and led a group of traditional musicians of great importance, made wild life programmes for television, contributed to radio programmes and served in the Irish Senate. He is an accomplished man, likely to be recognised on sight by 90% of our population. But, at different stages of his life he worked for others, as an assistant in a leading angling shop, a manager in a sporting goods emporium, and as a vital member of the group who surrounded and supported that eccentric musical magician Sean O RIADA." ISBN 0-7171-3615-9. 8. "Saint Patrick, Ireland's Patron Saint," by George Otto SIMMS (O'Brien Press, h/b). "Delightful little book, reprinted for the fifth time since 1991. The late Archbishop SIMMS was a most learned man, a clergyman, a historian and an expert on ancient manuscripts. He wrote a charming, elegant book about our national saiint for which he deserves our gratitude..." ISBN 0-86278-749-1. 9. "The Quiet Quarter, Anthology of New Irish Writing," ed. by Eoin BRADY (New Island/RTE Lyric FM p/b. "Tune in to RTE Lyric FM (www.rte.ie). Since 1999 it has been playing classical music most of the day - a dependable refuge from the torrent of events pouring across the airwaves. Just to give us a little extra variety Eoin BRADY and Maire Nic GEARAILT commissioned 15-minute essays and poems which are read to us mid morning, just to divert, or even to sustain, our minds! Now we have a selection of about 100 of them on subjects as far apart as snails and Oughterard lemons, the Fastnet lighthouse and corner boys." ISBN 1-904301-62-2. 10. "Northern Ireland, A Journey," with Alf McCREARY (Lagan Books) large format h/b. 'The best way to discover Belfast is to start at the City Hall and the neatly landscaped gardens at the heart of Donegall square --- County Down stretches from the border city of Newry to the north of the Ards peninsula and from Portavogie on the east coast to the almost English rural beauty of Hillsborough ... Downpatrick has an impressive Church of Ireland cathedral dating in various versions from the 13th century ... it was damaged by an earthquake in 1245 - a particularly rare event in Ireland --- apart from the always fascinating but at time claustrophobic building Castle Ward has splendid gardens ...' Per review, "It's as if you were wandering around his beloved locality with Alf McCREARY's voice in your ear. A great companion on your tour whether virtual or in reality! Brilliantly chosen photographs." ISBN 0-86281-914-8.