For your enjoyment and for background -- 1. "Window On Aran," by Sean SPELLISSY (The Book Gallery, Cronin's Market, Ennis, Co. Clare) p/b. "Sean SPELLISSY has written extensively about Clare, Limerick and Galway - places he knows and loves. His tenth book is devoted to the Aran Islands, one man's view, as he says. It is all that one might expect - a wonderful overview of island life and memorable personalities and important events. Particularly notable is his account of the festival of Lughnasa celebrated by a two-day pilgrimage by boat to Liscannor and Doolin in Co. Clare. He lists and examines surnames found among island families (including the somewhat bizarre fact than an Earl of Aran, the 9th, sits in the House of Lords!), and deals in detail with island flora. His bibliography of books, journals, newspapers and letters is very useful indeed. The many black and white photographs are full of the spirit, song and story of this magic place." 2. "The Irish Round Tower, Origins and Architecture Explored," by Brian LALOR (The Collin's Press) large format p/b. Per review - "Our round towers, most probably bell towers, but also refuges and possibly treasuries, are a form of building unique in Ireland. Built between the tenth and twelfth centuries, seventy of them remain, some quite well preserved. Mr. LALOR examined, drew, photographed and described them all and their locations for his admired 1999 edition. This is the very welcome paperback." 3. "Our Own Devices, National Symbols and Political Conflicts in Twentieth-Century Ireland," by Ewan MORRIS ((Irish Academic Press) h/b & p/b. Per review, "Dr. Morris works for the Council for International Development in Wellington, NZ. His spare time hobby, God bless him and more power to his elbow, is the historical background and the contemporary role of Irish symbols and devices, things like flags, stamps, coinage, cap badges, seals and ornaments. YEATS memorably referred to them as 'the silent ambassadors of national taste,' This is a scholarly work, full of detail painstakingly mined from extensive archives and properly footnoted. But the book is written with clarity an elegance and it is absolutely fascinating." 4. "Irish Folk, Trad & Blues, A Secret History," Colin HARPER & Trevor HODGETT (The Collins Press) p.b. "Underpaid, overworked, talentless, or brilliant, brutally exploited or fabulously lucky, the slipped or shot from the shadows to the limelight. Many dropped out but an amazing number of Irish people have made wonderful careers across the globe in popular music and have contributed beyond measure to the joy and gladness of millions of lives. Buy this book and stroll down memory lane with tears and smiles - and gratitude ..." 5. "Parly-Poet and Chanter, Pecker DUNNE"s Story" - transcribed and edited by Michael O HAODHA (A&A Farmar/University of Limerick) p/b with CD. "Christened 'Padraig' and known throughout Ireland is the Traveller musician The Pecker Dunne. He plays the banjo (naturally!) but also the fiddle and he is a fine singer. Born in Mayo, he has travelled Ireland, Britain, Australia and America and lives these days in Clare - when he's at home! Listen in particular to 'Sullivan's John." Michael O hAodha's touch is light and, at 73, the Pecker has written a book to be proud of. One of the extraordinary aspects of both these beautifully produced books is the literal use of 'gammon' or 'cant,' the secret Traveller language." 6. "The Rainy Day Guide To Ireland," by Orla KEARNEY (Gill & Macmillan) h/b. Per review, "Geography, history, art, things to do, fairies, leprechauns, and other fun stuff, stickers and a pocket for tickets and photos. Durable, double wire bound inside a full hard back cover. Just the job for a child's wet day on holiday." 7. "Old World Colony, Cork and South Munster 1630-1830," by David DICKSON (Cork University Press) h/b. ...."The economic and social life of south Munster is brilliantly recreated. In some years in the 1770s Cork was importing 413,000 gallons of rum, most of it directly from the West Indies. Butter exports from 1750 to 1822 averaged 100,000 Irish pounds worth per year to Britain, the Baltic, Holland, France and the Caribbean. The economic development of the region was achieved by partnership between the colonists and the indigenous entrepreneurs. Meanwhile the region's cultural vitality, expressed mainly in Irish, was legendary. Only the presence of a critical mass of literary skills and family based learning within the region can explain this literary flowering. There were book lovers, educationalists and philanthropists in plenty and towards the end of the period the Irish language was becoming an object of general cultural interest. 'Could anywhere else have produced a Daniel O'CONNELL?" enquires Professor DICKSON. 8. Landscape Design in Eighteenth-Century Ireland," by Fiona O'KANE (Cork University Press) h/b. "Within the walls of their splendid grounds, the Anglo-Irish landed aristocracy set about creating landscaped horticultural perfection Ms. O'KANE reconstructs the results, now mere shadow on the ground - if that - at Breckdenston at Swords in north Co. Dublin, Castletown and Carton in Kildare, and Frascati at Blackrock, Co. Dublin. She argues a persuasive case that these gardens illustrate social history 'a way of making and living in a particular environment.' The diligent research is stunning and the book is very beautifully illustrated. A feast for the imagination." 9. "A Dictionary Of Hiberno-English," compiled and edited by Terence Patrick DOLAN (Gill & Macmillan) h/b. "This is a revised, improved, extended version (more than a thousand new entries) of Professor DOLAN's 1998 publication. Great fun it is, too...." 10. "MARCONI, The Irish Connection," Michael SEXTON (Four Courts Press) h/b. "Part of the Broadcasting and Irish Society series edited by Richard PINE, this is a fine account by former broadcaster, TD and Senator and now Professor Journalism, John HORGAN, of the presenters, programmes, politicians and pressures as an infant state grappled with the shocking power of developing radio and television ... As Michael SEXTON relates, Gugliemo MARCONI had an Irish mother, (JAMESON) and an Irish wife (O'BRIEN), but it was its location that caused him to establish his three pioneer radio signally stations on the west coast of Ireland in 1907. He went on to design the Free State's first ventures into broadcasting in the 1920s. Transmitters worldwide fell silent for two minutes when he died on 20th July 1937..."