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What's the most famous book set in each County of Ireland?

  • 10-04-2017 11:24am
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 2


    I am looking for the most famous or best book set in each county in Ireland e.g. Ulysses is probably the most famous book set in Dublin. I suppose it can be novels, plays, biography. no rules really.

    Cheers.


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 2,273 ✭✭✭UsedToWait


    Co. Leitrim - Amongst Women, John McGahern


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,023 ✭✭✭✭Joe_ Public


    Think they are two separate, distinct categories there:

    For example most famous literary work set in Co Kerry is probably Peig Sayers. Best is somethign from John B Keane, maybe Sive.

    Most famous from Co Monaghan is The Butcher Boy, having a film made of it, but best by far (imho anyway) is Patrick Kavanagh's epic The Great Hunger.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,969 ✭✭✭buck65


    Edna O Brien - The Country Girls , set in East Clare I believe, well Edna is from there so I assume that is the setting.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,252 ✭✭✭echo beach


    Lots of books are set in Donegal but none really stands out as a classic.
    Most famous, or certainly bestselling, is probably the Jim MCGuinness autobiography, Until Victory Always.
    Funniest is No News at Throat Lake by Lawerence Donegal which is an account of his time working on a local paper there.


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,023 ✭✭✭✭Joe_ Public


    I liked Donegan's Four Iron In the Soul about his year caddying for a dour Scottish pro, but never got round to the Donegal one.

    I would imagine Friel would be the man there if you take plays into account. I vaguely recall one or two Brian Moore novels set or partly set in Donegal too, loved reading Moore growing up.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 237 ✭✭lukegriffen


    Laurence Donegan's golf book was great, but even better was his book about being a used-car salesman in usa, california dreaming

    this is my tuppence worth
    Longford - Castle Rackrent - Edgeworth , the 1st irish modern novel (Goldsmith was also from Longford region, but never wrote about Ireland)
    westmeath - the bend for home, dermot healy
    monaghan - francie brady aka the butcher boy
    derry - reading in the dark, seamus dean
    sligo - contemporary - there are little kingdoms, kevin barry (otherwise Yeats)
    wexford - you've colm toibin... dervla murphy wrote about practically except wexford
    limerick - angela's ashes
    waterford - molly keane ?
    offaly - marina carr...

    ?????


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,923 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO


    Dancing at Lughnasa would probably be the most well known for Donegal.

    Brooklyn maybe for Wexford, off the back of the film anyway.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,813 ✭✭✭Noveight


    Cork - The Last September


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,747 ✭✭✭fisgon


    Antrim (Belfast) - The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearn - Brian Moore, or Fat Lad - Glenn Patterson
    Mayo - Beatlebone - Kevin Barry (there may be others more famous)
    Waterford - Waterford Whispers News :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,023 ✭✭✭✭Joe_ Public


    Something by Colm Toibin probably be popular for Wexford alright, though my personal choice would be Troubles by JG Farrell

    Tipperary: My Fight for Freedom - Dan Breen


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,043 ✭✭✭me_right_one


    Westmeath - Valley of the squinting windows


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,557 ✭✭✭mewe


    westmeath - the bend for home, dermot healy
    The Bend for Home is set in Cavan. You could have also chose a Dermot Healy novel for Sligo. Sudden Times is partly set there.


  • Registered Users Posts: 114 ✭✭heathledgerlove


    Something by Colm Toibin probably be popular for Wexford alright, though my personal choice would be Troubles by JG Farrell

    Tipperary: My Fight for Freedom - Dan Breen


    Read Troubles a few years ago, absolutely loved it ! Setting by the Sea! I was going to say Amongst Women for Sligo, I think some of it is set there, recognized the streets they were driving through certainly


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,673 ✭✭✭exaisle


    buck65 wrote: »
    Edna O Brien - The Country Girls , set in East Clare I believe, well Edna is from there so I assume that is the setting.

    I thought it was set in "the big city", ie, Dublin, but that Cait and Baba were from (presumably) east Clare...


  • Registered Users Posts: 21,104 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    Tipp Knocknagow, Charles Kickam.
    Cork The Tailor and Ansty, Eric Cross. Come what may, Donal Og Cusack
    Best short story; My First Confession, Sean O Faolain.


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,023 ✭✭✭✭Joe_ Public


    Read Troubles a few years ago, absolutely loved it ! Setting by the Sea! I was going to say Amongst Women for Sligo, I think some of it is set there, recognized the streets they were driving through certainly

    Troubles is indeed a brilliant novel. I am inclined to think The Siege of Krishnapur is even better.


  • Registered Users Posts: 11,505 ✭✭✭✭Xenji


    For Mayo, maybe Ruby Flynn by Nadine Dorries.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,053 ✭✭✭KJ


    Any suggestions for Louth?


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,162 ✭✭✭Wyldwood


    Water John wrote: »
    Best short story; My First Confession, Sean O Faolain.

    Frank O'Connor surely?


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,023 ✭✭✭✭Joe_ Public


    KJ wrote: »
    Any suggestions for Louth?

    Best can do is Thomas Kinsella - The Tain


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  • Registered Users Posts: 8,357 ✭✭✭cml387


    The Valley Of The Squinting Windows is non specific as to the location, but is supposed to be Delvin.


  • Registered Users Posts: 21,104 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    Sorry for Frank O'Connor. Brainfart.

    Yes, the author worked in the bank in Devlin.

    The Midnight Court, By Brian Merriman, surely a shout for County Clare.


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    Galway: Cre na Cille, Mairtin O Cadhain


  • Registered Users Posts: 21,104 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    Maybe, rather than just Peig, the group of writers on the Blaskets should be considered for the reflection of a people and a whole way of life. Kerry.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,798 ✭✭✭goose2005


    Kildare - A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
    Mayo - The Wild Irish Girl


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,798 ✭✭✭goose2005


    Kildare - A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
    Mayo - The Wild Irish Girl


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,798 ✭✭✭goose2005


    KJ wrote: »
    Any suggestions for Louth?

    A Mad and Wonderful Thing by Mark Mulholland


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,888 ✭✭✭Terrontress


    For Derry, what about Cal by Bernard McLaverty?

    I felt sick for a week after reading it.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,798 ✭✭✭goose2005


    Down - Orchid Blue by Eoin McNamee?


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  • Registered Users Posts: 3,017 ✭✭✭TCDStudent1


    Roscommon: The Secret Scripture


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