Product Description

Pete McCarthy's tale of his hilarious trip around Ireland has gained thousands of fans all over the world.
Pete was born in Warrington to an Irish mother and an English father and spent happy summer holidays in Cork. Years later, reflecting on the many places he has visited as a travel broadcaster, Pete admits that he feels more at home in Ireland than anywhere. To find out whether this is due to rose-coloured spectacles or to a deeper tie with the country of his ancestors, Pete sets off on a trip around Ireland and discovers that it has changed in surprising ways. Firstly obeying the rule 'never pass a pub with your name on it', he encounters McCarthy's bars up and down the land, and meets English hippies, German musicians, married priests and many others. A funny, affectionate look at one of the most popular countries in the world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7053 in Books
• Published on: 2001-03-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
The premise of Pete McCarthy's first book, McCarthy's Bar, is that you should never pass up the opportunity of having a drink in a bar that shares your name. There is clearly more to this plan than the obvious publicity stunt, since it could work with books as well--try reading Cormac McCarthy after reading this hilarious, informed and intelligent book, and you may well be tempted to buy books by every other McCarthy around.

Born in Warrington, Pete McCarthy decides to go back to rural Ireland, to rediscover his Irishness. The feeling that you have heard this sort of thing all before doesn't last for long. There is a serious writer struggling to make himself heard above the many excellent jokes and this is what makes McCarthy's book so distinctive. Although he can crack Brysonesque quips with the best of them ("I've often wondered how businessmen used to cope before [mobile phones] were invented. How did they tell their wives they were on the train?"), and take us through hilarious and largely drunken set-pieces, McCarthy is equally at home discussing Celtic standing stones and the potato famine.

The resulting book is a wonderful debut. By the end, we, too, would like to move to Ireland. You sense that McCarthy has such a genuine feeling for Ireland, Irishness and Irish history that he can only temper his writing with side-splitting humour. In this way, his first book successfully embodies much of what it is to be Irish. --Toby Green

The Times
‘McCarthy is a hilariously funny writer'

Review
‘McCarthy is a hilariously funny writer’ (The Times )

'An engaging, evocative book. Four out of five stars’ (Daily Mail )

'Hilarious, informed and intelligent ... a wonderful debut. By the end, we, too, would like to move to Ireland' (Amazon.co.uk )

‘One of the funniest writers around. If you were asked to choose the ideal travelling companion, you would put Pete McCarthy near the top of your list. But if he doesn’t happen to be available, MCCARTHY’S BAR is the next best thing’ (Yorkshire Evening Post )

‘Don’t panic - this is not the same story you hear from every tourist you meet ... This book will make you laugh out loud through recognition and embarrassment' (Irish News )

‘If you’re not pissing yourself within minutes of picking up this gem by Pete McCarthy, there’s every chance you’re actually dead' (SX )

'McCarthy mines a rich seam of humour as he finds himself on the receiving end of some warm but unsophisicated hospitality. But then, he could probably make a phone book funny.' (Independent on Sunday )

Customer Reviews

Laughed until I cried....
I have just finished reading McCarthy's Bar, having been recommended it by an English friend. Before picking it up, I thought 'oh yeah, a second-generation Paddy, going to tell us real Irish what we're like. Bring it on!'.

In all honesty, I have never, EVER laughed so loudly at the descriptions, and the perfect analysis of the Irish psyche. It's not all flattery from McCarthy - his observations on the new Celtic Tiger Ireland being particularly scathing (albeit dripping in a humour-filled sarcasm). However, he is never patronising.
He IS funny. Funny to the point of side-achingly hilarious. The Egyptian spuds, the scary B&B woman, the Christian Brothers who packed a good punch - all real situations, that turn into comic capers, once the sardonic eye of McCarthy is cast upon them.

It's also a poignant book too. Moreso for me when I realised while reading it that the author had sadly passed away in 2004. I left the book wondering if Pete McCarthy had finally found somewhere that he fitted in intrinsicly, and if there is a McCarthy's Bar beyond the pearly gates (and if it's being run by an ex-Garda or a Christian Brother with three kids!)

An excellent book. I can't reccomend it highly enough.

A nice book from a nice guy
Pete Mc Carthy wrote a couple of excellent books chronicling his travels around Ireland and further afield before his sad death from cancer last year. McCarthy's Bar & The Road to McCarthy are both well worth a read. If you like travelling, meeting interesting characters and a nice pint of Guinness then Pete McCarthy will soon become your friend.

The book isn't so much a travel guide as a humourous look at different sides of Ireland as seen through the witty eyes and ears of the late Pete. I especially enjoyed the part when he visits Lough Derg, having been there twice myself! Some other reviewers have complained about some of his observations and also his attempts at humour. While the humour in this may have been exaggerated somewhat, it IS funny, for God's sake! Those who think otherwise are probably the sort of people who don't laugh at anything, considering themselves above that sort of nonsense.
There are some genuinely funny moments and some clever turns of phrase and Mc Carthy has definitely established a real flair for storytelling in this, the first of his books.

On the frequent occasions when Pete just happens to be having a pint (again..) i wish i was on holidays. There's something extra nice about having a pint on a summer's day and not feeling guilty about it.

I thoroughly recommend Pete's books to anyone with a sense of humour.Unfortunately, his sad demise means that we won't be able to share any more of his adventures.
The world is a sadder place without him.

Need a good giggle?
This is undoubtedly one of the funniest books I have read this year. McCarthy's style is one of great wit combined with brutal honesty and the characters are eccentric and outlandish without being unbelievable. Although McCarthy constantly whinges about the about the number of tourism in Ireland I feel that 'McCarthy's Bar' could only be fully appreciated by this social group, perhaps to be viewed by the Irish themselves as stereotypical and even offensive at times. Nonetheless, being English, I enjoyed the read. The allusion to 'Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence' had me giggling to myself on the tube (much to the bemusement of other passengers). The central theme of the book - whether McCarthy belongs in England or Ireland - is perhaps its weak point. I can't help but feel that had he not spent his travels staring at people with enough intensity to recreate them on paper - or sitting in the corner of a room scribbling furiously on a notepad - he might have felt more of a part of things. Despite the fact that I often drifted in parts, the humour is enough to keep you going. I'd definitely recommend it.