Pilgrimage in Ireland

Library Journal

Thanks to long being viewed as the ``land of hope,'' America has always attracted large numbers of Irish immigrants. Those who came, whether in the devastating potato famine of the 1840s or at other times merely to better themselves, have retained a special place in their hearts for the land of their ancestry. Furthermore, Americans of non-Irish lineage have increasingly been drawn to the country's charms. The upshot of this has been a dramatic growth in visitors, and it is in this light that these two books should be viewed by a U.S. audience. Both are well illustrated (in the case of the Ryan volume, lavishly so) and can serve as useful guides to sites of historical interest visitors are likely to want to see. Harbison, a noted art historian and archaeologist, also provides useful insights on the type of people who made pilgrimages in Ireland, though the modern pilgrim who wants to know more of today's residents will have to turn elsewhere. Both books are written in quite sprightly fashion, and certainly for anyone with an interest in ancient or medieval Ireland, they will be of interest. Both are recommended for all British studies collections and public libraries serving goodly numbers of readers who travel.-- James A. Casada, Winthrop Coll., Rock Hill, S.C.