Picasso’s long life of creative achievement Of all 20th century artists the work of Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) is perhaps the most easily recognised. But for the ordinary gallery goer getting to see his important works of art usually involves a great deal of travelling from Paris and Madrid to Moscow and Tokyo and other far-flung…
The Best-Loved Poems from the Irish, selected translations of Gabriel Fitzmaurice, introduction by Alan Titley (Mercier Press, €14.99) These days when there is clearly an official drive to make us all more conscious of the Irish language, there yet remain as great many people for whom ‘the Irish’ remains a closed world. Here in…
New Perspectives on Conflict and Ireland in the Nineteenth Century, edited by Paul Huddie, Cathal Billings and Arlene Crampsie (Liverpool University Press, £105.00 / €121.00) This collection of essays is the product of a conference of historians at Liverpool University. The subject for discussion was “Conflict in Ireland in the Nineteenth Century”. The contributions…
In these years of self-publishing many books reach a literary editor’s desk which would be of great interest to a limited audience, which have little appeal for a general publisher. Anything sent into The Irish Catholic will be considered for review; though the Books Editor cannot enter into correspondence about why a title might be turned away.…
The Gospel of Irish Music, by Julie McCabe-Johanning (Atlantic Papers, €16.49) Traditional Irish music is one of the most important identifiers of Irish culture that exists for many people. In its various forms, both highly commercial and warmly local, it has literally conquered the world. However, we do not think of it in association with…
Not Making Hay: The life and deadlines of a “diary” farmer, by Frank McNally (Gill Books, €22.99 / £ 20.50) An Irishman’s Diary”, sometimes “An Irishwoman’s Diary”, in the Irish Times is “a near-century-old institution in Ireland’s most literary newspaper”. These are the words of the current lead writer of the Diary, Frank McNally,…
Unbridled Joy, by Joan McBreen (Salmon Poetry, €12.99) Joan McBreen’s first book of poems, The Wind Beyond The Wall, which was awarded the prestigious Nicholas Roerich poetry prize in the US, was published there and in Ireland in 1990 by the distinguished Story Line Press. Commentators noted that her poetry evokes a contemporary Ireland struggling…
Séamus Murphy (1907-1975) Sculptor, a centenary album Edited by Peter Murray assisted by Clare Hennessy (Gandon Editions / Crawford Art Gallery, Cork, €39.00 + postage) This book was sent to us for review after some discussion with the editors at the publishers about titles that would be of interest to our readers. This account…
Ireland Bunreacht na hÉireann/The Constitution of Ireland (Government Publications Office, available both in printed form and as an online resource; Address: Jonathan Swift Street, Trim, Co. Meath, C15 NX36; website: https://www.gov.ie/opw/) It might behove us all in the present campaign for the office of President of Ireland to actually look at the 1937 constitution and…
Memorialising Émigré Dignity: The Cultural Heritage of St Anthony’s College, Leuven, Edited by Francis M. O’Donnell (Irish College, Leuven, €20.00) The Franciscan Irish College of St Anthony of Padua was founded by the rulers of the Spanish Netherlands, Archduke Albert and Infante Isabella, in May 1617. From the outset the main aim of the…
Peter Costello