Rating: 
Summary: An excellent portrayal of true Irish life!
Review: As an Irishwoman myself, more than used to typical 'Oirish' stereotyping, this book is a real - and most welcome - gem. Laugh-out-loud funny, thoughtful and clever it offers a real look at Irish life 'down the country'. Pete McCarthy has now become my number one dinner guest. A great little book.
Rating: 
Summary: a likable travel companion, an enjoyable read
Review: Englishman Pete McCarthy is searching for himself, to find a sense of place, to see if there really is something to the "romance of the diaspora." Ireland is McCarthy's destination, and with McCarthy's Bar he takes the reader on a comical and enjoyable journey. McCarthy writes in an entertaining manner, filling his book with numerous anecdotes that undescore the warmth, intelligence, and endearingly quirky ways of the Irish (and would be Irish) people. Early chapters on modern-day hippies living in West Cork and an all-night bash on the Beara Peninsula are just two examples of this. In addition, while driving his "tank" (an old Volvo) along the west coast of Ireland, the author makes some astute observations about the Irish landscape and how it has been shaped by Irish history. Crossing the River Shannon, says McCarthy, has less to do with geography than it does with outlook. Unlike England, the author's home, the Irish landscape of counties Clare, Galway, Mayo, and Donegal remain largely untouched by man, and the native people's approach to life is less hurried, less regulated. A Donegal musician tells the author about his artistic pursuit. "In England everyone just thinks you're a waster...Here, you're a respected member of the community. You entertain them, and they honour you for it. Music's at the centre of everything...That was never going to happen in Leeds." Other highlights of McCarthy's Bar include the author's trips to ancient sites of pilgrimage, including Croagh Patrick and Station Island, located on Lough Dergh. Here McCarthy combines humor with historic context, and the result is a winning combination. Unfortunately, the author's writing isn't always as disciplined as it might be, and there are times when he seems to work too hard to get a laugh. While not as memorable as David McFadden's An Innocent in Ireland, McCarthy's Bar remains a worthy addition to an increasingly popular genre, the Irish travelogue.
Rating:
Summary: a likable travel companion, an enjoyable read
Review: Englishman Pete McCarthy is searching for himself, to find a sense of place, to see if there really is something to the "romance of the diaspora." Ireland is McCarthy's destination, and with McCarthy's Bar he takes the reader on a comical and enjoyable journey. McCarthy writes in an entertaining manner, filling his book with numerous anecdotes that undescore the warmth, intelligence, and endearingly quirky ways of the Irish (and would be Irish) people. Early chapters on modern-day hippies living in West Cork and an all-night bash on the Beara Peninsula are just two examples of this. In addition, while driving his "tank" (an old Volvo) along the west coast of Ireland, the author makes some astute observations about the Irish landscape and how it has been shaped by Irish history. Crossing the River Shannon, says McCarthy, has less to do with geography than it does with outlook. Unlike England, the author's home, the Irish landscape of counties Clare, Galway, Mayo, and Donegal remain largely untouched by man, and the native people's approach to life is less hurried, less regulated. A Donegal musician tells the author about his artistic pursuit. "In England everyone just thinks you're a waster...Here, you're a respected member of the community. You entertain them, and they honour you for it. Music's at the centre of everything...That was never going to happen in Leeds." Other highlights of McCarthy's Bar include the author's trips to ancient sites of pilgrimage, including Croagh Patrick and Station Island, located on Lough Dergh. Here McCarthy combines humor with historic context, and the result is a winning combination. Unfortunately, the author's writing isn't always as disciplined as it might be, and there are times when he seems to work too hard to get a laugh. While not as memorable as David McFadden's An Innocent in Ireland, McCarthy's Bar remains a worthy addition to an increasingly popular genre, the Irish travelogue.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: Extremely funny and accurate accurate account of the real Ireland. He descibres the country and it's people perfectly.
Hilarious and brilliant!
Rating:
Summary: Outrageous
Review: For anyone who has travelled to Eire, the magical emerald kingdom, this is a must read book, i am a franco american who would love to become Irish by assimilation, if you want to get to know these wonderful people there is no better way than to sit down and have a couple of pints.Travel through Ireland is a grand experience and as Pete McCarthy writes and as you read the journey it is exhilarating, and quite funny to boot. A wonderful writer, a true humorist. Loved the book.
Rating:
Summary: Looking for the 'feel good'
Review: Having Irish ancestory, (3 out of 4 Irish grandparents)and looking for the 'feelgood factor', I bought this book. I loved it. It shows an Ireland which, although it may not be the one we are all looking for (as the writer experienced), is a country which has it all!. The Old ways are still there but it is a vibrant place where the wonderful people are benefitting from a new economic strength. Fair play to yiz all!!
Book has plenty of laugh out loud features where the writer looks for his roots and his 'genetic memories'.
Rating: 
Summary: Humour for Aegits
Review: How I wish publishers would have to print COMPLETE reviews on the covers of their books and not be allowed to fool the public with a few choice, self-serving adjectives.So, I'll add a few of my own, which I feel accurately sum up my feelings about this book: "badly written"; "disjointed"; "annoyingly contrived"; "unfunny"; "bigoted"; "boring" and "unoriginal" (everything English is rubbish, whilst everything Irish is honest, wholesome, decent...blah, blah, blah...haven't we heard all that stuff before?). Halfway through, on asking myself if I cared about the writer or his subjects, the answer was "no" - always a good reason to put a book down and get on with reading something more worthwhile. Still, at least I've finally realised, once and for all, that 'Nr. 1 Bestseller' tells us only something about the book-reading public, but absolutely nothing about the book. Mr McCarthy, if you do eventually discover that you are 'absorbed' by the country, then go there, stay there and have a good old Irish time. But please don't bother writing any more books. And, yes, I am half Irish.
Rating:
Summary: Well-written, Humor-filled, Great Reading!
Review: I absolutely loved this book. McCarthy's theme -- wondering if you can feel a sense of belonging in a place where you never actually lived -- hit home with me. Such a proposition seems very likely to be treated with wacky romanticism and foolish sentimentality, but McCarthy looks at the notion with admirable reserve instead. He knows that this is the kind of idea that might make you go all warm and fuzzy after a pint or six....but which -- if to be considered at all -- deserves to be pondered in a state of clear sobriety.
And his observations on the topic are amazing. Never one to take himself or others too seriously, he explores his theme without running it into the ground and makes the story of his journey into a great reading experience. While you might think he's mainly just out for laughs, take a closer look. His writing truly has some artistry about it. This is a book written by someone with remarkable skill. Yes. The laughs are great. But there is much more to be appreciated here. Definitely recommended. This far outdoes the usual travel writing book.
Rating: 
Summary: McCarthy's Bar
Review: I am Irish myself, and was unsure what to expect from this book. Having spent a lot of my childhood in Ireland, I was unsure if it would reflect Ireland in a true light. I am happy to say that it did, the book reflected how laid back Ireland is, and how friendly the Irish are. Many have said that this book will have you in stiches. I disagree. I found it funny in places, but found the humour rather dry. It is a very hard book to get into, and to be honest,I found it hard to keep picking it up again. I did finally finish it, but wondered if it was worth the time I spent reading it.
Rating:
Summary: A hilarious romp across Ireland.
Review: I bought this book in Ireland while on a research trip for my own novel, and couldn't stop laughing. Pete McCarthy has the Englishman's dry wit and the Irishman's gift for writing. Anyone who's been to Ireland will love it. I can't wait for his next book.
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