From Clery's Clock to Wanderly Wagon: Irish History You Weren't Taught at School - Hardcover

Damian Corless

3.87

15 ratings by Goodreads

9781848892279: From Clery's Clock to Wanderly Wagon: Irish History You Weren't Taught at School

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1848892276 ISBN 13: 9781848892279

Publisher: The Collins Press, 2014

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Most Irish history is presented in high-brow tomes written by earnest historians. Such books overlook light-hearted, lesser-told and entertaining parts of history. While most people know the shamrock is the symbol of Ireland's patron saint, who was a Welshman, most are not aware it is also the name of a bizarre misfiring make of car that became both a Kerry joke and a prized collector's item. Newly independent Ireland had two National Anthems because no one would chose between them, while two of the most famous Irish songs, 'Danny Boy' and 'It's A Long Way To Tipperary', were penned by Englishmen. Clery's Clock became an iconic meeting place after Clery's began paying the train fares of rural types who spent more than a fiver in the store. Ireland's first film censor said: 'I know nothing about film but I know my Bible.' These are just some of the surprising truths revealed in this snapshot of Ireland. Each 'oddment' tells a fascinating, often humorous, story, from the invention of the world's first cheese & onion crisp in a Dublin kitchen, to the knitting pattern on the b�inIn jumper, supposedly designed to help identify the bodies of drowned fishermen. From the high nelly to the old school Catholic catechism, and from Daniel O'Connell's duelling pistol to the abominable musical bus of the 1970s, this is a hugely entertaining ramble through the history of Ireland.

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Review:

"Corless has assembled a telling collection of moments from our past into his immensely entertaining new selected history book." -- Irish Voice "Irish Voice"

About the Author:

Damian Corless, a journalist and a former editor of Magill and In Dublin, currently contributes to the Irish Independent. He has written comedy sketches for BBC TV s classic Big Train and RTE s award-winning Stew. His acclaimed books include You ll Ruin Your Dinner and his most recent book, Looks Like Rain, a lively, humorous look at how weather has done its bit for and against Ireland over the past 9,000 years.

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