An excellant introduction to understanding the Irish is Leon Uris's "Trinity."

My mother was Irish and my father's parents were Irish so although born in the U.K. I am of complete Irish Blood. Our history is rich and varied and I did read Trinity maybe 20 years ago. I urge you to read two books by Edward Rutherford. One is called Dublin and the name of the other one escapes me for the moment. I do have the book at home. It is only by reading the history of our people will you come to recognise the greatnes of this land and people. Ireland was Britain's first colony and now, over 800 years later, is still a colony - at least in the North. It is definitely in our genes. Did you know that the last Jamaican slave ship left from Ireland? It was under Cromwell's time and he kidnapped 2000 little children under seven years of age and they were sent to the West Indies to grow up as Protestants. Torn from Catholic families. The British plantocracy did not want them and the children's lives were saved by the slaves as the slaves fed them and kept them alive. A slave had monetary value but not the life of a Irish child. Ireland had Kings and Scholars of great learning whilst the British were still daubing their bodies with blue dye and going to war. and if you want to learn the Gaelic for kiss my butt then it is 'pog ma hohn'. Blessings.

I have not read "Trinity' and I wish I had! It will certainly be on my list now! I cannot give an opinion on the book although it sounds brilliant, but I have to respond in regards to the value of reading good books and learning. To read is to enter a different world with different people, events and times, a world I usually regret leaving. My seven year old loves to read just like me and I am so thankful; her life will be so much richer because of books. To read is to expand the mind and learn, like in the case of a culture and its descendants, words can paint a picture and go deep into characters; that in itself is self discovery.