Ireland 366: A Story a Day from Ireland's Hidden History

by Frank Hopkins

In this entertaining and engaging book, Frank Hopkins delivers an episode from Ireland's history for every single day of the year, including 29 February. Some are surprising, some sensational and others sad, but they are always fascinating.

The Whiteboys, the Ribbonmen, the Invincibles, the cat o'nine tails, execution by burning barrel of pitch and "pleading the belly". All of these and more feature in this exploration of Ireland's darker, hidden history.

Featuring pieces from as early as the thirteenth century and from as late as the mid-twentieth century and each sourced from the newspapers and publications of their day Ireland 366: A Story a Day from Ireland’s Hidden History is a must for Irish history lovers and everyone else.

325 pages, Hardcover

First published November 20, 2013

Reviews

[Iamreddave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining short snippets of Irish life. Would make a good Christmas present for someone with an interest in local irish history.

[Michelle RA · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read into the lesser known stories of Ireland - the majority of which were either murders/dead bodies or people in prison.

I never knew women could postpone hangings by 'pleading the belly' - which, now I think of it, makes sense, what with Ireland being a Catholic country and every child being treated as a human at the stage of conception.

[John Somers · Rating 3 out of 5]

12/20.