The Pipes Are Calling : Our Jaunts Through Ireland

by Niall Williams, Christine Breen

The authors, who moved from Manhattan to western Ireland five years ago, describe their experiences traveling through other areas of Ireland

Genres: Ireland, Travel, Memoir, Nonfiction, Irish Literature, Biography

222 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Niall Williams studied English and French Literature at University College Dublin and graduated with a MA in Modern American Literature. He moved to New York in 1980 where he married Christine Breen. His first job in New York was opening boxes of books in Fox and Sutherland's Bookshop in Mount Kisco. He later worked as a copywriter for Avon Books in New York City before leaving America with Chris in 1985 to attempt to make a life as a writer in Ireland. They moved on April 1st to the cottage in west Clare that Chris's grandfather had left eighty years before to find his life in America.

His first four books were co-written with Chris and tell of their life together in Co Clare.

In 1991 Niall's first play THE MURPHY INITIATIVE was staged at The Abbey Theatre in Dublin. His second play, A LITTLE LIKE PARADISE was produced on the Peacock stage of The Abbey Theatre in 1995. His third play, THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT, was produced by Galway's Druid Theatre Company in 1999.

Niall's first novel was FOUR LETTERS OF LOVE. Published in 1997, it went on to become an international bestseller and has been published in over twenty countries. His second novel, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN was published in 1999 and short-listed for the Irish Times Literature Prize. Further novels include THE FALL OF LIGHT, ONLY SAY THE WORD, BOY IN THE WORLD and its sequel, BOY AND MAN.

In 2008 Bloomsbury published Niall's fictional account of the last year in the life of the apostle, JOHN.

His new novel, HISTORY OF THE RAIN, will be published by Bloomsbury in the UK/Ireland and in the USA Spring 2014. (Spanish and Turkish rights have also been sold.)

Niall has recently written several screenplays. Two have been optioned by film companies.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice little travelogue of some of the major regions of Ireland as seen and experienced by an Irish/American couple who moved from New York to County Clare to experience Irish rusticity and humanity for real and for life. The book is now becoming somewhat dated, written as it was before the Good Friday Agreement and the advent of the Celtic Tiger, but much of what they detail has not changed and, hopefully, will not anytime soon. Their accounts of traveling in County Kerry, in Northern Ireland, and in Donegal are particularly vivid, personal, and moving.

[Holli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed traveling around Ireland with Niall Williams and Christine Breen and their little daughter Deirdre. This is the third memoir they've written together about their life in Ireland. I'm spacing them out because I don't want them to end.

Now that their little homestead at Kiltumper Cottage in County Clare is established and they have adopted their beautiful daughter, they are ready to take a few jaunts throughout the country. They go in search of "that Irish feeling" and they find that it "is alive and well-from Mrs. Hazlitt's guest house in Belfast to Bonnie Reina's Slea Head House in Dingle, from Ostan Inis Oirr in Aran to Bunratty Castle, from Lacken House in Kilkenny to Bantry House on Bantry Bay, from the shrine at Knock to Glencolumbkille," P. 218. Since the book was published in 1990, it is dated, but that doesn't really matter. Just think of it as "historical armchair travel." ;)

My favorite sentence in the book is: "Another Ireland was February-ing down here, but the sheets of rain that were pouring from iron skies were nothing when your feet were to the fire and a hot pot of tea with warm scones was coming from the kitchen." p. 14

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Pipes Are Calling" is the third book written by Niall Williams and Christine Breen. This Irish-American couple told of their decision to emigrate in reverse, to settle in Christine's great-grandmother's cottage in the west of Ireland, in "O Come Ye Back to Ireland." They chronicled their further adventures, and the adoption of their daughter, Deirdre, in "When Summer's in the Meadow." Now they take us with them on their travels by foot, bicycle, car and boat through the island they have come to know and love in search of that "Irish feeling, " the feeling which first called them back to Ireland. "

[Sheillagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a delightful books to read. Niall Williams writes so poetically and his words paint pictures of the Irish landscape: sea and mountains. I could visualize the places Niall, Christine and Deirdre visited on their family holidays by bike and automobile.
It is a love letter to Ireland and its wild and windy climate.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fear I have read every one of the Williams-Breen memoirs. I hope there will be another one after the In Kilumper (the garden book). This book brought back memories of travel in Ireland and also living in Scotland with its view of the sea and the variable weather.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a series of 3 (?) books By a couple that moved to Ireland to live in a cottage in County Clare. I have read the 2nd and 3rd books while waiting for the first one to come in at the library. I highly recommend them if you are interested in Ireland.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful read. Makes me want to go back to Ireland one more time.

[Homerun2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novelist Niall Williams and his artist wife Christine Breen have written two previous books about their decision to leave American city life and re-settle in rural Ireland. The books are lovely. This one is a bit different, as it's a bit of a travelogue. They vow to visit different parts of Ireland and they pack up their baby daughter and take off to explore. But as in the other books, it's a wonderful glimpse into the beauty of the place and the goodness of the people.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite different from the first two books from Williams & Breen. Those were memoirs that offered a view of living in Ireland -- the first as newcomers and the second as they settled in and expanded their family. The Pipes, though, went full on travelogue, with visits outside of their home townland that spread to the far corners of Ireland. My last time to Ireland was in late 2019, just before the pandemic shut down travel, and this was a lovely virtual visit while I continue to wait for those trans-Atlantic flights to move back into my comfort zone.

[Elizabeth Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed book #3 in the story of Niall and Christine, though I have to admit I skimmed toward the end. The first two books, O Come Ye Back to Ireland and When Summer's in the Meadow dealt more with their struggles of the house, the weather and adopting their baby. The third book is more of a travelogue, but still very interesting. I enjoyed learning about the Blasket Islands and want to read more about the people who lived there.

[Heather Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing installment from my favorite Irish/American couple! This book chronicles a series of jaunts through Ireland taken on Niall and Christine's third year living there. From secluded, quiet villages to non-existent horse fairs, they share once again the warmth and love of their life with their readers.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't get enough of Niall and Christine, and now Deirdre. Loved the first two books and love this one even more. Anyone with a love of Ireland or farming or starting out as a brand new farmer would enjoy these books. Beautifully written by Niall and Christine, their own words separated by paragraphs and different fonts, and Christine's artwork. Love it!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third Irish book written by Niall Williams and Christine Breen, a couple who moved to a small farm in The West of Ireland to make their lives there. This book focuses on a series of short trips around Ireland, usually with their small daughter Deidre. An enjoyable travelogue with some interesting insights, fun for an armchair traveller or someone planning a trip.

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is with such sadness that I close the pages on a beloved series! Perhaps some day I'll come back for a visit. If you want a gentle reminder of a simpler time, if you want to giggle at the antics of starting life fresh in a new country, if you want to share the sorrows and joys of a friendship - this is the series for you.
It is with many thanks that I'll be returning it to a beloved friend.

[Becky · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, I didn't actually READ the book. I got through about two chapters and decided that I like the genre but not this specific book, so decided not to waste my time even though I didn't currently have a book in the house to read. I did try however.

[Kathy Kayser-konig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!! As a recent visitor to Ireland (2011)) I can honestly say nearly all of the Irish people we met were as kind and helpful as described in the book. That "Irish Feeling" IS there but one must leave the big city and travel among the "small" roads to find it. ;)

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series about the family's life in Ireland. This book tells of their travels to different spots in Ireland and Ulster in Northern Ireland. I enjoyed the first two books more but did find this book interesting, especially the authors' thoughts on places I have visited.

[Lia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Turns out I read this out of order. Wish I had found this a year ago, before we had visited Ireland. We actually visited several places covered in the book, had I read beforehand perhaps our itinerary could have accommodated a few more experiences.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another in the series by these authors. Not as good as the first two. More of a tour book, but made me look forward to my upcoming trip to Ireland.

[Judy Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the book. It was a bit dry at times, but overall, it was enjoyable.

[Terry Geiger · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite book of the series so far.