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Round Ireland with a Fridge
Have you ever made a drunken bet? Worse still, have you ever tried to win one? In attempting to hitchhike round Ireland with a fridge, Tony Hawks did both, and his foolhardiness led him to one of the best experiences of his life. Joined by his trusty traveling companion-cum-domestic appliance, he made his way from Dublin to Donegal, from Sligo through Mayo, Galway, Clare, Kerry, Cork, Wexford, Wicklow--and back again to Dublin. In their month of madness, Tony and his fridge met a real prince, a bogus king, and the fridge got christened. They surfed together, entered a bachelor festival, and one of them had sex without the other knowing. And unexpectedly, the fridge itself became a momentary focus for the people of Ireland.
An international bestseller, Round Ireland with a Fridge is a classic travel adventure in the tradition of Bill Bryson with a dash of Dave Barry.
An international bestseller, Round Ireland with a Fridge is a classic travel adventure in the tradition of Bill Bryson with a dash of Dave Barry.
248 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
395 people are currently reading
30692 people want to read
About the author
Tony Hawks
31 books224 followersTony Hawks, is a British comedian and author, famous for his Quizotic travel accounts undertaking bizarre wagers with friends. Hawks performs stand-up comedy, and is a regular on TV and radio panel games in the UK, including I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, Just a Minute, The Unbelievable Truth and Have I Got News for You, although he first came to prominence as one of two resident performers — the other was Jo Brand — on semi-successful BBC monologue show The Brain Drain.
He first attempted to break into show business as a serious singer-songwriter, but it was with a novelty record that he had his first brush with fame. As leader of the trio Morris Minor and the Majors, he reached number 4 in the UK charts with the Beastie Boys parody, Stutter Rap (No Sleep Til Bedtime) in 1988. It went on to sell 220,000 copies, and was number one in Australia. The follow-up, a pastiche of Stock Aitken Waterman called This Is the Chorus, fared less well.
The full-length feature film version of his book Round Ireland with a Fridge, starring Tony, Josie Lawrence, Ed Byrne and Sean Hughes, was released in Autumn 2010. Filming on the follow-up, Playing the Moldovans at Tennis, with Steven Frost, Angus Deayton, Morwenna Banks and Laura Solon, has just been completed. In March 2011 Tony travelled to Japan to appear at the Okinawa International Film Festival where Round Ireland with a Fridge was nominated for Best Comedy.
Tony Hawks donated half of the royalties from his book Playing the Moldovans at Tennis to a trust fund for Moldova, which was used to open the Hippocrates Centre, a medical centre that provides rehabilitative therapy for disabled children from socially vulnerable families. Hawks continues to support Hippocrates through fundraising and personal involvement. Hawks is the co-founder and public face of the "Tennis for Free" campaign which aims to make Britain's existing municipal tennis facilities available to all.
He is frequently confused with Tony Hawk, largely because the latter's video game franchise uses the possessive apostrophe ("Tony Hawk's"). Hawks maintains a list of emails intended for the skateboarder and his mischievous responses to them on his website. On 2 January 2008 he appeared on an edition of Celebrity Mastermind, with Tony Hawk as his chosen specialised subject. Hawks noted that his correspondents "might be able to do backside varials but they can't spell to save their lives."
In September he will begin his first National Theatre tour since 2003 with a new one man show called Random Fun.
He first attempted to break into show business as a serious singer-songwriter, but it was with a novelty record that he had his first brush with fame. As leader of the trio Morris Minor and the Majors, he reached number 4 in the UK charts with the Beastie Boys parody, Stutter Rap (No Sleep Til Bedtime) in 1988. It went on to sell 220,000 copies, and was number one in Australia. The follow-up, a pastiche of Stock Aitken Waterman called This Is the Chorus, fared less well.
The full-length feature film version of his book Round Ireland with a Fridge, starring Tony, Josie Lawrence, Ed Byrne and Sean Hughes, was released in Autumn 2010. Filming on the follow-up, Playing the Moldovans at Tennis, with Steven Frost, Angus Deayton, Morwenna Banks and Laura Solon, has just been completed. In March 2011 Tony travelled to Japan to appear at the Okinawa International Film Festival where Round Ireland with a Fridge was nominated for Best Comedy.
Tony Hawks donated half of the royalties from his book Playing the Moldovans at Tennis to a trust fund for Moldova, which was used to open the Hippocrates Centre, a medical centre that provides rehabilitative therapy for disabled children from socially vulnerable families. Hawks continues to support Hippocrates through fundraising and personal involvement. Hawks is the co-founder and public face of the "Tennis for Free" campaign which aims to make Britain's existing municipal tennis facilities available to all.
He is frequently confused with Tony Hawk, largely because the latter's video game franchise uses the possessive apostrophe ("Tony Hawk's"). Hawks maintains a list of emails intended for the skateboarder and his mischievous responses to them on his website. On 2 January 2008 he appeared on an edition of Celebrity Mastermind, with Tony Hawk as his chosen specialised subject. Hawks noted that his correspondents "might be able to do backside varials but they can't spell to save their lives."
In September he will begin his first National Theatre tour since 2003 with a new one man show called Random Fun.
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September 11, 2019This is deeply, thoroughly OK, middle of the road inoffensive book, unless you are a fridge, in which case you will probably not approve of being moved around the countryside. Fridges like to settle down. They are naturally homebodies. Movement can cause bubbles in their coolant tubes which is generally bad news.
So this is one of those gently amusing books arising from somebody deciding to do something stupid for a bet. Had Hawks tried to do this in a less prosperous part of the world a good part of the narrative would have been concerned with attempting to rescue the fridge as it was repeatedly stolen or impounded for alleged customs violations.
However for reasons possibly not even known to the author, but alcohol may have been involved, he got involved in a discussion that terminated in the assertion that Irish people were so nice, what with that natural tendency to good natured kindliness of theirs, it would be possible to hitch-hike round Ireland with a fridge. Now that duelling is currently illegal, this is the kind of assertion that can only be proven in one way.
You may, particularly if you are from Ireland, find this book to be condescending in that it is based on the belief that Ireland is a wondrous country full of good natured people up for helping somebody out to win a ridiculous bet. You may on the other hand notice that the fridge is small enough to sit on a bar stool which I suspect was an important factor. The book written about the attempt to hitch-hike round Ireland with a mega-fridge imported from the USA, or one of those giant contraptions from the 1950s would be longer and filled with more cursing. As it is this the kind of book that the Irish Tourist Board should probably be surreptitiously promoting. Good for a wet afternoon.
So this is one of those gently amusing books arising from somebody deciding to do something stupid for a bet. Had Hawks tried to do this in a less prosperous part of the world a good part of the narrative would have been concerned with attempting to rescue the fridge as it was repeatedly stolen or impounded for alleged customs violations.
However for reasons possibly not even known to the author, but alcohol may have been involved, he got involved in a discussion that terminated in the assertion that Irish people were so nice, what with that natural tendency to good natured kindliness of theirs, it would be possible to hitch-hike round Ireland with a fridge. Now that duelling is currently illegal, this is the kind of assertion that can only be proven in one way.
You may, particularly if you are from Ireland, find this book to be condescending in that it is based on the belief that Ireland is a wondrous country full of good natured people up for helping somebody out to win a ridiculous bet. You may on the other hand notice that the fridge is small enough to sit on a bar stool which I suspect was an important factor. The book written about the attempt to hitch-hike round Ireland with a mega-fridge imported from the USA, or one of those giant contraptions from the 1950s would be longer and filled with more cursing. As it is this the kind of book that the Irish Tourist Board should probably be surreptitiously promoting. Good for a wet afternoon.
January 5, 2009
Completely ridiculous and fun. A British man drunkenly accepts a 100 pound bet that he can't circumnavigate Ireland while hitchhiking with a small fridge (which ends up costing him 130 pounds). It's heartening to see all the people who help him out and really get behind his quest. Hawks has a real gift for laugh-out-loud funny writing. And there's something moving about the whole journey, too--the insight that can come from doing things that are a bit silly. Makes you want to find a household appliance and head out on the open road.
June 5, 2007
This is a gimmick travel book, and the gimmick is awesome: the author made a bar bet that he could travel around Ireland with a fridge. And by "travel," I mean "hithchike."
Unfortunately, that's the funniest part of the book. The rest of it - I got the feeling the author hadn't quite settled into his narrative voice in a written medium; much of it sounded like the kind of prolonged story that'd be hilarious if someone told it to you while you were having a couple of drinks with him. That doesn't really make for a book, though.
Ultimately, this is a forgettable book with an unforgettable concept.
Unfortunately, that's the funniest part of the book. The rest of it - I got the feeling the author hadn't quite settled into his narrative voice in a written medium; much of it sounded like the kind of prolonged story that'd be hilarious if someone told it to you while you were having a couple of drinks with him. That doesn't really make for a book, though.
Ultimately, this is a forgettable book with an unforgettable concept.
July 18, 2008
This guy's funny. But ridiculous.
It reminds me of my travels from when I was in college, when much of the excitement was a direct result of me and my friends being stupid and broke, and consequently everything around us goes wrong. And all of us wishing we were getting laid.
Tony Hawks is basically all of those things. Except he's probably still a little less broke, a smidge more competent, and a whole lot funnier than your average idiot on a college road trip. The premise, of course, is that Hawks was drunk enough to accept a bet that he couldn't travel the perimeter of Ireland in a month with a refrigerator, and he was foolish enough to follow through with the bet once he was sober again.
The big plus in all of this is that our hero, the author, does get picked up and hosted by a lot of good local characters, and he does manage to pepper his writing with some very nice reflections on the surrounding culture. And it's a very easy read.
It reminds me of my travels from when I was in college, when much of the excitement was a direct result of me and my friends being stupid and broke, and consequently everything around us goes wrong. And all of us wishing we were getting laid.
Tony Hawks is basically all of those things. Except he's probably still a little less broke, a smidge more competent, and a whole lot funnier than your average idiot on a college road trip. The premise, of course, is that Hawks was drunk enough to accept a bet that he couldn't travel the perimeter of Ireland in a month with a refrigerator, and he was foolish enough to follow through with the bet once he was sober again.
The big plus in all of this is that our hero, the author, does get picked up and hosted by a lot of good local characters, and he does manage to pepper his writing with some very nice reflections on the surrounding culture. And it's a very easy read.
October 15, 2016
This was a fairly entertaining book which does exactly what it says on the tin. Lots of laughs included and Hawks personality certainly shines through.
Having been to Ireland myself, I can certainly appreciate the craic!
It's not going to change your life but still worth the read about an entirely unique and wacky bet!
Having been to Ireland myself, I can certainly appreciate the craic!
It's not going to change your life but still worth the read about an entirely unique and wacky bet!
September 7, 2016
One drunken night, somebody wagers that Tony Hawks, a British comedian, can't or won't hitchhike around Ireland with a fridge in tow. Wrong! He does so, as the title of this comic travel memoir makes clear, which is hilarious.
Unfortunately, there isn't much more hilarity once you get past the title. There's an amusing encounter with Prince Charles in a rope line, which I'll long remember. And to be clear, Tony Hawks did crack me up approximately a dozen times. Really cracked me up. But a dozen laughs over the course of an otherwise deeply unfunny, ploddingly dull 250-page book qualifies as a bomb.
My advice: smile at the narrative embedded in the title and skip the book.
Unfortunately, there isn't much more hilarity once you get past the title. There's an amusing encounter with Prince Charles in a rope line, which I'll long remember. And to be clear, Tony Hawks did crack me up approximately a dozen times. Really cracked me up. But a dozen laughs over the course of an otherwise deeply unfunny, ploddingly dull 250-page book qualifies as a bomb.
My advice: smile at the narrative embedded in the title and skip the book.
February 4, 2013
Read this book years ago and really enjoyed it, just finished the audio book read by the fridge man himself. Still very funny and interesting to hear the story from the storyteller.
March 11, 2021
I read this in school because I thought it was the skateboard guy, it was alright
January 5, 2017
Generally interesting enough , quirky and cheeky in many ways.
I think a lot of the humour didnt work for me but may do for those reading it from a non Irish view point. Things that may seem a bit mad to some all felt very mundane to me so didn't grab me really.
Still a fun enough book and an interesting look at what people will do if they hear about something going on on the radio.
I think a lot of the humour didnt work for me but may do for those reading it from a non Irish view point. Things that may seem a bit mad to some all felt very mundane to me so didn't grab me really.
Still a fun enough book and an interesting look at what people will do if they hear about something going on on the radio.
April 19, 2013
Honestly, one of the funniest, happiest books I've ever read.
February 16, 2017
You know that tiny voice in your head that tells you to DNF a book? The voice that constantly reminds you that life’s too short to read bad stories? I really need to learn to listen to that voice.
Round Ireland with a Fridge is the memoir of British comedian Tony Hawks. I’d never heard of Tony Hawks (maybe because I’m not British), but the book sounded delightfully pointless. I’m always up for a good idiotic adventure. Also, I’d love to go to Ireland someday. I thought I could live vicariously through the book.
The story starts with Tony waking up hungover and discovering a note from his friend. While they were drunk the night before, the friend bet Tony 100 Pounds that he couldn’t hitchhike around the circumference of Ireland with a refrigerator. Tony didn’t want to lose a bet that he didn’t remember making, so he bought a mini fridge (which cost 130 Pounds), and set off around Ireland. I assumed that hilarity would ensue.
It didn’t. The memoir is extremely slow and repetitive. It’s about a guy with a bad hangover who spends a month dragging a fridge from pub to pub in Ireland. In the process, he goes surfing and has sex in a doghouse. That’s it. At first the adventure is amusing, but there are only so many stories of Stupid Things Drunk Strangers Do In Bars that I can take. I quickly stopped caring about Tony and his fridge. I know that the point of his journey was to be pointless, but I just got angry at him. He gets to spend a month in Ireland. He chooses to spend it getting drunk. You can get drunk anywhere in the world. At least do something mildly interesting on your trip!
I didn’t click with Tony’s personality. He’s a comedian, but I didn’t find him funny. He’s condescending to the Irish people, and it’s a blow to his ego when they don’t recognize him as the “Fridge Man.” Most of his rides are the result of being on a radio show. He complains when he actually has to hitchhike. He also likes to pick out his “favorite” girl at a pub and hit on her relentlessly, even if she’s there with a date. Tony is probably nice in real life, but in the book, he comes across as an entitled, conceited person. I didn’t understand his humor. Maybe he’s trying to be self-deprecating?
I do completely agree with this quote, though:
This book wasn’t for me. I would have saved myself a lot of disappointment if I had listened to my instincts and taken it back to the used bookstore instead of forcing myself to finish it.
Round Ireland with a Fridge is the memoir of British comedian Tony Hawks. I’d never heard of Tony Hawks (maybe because I’m not British), but the book sounded delightfully pointless. I’m always up for a good idiotic adventure. Also, I’d love to go to Ireland someday. I thought I could live vicariously through the book.
“The more foolish, illogical or surreal one's actions were perceived to be (and mine surely fell into one of these categories), the wider the arms of hospitality were opened in salutation.” – Round Ireland with a Fridge
The story starts with Tony waking up hungover and discovering a note from his friend. While they were drunk the night before, the friend bet Tony 100 Pounds that he couldn’t hitchhike around the circumference of Ireland with a refrigerator. Tony didn’t want to lose a bet that he didn’t remember making, so he bought a mini fridge (which cost 130 Pounds), and set off around Ireland. I assumed that hilarity would ensue.
It didn’t. The memoir is extremely slow and repetitive. It’s about a guy with a bad hangover who spends a month dragging a fridge from pub to pub in Ireland. In the process, he goes surfing and has sex in a doghouse. That’s it. At first the adventure is amusing, but there are only so many stories of Stupid Things Drunk Strangers Do In Bars that I can take. I quickly stopped caring about Tony and his fridge. I know that the point of his journey was to be pointless, but I just got angry at him. He gets to spend a month in Ireland. He chooses to spend it getting drunk. You can get drunk anywhere in the world. At least do something mildly interesting on your trip!
I didn’t click with Tony’s personality. He’s a comedian, but I didn’t find him funny. He’s condescending to the Irish people, and it’s a blow to his ego when they don’t recognize him as the “Fridge Man.” Most of his rides are the result of being on a radio show. He complains when he actually has to hitchhike. He also likes to pick out his “favorite” girl at a pub and hit on her relentlessly, even if she’s there with a date. Tony is probably nice in real life, but in the book, he comes across as an entitled, conceited person. I didn’t understand his humor. Maybe he’s trying to be self-deprecating?
I do completely agree with this quote, though:
“I'm against the death penalty. I believe that it is a mistake to show that killing people is wrong by killing people. However I'm not against the random killing of people who snore.” – Round Ireland with a Fridge
This book wasn’t for me. I would have saved myself a lot of disappointment if I had listened to my instincts and taken it back to the used bookstore instead of forcing myself to finish it.
September 2, 2011
The touching tale of a man and his fridge, this is the story of English comedian Tony Hawks who, for a £100 bet, hitch-hikes around Ireland in one month with a fridge.
This book really shows the good of people and the lengths some will go to to help someone else with no thought of reward. It's sad to think that this sort of thing would increasingly be harder to accomplish as people turn more inwards and less likely to help one another.
At times laugh out loud funny and at other times philosophical this book is a great read. The only downside was that it felt a bit rushed the whole way and I would have liked to have heard more about the people who went out of their way for Tony and the fridge.
This book really shows the good of people and the lengths some will go to to help someone else with no thought of reward. It's sad to think that this sort of thing would increasingly be harder to accomplish as people turn more inwards and less likely to help one another.
At times laugh out loud funny and at other times philosophical this book is a great read. The only downside was that it felt a bit rushed the whole way and I would have liked to have heard more about the people who went out of their way for Tony and the fridge.
February 11, 2011
This book was awesome-- it's soo the type of travelogue I love to read. The title alone is enough to make you want to read it (and the cover, as tattered as it may be), but the premise behind his quest really hooked me. I read this book in about 2 days, and can honestly say that there wasn't a boring part to be found. In fact, I found myself laughing out loud at some of the people and situations he encountered, or just the way he described them. He's definitely got a way with humor, which I'm sure lended to my enjoyment of the story :) Also throw in that Ireland is a beautiful and enchanting country (I recognized many of the locations from my visit to Ireland a few years ago), and that the Irish are an amusing and lovely culture -- and I was smitten with his story :) Overall, this book was definitely a thumbs up for a traveler such as as myself -- but I can see how many different people would enjoy reading this. It's just too funny and quirky NOT to love it :)
January 23, 2020
It was ok, but I expected much more of a book about a journey around Ireland.
There were some parts that made me laugh, though; it's a light reading.
(I spent 3 weeks in Ireland in 1995, I didn't hitchhiked - I travelled mostly by bus - but I think my journey was much more interesting than his as I went to many interesting places other than just local pubs...)
There were some parts that made me laugh, though; it's a light reading.
(I spent 3 weeks in Ireland in 1995, I didn't hitchhiked - I travelled mostly by bus - but I think my journey was much more interesting than his as I went to many interesting places other than just local pubs...)
June 9, 2025
Never judge a book by its cover. What appeared to be a ludicrous cheap book turned out to be an amazing novel about the kindness of people with an Irish backdrop. Definitely a feel good novel with a great adventure to follow.
February 28, 2017
What happens when you make a stupid bet while drunk at a bar? If you are anything like Tony Hawks, you actually try to win the bet. With £100 at stake, Tony Hawks decides to hitchhike around Ireland with a fridge (even though buying the fridge cost him £130). Round Ireland with a Fridge is a travel memoir about the adventures Tony Hawks had with his fridge.
First of all, it is important to point out that Tony Hawks is a British comedian and is not to be confused with the skateboarder. While he is best known for his travel memoirs, Hawks first claim to fame was as the lead of the comedy band Morris Minor and the Majors, which had a hit with a Beastie Boys parody in 1988. He is also a voice actor, most notable for voicing a vending machine and a suitcase in Red Dwarf.
This book starts off with Tony Hawks talking about how he doesn’t spend much time drinking or going to bars. Then for the entire novel he drinks in bars as he hitchhikes around Ireland. Putting aside this huge contradiction this book is actually very entertaining and manages to captivate the audience for its 246 pages. Travelling from Dublin to Donegal, from Sligo through Mayo, Galway, Clare, Kerry, Cork, Wexford, Wicklow–and back again to Dublin this a story of the people he meets along the way.
The fridge actually become more of an asset that Tony Hawks originally expected, helping him get rides, free accommodation and even pick up woman. Even the fridge had its own adventures; it was christened by a nun and even went surfing. While this may seem like a gimmick you will find some interesting philosophical thoughts on people and life as Tony Hawks reflects on all the experiences he had with his fridge.
I had a lot of fun with this book and I am so glad to have read it. There were so many laugh out loud moments (I especially enjoyed Hawks views on marathons) and still offered plenty to think about. As a travel memoir I expected something like Bill Bryson and while the comedy is there I think there was more opportunity to teach people about Ireland and its culture. Highly recommend this book and I plan to seek out Playing the Moldovans at Tennis so I can dip back into Tony Hawks writing again.
This review originally appeared on my blog: http://www.knowledgelost.org/book-rev...
First of all, it is important to point out that Tony Hawks is a British comedian and is not to be confused with the skateboarder. While he is best known for his travel memoirs, Hawks first claim to fame was as the lead of the comedy band Morris Minor and the Majors, which had a hit with a Beastie Boys parody in 1988. He is also a voice actor, most notable for voicing a vending machine and a suitcase in Red Dwarf.
This book starts off with Tony Hawks talking about how he doesn’t spend much time drinking or going to bars. Then for the entire novel he drinks in bars as he hitchhikes around Ireland. Putting aside this huge contradiction this book is actually very entertaining and manages to captivate the audience for its 246 pages. Travelling from Dublin to Donegal, from Sligo through Mayo, Galway, Clare, Kerry, Cork, Wexford, Wicklow–and back again to Dublin this a story of the people he meets along the way.
The fridge actually become more of an asset that Tony Hawks originally expected, helping him get rides, free accommodation and even pick up woman. Even the fridge had its own adventures; it was christened by a nun and even went surfing. While this may seem like a gimmick you will find some interesting philosophical thoughts on people and life as Tony Hawks reflects on all the experiences he had with his fridge.
I had a lot of fun with this book and I am so glad to have read it. There were so many laugh out loud moments (I especially enjoyed Hawks views on marathons) and still offered plenty to think about. As a travel memoir I expected something like Bill Bryson and while the comedy is there I think there was more opportunity to teach people about Ireland and its culture. Highly recommend this book and I plan to seek out Playing the Moldovans at Tennis so I can dip back into Tony Hawks writing again.
This review originally appeared on my blog: http://www.knowledgelost.org/book-rev...
August 3, 2013
So I officially don't care about this man or his fridge. I've been trying to get through this book for a couple of months now. I finally listed it on Goodreads because I thought it would give me an incentive to finish it. But it's just not happening.
I think the problem is that each chapter is basically the same. TH has his bet to travel around Ireland with a fridge facilitated by a radio show that's following his story. So it's really not as wacky and visionary as it sounds -- more like a stunt than, I don't know, some kind of quixotic journey of self-discovery. (Not that I would have necessarily liked that any better.) Every time he gets to a new place, he then goes to the local pub and meets the local characters. This isn't a bad way to travel, but it doesn't make for the most interesting reading. But mostly, I'm just not that into TH. He's probably a great guy, but I'm having trouble connecting and since the book is JUST him (and a revolving cast of characters who the reader never gets to know because TH is constantly moving on to the next ride and the next B&B and the next pub; and the fridge, which doesn't talk), if you don't REALLY like TH, there's no point in sticking around.
I think the problem is that each chapter is basically the same. TH has his bet to travel around Ireland with a fridge facilitated by a radio show that's following his story. So it's really not as wacky and visionary as it sounds -- more like a stunt than, I don't know, some kind of quixotic journey of self-discovery. (Not that I would have necessarily liked that any better.) Every time he gets to a new place, he then goes to the local pub and meets the local characters. This isn't a bad way to travel, but it doesn't make for the most interesting reading. But mostly, I'm just not that into TH. He's probably a great guy, but I'm having trouble connecting and since the book is JUST him (and a revolving cast of characters who the reader never gets to know because TH is constantly moving on to the next ride and the next B&B and the next pub; and the fridge, which doesn't talk), if you don't REALLY like TH, there's no point in sticking around.
July 14, 2021
It is one of the funniest books I read which is on travel but not on travel. I would say this is the book for the people. British comedian Tony Hawks (not a skateboarder) took a drunken bet with his friends to circumnavigate Ireland. This was one of the books from Hank Green's list to read.
Round Ireland with a fridge is a book on people where people in Ireland on how people helped this hitchhiker to complete his journey. Tony's rant is what makes the book enjoyable. He and his fridge philosophy are mindblowing throughout the whole book.
Tony and his fridge become items of the curious case in ireland. There are many funny moments in this book like a baptism of the fridge in the church from some nun. It is literally a bang for the buck.
If you are fan of audiobook there is an audiobook version by Tony Hawks himself.
Round Ireland with a fridge is a book on people where people in Ireland on how people helped this hitchhiker to complete his journey. Tony's rant is what makes the book enjoyable. He and his fridge philosophy are mindblowing throughout the whole book.
Tony and his fridge become items of the curious case in ireland. There are many funny moments in this book like a baptism of the fridge in the church from some nun. It is literally a bang for the buck.
If you are fan of audiobook there is an audiobook version by Tony Hawks himself.
June 4, 2024
While drunk, Tony Hawks (not to be confused with Tony Hawk) made a bet with a drunk friend to see if he could hitch around the circumference of Ireland (not Norther Ireland) with a fridge. Needless to say, he won the bet and then wrote a book about it.
This wasn't great for me, but then I'm not a fan of drinking (there are some drunken episodes through this) or this sort of a book. That said, there were some parts to this rather inane hitchhiking tour and I can see why this would have been a lot of fun for Irish radio listeners to be involved with--rather like Canadians Scotty and Fiddy were when they hitchhiked through all 50 US states in 50 days in 2006, but Scotty's and Fiddy's blog posts were funnier--too bad their website is long gone or I'd link it here, but if you want to see their photos those are still on flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/hitch50/
This wasn't great for me, but then I'm not a fan of drinking (there are some drunken episodes through this) or this sort of a book. That said, there were some parts to this rather inane hitchhiking tour and I can see why this would have been a lot of fun for Irish radio listeners to be involved with--rather like Canadians Scotty and Fiddy were when they hitchhiked through all 50 US states in 50 days in 2006, but Scotty's and Fiddy's blog posts were funnier--too bad their website is long gone or I'd link it here, but if you want to see their photos those are still on flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/hitch50/
May 10, 2011
I was disappointed, really wanted to like it. I didn't laugh once-maybe British humor is beyond me, but it seemed to me he was looking down his nose at the Irish, and seemed to think they were all nutcases-this from a man trailing a mini-fridge. It would have interested me more if he wasn't a celebrity attracting attention-seems like most of his rides were pre-arranged due to the publicity. It would have been a totally different book if he'd been anonymous and actually hitched rides; he whined whenever he was forced to stand on the side of the road and actually hitchhike. And there were way too any pub visits and too little about places and people he wasn't trying to pick up or impress. I mean, getting a ride from a man whose van says 'Swan Rescue' is worthy of a chapter, but he didn't even explain what the man did to rescue swans, or even say if he had a conversation with the man. I kept thinking of what Bill Bryson would have made of it. I got the impression the whole thing was an ego trip, and I wouldn't call it travel writing. I'd give it one and a half stars, because there were a few mildly amusing bits, and an occasional interesting piece of information about history, though those were few and far between.
March 21, 2008
What a fun book about a guy who lost a bet and thus hitch-hiked around Ireland with a fridge. (A true story.) I don't think I've ever laughed out loud as much as I did with this book. My only "complaint" would be that there wasn't enough info about the actual cities that he visited--I would have liked to learn more. The focus was really on the people, friendships and pubs. Definitely a fun read though if you're into travel books and can see the humor in hitch-hiking around Ireland with a fridge!
August 1, 2022
This was a fun read. The title captured my interest and the interest of each person I shared the title with. I enjoyed the writing style and the photo evidence. Touring Ireland has moved up on my bucket list.
February 4, 2020
On a brief trip to Ireland, Tony Hawks was driving down a country road with a friend when the two of them saw a hitchhiker, accompanied by a full-sized refrigerator. Some years later, at a party where the liquor was flowing freely, Hawks mentioned that long-ago incident to a friend, who was as sozzled as Hawks was. A bet was made: his friend bet £100 that Hawks wouldn't be able to hitchhike round Ireland with a fridge.
A lot has to be said for Hawks's tenacity—and more, for his love of the ridiculous—when it transpires that in the cold light of day, now sober, he decided he would take up the challenge. With a small fridge, and with one concession allowed by his friend: instead of hitchhiking along the entire circumference of Ireland, he would merely go to the northernmost, southernmost, easternmost and westernmost points of the country.
Thus began a journey in which Hawks didn't just get to see Ireland, he also forged friendships with an astonishing array of strangers. He met a king, participated in a 'Bachelors Night' do, probably came close to where some snipers were holed up, and became something of a celebrity on local radio. The fridge became an icon in its own right, achieving things not even all humans end up doing.
I started off this book with no real expectations, and was soon laughing my head off. Hawks is delightfully funny (and punny) at times; sample this:
"... and so I was bounced along Donegal's roads at excessive speed to meet my TV crew, or if it pre-empted it, my maker."
Or this:
"Seamus had wanted to perform a humorous song, and had asked me to come up with something that would 'set it apart' from the other mundane entries. In the event, what would set it apart would be a quite significant drop in standard."
There are some absolutely hilarious episodes near the beginning of the trip: his very first lift, for instance, had me in stitches. The attempts to go meet Patsy Dan, the King of Tory, were funny, as were some of the eccentric characters Hawks met (and the equally eccentric things they did).
Sadly, about midway through, the funniness began to lose its shine for me. The episodes began to get too repetitive: the same old pubs, the same old eccentric Irish (eccentric, but ultimately warm-hearted and friendly). The same old welcome with open arms because they'd heard about Hawks and his fridge on the radio. Behind a point, there was not much new that was happening, and all Hawks seemed to be doing was trying to get laid.
Yes, it's funny—very funny—in places, and it's oddly inspirational too: it made me think, even if only for a brief mad moment, that I should attempt something at least halfway as loony. And it made me realize that sometimes all that's needed is to let go of your inhibitions and boldly go where others cringe to.
But, eventually, just a likeable book as far as I was concerned, not absolutely fantastic all the way through.
A lot has to be said for Hawks's tenacity—and more, for his love of the ridiculous—when it transpires that in the cold light of day, now sober, he decided he would take up the challenge. With a small fridge, and with one concession allowed by his friend: instead of hitchhiking along the entire circumference of Ireland, he would merely go to the northernmost, southernmost, easternmost and westernmost points of the country.
Thus began a journey in which Hawks didn't just get to see Ireland, he also forged friendships with an astonishing array of strangers. He met a king, participated in a 'Bachelors Night' do, probably came close to where some snipers were holed up, and became something of a celebrity on local radio. The fridge became an icon in its own right, achieving things not even all humans end up doing.
I started off this book with no real expectations, and was soon laughing my head off. Hawks is delightfully funny (and punny) at times; sample this:
"... and so I was bounced along Donegal's roads at excessive speed to meet my TV crew, or if it pre-empted it, my maker."
Or this:
"Seamus had wanted to perform a humorous song, and had asked me to come up with something that would 'set it apart' from the other mundane entries. In the event, what would set it apart would be a quite significant drop in standard."
There are some absolutely hilarious episodes near the beginning of the trip: his very first lift, for instance, had me in stitches. The attempts to go meet Patsy Dan, the King of Tory, were funny, as were some of the eccentric characters Hawks met (and the equally eccentric things they did).
Sadly, about midway through, the funniness began to lose its shine for me. The episodes began to get too repetitive: the same old pubs, the same old eccentric Irish (eccentric, but ultimately warm-hearted and friendly). The same old welcome with open arms because they'd heard about Hawks and his fridge on the radio. Behind a point, there was not much new that was happening, and all Hawks seemed to be doing was trying to get laid.
Yes, it's funny—very funny—in places, and it's oddly inspirational too: it made me think, even if only for a brief mad moment, that I should attempt something at least halfway as loony. And it made me realize that sometimes all that's needed is to let go of your inhibitions and boldly go where others cringe to.
But, eventually, just a likeable book as far as I was concerned, not absolutely fantastic all the way through.
June 21, 2012
Originally published on my blog here in February 2000.
Tony Hawks once did a comedy show in Ireland, and saw the bizarre sight of someone hitch-hiking with a fridge as though this were a perfectly normal thing to do. Telling this to a group of friends back in England led to a drunken bet that he could hitch-hike all the way around Ireland in under a month, with a fridge.
The story of the journey is amusing, but the reaction he gets is much what you would expect, bemused but genial helpfulness. There are no real surprises.
Hawks decided to go round the Republic only, omitting Northern Ireland, for reasons which derive from the Troubles. Because of the impression gained from thirty years' worth of TV news coverage, the average English person has the idea that Northern Irish life is only about bombs and punishment beatings. When he had to travel into Armagh, he did end up in one of the more intimidating parts of Northern Ireland, among "Beware of Snipers" signs and sectarian graffiti, and this served to strengthen this opinion. I was actually living in Northern Ireland at the time of Hawks' trip, and my impression was very different. The people are really friendly, in a way which is no longer seen in England, even though the community is so divided; the grim towns (full of houses built in dark stone in depressing styles) contrast with beautiful countryside - the lakes of Fermanagh, the Antrim coast and Giant's Causeway, the Sperrin mountains.
Tony Hawks once did a comedy show in Ireland, and saw the bizarre sight of someone hitch-hiking with a fridge as though this were a perfectly normal thing to do. Telling this to a group of friends back in England led to a drunken bet that he could hitch-hike all the way around Ireland in under a month, with a fridge.
The story of the journey is amusing, but the reaction he gets is much what you would expect, bemused but genial helpfulness. There are no real surprises.
Hawks decided to go round the Republic only, omitting Northern Ireland, for reasons which derive from the Troubles. Because of the impression gained from thirty years' worth of TV news coverage, the average English person has the idea that Northern Irish life is only about bombs and punishment beatings. When he had to travel into Armagh, he did end up in one of the more intimidating parts of Northern Ireland, among "Beware of Snipers" signs and sectarian graffiti, and this served to strengthen this opinion. I was actually living in Northern Ireland at the time of Hawks' trip, and my impression was very different. The people are really friendly, in a way which is no longer seen in England, even though the community is so divided; the grim towns (full of houses built in dark stone in depressing styles) contrast with beautiful countryside - the lakes of Fermanagh, the Antrim coast and Giant's Causeway, the Sperrin mountains.
May 28, 2023
2.5/5 stars 🌟
I’m sorry to give this book such a low rating, as I really enjoyed it when I started reading it. However, it just seems that, as the book went on, Tony wrote less and less about the landscapes of Ireland, or even about the people he met, and just spoke about one thing: himself!
Whilst what he was doing (hitchhiking round Ireland with a fridge) was both hilarious and admirable, he had a deluded attitude towards his own fame, and said to people on many occasions (in so many words): do you not know who I am? Do I not get special treatment?! And frequently told the same story over and over again.. they stopped me on the road and said, wait??? Are you the fridge-man?? As he said himself, (yes as a joke, but I don’t think it was far from the truth), he honestly thought he was the new messiah. The constant jabs at religion were annoying too..
Despite that, this book does have some redeeming qualities. As previously mentioned, I did enjoy the first half. In particular, the sections in Donegal and Tory Island, where he seemed to speak in more detail about the landscape and the interesting characters he met, were great. And if the entire book had been like these sections, this book could have been 3-4 stars.
But ultimately, the humour didn’t land for me and I don’t think Hawks had found his narrative voice well before writing this book.
I’m sorry to give this book such a low rating, as I really enjoyed it when I started reading it. However, it just seems that, as the book went on, Tony wrote less and less about the landscapes of Ireland, or even about the people he met, and just spoke about one thing: himself!
Whilst what he was doing (hitchhiking round Ireland with a fridge) was both hilarious and admirable, he had a deluded attitude towards his own fame, and said to people on many occasions (in so many words): do you not know who I am? Do I not get special treatment?! And frequently told the same story over and over again.. they stopped me on the road and said, wait??? Are you the fridge-man?? As he said himself, (yes as a joke, but I don’t think it was far from the truth), he honestly thought he was the new messiah. The constant jabs at religion were annoying too..
Despite that, this book does have some redeeming qualities. As previously mentioned, I did enjoy the first half. In particular, the sections in Donegal and Tory Island, where he seemed to speak in more detail about the landscape and the interesting characters he met, were great. And if the entire book had been like these sections, this book could have been 3-4 stars.
But ultimately, the humour didn’t land for me and I don’t think Hawks had found his narrative voice well before writing this book.
May 5, 2010
I don't think I've ever been as disappointed with a book as much as I am with this one. When I first came across it, I thought that the concept of a book being written about a man hitch-hiking around Ireland with a fridge was hilarious. Unfortunately, I don't think I laughed out loud once while reading it.
At first I was worried that maybe I had become immune from the hilarity of the usually unpredictable, charismatic and idiosyncratic eccentricities of the Irish due to having travelled a fair bit round the country myself, but then I realised that that couldn't be right, as Father Ted and other Irish characters depicted in film and tv still made me laugh.
No, the main problem with this book is its author, Tony Hawks. A comedian? You can tell he certainly thinks he is, but I certainly don't think so. He comes across as smarmy and arrogant, and must have dreamed up all the female attention he claims to have had in the book. He certainly doesn't have a flair for writing, he didn't manage to make his adventure sound exciting at all. I would suggest sticking to the day-job, but considering that is as a stand-up comedian, I don't think that is a very good idea either.
At first I was worried that maybe I had become immune from the hilarity of the usually unpredictable, charismatic and idiosyncratic eccentricities of the Irish due to having travelled a fair bit round the country myself, but then I realised that that couldn't be right, as Father Ted and other Irish characters depicted in film and tv still made me laugh.
No, the main problem with this book is its author, Tony Hawks. A comedian? You can tell he certainly thinks he is, but I certainly don't think so. He comes across as smarmy and arrogant, and must have dreamed up all the female attention he claims to have had in the book. He certainly doesn't have a flair for writing, he didn't manage to make his adventure sound exciting at all. I would suggest sticking to the day-job, but considering that is as a stand-up comedian, I don't think that is a very good idea either.
July 1, 2021
2021 bk 189. This has been on my wtr pile for a long time - seemingly almost as much time as it took for me to read it. This was not a sit down and read it through book - he met too many people along the way, so I read a bit each day. The humor was very 80's, young white male, and now a little stale. But the people - what wonderful people they were, willing to take in or give a ride to a young man with a small fridge on a trolley. His journey, the result of a bet, was made to order for a long radio station dj - who made daily calls to chart progress and involved a great deal of Ireland in participating in Tony's bet. At one point, I was willing to give up the book when he had been pontificating in a pub - but then a man in the pub came up and thanked Tony. For what? For bringing joy into people's lives, something to think about other than their daily life, the troubles in northern Ireland, the financial project - something fun and frivolous bringing joy. And for that I forgave a lot of things -and sat back to see what other joy he would bring and I ended the book smiling.
November 23, 2023
The author, a comedian, hitch-hiked around the coast of Ireland with, as the title suggests, a small fridge in tow on a trolley. It was done for a bet, or on a whim, or just to write the book — it’s not too important. The main thing is that Hawks did the feat, and writes about it with self-effacing wit and pointed observation of the eccentric characters along the way.
In fact the book at times is utterly hilarious; Hawks is a shrewd observer and has comic pacing to spare. There’s very little “travel book” material here, in part because Hawks doesn’t delve into cultural or social differences much, and in part because most of his time is spent in pubs and inns. He’s a people watcher, not a nation watcher. His description of an impromptu sing-along, for example, is full of admiration. Hawks clearly loves the Irish people, who embraced his mad quest with true affection, and he shows the sympathetic, fun side to the Irish well.
In fact the book at times is utterly hilarious; Hawks is a shrewd observer and has comic pacing to spare. There’s very little “travel book” material here, in part because Hawks doesn’t delve into cultural or social differences much, and in part because most of his time is spent in pubs and inns. He’s a people watcher, not a nation watcher. His description of an impromptu sing-along, for example, is full of admiration. Hawks clearly loves the Irish people, who embraced his mad quest with true affection, and he shows the sympathetic, fun side to the Irish well.
May 17, 2014
There were a couple parts that made me laugh, but in general the author's attempts to be funny were depressingly unsuccessful. He didn't seem interested in learning anything about Ireland, either. When he was in Sligo, where my family is originally from, all he did was get drunk and watch a game of football/soccer. At one point he called Irish stepdancing 'River Dance', which is sort of a pet peeve of mine and which makes clear how little Hawks (who's from England) actually knows about Irish culture. He was also really creepy to all the attractive women he met, going so far as stalking a woman he was interested in (who'd been on her second date with some other man) and complaining multiple times about how she hasn't called him. Hawks' behavior throughout the book reflects the historical nature of his country-- both are violent, self-entitled and imperialistic. I'm glad to have this disgusting book off my bookshelf. It took up space there for way too long.
February 22, 2010
This book written by the British author/comedian Tony Hawks, not the American Skateboarder Tony Hawks,and is a hilarious adventure into the Republic of Ireland where the odder you appear to be, the more you are embraced by its people.
Round Ireland with a Fridge is a true story, about Tony Hawks who took a bet that he could travel around the Republic of Ireland with a fridge, only by hitchhiking within one calendar month. The bet being for 100 pounds. However, the tale is that much more hilarious when the fridge ends up costing him 130 pounds. The ridiculousness that ensues within this book is fantastic for giving anyone who chooses to read it a well deserved lift! No pun intended.
This lighthearted, true story is one that will keep you laughing, but will leave you contemplating Tony's journey as a metaphor for your own life. Worth a read and very enjoyable!
Round Ireland with a Fridge is a true story, about Tony Hawks who took a bet that he could travel around the Republic of Ireland with a fridge, only by hitchhiking within one calendar month. The bet being for 100 pounds. However, the tale is that much more hilarious when the fridge ends up costing him 130 pounds. The ridiculousness that ensues within this book is fantastic for giving anyone who chooses to read it a well deserved lift! No pun intended.
This lighthearted, true story is one that will keep you laughing, but will leave you contemplating Tony's journey as a metaphor for your own life. Worth a read and very enjoyable!
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