The Rule of the Land: Walking Ireland's Border

by Garrett Carr

In the wake of the EU referendum, the United Kingdom's border with Ireland has gained greater significance: it is set to become the frontier with the European Union. Over the past year, Garrett Carr has travelled this border, on foot and by canoe, to uncover a landscape with a troubled past and an uncertain future. Across this thinly populated line, travelling down hidden pathways and among ancient monuments, Carr encounters a variety of characters who have made the frontier their home. He reveals the turbulent history of this landscape and changes the way we look at nationhood, land and power.


The book incorporates Carr's own maps and photographs.

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

312 pages, Paperback

First published February 2, 2017

About the author

THE BOY FROM THE SEA
"A novel of heart-bumping power and sparkling vividness, this book evokes the seethe and surge of an island nation's sea fables while being suspicious of sentiment, often wittily so. A story about a very specific place that somehow comes to seem an everywhere and a people who feel familiar as faces in mirrors. A breathtaking achievement." Joseph O'Connor, author of Star of the Sea and My Father's House. 

“Compulsive reading . . . Compassionate, lyrical and full of devilment.” Louise Kennedy, author of Trespasses

"The Boy from the Sea is a single-generation family saga as dazzlingly compact as it is comprehensively insightful, a love story in which the tenderness and forbearance are all the more moving for the eloquence with which the hardships and reticence are rendered." Jim Shepard, author of The Book of Aron 

"The Boy from the Sea has that rare quality I often find myself searching for in a novel – narrative intimacy among the vastness of life. Garrett Carr is meticulous and precise in his writing – the skilled invisibility of a true craftsman. This book is fully alive, and enlivens the reader." Rónán Hession, author of Ghost Mountain 

"I was captivated by the trials and triumphs of the Bonnars. A bittersweet ballad of a novel, I'll be thinking about for a very long time."Jan Carson, author of The Fire Starters 

THE RULE OF THE LAND: WALKING IRELAND'S BORDER
A BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week

“Great writing about landscape and history” Colm Tóibín (Bad Blood, Brooklyn)

“Garrett Carr engages a mapmaker’s eye and a writer’s sensibility to create a great book” The Irish Times

“It is Carr's contention that Ireland is more divided than any of us suspected — not in two but in three: north, south and borderland. The third state is opened up in this marvellous book” The Daily Telegraph

“Timely, informative and often very funny” Tom Holland (Rubicon, Persian Fire)

“Packed with interest – varied and fun to read” Times Literary Supplement

“Powerfully captures the often desolate beauty of the border landscape in language that is both robust, yet lyrical” David Park (Light in Amsterdam, The Truth Commissioner)

“Wonderfully written [and] like good art should, it constantly surprises and offers new perspectives; you see things differently afterwards” Irish Independent

“From ancient defensive monuments to newly-built peace bridges, Carr gently uncoils themes of land, home, and power” Irish Examiner

“A poignant, funny, memorable read, layered with ideas” Nicholas Crane (BBC)

“A sensitive portrait of the people of these borderlands, and his maps of the route are full of unexpected, lively detail” Radio Times

“Reminiscent of Tim Robinson's response to landscape and what dwells within” Sunday Times

“An exceptional read” Sunday Independent

“The place is rich indeed in life and stone, and I have seldom encountered line drawings as clear and beautiful and photographs as fine as those that appear in this brilliant guide to the border” Literary Review

In the wake of the EU referendum, Ireland's border has gained greater significance: it will be the UK's frontier with the European Union. Over the past year, Garrett Carr has travelled this border, on foot and by canoe, to uncover a landscape with a troubled past and an uncertain future. Across this thinly populated line, travelling down hidden pathways and among ancient monuments, Carr encounters a variety of characters who have made this liminal space their home. He reveals the turbulent history of this landscape and changes the way we look at nationhood, land and power.

The book incorporates Carr's own maps and photographs.

Author of THE BADNESS OF BALLYDOG

“A born storyteller … ”
The Times
“One of the most imaginative debut children's novels I've read in a long time … Carr's writing is a joy - confident, muscular and fearless.”
The Irish Independent
"... one of those books that makes me wish there were no ca

Reviews

[Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Rule of the Land: Walking Ireland's Border' by Garrett Carr

4.5 stars/ 9 out of 10

I am always interested in reading books about Ireland, both fiction and nonfiction, so was interested in reading 'The Rule of the Land: Walking Ireland's Border'. In this book, following the EU referendum, Garrett Carr sets out to travel the border between Northern Ireland and Eire.

Carr has a very attractive writing style, and I was at no stage bored whilst reading his book. The book includes excellent nature writing, as well as interesting historical, political and cultural background. It has none of the rather annoying flippancy that some other 'personal travel' books have. The book is enhanced by maps and photos.

There was much of interest to me here, ranging from information about Cúchulainn and about the Vikings, to the possible implications of Brexit for the Border area. I was especially interested in the section relating to place names and their importance, which reminded me of the play 'Translations' by Brian Friel.

I think that there is much here to appeal to a wide audience. I strongly recommend this book.

Thank you to Faber and Faber Ltd and to NetGalley for an ARC.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the coming of Brexit, the future of the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland is still to be determined. Many worry the reimposition of a hard border will jeopardize the 1998 Peace Accord. Borders are in and of themselves interesting. Carr has written the second book about walking this border in recent times. The previous book was Walking Along the Border by Colm Toibin, published in 1987. It was republished in 2001 with a new title Bad Blood: A Walk Along the Irish Border, intended to attract readers interested in The Troubles.

Carr is a geographer and it is apparent in his content. There is a lot of attention to details about geological characteristics, lakes, rock formations, etc. There is less content about the border during the Troubles than I expected. Carr includes history, including ancient history and mythology. My favorite details were the stories about the people who Carr refers to as "borderlanders". Many are taciturn, and seem eager to end conversations. Not all are friendly though most are. There is little to do for young people in the area so some spend their time and money on souping up their cars and racing about.

The maps in this book were not easy to interpret. This is ironic as the author is a map-maker. They focused on small details of areas, and I was never sure where he was in Northern Ireland. My favorite fact was learning that the lighthouse in Carlingford Lough was built by the Lighthouse Stevensons. This was a dynasty of lighthouse builders from Scotland, related to the writer, Robert Louis Stevenson (see The Lighthouse Stevensons: The extraordinary story of the building of the Scottish lighthouses by the ancestors of Robert Louis Stevenson.

This book makes a good companion read with Toibin's earlier book. They are very different, and taken together provide a compelling story.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the fallout from Brexit, the only land border between the UK and Europe will be between 300 miles along the porous border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. This line once staffed by soldiers and checkpoints had started to fade back into obscurity as the tensions and anger from decades of the Troubles eased and dissipated. Garrett Carr decided to walk and canoe along this border, to get a sense of the state of these nations and discover more about the people and places. The area he walks through are lightly populated with the odd farm and some villages and towns. Some of the people he meets on his journey are friendly and welcoming, others suspicious and reserved, a hangover from times past. It is a beautiful part of the world, full of ancient monuments, crannogs, ruined forts and the relics of recent history, checkpoints and damaged bridges, illegal border crossing points and observation points.

The book is a lovely blend of ancient history, contemporary issues, and of course travel. Carr touches lightly on the Troubles, reporting incidents and events of atrocities as he passes where they took place; he does not judge either side, leaving us to wonder about the point of some of the most cruel events. Whilst peace has returned to the region, people are still sensitive to the past. Carr is an eloquent and lyrical writer making this book a pleasure to read as he takes us through this liminal borderland. He has a great selection of photos taken throughout his walk of significant and interesting features. As well as that, the maps are probably the best I have seen in any travel book, ever, but you’d expect that given his background. It is a significant book about this country and I can highly recommend it.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timely book that was written after the Brexit referendum and read by me during the shambolic Brexit process. Garrett Carr walks the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, a very squiggly, often irrational and impractical, line that resulted from the partitioning of the six counties in 1921. He doesn’t shy away from discussing the ‘Troubles’ but is never politically biased. I love the map he creates along each section of the border, recording historical and prehistoric sites as well as old checkpoints and unofficial border crossings. The people he meets are an indigenous breed he refers to as borderlanders, with their own take on their political and geographical situation and their own brand of humour. When he can’t walk, he canoes the line of the border with his friend, Paddy. Some of his best writing is during these stretches. On seeing a kingfisher, he writes

The kingfisher glides ahead of us, going only a little faster than we are, before our bow for half a minute or so. Its blue is amazing. It is like a tear in the material of this world, a hole into a different, brighter place. One heavy downbeat of its wings and it cruises right, into the trees, and disappears. I hope for another sighting but it never comes. From the stern Paddy says, ‘I’ve seen more rubber ducks in the wild than I’ve seen kingfishers.’

Towards the end of his journey, Carr recalls the words of a comedian wondering what will happen if Northern Ireland leaves the European Union. ‘We’re going to need the border again....if anyone can remember where we left it.’

If you’re interested in Ireland, its topography and its history, this is a very readable and enjoyable book which I strongly recommend.....no matter what happens in the next months and years ahead.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garret is inspecting a souterrain, to the delight of a farmer who thought it was a fox den.
"Old, is it?" the man asks.
"Yes, very."
"Pre-war, is it?"
"Yes," I say. "If by war you mean the Norman invasion."

That's a flavour of the lively, logical, lyrical and lamenting adventure. Garret Carr walked, paddled and camped his way around the crinkly border between NI and Ireland. Lanes, fields, lakes and woods were bisected by a line on the map.

In tandem with folklore, history and geography, we are told about the Troubles when the border was guarded, smuggled through and flouted with great regularity. This could be funny if it wasn't so tragic so often. Today all is at peace and holidaymakers are welcomed by everyone. We're told of proposals to lead tours around the border but for now, there are farms and a paintball venture.

I enjoyed the read and the account is well written, also illustrated with photos. This author has previously written fiction for children set in the same area.

I downloaded an ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Nicholas Whyte · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3321903.html

As Brexit looms at the end of this month, this book looks at what life is actually like along the Irish border, the author walking and camping (and occasionally canoeing) along the entire disputed length of it. He goes from south-east to north-west, so starting with the bits I know best and taking me into less well charted territory; it's a lovely series of vignettes of the realities of the land, and the brutal history that goes along with it. There is a particularly memorable sequence in the middle that segues from Barry McGuigan as hero to Sean Quinn as villain. The section on the cave networks which are literally undermining the border between Cavan and Fermanagh is also pretty memorable. A good book to give to anyone who doesn't really understand the Ireland/Brexit relationship, and isn't all that interested in the politics.

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

SEE THE ORIGINAL BOOK REVIEW ON MY BLOG

At first I thought that I would have trouble understanding the topic at hand, aftertall not being either Irish or British means that the history of both countries was touched very lightly in History class. I could not have been more wrong. The author has done a great job on explaining each country’s history, both the old and the modern. I understood everything Carr mentioned in his book and only had to do one quick Google search to pick up on something I’d never heard about before. It was highly informative and now I feel like I know much more of the region’s history.

As a member of the EU with dreams of one day living in the UK I was gutted to see the outcome of the vote, as well as mad at the populist propaganda going around both online and in real life. However, I never thought of the implications the divide would have on a fragile, and thin, border that has seen many acts of violence until not too long ago. Now, after having read this book, I am much more aware of the impact this could have in the region.

I loved how the author gave the people living in the areas he travelled through a voice and an opportunity to express their opinions regarding Brexit, particualarly because Northern Ireland, as a majority, voted Remain (read: stay in the EU) while the UK, as a majority, voted Leave (read: leave the EU).

The photos the author included in the book were a very good call. At times I had trouble picturing the exact look of a particular place that was being described and too lazy to look it up so seeing those pictures was a great asset and added depth to the narrative.

Lastly, I’m giving it a strong 3.5 stars because at times I was not interested in the history. You can’t imagine how guilty I’m feeling for writing this, but it’s my honest opinion. Sometimes the writer went into too great detail about a particular event that didn’t feel very relevant to the whole narrative.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author kayaks and walks the Irish border east to west. Throughout the book, the effects of impending Brexit loom. When Britain leaves the EU this will be the only land border between the UK and Europe. A frontier which, for the last 20+ years has been almost invisible. Carr talks to the people from both sides of the border who will be (in all cases) very adversely affected should a "hard" border be established. He reminds us of the bad old days when smuggling was a way of life for many and the many kms of "Unapproved" roads were used for the purpose despite being barricaded, demolished or made otherwise impassable. There always seemed to be a way around. This reader had first hand experience aiding and abetting my uncle's felonious deeds in the drive from Blacklion to Belcoo. He would come up to Belfast with my cousins and we would all drive back to Sligo in his black Austin. Going over the border he would have put boxes of buttons in the wheel wells of the car and all the kids would be sitting on bolts of cloth, using them as cushions. Of course, he knew most of the Customs Officers. I remember on dark night going over the border and all that could be heard was, "Hello Joe" from the Customs officer and "Hello Joe" from my uncle the tailor. Garrett Carr also talks about the numerous killings carried out in the name of Irish Nationalism and in preserving the British Union; a time of Trouble, a return to which doesn't bear thinking about.

[Kristina Cosy Novel Niche · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting yet strange book. If you are passionate about Ireland you will enjoy it, however it is somehow inorganic. It is the story of a whole travel along the border, with a collection of thoughts about what it means and what are the consequences of its presence. However each episode in which I was interested was too short and the ones I perceived as less relevant were quite long. This doesn't mean that the book is not enjoyable and I have learned much more about Ireland, just it wasn't exactly my cup of tea.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Garrett Carr has walked Ireland's border and has
done his best to make this borderland interesting.
I needed Google images to help met get through the book.
The writing was not enough to spark my interest.
Visuals are esssential and the
book had only a few paltry b/w images. (disappointing)
Carr has the tendency to lapse into anecdotal narrative.
This left me skimming a few pages. (ho...hum)
In short, the book title promised an interesting walk
...but did not deliver.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

At roughly 100 pages, I'm giving up on this one. P
Promising premise, but execution didn't engage me.

[Nicole Field · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a love of everything Ireland, so this recent release, documenting a walk along Ireland's border, written just after the Brexit vote, was almost certainly going to be something up my alley. Part travelling journal, part historical account, part mythology, this book has something for everyone.

However, I don't believe that most people will love every single part of it with equal amounts.

For me, for example, my interest was in the changing parts of Ireland's language, and also the mythology and fairy related nonsense, noted as it was to particular places that the writer walked along.

I noted lingo such as 'a notion': He has a notion of her. She has a notion of him. To have a notion of someone is to see potential in them, to see potential in the idea of you together. I'm talking about love.

Domees: A piece of borderland vernacular, a name for these prehistoric tombs.

And drumlins: thick bands stretching across Ireland, much of it corresponding with the borderland. "Although the hill form is found in many parts of the world, the name was shaped here, in the Irish language, from droimnín, by way of drym and druim. It means little ridge."

I'm definitely glad that I read it, specifically because I love Ireland, though I don't think it'll be the kind of thing I read again.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a good read if you are interested in Ireland and the how the partition affects the country today. Sometimes the author seemed a little melodramatic in his thoughts about what may have taken place in the borderland through the years. I wish he would have included more about his own life - what was it that drove him to walk the border - what answers was he looking for? I'm not even sure where he grew up exactly. But he does a good job of making the reader think about how the borderlands have kind of become a no man's land. It wasn't an easy journey for him to take (on foot and by water) so I hope it answered some questions for him. I purchased the book at Charlie Byrne's bookshop in Galway. It's hard to imagine Ireland will ever be united again.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the kind of meditative non fiction that I like to luxuriate in. Carr talks about all sorts of topics-ancient history, modern history, the creation and delineation of landscapes, identity politics, etc with the common binding thread of it all being Ireland's reality-a complex tapestry of ideas and people. Carr stays relatively neutral in the North/South divide which enhances the dreamy sense of travel. I do recommend that readers have a strong interest in Ireland and/or an interest in history/landscape.

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the title suggests, Carr walked the border between Northern Ireland (part of the UK) and the Republic of Ireland (NOT part of the UK). This is a very recent book, published in 2017, prompted by Brexit. Carr walked the border during a time of uncertainty about the border’s future. Parts of the border during the Troubles were places of great tension and violence, with military presence. After the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, border patrols and stations slowly but surely disappeared. Remnants and reminders of this turbulent history of violence and peacemaking are still visible within the terrain today, something that Carr talks about extensively. He walks during a time in which people were worried about border checks and restrictions returning – given that the UK would now no longer be a part of the EU.

Carr is a Donegal-born writer and mapmaker who now lives in Belfast. A big part of his walk of the Irish border involves the creation of a new, updated map. He uses maps and an old Ordnance Survey to ensure that he follows the border as closely as possible, but as he travels he marks previously unmarked footpaths and “unofficial connections” between the North and South. Carr inserts his maps throughout the book, with little icons to mark all of the objects and places of interest along the way. He travels mostly on foot (alone) and occasionally via canoe (with the help of his friend, Paddy), trekking the varied terrain of Ireland. He starts at the East coast and ends in the West, covering hills, lakes, and LOTS of fields. He camps in random fields and meets some friendly – and some rather aloof – folks along the way.

Carr explores the history of the border in Northern Ireland – a history that not only encompasses the mid-twentieth century Troubles, but also dates back centuries to the ancient province of Ulster. History is woven into the narrative, each chapter a mini lesson on topics ranging from monastic round towers and ancient tombs to 1950s dance halls and 1980s IRA bombings. Carr is fascinated by what remains along the borderland, which ranges from castle ruins to cement foundations of Troubles-era checkpoints and watchtowers. Carr walks with a very specific purpose: to follow the border and map it. This purpose impacts what he notices along the way; every lake and bridge has a story.

His history of every ruin and present monument is detailed – Carr clearly did extensive research before and after his walk of the border. As he walks, Carr also conducts various interviews with borderland people. Some of the interviews are pre-planned – like with Jerry and Michael, former attendees at a dance hall located on the border – while others are much more impromptu – like with a traveling librarian Ken, who Carr meets on the road and ends up spending an entire day with as they bring books to people on both sides of the border.

This book was super interesting to read in part because the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic is often arbitrary. Sometimes it is neatly separated by a body of water, but it also often goes through fields – land that looks the exact same on either side. Carr explores the idea of the land on either side of the border as a unique ‘borderland’, a category and place all its own between the North and South. This borderland both connects and divides Northern Ireland and the Republic. The borderlanders – the people who live in the borderland – seem very similar on either side; they travel back and forth often, with businesses and families that reside on both sides. Readers really feel like they’re traveling with Carr – he describes the landscape in great detail.

All in all, Carr covers a lot of ground (about 300 miles) and even more history (a few thousand years). Each chapter tells a different story, inspired by a different section of the border. I appreciated how Carr wrote the story in a very linear fashion (covering mile after mile) – it made it easier to follow, and there was a strong sense of ‘the journey’, even though he reflects on the past quite often (he jumps back and forth between his present walk and Ireland’s historical past). Contemporary issues are interwoven with conflicts of the past, revealing the many layers that make up the very landscape of Ireland.

His walk is not a walk that a lot of people could do in my opinion – he’s privileged as man for one, and he’s also got the time for it. There are few official paths for him to walk on as well, which in his case doesn’t seem to cause too many issues (aside from a handful of wary farmers), but this is definitely not a route that could be considered accessible. He trespasses quite frequently, occasionally climbing over fences. He only admits to getting lost once and conveniently glosses over eating, showering, and using the restroom. Readers are left to assume he brought enough food with him for the journey – though it also seems that Carr doesn’t make the 300 mile journey all in one go; he returns home to Belfast at least twice, but that is also very unclear. Carr is more focused on sharing history than logistics. Nevertheless, the book is particularly relevant to contemporary Irish politics, and is an interesting read for anyone remotely interested in Irish history.

[Dave Eldergill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent account of walking Ireland’s border. It’s history and it’s landscape weave through the narrative ever mindful of how post Brexit, the borderlands may take on a new significance.

[The Book Chief · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Haulbowline Lighthouse stands off shore. Waves crash at it from all sides. I think of it as the beginning because the lighthouse – smooth stone, seamless from a distance – is a fine spool from which to unwind the border. I imagine the line as three hundred miles of oily black cable, wrapped around the lighthouse, waiting to be drawn out.’

Books like these are fast becoming one of my favourite genres. They seem to strongly resonate with me and my natural sense of curiosity. The sense of freedom, the interest in new people and places and the disconnect from ‘normal’ life makes for very interesting reading. Reading books like these are pure escapism and the next best thing to doing the actual travelling yourself.

That is not to say that all travel books are the same. What sets The Rule Of The Land apart is the beautiful poetic language used throughout. Garrett Carr has written something very special here in a time when, more and more, we are beginning to define ourselves by our borders. Written in the aftermath of Brexit, the author walks the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic Of Ireland. Sometimes, he even calls upon the use of a canoe to navigate the many waterways that make up part of this border. Over the course of this journey, Carr has much to teach us.

‘I want to see how the land and its people have reacted to the border, and the ways in which the line is made manifest. First it just demarcated counties, then countries and may next be where the United Kingdom and the European Union touch – this line has a lot of responsibilities.’

The beauty of this book is that the author could be writing about any type of border. He spends much time musing about the imaginary divides that have always seemed to be there, even before maps and written records. These divides are not there just because of geographical circumstance. Religion, politics, tribal and familial factors have all played a role in shaping the territories that make up our world today. Carr expertly navigates through all this information to paint a lyrical picture of what makes the Irish border in particular a special place.

To the author’s credit, The Rule Of The Land offers a wide and varying opinion on how this unusual boundary came to be. Importantly, this opinion transcends the usual lazy political and religious stereotypes. When you scratch beneath the surface as Garrett Carr did, it quickly becomes clear that the border seems to have always been in existence in some form or other.

‘South are the Cooleys. North, the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea. The Cooleys are ruffled and pitted, the Mournes taller and polished smooth by glaciers. Mountain ranges of differing personalities and this wide band of water between; I sense the edge of kingdoms.’

The making of the border easily outdates its political creation in the 1920s. It seems as if the universe itself conspired to create an unbreakable territorial line. Ice age glaciers carved out immense troughs in the land and deposited countless drumlins ‘like a necklace of beads.’ Relics from the past such as Emain Macha, the Greenan fort and countless Stone Age burial sites point to the presence of human life thousands of years ago. Irish folklore and legends record the deeds of the great Irish hero Cú Chulainn and the indomitable O’Neill clan who defended this same border. Much later came The Big Houses that announced the arrival of a landlord class and territory of a different kind. There is also Lough Derg, which remains to be an important site of pilgrimage today.

Then there are the people who make up the border. These are as vital to its story and understanding too. Famous cases studies include Shane Leslie, Lord Brackenbridge, Barry McGuigan, Seán Quinn and Artur Kozlowski. Authors William Trevor and Brian McGilloway and their works offer the reader a chance to read and understand the land further. But it is the nameless farmers and chance encounters that really steal the show throughout this book. These ‘borderlanders‘ give Carr’s account a real flavour of what it is like to live in a area that holds so much historical and cultural baggage.

‘Drawing a line is one way to make a state where we can belong, but a sense of belonging is often lost to borders too. Even a place as small as Free Derry would be big enough for some people to feel like they were in the wrong place. Within Free Derry I’m sure you could have found at least one family that did not want to be caught up in the enclave. They might have like a further subdivision, a line painted around their house. And within that house a teenage son or daughter would have stormed upstairs and locked their door.’

The Rule Of The Land really is a magnificent book and must be a tourist board’s dream. If more people looked at the things that divide us in the light of Garrett Carr, we would have a much better understanding of who we are and where we might go today.

Would I recommend this book to a friend?

Yes. There is something in here for everyone. Whether or not you come from Ireland, you will appreciate the essence of the journey. The constant stream of stories, facts, places and events makes this book a very interesting and lively read. Obviously, for those old enough or local enough to relate to the border, this will be an extra special read. At the very least, this book will make you want to get outside and explore your own surrounding with your own two feet and a reliable tent.

Afterthoughts
As an Irishman myself, I have never particularly spent much time thinking about the border. I am from the south of the island and so any thoughts or opinions that I may have have been heavily influenced by school history books and casual politics. The best thing about this book is that it make the border a much more acceptable place. It is what it is.
I received a copy of this book to review on Kindle and thoroughly enjoyed it. However, I did feel that I missed out on the maps and photographs so I would strongly recommend buying a hard copy if available. Garrett Carr drew his own map of the border as he walked the border. Clearly, he is a man of many talents!
Reading this book should help us to understand that borders, boundaries and territories are a very natural and ingrained part of life on our planet. It is our attitudes towards them that define them for what they are and can be.
According to my Kindle, this book uses the word ‘border’ 438 times!
The language that Carr uses throughout this book is simply poetic. For example, a simple thing such as a dog and walker are described as ‘a six-legged walk waiting to happen.‘
It is very interesting how the author mentions drawing a line as ‘one way to make a state where we can belong.’ This is exactly what the main character does in Paul Beatty’s The Sellout to revive some pride in his ailing neighbourhood.

[Bronwyn Mcloughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took a while to get through this one, just dipping in for the odd chapter here and there. It was interesting comparing it with Colm Toibin's recount of his own walk along the border, from 1987, when the Troubles were not yet over and the sectarian violence was much fresher in memories. Now it is much more a back drop that leaves unsightly block houses and superannuated crossing points. Toibin's 'Bad blood' is much darker, because of the timing. Carr's is an update, reflecting on the impact a hard border might mean for interactions between the Republic and the North with the implementation of Brexit, and just altogether lighter in tone, describing megalithic structures, and their weird replicas, the beauty of a canoe paddle through any of the myriad of loughs he reconnoitres, of frost and fires, of dance halls of the past, of farmers .... I really enjoyed it because it told of places I have seen or know of, without really knowing their stories, and it is a good feeling, filling in the back story. Whimsically told, very readable for those with a fondness for Ireland.

[John Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Garrett Carr is an Irish mapmaker and writer who lives and works in Northern Ireland. He canoed and walked the 300 miles of border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. As he walked and canoed with his friend, Paddy, he made maps of the different areas he was in and tries to bring out the history and geography of this in-between land that has often had a very contentious history. He came away feeling that Ireland was not only divided between two countries but felt that this border area was a third in-between place. While checkpoints were parts of this border in the past, along with military posts, he found little more than barbed wire fences along most of it, but the suspicions of the past still remain among many of the people that live in this area. A very interesting study of an invisible borderline.

[John Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An account of a walk along Ireland's border; following in the tradition of this genre, the author combines a straight account with geographical, historical, political and other anecdotal information, to offer a rich insight into one of the most fraught borders in Europe, at a very particular moment in time, after the Brexit referendum, and before the eventual outcome becomes apparent. Additionally sharp, because it is possible that in future this trip may become much less possible than it currently is, although the opposite thought also suggests itself, that this route may eventually become a walkers tourist attraction, like a Greenway. Highly recommended for lovers of this type of travel writing or anyone interested in the subject matter.

[Joe McMahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy exploring on foot, and civil borders interest me. Garrett Carr's "the Rule of the Land" is particularly timely because of the current (early 2019) threat of Brexit. His description of walking the entire border of Northern Ireland was first published in 2017, after the fateful 2016 referendum. The greatest surprise in this work is the general loneliness along the 280 miles. Most of the border has little population. Carr is excellent in his description of what he finds on his clockwise trek. He tells of his encounters vividly. This is a worthwhile read.

[Geoffrey Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much has been said recently about the Irish border in recent times, due in large measure to the Brexit debate and the question of a “ hard” versus a “soft” border. Garrett Carr walks the length of the border, from Carlingford on the east coast to Derry in the northwest. He provides lots of information about the geography and the history of the border, with special emphasis on “ The Troubles” and the violent acts of that time. Carr is a good companion, and provides many instructive insights along the way.

[Juliette Dalitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. The concept of walking a border, mapping a border, the interludes with country people, wild camping, history, politics, philosophy, what’s not to like?! If you love travel tales that focus on encounters with the local people along the way and share my love for gaelic culture, then you’ll love this book; particularly poignant as we look towards Brexit and whatever that means for the Irish/Northern Irish border.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Garrett Carr, Faber and Faber and Net Galley for the ARC of The Rule of the Land
Walking Ireland's Border. This is an excellent account of the history of this border and its contemporary implications. The illustrated maps and great photography enhance the unique writing style. I recommend this to anyone who has an interest in Ireland, especially if you are planning on travelling to this region.

[Pedro L. Fragoso · Rating 3 out of 5]

Complicated border, difficult to justify (too much History: Poor Ireland, so far away from God, so close to Britain) and Brexit won't help. At least, for.the moment, there are no barriers.

Nice, iluminating, journey, with lots of stories and anecdotes.

(Considerations based on the BBC Radio 4 abridgment.)

[Séamas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bhí sé ceart go leor. Dúradh ar an chlúdach go raibh sé iontach greannmhar in áiteanna ach níor thug mé mórán den ghreann sin faoi deara go pearsanta, corruair b´fhéidir. Ach bhí sé spéisiúil léamh faoi chodanna den tír nach bhfeiceann an chuid is mó againn.

[Simon J Alvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting, frequently engaging account of the Irish border in the year after the Brexit vote, which captures its strangeness at a somewhat liminal time. But I still think Tobin's account hasn't been bettered.

[Ragnheiður · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book, well written and a joy to read. I am much the wiser after reading it.

[Joseph Birch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haiku review:

Waffle at the start
but soon a nice companion
and a timely read