The Wicked Wit of Ireland

by Myles Byrne

Modern comedians and writers as varied as Dylan Moran, Sharon Horgan, Tommy Tiernan, Alison Spittle, Graham Linehan, and Ed Byrne have their own distinctive ways of celebrating and mocking their origins while still occasionally acknowledging the traditional "paddywackery" (meaning the rain-soaked, Guinness-sodden Oirish stereotype of old). The roots of Irish humor are for centuries, classic Irish writers have used black humor and sarcasm, ranging from the satires of Jonathan Swift, George Bernard Shaw, and Oscar Wilde through to the hilarity of J.P. Donleavy and the sublime nonsense of Flann O’Brien and Spike Milligan. This collection combines a pinch of traditional Irish humor mixed with distinctly modern one-liners, quips, and quotes from the best of the current crop of humorists.

Genres: Ireland, Nonfiction, Humor

160 pages, Hardcover

Published July 1, 2019

Reviews

[Gavinõ · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mother recently shared a story about one of the first times she met my Irish grandfather. When she walked into the room, she asked if he’d like a cup of tea. He immediately cut her off, saying, “Shhh! I’m trying to hear the deaths on the radio.” He then proceeded to listen intently for the next ten minutes to the country’s obituary announcements, waiting to hear a name he recognized. This was a daily ritual for my grandfather, and I was delighted to see that this book devoted an entire chapter to the Irish fascination with the morbid.

While this book occasionally struggles with the flow between paragraphs, author Myles Byrne does an admirable job of capturing the charming peculiarities, humor, and wit that make Irish culture resonate around the world. Some of my favorite sayings from the book include:

- “There are only two kinds of people in this world: the Irish and those who wish they were.”

- “Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them so much.”

- “Drink never drowns anyone’s sorrows. It only teaches them how to swim.”

This book is a fantastic St. Patrick’s Day gift for anyone who could use a little “Craic” and a hearty laugh.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

An overview of humour in Ireland and containing many well known jokes and phrases re the Irish sense of humour. Also, including phrases that O haven't come across previously with contributions from Behan, Wild, Yeats, O'Brien, just to name a few of the illustratious.
Well worth a read and laugh

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light reading.....you know, planes, trains or automobiles. It's a fast reading, easily digestible, and sometimes memorable compilation of humor with an Irish perspective. Some of the jokes would be suitable for openers, toasts, but probably not eulogies. When you're in the mood for a laugh, go for it. Especially true if you happen, as I do, to come from Irish stock. Definitely an Irish flavor in this compilation of jokes and funny stories, so if inclined to be easily offended, avoid it and go for the England version. If we couldn't laugh at ourselves, we would surely be totally out of luck. 160 p, published in Great Britain, 2019 and at the price, worthy of replacing a late night comedian show. It is one of a series of eight Wicked Wit books. This one was gifted to me because of my acute Irishness.

[Kyle Beacom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Byrne provides short stories and interesting tidbits on Irish culture. The stories range from marriage to growing old to Irish food.

A few items I enjoyed:

"Here's to a long life and a merry one. A quick death and an easy one. A pretty girl and a honest one. A cold pint and another one." - Irish proverb

"Slainte!" = cheers in Gaelic

"You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your father was."

"May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live."

"What doesn't kill us makes us funnier."

[Brenda Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as a Christmas gift from my brother and started reading it immediately. I laughed and cried. So many quick-witted people and their sayings were explored. While it certainly describes the wit and its origins, it also paints a picture of Irish culture and realities of Irish history. I would recommend this book to anyone of Irish ancestry.

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book, but it was a hard one to get through. Maybe I just didn’t get the humor? I definitely didn’t know many of the references or the people quoted and the actual writing structure of the book seemed rambling and unorganized. I did chuckle a few times, but kind of a let down. I kept thinking as
I read it, my old Irish grandma would have enjoyed it.

[Thomas Cullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this one. Being of Irish decent and having visited Ireland, this one made me laugh out loud. Remember, if it's raining soup, the Irish would run outside with forks! Lots of amusing tales in this one.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of a bunch of Irish anecdotes and quotes loosely structured around the chapter topics. Not much deep history, more of a series of jokes and musings on humor, relationships, and life through the lens of the Irish.

[Deborah Bosner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light easy to read book. Was nice to have with us on a walking day of Dublin. Gotta love the Irish. Humor reminds me of my Dad when cancer nurses repeatedly asked him “how do you feel?” And he would reply “well, with my fingers of course”

[Ayny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spot on, includes our family's favourite bagpipe joke.

[Lynn Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely

As I go through this series I find each book more interesting than the last. The wit of the Irish is particularly charming and has been a pleasure to read.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Neither funny or interesting

[Chy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part history, part humor I found myself laughing out loud so many times while reading this book!

[Meg Lynch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing in places, but uneven.

[Karen Jenkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Occasionally funny bits, but overall, it was a stretch to finish it

[Mark McTague · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good craic.

[Irfan Kurtagic · Rating 5 out of 5]

So beautiful ... I don't think I ever laughed at the book this much. Recommendation

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.7

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

short n sweet

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Xmas present from FiL. It was ok.

[RomanceIsMyJam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little slow at the start, but got rolling after a bit.
Short n quick read. Full of craic.