With a rich history of Irish literature, it is no surprise that there is a plethora of work set on the Emerald Isle. So, read on to discover some of the best.
From classics to contemporary, we are giving you ten amazing books set in Ireland that you need to read before you die.
‘The land of Saints and Scholars’, people know Ireland for its excellence in education and focus on the arts. One such area in which the Emerald Isle boasts greatness is the mark left by Irish authors on the global literature stage.
From authors such as Oscar Wilde and James Joyce, whose works have endured for generations, to contemporary favourites like Sally Rooney and Emma Donoghue. Without further ado, here are ten amazing books set in Ireland.
10. The Butcher Boy by Patrick McCabe – a surprisingly dark read
Patrick McCabe’s The Butcher Boy is by no means an easy read. Full of macabre scenes and difficult subject matter, this book tells the story of Irish schoolboy Francis or ‘Francie’ Brady.
First published in 1992, The Butcher Boy gives an insight into a small town in 1960s Ireland. Also, it deals with many of the disturbing yet important issues of mid-20th-century Ireland.
Therefore, this is undoubtedly one of the most amazing books set in Ireland.
9. Milkman by Anna Burns – growing up in a city in conflict
When Milkman was awarded the Man Booker Prize for fiction in 2018, Anna Burns became the first Northern Irish author ever to win the award.
This book tells the tale of a young woman growing up in a nameless city, which is presumed to be Troubles-era Belfast. Milkman tells a story of sexual harassment against the backdrop of a country in conflict.
8. The Green Road by Anne Enright – an intricate tale of family and personality
Set in a small town on Ireland’s Atlantic coast, The Green Road is the sixth novel by Irish author Anne Enright.
The book tells the heartfelt story of the fictional Madigan family – mother Rosaleen and her four children – as they come together for one last Christmas.
7. Normal People by Sally Rooney – Ireland’s modern love story
Sally Rooney is the hottest thing in Irish literature right now, and it’s no surprise with her complex, relatable, and troubled characters.
It was hard to pick just one Rooney to include on our list of amazing books set in Ireland, but we decided to go with the classic: Normal People.
The book follows the lives and relationships of teens Marianne Sheridan and Connell Waldron as they move from school to university and into adulthood. This book has gripped the hearts of many across the world.
6. Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt – a troublesome childhood
Now, Frank McCourt’s biographical tale Angela’s Ashes is a harrowing tale of life growing up in Limerick in the 1930s.
Documenting his family’s struggles with poverty and his father’s alcoholism, McCourt tells the tale of his troubled childhood during Ireland’s Great Depression.
5. The Country Girls by Edna O’Brien – banned upon its initial release
The first in a trilogy, the Irish censorship board banned Edna O’Brien’s 1960 novel The Country Girls upon its initial release. Now, it is renowned as one of the most influential novels of all time.
The Country Girls tells the story of two young friends leaving their convent school to pursue a life in the big city. Along the way, the novel deals with several of Ireland’s repressive sexual and social attitudes following World War Two.
4. The Wonder by Emma Donoghue – a stirring psychological thriller
Emma Donoghue is an Irish-Canadian author whose novels have gained worldwide acclaim for their poignant messages and difficult subject matter.
Her novel Room is perhaps her most critically acclaimed. However, her 2016 novel The Wonder is among the most amazing books set in Ireland.
Interestingly, the novel, which is set in Ireland’s Midlands in the 1850s, was inspired by the ‘fasting girls’ phenomenon that swept through Europe and North America between the 16th and 20th centuries.
3. Boys Don’t Cry by Fiona Scarlett – a true tearjerker
Perhaps the most recent addition to our list of amazing books set in Ireland is Fiona Scarlett’s tearjerking 2021 novel Boys Don’t Cry.
The story hears the voice of two teenage brothers living in a Dublin highrise. Through their narration, Scarlett’s novel deals with issues of poverty, drug gangs, family, and illness in Ireland’s capital city.
2. Ulysses by James Joyce – an all-time classic
When it comes to books set on the Emerald Isle, no list would be complete without mentioning one of the classics. Our choice is Ulysses by James Joyce.
Taking place over the course of 24 hours, Joyce’s modernist novel documents the encounters of protagonist Leopold Bloom. We see him on a typical day in Dublin at the turn of the century.
1. The Sea by John Banville – a story of grief
John Banville’s 2005 Man Booker Prize-winning novel The Sea tops our list of must-read books set in Ireland.
The Sea tells the story of self-aware art historian Max Morden. He returns to County Wexford, where he spent many summers as a child. The book is an emotive tale of dealing with the grief of those you have loved and lost.
