Top ten Irish books of the decade

Eh hello? 'Let the great world spin'???

As with any highly recommended 'Anthology of Poems' any 'Top Ten List' of books can be irritating and somewhat of a let down on a purchase. Speaking only for my irracible self "I don't like to be TOLD" No matter. There's always new ground. Number '3' caught my eye AT SWIM TWO BOYS by Jamie O'Neill. From both an odd perception and to report back to a friend in Ireland. The work compared here to 'Joyce'. On the flight to Belfast this past August I read yet again Portrait of The Artist As A Young Man and had a sort of Eureka moment "Dedalus is GAY! My (published) friend in Ireland who is straight like myself is an aquaintance of O'Neill. For apparantly he is a recluse and shuns folk. So it will be a daft telegram via himself that he is on the list here (not that he might care) and even more daft comparison of Dedalus the celibate and the two love-stuck boys swimming. From an egit such as myself. In closing I'll harp on in agreement with earlier comments: Nuala O'Faolin should have been on the list.

I would agree about Frank Delaney's "Ireland" but I would also add "Galway Bay" by Mary Pat Kelly. Now how about the top ten Irish childrens books. I would start off by recommending the Faire Chronicles by O. R. Melling

Angela's ashes... it's an american website. Everyone in Ireland goes.. but we know Limerick's shite..

I'm on for Nuala O'Faolin and also Joe O'connor the salesman..

Totally Agree--but what about the late Nuala O'Faolin's wonderful memoir "Are You Somebody"? Also, I'd put "Netherland" first.

England's Greatest Spy - should be tops for my money. I call my story "Angela Ashes Me Ars.... as compared to American Frank McCourt moaning while the rest of us had no sugar daddy way out except by a wing and a prayer. Dev was there to ensure Merry O got whatever Erin produced during WWII and beyond.

"Angela's Ashes"? Again,let's be serious.

What about Frank Delaney's Ireland, A Novel ?

Banville's a snorefest and Heaney's not a novelist, sure. Just goes to show that some people think thir own taste is the proper benchmark.

Where is my book, Collared?

How could you leave off Ireland by Frank Delaney? That was one of the best books I have ever read.

Angela's Ashes was first published in 1996 - so it is not of this decade. Great book, though.