The Oxford History of Ireland

Rating:
Summary: Great information, terrible read
Review: This book has loads of great information. The problem is that it's scattered all over and an extremely difficult read. The readibility level is very low.
If you are patient and have a lot of time, this book's for you. If neither applies, look for The Course of Irish History, by Moody and Martin. It has loads of great info AND is a great read.
I gave it three stars simply for the information it contains. My personal rating is one star.

Rating:
Summary: A Book from one of Ireland's Premier Historians
Review: This is an excellent introduction to Irish history, its complexities, and some up-to-date thinking about how Irish history has been interpreted. It provides general readers with a good survey, based on Foster's magisterial _Modern Ireland_ (1986). The illustrations are well-chosen, and well-presented. An excellent choice for someone who wants to know about Irish history but also wants a book with some sophistication and 'bite' to it.