Library

BOOK A TRIP - BORROW A BOOK

It's that simple. After you have booked your trip with us, we will loan you a book from our library. We have, of course, books on tying Irish flies. We have books on other flyfishing related topics, as well.

But we have quite a few non-flyfishing topics in our library, as well. About many aspects of Ireland, and County Donegal in particular.

You are most welcome to use more than one book from our library. Just send the first back and ask for another. Because there is a demand for some titles, we ask that you keep them only a reasonable time - a month or so.

Flyfishing topics:

Flies of Ireland by Peter O'Reilly: This is the most comprehensive compilation of Irish fly patterns, both for trout and salmon, including our most used shrimp patterns. In short, it is 'the bible', and we have several copies, so ask away.

Shrimp And Spey Flies For Salmon by Robert Gillespie, illustrated by Chris Mann: This is not a tying book, per se, but a history of the development of the shrimp fly as we know it in Ireland. It does have many recipes, though, and covers more than Ireland's traditional flies.

Tying Flies In The Irish Style by E. J. Malone: This one is about trout and sea trout patterns and tying styles. It will give you a very good background in typical Irish fly dressing techniques, as well. Lough fishing techniques are discussed in some detail, too.

Trout And Salmon Rivers Of Ireland by Peter O'Reilly: This book covers the whole country, and details many of the rivers we will fish in our stay. Our copy is not the most recent edition, but still pertinent - things change rather slowly in Irish fishing.

Trout And Salmon Loughs Of Ireland by Peter O'Reilly: This one will give you a background in our traditional lough fishing techniques, as well as provide a detailed view of the fisheries in large and small loughs. Doesn't have them all, though, as some of my favorite 'secret' ones are not included.

Other Topics:

This is a rather eclectic collection of titles, and we add to it as time permits from the whole of our library of Irish authors.

Surnames In Ireland by Seán E. Quinn: Contains seven hundred surnames in both their Irish forms and English variants. Very useful for roots-seekers.

Tracing Your Donegal Ancestors by Godfrey F Duffy: If you know or think you have Donegal roots, this is the 'how-to' book on finding them. Becasue of its geography, Donegal remained remote from the rest of the country for a long time, and records are scant for the family historian. This tells how to go about finding them.

Irish Place Names by Deirdre Flanagan and Laurence Flanagan: This is the most complete guide to Irish place names. It explains the origin and derivation of the names of over 3000 cities, towns, villages and physical features.

Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland - Parishes of County Donegal 1833-5 edited by Angélique Day and Patrick McWilliams: The Memoirs are a uniquely detailed source for the history of the northern half of Ireland immediately before the Great Famine.. Unpublished at the time of writing in the 1830s, they were written to accompany official Ordnance Survey mapping of the time. They are essential to understanding our cultural heritage.

This Is Donegal Tweed by Judith Hoad: Donegal has been the centre of Irish tweed weaving for hundreds of years. The ancient craft of spinning, dyeing and weaving this unique, culturally significant cloth is well detailed and fascinating.

Ancient Ireland - Life Before The Celts by Laurence Flanagan: For the archaeologically inclined, this will tell about the stone age relicts still extant in our countryside, as well as the social pre-history of life in our land not only before Christianity but before the Celts themselves.

Hill Walkers Donegal by David Herman: A greatly popular European tradition, hill-walking is better nowhere than our County Donegal, with its unspoilt high and rocky mountains, spectacular sea cliffs, and remote moorlands. This has useful notes on how to go about the country on foot as well as details on 38 hill and coastal walks in all parts of the County Donegal.

Pocket Guide To The Common Birds Of Ireland by Eric Dempsey and Michael O'Clery: For the outdoor enthusiast, there is nothing more interesting than identifiying the local birdlife by sights and songs.

Gleanncholmcille - A Guide To 5000 Years of History In Stone by Michael Herity: Glencolmcille is close to where our B+B is in Ardara. It is the site of St. Columba's monastery, which dates to the time of St. Patrick. This area is rich in prehistorical archaeology, and has been occupied for 3500 years before St. Patrick by farmers and stone age people before them.

A Guide To Irish Mythology by Daragh Smyth: The mythological times are not too far back in Irish history. This details the four cycles: the Mythological Cycle, the Ulster Cycle, The Fenian Cycle, and the Cycle of Kings, including personages such as Cúchulainn, Oisin, Cormac mac Airt, Conchobar mac Nessa, Finn and the Fianna.

So if you see something you'd like to read up on before your trip, send us an email at: grzlyhkl@jxbreslin.com or call us at 815-488-0989 and let us know what we can send you to read to better prepare you for your trip with us.

Breslin's Donegal Holidays, LLC, dba Flyfish Ireland, John X. Breslin, prop., is a US company established under the laws of the State of Illinois.

page last modified 01/22/2007 10:08

Hit Counter