A Real Paddy. [Egan, Pierce].

Real Life In Ireland: Or, The Day and Night Scenes, Rovings, Rambles and Sprees, Bulls, Blunders and Bodderation and Blarney of Brian Boru, Esq., and his Elegant Friend Sir Shawn O’Dogherty.

London, Methuen and Co., 1904. 11 x 17.5cm. Frontispiece, (16), 312 pages, with 18 coloured illustration plates. Additional spine label included in rear of book. Original clothbound hardcover. Very good condition, with minor signs of shelf wear to spine. [The Illustrated Pocket Library of Plain and Coloured Books].

First published in 1821 by an anonymous author calling themselves a ‘Real Paddy’, this edition of Real Life in Ireland, was published in London in 1904. Commentators have observed that Real Life in Ireland was a natural continuation of Pierce Egan’s (1772-1849) hilarious volumes on Life in London. Like Life in London, Real Life in Ireland was initially shunned by educated readers and even a quick glance at the language and misdeeds of the central characters, Brian Boru and Sir Shawn O’Doherty, reveal that such a publication may once have been able to cause and give offence. However, Real Life in Ireland is more akin to the works of Flann O’Brien and although written nearly 200 years ago is very readable and very funny. Opening with the discharge of Shawn O’Dogherty from college in Dublin with a small fortune to spend, he is joined from the country by his friend Brian Boru, who along the way is regaled by the stories of Peg O’Shambles, a one-time cockle picker from Ringsend in Dublin, who has fallen on hard times due to her alcoholic husband’s misdeeds. Accompanied by many humerus cartoons of Brian Boru’s adventures, the characters travel from Belfast to make merry in Dublin. While the characters in Real Life in Ireland might be fictitious the places, events and the Hiberno-Irish featured throughout are not. Real Life in Ireland provides a clear account of Dublin and its inhabitants, as well as the major sights and attractions of its suburbs. All-in-all, the 368 pages of Real Life in Ireland make for a highly entertaining and extremely funny read and has much to recommend it to a modern readership that might be unfamiliar with its kind. [Irish Family History Centre]

• Keywords: 19th Century · 19th Century – Rare · Comic · Humour · Ireland · Irish Counties, Towns and Cities · Irish Culture · Irish History · Travel
• Language: English
• Inventory Number: 91387AB

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