Angela's Ashes (1999), by Frank McCourt: A Pulitzer Prize–winning, bestselling account of the author's depressing childhood in Brooklyn and Limerick; followed by a sequel, 'Tis (2000), which describes the author's life after he returned to the United States as a young man.

How the Irish Saved Civilization (1997), by Thomas Cahill: An entertaining history of how Irish monks preserved classical learning.

The Táin (2002), translated by Thomas Kinsella: A powerful new translation of the epic poem of Cuchulain, the Táin Bó Cuailnge.

Modern Ireland: 1600–1972 (1986), by R. F. Foster: A comprehensive but readable account of modern Irish times.

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916), by James Joyce: Joyce's classic autobiographical novel gives a taste of Ireland at the turn of the century.

Seeing Things (1993), by Seamus Heaney: Some of the best poetry written in Ireland today.

The Snapper (1992), by Roddy Doyle: A humorous and poignant story about how a Dublin family deals with an unplanned pregnancy.