ENJOYING IRELAND.

By William F. Kehoe '55 and Constance D. Kehoe. NewYork: The Devin-Adair Company, 1966275 pp. $6.50.

William Kehoe '55 and his wife, Constance Kehoe, have produced a thoroughly delightful book on Ireland which should also be very useful for prospective tourists to that lovely island.

Part One, "Ireland and the Irish," consists of popular essays dealing with such subjects as drinking and gambling habits, the dominant position of the Catholic Church, and the partition of Ireland. Part Two, "Your Trip to Ireland," is full of practical tips for the tourist, everything from the difficulties of driving on the left side of the road, to the best places for buying Irish tweeds, the great sporting events of the year, and the most interesting shrines for pious Catholics. Part Two includes many actual addresses, especially in Dublin. The only obvious omission in the volume is a good map of Ireland, which would have made Part II especially much easier to follow.

The authors obviously love the country and its people, and greatly enjoyed their stay. This enthusiasm, however, does not prevent them from criticizing certain conditions and attitudes in Ireland. There is a sexual prurience which discourages healthy, normal courtship and leads to late marriages and too many lifelong bachelors. There is a strict censorship of all publications on grounds of "obscenity." Although there is, rather surprisingly in the light of Ireland's past, complete toleration of Protestantism, the two faiths live as two separate communities under different educational systems, almost a kind of cultural Apartheid between them. The authors see very little chance of a reunion of the two parts of Ireland in the near future.

The book is very well written and interesting. I only wish I could have read it before my very enjoyable trip to Ireland in 1957.

Professor of History Emeritus