Irish History for Beginners

[Never beat the deeler]

So I was chatting to a work mate in the pub last night (I live in Sydney, he's from Sydney and spent a few years in the states) who was quizzing me on Irish history. I was giving him a quick rundown and he is fascinated.
He asked me to recommend a book that would explain in more detail. Any one have any ideas - I want to point him down a fairly balanced path

[johnneycool]

I remember watching a tv series way years ago by Robert Kee, probably a decent starting point but didn't touch on the modern conflicts.
Not sure where you might get it though

[Santino]

Robert Kee book Ireland - A History is by far best I've ever read and great resources in it.

[macdanger2]

A history of Ireland in 250 episodes is a good easy read especially if he hasn't much background knowledge

[Milltown Row2]

I remember watching a tv series way years ago by Robert Kee, probably a decent starting point but didn't touch on the modern conflicts.
Not sure where you might get it though

Outstanding show !  There are other ones (books) which you can get, bit like John Craven's newsround style, easy to read with not too much depth, but enough information

[dec]

The whole series seems to be on youtube

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-NlJbmY3woh0SDUIy2ION2-DWyoz8oxY

[Never beat the deeler]

Thanks guys. I have recommended that he get that Robert Kee book, looks decent.

[dec]

Modern Ireland 1600-1972 by R.F. Foster is pretty good for the period it covers.

[brokencrossbar1]

Modern Ireland 1600-1972 by R.F. Foster is pretty good for the period it covers.

Great book but a heavy enough read. Kee is probably the best for giving a fair overview.

[Billys Boots]

A history of Ireland in 250 episodes is a good easy read especially if he hasn't much background knowledge

Agreed on this, great to pick up and put down for again.

[seafoid]

Also possible via music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15y8VOiueBE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-KewvkR3SM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8uMRotA5nA

[Denn Forever]

Irish ways and Irish laws - Moving Hearts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIILCtCtk9o

[MoChara]

Podcasts are the way I've been learning my history now, makes use of the dead time I have traveling to work or about the country, the missus hates it but sure lol

http://irishhistoryshow.ie/
This is a series of 30 odd podcasts on different aspects of Irish History focusing mainly on the 1913 lock out up to the Irish Civil War.

http://irishhistorypodcast.ie/
This is another set of Podcasts mainly dealing with the medieval period and up to late 19th Century.

[The Iceman]

Podcasts are the way I've been learning my history now, makes use of the dead time I have traveling to work or about the country, the missus hates it but sure lol

http://irishhistoryshow.ie/
This is a series of 30 odd podcasts on different aspects of Irish History focusing mainly on the 1913 lock out up to the Irish Civil War.

http://irishhistorypodcast.ie/
This is another set of Podcasts mainly dealing with the medieval period and up to late 19th Century.

thanks for sharing these have added a load of episodes for time on the road!

[rosnarun]

I think Ulysses should tell him everything he need to know about Ireland or so my private tutor said