An excellent travel guide on Ireland with large beautiful photographs, As someone whi has never been to Ireland, this book serves as a perfect introduction to the Emerald Isle,

With thanks to the authors, Collins publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Ireland - The Best 100 Places … The title was a little misleading for me. I expected a listing of physical places/attractions to go and see, and many are included, but the book also lists music venues, bars and restaurants (which incidentally are home to some of my favourite types of nights out!) that in my opinion would be better presented in an entertainment guide of some sort. Similarly, Bloomsday is listed among the 100 places which, while it is celebrated each year in various parts of Dublin, is really an event rather than a place.

That confusion aside, the authors do present some of the many jewels that Ireland has to offer. As they acknowledge in the introduction, everyone will have their own opinion on what the greatest 100 places to visit in Ireland are, but some such as the Trinity College library, Rock of Cashel, the Burren, Glendalough, Croagh Patrick, and the Blarney Stone are surely impossible to argue with (the Trinity College library in particular with its Book of Kells is astonishing). Despite being Irish myself though, I still found some places I wasn’t aware of that I have added to my list to visit.

There is also a nice variety to the types of places included, with castles, museums, galleries, markets, gardens, lakes and hills (and yes, even the gig venues and restaurants!) meaning that there should be something of interest for everyone in this book. In addition, the photos complement the place descriptions very well, even if they are a little grainy in quality in some instances.

Overall an enjoyable whistlestop tour of what Ireland has to offer, and a useful guide for anyone looking to explore my wonderful country!

Such beautiful photo’s, I can’t wait to get to visit Ireland, it’s been on my bucket list for a while now.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Ho-hum. I'd looked at a book in this series that focused on sites and sights on Scottish Islands, and found something about as edifying as an in-flight magazine. This, surely, was better – even if the demand it be called "a photography book with descriptive text" was gallingly familiar. It wasn't, or at least at first. I know there are pubs and restaurants in Dublin – I'm sure I went in one or two, myself. But to be ten per cent of the way through this bland editorial before you get to the Book of Kells? Priorities, priorities. Before then it's pointless place, pub, eatery, pointless place, pub, eatery – and yes, pointlessly prescriptive.

Things definitely improve when we leave the capital, and it does venture in trying to be an armchair travel book, but one I still think you'd flick through more from idleness than for inspiration, and never on the Isle, but perhaps afterwards as a souvenir. (And that only if your photos were crap – the quality here is not on a par with the likes of other photographically-minded publishers I could mention.) At least the pointless coordinates for every photo have been dropped, and the "here's where you MUST eat" (or what, Father Jack will flob on us?) aspects are left til last, but this is still a shallow guide to what Ireland has to offer. On the evidence provided by County Meath alone here I have done the place a disservice. But the creators here haven't exactly done any better.

This is very much a coffee table book. Gorgeous pictures of some of the most famous places in Ireland. Each also has a short description. Personally I would have loved to learn a little more about each of these.

I received an ARC of, Ireland The Best 100 Places, by John and Sally McKenna. I really liked this book. I love Ireland, and I learned about new places to visit.

I found loads of interesting places in this book, inspiring me to go and visit. Easy to read in sections with some good quality photography to support. Not too much text, just enough to seek more information. Perfect inspiration for anyone touring Ireland. Thank you #NetGalley for the book to review.

I discovered new places and loved the gorgeous pictures.
An interesting guide if it's your first time in Ireland or an excellent photo book.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine