2 comments about Rick Steves' Britain, Ireland and London City Map (Rick Steves).

1. I really like Rick Steves and he gives sound advice. I suppose this map would have been great if we hadn't been travelling so much by car... We drove from Manchester, England to the Scottish Highlands and this was just not detailed enough. The free map we got from the car rental agency was exactly what we needed. We also brought MultiMap.com printouts with detailed driving directions to each of our destinations. This is a good quality map and gives a great overview, but beware if you're driving.



2. When visiting a foreign country, especially the first time, a person is generally unfamiliar with locations. This map helps stay mentally organized with sightseeing locations. Yesterday we returned from a two week Ireland/London trip. When reaching London the map was a definite lifesaver. In utilizing the Tube for most of our travel, the map not only has an Underground Tube map, but the Central London map includes the Underground locations to aid in knowing which station to select for the sightseeing locations. We were saved from many wasted hours. Since we were escorted around Ireland by friends living in Ireland the country map wasn't necessary but the sightseeing destinations were helpful.

4 comments about Map of Ireland: A Novel.

1. i had read stephanie grant's previous novel "the passion of alice" and so expected "map of ireland" to be a good read. it IS a good read but so much more. the author has somehow managed to 'wrap' such weighty subjects as the hopelessness of racism in day-to-day american lives, homosexuality and irish-american culture in a compelling story - no small feat. ann ahern is the one of the most realistic fictional characters I have read and unable to put it down I read "map of ireland" in one sitting. I highly recommend this multi-faceted and thought-provoking book.



2. I wish that I could give this novel 3.5 stars because I would have done just that. It was thought provoking but incredibly disturbing. Not just for the main character's dark existence but for the depressing pall of the entire book. I rated it as I did because through it all, the story was engaging and I was curious to see what would happen next. At the end I wished for a prologue 20 years down the line letting us know what became of Ann and her family as well as of Jean. I rarely ever finish a novel wanting that but somehow, with this one, I felt I could use a little more finality, a little closure. Still a worthwhile read, I thought.



3. The story of Anne Ahern, a high school junior from South Boston in 1974, is told against the backdrop of the busing controversy that pitted Irish Catholics against blacks and resulted in a wave of violence and upheavel. Since Anne's face represents a map of Ireland she's obviously a Catholic, but she's not anti-black. At the beginning of the book she describes her attraction for her French teacher, a black woman from Africa who has come to Boston on an exchange program, but is forced to leave abruptly after her car is set on fire by a group of Catholic boys. Meanwhile, Anne also develops an attraction for a black girl, Rochelle, who plays on her basketball team and fires the ball at Anne's head once, which she doesn't understand at first. How feelings of antagonism can develop into love amidst a time of racial polarity is one of the great things about this book. The other is how the story is told from the perspective of a young girl whose lesbian feelings emerge in the midst of social upheaval.



4. Complex story of a 16 year old Irish-American, working-class girl in South Boston. Very well written. Complex story about race and class ... and being a lesbian. The characters were finely defined. Highly recommended.

No comments about Michelin Great Britain & Ireland Tourist and Motoring Atlas (Michelin Tourist and Motoring Atlas : Great Britain & Ireland).

2 comments about Pocket Map and Guide Dublin (EYEWITNESS POCKET MAP & GUIDE).

1. I used this for my St. Patty's trip March 2008 and it was quite useful, especially the maps segregated by area. You can geographically plan your outings and cross things off your list easily. The info provided is brief so I used the bigger DK Dublin book as a supplement but used the actual pocket size on my trip. I also read 2 other pocket guides and found this was the most useful because of the maps, which help when you get temporarily lost. I love it because it is TINY! and the map was extremely useful marked with train stops as well. I wish it had a bus route map too, but I got on fine with taxis since we were a group of five. Travel by taxi within 2 miles of the city is about 8-10 euros for us 5. Only negative, wish it had more daytrip info i.e. Blarney stone and how to get to those day trips. Otherwise, for Dublin alone I couldn't have survived the trip without this book because it really helps cover each area systematically, good when you're pressed for time.



2. I hope this is more useful on my trip to Ireland rather than now. Its limited information has me cross-referencing with my full-size DK Ireland book.

No comments about Streetwise Ireland Map - Laminated Country Road Map of Ireland - Folding pocket size travel map (Streetwise (Streetwise Maps)).

1 comments about Complete Road Atlas of Ireland (Irish Maps, Atlases & Guides).

1. If you are planning a self driving trip to Ireland then this is the map-book you need. Love it! Every couple of years we pick up the latest installment from Ordnance Survey Ireland, OSI, for our self driving tour of the country and use the bejeebus out of it. (Though we usually buy it in Ireland at Eason's or another book store once we arrive there.)
   
   This spiral bound book has all the main M and N roads as well as most if not all of those tiny unnumbered back roads that criss cross Ireland and get you lost in no time at all. Oh, we still get lost, that's part of the charm of driving in Ireland, but I'm much better at getting us back on track when needs be. The pages are clearly marked and easy to read. There are many towns, large and small, listed in the index so you can find the page and grid where each one is very easily.
   
   I'm especially grateful for the "Motoring Information" section at the beginning of the book that lists the various signs you will run across when driving in Ireland, whether Northern Ireland or in the Republic. Very handy especially when signs may have a picture but are written in Irish (Gaelic). There's a legend for the map, of course, a distance chart & conversion table and, in the back, golfing information.
   
   My one "complaint" is that the maps in the back of the book of the larger main towns (like Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Galway, etc) are just the most basic highlights of the main roads for each town. Do NOT rely on these maps alone to get you around these larger cities and towns unless you are a) just passing through and want to stick to those main roads or b) are traveling to a spot in town that is on one of those main roads and not off them at any distance. Once in Galway (or where ever) head for the Tourist Office for a better detailed map of the city you are visiting.
   
   Otherwise, this book is perfect!

4 comments about Frommer's Road Atlas Ireland (Road Atlas).

1. The print and use of color makes these maps very easy to use, and let's me set off on my trips with confidence that I'll have a relatively easy time navigating to where I need to be. Details like diagrams of ferry ports and possibly confusing bypasses are a wonderful addition. The spiral binding and pages are high-quality and stand up to a lot of use. A must-have on any roadtrip.



2. You need this atlas if you are going to drive yourself around Ireland. The maps are easy to read and finely detailed. Many of the names are given in both English and Irish (Gaelic); this is essential because many road signs are now in Gaelic. With the Atlas in hand you will be able to figure out where you are, and you will also develop a feel for Gaelic spelling and pronunciation.



3. very easy to follow - a must if you are planning to drive in Ireland



4. This seems like it may be out of print. (That's what it says on many other websites, and Amazon kept delaying and delaying my order, until I cancelled it today.)
   
   Since I was going to Ireland soon, and feared this would not get to me in time, I ordered the newer AA Road Atlas Ireland (by "AA Publishing") that Amazon also sells. I just got that today, and comparing it against the "Search Inside" sample pages of this, it appears that these two Ireland road atlases are identical on EVERY SINGLE page that the "Search Inside" shows, except for the front and back cover. (The maps divide at the exact same points, have the same colors and dual language names, etc.) The only other difference I see is that the AA Road Atlas Ireland is not spiral bound like this one was. (And though you can't see it in the sample pages, the AA Road Atlas has been updated more recently, in terms of roads under construction and such.)
   
   Therefore, if you wanted this but are unable to successfully order it (or just want to get the same content faster), I suggest you look at the AA Road Atlas Ireland.

5 comments about Michelin Ireland/Irlande (Michelin).

1. Michelin maps are great maps for touring. We didn't have one when we arrived in Ireland for our first trip. A local recommended we purchase one, and we were very grateful for the tip! The AA atlas of Ireland may have more detail, but, if you want a single-page fold-out map of Ireland (as opposed to a several-page atlas), I highly recommend this one. It has most of the roads (even minor ones) on it, and it shows sites of interest on it as well. Great map!



2. This Michelin Map of Ireland is the main map product that is sold at the Dublin Airport. Get it before you head to Ireland, you'll be glad you did. It goes handy with the Ireland Atlas.



3. I will first comment that I have not used this map in Ireland so I presume the information to be accurate. It appears to be a top rate map for information, though I find it a little thick and thus cumbersome to fold. Its "foldability" is not helped from the cover being of heavier paper stock than the rest of the map. Scale is 1:400,000 or 1" = approx. 6.3 miles. I suppose you can't have too much detail on a map, but for me there's actually too much information and I find it a bit crowded and hence more difficult to read. I'll be going with the AA Ireland Road Atlas - larger foot print for carrying purposes, but twice the scale and easier to handle while on the move.



4. This map is good for an overall, general view of the major highways, but we found it lacking in detail. We ended up on many smaller roads that didn't show up on the map. The size of the roads is also misleading. Irish roads are very narrow and winding. When we looked at this map, we had the impression the roads were much larger and that they covered quite a bit of the country. They don't. Even when you get on a divided carriageway, it will end unexpectedly for many kilometers before it suddenly divides again. The map looked good when I bought it, but the reality was very different.



5. Thanks for the opportunity to comment. When I purchased this item (actually two of them, sending one as a gift to a friend),I was under the certain but mistaken impression that I was purchasing the Michelin "Red Book", the guide book on Ireland which lists and rates hotels and restaurants! How surprised I was when the package came and, alas, it was the Michelin map which I already own (and a fine map it is too!). Having a home in Ireland, the Red Book is quite useful to me, probably getting more use by us than any other travel tool (I have both the 2001 and the 2004 editions and thought that, oh boy, I was getting a brand new 2007 edition). But this was my mistake and I accept responsibility for it; these things happen at my age (66)--must be entering my dotage, attention span and all that. This mistake certainly does not signal the end of western civilization as we know it...(it doesn't, does it?) You are doing your usual excellent job with our various book gifts for which we thank you.
   Be well and God bless. Have a Blessed, Merry Christmas /Joyful Holiday Season! Yours faithfully,
   James Bell

5 comments about AA Road Atlas: Ireland (Road Atlas).

1. I will first comment that I have not yet used this atlas in Ireland so I presume information to be accurate. I ordered this as an extra item to the two fold-out maps I was primarily interested in to qualify for free shipping, but will be leaving the maps behind. The scale (1:200,000 or 1" = 3.16 miles) is 2x the scale of the better of the two fold-out maps (Michelen Ireland #712). I will be using it both for driving and for reference in traveling by bus/train. At 8-1/4" x 11-5/8" x 1/4" thick it fits nicely in the outer sleeve of my backpack. I find the Michelen Ireland #712 fold-out map, while a nicely detailed map, somewhat thick and cumbersome to fold. This bound atlas handles nicely.



2. This atlas was absolutely useless during our trip to Ireland. It did NOT provide detailed maps of the cities, and the layout and organization was horrible! The free map we got from the Rental Car Agency was of more use than this atlas. Do NOT buy this product!



3. I am planning a trip to Ireland where I will rent a car to tour the places I wish to visit. This promises to help navigate the country.



4. AA Road Atlas: Ireland (Road Atlas)Just returned from a road trip in Ireland with my girlfriends, this was invaluable, very easy to read, a must far all attempting to drive the roads in Ireland!



5. This atlas is inferior to the Ordnance Survey Atlas (ISBN 978-1-905511-40-2). We bought the AA atlas before our Ireland trip and found we needed the Ordnance Survey atlas once we got there.

No comments about Streetwise Dublin Map - Laminated City Street Map of Dublin, Ireland - with integrated Luas rail lines and stations.