Books Set in Ireland
In this section I’m going to include all of the books I have read that are set in Ireland.
I’ve already read a few, but I know there are plenty of counties I’ve missed out on.
The only ‘rule’ is that some of the book has to be set in that county, and that I have read and reviewed the book, which I will link to my review.
Where there’s more than one place mentioned, I’ll include the location mentioned most. All of the book doesn’t have to be set there. Even if it’s quite generic and not detailed, I’ll include it anyway.
There are some books I’ve read in the past that I may revisit and review, but for all intents and purposes I will mostly be starting fresh.
Any ideas for any missing counties, let me know in the comments below.
Antrim
Close to home by Michael Magee - Belfast - West Belfast, city centre, University area.
Sweet Home by Wendy Erskine - Belfast, mostly the East of the city. As is Dance move by the same author.
Trespasses by Louise Kennedy - Some set in Belfast, other in unnamed town outside the city. Author is originally from Hollywood, Co. Down.
These days by Lucy Caldwell. East Belfast.
The Raptures by Jan Carson. The fictional town of Ballylack in Co. Antrim.
Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe. Mostly Belfast.
Quickly, while they still have horses by Jan Carson. Belfast and Antrim.
Armagh
Carlow
Cavan
Clare
Cork
The nothing man by Catherine Ryan Howard. Set in Cork city.
Derry
On Bloody Sunday by Julieanne Campbell - The Bogside in Derry city.
Thin places by Kerri Ní Dochartaigh.
Did you hear mammy died? by Séamus O’Reilly. Rural county Derry.
Donegal
Down
Diary of a young naturalist by Dara McAnulty - Mostly in Rural County Down (some in Fermanagh)
The Quiet whispers never stop by Olivia Fitzsimmons - unidentified small town, but lots of references to Downpatrick and Newcastle
Dublin
Walking with Ghosts by Gabriel Byrne. Grew up on the outskirts of Dublin.
Boys don’t cry by Fiona Scarlett. Inner city Dublin
Rememberings by Sinead O’Connor. Singer grew up in Dublin.
A Thread of Violence by Mark O’Connell. Dalkey, Phoenix park feature.
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch. Many parts of Dublin.
The Wren, The Wren - Anne Enright - Dublin
Fermanagh
Galway
The way home by Mark Boyle. A smallholding in rural East Galway.
Beautiful world, Where are you? by Sally Rooney. Alice’s house is somewhere in County Galway.
Islands & Coast
The colony by Audrey Magee - Unidentified small island off the west coast
Winter People by Gráinne Murphy - Unidentified county, but somewhere along the South Western Atlantic Coast
Water - John Boyne
Kerry
Kildare
Snowflake by Louise Nealon. Rural Kildare, and Trinity college Dublin.
Kilkenny
Laois
Leitrim
Limerick
Longford
Louth
Mayo
Wild Houses by Colin Barrett - Ballina
Meath
Midlands/Unidentified
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray. Dublin gets a few mentions, but the heart of the book is set in a unidentifiable Midlands location.
Kala - Colin Walsh. Very much set in small town Ireland.
Monaghan
Offaly
Roscommon
Strange Sally Diamond - Sally lives in a fictional Irish village, but Roscommon town gets a couple of mentions.
Sligo
Tipperary
The Queen of Dirt Island by Donal Ryan - Rural Tipperary
Tyrone
Factory Girls by Michelle Gallen - unidentified small border town
Before my heart actually breaks by Tish Delaney - unidentified rural Tyrone
Trouble the Living - Francesca McDonnell Copessela - Coalisland/Lough Shore
Waterford
Ordinary Human Failings by Megan Nolan - Waterford City
Westmeath
Wexford
Foster by Claire Keegan - Rural Wexford - never named.
Small things like these also by Claire Keegan. The town of New Ross.
Wicklow
The Trap - Catherine Ryan Howard. The Wicklow mountains feature.