In recounting his bicycle tour of Ireland, the author captures the essence of the Emerald Isle, including its most esoteric corners, its rich heritage, and the eccentricities of the Irish character Veteran travel writer Newby reports on four treks through parts of Irelandmostly by bicyclewith his wife Wanda, in the foulest weather. His expectations were made realistic by memories of much time spent there in the Sixties, so that his caustic comments, about the bad food, general dilapidation, boredom, and dotty natives, do not come from a disillusioned romantic. Despite the drawbacks of their travels, the account offers humor, too, and the couple also come up with a book's worth of holy wells, gutted castles, moving statues of the Virginall that makes Ireland distinct. Laurence Hull, Cannon Memorial Lib., Concord, N.C. Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.