This book is written in a very personable style by a man who frequented the Burren over thirty years ago and seemed to always see it with fresh eyes. It is as if the book has been infected with the gentlest of Atlantic airs that have pervaded the writer’s being. Given the more recent history of Ireland it is interesting to read his comment on the rarity of the people of the Burren, being “bereft of traits of co-dependency between servitude and master”. John Feehan’s descriptions of sites are interspersed with snippets of social commentary that makes the book even more appealing as it belies the age with grace and transparency.

John does this by relating stories and conversations that delightfully converge, hinting at that ever- present spiritual aspect of the Burren without overdoing it. As the author declares his own stance we can understand a little what inspired him to write this book:

“Miracles seem to be no more than the working of the natural law at a level beyond our present understanding”.

I would argue that the miracle is the Burren itself- and that perhaps more than thirty years after this book was written readers are more interested in attempts to interpret the landscape at a deeper level than normal guides do.

There is a smattering of mythology throughout the book that relates to the local landscape. I personally would have welcomed even more of this if it was still to be found! There is also a healthy dose of historical fact that the writer uses to raise philosophical questions often. Overall I regard this book as a precursor to a more liberal genre of guide book that verges on the spiritual.