Malachy McCourt to speak at Barnes & Noble.

   Fueled by civil unrest and economic hardship, the contribution Ireland has made to literature, diplomacy and popular music is entirely unmatched by countries many times its size. In Malachy McCourt’s "History of Ireland" (Running Press, November 2004), Mr. McCourt unveils a new perspective on the fiction, poetry, drama and popular music that are Ireland’s best known export.
   As part of a nine-state book tour, Mr. McCourt will be visiting Barnes & Noble Booksellers at MarketFair in West Windsor for "An Irish Breakfast with Malachy McCourt" on Saturday, April 9, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
   In his long-awaited account, Malachy McCourt chronicles the history of Ireland from pre-Christian days to the present. Turning his narrative gifts to the panorama of Ireland’s history, starting in the pre-Celtic age and tracing the island’s evolution through centuries of invasion, oppression and slaughter, here are Wilde, Joyce, and Lady Gregory — as well as Bono, Bob Geldof, and Sinead O’Connor.
   Mr. McCourt couples a sweeping account of the waves of invasions from the age of the Tuatha de Danaan and the other peoples of myth, through the Vikings, to the British occupation, with startling insights into how the Irish national character formed. He shows how scandals undermine the efforts of honest leaders on all sides, and how resentment grew so deeply entrenched.
   A native of County Limerick, Mr. McCourt has written bestsellers such as "A Monk Swimming," "Singing My Him Song," "Danny Boy," "Voices of Ireland" and the recent "The Claddagh Ring" (Running Press). Complementing his literary work, Mr. McCourt is a highly successful and acclaimed actor. He lives in New York City with his wife, Diana.