Ireland's Pirate Trail

Des Ekin embarks on a roadtrip around the entire coast of Ireland, in search of our piratical heritage, uncovering an amazing history of swashbuckling bandits, both Irish-born and imported. Master storyteller Des Ekin embarks on a roadtrip around the entire coast of Ireland, in search of our piratical heritage, uncovering an astonishing history of swashbuckling bandits, both Irish-born and imported. Brimming over with bloodthirsty buccaneers and buried treasure, fierce sea battles and cold-blooded murders, Barbary ducats and pieces of eight, Ireland’s history of pirates is largely forgotten, washed away with the tides. Positioned between northern Europe and the New World, Ireland for centuries was a paradise for pirates. Lying in wait behind remote islands and headlands, ships bristling with heavy armaments would spring out, stealing ships and cargoes and often murdering their crews. But piracy in Ireland started much earlier, with the most brutal sea raiders of them all, the Vikings, who captured thousands of slaves from Ireland for sale to the highest bidder. Alongside stories of famous pirates like Anne Bonny and William Lamport, who set off to ply their trade in the Caribbean, Ekin also debunks many myths about our most well-known sea warrior, Granuaile, the ‘Pirate Queen’ of Mayo. Praise for The Stolen Village: ‘A harrowing tale that sheds light on the little-known trade in white slaves …’ BBC History Magazine ‘An enthralling read …’ The Irish Times ‘Do yourself a favour and read it’ The Arab Irish Journal Praise for Hell or Some Worse Place: ‘one of the most turbulent periods in Irish history is brought dramatically to life … terrific … fascinating’ Sunday World ‘a triumph of readability … a must-read’ Bookgasm Bloodthirsty buccaneers and buried treasure, fierce sea battles and cold-blooded murders, Barbary ducats and silver pieces of eight. Des Ekin embarks on a roadtrip around the entire coast of Ireland, in search of our piratical heritage, uncovering an amazing history of swashbuckling bandits, both Irish-born and imported. Ireland’s Pirate Trail tells stories of freebooters and pirates from every corner of our coast over a thousand years, including famous pirates like Anne Bonny and William Lamport, who set off to ply their trade in the Caribbean. Ekin also debunks many myths about our most well-known sea warrior, Granuaile, the ‘Pirate Queen’ of Mayo. Thoroughly researched and beautifully told. Filled with exciting untold stories.