Larry Kirwan has produced a fascinating history of Irish music in this far-reaching tome. Rather than give us a chronology of the music from earliest times up to the present, he takes a new route that still covers the music over the centuries.

Kirwan, best known as the front man for Black 47, uses his own life events and journey into the music business to bring the reader into the fine mesh that is the music of the small island of Ireland. His style is chatty while being authoritative, and his use of many colloquialisms from his native Wexford will enhance rather than distract from the enjoyment of readers from any locale who are interested in this music.

The book is packed with anecdotes about the famous and often not too famous. For instance in his early performances he recalls playing every little parish venue in the county. At one of these he met a lady who was a legend in Irish music circles, as both a performer and collector. He nervously asked this elderly doyenne for the lyrics of an old song she had performed. She said he could have them if he gave her the lyrics of that song by "long haired fella from London," meaning "Little Red Rooster" by Mick Jagger. She reckoned it would last as long as the "ould come-all-yes."

He recalls the many ballads and folk songs that permeated the air in Ireland at house gatherings and weddings, especially in the days before television. His love for such music comes through in his writing just as much as it did in his performing of such material, albeit in modified form, in later years.

But this book is not just about the ancient music. As well as the great new folk music like "The Fields of Athenry" and "Town I Loved So Well" he moves on to the contemporary songs of Van Morrison, Them, The Pogues and U2.

As well as the music he gives us a social history of the Ireland of the past 70 years with special emphasis on the influence of singers and writers. He then tells us in firsthand accounts of how the Irish music traveled to America and especially New York with bands like Black 47.

At almost 350 pages this critically acclaimed book will be a welcome addition to the shelves of anyone who has ever enjoyed an Irish air or a Christy Moore concert or bought a U2 album. It is packed with lyrics for songs not only by Kirwan himself but traditional songs and contemporary offerings as well.