Joel's Picks
Keep traveling from home
I put this together for anyone who wants to spend a little more time with the stories, landscapes and music from Ireland and Scotland after the tour. Some are serious, some are funny, and some are just beautiful companions to the places we visited.
Films & Series
Stories from Ireland
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The Quiet Man (1952)
Romantic, nostalgic and deeply tied to the west of Ireland. Filmed around Connemara not far from where we stay on tour.
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Michael Collins (1996)
Irish independence, Cork and the Civil War stories that still shape modern Ireland.
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Belfast (2021)
Kenneth Branagh's personal and moving portrait of Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
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Derry Girls
Brilliantly funny while still giving genuine insight into life in Derry during the final years of the Troubles.
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Black '47 (2018)
One of the few major films to tackle the Great Famine directly — dark, angry and powerful.
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The Banshees of Inisherin
Irish humour, loneliness, island life and beautiful west coast scenery.
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The Wind That Shakes the Barley
Irish independence, civil war divisions and the emotional complexity behind many of the stories from the tour.
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In the Name of the Father (1993)
Daniel Day-Lewis in the story of the Guildford Four — miscarriages of justice, family and the weight of the Troubles.
Books
Reading Ireland
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Trinity — Leon Uris
Sweeping historical fiction covering identity, religion, land and Irish independence.
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The Immortal Irishman — Timothy Egan
The extraordinary story of Thomas Francis Meagher — rebel, convict, escapee and Civil War general.
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Returning Light — Robert L. Harris
Reflections from decades spent caring for Skellig Michael — remote, spiritual and beautifully atmospheric.
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Say Nothing — Patrick Radden Keefe
One of the best modern books on the Troubles and the long shadow they still cast.
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Dublin Saga — Edward Rutherfurd
Epic multi-generational historical fiction following Ireland across centuries.
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W.B. Yeats — Selected Poems
Especially meaningful after seeing Sligo and Drumcliffe — rich in Irish myth, landscape and memory.
Music
Sounds of Ireland
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The Dubliners
Ballads, rebel songs and drinking songs as good as they ever were. Luke Kelly's voice on Raglan Road is a national treasure.
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Christy Moore
The songwriter's songwriter. No one captures modern Irish identity better — Ride On and The Voyage are essential.
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The Pogues
Shane MacGowan's rowdy, heartbreaking blend of Irish folk and punk. Dirty Old Town is a masterpiece.
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Sinéad O'Connor
Raw, fiercely Irish and one of the most powerful voices of the 20th century. Her traditional sessions are extraordinary too.
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Clannad
Ethereal Irish folk from a Donegal family. Their music perfectly captures the wild, misty atmosphere of the west coast.
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Van Morrison
Born in Belfast, deeply Irish in soul and spirit. Into the Mystic and Astral Weeks are essential listening.
Films & Series
Stories from Scotland
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Local Hero (1983)
Quiet, funny and deeply Scottish — one of the best films for understanding Highland atmosphere.
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Rob Roy (1995)
Highland clans, honour and survival set against spectacular Scottish landscapes.
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Skyfall (2012)
Gorgeous Highland scenery around Glen Etive mixed with themes of identity and homecoming.
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Stone of Destiny (2008)
Fun retelling of the students who stole the Stone of Scone back from Westminster Abbey.
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Whisky Galore!
Charming island comedy revolving around whisky shortages in wartime Scotland.
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Highlander (1986)
Completely ridiculous at times — but full of iconic Scottish scenery and atmosphere.
Books
Reading Scotland
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How the Scots Invented the Modern World
One of the best introductions to the Scottish Enlightenment and Scotland's outsized global influence.
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Clanlands
Funny, relaxed and full of Scottish history, whisky and travel stories.
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The Highland Clearances — John Prebble
Accessible and emotional account of the forced displacement of Highland communities.
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Outlander — Diana Gabaldon
Time travel romance mixed with Jacobite history, Culloden and Highland culture.
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A History of Scotland — Neil Oliver
Fast-moving overview of Scottish history from ancient times to the modern era.
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The Legend of Hamish MacInnes
Extraordinary story of one of Scotland's greatest mountaineers and rescue pioneers.
Music
Sounds of Scotland
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The Proclaimers
500 Miles, Letter from America — pure Scottish working-class heart. Edinburgh twins who wear their identity on their sleeve.
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Runrig
The Gaelic rock band from the Outer Hebrides. Loch Lomond and Flower of the West hit differently after you've been through the Highlands.
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Dougie MacLean
Wrote Caledonia, the unofficial anthem of Scottish longing. Beautiful, understated and deeply poetic.
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Capercaillie
Karen Matheson's extraordinary voice over traditional Gaelic music. Fear A' Bhàta is spine-tingling after Loch Lomond.
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Frightened Rabbit
Modern indie rock with a raw emotional depth that is unmistakably Scottish. The Midnight Organ Fight is a masterpiece.
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Tide Lines
Contemporary Scottish folk. Far Side of the World is the perfect Highland road song.
Stay connected
Notes from the road
I send the occasional note from the road with stories, travel ideas and updates. Join below if you'd like to stay connected.