If you travel to Ireland, you will undoubtedly know of the rich literary tradition that the country has. Almost everywhere there are references to Irish writers, such as James Joyce, Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw. And even today, somehow, the Irish seem to be able to tell a story better than anyone else, be it in writing or simply through pub conversation.

So if a trip to the Emerald Isle is on the agenda, then it’s almost mandatory to bring some books set in Ireland to read on your travels. But what should she read if Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’ isn’t quite her cup of tea? Here are a range of novels that will take you through the length and breadth of Ireland and give you a real insight into life over the years in this country full of passion and history.

‘The Mammy’ by Brendan O’Carroll

If you want to know more about 1960s Dublin, this story of widow Agnes Browne and her seven children will do it. This is working-class Ireland with all its misery, laughter and alcoholic parents, and the best news is that the book is the first in a trilogy. The next time you’re approached by a cheeky guy from Dublin (and there are plenty!), you might find yourself thinking of Agnes and her brood.

‘Petty Criminals’ by Gene Kerrigan

And now to Dublin in contemporary times. The country has had its economic miracle and everyone is an entrepreneur, even criminals. Frankie Crowe has a plan to make some money, he plans to kidnap a rich banker and settle for life. While this might just be a cops and robbers novel, Kerrigan does a lot to portray the underbelly of life in Dublin and the social changes that have taken place in recent years.

‘Juno and Juliet’ by Julian Gough

If you decide to go to Galway (and I highly recommend you do), then this novel is one of the few to take place there. This story of identical twins during their first year at university sees them adjusting to life in the city, drinking in bars and attending classes from time to time. It is a coming-of-age story in which Galway herself is one of the main characters.

‘The Whereabouts of Aeneas McNulty’ by Sebastian Barry

The tensions surrounding the Irish struggle for independence lie at the heart of this novel set in the north-west Irish city of Sligo. Unable to find work, Aeneas joins the British police force, the Royal Irish Constabulary, labeling himself a traitor in the process. Like a marked man, he goes on the run, and although the novel follows Aeneas from one country to another, he slips away to Sligo when he can. A compelling look at 20th century Ireland, through a character who has become a victim of his country’s struggle to exist.

‘Pomegranate Soup’ by Marsha Mehran

In this novel we see a different kind of migration: the story of three Iranian sisters who move to an Irish town in the 1980s. It’s not often you find a food story set in Ireland, but Pomegranate Soup is exactly that, with its celebration of Persian cuisine. Unsurprisingly, it takes some time for the residents of the village to adjust to this foreign influence at one of their local cafes, and despite the novel’s focus on a different culture, it provides plenty of detail of Irish life and scenery for those trying to learn more about the country.

There are many stereotypes about the Irish, but as a traveler you have the opportunity to go beyond the surface of Irish culture and see what lies below. Reading books set in Ireland will help you do this, revealing details of Irish streets and cities, hopes and history, and when you visit the places mentioned, you’ll feel like you know them a little better than if you’d just arrived as a stranger.