Explorer-publisher Hilary Bradt tells the story of her long-distance ride on horseback across Ireland in the new travel narrative Connemara Mollie.Set against the vivid backdrop of rural Ireland, it is a witty and ultimately moving tale of the growing bond between horse and rider. As Hilary says, “More than any of my travels before or since, this was the journey that had consumed me since childhood.”  

The story centres on the growing bond between the author and her Connemara pony, Mollie and the many challenges they face before the tragic conclusion in the mountains of Kerry. It is also a portrait of rural Ireland before the “Celtic Tiger” era, built up from conversations with the local people. The journey takes them through Counties Galway, Mayo, Clare and Kerry. “Each day presented a challenge” says Hilary, ”a river to ford, a stone wall to dismantle –   and even the seemingly insuperable problem of hitchhiking with a horse”.

Hilary writes more about her relationship with Mollie here.

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Extract from ‘Connemara Mollie’
We came to the river and Mollie gazed at it with bulging eyes and a “You cannot be serious!” snort.  I saw no reason for such a fuss considering she’d actually swum with me in Connemara so urged her on with plenty of verbal encouragement. Reluctantly she waded in to the deep fast water in the centre. Here the river bed was composed of slippery seaweed-covered stones and the water swirled well above her knees and splashed over my boots. Half way, though. Silly to go back at this point. I kept up my encouragement, Mollie kept up her snorts of complaint, and we emerged the other side with mutual expressions of relief.

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 Extracts available To see fuller extracts from this book click here 

To request a review copy or for more details contact Debbie Hunter press@bradtguides.com
Tel +44 (0)1753 893444
 

Title:  Connemara Mollie: An Irish Journey on Horseback    Author: Hilary Bradt
Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides     Publication: 17 July 2012
Price: £9.99      ISBN: 9781841623863