Round Ireland with a Fridge

This is quite possibly the most perfectly descriptive book title ever conceived. In this book, our hero wakes up to discover he bet a friend 100 pounds that he would hitchhike around the perimeter of Ireland for a month, with a refrigerator. This book is that travelogue of the trip. It's full of interesting, quirky characters that offer Tony a place to stay, or a pint, as he makes his way 'round Ireland, towing a refrigerator behind him. And drinking, lots and lots of drinking. He is in Ireland! I don't think this trip would have worked out nearly as well if he had tried it in England, or France. There is something special about the Irish, and that specialness shines through in this book.

I read this book originally when it was first published. Who could resist a book about a man travelling around Ireland carrying a fridge? I've always liked Tony Hawks his writing style is very similar to his comedy presentation easy going with some interesting and quirky observations. I wont spoil the plot because it just does what the title says.

Since reading the book I have also had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook which is also read by Tony. The fact he is reading it takes you into the situations in a very personal way. His observations of Ireland and it's people are quirky but also respectful. This book is not a literary masterpiece but its enjoyable and I find it a comfortable go back to read and listen. It stands up to show more multiple Listens and reads well. I really like listening to it on long slow runs where if you miss some of it due to the outside environment it doesn't matter as you can easily slip back into the comfortable world of the Story and Tony Hawks. show less

This was a fun read as I was riding around Ireland myself. Professional comedian Tony Hawks makes this bet over toting an appliance a tale of hilarity as the pluck fridge surfs is feted, is baptized and blessed. Largely a tale of pubs and B&Bs and the King of Tory Island, this was a fun and easy read.

What a tonic this book was for this time of social distancing and stressful outings! I was in Ireland less than a year ago and I really enjoyed reading of Tony Hawks adventures while he hitch-hiked around the Republic of Ireland. He did it in 1997 but I think a person could probably have done it last year and found the Irish people as friendly and helpful as he did then. Life slows down in Ireland; tractors still take to the highway to travel miles with no-one getting upset behind them; sheep stand in the middle of the road and just look at the cars they have stopped for as long as they like; people stop for a long chat while out for a walk. And everyone wants to help you whether you need directions or a recommendation for a place to show more visit or how to figure out where to park without getting a ticket.

Tony didn't include Northern Ireland in his trip because it was still a dangerous time to go there. He did however end up in Northern Ireland briefly to do a TV interview and the chapter on that is hilarious. We were able to visit Northern Ireland last year and we found no difference between people regardless of which side of the border we were on. show less

The touching tale of a man and his fridge, this is the story of English comedian Tony Hawks who, for a £100 bet, hitch-hikes around Ireland in one month with a fridge.

This book really shows the good of people and the lengths some will go to to help someone else with no thought of reward. It's sad to think that this sort of thing would increasingly be harder to accomplish as people turn more inwards and less likely to help one another.

At times laugh out loud funny and at other times philosophical this book is a great read. The only downside was that it felt a bit rushed the whole way and I would have liked to have heard more about the people who went out of their way for Tony and the fridge.

1. Round Ireland With a Fridge by Tony Hawks. Englishman Hawks accepts a bet from a friend that he can't hitchhike all the way around Ireland while accompanied by a smallish fridge on a handcart. That's the whole premise, and it works out well for Hawks. The bet took place in 1997, so there's very little computer or cell phone interference. Instead, his journey was made tremendously easier by the fact that he was a well-known comedian, which landed him an interview on an Irish national radio show the very first day, a show that it seemed half the country listened to daily, and by throwing out a "be nice to him if you see him" message. With repeated on-air interviews, Hawks was able to secure rides, free lodging and meals all over the show more country. He did avoid the majority of Northern Ireland, just dipping into the area at one point.
For me, the highlight of the book was the excitement of the people who recognized this guy with a fridge and bent over backwards to assist him. The people, whether individually or in groups, were so ready to help. On the flip side, I was pretty familiar with English comedians of this period and I'd never heard of Hawks before, even though he starts his journey just after having performed for an audience that included Prince Charles. So, I thought the book would be funny but it was just mildly amusing throughout, and I found the times when he tried to make people laugh to be pretty lame. This is a nice read to get a look at the Irish people of that decade. show less

A friend recommended this to me as a funny travelogue in the vein of Bill Bryson. To be honest, I found it more gently amusing (mostly) and (occasionally) wanted it to stop loitering. Most of the book is spent with the author hitchhiking from town to town, going to a pub, drinking to excess, and waking up the next morning to start again - a sort of book-length shaggy dog story. Fortunately the ending turns very warm and makes it all feel like it led up to something with more meaning.