Hitching for hope

A modern travel tale-part personal pilgrimage, part political quest-that captures the resilience of a nation in troubled times In the wake of Ireland's crippling recession, social campaigner Ruairì McKiernan questions whether he should remain in the country he loves or join the mounting number of emigrants searching for greater opportunity elsewhere. In a last-ditch attempt to connect with his country and its people, McKiernan embarks on a hitchhiking adventure with no money, no itinerary, and no idea where he might end up each night. His mission: to give voice to people emerging from one of the most painful periods of economic and social turmoil in Ireland's history. Hitching for Hope: A Journey into the Heart and Soul of Ireland is the story of McKiernan's whirlwind tour, told through countless conversations with Inishbofin islanders and Connemara farmers, Polish migrants and community activists, his 89-year-old grandmother and the president of Ireland, to name a few. Engaging, provocative, and sincere, McKiernan recounts a pilgrimage both deeply personal and explicitly political. A testimony to the spirit of Ireland, Hitching for Hope is an inspirational manifesto for hope, healing, and human endurance.