From patriots to pirates, warriors to writers, and mistresses to male impersonators, this book looks at the unorthodox lives of inspiring Irish women.

In times when women were expected to marry and have children, they travelled the world and sought out adventures; in times when women were expected to be seen and not heard, they spoke out in loud voices against oppression; in times when women were expected to have no interest in politics, literature, art, or the world outside the home, they used every creative means available to give expression to their thoughts, ideas and beliefs.

In a series of succinct and often amusing biographies, Marian Broderick tells the life stories of these exceptional Irish women.

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'Broderick's prose is simple and accessible ... and her fascination with her two favourite subjects - Irish history and women's studies - jumps out from every page'

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'A rollicking read'

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'Marian Broderick should take a bow for resurrecting an eclectic body of Irish women's history -- the good, the bad and the ugly, as well as the international beauties'

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'After reading this book, one can never again ignore the role of Irishwomen'

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'Marian Broderick should take a bow for resurrecting an eclectic body of Irish women's history -- the good, the bad and the ugly, as well as the international beauties.'

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'(A) fascinating collection of unorthodox women ... This series of lively portraits tells the life stories of 75 women ... showing that sisters have been doing it for themselves for a long, long time.'

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'Wild Irish Women brings together a fascinating collection of unusual, unorthodox and unforgettable women. Irish people today have a long roll-call of female ancestors to inspire, amuse and outrage them ... These entertaining biographies reveal the truly irrepressible spirit of Irish womanhood over the centuries.'

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'A toilet book of the highest order, with the author bringing us short and snappy profiles of more than 60 Irish women down the years. Some are relatively straightforward but the real gems are to be found in the tall tales told of the more, shall we say, exotic fair maids of Erin.'