The Toxic Travel Guide: Ireland as You’ve Never Seen It Before

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As well as writing, shooting, narrating and editing his videos, Frankie says that "about 90 per cent" of his green screen clips feature music he made himself. Not only that, but he is currently attending Maynooth University to study a degree in Psychology and Sociology.

Social media star Frankie McNamara says he's always had "such a weird sense of humour", but he never expected that to translate into viral comedy success. A satirical take on online wellness gurus later morphed into something different: an alternative guide to well-known locations in Dublin and beyond. It was a place that had piqued McNamara's curiosity ever since playing the Irish version of Monopoly as a child. He had never heard of it before. Did it even exist? For 10 years, for 15 years even. And I never thought about it again. Until that day where it's like, I'll try something different." The Wonder: Westmeath actress Niamh Algar on film about a feverishly religious, post-Famine IrelandWe sat down with comedian Frankie McNamara to discuss his new book, his viral videos and his long list of future plans. Did you know people from Galway have a genetic defect that makes them think they built Supermacs themselves? Frankie McNamara’s first book, The Toxic Travel Guide: Ireland As You've Never Seen It Before is out now

With his new book hitting shelves across the country and his videos continuing to rake in thousands of views every week, we asked the 27-year-old about his next steps on his own spiritual journey.

But the sociology and psychology student has some deeper motivations too, other than simply entertaining.

Did you know that there's no crime in Stoneybatter, because every time a fixie gets stolen they just say it happened in Cabra? Now, the funnyman has written The Toxic Travel Guide: Ireland As You've Never Seen it Before - a satirical guide book that delivers some insightful tidbits about Ireland that simply can't be found anywhere else, such as the myths and legends surrounding Balbriggan's takeaway scene, and why Roscommon town is a bit like Lapland ("it's only busy at Christmas"). I love how he rants and raves," he says of the latter. "He'd be a big, big inspiration as well. He's very dark usually, yeah." Passion for writing

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He may already have a book published, but the third year Maynooth student says he has no plans to stop producing online content anytime soon.

But people are just so kind, and so friendly. And it's such an honour to be able to give people a laugh. Not everyone, but like some people. READ NEXT - All 142 movies and TV shows leaving Netflix UK and Ireland in November Read More Related Articles Did you know that no one in Cork City can remember anyone's name, which is why Corkonians are either called 'bai', 'kid' or 'girl'?McNamara counts the late US comedian George Carlin as one of his heroes – a man who was certainly never afraid to mix comedy with a social or political agenda. The book delivers the same deadpan humour found in Frankie's videos, many of which have gone viral thanks to their inherently shareable quality. If you live in an area of Ireland that he's covered in his 'Ancient Mysteries' series, you've undoubtedly seen him appear on your social media feed. Everyone asks how I know so much about Ireland and I always tell them that I've lived thousands of lives. I'm like a family of cats; I don't have nine lives, I have 81. A lot of the wisdom is just wisdom that I've made up on the spot. A lot of it is true because I've said it's true so it must be," he explains, dryly. But he was always so kind to me and so encouraging, you know... He was a straight talker. So I knew what he was telling me was the truth. And that really gave me so much encouragement."