Below is an easy-to-browse gallery
of books that cater to those who are interested in visiting Ireland or learning
more about its ancient past. The majority of descriptions below are by independent
editors. Feel free to purchase these books directly from Amazon.com!
Exploring
Newgrange :
Older that the Egyptian pyramids, older than Stonehenge, the tomb at Newgrange
in County Meath, Ireland, is one of the oldest structures in the world. For 5,000
years it has housed the remains of a formidable Stone Age people, sheltering the
spirits of the long dead from the outside world.
Modern archaeological
techniques have revealed much about the lives of our Stone Age ancestors, but
questions about the tomb at Newgrange remain. Why did a group of Megalithic settlers
spend years building a massive tomb? How did they move the huge boulders? What
do the symbols inscribed on the stones mean? The author attempts to piece together
the clues left behind by this extraordinary Stone Age civilization.
"...splendid illustrations and ingenious artography serving succinct vignettes
from cultural history, this book...Is historical geography at its best."
-- Anne Buttimer, Professor of Geography, University College Dublin, President,
International Geographical Union.
In Search of Ancient Ireland: The Origins of the Irish from Neolithic
Times to the Coming of the English :
The history, archaeology, and legends of ancient Ireland from 9000 B.C., when
nomadic hunter-gatherers appeared in Ireland at the end of the last Ice Age, to
1167 A.D., when a Norman invasion brought the country under control of the English
crown for the first time. The book also looks at contemporary Ireland's connection
with the country's past.
Companion to the PBS documentary series....integrates
the talents of distinguished anthropologists, archaeologists, and historians....
Contains new and fascinating material challenging many myths. --Lawrence J. McCaffrey,
Loyola University of Chicago.
Mysterious World: Ireland represents the next generation of travel guides. More
than just a listing of names, numbers, and dates, Mysterious World takes readers
behind the scenes to help them understand the history and the mystery of this
sacred isle. The book delves deep into Ireland's legendary past, looking especially
at the mysterious people who invaded Ireland time and time again in search of
their destinies.
The book also covers Ireland's known history up to the
time of Cromwell, providing a thorough understanding of what it is to be Irish.
In addition, the book presents one man's quest to rediscover mysterious Ireland
as he travels throughout the four ancient provinces of Ireland.
This survey of the origins of the Celts and their expansion during the Iron Age
through their largely successful subjection by the Romans is sure to be of interest
to many readers. Cunliffe (European archaeology, Oxford) has written a readable
and informatve book with many attractive illustrations, a good index, and a helpful
annotated bibliography.
The focus is archaeological, but not exclusively,
as Cunliffe does explore literary and oral traditions as well. An interesting
aspect of the book is the description of 18th- and 19th-century amateur archaeologists
and Celtic enthusiasts... Charles V. Cowling, Drake Memorial Lib., Brockport,
N.Y.Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
This is an enchantingly told collection of the stirring sagas of gods and goddesses,
fabulous beasts, strange creatures, and such heroes as Cuchulain, Fingal, and
King Arthur from the ancient Celtic world. Included are popular myths and legends
from all six Celtic cultures of Western Europe—Irish, Scots, Manx, Welsh,
Cornish, and Breton.
Here for the modern reader are the rediscovered tales
of cattle raids, tribal invasions, druids, duels, and doomed love that have been
incorporated into, and sometimes distorted by, European mythology and even Christian
figures...
Older that the Egyptian pyramids, older than Stonehenge, the tomb at Newgrange
in County Meath, Ireland, is one of the oldest structures in the world. For 5,000
years it has housed the remains of a formidable Stone Age people, sheltering the
spirits of the long dead from the outside world. 
"...splendid illustrations and ingenious artography serving succinct vignettes
from cultural history, this book...Is historical geography at its best."
-- Anne Buttimer, Professor of Geography, University College Dublin, President,
International Geographical Union.
The history, archaeology, and legends of ancient Ireland from 9000 B.C., when
nomadic hunter-gatherers appeared in Ireland at the end of the last Ice Age, to
1167 A.D., when a Norman invasion brought the country under control of the English
crown for the first time. The book also looks at contemporary Ireland's connection
with the country's past. 
Mysterious World: Ireland represents the next generation of travel guides. More
than just a listing of names, numbers, and dates, Mysterious World takes readers
behind the scenes to help them understand the history and the mystery of this
sacred isle. The book delves deep into Ireland's legendary past, looking especially
at the mysterious people who invaded Ireland time and time again in search of
their destinies. 
This survey of the origins of the Celts and their expansion during the Iron Age
through their largely successful subjection by the Romans is sure to be of interest
to many readers. Cunliffe (European archaeology, Oxford) has written a readable
and informatve book with many attractive illustrations, a good index, and a helpful
annotated bibliography. 
This is an enchantingly told collection of the stirring sagas of gods and goddesses,
fabulous beasts, strange creatures, and such heroes as Cuchulain, Fingal, and
King Arthur from the ancient Celtic world. Included are popular myths and legends
from all six Celtic cultures of Western Europe—Irish, Scots, Manx, Welsh,
Cornish, and Breton.
