Ancient Ireland

From Prehistory to the Middle Ages

Jacqueline O'Brien and Peter Harbison

Following her highly succesful Great Irish Houses and Castles and Dublin: A Grand Tour, Jacqueline O'Brien has taken over 300 spectacular colour photographs and has invited Dr. Peter Harbison, one of Ireland's most distinguished archaeologists, to collaborate with her on a magnificent book chronicling the glories of Ireland's ancients past.

Ancient Ireland concentrates on the rich architectual heritage of both early and late medieval Ireland, ranging from the time of St.Patrick in the fifth century to the decline of Gaelic Ireland in the seventeenth century. This core of the book is preceded by an introduction on the archaeological legacy of the prehistoric Celts. What distinguishes Ireland from most other European countries is the astounding quality of its early medieval monasteries - not only in their manuscripts and metalwork and the effect they had on the development of the European Middle Ages - but also in their great stone scripture crosses and their churches, often located in hauntingly beautiful and isolated landscapes.

The twelfth century brought about great innovations, with the advent of the Cistercians' orderly ecclesiastical architecture and the Normans' imposing castles. The century on either side of the Reformation saw futher change, with friars and priors taking over the lead in church architecture, and small family tower-houses sprouting like mushrooms on both sides of the divide between Anglo-Norman and Gaelic Ireland. But the subjugation of the latter at the end of Queen Elizabeth I's reign signalled the introduction of Planter's Castles, and the entrenchment of English forces behind star-shaped fortifications. It also, though, heralded the gradual transition from the closed medieval mind to a more gracious style of living for the conquerors, culminating in the classical style of the Georgian mansions.

This is the only book which comprehensivly covers in text and captivating colour photographs Ireland's heritage of prehistoric and medieval buildings up to 1700. With pictures by one of Ireland's most acclaimed photographers, written by a highly respected authority on Ireland's ancient monuments, Ancient Ireland is a lavish, fascinating, essential guide to the country's finest archaeological and architectual sites.

Jacqueline O'Brien, also co-author and photographer of Great Irish Houses and Castles and Dublin: A Grand Tour, specializes in architectural and landscape photography. Her work has been exhibited widely on both sides of the Atlantic and has been reproduced in many books, magazines and other publications. She has been a Director of the Architectural Archive of Ireland and has lectured internationally on historical subjects. She is also Patron of the Irish Australian Association. Born in Perth and an honours graduate of the University of Western Australia, she is married to the celebrated racehorse trainer Vincent O'Brien. They have five children and have lived in Co.Tipperary, Ireland, since 1951. She is also well known for het photographs of horses and is co-author and photographer of Vincent O'Brien's Great Horses.

Peter Harbison was, for many years, editor of Ireland of the Welcomes, an internationally acclaimed magazine devoted to aspects of Irish culture. He is currently Honorary Academic Editor of the Royal Irish Academy, of which he had alse been Vice-President. From 1986 to 1990 Dr. Harbison was Chairman of the National Monuments Advisory Counsil. He has written many books, including The Guide to National Monuments, The Archaeology of Ireland, Irish Art and Architecture, Pre-Christian Ireland (winner of the British Archaeological Book Award in 1988), Pilgrimage in Ireland (a finalist for the same award in 1992) and the three-volume The High Crosses of Ireland. He also edited The Shell Guide to Ireland. He is married, with three children.