Ancient Ireland : from prehistory to the Middle Ages / Jacqueline O'Brien and Peter Harbison

London : Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1996. First Edition. Hardcover. Fine cloth copy in an equally fine dust-wrapper. Particularly and surprisingly well-preserved; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered. Physical description; 256 p. ; 34 cm. Notes; Includes bibliography and index. Contents; Part 1 Prehistoric: Newgrange; dolmens; wedge tombs; stone circles; Hill of Tara. Part 2 (400-1100): ogham stones; Irish manuscripts in St. Gall; Viking brooches; Glendalough; Kells; high crosses; round towers. Part 3 11th and 12th centuries: Romanesque churches, including Rock of Cashel, Tuam Cathedral, Clonfert Cathedral. Part 4 Late medieval Ireland: Norman mottes and castles, including Carrickfergus, Dublin Castle, Kilkenny; Norman churches, including Kildare Cathedral; Gothic cathedrals and parish churches, including Christ Church, St Patrick's; the Cistercians, Augustinians, Benedictines and Dominicans. Part 5 Later medieval Ireland (1400-1600): late medieval castles and tower houses, including Bunratty, Doe Castle; the Church in Ireland (1400-1600); Franciscans; craftmanship in late medieval Ireland. Part 6 17th century: Tudor, Stuart and Plantation architecture. Summary; This work concentrates on the rich architectural heritage of both early and late medieval Ireland, preceded by an introduction on the groundwork laid by the Celts. The legacy of this period - manuscripts and metalwork, churches and great stone crosses, family tower houses and feudal castles have all been photographed by O'Brien and documented by Harbison for this book. Maps, charts and timelines afford the reader greater understanding of the complex world of medieval Ireland. Subjects; Architecture, Medieval - Ireland - Pictorial works. Historic buildings - Ireland - Pictorial works. Historic sites - Ireland - Pictorial works. Monuments - Ireland - Pictorial works. Celts - Ireland - History. Architecture, Medieval - Ireland. Historic buildings - Ireland. Historic sites - Ireland. Monuments - Ireland. Art, Early Medieval - Ireland. Art, Medieval - Ireland. Antiquities, Prehistoric - Ireland. Ireland - Antiquities - Pictorial works. Ireland - History - To 1172. history. archaeology. architecture. British & Irish history: (c 500 to c 1000) ; British & Irish history: (c 1000 to c 1500) ; Medieval European archaeology ; Architecture. History / Europe / Ireland. History / Medieval. Social Science / Archaeology. History / Europe / General. Architecture / General. Architecture, Medieval ; Ireland ; Pictorial works ; Historic buildings ; Monuments ; Historic sites.