The Little Book of Wicklow is a compendium of fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts about County Wicklow, the last Irish county to be created and one of the most beautiful, the ‘Garden of Ireland’. From the stark grandeur of the Wicklow Mountains to the fertile coastal plains, this book takes the reader on a journey through the county and its vibrant past. Here you will find out about Wicklow’s castles and great houses, its monastic heritage and heroic leaders. You will also glimpse a darker side to Wicklow’s past with a look at crime and punishment and Wicklow’s wicked women. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage and the secrets of this ancient county.
Did You Know? Kildare's highest point is Cupidstown Hill near Kilteel. St Brigid, the patroness of Ireland, was buried in Kildare. When built, the magnificent Castletown House near Celbridge was the largest private residence in Ireland. The origins of Guinness can actually be traced to County Kildare, not Dublin. The Little Book of Kildare is a compendium of fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts about this historic county. Here you will find out about Kildare's great houses and historic towns, its monastic heritage, its literary traditions and its famous (and occasionally infamous) men and women. Through quaint villages and bustling towns, this book takes the reader on a journey through County Kildare and its and colourful vibrant past. A reliable reference and a quirky guide, this book can be dipped into time and again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage and the secrets of this ancient country.
The Little Book of Sandymount is a compendium of fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts about one of Dublin's most important suburbs. Here you will find out about Sandymount's streets and buildings, its schools and industries, its proud sporting heritage, and its famous (and occasionally infamous) men and women. Through main thoroughfares and twisting back streets, this book takes the reader on a journey through Sandymount and its vibrant past. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage and the secrets of this south Dublin suburb.
Did You Know? Belfast's motto is Pro Tanto Quid Retribuamus: 'What shall we give in return for so much?' In 1170, the first Belfast Castle was established in what is now Castle Place. The present castle on Cavehill dates from 1870 and was gifted to the city in 1937. The Belfast News Letter was the first paper outside of America to publish the Declaration of Independence. The Little Book of Belfast is a compendium of obscure, strange and entertaining facts about the city's fascinating past and present. Funny, fast-paced and fact-packed, here you will find out about Belfast's trade and industry, crime and punishment, music, literature and sport, architectural heritage, and its famous (and occasionally infamous) men and women. It covers not only the major elements in Belfast's history but also those unusual, little-known facts that could so easily have been forgotten. A reliable reference and a quirky guide, this book can be dipped into time and again to reveal something new about the people, heritage and secrets of this ancient city.
The Little Book of Dundrum is a compendium of fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts about this vibrant suburb of Dublin. This book takes the reader on a journey through Dundrum and its intricate past. Here you will find out about Dundrum's famous sons and daughters, its churches, pubs, shops and great houses, its industries and its natural history. You will also glimpse a darker side to Dundrum's past with a look at crime and mayhem in the district. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage and the secrets of this south Dublin suburb.
The Little Book of Bray & Enniskerry is a compendium of fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts.Here you will find out about Bray and Enniskerry's history, their famous faces, their buildings and streets, their sporting heritage and their myths and legends. Through main thoroughfares and twisting back streets, this book takes the reader on a journey through the area's past.A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage and the secrets of these ancient settlements.
Irelands finest photographer in the 20th century, Fr Frank Browne repeatedly visited County Wicklow across almost half a century. Over that time, he had the opportunity to capture images of this part of the country as it underwent change and yet, somehow, retained its essential character. The earliest photograph, for example, is of the Dargle Valley, a spot that looks much the same today as it did when Fr Browne first went there in 1910. Other pictures show landmark beauty spots such as the Powerscourt Waterfall and the Sugarloaf Mountain, as well as the rugged landscape of the Sally Gap. The monastic remains of Glendalough are exquisitely caught, along with the still waters of Lough Tay. But while his eye was able to spot the timeless beauty of this rural idyll, Fr Browne also noted the modern and innovative, capturing key moments in the development of a newly independent Ireland, such as the construction of the Poulaphouca Reservoir in the late 1930s and workers in the newly opened Solus Teoranta Lightbulb Factory in Bray. Cars are few, but bicycles plentiful in his photographs. The advent of modern technology contrasts with traditional pastimes: a horse fair in Blessington, sheep dipping on a farm, a thatcher repairing the roof of an old cottage. He shows bustling preparations for the International Eucharistic Congress of June 1932, along with commercial activity in towns such as Arklow and Wicklow. New schools are shown being built in the first, older pursuits like fishing continue in the second. And Fr Brownes ability to gain access everywhere means he was able to photograph many of Wicklows most famous historic houses, like Powerscourt before its interiors were tragically destroyed by fire, and Shelton Abbey which he visited just a year before the building and its contents were sold. The book is divided into five/six sections, each offering readers the chance to follow in Fr Brownes footsteps and explore a different part of the county.
The Little Book of Ranelagh is a compendium of fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts about this Dublin suburb. Here you will find out about Ranelagh's rural past, its sporting heritage, its arts and culture, its schools and churches, shops and industries, and its famous (and occasionally infamous) men and women. Through main thoroughfares and twisting back streets, this book takes the reader on a journey through Ranelagh and its vibrant past. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage and the secrets of this south Dublin suburb.
A concise history of all the major figures in Irish boxing, from Dan Donnelly to Katy Taylor, this new book from highly experienced author Barry Flynn will be a must for fans of Irish boxing all over the world. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this compendium of fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about this ancient sport.
