Ancient Ireland

Carrowkeel Passage Tomb in Sligo is an extensive Neolithic passage tomb undisturbed since its excavation in 1911. Robert Praeger, one of the excavators, described being one of the first to enter the tomb: ‘I lit three candles and stood awhile, to let my eyes accustom themselves to the dim light. There was everything, just as the last man had left it, three to four thousand years before.’ On an isolated hillside, the tomb is in almost the same undisturbed condition today. Ireland is rich in such monuments. Tarquin Blake and Fiona Reilly explore and document over 140 historic sites across the thirty-two counties. These range from megalithic tombs and round towers to monasteries and castles, as well as the more recent Martello towers and windmills. An engrossing catalogue of remarkable heritage sites is revealed. Each site, from Brian Boru’s Fort in County Clare to Moyne Friary in County Mayo, has an intriguing past and is illustrated with Blake’s trademark photographs.