New book about Inishkea Islands
Author Brian Dornan has published a new book about the Inishkea Islands.
A new book by renowned author Brian Dornan explores the prehistoric and medieval past on the Inishkea islands off the Mayo coast.
is Dornan’s latest work on the Inishkeas, following on from his highly regarded
Dornan explores 4,000 years of life on the islands, taking readers deep into the archaeology and early history of the Inishkeas, located off the Mullet peninsula.
Whereas looked at the islands from 1700 until their desertion in the 1930s, in this work Dornan turns his attention to the period from 2000 BC to 1700 AD, completing a fascinating history of one of Ireland’s most remote places.
Drawing on field surveys, archaeological data and early documentary sources, Dornan sheds light on ancient settlement patterns, burial sites, carved stones, and early Christian ruins that still survive in this wild outpost and hopes to highlight the significance and the fragility of what remains.
“The purpose of the book is to make people aware of the fascinating prehistoric and medieval landscape and endeavour to show the fragility of the surviving remains. Although the Atlantic Ocean is destroying some of the sites, it is hoped that all who visit will respect and protect what remains,” he said.
Dornan explains that centuries of agriculture did not erase the earlier landscape.
“We can learn that, despite the intensive agriculture, especially in the form of ridge and furrow for over 200 years, the pre-existing landscape was not destroyed. It is my hope that making the local community and the wider public aware of the vulnerability of the islands will encourage all stakeholders to play a part in their care and maintenance,” he added.
There will be two launch events in Mayo. On Monday, October 6, at 8.30pm in Castlebar, Professor Patrick J. Duffy (Emeritus) from the Geography Department of NUI Maynooth will launch the book as part of the Wild Atlantic Words Literary Festival.
An Erris launch, close to the Inishkeas, will take place in Aughleam on Sunday, October 26, at the Solas Visitor Centre, at 3pm. Professor Duffy will also perform the launch there.
The book will have its Dublin launch on Thursday, October 23, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm at the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 63 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 (D02 TW21). Launching the book will be Conleth Manning, former Senior Archaeologist with the National Monuments Service.
The book is on sale in all good bookshops and online from mayobooks.ie.
