Ireland

by David Lyons

Ireland is a much photographed country, whose lush beauty has been the subject of many pictorial books. However, David Lyons' stunning photography provide a fresh and vibrant image of the Irish landscape. It helps to have a feel for your subject, and David Lyons has exactly an Ulsterman who has concentrated on landscape photography, his vision of Ireland has been focused over the years. Images of well known locations and of the unexpected sit together in Ireland and provide a wonderful view of town and country. Ireland is divided roughly into quarters, into the four traditional provinces of Ireland – Ulster, Munster, Leinster, and Connaught – with each province's history featured. From the myths and fables of Celtic Ireland – Cuchulainn and Finn MacCool, the Daughters of Lir and the "little people" – through the historical remnants of Norman and British Ireland, the castles and cathedrals, Georgian Dublin and Protestant Belfast, to the new Ireland, the tiger economy of the European Union, the creativity of Ireland's heritage is portrayed in the photographs. But it is the timeless Irish landscape, the beauty and wildness, so ably captured by David Lyons' camera, that makes the greatest impression.

Genres: Nonfiction, Photography, Travel, Poetry, Ireland, Irish Literature

258 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1998

Reviews

[Kathleen Messmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

After having gone now, I wanted to revisit in this book to see how much I’d actually seen. This book was like being there all over again. Loved it!

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful trip down memory lane. Beautiful and depressing at the sane time, in some places. Review to come.

++++++++++++

My book blog has photos of some of my favorite places in Ireland that were mentioned in the book ----> http://allthebookblognamesaretaken.bl...

I picked this one up on the trip Mom and I took to Ireland in 2010. I know that while i might take 1,000 pictures, my skills are somewhat limited and having books like this are a nice comfort when I miss the places I've been and don't know if I will get to see them again.

There really is not much to review in the way of actual text. The book is divided into the the four provinces - Ulster, Connacht, Munster, and Leinster. It then covers the beautiful landscapes, ruins, and villages of the provinces. I loved seeing places that I'd already been to, and also new places I could add to my list for next time. I also was a little disappointed in some of the things left out - such as any mention of Titanic when looking around Cork. But that is my own personal preference and the 15 year old girl in me will always look for little mentions like that.

The photographs are simply beautiful, though they can never do justice to the real thing. Ireland is beyond beautiful, though also depressing at the same time. Not so much in Dublin, which is always busy much like any other capital city. Outside the city though, the countryside is quite different - especially when you see miles and miles of penny walls, with famine houses dotting the landscape in between modern homes.

I especially liked the shots of the places I was lucky enough to visit - the Burren, Blarney Castle, Newgrange and the Tall Cross at Monasterboice. My only wish is that there would have been an aerial shot of Newgrange to show off the amazing hills, or a full shot of the Tall Cross to see each panel. All photos belong to me.

Highly recommended, wonderful book.

[Greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed hearing many classic poems by Scotch poets. Lovely scenery is included by the editor David Lyons. My husband especially enjoyed putting on an accent for certain poems and poets and that added to the fun of bedtime reading.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous photos of Ireland's ruins and nature; however, I should've enjoyed some shots of its more populated areas, and the photo captions were in far too small of a text.