Rathfarnham Castle Guidebook, by Jane Fenlon and others (OPW, €5.00) There must be thousands of living Dubliners who have memories of Rathfarnham Castle as it was back in the last century under the auspices of the Jesuits, when it was a noted Jesuit seminary and retreat centre. The Jesuits, who had taken over the…
In Our Day: An Oral History of Dublin’s Bygone Days, by Kevin C. Kearns (Gill Books, €24.99 / £18.99) Back when the world was young I had “a friend next door” who always referred to “the olden days”, not referring to the Middle Ages, but it transpired to the days when his parents were…
Visualising the Celtic Revival: The Arts and Crafts movement in Ireland selected writings by Nicola Gordon Bowe, edited by Róisín Kennedy (Four Courts Press, €55.00 / £50.00) The late Nicola Gordon Bowe was one of the most distinguished art historians of her time in Ireland. She was widely admired for her books about the stained glass…
The Aztec Myths: A Guide to the Ancient Stories and Legends by Camilla Townsend (Thames & Hudson, £14.99 / €17.99) I have long been fascinated by the great civilisations of the ancient Americas, the Aztecs of Mexico and the Incas of Peru, whose fall was brought about by the savage incursions of the Spanish conquistadores. The…
The Book of Iona: An Anthology edited by Robert Crawford (Polygon / Birlinn, £12.99) The remote island of Iona has a special place in the memories and affections of thousands of people in Scotland and Ireland. In my own case, I still recall, so very distinctly it is like a dream, my first visit to the…
What with the Olympic Games followed by the Paralympics, let alone the normal goings on and a clamour of French politics, Paris has been satiated by spectacle these last few months. There had been hopes of another kind of spectacle. It was hoped by many who had followed as well as they could the great…
Playing Dice with God by Richard Clarke (Dominican Publications. €10.00 / £8.50) Richard Clarke, who was born in 1949, is a retired Irish Anglican Archbishop and author. From 2012 to 2020, he served as the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, A long varied and distinguished career in the Church of Ireland, which included a…
More Power to You: Sarah Purser, a force for Irish Art: A major exploration of Sarah Purser (1848-1943), her extraordinary legacy, and enduring impact on the Irish arts scene Curated by Logan Sisley, Head of Collections, Hugh Lane Gallery The major exhibition at the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery for the autumn of this year is…
A Hundred Roads to Here: Introductions to Meditation by Donagh O’Shea OP (Dominican Publications, €12.00 / £10.50) This is a book which will have I think an immediate appeal to those who are attracted to the idea of mediation, but have somehow failed to get the knack of it. Donagh O’Shea is fully alert to their…
Reforming Galway: Civic society, religious change and St Nicholas collegiate church, 1550-1750 by Raymond Gillespie (Four Courts Press, €50.00 / £45.00) Raymond Gillespie, Professor Emeritus at the University of Maynooth, died in March of this year, while this book was in the very final stages of production. Reforming Galway is thus the last work of a…