In Search of Ancient Ireland: The Origins of the Irish from Neolithic Times to the Coming of the English

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Summary: Aimed at the American nostalgia market
Review: This book bears little relation to the TV series, being more the author's personal travelogue than a useful survey of the archeaology. It is probably better aimed at the American nostalgia market, rather than anyone with a genuine interest in Ireland, historical or modern. A small book - the size, but not the thickness, of a paperback - with few pictures, I felt it was poor value for money. I would, however, strongly recommend the 3-part TV series which it accompanied, which successfully combined academic rigour with stunning visuals, and delightful vignettes of modern throwbacks to more ancient ways of life (DVD Region 1 only, alas).


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Summary: A real gem!
Review: This book is a real gem. It contained so much new information on ancient Ireland and the early development of the Irish people. I was totally surprised when I started to read it and found it so interesting. All of the new archeological information is in here and presented in such a way that it is hard to put the book down. I recommend this to anyone who wants to know about early Ireland, the Celtic culture, the Irish monasteries and the English invasion. Great!

Rating:
Summary: A real gem!
Review: This book is a real gem. It contained so much new information on ancient Ireland and the early development of the Irish people. I was totally surprised when I started to read it and found it so interesting. All of the new archeological information is in here and presented in such a way that it is hard to put the book down. I recommend this to anyone who wants to know about early Ireland, the Celtic culture, the Irish monasteries and the English invasion. Great!

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Summary: Wonderful exploration
Review: This book is a wonderful exploration into the origins of Ireland and the Irish. I learned so much from this. The authors bring fresh informaion from the new archeological source material as well as careful analysis of the ancient Irish texts. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to learn about pre-historic Ireland and into the Christian period. The Celtic question is clearly dealt with - did they come to Ireland? I enjoyed this scholarly discussion. All this was new to me. I also agree with the reviewer who praised the final chapter on the English invasion. Clearly stated and with great insight into the period.

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Summary: Excellent handling of new research
Review: This book offers excellent coverage of the newest research on ancient Irish studies. I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the subject. There is so much that is new here in the various periods covered in the different chapters. For once there is a book written with clarity and excellent handling on some very complex issues.

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Summary: Great history, fascinating read.
Review: This book offers fascinating new insights into ancient Ireland. The authors actually visited the sites they mention in the text and this gives a great sense of place to the history. They are accompanied on their journey by the archeologists and other scholars who then talk about their current research. I found it fascinating to read that such ancient sites are still there practically untouched by time. It is a great way of telling history and makes for easy reading on some complicated topics as the issue of the Celtic presence in Ireland. We learn about what Irish scholars are currently saying about the origins of Irish race and culture. I especially found helpful how the issue of the Celtic presence in Ireland is presented and the unique Monastic family system and early Irish Christinaity. I have not read anything like this elsewhere and I found it very informative. I also liked the way the final chapter details the variety of events surrounding the English invasion of the twelfth century.
By the way the original series was made by RTE, Irish Television, and PBS, not BBC as someone said.

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Summary: Great scholarlship, well researched
Review: This book offers great scholarship and is well researched on the issues surrounding the origins of the Irish race and culture. I was particularly interested to read about what Irish scholars have to say about the Celtic invasion. Just about every book I have read say that this occurred around 500 BC. Well, Irish scholars in Ireland are no longer saying this and in fact there is no archeological evidence for such an invasion. This was new information to me. But I appreciated also that the Celtic culture arrived and the writers give us a chapter on what this culture was about. I loved reading about the ancient Irish laws, the Brehon Laws. I also appreciated the chapter on St. Patrick and how he came to be the national saint of Ireland. It was as McCaffrey and Eaton point out 'clever politics and propaganda', which elevated him to this status. You get a great feel for the man in spite of his not being the only one to convert the Irish.
The chapter on the Irish monastery system is also full of interesting information. I almost felt like I was there reading about the families who owned the monasteries and what day to day life was like back then. The fact that women played an important role in early Irish Christianity to the point of having women bishops!
I really enjoyed learning about Irish families and seeing how great families like the O'Neills originated and the role they played in early Irish history. This is also the first time I have read about the details of the English invasion in such clear prose.
This book really is well researched on the most up to date scholarship on early Ireland. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn the truth beyond much of the mythology and pseudo-history that so many books on this topic contain. Highest rating.

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Summary: A very good read
Review: This book was a wonderful experience for me. It was the most interesting read I have had in a long time. I have read others book on early Irish history but this one fills in all the gaps. I especially enjoyed learning about the latest information on early Ireland and the Irish and how people lived in Ireland in ancient times. The authors traveled throughout Ireland with Irish scholars and even the Director of the National Museum! Wow! Yet the book flows like a well told story. I will read this book over and over again. It is like a visit to ancient Ireland in a time machine! I highly recommend it to all readers

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Summary: great book for history buffs
Review: This is a great book for history buffs. It contains in one volume everything you would want to know about the ancient Irish. I got this book as a gift from someone and was not able to put it down. It is hard to find in one volume so much information on ancient Ireland and the great history of this land. I am of Irish decent and was so delighted to read about actual people who shaped the early history of Ireland. The scholarship is excellent and well presented. For the current research on ancient Ireland, this is the book to read

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Summary: great scholarship, beautifully written & easy to read.
Review: This is not a typical scholarly examination of ancient Ireland. Ms. McCaffrey, accompanied by experts from the various periods, takes the reader on a journey through the Island visiting many of the most important historical sites. And much is to be learned as the most current research is shared. However, the most appealing aspect of the work is McCaffrey's beautifully descriptive reports from the places visited; she incorporates easy to understand discussion into vivid prose that seems to rise from the page & take hold of the reader. Highlights include Patrick's first wanderings & the beginnings of Christianity in the 5th century; life in the monasteries as monks build communities while diligently reproducing & preserving the great illuminated manuscripts--the visits to Clonmacnoise & Skelligmichael are particularly engaging; the Viking raids, which have never before been told with so much realism--the logistics of these sea & inlet manouvers left me with a new understanding of the terror inflicted on the native Irish, as well the way these raiders eventually came to shape Irish identity. Much of that period reads like a well crafted novel. If you want to become well versed in Irish history from the very beginning to 1171, this is your book. Highest rating. (When's the sequel?)