Synopsis
“Your beautiful county that is Donegal. This Atlas will showcase what’s best in the county: the scenery, beauty and most important it’s people” Buy the Book!
said Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness at the launch of An
Historical, Environmental and Cultural Atlas of Donegal. He added “it’s
a real privilege to be here”. McGuinness spoke of his family, many of
whom are from Donegal, “my mother is from the Illies, just outside
Buncrana”. He is clearly impressed with this work and recommended that
all households should have one!
The Atlas is edited by Jim
McLaughlin and Sean Beattie, both natives of Co. Donegal. These two men
clearly believed that their county was a forgotten, almost desolate part
of Ireland. This production will wave all such thoughts and beliefs. It
firmly puts Donegal on the Ireland and indeed the world map!
This
is an all inclusive book. Jim McLaughlin, a political geographer and
Sean Beattie, an historian, have successfully compiled some 77 chapters,
by a variety of authors (all experts in their own areas). One learns
something new with the turn of every page. One looks forward to both the
reading and illustrations with each new turn.
The book is
divided into 6 sections: Physical Environment, Wildlife and Climate;
Prehistory and the pre-Colonial Period; Dislocation and Transformation;
Making of Modern Donegal; Cultural Traditions, Music and Sport and Art,
Literature and Architecture. Each section covers detailed areas and uses
artistic photography throughout. Its detail is spectacular at every
angle.
Being a Donegal girl I absolutely loved this collection.
Living in the county for most of my life it is easy to forget and ignore
the beauty that surrounds me. In recent years, I’ve sacrificed annual
foreign holidays to explore my native county, and discovered that it was
no longer a sacrifice but an honour and a privilege to holiday at home.
Sean
Beattie said at the launch, “The Atlas will safe keep our modern
history”. Jim McLaughlin believes that every Donegal home should have
“The Bible, The Book of Kells and the Donegal Atlas”! Perhaps in time
they will!
The physical environment, social history, religion,
philosophy, folk life is all covered throughout the book. Nothing is
alien. Martin McGuinness aptly said that it is indeed ‘”A work of art
and of scholarly achievement. A wonderful, marvellous book”.
It is a virtual encyclopaedia of Donegal!
An
Historical, Environmental and Cultural Atlas of Donegal is available
from all good bookshops nationwide and from www.corkuniversitypress.com
priced at €59