All About Our Hilltop Ancestors

© The Publisher
(cover photo James O’Driscoll)

Full title: Hillforts, Warfare and Society in Bronze Age Ireland

Creator / Author: William O’Brien and James O’Driscoll

Item Type / Page count: Book and ebook / 522pp

When Published: 2017

Publisher / Place of Publication: Archaeo Press Publishing / Gordon House, 276 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7ED

About: This very substantial and highly-illustrated scholarly volume combines  traditional archaeological methods of survey and excavation with modern techniques of remote sensing and GIS (Geographical Informations Systems) landscape analysis to study hillforts in the wider context of warfare and conflict in Ireland during the Bronze Age. Three chapters of the book are specifically dedicated to a detailed landscape study of the Baltinglass Hillfort Complex, which sheds new light on nine individual sites in the area.

ID number(s): 9781784916558 / 9781784916565

Contents: List of Figures – Acknowledgements — Chapter 1: Introduction / William O’Brien — Chapter 2: Prehistoric Hillforts in Ireland and Europe / James O’Driscoll — Chapter 3: Clashanimud Hillfort, Co Cork / William O’Brien — Chapter 4: Other Bronze Age hillforts in Munster/South Leinster / William O’Brien — Chapter 5 [expanded contents]: The Baltinglass Hillfort Landscape of County Wicklow / James O’Driscoll — 5.1: Natural landscape — 5.2: History of research — 5.3: Spinans Hill — 5.4: Kilranlagh — 5.5: Tuckmill Hill — 5.6: Tinoran — 5.7: Hughstown — 5.8: The wider landscape — 5.9: Excavations and finds in the Baltinglass environs — 5.10: Conclusion — Chapter 6 [expanded contents]: The Baltinglass Hillfort Excavations / William O’Brien — 6.1: Spinans Hill 1, Co Wicklow — 6.2: Rathnagree, Co Wicklow — 6.3: Sruhaun, Co Wicklow — 6.4: Tinoran, Co Wicklow — 6.5: Hughstown, Co Kildare — Chapter 7: Chronology / William O’Brien — Chapter 8 [expanded contents]: Modelling the Baltinglass Hillfort Landscape / James O’Driscoll — 8.1: Landscape models for hillfort settlement: a review — 8.2: GIS models of the Baltinglass hillfort landscape –8.3: Modelling hillfort construction at Baltinglass — 8.4: Conclusion — Chapter 9: Hillforts and Warfare in Bronze Age Ireland / William O’Brien — Chapter 10: The Hillfort in Bronze Age Ireland / James O’Driscoll and William O’Brien — Catalogue of Prehistoric Hillforts in Ireland / James O’Driscoll – Bibliography.

Extra #1: Includes over 400 photographs, illustrations and maps.

Extra #2: The cover features a photograph of Brussellstown Ring.

Extra #3: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

Extra #4: Link to the Publisher’s website

Brief Account of Two Bullaun Stones

© JRSAI

Full title: Two Bullaun Stones in Kilbeg Townland, Co. Wicklow

Creator / Author: David McGuinness and Markus Redmond

Item Type / Page count: Journal Article / 3pp

Journal Information: Journal of The Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Volume 125 pp. 129-131

When Published: December 1995

Publisher / Place of Publication: R.S.A.I / Merrion Square, Dublin

About: This is a short article from the Miscellanea section of the journal. Bullaun Stones are blocks of uncut natural stones into which oval or circular basin shapes have been carved out. This pair of stones came to the attention of the authors by their appearance on a then recently-issued ordnance survey map and they do not seem to have been recorded in detail before. They, and 2-3 others in the neighbourhood are thought to have been associated with Templeboden and St. Boden’s Well.

ID number(s): 0035-9106

Extra #1: Includes illustration of the stones.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #3: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

Extra #4: Read this article online via JSTOR. [Personal registration / conditions apply]. Alternatively, your local public library may provide free online access to this article.

Farewell to the Flower of Pleasant Hill

© The Publisher
(cover photo Peter Kearns)

Full title: The Trial of Billy Byrne of Ballymanus

Creator / Author: Foreword by Jim Rees

Item Type / Page count: Book / 72pp

When Published: 1996

Publisher / Place of Publication: Dee-Jay Publications / 3 Meadows Lane, Arklow, Co. Wicklow

About: This account of the trial of Billy Byrne was originally published around 1799 in Dublin. The case against him ranged from being Captain of rebel troops in the Battle of Arklow, to encouraging others to rebel and to being implicated in several murders. The text is presented with minimal alterations, but with the addition of an index, an account of his execution, and the inclusion of the ballad ‘Billy Byrne of Ballymanus’. In the ballad he is referred to as “the flower of Pleasant-hill”.

ID number(s): 0951923927

Contents: Publisher’s Note — Foreword — “Billy Byrne of Ballymanus” [ballad] — The Trial — Prisoner’s Defence — Defence Summation — Confirmation of Sentence — Petition for Clemency by Eleanor & Frances Byrne – Response of John Caldwell – Epilogue – Index.

Extra #1: The full title of the original 1799 edition is as follows: The Tryal of William Byrne of Ballymanus, County of Wicklow, Esq. On charges of being a Principal Leader in the late rebellion, and concerned in several murders in the same, held before A Military Tribunal at Wicklow, by order of Major General Eustace, on Monday the 24^th of June and Continued by Adjournment to the 2^nd of July, 1799, with the Prisoner’s Defence, the Judgement of the Court – Sentence etc., with his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant’s decision thereon. To which is added a Copy of a Memorial on behalf of the Prisoner, laid before his Excellency, and by him transmitted to the Commanding Officer at Wicklow for his report together with his Answer thereto.

Extra #1: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #2: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

Fairy Tales and Other Stories

© The Publisher
(cover David Wardle)

Full title: Irish Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends

Creator / Author: Kieran Fanning, artwork by David Wardle

Item Type / Page count: Book / 226p

When Published: 2020

Publisher / Place of Publication: Scholastic Children’s Books / 2020 Euston House, 24 Eversholt Street, London, NW1 1DB, United Kingdom.

About: A fictionalised re-telling of some well known and not so well-known stories from the treasure house of Ireland’s myth and legends. Eighteen short chapters, specially written for children, introduce the reader to the likes of Cúculainn, Oisin, Fionn, Balor and his Evil Eye, the Children of Lir and lots more. Overall, a perfect collection for 8-12 year olds.

ID number(s): 9780702300165

Contents: [Fairy Tales and Folklore] The King’s Secret — King Corc and his Daughter — The Twelve Wild Geese — The Lazy Beauty and her Aunts – The Lady of Gallarus — The Legend of Bottlehill — Jack and the Man in Black — [The Mythological Cycle] Nuada of the Silver Arm — Balor of the Evil Eye — The Children of Lir — [The Ulster Cycle] The Hound of Cullan – Cúculainn and Emer — The Cattle Raid of Cooley — [The Fenian Cycle] Fionn and the Salmon of Knowledge – Fionn and the Fire Demon of Tara — The Giant’s Causeway — The Birth of Oisín – Oisín in Tír na nÓg.

WW Connection #1: The author is a native of Stratford-on-Slaney in West Wicklow.

Extra #1: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication

Extra #2: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

Extra #3: Link to the Author’s website

Extra #4: Link to the Publisher’s website