A remarkable book exploring the background and uses of traditional boats in Ireland, from their beginnings to their modern revisions.

The coasts of Britain and Ireland are surrounded by some of the most tempestuous waters in the world and are among the most diverse too. As a result of the diverse nature of the coast, each area has developed its own unique fishing craft suited to its own local environment. This book examines the roots of each native design.

The first history of traditional fishing boats of Europe.

The sixth-century voyage of St Brendan from Ireland to America, is one of the most fascinating of all sea legends. Could the myth of the Irish monk and his crew sailing the Atlantic in a boat made of leather, nearly a thousand years before Columbus, have been reality? In 1976, Tim Severin and a crew of four men, set out to recreate the Brendan legend. Using the exact same methods in constructing their sailing vessel, they set out on their hazardous voyage, making it one of the most inspiring expeditions in the history of exploration.

Collecting Music in the Aran Islands, a critical historiographical study of the practice of documenting traditional music, is the first to focus on the archipelago off the west coast of Ireland. Deirdre Ní Chonghaile argues for a framework to fully contextualize and understand this process of music curation.

Gerald of Wales was among the most dynamic and fascinating churchmen of the twelfth century. A member of one of the leading Norman families involved in the invasion of Ireland, he first visited there in 1183 and later returned in the entourage of Henry II. The resulting Topographia Hiberniae is an extraordinary account of his travels. Here he describes landscapes, fish, birds and animals; recounts the history of Ireland's rulers; and tells fantastical stories of magic wells and deadly whirlpools, strange creatures and evil spirits. Written from the point of view of an invader and reformer, this work has been rightly criticized for its portrait of a primitive land, yet it is also one of the most important sources for what is known of Ireland during the Middle Ages.

In an extraordinary attempt to recreate St Brendan's journey to America, Tim Severin and his crew embarked on an epic voyage across the vast North Atlantic. Brilliantly written, this is their story.

This book tells the fascinating story of a much-used vessel with prehistoric origins: the currach. Well-informed and imbued with stories from around the globe, the book is written in a very accessible style, highlighting the author's obvious love for these boats. It is a pioneering piece of work that throws new light on an ancient Irish craft. An overview of the history of the Boyne currach and related skin boats is followed by a how-to guide with instructions on how to build your own currach, including the materials needed, where to source them, and how to master the age-old techniques of weaving and binding. With so few currach-makers left in the world, the author hopes to preserve this craft for generations to come. The final section of the book details the Newgrange Currach Project. This project is a unique attempt by the author - an expert currach-maker - to recreate the currach used by the builders of the Newgrange passage tombs. At 34 ft. long, this wicker currach represents an incredible feat of boat engineering and a piece of living history. On completion, it will embark on a journey retracing (in reverse) the voyage believed to have been made by the Neolithic tomb-builders, from Newgrange to northern Spain. *** "� Gibne reveals that 'by learning how to make these boats and by visiting the homes of the men and women who had based their lives around the River Boyne, I have crafted this voyage into the story of a civilization.' Readers quickly understand that they are in the hands of an eloquent scribe as well as a master craftsman. This splendid (36-foot Newgrange Currach) project delivers a powerful cultural tribute to prehistoric people's desires and hopes to learn, explore, and better their lives in new lands." - The Celtic Connection, March 2013 *** "� Gibne's relationship to the Boyne currach is akin to devotion and his charismatic and almost evangelical writing shows this throughout the book." - International Journal of Maritime History, Vol. XXV, No. 1, June 2013