“This book is more than rigorous research combined with dazzling images. The sophisticated interplay of ideas and images here creates genuinely new ways of understanding the geography and the layers of history it holds. Just as importantly, that interplay visualizes both the archeological project and the passions that animate that work.”

James Collins, Professor and Chair of University of Notre Dame’s Film, Television and Theatre Department

Paperback ISBN: 9781905569922, €12.00

Published by Wordwell Press: https://wordwellbooks.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=1623

"Island places, Island Lives provides a wealth of information and insight about Inishbofin and Inishark, two small islands off the Connemara coast. Journeying form the present day back to their first settlement in prehistory, it illustrates how the islands' landscapes have been shaped by human activity. With evocative photographs this guide shows the richness of island life over many generations and is essential for visitors and those familiar with these two special islands."

Gabriel Cooney, Professor of Celtic Archaeology, School of Archaeology, University College Dublin

The people of Ireland and America are historically connected though culture, language, and heritage. For the Irish and Americans alike, the history and archaeology of the islands of western Ireland draw our attention to the unique nature of islanders, their ability to thrive in demanding conditions, and in many cases, the cultural foundation of the Irish who immigrated to America. As seen in this guide to the heritage of Inishbofin and Inishark, the work of the Notre Dame Culture Landscapes of the Irish Coast project illustrates collaborative research, of people from many countries, to document and share some of the rich cultural heritage of the islands.

This collaborative research and this publication have been made possible by the support of the John Tynan Family. Through their generous support, Culture Landscapes of the Irish Coast project has developed a more detailed understanding of the heritage, history and archaeology of the people of western Ireland. This support, as well as additional funding from the Keough- Naughton Institute for Irish Studies, the Institute of Scholarship in the Liberal Studies, and the Office of Research, University of Notre Dame, has furthered our understanding of the archaeology, history, and stories of the islanders. The authors invite you to explore and learn about the remarkable heritage, history, and archaeology of the people of the islands of Inishbofin and Inishark through short narrative descriptions and accompanying short documentary films available at Coastal Ireland: Heritage and Place youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@coastalirelandheritageandp1899

View of Inishbofin’s Old Pier, looking westward along the coastline (Image © CLIC Project)

"Inishbofin and Inishark are on the edge of the edge of the old world. The people who have lived on these islands for long centuries have faced a wide ocean that has sustained them but also caused them heartbreak. This book draws from the latest technology and research to offer beautifully observed insights into communities whose heritage extends beyond that ocean. It is the fruit of the care and history of the islands, bridging old worlds and new."

Cathal Goan, Visiting Fellow, Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies. Director General RTÉ, 2003-2010

View of Inishark’s post-medieval village (Image © CLIC Project)