Castles In Ireland: Feudal Power In A Gaelic World

The castles of Ireland, captivating in their number and variety, are an integral part of the story of medieval Europe. A lord's power and prestige were displayed in the majesty and uniqueness of his castle. The remains of several thousand castles enable us to reconstruct life in Ireland during these crucial centuries.
By weaving together physical evidence, "Castles in Ireland" tells the story of the nature and development of lordship and power in R isbn=0415925118 Ireland formed the setting to the interplay of the differing roles of competing lordships: English and Irish; feudal European and Gaelic; royal and baronial. Tom McNeill argues that the design of Irish castles contests the traditional view of Ireland as a land torn by wars and divided culturally between the English and Irish.