Castles are the most familiar medieval landmark across the Irish countryside. Their often romantic appearance belies their turbulent history and their lore abounds in stories of sieges, betrayals and daring escapes. From the earliest stone castles such as Dublin Castle to the fortified manor houses such as Red Hugh O'Donnell's Donegal Castle, each has a fascinating and individual story to tell. Castles of Ireland brings the reader on a tour of more than sixty castles, from the biggest and most well-known to dramatic and atmospheric ruins which had a role to play in shaping Ireland's history.

A new volume collecting together, for the first time, the writings of the esteemed academic, Rolf Loeber. This stunning new work also includes a bibliography of the writings of Rolf Loeber on Irish history, architecture, settlement and literature, featuring over 100 maps, photographs and illustrations.00From the contents:0- Chapter One: An architectural history of Gaelic castles and settlements, 1370?1600; 0- Chapter Two: The geography and practice of English colonisation in Ireland, 1534?1609; 0- Chapter Three: Pre-plantation architecture and the early seventeenth-century building conditions for Ulster and the Midlands plantations; 0- Chapter Four: Irish houses and castles, 1660?1690; 0- Chapter Five: Early Classicism in Ireland: architecture before the Georgian era; 0- Chapter Six: The architecture of Irish country houses 1691-1740: continuity and innovation; 0- Chapter Seven: A bibliography of the writings of Rolf Loeber on Irish history, architecture, settlement and literature.

Displays 26 castles and country seats and discusses social history alongside the development of the Irish country house.