#Non-fiction Mythical Ireland

Riders of the Sidhe, John Duncan (1866-1945)

 

Finish: 10.03.2024
Title: Mythical Ireland (A. Murphy)
Genre: Nonfiction  (332 pg)
Trivia: #ReadingIrelandMonth24 @ 746Books
Rating: C

 

 

Conclusion:

I suggest you read the Wikipedia page about several passage tombs: Newgrange, Knowth, Dwoth, Fourknocks, Rathcoran, Loughcrew before starting the book. It  will give you an idea  what these mouments are…built around 3200 BC.

The strongest point in the book is the stunning photography by A. Murphy at differen times of the year and day. Murphy uses these photo’s to support the strong connection between these burial mounds  and the moon and sun.

Joseph Campbell (1904-1987) professor of literature at Sarah Lawrence College and worked in comparative mythology…once said:  Myth is much more important and true than our history. Myth offers a window into our spirit, our true core.” Once the myths have been told a few times… the focus turns  mainly to the photographs  of  sun- and moonlight  alignments with the passage  tombs, rivers in the area and the Irish coastline.

I must be honest I found the ramblings  about waking  at the crack of dawn, dragging cameras equipment up the hills and setting up the photo shoot a bit boring.  I skimmed somes pages of text.

In short, the photography is stunning,….but if you want to learn about the history Ireland (…including some popular myths) I would reccommend Neil Hegarty’s  “Story of Ireland” (2011).