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.

The castles of Ireland, captivating in the variety and ingenuity of their designs, are an essential part of the history of medieval Europe. Unlike the castles in England, however, they haven't been studies until recently. "Castles in Ireland" explains how a comprehensive study of the documents and physical remains of medieval castles can tell us the stories of the lords who ruled them and the builders who made them.
Much is revealed in these structures made for aristocrats, as the physical is integrated here with the historical story. We learn about Ireland as a setting for the interplay of differing competing lordships: English and Irish; feudal European and Gaelic; royal and baronial. Also in the studying of relations of neighboring castles and in contrasting the pattern of castle building with that of Europe, T.E. McNeill documents the collapse of the lords early hopes of great wealth in Ireland, the weakness of royal power and the consistent neglect of defensive development against domestic comfort at all times. Through his examination of archaeological evidence, the author concludes that contrary to assumptions made about the establishement of English estates in Ireland in the 13th century, the English and Irish found the land and their mutual occupation a peaceful one.

This large collection of papers forms the proceedings of the Acts du colloque international de Gwatt (Suisee), 2-10 septembre 2000. The papers explore various aspects of castles and fortified buildings across Europe, from Chepstow in the Welsh borders to Guido in France, from Kalisz in Poland to Florence in Italy. Papers in English, French and German.