Ireland爱尔兰
Curatorial Note
AI-curated draftIreland's national atlas tradition, though modest in scale, is marked by a singular and significant achievement. The country's geographical identity, long shaped by its complex history and cultural heritage, found its cartographic expression relatively late. The sole national atlas in this collection, the *Atlas of Ireland*, was published in 1979 by the Royal Irish Academy, a testament to the collaborative effort of the Irish academic community. Compiled at Trinity College Dublin under the direction of the Irish National Committee for Geography, this atlas represents a comprehensive and systematic portrayal of the island's physical, social, and economic landscapes. Its editorial approach integrated thematic mapping with detailed commentary, reflecting a commitment to scholarly rigor and national self-representation. Reviews of the atlas, both contemporary and later, have acknowledged its value as a reference work and its role in consolidating geographical knowledge about Ireland. While the atlas did not spawn a continuous series, its publication marked a pivotal moment in Irish cartography, offering a definitive snapshot of the nation at a specific point in time and serving as a foundational resource for subsequent regional and thematic studies.
The Shelves
This is the first volume of the national atlas tradition in our collection.
Contemporary and Later Comment
- Review1980Anmeldelser: Atlas of Ireland
Viggo Hansen
This is a review by Viggo Hansen of the Atlas of Ireland, prepared under the direction of the Irish National Committee for Geography and published by the Royal Irish Academy in 1979. The atlas contains about 250 maps and represents eight years of collaborative work. The reviewer praises its cartographic quality and comprehensive coverage of physical geography, climate, biogeography, population, settlement and economy, with particular merit given to maps of social, linguistic and folk traditions. However, he notes the lack of explanatory texts and key references, requiring readers to consult other geographical literature.
- Article1980Atlas & Book Reviews: Atlas of Ireland
Edward P. Thatcher
This review assesses the Atlas of Ireland, published by the Royal Irish Academy in 1979. Compiled at Trinity College Dublin under the direction of the Irish National Committee for Geography, it comprises about 250 maps at a principal scale of 1:1,250,000, covering both physical and cultural geography. The reviewer praises its clear design, effective colors, and comprehensive content, while noting shortcomings such as lack of transitional pages and some missing data for Northern Ireland. The atlas is recommended as a valuable acquisition for academic libraries.
- Review1981Compte-Rendu: Atlas De l'Irlande
Bernard Rouleau
This article reviews the Atlas of Ireland.
From the Physical Collection
Photographs are being prepared for this hall.