This volume brings together the first six towns of the 'Irish Historic Towns Atlas' series, previously published as individual fascicles. These towns - Kildare, Carrickfergus, Bandon, Kells, Mullingar and Athlone - illustrate characteristic periods of town formation in Ireland. Kildare and Kells, with their distinctive round towers, have their origins in Early Christian monastic sites, while Carrickfergus and Athlone, with their strategically-placed castles, are part of the extensive network of colonial towns built by the Anglo-Normans after their arrival in the late 12th century. Bandon is a...

Number 1 in the Irish Historic Towns Atlas series, Kildare, traces the history of this monastic town through its cartographic and primary sources from earliest times to c. 1900. The fascicle contains Ordnance Survey and historical maps as well as historic and aerial photographs. An essay describes the topographical evolution of Kildare and a gazetteer, or topographical information, includes histories of c. 200 sites in the town. These atlases illustrate characteristic periods of town formation in Ireland and reflect the country's cultural identity through the town's topographical history....