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by Joe Curtis.
Softcover (6.2×9.2 inches). 148 pages. 2025.
The Images of America series publishes hyper-local collections of old photographs centering around a specific place, usually a town. For example, I have one called Prallsville Mills and Stockton, which is a proverbial stone’s throw from my house (see the 8/25/2024 AAR or hmgs.org for the book review).
Clontarf is in Ireland, known to me as a 1014 battle site where Irish King Brian Boru defeated the Vikings. So, a good look around the battlefield with old photos sounded like a good idea.
Er…not so much. I was expecting shots of the battlefield terrain as it was in the 19th century. Alas, the book contains only an 1892 illustration of the battle. That’s it. One illustration. The rest of the book contains old photos of the town of Clontarf.
Now, I happen to enjoy looking at old and modern photos. Clontarf seems like a lovely town to wander about — seaside walks, castle, gardens, and impressive churches, manors, and other buildings. But if you’re looking for battlefield photos, this is not it.
The book contains 172 black and white photos, three black and white illustrations, and three black and white maps.
Most photos are sharp, even the interior ones. Some are darker and some taken from old newspapers are a tad blurry.
If I ever cross the pond to visit the battlefield, this book highlights the highlights of presumably nearby Clontarf. You might even use it for a modern horror RPG adventure involving Viking and Irish spirits. Ties go to the author.
Enjoyed it.
— Reviewed by Russ Lockwood
