Throughout the 19th century classic books of Irish history were published in Dublin, Cork, London, and even New York. Many of these titles have been scanned and are available for reading or download on the web.
Below are links to recommended titles, which include accounts of ancient Irish history, nearly contemporaneous accounts of 19th century events, and even some classic works of Irish folklore.
The General History of Ireland by Geoffrey Keating
J. Duffy Publishers/public domain
Keating's book has at times been criticized as it portrays mythological events as well as events which are known to be historical. But for that very reason it has also been widely praised, with Keating being lauded as the "Irish Herodotus."
The manuscript has been translated from the Irish language several times. This particular edition was translated and published in Dublin in 1841.
A Concise History of Ireland by Patrick Weston Joyce
The Irish scholar Patrick Weston Joyce published many books relating to Irish history, geography, folklore, and even language in the late 1800s. He distilled copious historical research into A Concise History of Ireland, which was published in the early 1890s.This particular edition of Joyce's book was published in 1903. The book covers the history of Ireland from ancient times into the first third of the 19th century, essentially concluding during the time of the great Irish political leader, Daniel O'Connell.
An Illustrated History of Ireland by Mary Francis Cusack
Longmans, Green Publishers/public domain
Cusack's book covers a huge span of time from ancient Ireland to the political movement of Daniel O'Connell in the 1820s. Highlights include some fascinating material drawn from the Annals of the Four Masters, a history of Ireland compiled in the early 1600s.
The History of Ireland, Vol. I, by John O'Driscol
This two-volume history of Ireland was published in London in 1827. The author, John O'Driscol, endeavored to create a history of Ireland that was impartial while chronicling the centuries old struggles between the Irish and the English.The first volume of the book deals with some early history, but mostly details the times of Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, and perhaps the greatest villain of Irish history, Oliver Cromwell.
The History of Ireland, Vol. II, by John O'Driscol
The second volume of O'Driscol's history deals with events of the 1600s, including the Battle of the Boyne and the Siege of Limerick. He injects his own opinions freely, but much of the material, especially passages dealing with the peculiarities of warfare during that period, is fascinating.
The Life and Times of Robert Emmet by Richard Madden
Robert Emmet was the leader of an Irish rebellion in 1803. The plan was to seize strategic positions in the city of Dublin and have the uprising spread throughout the country. While ambitious, the planning was haphazard and the plan quickly unraveled after some small skirmishes in the streets of Dublin.Emmet escaped Dublin but was soon captured, tried, and hanged on a platform set up in a Dublin street. The uprising is best remembered for Emmet's often quoted speech following his conviction for treason.
This biography, published in Dublin only 44 years after Emmet's execution, is quite sympathetic to the fallen rebel. It contains vivid descriptions of the events of Emmet's life, the 1803 uprising, and Emmet's execution.
The Life and Times of Daniel O'Connell, Vol. I by William Fagan
The dominant political figure in Ireland in the early 1800s was Daniel O'Connell, a native of rural Kerry who became a lawyer in Dublin and eventually headed a political movement that unified many thousands of Irish tenant farmers. This two-volume biography, which was published in the city of Cork, Ireland, in 1847, not long after O'Connell's death, provides a good view of how O'Connell's great prominence was perceived.
The first volume follows O'Connell's life from his childhood in rural Kerry up until the late 1820s, when he had won a seat in the British Parliament following a noteworthy election in County Clare.
The Life and Times of Daniel O'Connell, Vol. II by William Fagan
This second volume of O'Connell's biography begins with O'Connell's agitation to repeal the Act of Union, a law which bound Ireland to England. The book concludes in 1837, when O'Connell was at a political peak, though he still had ten years to live.
A Hand Book for Travellers in Ireland by James Fraser
This book, which was published in Dublin in 1844, was compiled, as the title suggests, to assist travelers. But it makes fascinating reading today for lovers of Irish history, as it provides descriptions of what one would find by the Irish roadsides. The author often interjects historical facts, pointing out the sites of ancient battles and other major events.The Irish Sketchbook, 1842 by William Makepeace Thackeray
The British novelist Thackeray, author of Vanity Fair, The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon, and other notable books, took a trip around Ireland in 1842. His excursion resulted in this travel book, which was first published under the pseudonym T.A. Titmarsh.Thackeray was at times horrified by the poverty he witnessed in Ireland, yet he was not being terribly sympathetic to the Irish. If you can get past the author's snide attitude, the book is interesting for the descriptions of the towns, the detail about transportation in Ireland during that period, and some gracefully written passages about geographical features.
Researches in the South of Ireland by T. Crofton Croker
John Murry Publisher/public domain
This is an unusual and fascinating book which alternates between being a travel guide and a seminal work of Irish folklore. The chapter on "Keens and Death Ceremonies" is particularly interesting, as Croker provides striking detail on rural Irish wakes of two centuries ago.
Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland by T. Crofton Croker
Continuing his research in the folklore of the rural Irish, Thomas Crofton Croker published this book, which is often considered his masterwork, in 1825. It contains a great wealth of stories and folk tales, often involving supernatural events and creatures. The book was so popular that the brothers Grimm published a translation of it.This particular edition was published in London in 1859. It contains a brief biography of Croker written by his son.
