Irelandopedia
A compendium of maps, facts and knowledge
By Fatti and John Burke
What a delightful concept for exploring the rich history of the
island nation of Ireland. County by county, there are countless interesting
factoids, cleverly illustrated to accentuate their historical significance.
Seriously oversized and in hardcover, it is an excellent resource to help make
history come alive for children and adults alike.
Created by father and daughter team of 68-year-old John and
25-year-old Kathi ‘Fatti’ Burke. What great fun they must have had researching,
sifting through and collating all things Ireland. John a retired primary
school teacher and Kathi a budding young illustrator have filled the pages with
32-counties worth of interesting places, people and traditions.
Irelandopedia will inspire readers to visit new places and
find new treasures in their own back yards. Published by Gill and Macmillan on
the 23rd October 2015, priced at €24.99, Irelandopedia was featured
on The Late Late Toy Show, is winner of the Bord Gais Energy Irish Book Awards
for 2015, and an instant bestseller.
My only criticism is that a few facts were not exactly
correct. One of the opening pages features Ten Wonders of Ireland. It lists
Slieve League as Ireland’s tallest cliffs. Although Slieve League is clearly
impressive, and at 601 m (1,972 ft) nearly three times higher than the better
known Cliffs of Moher, the elevation of the cliffs at Croaghan on Achill Island
is 688 m (2,257 ft). The cliffs on Achill are the third highest sea cliffs in
Europe. On the Mayo page, Westport is shown where Newport should be and
Inishbofin, actually in County Galway, was part of Mayo last in 1873! Nothing
a little fact checking wouldn’t fix.
What one could miss is the delightful section at the back of
the book showing what’s in the air, in the water, on the land, what we eat,
Irish names for popular things, music and dance, things we do, on the farm, and
finally our weather. There is also a useful index for locating things you may
know without knowing where they are. All in all, it’s a delightful resources
that families will go back to time and again.
Irelandopedia Activity Book
By Fatti and John Burke
A clever companion piece to Irelandopedia is the Activity
Book published 25 March 2016 (€9.99/£8.99). It will keep kids entertained
for hours. It’s an illustrated and interactive activity book that includes
pages to colour in, maps to draw, stories to write, dots to connect and so much
more. It also has a giant pull out illustrated map. It will test your
Irelandopedic knowledge, teach you how to draw a fox and a boat, and help you
match up pictures to their Irish names. It will provide hours of entertainment
for the whole family.
Coastal Boating (Reg. in Ireland No. 443222) is a division of Knowledge Clinic Ltd.
