Birds have been part of our culture & folklore from very early times but there is more to them than the 'wran' boys & the Children of Lir. In Irish mythology, birds were sometimes seen as omens, & there were countless beliefs, proverbs & curses associated with them: we believed cuckoos turned into hawks, woodcock holidayed on the moon & some birds grew on trees. Birds inspired poets such as Gerard Manley Hopkins, W. B. Yeats & Seamus Heaney & they influenced place names like the Curlew Mountains in Roscommon & Hawk's Nest, County Antrim. Even their own names are rich & full of meaning
- the Irish for starling is druid, the dotteral is known as Amadan Mointeach which means 'bog idiot' & the dunnock was called Mathair Cheile which translates as 'mother-in-law'. A unique companion to bird-identification reference books, Birds of Ireland focuses on our interaction with birds, wild, domesticated & extinct. Glynn Anderson identifies over 150 birds of Irel&, giving each name (in Irish & English) & its meaning, a description & associated beliefs, myths, legends, weather lore, culinary traditions & place names. Each entry ends with a ' Facts & Figures' section, such as species numbers in Irel&, where it is common & its longevity. Beautifully illustrated with full-colour illustrations of all birds this is a rewarding treasure trove for bird lovers & general readers alike.