History of Ireland IRE185C: Reference Sources

Reference items are excellent places to begin your research.  Subject encyclopedias contain articles by experts in their fields and include bibliographies for further research.  They offer you a brief overview of your topic and can lead you to keywords to aid in your search. Encyclopedias can be found across a broad range of topics in Irish Studies. These items are available both in print and electronic formats and you will discover material that covers Irish history, folklore, drama and literature to name a few areas.  Reference print books can be found in the Reference Room on the 1st floor of the Library.  They do not circulate but you may photocopy or scan the articles downstairs in our Periodical Dept.

Ireland has a robust literary history.  These selected print reference books will familiarize you with Ireland's valuable contributions to prose and poetry.  For a relatively small country, Ireland has produced some of the world's most important poets, playwrights and novelists including James Joyce, W.B. Yeats, George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde.

Ireland has had a long and complex history.  The country has faced famine, occupation and political strife.  Yet throughout its lengthy history it has maintained a rich cultural life.  Below is a selected list of reference books that will introduce you to Ireland's history and culture.  These books will be found in the Reference Room on the 1st floor of the Library.