Ingenious Ireland
A county-by-county exploration of Irish mysteries and marvels
Mary Mulvihill
‘No beating about the bush – I love this book and wholeheartedly advise anyone with any interest in anything Irish to buy it. If you have a strong interest in anything Irish, you will positively relish it. This is, quite simply, one of the very best books on the people behind Ireland’s inventive heritage—be that to do with the first submarine, the first ‘lady computers’, or the man who invented the very first flavoured crisp [‘chip’ to US readers]—or on Ireland’s natural history (geology, geography, flora, and fauna). As Jocelyn Bell Burnell, the Irish[1]born discoverer of pulsars, puts it: “Mary Mulvihill hangs snippets and stories on places, and enlivens those places through the stories related to them. Geology, archaeology, sociology and technology jostle each other, producing interesting interactions.” They certainly do. In her Preface, Jocelyn goes on to write, “To all of us with Irish roots this book gives a sense of history and of place. I commend it to ‘ex pats’ (and dear knows there are a lot of us!) who want to recall their heritage, take pride in Irish ingenuity, and be really well-in[1]formed next time they visit!” Indeed, because this book is both high quality in terms of the information given and the way it is written and that it exceptionally good value for money, I recommend buying at least two copies: one as a present. This is a book that can be enjoyed for years. It is the ultimate structured miscellany of Ireland … This is a tour de force compendium and unquestionably Mary’s magnum opus. From this one book one could design tours, exhibits, lectures, and innumerable smaller local books and guides. The more one reads it and uses it, the more one is in awe of what has been achieved. And the most remarkable thing of all …. it wears its massive achievement like a gossamer scarf.’ Patrick Roycroft, Irish Lives Remembered, Issue 55, Winter 2021.
This marvellous book tells the stories of Ireland’s natural wonders, scientific discoveries and original inventions. Mary Mulvihill, a pioneer of science communication who brought stories of Irish innovation and science to life, meticulously researched the mysteries and marvels of the country and tells them here in an engaging and vivid way. Ingenious Ireland celebrates the innovation and ingenuity that has been present in Ireland for centuries: from the steam turbine to the ejector seat, from the induction coil to naming the electron. This book provides a unique and captivating history of the country, acting both as an encyclopaedia and county-by-county travel guide. This is the perfect book for fans of science, history and trivia. Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, Assistant Professor in Mathematics Education, University College Dublin, and science communicator.
‘Mary Mulvihill hangs snippets and stories on places, and enlivens those places through the stories related to them. Geology, archaeology, sociology and technology jostle each other, producing interesting interactions … I’m delighted that this book is being reprinted and will be available again.’ Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell
'Mary Mulvihill's freewheeling narrative through every county in Ireland ... Peppered with quirky snippets, esoteric and entertaining facts, her book reveals insights into the lives of trailblazing men and women, neglected subjects and underrated landscapes ... it covers a great deal of ground, commemorating achievements of pioneers in the disciplines of science, medicine, engineering, archaeology, architecture, geography and natural history ... Slivers of little-known history come to light on every page ... Within its 500 pages, space has been found for detailed maps and illustrations, a directory of centres and organisations, a bibliography and index ... this book should not be devoured at a single sitting but savoured slowly, uncovering morsels of recondite information to surprise your friends', Paul Clements, Irish Times (2020).
