The book of Irish names First, family & place names

This ready-reference tool is a short and inexpensive guide to the history and meaning of first, family, and place names and very similar to Coghlan's Irish First Names (Johnston & Bacon, 1979). It also contains a brief chronology of Irish history, Irish root words, and a pronunciation guide. Similar and more rigorous books, such as Edward MacLysaght's classic The Surnames of Ireland (LJ 8/70) and Irish Families (1951; Irish Academic Pr., 1985. rev. ed.) and other recent titles provide color heraldic illustrations, describe the coats of arms, and include far more names. The lack of descriptions for coats of arms limits this book's usefulness. However, for home and small libraries where an all-in-one synthesis of Irish names will be valuable, this is an affordable beginning reference work.-- Judith P. Reid, Library of Congress (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.