In October 2010 the National Gallery of Ireland embarked on an ambitious programme to conserve The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife by Daniel Maclise (1806-1870)- one of Ireland's best-known paintings. This book tells the story of this endeavor, which took three years and involved researchers across Europe working with the Gallery's Conservation Department. This project addressed and resolved a series of unique and monumental challenges presented by the painting, resulting in successfully preserving the cultural value of this significant work for future generations.