The Collins Press

There's more to Irish bird folklore than the 'wran' boys and the Children of Lir. Birds have been part of our culture from very early times and there are countless beliefs, proverbs and curses associated with them. This entertaining compendium will bring joy to bird lovers and general readers alike.

River and canal walks can have special appeal, the scenery always changing due to flowing water, weirs, locks and the changing countryside. Lenny Antonelli introduces some of the best river and canal trails in the east and east midlands, from short strolls to a five-day trek along the Barrow.

Tarquin Blake and Fiona Reilly explore 150 Irish heritage sites, ranging from megalithic tombs to round towers, monasteries, castles and ancient churches to the more recent Martello towers and windmills. An engrossing catalogue of remarkable heritage sites is revealed. Each site has an intriguing past and is illustrated with Blake's photos.

In his latest book, Tarquin Blake takes us on a tour of Anglo-Norman fortresses, medieval towers, fortified houses and the neo-Gothic piles of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The castles (including lesser-known gems and luxury hotels) are captured in atmospheric photos and brought to life through the true stories of the families.

This latest book by Tarquin Blake documents eighty abandoned Church of Ireland churches, preserving a record of fragile religious ruins. Blake's haunting images of crumbling ruins and history of the churches tell another fascinating story of troubled times.

Following on from their successful Dublin Strolls, the Brackens guide us on charming walks through Cork's architecture, sharing expert insights and intriguing historical detail along the way. Striking hand-drawn illustrations capture the beauty of Ireland's second city. This illuminating guide reveals the city and county in a whole new light.

Handy guide to Dublin's architecture is filled with easy-to-follow walks through the city, with clear maps, expert architectural insights and fascinating historical detail, not to mention beautiful hand-drawn illustrations. Each walk follows on from the one before. Emulate Joyce's Leopold Bloom in strolling through the city.

When the mighty Endurance becomes trapped in the Weddell Sea, Ernest Shackleton's dream to cross the Antarctic becomes a fight to save the thirty-one souls that set sail with him. The first illustrated retelling of the greatest feat of leadership and survival ever recorded.

This is the story of an atrocity on Achill Island in the west of Ireland in 1894. An English landowner, Agnes McDonnell, was brutally attacked and her home - Valley House - burnt. Agnes survived but was so disfigured she wore a veil in public for the rest of her life.

In 1943, 32 Irish POWs refused a Gestapo request to work for Germany. They were sent to a labour camp, where they were starved, beaten and forced to dig the foundations for a Nazi super-structure. This is the gripping story of Harry Callan's capture, resistance and liberation and his quest to honour the forgotten heroes of Bunker Valentin.

Twenty-nine people convicted of murder were hanged by the Irish State: the executions were carried out in Mountjoy by the Pierrepoint family. The last met his fate in 1954 but the often shocking stories of these men and one woman have been largely forgotten. Here, for the first time, are their tragic stories, some in graphic detail.

The islands off Ireland's west coast form a rich cultural landscape, a unique combination of the forces of nature and humankind. Spanning almost fifty years, this collection celebrates the islanders functioning well in their environment, while reflecting on disappearing traditions and values in the face of materialism and pop culture.