A prestigious new publication about Donegal will hit the bookshelves in the spring of 2013 called A SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ATLAS OF DONEGAL. Over sixty well-known writers, historians, academics, poets and musicians have written a total of ninety chapters featuring all aspects of the social and cultural history of the county: archaeology, flora and fauna, heritage, food and diet, agriculture, music, history, new poetry, climate, geology, mapping, wartime, emigration , maritime and a host of other topics. I have been working on this project for over two years in cooperation with Jim MacLaughlin who has published widely on the heritage of the county. It is the first major engagement for me since I completed my Ph.D on the history of the Congested Districts Board in Donegal 1891-1923: arrangements to publish my dissertation are ongoing.
The Atlas will differ from other publication on the county in that it will be largely visual and the editors are now working on compiling as many as 600 images and photos from around the county. But it will be more that a collection of pretty pictures. Several researchers have provided new insights on the past history of the county. For example, Donegal post office savings banks had thousands of pounds on deposit while MPs were clamouring in parliament for the relief of distress.
The earlier publication date in November 2012 has been changed to spring 2013.
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