Hall: Ireland: its scenery, character etc.

Lismore Castle, Co. Waterford

Hall, S. & C. Ireland: its scenery, character, etc. Volume I. London: How and Parsons, 1841.

Lismore Castle, Co. Waterford

Lismore Castle, Co. Waterford

Hall, S. & C. Ireland: its scenery, character, etc. Volume I. London: How and Parsons, 1841.

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Samuel Carter Hall (1800-1889), and his wife Anna Maria (1800-1881) compiled a three volume guide to Ireland between 1841-1843. These were the years leading up to the Irish Famine, and it is ironic that the Halls had noted a significant improvement in the standard of life in Ireland since the 1830s.

C.S. Hall studied law but never practiced. Instead, he became a well known journalist and editor of The Art Journal. Anna Maria was a novelist and playwright, and also wrote a number of children’s books. Two of her more successful plays that were performed in London were The French Refugee and The Groves of Blarney. She published her work as ‘Mrs C.H. Hall’.

Each chapter is dedicated to a different county. Volume I examines the counties of Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Limerick and Carlow. Volume II examines the counties of Kilkenny, Tipperary , Wexford, ‘The Queen’s County’ (Laois), Wicklow, Kildare, Dublin , Meath, Westmeath, Louth, Cavan and Armagh . Volume III examines the counties of Down, Monaghan, Tyrone, Antrim, Fermanagh, Londonderry, Donegal, Longford, Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon, Mayo, Clare, and Galway .

Many illustrations, including ink drawings, sketches, paintings and maps are included in the guide. A list of illustrations is provided at the beginning of the volumes.Some extracts of poetry also feature.