Listed below are books that are either entirely about the wirestrung harp or that contain noteworthy information about this instrument. We have made every attempt to include all known publications of each book. For example, Francis Collinsons The Traditional and National Music of Scotland was published in England (by Routledge and Kegan Paul) and in the United States (by Vanderbuilt University Press); both publishers are listed. Other works are reprints of books originally published a hundred or more years ago. The three Bunting volumes (A General Collection of the Ancient Irish Music, A General Collection of the Ancient Music of Ireland, and The Ancient Music of Ireland) were originally published in 1796, 1809, and 1840, respectively. A number of publishers (e.g., Waltons, Dover) have published modern versions of these three volumes. Some are facsimiles of the originals and others have been edited. Likewise for the books of Robert Bruce Armstrong, Francis ONeill, and William Dauney.
Included with each citation is a brief description of the book. Most of the books that have now entered the public domain, such as the Bunting texts, have been republished as modern editions and some have been digitized; several of these are available at the Library here on WireStrungharp.com.
Author | Title | Description | Details |
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Armstrong, Robert Bruce | Musical Instruments Part one; The Irish and Highland Harps | This is the first of two volumes on Musical Instruments and for our purposes the most important was the first, published in 1904. Well illustrated with photographs and his own beautiful drawings of the harps, it also includes many accurate measurements of the instruments he inspected. Available in our library via this link: Armstrong Irish and Highland Harps | David Douglas. Edinburgh, Scotland. 1904. NLS Shelfmark: H9.78.195 |
Armstrong, Robert Bruce | The Irish and Highland Harps | A modern reprint of the first of two volumes on Musical Instruments specifically about the Irish and Highland wirestrung harps. | Irish University Press. Shannon, Ireland. 1969 For more information: ISBN: 0716500736
NLS Shelfmark: Mus.32.HAR LOC Call Number: ML501.A738 1904a Library of Congress PermaLink |
Baines, Anthony | The Oxford Companion to Musical Instruments | The entry for harp provides a summary of the harp, from ancient Africa to today; it also discusses different sorts of harps (e.g., pedal, triple). Wirestrung harp has its own entry under the heading Celtic harp. | Oxford University Press. New York. 1992. For more information: ISBN: 0193113341
9780193113343 NLS Shelfmark: H3.93.983 LOC Call Number: ML10215.B34 1992 Library of Congress PermaLink |
Original Bunting Publications (1796, 1809 and 1840) | |||
Bunting, Edward | A General Collection of the Ancient Irish Music | This first volume is the shortest of the three. It provides Buntings transcription of what he heard at the 1792 Belfast Harp Festival. Available here via this link: Bunting 1796 | Preston & Son. London, England. 1796. (also by W. Power & Co. Dublin, Ireland. 1796.) For more information: NLS Shelfmark: Newb. 4422(4)
LOC Call Number: M 1744.B942 G4(Case) Library of Congress PermaLink NOTE: the LOC information is for the original London publication |
Bunting, Edward | A General Collection of the Ancient Music of Ireland | This second volume provides the first general collection of [Irelands] national airs... Available via this link: Bunting 1809 | Clementi. London, England. 1809. For more information:
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Bunting, Edward | The Ancient Music of Ireland | Buntings aim with this final volume chiefly is to give the remaining airs of the collection...accompanied by a practical digest of ancient Irish musical science. Available via this link: Bunting 1840 | Hodges and Smith. Dublin, Ireland. 1840. For more information:
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Modern Editions of Buntings Publications | |||
Bunting, Edward | The Ancient Music of Ireland: The Bunting Collections | Modern reprint of the 1840 publication. Please note the publication date; the 2000 reprint is complete, whereas the 2011 reprint omits approximately half the original contents. | Dover Publications. Mineola, New York, USA. 2000. For more information: ISBN: 0486413764
9780486413761 This edition is in neither the NLS or Library of Congress catalog |
Bunting, Edward | The Ancient Music of Ireland: The Bunting Collection | A facsimile of Buntings original three volumes. While the copy of the 1796 publication is complete, it is a copy of one of the pirated editions. See Bunting 1796 for more information. | Waltons Publishing. Dublin, Ireland. 2002. For more information: ISBN: 1857201396
978185720139 (2002 ed.) NLS Shelfmark: Mus. Rm. 42 (1969 edition) LOC Call Number: M 1744.B942 A5 1969 (Folk) Library of Congress PermaLink Note: The LOC has the 1969 edition. |
OSullivan, Donal with Ó Súilleabhin, Mícheál | Buntings Ancient Music of Ireland (edited from the original manuscripts by Donal OSullivan with Mícheál Súilleabhin) | This volume is the final part of Dr. Donal OSullivans edition of the three Bunting collections. It provides the tunes as reset by OSullivan with the Irish and English names, notes about the tune, and where possible, the lyrics of the songs in Irish and English. | Cork Univeristy Press. Cork, Ireland. 1983. For more information:
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Cathcart, Cynthia | Pathway: a primer for the wire strung harp | A beginners guide to playing the wirestrung harp. This primer is arranged in progressive lessons, each comprising exercises and historical context of the music presented. The book includes a CD recording of the music. | Highland Circle Pub. Maryland, USA. 2003. For more information:
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Cathcart, Cynthia | Traditional Beginnings for the Harp | Subtitled an easy and progressive collection of fun and recognizable melodies arranged for wire strung and small harps. As the subtitle suggests, this is a collection of folk songs arranged for beginning wirestrung harp. Two versions of each tune are presented, one with fingering and one without. |
Highland Circle Pub. Maryland, USA. 2001. For more information:
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Clark, Nora Joan | Renaissance of the Irish Harp | Articles reprinted from The American Harp Journal; Winter, 1976, Summer 1978, Winter 1978, Summer 1979 (WorldCat). | Afghan Press. Houston, Texas; USA. 2000. |
Coira, M.Pia | By Poetic Authority; The Rhetoric of Panegyric in Gaelic Poetry of Scotland to c. 1700 | The harp supported the declamation of Gaelic Poetry therefore in historical terms the two subjects are entwined. This study of the medieval and early modern Scottish Gaelic verse examines the fixed set of literary conventions used by the court poets. Although that is the primary purpose of this work, it at the same time demonstrates the differences between those poets like the OMuirgheasains and the MacMuireadhaighs with strong Irish connections and the rest of the Scottish Bardic community. | Dunedin Academic Press. Edinburgh, Scotland. 2012 ISBN:1780460031 9781780460031 NLS Shelfmark: HB2.212.6.548 LOC Call Number: PB1607 .C65 2012 Library of Congress PermaLink |
Collinson, Francis | The Traditional and National Music of Scotland | This book is all about the traditional music of Scotland and its three national instruments: The Pipes, Fiddle and Harp. Chapter 8 The Harp discusses the two surviving Scottish harps, the Caledonian or Lamont Harp (Clarsach Lumanach) and the Queen Mary Harp; the noted harper Roderick Morison, better known as Rory Dall (Blind Rory) and An Clàrsair Dall (The Blind Harper); music written for the harp; the revival of the clarsach in late 1800s; and the formation of the Clarsach Society (Communn na Cláirsaich) in 1931. | Routledge and Kegan Paul. London, England. 1966. (also Vanderbilt University Press. Nashville, Tennessee; USA. 1966.) For more information: ISBN: (For the UK Edition)
0710012136 9780710012136 NLS Shelfmark: Mus. 4 LOC Call Number: ML3655.C64 1966a Library of Congress PermaLink |
Collinson, Francis | The Bagpipe, Fiddle and Harp | Reprint of three chapters from "The Traditional and National Music of Scotland"; The Harp discusses the two surviving Scottish harps; the noted harper Roderick Morison, better known as Rory Dall (Blind Rory) and An Clàrsair Dall (The Blind Harper); music written for the harp; the revival of the clarsach in late 1800s; and the formation of the Clarsach Society (Communn na Cláirsaich) in 1931. The other two chapters are those devoted to the Pipes and the Fiddle. | Lang Syne Publishers Ltd. Newtongrange, Midlothian. Scotland. 1983 For more information: ISBN: 0946264481
9780946264483 NLS Shelfmark: HP2.84.3489 LOC Call Number: ML3655.C64 1966a Library of Congress PermaLink |
Dauney, William | Ancient Scotish Melodies | Subtitle: from a manuscript of the reign of King James VI, with an introductory enquiry illustrative of the history of the music of Scotland. Includes a section on ancient scotish musical instruments, including the clarseach; also information on the tuning system that was thought to be used. Available here via this link: Dauney 1838 | Edinburgh Printing Company. Edinburgh, Scotland. 1838. (also by Smith & Elder. London, England. 1838) For more information: NLS Shelfmark: SCS.BC.59
(for the Edinburgh Edition) LOC Call Number: DA 750.M3 no. 43 Library of Congress PermaLink |
Dauney, William | Ancient Scotish Melodies | Modern reprint of the 1838 publication. | AMS Press. New York, USA. 1971. For more information: ISBN: 0404527000
9780404527006 0404527698 LOC Call Number: ML3655.D24 1971 Library of Congress PermaLink |
Fletcher, Alan J | Drama and the Performing Arts in PreCromwellian Ireland. Sources and Documents from the Earliest Times Until c. 1642 | A comprehensive edited collection of references to mostly musicians from the early manuscript collections laid out in chronological and geographical order along wtih extensive notes on the sources | Boydell & Brewer Ltd. 2001. For more information: ISBN: 0859915735
9780859915731 NLS Shelfmark: H3.201.1841 LOC Call Number: PB1307.F57 2000 Library of Congress PermaLink |
Flood, W. H. Gratton | The Story of the Harp | This book provides a thorough history of the harp starting with early Egypt and going through to the pedal harp and its role in the orchestra. Much of the book is devoted to the Irish Harp as the author points out, Ireland has for centuries been associated with the harp. | The Walter Scott Publishing Co. Ltd. London, England; Charles Scribners Sons. New York. USA. 1905; For more information: |
Fox, Charlotte Milligan | Annals of the Irish Harpers | Much of this book is dedicated to the life and work of Edward Bunting. In addition to Bunting, this work talks about: how and why the harp is such an important symbol of Ireland; the Belfast Harp Festival of 1792; the last of the great harpers, and important harps. Also, this book includes portraits of the great harpers. Avalailable here via this link: Fox 1911 | Smith, Elder & Co., London, England. 1911. (also E.P. Dutton & Company. New York. USA. 1912). For more information: NLS Shelfmark: R.107.f
LOC Call Number: ML3654.F69 Library of Congress PermaLink Note: The LOC information is for the UK version. |
Harper, John. editor Harper, John, golygydd |
Welsh Music History 3 Hanes Cerddoriaeth Cymru 3 |
Welsh Music History is a serial publication. Volume 3 is dedicated to Robert ap Huw and his manuscript. | University of Wales. Cardiff, Wales Press. 1999 Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru. Caerdydd. 1999. For more information:
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Harper, Sally | Music in Welsh Culture Before 1650 | This book addresses three principal areas: the tradition of the Cerdd Dant (music of the string); the Latin liturgy in Wales; and Anglicized sacred and secular music, circa 1580. Chapter 3: Harp and Crwth in Early Medieval Wales; Chapter 7: The Robert ap Huw Manuscript and Other Welsh Tablature. Chapter 1: Cerdd Dant: A Welsh Bardic Craft in Context: cerdd dant is the Welsh term for craft of the string. This chapter presents the harp in context of other traditions such as potetry; other musical intruments; Chapter 3. Part I: the Sources and Practice of Medieval Cerdd Dant is dedicated to the harp (and crwth) in Wales. An important chapter is 7: The Robert ap Huw Manuscript and Other Welsh Tablature. | Ashgate Publishing Company. Vermont, USA. 2007 ISBN: 9780754652632 0754652637 NLS Shelfmark: HB2.207.6.813 LOC Call Number: ML289.2 H37 2007 Library of Congress PermaLink |
Hayward, Richard | The Story of the Irish Harp | A short, (24 pages), but wide ranging review of the harp in Ireland with many illustrations. It includes pictures of a harp presented by Hayward to the Belfast Museum, a replica Trinity College Harp made by William Savage circa 1900. | Arthur Guiness, Son & Co. Belfast, Ireland. 1954. also A. Guinness. London, England. 1954 For more information:
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Heymann, Ann | Coupled Hands for Harpers | Instructional book for a specific approach to performing music on the harp. | Clairseach Music, Winthrop, Minnesota; USA. 2001 For more information: ISBN: 0962186740
9780962186745 |
Heymann, Ann | Secrets of the Gaelic Harp | Subtitled: a method for clairseach based on remnants of the Gaelic oral tradition including the first tunes taught student harps. A basic primer for learning to play the wire strung harp includes references to both historical and fictional sources. |
Clairseach Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; USA. 1988 For more information:
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Loughnane, Kathleen | The Harpers Connellan | This work brings together what is known about the harpers William and Thomas Connellan along with their music reset into harp arrangements by the author. The book is well illustrated including reproductions from many of the original manuscripts in which the tunes first appeared. There is also a separate CD of the music played on a gut-strung harp by the author. | Reiskmore Music. Galway. 2009 ISBN: 9790900201331 CD of the same title, Claddagh Records. Dublin. |
Marshall, Rosalind K |
Mary, Queen of Scots, In my end is my beginning |
This modern history of Mary Queen of Scots and catalogue of items associated with her life was written to go with the National Museums of Scotland exhibition held from the 28 June to 17 November 2013. It combines the expertise of the leading expert on the subject of Queen Mary along with the curatorial expertise of the current and past museum staff. Many of the exhibits are no longer believed to be directly associated with Mary herself but were still included as examples of her period. Therefore both the exhibition and the catalogue include the harp known by her name along with an example of the Gold coin with her head which matches the pattern of fixing nails left in the forepillar of the harp. |
NMS Enterprises Limited. 2013 ISBN 9781905267828 (cased) ISBN 9781905267781 (paper) |
Matheson, William, editor Mac Mhathain, Uilleam air an dea sachadh |
The Blind Harper: The Songs of Roderick Morison and his Music. An Clarsair Dall. Orain Ruaidhri Mhic Mhuirich Agus a Chuid Ciuil. |
Provides songs, translations, and notes on songs. A full account of his life and times. | Scottish Gaelic Texts Society, Edinburgh, Scotland. 1970 Comunn Litreachas Gaidhlig Na HAlba. Dùnéideann. 1970. For more information: ISBN: 0903586002
9780903586009 NLS Shelfmark: Lit.s.36 LOC Call Number: ML54.6.M17 S6 Library of Congress PermaLink |
McLeod, Wilson | Divided Gaels; Gaelic Cultural Identities in Scotland and Ireland c.1200 c.1650 | An examination of how close and culturally uniform the two countries really were. A good groundsetting prequel for By Poetic Authority. see under M. Pia Coira. | Oxford University Press. 2004 For more information: ISBN: 0 19 924722 6
NLS ShelfMark: H3.91.7405 LOC Call Number: DA779.M226 204 DA779.M226 2004 FT MEADE Library of Congress PermaLink |
ODonnell, Mary Louise | Irelands Harp; The Shaping of Irish Identity c. 1770 — 1880 | A comprehensive study of the period leading up to the Belfast Harp Festival through to Bunting and the 19th century harpers ending with start of the late 19th century revival. All set against the background of harp’s adoption as the iconic image of Ireland. | University College Dublin Press. 2014 ISBN: 978-1-906359-86-7 |
OMurchu, Liam P., editor | Amhrain Chearbhallain / The Poems of Carolan: Reassessments | The Proceedings of The Irish Text Society Seminar held in November 2006. Contains contributions by Nicholas Carolan on Carolans Music; Emily Cullen on Carolan, Bardic Disclosures and the Irish Harping Tradition in the 18th and 19th Centuries; Joep Leersen on Last Bard or First Virtuoso? Carolan, Conviviality and the need for an Audience; and Lesa Ni Mhunghaile on Carolans Verse. | Irish Text Society, 2007 ISBN: 1870166760 978 1 870166 76 8 NLS Shelfmark: PB5.209.330/1 |
Original O'Neill's Publications (1910 and 1913) | |||
ONeill, Francis | Irish folk music | Subtitle: a fascinating hobby, with some account of allied subjects, incl. OFarrells Treatise on the Irish or union pipes and Toucheys Hints to amateur pipers. Provides a discussion of Irish folk tunes; chapters are arrayed by topics such as Dance Tunes, songs with Curious and Incomprehensible Titles, and Amusing Incidents and Experiences. |
The Regan Printing House. Chicago, Illinois; USA. 1910. For more information: There is no ISBN registered for this book NLS Shelfmark: NG.1366/7.f.21 Note: This NLS citation is for a 1978 reprint LOC Call Number: ML3654.O7 Library of Congress PermaLink |
ONeill, Francis | Irish Minstrels and Musicians; 1st ed. | A thorough view of Irish music and musicians, including the harp, written by an Irish expatriot living in Chicago. | The Regan Printing House. Chicago, Illinois; USA. 1913. For more information:
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Modern editions of O'Neill's Publications (1973, 1975 and 1977) | |||
ONeill, Francis | Irish folk music | Two separate reprints of the 1910 edition. | Norwood Editions. Darby, Pennsylvania; USA. 1973. also Folcroft Library Editions. Folcroft, Pennsylvania; USA. 1975 For more information: |
ONeill, Francis | Irish Minstrels and Musicians | Three separate reprints of the 1913 First Edition. | Norwood Editions. Darby, Pennsylvania; USA. 1973. also Folcroft Library Editions. Folcroft, Pennsylvania; USA. 1975. also R. West. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; USA. 1977. For more information: |
ONeill, Francis | Irish Minstrels and Musicians; 2nd ed. | 1973 Reprint of the 1913 Second Edition. | Mercier. Cork, Ireland. 1987. For more information: ISBN: 0853428018
9780853428015 NLS Shelfmark: HP3.88.1038 LOC Call No: ML287 .O5 1973 Library of Congress PermaLink |
Page, Christopher | Voices and Instruments of the Middle Ages: Instrumental practice and song in France 11001300. | Chapter 9: Openstring instruments: tunings and techniques. Discussion of tuning systems for early harps; the use of metallic strings as compared to other string materials (gut, silk, horsehair); medieval texts that mention metal strings in their texts. | J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd. London, England. 1987. also University of California Press. Berkeley, California; USA. 1986. For more information: ISBN:
UK VERSION: 0460046071 9780460046077 US VERSION: 0520059328 9780520059320 NLS Shelfmark: H4.87.118 LOC Call Number: ML182.P24 1986 Library of Congress PermaLink Note: This LOC citation is for the U.S. version. |
Porter, James, editor | Defining Strains; The Musical Life of Scots in the Seventeenth Century | Number 2 in the Studies in The History and Culture of Scotland series. A collection of papers on various aspects of Scottish music with of particular relevance to harps two articles by Colm OBaoill on Highland harpers and their patrons and Two Irish harpers in Scotland | Peter Lang AG. Bern. 2007 For more information: ISBN: 978 3 03910 984 7 NLS Shelfmark: PB8.208.501/5 LOC Call Number: ML3655.2.D44 2007 Library of Congress PermaLink |
Rensch, Roslyn | Harpers and Harpists, 2nd edition | A thorough history of the harp through the ages, from Mesopotamia through today. Includes the clarsach (wirestring) harp in context. | Indiana University Press. Bloomington, Indiana; USA. 2007. For more information: ISBN: 0253349036
9780253348937 NLS Shelfmark: H4.89.598 NLS is 1st ed. (1989) LOC Call Number: ML1005.R43 2007 Library of Congress PermaLink |
Rimmer, Joan | The Irish Harp Cláirseach na héireann |
A small book devoted to the wirestrung harp. Discusses the harp as being the symbol of Ireland and depicted on the coinage. Distinquishing characteristics of the Irish Harp as compared to others. History to antiquity; Puts into an historical perspective the wellknown Irish harps: The Queen Mary; Trinity College; Lamont; Dalway (fragments); Otway; Offogerty; FitzgeraldKildaire;and others. The book concludes with a description of the neo-classical harp | Mercier Press. Cork, Ireland. 1969. There is no ISBN registered for this book LOC Call Number: ML1005.R55 Library of Congress PermaLink |
Rowsom, Catriona | The Complete Carolan Songs & Airs Arranged for the Irish Harp | A collection of all the tunes attributed to Carolan with their associated words where these still exist. Comes complete with 4 CD recordings of the music played on the Gut Harp. | Waltons Music Ltd. Dublin. Ireland. 2011 For more information: ISBN: 9781857202120
There is no listing of this book at either the Library of Congress or the National Library of Scotland. |
Sanger, Keith and Kinnaird, Alison | Tree of Strings: Crann nan teud | Subtitled: A history of the harp in Scotland. This book sets out to present the history of the harp in Scotland, in both Highlands and Lowlands, from the earliest evidence of the 8thcentury Pictish stones to the present day. |
Kinmor Music. Scotland. 1992. For more information: ISBN: 0951120433[hardback]
0951120441[paperback] 9780951120439 9780951120446 NLS Shelfmark: Mus.Rm.4 LOC Call Number: ML1015.C3.S2 1992 Library of Congress PermaLink |
Sanger and Kinnaird | Tree of Strings: Crann nan teud | 2016 reprint of the Kinmore Music edition, re-set in 2015 (contents is the same) | Routledge. Oxfordshire, England and New York, USA. 2016. For more information: ISBN: 9781138124059[hardback]
9781138124158[paperback] 9781315648408[ebook] NLS Shelfmark: NETELD, Networked resources |
OSullivan, Donal and Shaljean, Bonnie | Carolan: The Life, Times and Music of an Irish Harper | A biography of Turlough OCarolan, including his life and music in historical context. This was first published in 1958. Originally published in two parts, Donal OSullivans Carolan, the life times and music of an Irish harper was first issued in 1958 ... For this 2001 edition, which combines both volumes in one cover only small amounts of editing were necessary. (WorldCat) | Ossian Publications Ltd. Cork, Ireland. 2001 (new edition) For more information: ISBN: 1900428768
9781900428712 NLS Shelfmark: NF.1473.f.28 LOC Call Number: ML419.C35 O8 1983. Library of Congress PermaLink Note: The LOC information is for the 1983 edition |
Verweij, Sebastiaan | The Literary Culture of Early Modern Scotland Manuscript Production and Transmission, 1560–1625 | Described as Manuscript Production and Transmission 1560 — 1625, this wide ranging survey of Lowland Scottish literary manuscripts devotes a complete chapter (number 7), to the background to Margaret Robertson of the Lude family and the compilation of her collection of verse. Since at that period such material would have been sung, probably accompanied by one of the families harps, it is of interest as its author states, as an example that both Highland and Anglo–Scottish Lowland musical traditions peacefully coexisted at Lude |
Oxford University Press 2016 For more information: ISBN: 9780198757290
LOC Call Number: 201594590 |
White, Harry & Boydell, Barra General editors | The Encyclopaedia of Music in Ireland | The individual entries cover a wide range of subjects and musicians, both current and historic. Each entry has a select bibliography and where relevant a discography which provides a useful introduction to further source material. Click here for a longer review of the EMI | University College Dublin Press. 2013. ISBN: 9781906359782 2 volume edition. |
Yeats, Gráinne | The Harp of Ireland | Subtitled: The Belfast Harpers Festival, 1792, and the saving of Irelands harp by Edward Bunting. Explanation of why the Festival was important; who played, probability that all the harps were wirestrung; Hempson and the use of fingernails. | Harpers Bicentenary Ltd. Belfast, Northern Ireland. 1992. For more information: There is no ISBN registered for this book
NLS Shelfmark: Mus.32.HAR LOC Call Number: ML1015.C3 Y4 1992 Library of Congress PermaLink |
Yeats, Gráinne | The Belfast Harpers Festival 1792 Féle nag Cruitirí Béal Feirste 1792 |
Another book on the Belfast Harpers Festival of 1792 | G. Linn, 1980. Dublin, Republic of Ireland For more information: ISBN: 0862330254 (paperback)
9780862330255 LOC Call Number: ML1005.Y42 1980 Library of Congress PermaLink |
This Bibliography is being developed with the research assistance of Kate Martin.
Initial launch date: 13 August, 2011
Most recently updated on 23 March, 2016
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