O´Byrne Robert Livres

Go on a journey with Robert O'Byrne as he brings fascinating Irish ruins to life.

Irish houses have a character and personality quite different from that found anywhere else. Quixotic, often whimsical and definitely quirky, they provide a sanctuary from the Irish climate, which is frequently grey, cold and damp. No wonder, therefore, that over the centuries Ireland's domestic architecture and interior design has developed a distinctive personality in which colour and vivacity are highly prized. "Romantic Irish Homes" presents 15 of the finest examples of these traits, each one of them distinctive and yet sharing the same native spirit. From vast ancient castles through sturdy Georgian manors to small farmhouses, the majority of them never previously photographed, the homes featured here offer a unique insight into the Irish temperament and an exploration of a style of decoration that, while adapted to meet 21st-century demands, still retains an historic integrity. Photographed by Simon Brown, "Romantic Irish Homes" is every bit as charming and memorable as the Irish people themselves.

Romantic English Homes is an inspirational collection of truly timeless houses.

Luggala explores 'the scandals, intrigues, and heartbreaking beauty of one of Ireland's grandest homes (Mitchell Owens, Wall Street Journal) that has bewitched the imagination of poets, rock stars, dreamers and the aristocracy alike.

'Writing with authority and verve, Robert O'Byrne has plumbed a rich vein of social history and connoisseurship, to draw a striking portrait of a complex, brilliant and contradictory personality.' R. F. FOSTER