The First Irish Cities

"Dickson has written what is probably the most important work on Irish towns ever published. . . . The First Irish Cities is scholarly, authoritative, elegantly written, beautifully illustrated, and a delight to read."-Leslie Clarkson, Familia

"A very valuable and intriguing resource that answered many questions and gave satisfying explanations."-Flicka Small, Estudios Irlandeses

"Stylishly written and impeccably well researched."-JP O'Malley, Irish Independent

"This is a book that operates on a number of levels. For some readers the pleasure will be in excavating nuggets of information on particular places-and thanks to Dickson's mastery of the evidence there are many gems to be discovered. . . . Whichever category you fall into, you will find enlightenment and entertainment in this volume."-Raymond Gillespie, Irish Times

"Highly original, well-researched and elegantly written. . . . Transforms our understanding of many important questions."-Eugenio Biagini, author of British Democracy and Irish Nationalism 1876-1906

"This is the book we have been waiting for. Dickson provides the first comprehensive overview of the great age of Irish urban development, in all its complexity and variety."-Sean Connolly, author of Divided Kingdom

"Exemplary. The study of Irish urban history has been until now patchy. Dickson's work significantly reduces this scholarly deficit."-Jim Smyth, emeritus professor, University of Notre Dame

"Drawing on his magisterial knowledge of all facets of eighteenth-century Ireland, Dickson unpicks the country's anomalous urban histories-stemming from the extraordinary mid-century growth spurts that created cities comparable to their great European and British counterparts."-Finola O'Kane, professor, University College Dublin