The Irish Aesthete - Ruins Of Ireland - Robert O'Byrne; Robert O'Byrne

Fantastical, often whimsical, and definitely quirky, these atmospheric ruins are beautifully photographed and paired with fascinating text by Robert O'Byrne. Born out of Robert's hugely popular blog, The Irish Aesthete, there are castles, sturdy Georgian manors, and even a thunderbox (an 1860s two-story outhouse), the majority of them never previously photographed. Robert focuses on a mixture of exteriors and interiors, of ruins and intact buildings, of architectural details and entire scenarios. There is a close look at the beautiful stuccowork ceiling in Dublin Castle, the origins of which are a mystery, and the splendid Milltown Park in County Offaly which is hidden from sight on all nearby roads, unknown even to many local residents and only discovered at the end of a long, verdant drive. Arranged by Ireland's four provinces, the ruins featured offer a unique insight into Ireland and an exploration of its many styles of historic architecture.