Putting Ireland on the map

The Irish Historic Town Atlas (IHTA) series, published by the Royal Irish Academy, might provide just the ingredient to spice up a geography or history class with some local information.

The aim of the series is to trace the topographical development of 10 towns from each of the four provinces. The chosen towns aim to show various periods of origin, growth and change.

Each atlas includes a number of maps of the town, including one reconstructing how it was in the mid 19th century. Accompanying the maps is an historical essay describing the developments of the town from its origins to 1900.

The IHTA project encourages the use of atlas as a tool in education. It has been especially been used in Transition Year; for instance the Maynooth atlas was used as a case study in the 1997 Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland publication Shaping Space, Architecture in Transition Year.

Over the years seminars for second-level school teachers have been run showing how the maps might be used as a teaching tool. "The design and layout of the IHTA lends itself very well as a tool in education," says Sarah Gearty, cartography editor of the series. "The atlas is particularly useful for students from the actual published town or county, but many teachers use the whole set to compare towns, and illustrate the use and value of maps."

The IHTA project is part of a wider European scheme which was established after the second World War to encourage a better understanding of common European roots by facilitating comparative studies of the topography of pre-modern towns in Europe. Strict guidelines are followed by the countries involved to allow for easy comparisons.

So far, in Ireland, nine towns have been covered by the series - Kildare, Carrickfergus, Bandon, Kells, Mullingar, Athlone, Maynooth, Downpatrick and Bray - with plans to publish a Kilkenny edition early next year. The first of four Dublin editions is under active preparation, as are ones for Belfast, Armagh, Derry, Fethard and Trim.

Copies cost between £15 and £18 and are available from main booksellers or direct from the Royal Irish Academy.