Animals of Irish Name and Origin

The author’s strong passion for wildlife and conservation shines through in her presentation of forty-nine unique species which are named after Ireland or places within it, such as the Burren Green Moth and Kerry Blue Terrier. The reader is introduced to lesser-known Irish species with a deep connection to the island with a focus on domesticated and farm animals – horses, cattle and dogs such as the Connemara pony, Irish Moiled Cattle and Irish Water Spaniel. Grandowicz shares original research gathered from her own efforts to trace facts on these unique animals, sadly noting a number of breeds are now extinct – including Tory Island Cattle and Ulster Large White Pigs which died out in recent years.

This is a thoughtful and immersive guide, which highlights overlooked and lost strands of Irish culture and heritage. It is richly deserving of the Arts Council grant which brought it to life. Grandowicz’s beautiful pen illustrations are warm, realistic portraits, capturing the unique features of each animal. This is should be a treasured reference book for the children of Ireland, offering a deeper understanding and connection to our living and past natural history.