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PUBLISHED BOOKS
Seven of Turtle's books have been published since 2004, including two volumes of 'Vanishing Ireland', 'Living in Sri Lanka', 'The Irish Pub' and 'Dublin Docklands - An Urban Voyage'. He is now working on his eighth book, 'Sporting Legends of Ireland', with photographer James Fennell, which will be published in 2010.
VANISHING IRELAND - FURTHER CHRONICLES OF A DISAPPEARING WORLD
(Hachette, 2009)
Turtle's latest book,'Vanishing Ireland - Further Chronicles of a Disappearing World', with photographer James Fennell, was launched in Dublin City on 14th October 2009. Ryan Tubridy was amongst the first to sing its praises, while the Irish Examiner hailed it as 'an exquisite collection ... full of enchanting detail and recollections'. The Sunday Tribune likewise described it as 'a fascinating glimpse into a people and way of life that will soon be gone forever', while the Sunday World simply deemed it 'spellbinding'. The Irish Times Magazine also gave the book a fantastic three page spread.
Click on any of these links to hear Turtle discuss the book with RYAN TUBRIDY and IRELAND AM and JOHN TOAL. The book is the sequel to Bunbury and Fennell's best-seller, 'Vanishing Ireland', about which more below.
Those in the know can purchase the new book at a special discount price from Dubray Books. Simply click on this link, key in the special code of “vanishing2”, and the book is yours for €24.99.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT 'VANISHING IRELAND'?
DUBLIN DOCKLANDS - AN URBAN VOYAGE (Montauge, 2009)
'Enlightening and rewarding', said The Irish Times (20 June 2009). 'Fascinating and insightful', agreed Cara, the Aer Lingus in-flight magazine (June 2009). 'If You Do One Thing This Week', advised the Sunday Independent, 'delve into this intriguing book'. 'A stylish and superb insight into the changing landscape of one of the capital's iconic areas', agreed Social & Personal.
This handsome, illustrated and comprehensive history of Dublin's inner city docklands was commissioned by the Dublin Docklands Development Authoirty and launched in March 2009 by John Gormley, TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government.
Turtle recently escorted Nationwide's Niall Martin on a grand tour of the Grand Canal Docks for a show that will be screened on RTE One in February 2010.
The book was released as a limited edition of 2,000 copies and it is already hard to find one in the shops. Try Eason's or the Docklands Authority on +353 (0)1 8183300.
THE IRISH PUB (Thames & Hudson, 2008)
'Delightful' said The Irish Times. 'Fascinating' concurred the Independent-on-Sunday. 'A brilliant history of the Irish pub' declared Country Life. 'A masterpiece of pub porn' concluded the Sunday Independent. Published by Thames & Hudson, the book offers a colourful tour of 39 classic pubs from all across Ireland. The book is available from Amazon by clicking here.
'The Irish Pub', Turtle's third book with photographer James Fennell, certainly gathered the plaudits upon its publication in October 2008. National Geographic gave it the thumbs up, while it also generated considerable coverage on BBC News, BBC World, The Today Show (BBC Radio 4) and Saturday Magazine (BBC Radio Ulster), as well as Nationwide (RTE1), Ireland AM (TV3) and The Tom Dunne Show (Newstalk 106).
'The Irish Pub' was selected as Bookseller's Choice by Hughes and Hughes and for The Irish Times 2008 Christmas Gift Special. It has also been a major feature story in The Guardian, Country Life, The Independent (UK), The Irish Times, The Irish Examiner, Sunday Independent, The Irish Mirror, The Irish Echo, The Irish Daily Mail, Sunday World, The Dubliner, Hospitality Ireland and the Oct/Nov 08 issue of Cara. All media and customer reviews can be viewed here.
This sumptuous hardback has sold over 8,000 copies.
VANISHING IRELAND (Hodder Headline, 2006)
Vanishing Ireland' was the biggest selling hardback coffee table book in Ireland over Christmas 2006. All 10,000 copies of the first print run sold out less than eight weeks after its launch.
The book features over 150 hypnotic portrait photographs and interviews with over sixty men and women from across Ireland. At once amusing and poignant, this deeply engaging and important book is a must for anyone who mourns the Ireland of the past. It reminds of a country so much more friendly and relaxed before the economic boom arrived of the 1990s. 'Vanishing Ireland' is a vital chronicle of a rapidly disappearing world.
The book, written with photographer James Fennell, charted at No. 8 on Ireland's Hardback Non-Fiction Bestseller List in October 2006 and reached No. 5 on April 4th 2007. The book was nominated for the prestiogious Easons Irish Published Book of the Year Award. Sales were consistently boosted by extremely positive reviews and media coverage, including Today with Pat Kenny, Nationwide, Ireland AM, Country Life, The Irish Times Magazine, The Field, The Examiner Magazine, the Sunday Independent, The Sean Moncreiff Show, Soiscéal Pháraic, Cara and The White Book. The book was also serialized in The Dubliner throughout 2007.
By the autumn of 2009, the book had sold over 25,000 copies.
LIVING IN SRI LANKA (THAMES & HUDSON, 2006)
'Living in Sri Lanka' takes a close look at twenty six villas, houses, island retreats and sumptuous hotels on the gorgeous island of Sri Lanka. James Fennell's magnificent photographs captures a world that masterfully combines the best architectural innovations of English, Dutch and Portuguese colonialism with both the practical and cultural influences of Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism.
The book received widespread attention for its positive portrayal of post-tsunami Sri Lanka. The Financial Times proclaimed it 'a sumptuous portrait of an unforgettable architectural landscape' and devoted an entire page in pink to the book. The Australian applauded 'page after glorious page of airy villas with colonnades'. Elle Decoration proclaimed it the Hot Summer Read. In Style likewise declared it 'The Hot Read'. For a concise review by author Christopher Ondaatje, visit The Times Higher Education.
Other major reviews ran in Vogue Living, The Scotsman, The Independent, The Sunday Express, Homes Worldwide, House & Garden, The Irish Times, International Homes Magazine, Image Interiors, The White Book and The Essential KB who acclaimed it as Book of the Month.
The book has sold in excess of 8,000 copies.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT 'LIVING IN SRI LANKA'?
THE LANDED GENTRY & ARISTOCRACY OF CO. WICKLOW (Irish Family Names, 2005)
A handsome, beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully designed hardback, the book details the history of nine of the most prominent families in County Wicklow during the hey-day of the Anglo-Irish Ascendancy of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Turtle brings the readers on a journey into the past, tracking each family as far back as he can possibly go, and then bringing them right up to date.
Thus the Brabazon family, Earls of Meath, begin with a Belgian mercenary at the battle of Hastings in 1066 and gallop through the centuries to the 21st century. The Earls of Wicklow astonish British society by their continuing dalliance with the Catholic faith. The Wingfields of Powerscourt build arguably the most impressive Palladian mansion in Ireland and sire the mother of Sarah, Duchess of York. The Tighes of Rossanagh join hands with the Brontes and Percy Bysshe Shelly but run foul of Jonathan Swift. The Barton family of Glendalough establish vineyards in France and give birth to Erskine Childers, the brilliant writer who became de Valera's Minister of Propaganda during the Irish Civil War and whose son, also Erskine, was President of Ireland. General Dennis of Fortgranite commands the artillery at El Alamein while Captain William Hume of Humewood plays a vital role in the daring escape of the 1798 rebel, Michael O'Dwyer.
"Deeply peculiar, quietly amusing and written with great style" was the verdict of The Dubliner. The book was singled out for special recommendation by Eason's Bookshops following a series of glowing reviews from customers.
One thousand copies of the book were printed. It is now out of print but should be available from many libraries in Ireland.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT 'THE LANDED GENTRY & ARISTOCRACY OF CO. WICKLOW'.
THE LANDED GENTRY & ARISTOCRACY OF CO. KILDARE (Irish Family Names, 2004)
Turtle Bunbury's debut book was launched on December 8th 2004 in Castletown House, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, by the Hon. Desmond Guinness, former President of the Irish Georgian Society.
The book offers a unique and lively historical insight into eighteen of County Kildare's most influential "big house" families. The book features fifty illustrations and covers more than a thousand years of Irish history.
The families profiled are those of Aylmer, Barton, de Burgh, Clements, Conolly,
Guinness, Henry, Fennell, FitzGerald, Latten, La Touche, Mansfield, Maunsell,
Medlicott, More O'Ferrall, Moore, de Robeck, and Wolfe.
The story of these often eccentric dynasties is set against the backdrop
of the past - the violent religious wars of the 17th century, the rise of
the British Empire in the 18th and the run up to Irish independence in 1921.
Amongst the many anecdotes relayed are the tales of "French Tom"
Barton and the vineyards of France, the bizarre death of Viscount Drogheda,
the innkeepers son William Conolly who became the richest man in Ireland,
Admiral de Robeck of Gowran Grange, Punchestown, who led the Dardanelles
campaign, the Duke of Leinster's romance with Wallis Simpson, the medieval
ape who saved the Earl of Kildare's life, the Celbridge connection to the
Salem Witch Trials and the remarkable terrier who journeyed from Forenaghts
to Bristol in 1798.
One thousand copies of the book were printed. It is now out of print but should be available from many libraries in Ireland.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT 'THE LANDED GENTRY & ARISTOCRACY OF CO. KILDARE'.
Book Titles
Vanishing Ireland
- The award-nominated bestsellers from Fennell and Bunbury that chart the lives of
old timers from across Ireland.
Living in Sri Lanka
- Published by Thames & Hudson in the Spring
2006, this highly acclaimed interiors book focuses on 26 exotic Sri Lankan villas
with stunning photographs by James Fennell.
The Landed Gentry & Aristocracy of Co. Wicklow
- The second book in the Irish Family Names series provides
an in-depth look at nine extraordinary families. A timely and beautifully illustrated
insight into the fading world of the Ascendancy.
The Landed Gentry & Aristocracy of Co. Kildare
- Turtle's debut book explores the lives of eighteen
of the Anglo-Irish Ascendancy families who ruled over the horse country of Co.
Kildare during the hey day of the British Empire.