Since the publication of the pioneering Atlas of the Irish Rural Landscape in 1997, Cork University Press has made a distinctive contribution to Irish studies by its high-profile and award-winning atlas series. The latter’s unique blend of scholarly texts, cutting edge research, maps, archival documents, paintings and photographs have resonated widely with the public, with the series now regarded in a university context as a highly successful exemplar of public outreach and engagement. A publishing phenomenon by any standards, the atlases have received numerous awards and have regularly featured prominently in best-selling book charts. The Atlas of the Irish Revolution was named Irish Book of the Year in 2017, while the Atlas of the Great Irish Famine in 2012 and The Coastal Atlas of Ireland in 2021 were named Best Irish-Published Books of the Year – highly prestigious awards which are testament to each book’s enduring appeal and quality. Acclaimed for their world-class production values, the atlases have also provided the basis for highly successful exhibitions, online projects and television documentaries, with the latter attracting millions of viewers across Ireland, Europe and the United States.
