Compte-Rendu: Atlas De l'Irlande

Summary

This review assesses the publication of the Atlas of Ireland. Initiated in 1970 by the National Committee for Geography in Dublin, this cartographic monument resulted from collective research involving university geography departments, the Ordnance Survey, the Geological Survey, and the National Soil Survey. Covering the entire island, the atlas was published as a single volume to maintain unity, with scales carefully chosen for various themes. Its content spans topography, geology, geomorphology, hydrology, soils, climate, flora, fauna, population, agriculture, industry, services, and socio-cultural aspects, supplemented by aerial photos and a toponymic index. The review highlights original themes such as historical urban origins, industrial disparities, religious distribution, and the evolution of Irish speakers, while praising the fine cartographic quality but noting that overly pale colors and fine lines sometimes impair readability.