Seascapes

Seascapes

by Tom McSweeney Seascapes Published by Mercier, Cork , ISBN 9781856356008Â €24.99
Tom McSweeney is better known for the weekly Seascapes maritime programme for an island nation. Now he has produced a book with the same name and the reader will not be disappointed. The same love of all things maritime seeps from every page. One almost expects the signature tune to come on opening the cover. The stories are many and varied. Accounts include the Prince of wales and Rochdale, the story of the recovery of the origin Erskine Childers' Asgard, an account of the Irish at Gallipoli and of course the account of the loss of the Lusitania. The stories are brilliantly told and bring out many interesting gems of information that can only come from a deep knowledge of the material. It is great that this type of book has been published because it reinforces the message of the Seascapes programme and promotes the seas surrounding Ireland. The publication does credit to the Mercier Publishing house because it is a fine presentation in hardcover ideally suited for the gift market. The photographs compliment the publication and are excellent in their own right. reviewed by Eddie Bourke