In my "Guide to the Celtic Antiquities of the Christian Period" I have given the history of Irish art in the Christian period; in "New Grange (Brugh na Boine) and other Incised Tumuli in Ireland, the influence of Crete and the AEgean in the extreme west of Europe in early times," I have given as much as is known of the pre-Christian period up to the Bronze Age; and in this, my latest work, which has been much interrupted by illness, I have endeavoured to complete the history of ancient art in Ireland. I have to thank the Councils of the Royal Irish Academy and of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland for the loan of a number of blocks. In other cases drawings have been made direct from objects in the National Museum by Miss E. Barnes. The plates are from photographs taken by the photographer of the National Museum. In offering this book to the public I must express my gratitude to Mr. E. C. R. Armstrong, to whom I am indebted for his unvarying kindness and sympathy, and for much valuable assistance both in the matter and form of the work. GEORGE COFFEY. CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER I, 1 Introduction; Chronology of the Irish Bronze Age. CHAPTER II, 6 Transitional Copper Period; Localities where native copper is found in Ireland; Finds of copper celts; Moulds for casting flat celts; List of localities where Irish copper celts have been found; Halberds; Localities where found; Types; Analyses; Continental examples; Probable derivation of Irish halberds from Spain. CHAPTER III, 23 First and later periods of the Bronze Age; Evolution of the bronze celt; Ornamentation of bronze celts; Palstave with double loops; Anvil and hammers; Spear-heads; Evolution from the knife-dagger; Type derived from the rapier; Leaf-shaped spear-heads; Spear-heads with apertures in the blade; Moulds for casting spear-heads; Ferules for spear-butts. CHAPTER IV, 46 Irish gold: Account of Irish gold deposits; Lunulae: General description of; Distribution. CHAPTER V, 56 Daggers and rapiers; Evolution of the dagger and rapier blade; Handles of daggers and rapiers. CHAPTER VI, 62 Gold gorgets; Gold sun-disks; Gold balls; Clare find; Penannular rings and ring-money; Ring-money. CHAPTER VII, 71 Leaf-shaped swords; Division of types; Absence of moulds for casting; Bronze chapes; Winged chapes; Shields; Circular bronze shields; Shield of wood; Leather Shield.