Old Ireland in Colour
{{Short description|2020 non-fiction book by John Breslin and Sarah-Anne Buckley}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox book
| italic title =
| name = Old Ireland in Colour
| image = Old Ireland in Colour.jpg
| image_size =
| border =
| alt =
| caption = Front cover from the first edition of Old Ireland in Colour by John Breslin and Sarah-Anne Buckley
| author = John Breslin and Sarah-Anne Buckley
| audio_read_by =
| title_orig =
| orig_lang_code =
| title_working =
| translator =
| illustrator = John Breslin
| cover_artist = John Breslin and Latte Goldstein
| country = Ireland
| language = English
| series = Old Ireland in Colour
| release_number = 1
| subject = General history of Ireland
| genre =
| set_in =
| publisher = Merrion Press
| publisher2 =
| pub_date = 5 October 2020
| english_pub_date =
| published =
| media_type = Print (Hardback) / Digital
| pages = 304
| awards = Best Irish-Published Book Award at the Irish Book Awards 2020
| isbn = 978-1-785-37370-1
| isbn_note =
| oclc = 1247654905
| dewey = 941.5082
| congress = DA951 .B74 2020
| preceded_by =
| followed_by = Old Ireland in Colour 2, Old Ireland in Colour 3
| native_wikisource =
| wikisource =
| notes =
| exclude_cover =
| website = https://www.oldirelandincolour.com
}}
Old Ireland in Colour is the first in a series of non-fiction history books written by Irish academics John Breslin and Sarah-Anne Buckley. Released in Ireland in 2020 and in the US in 2021, it consists chiefly of colourisations of black-and-white historical photographs by Breslin along with historical context and captions written by Buckley.
It was Ireland's bestselling book during Christmas 2020{{cite web | url=https://twitter.com/NielsenBook/status/1341398036367458306 | title=Old Ireland in Colour by John Breslin & Sarah-Anne Buckley is the official Irish #XmasBookNo1, as measured by Nielsen BookScan! | publisher=Nielsen Bookscan | accessdate=22 December 2020}} and was winner of the Best Irish-Published Book Award 2020.{{cite news | last=Barry | first=Aoife | title='It's a huge thing for a writer': Donal Ryan and Keelin Shanley among Irish Book Awards winners | url=https://www.thejournal.ie/irish-book-awards-winners-2020-5278373-Nov2020/ | publisher=The Journal | date=25 November 2020 | accessdate=28 November 2020}} A sequel, Old Ireland in Colour 2, was announced in July 2021{{cite news | title=Sequel to smash hit 'Old Ireland in Colour' coming this year | url=https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/old-ireland-in-colour-2 | publisher=IrishCentral | date=21 July 2021 | accessdate=9 August 2021}} and published in September 2021. A third book in the series, Old Ireland in Colour 3, was published in October 2023.{{cite web | title=Old Ireland in Colour 3 | url=https://www.irishacademicpress.ie/product/old-ireland-in-colour-3/ | publisher=Merrion Press | accessdate=30 August 2023}}>
Background
In August 2019, Breslin set up the Old Ireland in Colour project, which uses a combination of artificial intelligence techniques (such as DeOldify) and human artistry (using Photoshop) to colourise and restore historical photographs of Ireland and Irish people from the 19th and 20th centuries.{{cite news | last=McDermott | first=Stephen | title='It brings history to life': The project giving colour to Michael Collins, Countess Markievicz and other Irish figures | url=https://www.thejournal.ie/old-ireland-in-colour-history-photographs-5080115-Apr2020/ | publisher=The Journal | date=26 April 2020 | accessdate=6 October 2020}}{{cite news | last=McGrath | first=Pat | title=New lease of life for old photographs | url=https://www.facebook.com/rtenews/videos/new-lease-of-life-for-old-photographs/2610959572474984/ | publisher=RTÉ News | date=27 April 2020 | accessdate=6 October 2020}} Following on from the success of this project on social media, in March 2020 he approached his University of Galway colleague, the historian Sarah-Anne Buckley, to collaborate on an Old Ireland in Colour book featuring a curated selection of these photographs, and this was published by Merrion Press in October 2020.{{cite web | url=https://irishacademicpress.ie/product/old-ireland-in-colour/ | title=Old Ireland in Colour | publisher=Merrion Press | accessdate=6 October 2020}}
Overview
Research
In interviews with CNN and others, Breslin has spoken about the extensive research carried out into clothes colours, military uniforms, buildings and roofs, eye and hair colours (for example, using various passenger or prison records where available) and which was used for manually changing the colourised photographs.{{cite news | last=Holland | first=Oscar | title=AI photo restoration shines a light on life in old Ireland | url=https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/old-ireland-color-photos-breslin/index.html | publisher=CNN | date=29 March 2021 | accessdate= 9 August 2021}}{{cite news | last=Bielenberg | first=Kim | title=WriteSide: John Breslin on his bestselling book Old Ireland in Colour |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books/writeside-john-breslin-on-his-bestselling-book-old-ireland-in-colour-39970939.html | publisher=Irish Independent | date=16 January 2021 | accessdate=9 August 2021}}
Launch
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the book did not have any formal launch or book signings, instead relying on mainstream media coverage both before and after its release.
Breslin and Buckley spoke to the Sunday Independent as part of a multi-page feature in their Life magazine on 18 October 2020.{{cite news | last=Russell | first=Chrissie | title='Connection to our past' - how an Irish account that brought colour to history has gained a cult online following | url=https://www.independent.ie/life/connection-to-our-past-how-an-irish-account-that-brought-colour-to-history-has-gained-a-cult-online-following-39617829.html | date=18 October 2020 | accessdate=9 August 2021}} Buckley also talked to Ryan Tubridy on his radio show on 23 October 2020.{{cite episode | title = The Ryan Tubridy Show Friday 23 October 2020 | url = https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/ryan-tubridy/programmes/2020/1023/1173422-the-ryan-tubridy-show-friday-23-october-2020/ | access-date = 9 August 2021 | series = The Ryan Tubridy Show | first = Tubridy | last = Ryan | network = RTÉ | station = RTÉ Radio 1 | date = 23 October 2020 }}
On television, Breslin spoke with Ryan Tubridy about the book on The Late Late Show on 20 November 2020.{{cite web | title=Old Ireland in Colour | url=https://www.rte.ie/player/movie/old-ireland-in-colour/164166184269?clipguid=PI000016285 | publisher=RTÉ | date=20 November 2020 | accessdate=28 November 2020}}{{cite web | title=Old Ireland in Colour | url=https://twitter.com/RTELateLateShow/status/1329919465287462913 | publisher=RTÉ | date=20 November 2020 | accessdate=9 August 2021}}
Reception
Old Ireland in Colour was the number one bestselling book in Ireland from 15 to 28 November 2020 and from 6 to 26 December 2020 according to Nielsen BookScan.{{cite web | url=https://www.writing.ie/news/irish-bestseller-lists/irish-bestsellers-21-november-2020/ | title=Irish Bestsellers 21 November 2020 | date=28 November 2020 | publisher=Writing.ie | accessdate=10 August 2021}}{{cite web | url=https://www.writing.ie/news/irish-bestseller-lists/irish-bestsellers-28th-november-2020/ | title=Irish Bestsellers 28th November 2020 | date=5 December 2020 | publisher=Writing.ie | accessdate=10 August 2021}}{{cite web | url=https://www.writing.ie/news/irish-bestsellers-12th-december-2020/ | title=Irish Bestsellers 12th December 2020 | date=19 December 2020 | publisher=Writing.ie | accessdate=10 August 2021}}{{cite web | url=https://www.writing.ie/news/irish-bestsellers-19th-december-2020/ | title=Irish Bestsellers 19th December 2020 | date=26 December 2020 | publisher=Writing.ie | accessdate=10 August 2021}}{{cite web | url=https://www.writing.ie/news/irish-bestsellers-26th-december-2020/ | title=Irish Bestsellers 26th December 2020 | date=2 January 2021 | publisher=Writing.ie | accessdate=10 August 2021}}
It was also the official Christmas number one in Ireland for 2020 according to Nielsen BookScan, with over 9,000 copies sold in the week prior.{{cite web | url=https://nielsenbook.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2020/12/Xmas-1-Release-2020.pdf | title=Nielsen Book announces Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club as the official UK Christmas #1 bestseller | publisher=Nielsen | date = 22 December 2020 | accessdate=9 August 2021}}
Old Ireland in Colour was Ireland's bestselling book by revenue in 2020, and the sole book to have made more than €1 million in Ireland in 2020.{{cite news | last=Doyle | first=Martin | title=John Delaney exposé top Irish 2020 title as Old Ireland in Colour makes €1m sales | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/john-delaney-expos%C3%A9-top-irish-2020-title-as-old-ireland-in-colour-makes-1m-sales-1.4450831 | publisher=The Irish Times | date=5 January 2021 | accessdate=9 August 2021}} Almost 50,000 copies were sold in just over 10 weeks.
Old Ireland in Colour also won Best Irish-Published Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards 2020.
On 30 March 2021, Old Ireland in Colour reached a peak of 23 in the overall Books category on Amazon.{{cite web | url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books | title=Amazon Best Sellers | website=Amazon | date=30 March 2021 | accessdate = 30 March 2021}} It was also the number two bestselling book in the History category, ranked after a free audiobook.{{cite web | url=https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Books-History/zgbs/books/9/ | title=Amazon Best Sellers in History | website=Amazon | date=30 March 2021 | accessdate = 30 March 2021}} It was the bestselling book in the European History and Photography History categories at that time.{{cite web | url=https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Books-European-History/zgbs/books/4935/| title=Amazon Best Sellers in European History | website=Amazon | date=30 March 2021 | accessdate = 30 March 2021}}{{cite web | url=https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Books-Photography-History/zgbs/books/2032 | title=Amazon Best Sellers in Photography History | website=Amazon | date=30 March 2021 | accessdate = 30 March 2021}}
Reviews for the book have been largely positive: 'Astonishing' (The Irish News);{{cite news | title=Books: Old Ireland In Colour brings astonishing vividness to historical photos | url=https://www.irishnews.com/arts/2020/10/21/news/books-old-ireland-in-colour-brings-astonishing-vividness-to-historical-photos-2098907/ | publisher=The Irish News | date=4 November 2020 | accessdate=9 August 2021}} 'Mesmerising' (Irish Examiner);{{cite news | last=deLongchamps | first=Kya | title=A book that opens a colourful new chapter on Irish history | url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/property/homeandoutdoors/arid-40079390.html | publisher=Irish Examiner | date=11 November 2020 | accessdate=9 August 2021}} 'Incredibly poignant, beautiful photographs of Old Ireland, given a modern twist' (Irish Independent).
While not specifically referring to this book, some critics have pointed to the potential for misleading results arising from the automatic colourisation of old photographs.{{cite news | last=Nicholson |first=Thomas | title=YouTubers are upscaling the past to 4K. Historians want them to stop |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/history-colourisation-controversy | date=1 October 2020 | accessdate=9 August 2021}}
Sequels
A second volume, Old Ireland in Colour 2, also co-authored by John Breslin and Sarah-Anne Buckley, was published by Merrion Press in September 2021.{{cite web | url=https://irishacademicpress.ie/product/old-ireland-in-colour-2/ | title=Old Ireland in Colour 2 | publisher=Merrion Press | accessdate=6 December 2021}} Old Ireland in Colour 2 was the number one bestselling book in Ireland from 21 to 27 November 2021 according to Nielsen BookScan.{{cite web | url=http://www.easonb2b.com/c-2857-nielsen-top-100.aspx | title=Nielsen Top 100 - Week 47 | publisher=Eason Wholesale | accessdate=6 December 2021}}
Trivia
Three of the seven barefoot children seen in the 1946 photograph that was used on the front cover of Old Ireland in Colour are still living (in New York, Chicago and Kerry), and each of them has been photographed holding a copy of the book by their families.{{cite news | title=Old Ireland in Colour cover children found in New York, Chicago and Kerry | url=https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/old-ireland-colour-children-found | publisher=IrishCentral | date=1 June 2021 | accessdate = 9 August 2021}}
Despite writing two books together, Breslin and Buckley only met for the first time in person after the publication of Old Ireland in Colour 2 in September 2021.{{cite web | title=Old Ireland in Colour - a masterpiece! | url=https://www.irelandsown.ie/old-ireland-in-colour-a-masterpiece/ | publisher=Ireland's Own | date=12 February 2021 | accessdate=9 August 2021}}{{cite web | title=Old Ireland in Colour: Second instalment gives a fresh look at the past | url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsandculture/arid-40702343.html | publisher=Irish Examiner | date=20 September 2021 | accessdate=13 December 2021}}