The best books come from a combination of passion, knowledge and discipline, and Bill Irish's remarkable study of shipbuilding in Waterford offers a splendid example of this. At the heart of the study is the ethos and contribution of the local Quaker families who were central to both phases of Waterford shipbuilding. The book that has resulted is unique in its range, its use of reconstructions and visual materials, its lyrical evocation of craft skills as they were practiced, and its admiration for the ordinary men who performed the difficult and sometimes prodigious feats it describes. Above all, this book is a monument to them. It is full of colourful detail, whether dealing with the apprenticeship system, work practices or the excitement of the great launch days. It is also a wonderful visual record, particularly of ships and of Waterford's riverfront and estuary. It is a model of the kind of local study which transforms our understanding of Irish history.