Healing Waters
Therapeutic Landscapes in Historic and Contemporary Ireland, 1st Edition
By Ronan Foley
Bringing together a range of different place-studies, including holy wells, spa towns, Turkish baths and sweat-houses, sea-bathing and the modern spa, this book investigates associations between water, health, place and culture in Ireland. It is informed by a humanistic approach, showing how health and place are socially and culturally constructed and how health is embodied, experienced and enacted in place. In addition, the work argues that an understanding of health and place must also consider the historical, societal and cultural orthodoxies that shape and produce those places.
'Healing Waters is a wonderful exploration of the connections between water, place and health. In his examination of holy wells, spa towns, Turkish baths, sea bathing and modern spas, Ronan Foley blends careful observation, lyrical prose and scholarly insight. This book is a pleasure to read, and a major new contribution to the literature on therapeutic landscapes.' David Conradson, University of Canterbury, New Zealand 'This important book takes readers to Ireland's watering-places, immersing them in diverse insights. Drawing on a lesser considered aspect of the water-health linkage, Ronan Foley delves deeply into the therapeutic and healing potential of exposure to this valuable resource. In doing so, he advances use of the therapeutic landscapes concept by offering a rich case study that has global relevance.' Valorie A. Crooks, Simon Fraser University, Canada
Ronan Foley is a lecturer in Geography at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Ireland
Anthropology - Soc Sci
SOC015000
SOCIAL SCIENCE / Human Geography