Walker Joseph C. Historical Memoirs of the Irish Bards

Dublin: Printed for the author, by L. White, 1786. — 327 p.Joseph Walker (1761-1810) published this book in 1786, and the following year became a member of the newly formed Royal Irish Accademy. Perhaps the first book to approach the subject, it became a reference work and a source of material for writers into the 19th century.
Its appendices also contain an early biography of Turlough Ó Carolan, 15 Irish tunes, and letters and essays from his friends Edward Ledwich, William Beauford and Ralph Ousley.