In 1909-11 Robert Lloyd Praeger brought a team of 100 European specialists from different scientific fields to map the flora, fauna, geology and archaeology of Clare Island, a small, exposed Atlantic island off the west coast. The gathering led to the publication of the path-breaking ‘Clare Island Survey’. A century later the survey was repeated as the 'New Survey of Clare Island' (1992-2009) and both works were published extensively by the Royal Irish Academy.

This volume presents the results of a comprehensive survey of the soils of Clare Island, with chapters outlining the development of soil science and the relevant findings from the first Clare Island Survey; the land-use history of the island and the processes influencing its soil formation; detailed descriptions, classification and mapping of the soils and their associations; the broader relationships with the landforms and topography of the island; and the impact of human activity on the island, both past and present.