Irish Manuscripts: Uraicecht Becc – The Short Primer
This poetic manuscript declares the King of Munster to be supreme and makes reference to monasteries in Emly and Cork; both counties of that province. For this reason, it is…
Three Things A False Judge Deserves
Every false judge deserves a short life, removal from office, and death without an heir. In this triad the brehon (or judge) is reminded of the consequences should they err…
Ancient Irish Olympics – The Lughnasa Games at Telltown
The Telltown or Tailtiu Games were said to have been instituted by the Gaelic god Lú Lamhfada Samildanách – Lugh the Long-Armed Master of the Arts, and are considered to…
Irish Manuscripts: Bretha Nemed –The Judgements of the Privileged Classes
The significance of status in early Irish society cannot be over-emphasised. Several important texts outline the intricate classifications which were based primarily on hereditary rights, kin-ship, property ownership, and, in…
Video: How the Irish Got their Language (and their Freckles…)
Listen to a mythological account of how the Irish got their language, and their freckles, as spoken in fluent Irish (with English subtitles) by YouTube user Feardia and read the humorous transcript…
Maxim: He Condones Who Does Not Denounce
This Maxim reflects a common theme found throughout the BrehonLaws of Early Ireland; personal social responsibility. Social responsibility was both morally expected and in many ways legally ordained. While this Maxim,…
The Beginning of the End? The Papal Bull of Pope Adrian IV
A defining moment in the erosion of the old Irish ways came from the Vatican in 1155 when the Catholic Pope Adrian IV (1100-59); the Vatican’s first and only English Pope,…
The Names of Ireland: Scotia
On the various names given to the land known as Ireland. IX. Its Ninth Appellation it receiv'd likewise from the Sons of Milesius, who nam'd it Scotia, from their Mothers…
Irish Manuscripts: The Book of Aicill
The Book of Aicill relates to the criminal law and is often discussed as being on par in significance with the Senchus Mór; although, the latter deals with civil law.…
How Cú Chulain Got His Name – Restitution In Irish Mythology
Under the Ancient Irish Brehon Laws restitution was the favoured method for dealing with wrongdoings. Compensations owed by offenders are given great attention in the legal manuscripts, but it is…