Irish Script on Screen – Irish Manuscript Archive
Irish Script on Screen (ISOS) is a fantastic resource that allows you to explore high quality scanned images of Irish manuscripts. This collection of beautifully ornate manuscripts can be viewed…
Irish Manuscripts: Crith Gablach-Branched Purchase
Written around 700 AD the Crith Gablach, which means ‘branched purchase’, set out the principle guidelines that should be aspired to in an ideal society. Ancient Ireland could be described as…
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…
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…
Irish Manuscripts: Corus Bescna – Contracts
While the Corus Bescna text covers several areas, its principal focus is on the law of contract. Its opening line reminds us: "The world would be evilly situated if…
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.…
On the Qualifications of a Poet
Here are the Destructions: The Three Circuits of the House of Lir1 The Posession of Burach's House* The Destruction2 of the House of Dumha The Difference of Cathbhad's House* The…
Irish Manuscripts: The Senchus Mór
The Senchus Mór (pronounced: shen-kus moor) is one of the most important legal texts from early Ireland and it means the ‘Great Ancient Tradition’. However, the most all-encompassing word for this body…