The History of Ireland

The latest episode of the podcast is up and live for all Patreon listeners. A deep dive into the political dynasties of Ireland from about 500CE to 800CE. It's a long one and a tad complicated but I really enjoyed putting it together. Hope ye enjoy listening! Primary sourcesThe Annals of Ulster (to AD 1131), ed. and trans. Seán Mac Airt and Gearóid Mac Niocaill (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1983). This is the source for the killing of Bran Ardchenn and Eithne (795), Congal Cáech (628, 637), Cathal mac Finguine (721, 737, 738, 742), Donnchad Midi (770–797), Artrí's ordination (793) and the burning of Rechru (795). Free online at CELT: https://celt.ucc.ie/published/T100001A.htmlThe Annals of Inisfallen, ed. and trans. Seán Mac Airt (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1951), for the first mention of the Dál Cais (934). Free online at CELT: https://celt.ucc.ie/published/T100004.htmlBechbretha: An Old Irish Law-Tract on Bee-Keeping, ed. T. M. Charles-Edwards and Fergus Kelly (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1983).Cath Maige Tuired: The Second Battle of Mag Tuired, ed. Elizabeth A. Gray (Irish Texts Society, 1982), for Nuada losing his kingship.Books quotedSeán Duffy, Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf (Gill & Macmillan, 2013).Matthew Stout, Early Medieval Ireland 431–1169 (Wordwell, 2017).Further readingFrancis John Byrne, Irish Kings and High-Kings (Batsford, 1973; Four Courts, 2001).T. M. Charles-Edwards, Early Christian Ireland (Cambridge University Press, 2000).Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, Early Medieval Ireland 400–1200 (Longman, 1995).Fergus Kelly, A Guide to Early Irish Law (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1988).Dictionary of Irish Biography, for entries on Donnchad Midi, Cathal mac Finguine and Congal Cáech: https://www.dib.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's the second part of our day in the life of Flann Mac Cathasaig. In this episode he leaves the ringfort and heads out into society. We explore what his life would have been like and how he interacted with those around them. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who was the average person in early medieval Ireland? Nobody wrote about them, so we're going to build one. Meet Flann Mac Cathasaig. In this episode we explore his ringfort, his breakfast, his honour price, and the law tract that controlled his life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new season — and a new invasion. Or is it? Before the Vikings arrive, we step into Ireland around 800 AD: a country of roughly 150 kings, with no towns and no coins, held together by cattle, clientship, powerful monasteries and Brehon law. This is early medieval Ireland on the eve of the Viking Age.The image used for this episode is one of the earliest maps of Ireland recorded put together in the 2nd century AD, with the image itself coming from a 15th century manuscript. As always, I'd love to hear what you think of the new episode so do reach out at thehistoryofireland.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm very excited to share this episode, it is an interview with the author Hannah Kent. Hannah wrote the amazing novel The Good People which is a fictional account of a very real story that took places in the early 19th century. A story very similar to that of Bridget Cleary.Hannah took a very rigorous approach to her work and so I wanted to chat to her about her research and what she learned.You can pick up the book and learn more about it here:https://thebookshop.ie/kent-hannah-the-good-people-hardback/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.