Ireland in the Medieval World, AD 400–1000

Ireland is a beautiful island with a history woven into the landscape at every corner. New book tells us the story about this medieval world.

Ireland in the medieval world, AD 400–1000. Landscape, kingship and religion
By Edel Bhreathnach
Four Courts Press 2014
ISBN: 978-1-84682-342-8

History, anthropology, archaeology, law, literature and genealogy – it seems as if literally no stone has been left unturned in this new book on Ireland in the Medieval world! As written by Edel Bhreathnach no less should be expected. But we still have to be greatful. This is where to start if you wish to get a sense of place.

Subjects covered include the landscapes, the kingdom, kings and their royal households; religion, rituals, customs and the ritualists in charge; the unfolding of the new religion: Christianity; exiles and foreigners. But she also touches upon women and children, free and unfree.

However these people are not just faceless social segments or categories. As real people they are allowed to weave their way in and out of the rural, urban, ecclesiastical, ceremonial and mythological landscapes of early Medieval Ireland. Thus we meet them in person, while they traverse the landscapes – the fords, the hills, the waterways; moving about, trading, cheating, stealing, ruling, marrying or just praying.

This is a grand book about the cultural history of a “lived-in-landscape”: As a reader you get a perfect “sense of place” while being thoroughly entertained. At the same time you are well informed about more mundane matters, which are often forgotten in historical overviews written from a political perspective.

Highly recommended not only for students and general readers, but simply for Medieval Travelers bent on discovering the fascinating history of Ireland before walking the ridges, crossing the brooks, discovering the churches and hill-forts or traversing the fertile plains.

Have fun!

Edel Bhreathnach is Chief Executive Officer of the Discovery Programme, and has published extensively on a wide range of topics relating to medieval Irish history and culture.