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Hosted by Dr. Niamh Wycherley, this podcast shows that medieval Irish history is complex and dynamic — not at all stuffy or static. Via lively and engaging chats with leading experts, it explores aspects of a largely ignored, but commonly evoked, period, and shares new and exciting research on medieval Ireland. medievalirishhistory@gmail.com Twitter X: @EarlyIrishPod Supported by the Dept of Early Irish, Maynooth University, Taighde Éireann (formerly SFI/IRC). Views expressed are speakers' o ...
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Unlike other European countries, Ireland possesses one of the largest surviving corpus of early vernacular legal texts, which implies a long-lasting Irish interest in legal matters that was maintained due to the efforts and interests of early antiquarians. Despite this, the study of early Irish law is still ignored by many legal historians who tend…
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Today, Dr Sharon Greene tells us how archaeologists explore how people lived in the past, what they believed and so on through the material remains they left behind. This can sometimes confirm or deny what the written records tell us – but most often it adds another layer to our understanding medieval Ireland. We chat about disciplinary challenges,…
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Happy anniversary to St Columbanus, famous as a monastic founder, and a symbol of a united Europe, who is remembered as having died on Nov 23rd in the year 615! (Happy birthday also to Dr O'Hara's wife! More info in episode). Columbanus aficionado Dr Alexander O'Hara brings us through Columbanus' auspicious beginnings as a handsome aristocrat in Le…
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In this episode, we are joined by Dr Chantal Kobel (Department of Early Irish, Maynooth University) to chat all about medieval Irish manuscripts (literally documents written by hand) and the various specialists skills and tools needed to read these precious historical sources. From palaeography (the study of old handwriting and writing systems) to …
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This week we chat to Anthony Candon about one of the greatest men in Irish history — Muirchertach Ua Briain (c.1050–1119), king of Munster, arguably king of all Ireland, and great-grandson of Brian Bóru. Tony tells us all about Muirchertach's reputation as a great military leader, his influence on the Irish Church, his international status outside …
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Welcome back to the second season of The Medieval Irish History Podcast! We are very excited to be back with you all! Today, in our very first episode of the new season, we are back with Dr Elizabeth Boyle to talk little bit about Early Irish Literature. You have probably heard about some key figures of medieval Irish literature, such as Cú Chulain…
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ICYMI! In order to celebrate the anniversary of Adomnán on the 23rd of September, we are re-uploading the episode discussing saint Adomnán, one of the successors of Columba and writer of the Vita Columbae, with Prof. Clancy (Professor of Celtic, University of Glasgow). In this episode we focus on his primary monastic foundation, Iona, and his succe…
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This episode is excerpted from RTÉ Radio One's The History Show with Myles Dungan September 8th, 2024: https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22430394/ Thanks a million to Myles, producer Lorcan & the whole team for having Dr Niamh Wycherley on to talk about St Brigid’s legacy, medieval Irish history, women in medieval Ireland, how medieval historia…
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In case you missed it! Inspired by the summer sun and tourist queues at Christchurch Cathedral, Dublinia, the Viking Splash Tour and the National Museum of Ireland (Kildare Street) etc, we bring you a REPEAT of our episode from May 24th dedicated to the man (partly) responsible for it all. In this episode, Dr Niamh Wycherley interviews Prof Alex Wo…
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! Apologies for the poor sound quality! Unfortunately, this was recorded online, but we promise to fix this problem for Season 2 which should begin at the end of September. In the last episode of the season, Dr. Niamh Wycherley interviews Anne Connon on queens and queenship in medieval Ireland, a subject that has underpinned many episodes this seas…
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In our penultimate episode of season 1 we were incredibly lucky to get Prof. Máire Ní Mhaonaigh (Professor of Celtic and Medieval Studies, Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic, University of Cambridge) out to the recording studio in Maynooth University. We chatted all about Gormlaith (died 948), an aristocratic woman, queen, reputed poet, an…
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We're back to continue our chat with Prof. Clancy (Professor of Celtic, University of Glasgow) about St Columba (aka Colum Cille). In this episode we focus on his primary monastic foundation, Iona, and his successor abbot Adomnán (d.704), famous in his own right as a saint, a stateman, a scholar, and a jurist. Prof. Clancy tells us about Adomnán's …
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Part 2 out June 28th. In this episode, Dr Niamh Wycherley invites Prof. Thomas Owen Clancy (Professor of Celtic, University of Glasgow) to discuss St Columba (aka Colum Cille aka Columbkille), the so-called warrior saint of medieval Ireland. St Columba is considered one of the main patron saints of Ireland together with St Brigit and St Patrick. Pa…
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In 1066 Edward the Confessor died, an event that set in motion a tripartite dispute for the throne of England, ultimately won by William of Normandy. After the Battle of Hastings, forever immortalized in the Bayeux Tapestry, William acquired the epithet 'The Conqueror' and the fate of England and surrounding territories was forever changed. The bat…
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In this episode, Dr Niamh Wycherley interviews Dr Alex Woolf (University of St. Andrews) on Sitric Silkenbeard, arguably one of the best Dubliners of all time. How did he end up being the king of Dublin? What was he doing during the Battle of Clontarf? What happened to him afterwards? These questions are at the core of this week's episode of The Me…
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Special bonus episode! An extra treat as part of our mini series on Irish Queens. In this episode Niamh and Dr Charles Insley (The University of Manchester) chat all about what Queens Aethelflaed (Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians), Emma of Normandy and Gormlaith of Dublin have in common. Dr Insley tells us about an overarching framework of queenship…
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In today's episode, Dr Niamh Wycherley and Dr Donncha MacGabhann explore The Book of Kells, one of Ireland's most famous medieval manuscripts. This Irish treasure now exhibited at Trinity College Dublin, displays a carefully crafted script and astonishing miniatures, which showcase the expertise of medieval Irish artistic expression. Where was it m…
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The Battle of Clontarf (1014) was one of those unique and dividing moments in Irish History, but how much do we know about it? The traditional narrative of this event places the Irish fighting against the Norse invaders who held Dublin. Still, in this episode, Dr Denis Casey https://deniscasey.com/ shows us that this hypothesis is not entirely true…
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In this episode Prof. Robin Chapman Stacey (University of Washington) chats to Niamh and Tiago about medieval Ireland's unique and remarkable legal system and the huge volume of law tracts that survive in both Latin and the Irish language. With topics ranging from status and gender to what happens when you get stung by a neighbour's bee, we discuss…
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Featuring the greatest periwinkle story ever told, this episode explores the evidence for the language spoken in Ireland in late antiquity with the highly entertaining Prof. David Stifter (Maynooth University). He tells us all about the uniqueness of the ogham/ogam writing script (which may or may not have been invented by a Kerryman) and how diffi…
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Continuing our tour of Ireland in late antiquity, this episode examines the life of the historical Patrick, the 'poster boy' of the period. Dr. Niamh Wycherley invites Terry O'Hagan, also known as blogger Vox Hiberionacum, to delve deep into the writings of Patrick, the real man behind Ireland's famous patron saint. Suggested reading: www.confessio…
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In this episode, host Dr Niamh Wycherley explores the rich world of late antiquity (approx. 3rd to 7th centuries AD) with Dr Elva Johnston (School of History, UCD) when Irish elites imported wine, foodstuffs, fancy earbuds and Christianity from the Roman world. Dr Johnston makes the important distinction that Ireland wasn't 'part of' nor 'apart fro…
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In this episode, Dr Niamh Wycherley and Dr Catherine Swift (Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick) take a deep dive into the complex contexts of the ultimate Queen of medieval Ireland, Gormlaith, daughter of Murchad, son of Finn (King of Leinster). Famous as the mother of kings and wife to kings, she was born into Leinster aristocracy and…
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Was Brigit a true feminist icon? Was she even real? Or merely made up by a man to exploit the veneration of a 'pagan' goddess? All this and more in our special St Brigit's Day episode with Prof. Catherine McKenna (Harvard University) to celebrate the Brigit 1500 commemorations in 2024. Happy St Brigit's Day! Niamh's suggested reading: Since the pod…
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Suggested reading now added below. Were towns introduced by vikings? Were the Irish settled around monastic centres? What actually is a 'town' and what is 'monastic'? In this episode, Dr. Niamh Wycherley invites Dr. Michael Potterton, lecturer in the Department of History at Maynooth University, to discuss some key aspects and intersections between…
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This episode explores the networks and social relations involving arguably the most famous woman of the Irish Middle Ages, Ireland's 'Helen of Troy' — Queen Derbforgaill of Bréifne. Host Dr Niamh Wycherley chats with Dr Seán Ó Hoireabhárd of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies about her independent wealth and status, whether she caused the En…
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Santa is not the only bearded guy bringing gifts around this time of year, the vikings are here! In this episode, Dr Niamh Wycherley explores the so-called viking age in medieval Ireland with Prof. Clare Downham, Professor of Medieval History at the Institute of Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool. Regular episodes every two weeks (on a Fr…
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Was Christmas a big deal in medieval Ireland? In this bonus episode host Dr Niamh Wycherley interviews some contributors to the recently launched Christmas and the Irish: a miscellany (Wordwell, 2023) edited by Salvador Ryan, Professor of Ecclesiastical History at St Patrick's College Maynooth. Featuring: Prof David Stifter (MU), Tara Shields (QUB)…
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An introduction to the Irish medieval world, including inequality, druids (or lack thereof), kings, and romantic notions of the past, with Dr. Elizabeth Boyle. This is a long one but stayed tuned to the end to hear Niamh and Lizzie chat about how medieval Ireland was just as exceptional as anywhere else and about how medieval Irish historians are a…
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Welcome to The Medieval Irish History Podcast! In this trailer episode, Dr. Niamh Wycherley will introduce the podcast and we will give you a brief excerpt of the upcoming episode with Dr. Elizabeth Boyle. Enjoy! Regular episodes every two weeks (on a Friday). Email: medievalirishhistory@gmail.com Twitter/X: @EarlyIrishPod Supported by the Dept of …
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