Fabula Celtica: A Celtic Studies Podcast

This episode was originally recorded in August 2025: apologies for the delay on getting it out!

Tyler shares several livestock- and food-centric medieval tales, describes farming in early medieval Ireland, recites an original poem composed in English and Gaelic about Edinburgh's least favourite resident.

Main topics addressed: cows, sheep, pigs, cows, milk, cows, crops, cows, food, satire, cows...

References and Suggested Media:

Kelly, Fergus. 1997. Early Irish Farming (Dublin: DIAS)

Meyer, Kuno. 2008. Aislinge Meic Con Glinne, electronic ed. https://celt.ucc.ie/published/T308002/index.html

Nutt, Alfred and Kuno Meyer. 1895. The Voyage of Bran. https://archive.org/details/cu31924096849629/page/n95/mode/2up, pp. 70-3

O’Rahilly, Cecile. 1967. Táin Bó Cúalnge electronic extracts. https://iso.ucc.ie/Tain-cualnge/Tain-cualnge-text.html#Extract_1, §§1.1-2

Poem about Principal Professor Sir Peter Mathieson with endnotes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YURTmM3VZsk8XuVgLZ5z0R5819sjGRdL/view?usp=sharing

This episode was originally recorded in August 2025: apologies for the delay on getting it out!

Tyler and Saoirse discuss independent freemen, dependent workers, and slaves in medieval Ireland, and things get a wee bit political.

Main topics addressed: status and professions for the non-nemed ('noble'/privileged) classes in early medieval Ireland.

This episode includes swearing and we discuss connections we perceive between the medieval situation and potentially contentious current world issues including racism, immigration, and fascism.

References and Suggested Media:

Boyle, Elizabeth. Fierce Appetites (London: Penguin, 2023)

CARANTES: https://carantes.org/

Derrick, J. The Image of Irelande (1581)

Gerriets, Marilyn. 'Money in Early Christian Ireland according to the Irish Laws', Comparative Studies in Society and History 27.2 (1985), 323-39 at 327

Gray, Elizabeth. Cath Maige Tuired: The Second Battle of Mag Tuired electronic ed (Cork: CELT, 2023) <https://celt.ucc.ie//published/T300010/index.html>

Kelly, F. A Guide to Early Irish Law (Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 2020), pp. 51-67, 91-98

Watson, J. Carmichael (ed.), William M. Hennessy (English trans.), and Tadhg Ó Síocháin (Modern Irish trans.), Mesca Ulad: The Intoxication of the Ultonians, electronic edn (Cork: Irish Sagas Online), §37 <https://iso.ucc.ie/Mesca-ulad/Mesca-ulad-text.html#Section_37>

Tyler and Saoirse have too much fun questioning the medieval Irish patriarchy.

Main topics addressed: patriarchy, misogyny, women, and children in early medieval Ireland.

This episode includes sexual references and swearing.

References and Suggested Media:

‘Debility of the Ultonian Warriors’ in Hull, Eleanor, The Cuchullin Saga in Irish Literature (London: David Nutt, 1898).

Fitzsimmons, F. ‘Fosterage and Gossiprid in Late Medieval Ireland: Some New Evidence’ in Duffy, P. J., Edwards, D. and FitzPatrick, E. (eds.) Gaelic Ireland c. 1250-1650: Land, Lordship, and Settlement (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2001), pp. 138–149.

‘How Cú Chulainn was Begotten’ in Kinsella, T. The Táin (Oxford, 1969), pp. 23–25.

Kelly, Fergus. A Guide to Early Irish Law (Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 2020), especially pp. 68–79.

Kelly, Patricia. ‘The Táin as Literature’ in Mallory, J. P. (ed.) Aspects of the Táin (Belfast: December Publications, 1992), pp. 69–102 (pp. 77–84, especially 79–80).

Meyer, K. The Wooing of Emer by Cú Chulainn electronic ed. (Cork: CELT, 2004, 2008). https://celt.ucc.ie/published/T301021/index.html [Accessed 31 Aug 2025]. 

Ní Bhrolcháin, M. ‘Re Tóin Mná: In Pursuit of Troublesome Women’ in Ulidia 1, pp. 115–122. (especially bottom of 116–117). https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/4643/ [Accessed 31 Aug 2025].

Ní Chonaill, B. ‘Fosterage: Child-Rearing in Medieval Ireland’, History Ireland 5.1 (1997), 28–31.

‘Noínden Ulad ocus Emuin Macha: The Debility of the Ulstermen’, ed. by R. I. Best & Osborn Bergin, The Book of Leinster, formerly Lebar na Núachongbála, Vol. 2 (Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1956), pp. 467–468; english trans. by George Henderson, Leabhar nan Gleann: The Book of the Glens; with Zimmer on Pictish Matriachy (Edinburgh: Norman Macleod, 1898), pp. 304–307; Modern Irish version supplied by Tadhg Ó Síocháin. https://iso.ucc.ie/Noinden-ulad/Noinden-ulad-index.html [Accessed 31 Aug 2025].

Ó Brolcháin Carmody, Isolde. ‘The Fairs of Early Irish Society’, Story Archaeology (blog), 9 Jul 2012. https://storyarchaeology.com/beidh-aenach-amarach/ [Accessed 31 Aug 2025].

Ó Corráin, Donnchadh. ‘Women and the Law in Early Ireland’ in Chattel, Servant or Citizen: Women’s Status in Church, State and Society, ed. by Mary O’Dowd and Sabine Wichert, Historical Studies 19 (Belfast, 1995), pp. 45–57. https://celt.ucc.ie/women_law.html [Accessed 16 Aug 2025].

Stokes, Whitley (trans.), ‘The Destruction of Dá Derga’s Hostel’ in The Celtic Heroic Age, ed. by J. T. Koch and John Carey, 4th edn (Aberystwyth: Celtic Studies Publications, 2003), pp. 166–184.

Stokes, Whitley (ed. and trans.), ‘The Tidings of Conchobar Mac Nessa’, Ériu 4 (1910), 18–38.

Wycherley, Niamh. ‘Law and Society with Prof. Liam Breatnach’, The Medieval Irish History Podcast, 20 Dec 2024. https://open.spotify.com/episode/10nfUgLHjZLLM9f46O0Wpb?si=a382c8ee01a94f98 [Accessed 31 Aug 2025].

Transcript:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EOtiCLShaFOzGdlKntrBoXunSOgJ8NlhPCWf1HPYJis/edit?usp=sharing

We introduce a new co-host and chat about one of the most fascinating (and powerful) figures in medieval Irish society: the fili, or poet.

Main topics addressed: poets, seers, praise poetry, satire, ominous background characters, working in a bar

This episode includes sexual references and swearing.

References and Suggested Media:

Binchy, D. A. ‘The Date and Provenance of Uraicecht Becc’, Ériu 18 (1958), 44-56

Breatnach, Liam. Uraicecht na Ríar: The Poetic Grades in Early Irish Law (Dublin: DIAS, 1987).

Gwynn, Edward. ‘Sinann I’ and ‘Sinann II’ in The Metrical Dindshenchas vol 2, electronic ed. (Cork: CELT  2004, 2008), pp. 288-299. (Irish / English)

Kelly, F. A Guide to Early Irish Law (Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 2020).

Knott, Eleanor. 1916. ‘Why Mongán was Deprived of Noble Issue’, Ériu 8, 156-160, available at https://iso.ucc.ie/Scela-mongain/Scela-mongain-text.html

Ní Chatháin, Próinséas. ‘Some Themes in Early Irish Lyric Poetry’, Irish University Review 22(1) (1992), 3-12 (p. 5).

 Nutt, Alfred and Meyer, Kuno. The Voyage of Bran (London: D. Nutt, 1895), pp. 49-52. https://archive.org/details/cu31924096849629/page/n73/mode/2up

Transcript:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PrI-g_u5Thi7-wks6giZFAjwHGedEgWiQ-fsl0Nzfj4/edit?usp=sharing

Tyler attempts to untangle the relationship between kingship and early Irish law through depictions of crime and compensation in The Saga of Fergus Mac Léti.

Main topics addressed: kingship, early Irish law

References and Suggested Media:

The additional music is ‘The Theme of Law & Order’ by Mike Post, 1990.

Binchy, D. A. 1952. ‘The Saga of Fergus Mac Léti’, Ériu 16, 33-48 (pp. 39-44)

Binchy, D. A. 1954. ‘Secular Institutions’, Early Irish Society 8, 52-65

Kelly, F. A Guide to Early Irish Law (Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 2020), pp. 17-26

McLeod, Neil. 2011. ‘Fergus Mac Léti and the Law’, Ériu 61, 1-27

Transcript:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y2ViHAF_a5aZvUbmC4D0-g4d0ytEzITrdlrz1DSHAd0/edit?usp=sharing

Tyler provides an overview of early medieval Irish society, discussing D. A. Binchy's description of that society as "tribal, rural, hierarchical, and familiar".

Main topics addressed: Irish petty kingdoms, cow-based currency, the social (and legal) hierarchy, kinship

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wm5oW5IHKKLWuq-GPp6wqtpF5zQINkxCrEQyumujzLI/edit?usp=sharing

References and Suggested Media:

Best, R. I. ‘The Settling of the Manor of Tara’, Ériu 4 (1910), 121-172.

Kelly, F. A Guide to Early Irish Law (Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 2020).

McLeod, N. ‘Kinship’, Ériu 51 (2000), 1-22.

In last of three episodes about early Irish writing, Tyler discusses the sources for Early Irish Law (a.k.a Brehon law). He emphasises the importance of tradition, Christian influences, and the nature of manuscript culture in how these sources have come down to us. The law texts will serve as an important lens through which we can understand medieval Irish society.

Main topics addressed: manuscripts, Early Irish Law (Brehon Law)

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_S03Lgi2WFZZ6vWfQZtEI4hGjavHkeCc-GjBqbVRCSc/edit?usp=sharing

References and Suggested Media:

Best, R. I. 1910. ‘The Settling of the Manor of Tara’, Ériu 4, pp. 121-172

Carey, John. 1994. ‘An Edition of the Pseudo-Historical Prologue to the Senchas Már’, Ériu 45, pp. 1-32.

Cross, T. P. & Brown, A. C. L. . 1918. ‘Fíngen’s Night Watch’, The Romanic Review IX, §4

Kelly, F. 2020. A Guide to Early Irish Law. Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, especially pp. 225-241.

Macalister, R. A. S. (1939) Lebor Gabála Érenn vol 2. Dublin: Educational Co. of Ireland. pp. 181, 197, and 203.

Medieval Irish History Podcast on law and society: https://open.spotify.com/episode/10nfUgLHjZLLM9f46O0Wpb?si=feb8ec51bc31456b 

In the second of three episodes about early Irish writing, we explore the nature of Ireland's earliest medieval manuscripts, including who wrote them, how they put them together, and the variety of content they contained.

Main topics addressed: manuscripts, codicology, palaeography

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_S03Lgi2WFZZ6vWfQZtEI4hGjavHkeCc-GjBqbVRCSc/edit?usp=sharing

References and Suggested Media:

Helsen, Kate. ‘Codicology’ video lecture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVDvpfXbOdg

Helsen, Kate. ‘Codicology and Palaeography’ video lecture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r3EQtyYSCw

Murray, Kevin. 2001. ‘The Finding of the Táin’, Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies 41 (Summer), 17–23

‘Sewing the Gatherings’ virtual exhibition: https://exhibitions.bgc.bard.edu/craftandcodex/hotspots/sewing-the-gatherings

Short videos on manuscript production:

• Vellum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-SpLPFaRd0
• Quills: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocnhYzKLeHU
• Ink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7k4-wj8mZ8
• Pigment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIf-9s5Lvos
• Paint: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaIlRuDGhlg
• The page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRlWpKRm0WU
• Assembling the manuscript: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuNfdHNTv9o

In the first of three episodes about early Irish writing, we explore the fascinating myths, enigmatic history, and linguistic quirks of the stone markings known as ogam or ogham.

Main topics addressed: Irish language, Latin, ogam (ogham), Ogma, early medieval Ireland.

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gg2THDqf5Tm0JpaIus2zgpSzKA7-1oaOhbGndYL1wA0/edit?usp=sharing

References and Suggested Media:

Binchy, D. A. 1961. ‘The Background of Early Irish Literature’, Studia Hibernica 1, 7-18.

Carey, John. 2014. ‘Ogmios and the Eternal Word’, Cosmos, 30, 1-35.

Celtic Inscribed Stones Project (CISP) http://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/cisp/database/ 

Charles-Edwards, T. 1995. ‘Language and Society Among the Insular Celts, AD 400-1000’, in The Celtic World, ed. M.J. Green, 703-736.

Clinton, Mark. 2001. Souterrains of Ireland (Wordwell Ltd).

Gutiérrez, Verónica A. 2019. ‘A Procession Through the Milpas: Indigenous-Christian ritual in Cholula, Pueblo, Mexico’, Fides et Historia 51(1), 105-123.

Harvey, A. 1987. ‘Early Literacy in Ireland: The Evidence from Ogam’, Cambridge Medieval Celtic Studies 14, 1-15.

Macalister, R. A. S. 1945. Corpus inscriptionum Insularum Celticarum, 2 vols, vol. 1 (Dublin: Stationery Office).

Mac Cana, P. 1970. ‘The Three Languages and the Three Laws’, Studia Celtica 5, 62-78; 62-66.

MacNeill, E. 1908-1909. ‘Notes on the distribution, history, grammar and import of the Irish Ogham Inscriptions’, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 27C, 329-70: 329-34.

MacNeill, E. 1922. ‘A Pioneer of Nations’, Studies 11, 13-28, 435-46.

MacNeill, E. 1931. ‘Beginnings of the Latin Culture in Ireland’, Studies 20, 39-48.

McManus, D. 1991. A Guide to Ogam, Maynooth Monographs 4.

Ogam in 3D http://ogham.celt.dias.ie/ 

Russel, James R. Zoroastrianism in Armenia (Thesis, University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies).

Stevenson, J. 1989. ‘The Beginnings of Literacy in Ireland’, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 89C, 127-65.

Thesaurus Indogermanischer Text- und Sprachmaterialien (TITUS) http://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/ogam/frame/htm 

Thomas, Charles. 1994. And Shall These Mute Stones Speak? Post-Roman Inscriptions in Western Britain (University of Wales Press).

Waddell, John. 2014. “The cave of Crúachain and the Otherworld”, in: Jacqueline Borsje, Ann Dooley, Séamus Mac Mathúna, and Gregory Toner (eds), Celtic cosmology: perspectives from Ireland and Scotland 26 (Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies), 77–92.

This episode surveys the earliest texts written by and about Saint Patrick, the man credited with Christianising Ireland. But is it really that simple?

Main topics addressed: Saint Patrick, hagiography, Christianity, paganism, early medieval Ireland

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sdX_pAGLVz2pp2YWMYzGkJ20STLtKxjzX8nB6sLMpsE/edit?usp=sharing

References and Suggested Media:

Bieler, L. 2011. ‘Muirchú’s Text in English’.  https://confessio.ie/more/muirchu_english# 

Bieler, L. 2011. ‘Tírechán’s Text in English’. https://confessio.ie/more/tirechan_english# 

Carey, J. (with O’Loughlin, T.). 2006. ‘Christianity, Celtic’ in Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia vol 2, ed. by Koch, J. T.

McCarthy, P. 2011. ‘Confession’. https://confessio.ie/etexts/confessio_english# 

Wycherley, N. The Medieval Irish History Podcast, https://x.com/EarlyIrishPod