Category: Short Histories
‘Tonight I fear not the Vikings’, An Early Irish Poem
‘Bitter is the wind tonight It tosses the ocean’s white hair Tonight I fear not the fierce warriors of Norway …
Traditional thatched cottages, Kilmore Quay, Wexford
Today I spent a lovely morning in Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford. This picturesque fishing village is famous for its thatched…
16th century images of Irish people
A collection of images depicting 16th century Irish people. Although the majority of figures illustrated are soldiers and warriors, there…
Some Irish words with Norse Origins
The year 795 AD saw a new force arrive on the Irish political scene, the Vikings. These seaborne warriors were…
A Satirical Chamberpot from 18th century Dublin
In the late 18th century an English writer, Richard Twiss caused consternation in Ireland when his book, ‘A Tour in…
The River Liffey, its ancient name
Although now called the Liffey[i], in ancient times Dublin’s famous river was known by a different name, An Ruirthech. This…
Pangur Bán
Pangur Bán is probably the most famous surviving poem from Early Ireland[i]. Composed by an Irish monk sometime around the 9th…
The Curious Tale of the Mouse, the Skull and the Saint’s Curse
In 1070 AD[i] the forces of Turlough O’Brien (Toirdhealbhach Ua Briain), king of Munster, raided the great monastery at Clonmacnoise…
Sacred Trees in Early Ireland
I recently described how the forces of Brian Bóruma, king of Munster, attacked and destroyed a sacred grove of trees…
16th century Irish Hipsters
I recently spotted what appeared to be remarkably modern looking haircuts in Albrecht Druer’s woodcut of 1521 AD[i]. This image…
