Storytelling in Gaelic from AD 700 to the Present
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Classical literature
Contemporary Gaeltacht
Ecclesiastical influences
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Finn mac Cumhaill
Gaelic culture
Gaelic storytelling
Medieval Gaelic literature
Narrative techniques
Philological studies
Pre-Christian motifs
St Patrick
Tain Bo Cuailnge
Product details
- ISBN 9781783277766
- Weight: 666g
- Dimensions: 156 x 234mm
- Publication Date: 29 Jul 2025
- Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Hardback
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Examines common themes and connections in Gaelic storytelling from the Middle Ages to present day.
From the great medieval saga Táin Bó Cúailnge to cautionary folk tales in contemporary Gaeltacht areas, storytelling has remained a cornerstone of Gaelic culture for over a thousand years. Pre-Christian motifs and ecclesiastical influences, with nods to classical literature and poetic devices, provide the framework for many stories that remain familiar today (such as St Patrick's journey across Ireland and the exploits of Finn mac Cumhaill). However, despite this rich tradition, scholarship on Gaelic storytelling that crosses both medieval and modern fields is a rarity; as a result, there is a question mark over what of the early tradition remains in the modern, and what this can tell us about the ecology and the survival of Gaelic storytelling.
This volume presents ground-breaking research from scholars in both areas, providing a dynamic insight into the refractions of Gaelic storytelling across a broad chronological period. Contributors address matters such as composition, style, narrative techniques, audience, and the importance of physical and social landscapes, drawing on a variety of methodologies, including philological, narratological, comparative literature, folkloristic, and translation studies. From seminal research on notions of scél "story" and truth to an exploration of the issues facing a Gaelic translator today, these essays work together to widen and deepen our understanding of how and why stories were so fundamental - and remain so fundamental - to Gaelic culture.
ALICE R. TAYLOR-GRIFFITHS is Teaching Associate in Modern Irish in the Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic at the University of Cambridge. SEOSAMH MAC CÁRTHAIGH is a Teaching Fellow in the Department of Irish and Celtic Languages in Trinity College Dublin where he lectures in Early Irish.
