Table of Contents

W Introduction

W Subject Headings

W Browse

W Internet Resources

W Indexes and Abstracts

W Periodicals

W Journal Articles

W Reference Resources

W Geographical Sources

W Video Media

W Annals

W Books

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Introduction

H

istorians define medieval times, or the Middle Ages, from the fall of Rome in 476 A.D. to the Early Modern Period, which is approximately 1500 A.D. During this millennia Ireland went through three revolutionary changes to it culture and society. Early Ireland was home to the Celts. In the 5^th Century, Catholicism spread throughout the island and became the main religion. It was after the conversion to Christianity that the Irish monks began to gather and translate manuscripts from Greek into Latin. While the continent was besieged by war and later the plague, Ireland advanced and preserved literacy through their work with manuscripts. Approximately 400 years later, Viking invaders began raiding and establishing settlements on the island, the most notable being Dublin. At that time Ireland was primarily rural country consisting of hierarchical clans. The Vikings never conquered Ireland but through the establishment of settlements and marriage, Ireland began to urbanize and develop trade on a larger scale. Nearly 300 years later, the Normans began the conquest of the island which resulted in English control of Ireland until 1922. It was through this conquest in the late medieval period of the 12^th Century that Ireland was reduced to subservience as England considered the Irish inferior and savages. Ireland during medieval times had a complex and fascinating history. Researchers tend to overlook Ireland when studying medieval Europe because of its isolation. It is important that researchers not only learn and understand the contributions of the Irish but also be able to put Ireland into the context of medieval times.

T

here is a vast amount of information available through print and electronic resources in the University of South Florida Tampa library. It will be useful to the USF student who needs or desires to learn about medieval Ireland or the serious researcher who wants to develop a deeper knowledge on this subject. The information developed from this Pathfinder not only gives the history of Ireland in medieval times but also social, economic, political, and religious aspects of this time. These are intrinsically connected and will give the student/researcher a deeper understanding of the Irish people during this time period.

Informational notes:

1. University of South Florida is referred to as USF.
2. Researcher refers to USF students and non-USF students.
3. Please review the USF policy for borrowing privileges relating to USF students and non-USF students.
4. Table of Contents titles are not alphabetized but works noted within these areas are alphabetized.

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Subject Headings

S

ubject headings are specific words or phrases that describe a work and are relevant when searching the USF online catalog for information on medieval Ireland. Doing a general search on medieval Ireland or Ireland in the Middle Ages would result in numerous retrievals that require too much time to sort. By using certain combinations of relevant terms, the retrievals will be more precise and meaningful to the needs of the researcher. These are only a small sampling of available topics but are sufficient to get the researcher started. Students have full access to online resources in the library and full remote access. To access in the library or remotely, students must use their USF user name and pass code. Non-student researchers are not permitted to access the electronic resources remotely. They must visit the library and use the designated areas for this purpose; a reference librarian will assist them.

Ireland -- Church history -- 600-1500

Ireland -- Civilization

Ireland -- History -- To 1603

Ireland -- Languages

Ireland -- Social life and customs -- To 1500

Law -- Ireland -- History

Manuscripts, Irish

Monasteries -- Ireland -- History - To 1500

Social history -- Medieval, 500-1500

Women -- Ireland -- History -- Middle Ages, 500-1500

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Browse

F

inding relevant information through the online catalog is not often easy and some people just enjoy browsing the stacks and thumbing through the pages or the index of a book for pertinent information. The following call numbers show the location of books on medieval Ireland at the USF library. This listing is a small representation but is sufficient for beginning the study of medieval Ireland. The library has ample postings as to the location of the reference, circulating, and online services. The researcher can refer to them or consult with the helpful reference librarians.

Call Number Ireland Subject Area

DA900 – DA937.5 Early & Medieval History

BR792-794 Religious history

BX2400-4563 Monasticism. Religious orders

HC254 Economic history & conditions

HN400 Social history & conditions

K21 Law

ND2889-3416 Illuminated manuscripts

PB1001-1449 Celtic & Irish language

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Internet Resources

W

ebsites are an easily, accessible research resource, generally are free of charge, and can be accessed remotely. This is a good way to gain background material or information when a visit to the library cannot be made. The researcher must, however, be confident that the information obtained from these sites is accurate and current with the author qualified to present the material. The websites listed are based on review for this criteria and were pulled using the keywords “medieval, Ireland, history” and “*.edu”.

W http://www.faculty.de.gcsu.edu/~dvess/ids/medieval/celtic/celtic.shtml

Celtic Monasticism focuses on the early monastic life in Ireland. It gives information, not only on the lives of the Irish saints, but also on monasteries in Ireland. Some monasteries include a virtual tour. There are numerous links to outside sites.

W http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook.html

The Internet Medieval Sourcebook is located at the Fordham University Center for Medieval Studies. It is divided into three resource sections: Selected Sources for “links to an organized index of selected and excerpted text”; Full Text Sources are full text of medieval sources; and Saints’ Lives which give insight into the religious, cultural, and social history of the time. There is also a section on Celtic States of which Ireland is listed as a subject.

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Indexes and Abstracts

I

ndexes and abstracts are databases that contain records of periodical articles that can be searched for information on a specific topic. This information is accessed through the MetaLib database of the USF library. Using the keywords “medieval, Ireland, history”, three sources returned information pertinent to medieval Ireland. Statements in quotations are taken from the website of the provider.

W Historic Abstracts is “an exceptional resource that covers the history of the world from 1450 to the present. This authoritative database offers over 1,700 academic historic journals in over 40 languages back to 1955.” In addition to the academic journals, magazines, books, monograms, and conference papers are accessed. There were 14 returns on Medieval Ireland.

W Humanities Full Text is produced by the H. W. Wilson Company and powered by WilsonWeb. “The most comprehensive resource available in its field, Humanities Full Text brings you full text plus abstracts and bibliographic indexing of the most noted scholarly sources in the humanities, as well as numerous lesser-known but important specialized magazines.” Searching through WilsonWeb allows access to the full text article. Over 600 periodicals date back to 1984 and over “400 are peer-reviewed” which makes these authoritative and scholarly. There were 199 medieval Ireland returns on the search.

W JSTOR History was “founded in 1995 to build trusted digital archives for scholarship.” JSTOR is working currently to preserve over 1,000 academic journals that include the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. JSTOR does not have access to the past three to five years of publication on these journals but these recent issues can be obtained elsewhere. A search of medieval Ireland returned 752 hits.

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Periodicals

P

eriodicals provide current information on a subject. They are published by organizations whose focus is on a particular subject. The USF library provides online access to these valuable sources. While there are numerous periodicals that reference medieval Ireland, only one periodical focuses on Ireland.

W Ireland Historical Studies and Irish Economic and Social History are journals available through Iter database. The scope of these publications covers the entire history of Ireland but they are excellent sources for authoritative and accurate information on medieval. Researchers must narrow the search parameters to obtain information specifically on medieval Ireland.

W Medieval Archaeology is published annually by The Society of Medieval Archaeology. The Society was founded in 1957 and studies archaeology in Ireland and Britain from the 5^th through the 16^th Centuries. All 50 publications are digitized, with access through their website.

W Mediaeval Studies, Medieval Philosophy and Theology, and Medieval Sermon Studies are periodicals that have articles on Ireland and these are highly specialized. These could be used once the researcher has a good understanding of this area of history.

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Journal Articles

J

ournal articles provide information on subjects which are useful to researchers. The two articles listed below are samples of the type of information that can be obtained by using this resource. The articles were found by using the USF database system and accessing the JSTOR History database. The two articles listed below center on Giraldus Cambrensis. Giraldus was a medieval Welsh clergyman who wrote two books on Ireland based on his travels in Ireland in the 12^th Century.

W O’Loughlin, T. (1999). An early thirteenth-century map in Dublin: A window to the world of Giraldus Cambrensis. Imago Mundi, 51, 24-39.

The author discusses a map found in a book written by Giraldus that has no relationship to the subject of the book. The map basically displays the European continent and the islands of Britain and Ireland and their relative location to Rome. The writer draws the conclusion that the map represented how the insular clergy viewed the world outside the island in its virtual relationship to Rome.

W Sage, E. T. (1927). Giraldus Cambrensis and Petronius. Speculum, 2, no. 2 (Apr., 1927), pp. 203-205.

Giraldus attained the rank of bishop within the Catholic Church and this article compares the ideology of Giraldus and Petronius, the Bishop of Bologna in the 5^th Century. This is a good comparative article showing how two bishops of the Church had different views on certain aspects of their religion.

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Reference Resources

R

eference resources could be the most valuable tool available to researchers. These books present factual information in a concise and unbiased manner. Because they are straightforward, they are an excellent place to begin the study of the subject. The books listed below are from the USF Reference area and cannot be checked out. They are for “in library use” only. These are not all the reference resources but the most comprehensive, informative, and authoritative.

W Connolly, S. J. (2002). The Oxford companion to Irish history. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

REF 910 .O935 2002

This comprehensive and authoritative work on Irish history contains over 1800 entries. It serves as a good general reference work for a solid background on medieval Irish study.

W Duffy, S., MacShamhráin, A., Moynes, J. (2005). Medieval Ireland: An encyclopedia. New York: Routledge.

REF DA933 .M43 2005

This excellent reference source covered the 6^th through the 16^th Century in Irish history. It contains over 345 entries, written by over 100 reputable scholars. There are two indexes: alphabetical and thematic for ease of searching. This encyclopedia covers architecture, art, craftsmanship, language, mythology, and religion plus information on common life areas of agriculture, clothing, and games. In addition to listing kings and saints, it also discusses the Viking and Norman invaders and their literary and cultural influences on Ireland.

W Ellis, P. B. (1987). Dictionary of Irish mythology. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.

REF BL980 .I7 E45

Sometimes it is necessary to review additional information to obtain background and a clearer understanding on a particular subject. A good background on Irish mythology will help the researcher understand Celtic beliefs. Peter Berresford Ellis is an expert on the Celts. He has written over 30 non-fiction books on the subject and also 19 books on the fictional 7^th Century religieuse and detective Sister Fidelma. In the dictionary, Ellis is very clear on his explanations and definitions of Celtic mythology which makes it easy for the researcher to grasp.

W Jestile, P. G. (2000). Encyclopedia of Irish spirituality. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.

REF BL980 .I7 J47 2000

This is a solid basic encyclopedia that will give the researcher insight into Celtic and early Christian beliefs. Again, this work encompasses over 2000 years of Irish history and lore but it does place strong emphasis on medieval subjects. It defines the Celtic feasts of Lughnasa, Sanhaim, Beltaine, and Imbolc plus talks about Irish saints of the Catholic Church. The entries are cross-referenced and the individual entries are cited.

W Lalor, B. (2003). The encyclopedia of Ireland. New Haven, CN: Yale University Press.

REF DA906 .E52 2003

Although this reference book encompasses Irish history from the beginning, it has an excellent section on medieval Ireland. It devotes eight pages to social customs during this time and it also has informative and comprehensive entries on high crosses and insular art.

W Thomas, C. & Thomas, A. (1997). Historical dictionary of Ireland. European historical dictionaries, no. 20. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.

REF DA910 .T39 1997

This dictionary covers the entire history of Ireland. It is listed because it has accurate and informative entries on the medieval period. There is a bibliography that is divided into sections of Irish history. There are over 50 entries for the medieval period in the bibliography.

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Geographical Resources

G

eographical resources are another useful tool in obtaining information and gaining understanding of medieval Ireland. They give the researcher a visual relationship to the area of study. In addition to this, these resources will present maps that portray trends within the subject, such as migratory patterns of the early Celts, settlements established by the Vikings, river trade routes, etc. These give the researcher a deeper understanding of the culture and its people.

W Duffy, S., Doherty, G., Gillespie, R., Kelly, J., Lennon, L., & Smith, B. (Eds.). (1997). Atlas of Irish history. New York: Macmillan.

REF DA911 .A85 1997

This is an excellent source for visualizing the Irish culture in medieval times. The editors of this work are professors of history at various universities in Ireland and have written an authoritative and accurate book on the entire time span of Irish history in a concise and thorough way. It is filled with information on the Irish culture and society in the early, middle, and late medieval periods. The book contains maps depicting Viking and Norman settlements in Ireland together with photographs of medieval ruins and museum pieces.

W Konstam, A. (2001). Historical atlas of the Celtic world. New York: Checkmark Books.

REF CB206 K66 2001

Although this book encompasses the Celtic world, it gives an in-depth explanation on the migratory patterns of the Celtic and the settling of Ireland. This is not within the scope of this period but it gives the researcher a source for understanding how the Celts came to Ireland and some insight into the Roman reason for not conquering the island. The book does display maps of the period together with photographs of medieval castles and museum pieces that represent Irish craftsmanship.

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Video Media

V

ideo resources are often overlooked when it comes to researching a subject. There are, however, documentaries that are very informative and produced by reputable companies. Within the USF Media Collection, there are videos that describe medieval manuscripts, specifically the Book of Kells, the Book of Durrow, and the Cathach, the oldest surviving biblical manuscript. The videos can be checked out by a USF student for seven days.

W Black, D. T. & Sims, G. O. (1993). Scribes, scholars, and saints. Princeton, NJ: Films for the Humanities and Sciences.

ND3137 .S37 1993

This is a three part series on the medieval manuscripts housed in Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. The first video introduces the manuscripts: Book of Kells, Book of Durrow, and the Cathach. The other two films focus on the Book of Durrow and the Book of Kells individually. There is more information given on the Book of Kells as it is easier to understand the art work as opposed to the more abstract Book of Durrow. Each film is 26 minutes.

W Lentin, L. & Grigor, M. (2001). The work of angels: The Book of Kells. [Dublin, Ireland]: Clarence Irish Classics.

The Book of Kells is a rare and valuable work of Irish art. It was completed circa 800 A.D. on the island of Iona and taken to Ireland where it was kept in the monastery at Kells. Today it is housed and on display in Trinity College, Dublin. In the narration, pages and art work are shown with an explanation of why this work is important and valuable. The film is 60 minutes.

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Annals/Chronicles

A

nnals or chronicles are events recorded in chronological order. They are important works to researchers because they were recorded in that era. These are a first hand listing of events. The Irish realized the importance of recorded history and kept excellent records of which many are preserved today.

W Grabowski, K. & Dunville, D. N. (1984). Chronicles and annals of medieval Ireland and Wales: The Clonmacnoise-group text. Studies in Celtic history, 4. Woodbridge, NJ: Boydell Press.

DA930.5 .G72 1984

These annals were written and kept in St. David’s in Wales but numerous entries are listed regarding Ireland. These records cover a span of approximately 500 years, 450 A.D. to 950 A.D.

W O’Clery, M., O’Clery, C., O’Mulconry, F., O’Duigenan, C., O’Clery, C. & O’Donovan, J. (1966). Annals Rioghachta Eireann. Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland. New York: AMS Press.

DA905 .A6 1966

This work is a compilation of the various annals collected throughout Ireland by clergyman Michael O’Clery in the 17^th Century. The annals begin at A.M. 2242 and continue to 1616 A.D. Initially they are limited in scope and become more detailed and longer as time progresses. Early entries center on the nobility of Irish society but later expand to include other relevant information on society and law.

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Books

T

he USF library houses over 225 books dealing with medieval Ireland or Ireland in the Middle Ages. Within this collection is ample information for a researcher to become knowledgeable on the subject. The collection covers all aspect of the culture and society from 450 -1500 A.D.E. Because it is impractical to list that many, the six listed are a very good representation for study.

W Bitel, L. M. (1996). Land of women: Tales of sex and gender from early Ireland. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.

HQ1147 .I73 B57 1996

Prior to the conquest of Ireland by England in the 12^th Century, Irish society afforded more rights to women than any other European country. Women could own land, lead men into battle, rule and vote on rulers, in addition to suing for divorce. This work analyzes the social roles of women in sex, love, marriage, and motherhood between 700 A.D. – 1100 A.D. in medieval Ireland.

W Curtis, E. (1968). A history of medieval Ireland from 1086 -1513. New York: Barnes and Nobel.

DA933 .C8 1968

This is a well researched and authoritative book on this period in Irish history. It is detailed on events with great explanations for the researcher to understand the happenings in Ireland. In the appendixes, the focal point is on the Ostmen, the towns in Ireland, and legal treatment of the Irish citizens.

W Farr, C. (1997). The Book of Kells: Its function and audience. London: British Library.

ND3359 .K4 F37 1997

This is a complete and well written book on the study of the Book of Kells. The images are analyzed in detail with an explanation to their liturgical and historical significance. The book is intended for researchers who want more than the basic understanding of the illuminated manuscript.

W Giraldus, Wright, T., Hoare, R. C. & Forester, T. (1965). The historical works of Giraldus Cambrensis, containing: The topography of Ireland, and The history of the conquest of Ireland. Bohn’s antiquarian library. New York: AMS Press.

DA933.3 .G515 1968

This is a first hand account of a foreigner touring Eireann in 1184. King Henry II of England was surveying his holdings in Ireland and sent his son, Prince John, to tour Ireland. Giraldus was part of this entourage and wrote about the island and subsequently the English conquest. Although these works are from a prejudicial outsider, they give authoritative and first hand information on Ireland.

W Harbison, P. (1999). The golden age of Irish art: The medieval achievement, 600-1220. New York: Thames and Hudson.

This is a well documented and authoritative work on medieval Irish art. It contains more than 250 illustrations of illuminated manuscripts, metalwork, architecture, and sculpture. Celtic artists and religious monks produced some of the most treasured art in this time period. This book will give the reader excellent insight on the craftsmanship and talent of the Irish artists.

W O’Cróinín, D. (1995). Early medieval Ireland, c. AD 400-1200. New York: Longman.

DA930 .O2 1995

This book gives a good background and overview on Ireland from the coming of Christianity to the Norman settlements. This is a broad themed book that gives insight in Irish society, the role of the Church, and Irish culture. It also references foreign relations between Britain and other European countries plus the impact from the Viking and Norman invaders.

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Daniel Stutzman

University of South Florida

School of Library and Information Science

November 27, 2008

dstutzma@mail.usf.edu

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This Pathfinder created as a requirement for Basic Information Sources and Services, LIS 6603.

Photographs of the High Cross and St. Kevin’s Kitchen were taken by the author.

Images of the Tara Brooch and medieval map of Ireland were downloaded from Google images.