Sean Duffy - Routledge Revivals: Medieval Ireland (2005)

Routledge Revivals

Through violent incursions by the Vikings and the spread of Christianity, medieval Ireland maintained a distinctive Gaelic identity. From the sacred site of Tara to the manuscript illuminations in the Book of Kells, Anglo-Irish relations to the Connachta dynasty, Ireland during the middle ages was a rich and vivid culture.

First published in 2005, Medieval Ireland: An Encyclopedia brings together in one authoritative resource the multiple facets of life in Ireland before and after the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1169, from the sixth to sixteenth century. Multidisciplinary in coverage, this A-Z reference work provides information on historical events, economics, politics, the arts, religion, intellectual history, and many other aspects of the period.

Written by the world's leading scholars on the subject, this highly accessible reference work will be of key interest to students, researchers, and general readers alike.

An Encyclopedia

Edited by
Sen Duffy
Associate Editors
Ailbhe MacShamrin
James Moynes

First published in 2005
by Routledge

This edition first published in 2016 by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2005 Routledge

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Publisher's Note
The publisher has gone to great lengths to ensure the quality of this reprint but points out that some imperfections in the original copies may be apparent.

Disclaimer
The publisher has made every effort to trace copyright holders and welcomes correspondence from those they have been unable to contact.

A Library of Congress record exists under LC control number: 2004011295

ISBN 13: 978-1-138-06224-5 (hbk)
ISBN 13: 978-1-315-16172-3 (ebk)

MEDIEVAL IRELAND
AN ENCYCLOPEDIA

Sen Duffy, Editor

Associate Editors
Ailbhe MacShamhrin
James Moynes

Advisory Board
Peter Harbison
David Howlett
Toms Cathasaigh
Raghnall Floinn
Katherine Simms

Published in 2005 by
Routledge
711 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017
www.routledge-ny.com

Published in Great Britain by
Routledge
2 Park Square
Milton Park, Abingdon
Oxon OX14 4RN U.K.
www.routledge.co.uk

Copyright 2005 by Routledge

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Medieval Ireland: an encyclopedia / Sen Duffy, editor ; associate editors, Ailbhe MacShamhrin, James Moynes.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-415-94052-4 (hb: alk. paper)
1. IrelandHistory11721603Encyclopedia. 2. IrelandHistoryTo 1172Encyclopedia. 3. IrelandCivilizationEncyclopedia. 4. Civilization, MedievalEncyclopedia.
I. Duffy, Sen. II. MacShamhrin, Ailbhe. III. Moynes, James.

DA933.M43 2005
941.503 03dc32

2004011295

Medieval Ireland: An Encyclopedia presents the multiple facets of life in Ireland before and after the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1169, from the sixth to the sixteenth century. It provides reliable, scholarly information for the student, scholar, or general reader who wishes to learn more about this vivid period of history. The medieval period in Ireland was rich in culture, and Medieval Ireland provides information on such facets as architecture, art, craftsmanship, language, mythology, and religion. Further, many public figures of this time period in Ireland ranging from kings to saints to poetsare portrayed throughout the text. The common life of the medieval Irish is covered in such topics as agriculture, coinage, law, clothing, villages, and games. Giving context to these subjects are the many outside influences that affected Irish civilization at this time. The Viking and Anglo-Norman invasions are discussed, as are the literary and cultural influences of many European countries. Thus the work is useful to people studying related topics, including Anglo-Saxon England, Carolingian Gaul, Norman England, and Viking-Age Scandinavia.

The fact that this reference work is dedicated solely to medieval Irelandnot prehistory and not contemporary affairsgives it a value missing from other more chronologically broad-ranging works. If one is interested in just the medieval period, this volume is tailor-made. This encyclopedia is not just a history book, but as far as practicable it reaches beyond history to all recoverable areas of medieval Irish society. By confining the content to the thousand or so years that make up medieval Ireland, and exploring all aspects of that time, we have produced a unique volume. The major areas of knowledge on the subject of medieval Ireland are accessible within the covers of this book, as either separate essays or discussed within a broader context in another essay.

Medieval Ireland: An Encyclopedia is arranged in an easy-to-use A to Z reference format that contains a series of 347 essays. The essays fall into two categoriesbiographies and thematic entriesand range from 250 to 2,500 words in length. Each essay provides an analysis of the topic at hand as well as directing the reader to explore the topic more thoroughly through See Also cross-references and a list of References and Further Reading . The ease of use is enhanced by a thematic Table of Contents at the beginning of the book, in addition to the standard alphabetical Table of Contents . Other features of the book include illustrations and maps that visually support the text. Readers will also find that the Blind Entries will lead them to articles that discuss a subject that is not covered as a separate entry but is essential to the study of medieval Ireland. Finally, the book contains a detailed, analytical Index that also helps the reader further navigate the work.

More than 100 scholars have provided in-depth essays to Medieval Ireland: An Encyclopedia . The essays encompass all aspects of Irish society and culture throughout the one thousand or so years that make up medieval Ireland. The entries are categorized thematically, displaying the breadth of coverage dedicated to this important historical epoch in Irish history.

These entries provide an analysis and representation of the artistic contributions made to the history of Ireland. Topics include Abbeys, Castles, High Crosses, Iconography, and Sculpture.