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Our
way of life is based on the indigenous cultural ways of the Gaelic
people before the heavy influence of foreign customs and cultural
institutions, and our faith is based largely off of the faith of our
ancestors prior to the coming of Christianity. While ours is a living
way of life, it is rooted in a mixture of folklore, customs,
superstitions, etc. combined with a great deal of research. This
research into our legends, lore and the archeological information and
studies are important in filling the gaps of cultural knowledge created
by those aspects that were lost over the years. Such research is also
critical in the recovery of native Gaelic beliefs, as such beliefs have
been relegated to folklore and superstition for over a thousand years.
In order to counter the massive volume of misinformation that has
cropped up over the years, it is important to have solid academic
research to back up arguments. In addition, for the independent folk
who have no túath or family lore from which to learn, there is only the
research they can do on their own from which to rebuild their culture.
The following are just a fraction of a percent of the resources available
for research, but these sites, as well as the reference books listed
below, are a good starting point. Túath na Ciarraide is not responsible for content found on external pages through these links. Please report dead links to the Ciarraide webmaster.
LEGENDS AND TALES
Much of our lore and cultural traditions are preserved in the many
tales and legends that were recorded by early Irish monks. These
manuscripts, combined with other resources such as anthropological
evidence and archeology, provide a window into the lives and beliefs of
our ancestors. It is from these tales and legends that we extrapolate
many of the foundations of our religious beliefs and some elements of
our moral code, so in a way, they are to us what the Gospels are to the
Christians (though not as fanatically enforced). In these tales, we see
the great heroes- Cu Chullain, Fionn Mac Cumhail, Fergus Mac Roith, and
many more, and they inspire us to meet the standards they set.
Táin Bó Cúalnge, Translated by Joseph Dunn
Scél Mucci Mic Dathó, Translated by Nora Chadwick
Cath Mag Tuired, Translated by Elizabeth A. Gray
The Destruction of Dá Derga's Hostel, Translated by Whitely Stokes, D.C.L.
Heroic Romances of Ireland, Translated and Compiled by A. H. Leahy
Cuchulain of Muirthemne, By Lady Augusta Gregory
Gods and Fighting Men: The Story of the Túatha De Danaan and of the Fianna of Ireland, By Lady Augusta Gregory
Táin Bó Cúalnge (from the Book of Leinster), Translated by Elizabeth A. Gray, edited by Cecile O'Rahilly
Buile Suibhne (The Frenzy of Suibhne), Translated by J. G. Ó Keeffe
MANUSCRIPTS
Much of our lore comes from a variety of manuscripts that are generally
only available to scholars. By a stroke of great luck, many have been
translated and large parts put online. These manuscripts represent the
core of our research, and are vital in helping us learn about our
ancestors. Though written by Christian monks, and being very
Christocentric in many ways, a smart scholar can remove the veneer and
see the older tales beneath.
Lebar na Núachongbála, The Book of Leinster
Lebor na nUidre, The Book of the Dun Cow
Leabhar Baile an Mhota, The Book of Ballymote
Leabhar Mór Mhic Fhir Bhisigh, The Great Book of Lecan
Leabhar Buidhe Lecain, The Yellow Book of Lecan
Leabhar Feirmoithe, The Book of Fermoy
RESEARCH WEBSITES
Some of the tales above are found on the following sites, as are
various items of wisdom and information. These sites are among some of
the best on the net, some featuring exact translations of the original
manuscripts, and others having a great deal of information on language
and law.
CELT, the Corpus of Electronic Texts, Featuring the many Annals, several of the tales, and a wealth of Irish literarature.
Sacred Texts: Celtic Folklore,
Featuring many of the tales above, plus other information and tales
from the extant Celtic nations written or compiled by multiple authors.
The Gaelic Homepage, Featuring information on Gaelic and other Celtic languages.
Medieval Irish Poetry, Featuring translations of Irish poetry and information on the poetic forms used.
A (much) Smaller Social History of Ancient Ireland ,
Featuring brief overviews of the ancient government, military, law,
religion, art, and customs of the ancient Irish people. Abridged form
of the larger book.
Celtic Literature Collection: Irish Texts, Featuring manuscripts and tales from throughout the surviving lore of the Gael Éireannach.
LANGUAGE RESOURCES, ONLINE
To truly understand the Gaelic people and their worldview, one must
know the basics of our language at the very least. Our mindset is
explicit in the wondrous and complex languages we speak. The following
are websites that help teach the basics of the Irish language and
assist in learning.
Fearghal Mag Uiginn- An Irish lesson course that provides you with the basics of the lrish language in a fifteen week course.
Cáemgen's Irish Lesson Videos-
An online video series of Cáemgen's Irish lessons that will increase as
more video's are posted. Cáemgen is the first Sinsearaí to put together
videos of language lessons, so bravo to him!
Daltaí na Gaeilge- Daltaí's pages for Irish Grammar and Vocabulary
Foclóir Gaeilge/Béarla- Irish/English Dictionary that includes technical and advanced terms.
Gaeilge Word Lookup-
In Gaeilge, enter a Gaeilge word into the text box and it will present
the singular and plural, genitive and vocative forms of that word.
Handy for more advanced students.
Irish Gaelic Translator-
Due to the complexity of the Irish language, no computer translator
exists to do online translations. IGT is a forum of volunteer
Gaeilge-speakers and students who assist in basic translations.
Foghlaim na Gaeilge ar an Idirlíon- Irish Gaelic learners' material on the Internet, multiple links to further pages.
Gàidhlig Word Translator- Set for beurla (English) words to be entered into the box and translated to Gàidhlig (Scottish).
Faclair Gàidhlig/Beurla- Scottish/English Dictionary.
LANGUAGE RESOURCES, BOOKS AND TAPES
To further the study of the Gaelic languages, many books and audio
resources are available, as are CD ROM programs. The following are
sources for written, audio, and multimedia materials that help teach
the basics of the Irish language and assist in learning.
Fios Feasa- Manufacturer of Gaeilge lessons for children and adults alike. Many products available.
Cló Iar-Chonnachta- Another company selling Irish language resource material and books in Irish.
Teach Me Irish- A multimedia program that teaches basic Irish fluency and comprehension.
Litriocht.com- The largest Irish-language bookshop on the World Wide Web, including textbooks and many many Irish-language sourcebooks.
IRISH LANGUAGE MEDIA
Reading Irish books and studying Gaeilge lessons help a great deal, but
they need to be backed by use and exposure to native speakers. This is
best accomplished by a direct hands-on approach in the Gaeltacht, but
when this is not possible, Irish audio and video media is of great
value. The following are Irish media links to various radio and
television resources.
Raidió na Gaeltachta- The famous national Irish language public broadcasting radio station.
Live Ireland Radio- Featuring Gaeilge and Bearla (English) programming, music, and live streaming television.
Raidió na Life- 106.4 FM in Dublin, catering to the Irish-speaking communities in Éire and around the world through streaming audio.
TG4-
Irish-language television, including streaming video (subscription
service, not free), catering to the Irish-speaking communities in Éire
and around the world.
REFERENCES
Many of the articles written by Sinnsreachd scholars are based on a
number of the following books. In addition, the individual can find
many of these books readily available through various bookstores for
their own research.
The Celtic World
Barry Cunliffe
ISBN#0-07-014918-6
(Cunliffe has some oddball theories in some of his later books, but this one is pretty well-grounded)
The World of the Druids
Miranda J. Green
ISBN#0-500-05083-X
Twilight of the Celtic Gods,
David Clarke with Andy Roberts (Foreward by Dr. Anne Ross),
Blandford, ISBN 0-7137-2522-2
The Festival of Lughnasa,
Máire MacNeill, Oxford University Press, 1962
The Fairy Faith In Celtic Counties,
W.Y. Evans-Wentz, Citadel Press,
ISBN 0-8065-1160-5
The Silver Bough Vol's. 1-4;
F. Marion McNeil; Stuart Titles Ltd; Reprinted 1990;
ISBN 085335-161-9, 0-948474-05-X
The Folklore Of The Scottish Highlands,
Ann Ross, Barnes & Noble Books,
ISBN 1-56619-226-9
CARMINA GADELICA, Hymns and Incantations-Collected In The Highlands and Islands of Scotland In The Last Century,
Alexander Carmichael, Lindisfarne Press,
ISBN 0-940262-50-9
Celtic Warriors,
Tim Newark
Ancient Ireland, Life Before The Celts
Laurence Flanagan
ISBN#0-312-21881-8
(Just
got this one, so I'm still reading it. It gives a good comparison
between the pre-Celtic populations and cultures and how they changed
after the Celtic migrations)
Celt and Roman, The Celts in Italy
Peter Berresford Ellis
ISBN#0-31221-419-7
The Druids,
Peter Berresford Ellis, Wm. B. Eerdsman Publishing,
ISBN 0-8028-3798-0
Celtic Women,
Peter Berresford Ellis, Erdmans, 1997,
ISBN 0-8028-3808-1
The Celts, Nora Chadwick,
Pelican Books,
ISBN 0-14-021211-6
The Celts,
Simon James, Thames & Hudson,
ISBN 0-500-05067-8
The Celtic Realms,
Nora Chadwick and Myles Dillon
The Celts,
Jean Markale, Inner Traditions,
ISBN 0-89281-413-6
The Companion to Gaelic Scotland,
Derick S,.Thompson, Gairm,
ISBN 1-871901-33-2
Pagan Celtic Ireland: the Enigma of the Irish Iron Age,
Barry Raftery, Thames & Hudson, 1994
Celtic Goddesses,
Miranda Green, George Braziller Press,
ISBN 0-8076-1405-x
MYTH, LEGEND & ROMANCE- An Encyclopedia Of Irish Folk Tradition,
Dr. Daithi OHogain, Prentice Hall Press,
ISBN 0-13-275959-4
A Dictionary of Irish Mythology,
Peter Berresford-Ellis, Oxford University Press,
ISBN 0-19-181871-1
The Tain,
Thomas Kinsella, Oxford University Press,
ISBN 0-19-281090-1
A History Of Pagan Europe,
Prudence Jones & Nigel Pennick, Routledge,
ISBN 0-415-09136-5
Audacht Morainn,
trans. Fergus Kelly, Dublin Institute For Advanced Studies, 1976
Archaeology & Language - The Puzzle Of Indo-European Origins,
Colin Renfrew, Cambridge University, 1996,
ISBN 0-521-38675-6
In Search of the Indo-Europeans,
J.P. Mallory
Death, War and Sacrifice - Studies In Ideology and Practice,
Bruce Lincoln, 1991, University of Chicago,
ISBN 0-226-48200-6
A Smaller Social History of Ancient Ireland,
P.W. Joyce
The Horse In Celtic Culture,
edited by Sioned Davies and Nerys Ann Jones, University of Wales Press,
ISBN 0-78083-1414-7
Celtic Way of Life,
O'Brien Press, Dublin
ISBN 0-86278-236-8
Ireland In Prehistory,
Michael Herity and George Eogan, Routledge, 1997,
ISBN 0-415-04889-3
Myths And Symbols In Pagan Europe - Early Scandinavian And Celtic Religions,
H.R. Ellis Davidson, Syracuse University Press,
ISBN 0-8156-2441
Celtic Mythology,
Proinsias Mac Cana, Peter Bedrick Books, New York
ISBN 0-87226-002-X
The Celtic World,
Miranda Green, Routledge,
ISBN 0-415-05764-7
The Druids,
Stuart Piggott, Thames & Hudson,
ISBN 0-500-27363-4
The Women Of The Celts,
J. Markale, Gordon Cermonesi Pub, 1975,
ISBN 0-86033-001-X
The Illustrated Guide to Celtic Mythology,
T.W. Rolleston, Crescent Books, New York
ISBN 0-517-12179-4
(an odd book as it is modern, and TW Rolleston wrote most of his in the
19th and early 20th centuries. I do not recommend any other titles with
his name on them, only this one)
CELTIC HERITAGE-Ancient Tradition in Ireland and Wales,
Alwyn Rees and Brinley Rees, Thames and Hudson, Reprinted 1991,
ISBN 0-500-27039-2
Early Medieval Ireland, 400-1200,
Daibhi O Croinin, Longman Singapore Publishers, Ltd. 1996,
ISBN 0-582-0156300)
Keatings Social History Of Ireland,
Keating, Irish Texts Society, (available only through the Irish Texts Society , or by inter-library loan)
Lebor Gebala Erenn-The Book Of The Taking Of Ireland Parts 1-5,
R.A.S. MACALISTER, D.Litt., Irish Texts Society, 1939-1954. (available
through the Irish Texts Society or by inter-library loan)
Cath Maige Tuired,
translated by E.A. Gray, Irish Texts Society,
ISBN 1-870-16652-3
Imram Brain,
translated by Kuno Meyer, Llanerch Books (Felinfach, Lampeter. Dyfed, Wales SA48 8PJ)
ISBN 1-897853-20- 3
Irish Bardic Poetry,
Osborn Bergin, Mount Salus Press Limited at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1970
Ulidia,
edited by J.P. Mallory and G. Stockman
Early Irish and Welsh Kinship,
Charles-Edwards
Lawyers and Laymen : Studies in the History of Law,
Charles-Edwards Brehons
Serjeants and Attorneys,
Hogan
A Guide to Early Irish Law,
Fergus Kelly, Dundalgan Press Ltd.,
ISBN 0790-4657 & 0-901282-95-2
The Senchus Mor,
Alexander Thom
Cattle Lords and Clansmen,
Nerys Patterson, University of Notre Dame,
ISBN 0-268-00800-0
Uraicept na Riar: The Poetic Grades In Early Irish Law,
Liam Breatnach
Uaraicept na n'Eces,
Georger Calder
Dictionary of the Irish Language Based on Old and Middle Irish Materials,
E.G. Quin, Royal Irish Academy
The Conquest of Gaul,
Julius Caesar, translated by S.A Hanford
Sanas Cormaic,
Kuno Meyer, Llanerch Publishers (Cormacs Glossary)
Ancient Celts,
Tim Newark and Angus McBride
Geography, Books 15-16,
Strabo
Corpus Inscriptionum Insularum Celticarum Vol. 1,
R.A.S. Macalister,
ISBN 1-85182-2429
Expugnation Hibernica, The Conquest of Ireland,
Giraldus Cambrensis (Martin, F.X. / Byrne, F.J. (Eds.) Royal Irish Academy ISBN 0-901714-119
The Metrical Dindshenchas Vols.1-5,
ed. and tr. by Edward Gwynn, Edward, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies
ISBN 1-85500-1438
Lives and Legends of Saint Brendan the Voyager,
Denis O’Donaghue, Llanerch,
ISBN 1-897853-351
Scottish Gaelic Studies, vol. VI, part II; "Imbas Fornosai",
Nora Chadwick; Oxford University Press.
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