The purpose of this thesis is to examine a representative subset of the corpus of early Irish narrative literature; to investigate some of the processes involved in its transmission; and to appraise the skill of the transmitters of the literature in order to demonstrate the continued relevance of the tradition through the major transitions in medieval Irish history. Particular emphasis is placed on how deliberate and specific adaptations in the narrative tradition--both in individual narratives and in the tradition as a whole--were an important factor in assuring the enduring significance of early Irish narrative.

The thesis is organized in such a way as to provide an understanding of the chronological development of the narrative tradition. Its arrangement also allows for an understanding of the role of the transmitters of this important body of literature. The early and middle chapters describe the evolution of the professions and the training of these transmitters. The various types of literature they produced are also discussed in this section, along with those characteristics of the literature most germane to the topic. The final chapters demonstrate the various purposes and functions of early Irish narrative, as well as how those functions changed with the changing contexts of medieval Ireland.

The thesis concludes that Ireland's early narrative tradition remained an important and influential component of Irish culture throughout the Middle Ages. It has contributed a frame of reference for understanding medieval Ireland by way of its literature. Finally, the thesis concludes that through the study of a living narrative tradition--capable of adaptation in the hands of skilled professionals--transitions and key events in history can be observed from the easily accessible cultural perspective provided by narrative literature.

Keywords

Acallam, acallam, Acallam na Senórach, acallam na senórach, ancient, annal bard, battle, Battle of Moytura, battle of moytura, book, Book of Invasions, book of invasions, brehon, Cath Maige Tuired, cath maige tuired, Cattle Raid of Cooley, cattle raid of cooley, Celt, celt, Celtic, celtic, Christian, christian, Christianity, christianity, chronicle, church, Church, Colm Cille, colm cille, Colmcille, colmcille, Columcille, columcille, columba, Columba, compose, composition, converse, Converse of the Elders, converse of the elders, corpus, cu, Cu, Cú, Cuchulainn, cuchulainn, Cúchulainn, cúchulainn, cultural, culture, druid, druidic, Early Irish, early irish, educated, eighth century, eire, eireann, éireann, elders, eleventhy century, epic, érenn, erin, fenian, Fenian, Fergus, fergus, fian, fían, fiana,fíana, fifth century, fíli, fílid, Finn, finn, folk, folklore, folk-tale, folk story, function, Gael, gael, Gaelic, gaelic, hero, heroes, heroic, historical, history, Ireland, ireland, irish, Irish, Irish History, irish history, Irish Literature, irish literature, Irish Narrative, irish narrative, Joan Connelly, joan connelly, Joan Connelly Manzo, joan connelly manzo, joan manzo, Joan Manzo, king, knowledge, language, latin, Latin, learned, learning, lebor gabála, Lebor Gebála, lebor gabála érenn, Lebor Gabála Érenn, legend, literacy, literary, literature, lore, manuscript, medieval, memorial, memories, memory, Middle Ages, middle ages, monastery, monastic, monk, myth, mythological, mythology, narrative, narrative tradition, native, native Irish, native irish, nature, ninth century, ollam, oral, oral tradition, pagan, Patrick, patrick, placename lore, placename, place name, poesy, poet, poetry, poet-scholar, poltical, politics, perservation, preserve, primscéla, religious, remscéla, saga, sage, scéla, scholar, secular, senchas, seventh century, significance, sixth century, social, society, stories, story, storyteller, Tain, tain, táin, Táin, Tain Bo Cuailnge, Táin Bó Cuailnge, tale, tenth century, text, time, tradition, transmission, twelfth century, wise, wise man, wise men, writing, written, written tradition