In this episode, we are joined by Dr Chantal Kobel (Department of Early Irish, Maynooth University) to chat all about medieval Irish manuscripts (literally documents written by hand) and the various specialists skills and tools needed to read these precious historical sources. From palaeography (the study of old handwriting and writing systems) to codicology (study of the actual books) we learn about how manuscripts were physically made (trigger warning, it gets a little gruesome!), what they feel like, why so few survive, where you can see them for yourselves (online or Royal Irish Academy!), whether some more could be discovered, and whether any were written by women. Some notable mentions: Faddan More Psalter, Rawlinson B502 (Book of Glendalough?), Book of Armagh, Aided Chonchobair ‘The violent death of Conchobar.

Suggested resources:

Irish Script on Screen (ISOS): www.isos.dias.ie Manuscripts with Irish Associations (MIra): http://www.mira.ie/

e-Codices: https://www.e-codices.unifr.ch/en

John Gillis, The Faddan More Psalter: The Discovery and Conservation of a Medieval Treasure (Dublin, 2021).

Richard Sharpe, ‘Books from Ireland, fifth to ninth centuries’, Peritia 21 (2010), 1–55.

Donnchadh Ó Corráin, ‘What happened Ireland’s medieval manuscripts?’, Peritia 22-23 (2011–2012), 191–223.

Charles Plummer, ‘On the colophons and marginalia of Irish scribes’, Proceedings of the British Academy 12 (1926), 11–44.

Chantal Kobel, “A critical edition of Aided Chonchobair ‘The violent death of Conchobar’: with translation, textual notes and bibliography”, PhD thesis, Trinity College Dublin, Department of Irish and Celtic Studies, 2015.

Regular episodes every two weeks (on a Friday).

Email: medievalirishhistory@gmail.com

X (formerly Twitter): @EarlyIrishPod

Supported by the Dept of Early Irish, Maynooth University, & Taighde Éireann (formerly Science Foundation Ireland/Irish Research Council).

Views expressed are the speakers' own.

Production: Tiago de Oliveira Veloso Silva.

Logo design: Matheus de Paula Costa

Music: Lexin_Music