The words we use say something fundamental about us and how we think. They give others an indication of what we know, what is important to us, and how we perceive our environment. Words offer glimpses into how people live and how they process that experience.
The words that have come down to us from Gaelic Ireland are a product of the rich and varied textual culture that was written, initially in ecclesiastical centres, from about the sixth century CE.
The range of the material produced in medieval Irish is remarkable.
It includes legal tracts covering everything from murder to bee-keeping, as well as chronicles preserving year-by-year accounts of noteworthy occurrences. A vast secular literature was created, encompassing tales and poems about kings and heroes, warriors and women. Stories were told of journeys to the Otherworld, of wonderful beasts and of beautiful paradises. These tales provided allegories for Christian living and told of the shaping of the Irish landscape. They recalled battles and other notable events.
Through this enormous literary outpouring, churchmen and scholars provided us with an insight into the beliefs, habits and daily lives of the Irish—how they ate, drank, dressed, loved and lied.
This exhibition presents a history of Gaelic Ireland through ten words used by its people.