Early Irish literature

Early Irish literature, is commonly dated from the 8th or 9th to the 15th century, a period during which modern literature in Irish began to emerge. It stands as one of the oldest vernacular literature in Western Europe, with its roots extending back to late antiquity, as evident from inscriptions utilizing both Irish and Latin found on Ogham stones dating as early as the 4th century. The early Irish literary tradition flourished through the Medieval Irish period, and its literary output showcases a blend of indigenous storytelling, myth, and historical narratives. Notably, this period saw the development of a full-scale vernacular written literature expressed in a diverse range of literary genres.[1]

According to Professor Elva Johnston, "the Irish were apparently the first western European people to develop a full-scale vernacular written literature expressed in a range of literary genres."[2] A significant aspect of early Irish literature is the influence of loan words from other Indo-European languages, including but not limited to Latin and Greek. This linguistic exchange is evidenced in texts like Sanas Cormaic, a glossary dating from the 9th century that illustrates the assimilation of foreign words into the Irish language.[3] Two of the earliest examples of literature from an Irish perspective are Saint Patrick's Confessio[4] and Letter to Coroticus,[5] written in Latin some time in the 5th century, and preserved in the Book of Armagh.[6]

  1. ^ Russell, Paul (2005). "'What was best of every language': the early history of the Irish language". In Ó Cróinín, Dáibhi (ed.). A New History of Ireland Volume I: Prehistoric and Early Ireland. Oxford University Press. pp. 405–450. ISBN 978-0-19-821737-4.
  2. ^ Johnston, Elva (2013). Literacy and Identity in Early Medieval Ireland. The Boydell Press, Woodbridge. p. 15.
  3. ^ Russell, Paul (2005). "'What was best of every language': the early history of the Irish language". In Ó Cróinín, Dáibhi (ed.). A New History of Ireland Volume I: Prehistoric and Early Ireland. Oxford University Press. pp. 405–450.
  4. ^ "I. CONFESSIO | St. Patrick's Confessio". www.confessio.ie. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Letter to the soldiers of Coroticus | St. Patrick's Confessio". www.confessio.ie. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  6. ^ "The Book of Armagh - MS Trinity College Dublin 52 | St. Patrick's Confessio". www.confessio.ie. Retrieved 17 January 2023.