Traditions about the love triangle among the aging military leader Fionn mac Cumhaill, his younger subordinate Diarmaid Ua Duibhne, and Gráinne, the daughter of Irish high king Cormac mac Airt, date as far back as the tenth century in the written corpus of Gaelic literature. The protagonists may have their roots in early Celtic deities, and a handful of medieval texts reference the events of the tale. As the story spread across the Gaelic world, it took on new forms. The most celebrated version, the lengthy prose text Tóruigheacht Dhiarmada agus...

An introduction to Celtic studies and a review of the major critical approaches to the field. Required of candidates for the PhD in Celtic Languages and Literatures. Not open to undergraduates.

The two centuries considered in this course witnessed some of the most dramatic and fateful changes in Irish history and, indeed, of the British Empire. The period opens in the midst of armed rebellion linking Gaelic Ireland with Catholic allies from continental Europe which threatened to throw off English monarchical control of the island; it closes on the eve of the Act of Union which would see Ireland legislatively linked to England, Scotland, and Wales. In spite of the political dominance of English crown and Parliament, and the cultural destruction...

An introduction to the traditional stories, lore, customs, and music of Gaelic Ireland. Since collecting began in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Ireland has amassed one of the most extensive collections of folklore in the world. Prominent tradition bearers and collectors are introduced, and issues of collecting are considered. Theoretical approaches are explored to gain a deeper understanding of the material. All texts are available in English translation.

A continuation of "Introduction to Modern Irish", developing students' fluency in spoken and written Irish. As students’ knowledge of the language expands, we venture into storytelling, prose composition, and short presentations. Internet, audio and video resources complement the study of grammar and select prose texts.