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ID001 Introducing Irish Cultural Heritage Centre for Irish Cultural Heritage Maynooth University

CENTRE FOR IRISH CULTURAL HERITAGE

SCHOOL OF CELTIC STUDIES

ID001 INTRODUCING IRISH CULTURAL HERITAGE (5 credits)

Dr Eoin Grogan and Dr Mary Leenane The Centre for Irish Cultural Heritage specialises in early Ireland, from the arrival of the first people 10,000 years ago, up to the late medieval period (c. 1200 AD). It offers inter-disciplinary teaching including archaeology, history, architecture, aspects of early literature, folklore and landscape studies. Modules, which are all taught through English, are delivered by academic experts in these areas while there is an exciting programme of Field Seminars that bring students to some of the most iconic archaeological and historical sites including the Boyne Valley and the . Another aspect of the learning process is independent study involving visits to other Heritage sites and Cultural institutions such as the 11th century cathedrals of , Dublin and Trim Castles and the National Museum of Ireland.

There are no prerequisites and no exams: all assessment is through written assignments. The Centre offers a 20 Credit Certificate in Irish Cultural Heritage, open to all International Students but individual Modules can be taken by those who would like a taste of Irish Culture.

For more information contact: The Centre for Irish Cultural Heritage, School of Celtic Studies, Arts Block (Room 20) Email: [email protected] Tel: 01-7083666

TEACHING AND LEARNING METHODS This module involves a mixture of lectures, class seminars and independent study but there is a particular emphasis on Filed Seminars where teaching takes place at the sites and monuments associated with early Irish cultural heritage. The Module is centred around four Case Studies.

Case Study 1 Brú na Bóinne (Boyne Valley) Introduction (archaeology, history and literature) Field Trip (with the International Office): Brú na Bóinne (Boyne Valley) World Heritage site (including , and Mellifont and the Hill of Tara)

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ID001 Introducing Irish Cultural Heritage Centre for Irish Cultural Heritage Maynooth University

The Boyne Valley is one of the most significant cultural landscapes in Ireland and its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site underlines its justifiable international status. This section of the module provides a multi-disciplinary examination of the rich history, literature and archaeology of the Brú na Bóinne Complex including Newgrange, and . In addition to the three great passage tombs (built c. 3200BC) and the late Neolithic and Chalcolithic (Copper Age) ceremonial complexes this area was the focal point for the early medieval Uí Neill kingdom of North Brega (c. 700–1200 AD) and features in the tales, history and genealogies of this and other important early medieval families and tribes. The presence of heroes, like Cú Chulainn and Finn mac Cumaill, and prominent early historic figures such as , in stories set in the area will also be considered. An exception feature of the Boyne Valley is how successive generations built on and borrowed from past histories to re-create the landscape. The way in which this wealth of heritage is interpreted and presented to visitors as well as the strategies of conservation, and occasionally re- construction will also be explored.

Case Study 2: The ‘Royal Sites’ Four great prehistoric complexes (Tara, Emain Macha, Cruachain and Dún Ailinne) were important regional religious centres (c. 350–100 BC) that represent the cultural and political foundation of the prehistoric provinces of Ireland. These have been explored through modern archaeological research and excavation and provide a fascinating insight into ‘Celtic’ religion and social organisation. In the early medieval period, particularly in the fifth to eighth centuries AD, these sites were adopted as the traditional ‘capitals’ of the provincial kingdoms. New interpretations of these sites included the attachment of histories, legends and mythology to the remains of these sites that were still visible at the time. The characters involved in these tales, such as the legendary (and infamous) queen Maeve, Deirdre of the Sorrows, Finn mac Cumaill, St Patrick, the founding father of the Uí Neill dynasty (Niall of the Nine Hostages) and his son king Laoghaire, form an important core of personages within the foundation of the medieval and more concepts or Irish culture and origins.

Case Study 3: Field Seminar: Clonmacnoise (Required) The great monastery at Clonmacnoise (Cluain Mhic Nois: ‘meadow of the sons of Nos’) is one of the most complete religious complexes of early medieval Ireland (c. 400–1200 AD). Although reputedly founded in 548 AD by St Ciarán most of the remains (three high crosses, a round tower, eight churches, and over 600 early medieval graves) date to period between 800–1100 AD. Clonmacnoise became one of the most powerful, wealthy and influential monastic centres in Ireland. It had a famous school and scriptorium (for the copying and illumination of early manuscripts), and was an important centre for metal craftsmanship and stone carving. Significant persons associated with the monastery

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ID001 Introducing Irish Cultural Heritage Centre for Irish Cultural Heritage Maynooth University include St Ciaran, the later abbots Colmán and Odo, several kings of Tara (including Diarmait mac Cerbaill, , Turlough and Rory O’Connor) and the infamous Dearbhforgaill (Derval). Clonmacnoise was virtually an island surrounded by the River Shannon and its floodplain (‘the callows’) and peatland. The monastery is on an important ‘crossroads’: the north-south axis of the River Shannon and the east-west route along a glacial ridge which was an important natural route (‘The Pilgrim Road’; an Slí Mhór) from the prehistoric period. Since the early medieval period Clonmacnoise has been an important centre of Christian pilgrimage and spiritual devotion. There are also the remains of the earliest bridge in Ireland (c. 804 AD) and an impressive early Norman castle (1214 AD).

Case Study 4: early Irish society Early medieval society was based around the family (fine, a complex multigenerational social and legal unit) and the tribe (about 150 examples) cradled in a number of important social systems including kinship, clientship, fosterage and formal concepts of honour. For these Ireland is fortunate in having a great deal of both historical documents (such as the Annals, Law Tracts, Genealogies, Hagiographies and a wealth of early literature) and archaeological data. For example, most families resided in ringforts (enclosed and defended farmsteads) of which over 40,000 can still be identified; excavation of many of these has revealed important details of the day-to-day lifestyle, farming economy, craftsmanship and transportation. Students will be introduced to early medieval society through multidisciplinary perspective including archaeology, history and literature which will include the role and status of women.

ASSESSMENT

Assignment 1 Independent Visit to Cultural Heritage Institution: 25% Students will make an independent visit to at least one cultural heritage institution (from an approved list that includes one of three venues of the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin, The National Gallery of Ireland [all free], St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin Castle, Trim Castle [entry fee]) and respond to a questionnaire dealing with their impressions and assessment of the cultural experience. They can attend as individuals or in groups.

Assignment 2 Site Presentation: 25% Students will prepare a short presentation (about five minutes) on an aspect of the Cultural Heritage of one of the Field Seminar sites which they may be asked to deliver on the site or in class. A short written paper (less than 1000 words) must be submitted.

Assignment 3 Essay: 50% This (1500 to 2000 words) will be on one of a number of topic options dealing with an aspect of Irish Cultural Heritage.

All written assignments must be submitted before the end of the course.

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ID001 Introducing Irish Cultural Heritage Centre for Irish Cultural Heritage Maynooth University

Some Core Reading Bhreathnach, E. 2014 Ireland in the Medieval World AD 400–1000. Landscape, Kingship and religion. Four Courts Press, Dublin. Cooney, G. and Grogan, E. 1999 Irish Prehistory. a social perspective. Wordwell, Dublin. Edwards, N. 1990 The Archaeology of Early Medieval Ireland. B.T. Batsford Ltd, London. Eogan, G. 1986 Knowth and the passage tombs of Ireland. Thames and Hudson, London. Eogan, G. 2012 Excavations at Knowth 5: The archaeology of Knowth in the first and second millennia AD. Monographs in Archaeology, Dublin. Grogan, E. 2008 The Rath of the Synods, Tara, Co. Meath: excavations by Seán P. Ó Ríordáin. UCD School of Archaeology, Wordwell, Dublin. Grogan, E. 2013 The development of the Neolithic and Bronze Age landscape in the Tara region. In M. O’Sullivan, C. Scarre and M. Doyle (eds), Tara—From the Past to the Future, 293–320. UCD School of Archaeology/Wordwell, Dublin. King, H.A. (ed.), 1998 Clonmacnoise studies 1: seminar papers 1994. Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, The Stationery Office, Dublin. King, H.A. (ed.) 2003 Clonmacnoise studies 2: seminar papers 1998. Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, The Stationery Office, Dublin. Mallory, J.P. 2013 The Origins of the Irish. Thames and Hudson, London. Ní Bhrolcháin, M. 2009 An Introduction to Early Irish Literature. Four Courts Press, Dublin. O'Kelly, M.J. 1982 Newgrange. Archaeology, art and legend. Thames and Hudson, London. O’Sullivan, M. 2005 Duma na nGiall. The Mound of the Hostages, Tara. School of Archaeology, UCD/ Wordwell, Dublin. Raftery, B. 1994 Pagan Celtic Ireland. The Enigma of the Irish Iron Age. Thames and Hudson, London. Stout, G. 2002 Newgrange and the Bend of the Boyne. University Press, Cork. Stout, G. and Stout, M. 2008 Newgrange. Cork University Press, Galway. Waddell, J. 1998/2010 The Prehistoric Archaeology of Ireland, Galway University Press, Galway. Waddell, J. 2014 Archaeology and Celtic Myth. Four Courts Press, Dublin.

CENTRE FOR IRISH CULTURAL HERITAGE: ARTS BUILDING, NORTH CAMPUS Dr Tadhg Ó Dúshláine (Head of Unit), Room 18, [email protected] Dr Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin, Room 23, [email protected] Dr Eoin Grogan, Room 53, [email protected] Dr Mary Leenane, Room 53, [email protected] Ms Mairéad Uí Fhlatharta (Executive Assistant), Room 20, [email protected] +353 1 708 3666 Website: www.maynoothuniversity.ie/centre-irish-cultural-heritage

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