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INTRODUCTION
It
is likely that this group's title requires some explanation. The
perhaps odd title arises from the difficulty of defining a title
for the time period it encompasses: 1000-1700AD - which includes
more than a century prior to the Anglo-Norman arrival, the whole
of the late medieval period, Elizabethan and even Cromwellian Ireland.
The intention was to define the period during which the 'old order'
which obtained prior to the Anglo-Normans slowly broke down and
ultimately was eliminated. It seemed that 'late Gaelic' captured
this intent best, however odd it may appear at first to think of
events such as the Ulster plantation in this light. Certainly any
concern of bias which may be read into the title ought to be dismissed.
Unquestionably
this is a period of great change in Ireland's history, and one which
has in many ways shaped the broad structure of Ireland's society
as we see it today: the development of urban centres, the shiring
of the countryside, ethnic and religious distributions and more
either originate in, or were consolidated during this period. It
is also a period which is generally poorly understood by many Irish
people, lacking the attraction of 'pure' Gaelicness the early medieval
is often seen to posess, the emotional power of the Great Hunger
or of the personality of O'Connell, or indeed the immediacy of more
recent history. Such perceptions aside, it is surely beyond doubt
that it is difficult to appreciate the complexities of nineteenth-
and twentieth-century Ireland without a solid grounding in the events
which preceded them. How can we truly understand the intent of the
Penal Laws, or indeed understand why they failed to achieve their
objectives? From where do the horrors of 1845-50 and the struggles
of the Land League ultimately originate?
This
is not to say that the 1000-1700 period has nothing of interest
to offer in its own right. One need only chant 'Strongbow, O'Neill,
Cromwell' to appreciate this. At a less obvious level, we can consider
the changes in monasticism, the beginnings of Irish cartography,
or the changing role of Ireland within a Europe-wide Christendom.
THE
'LATE GAELIC IRELAND' DISCUSSION GROUP
The
'Late Gaelic Ireland' discussion group was founded in October
2000. Initially slow to develop, it has since matured into a community
of scholars who share a fascination in their subject and an eagerness
to both learn and advise. The group's current membership stands
at just under 150.
To
join the discussion group, simply click the link below to create
an auto-addressed email, and press 'Send'. You will shortly receive
via email a confirmation request to which you must reply. Within
minutes your membership will be logged and you can begin interacting
with other group members online. New members are encouraged to send
an initial message to the group introducing themselves, and mentioning
their areas of interest in Ireland's stone age period.
Members
and non-members alike can freely access the group's archives. These
help give a feel for the type of topics discussed for those considering
subscribing, and help new members catch up on past debates. To view
or search the archives, just click on the link below.
RELATED
DISCUSSION GROUP HOMEPAGES
LINKS
DOCUMENTS
& DATABASES
Page
last updated 28 September 2001
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