Ireland in the Middle Ages.

Ireland in the Middle AgesAuthor: DUFFY, Sean.

Dublin: Gill & Macmillan, 1997. xiii, 216 pages. Paperback.

Perhaps the single most formative development in Irish secular affairs was the English invasion which took place in the late 1160s, and which, in the space of a few short years, transformed the face of Ireland and permanently altered the course of Irish history. Unlike some earlier works, which either start or end with the invasion, this book places the arrival of the English as its centrepiece. It examines society and politics in pre-invasion Ireland, in particular the role and powers of kings and kingship, and the manner in which these were altered in the aftermath of the invasion. The arrival of the English and the reaction of the Irish are discussed in detail, as are the motives of those involved, and the consequences of their actions. Emphasis is placed on the affairs of the native Irish, in an effort to subvert the convention of viewing the history of later medieval Ireland through the eyes of the English colonial community alone. By the end of the Middle Ages the English attempt at conquering Ireland had remained unsuccessful: this book seeks to explain why.

Adopting a broad narrative sweep, spanning over five centuries, the book offers a reinterpretation of medieval Irish history, harvesting the fruits of recent research, and should be of interest both to experienced students of the subject and to those previously unacquainted with it.

ISBN: 071712374X