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Irish bardic poetry

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Bardic Poetry is the writings produced by a class of poets trained in the Bardic Schools of Ireland and the Gaelic parts of Scotland, as they existed down to about the middle of the 17th century or, in Scotland, the early 18th century. Most of the texts preserved are in Middle Irish or in early Modern Irish, however, even though the manuscripts were very plentiful very few have been published. It is considered a period of great literary stability due to the formalised literary language that changed very little.[1]

Background

See also: Chief Ollam of Ireland

According to the Uraicecht Becc, bards and filid were distinct groups: filid involved themselves with law, language, lore and court poetry, whereas bards were verifiers.[2] However, in time, these terms came to be used interchangeably.[3] With the arrival of Christianity, the poets were still giving a high rank in society, equal to that of a bishop, but even the highest-ranked poet, the ollamh was now only 'the shadow of a high-ranking pagan priest or druid.'[4] The bards memorized and preserved the history and traditions of clan and country, as well as the technical requirements of the various poetic forms, such as the dán díreach (a syllabic form which uses assonance, half rhyme and alliteration).

Much of their work consists of extended genealogies and almost journalistic accounts of the deeds of their lords and ancestors: the Irish bard was not necessarily an inspired poet, but rather a professor of literature and letters, highly trained in the use of a polished literary medium, belonging to a hereditary caste of high prestige in a conservative, aristocratic society, and holding an official position therein by virtue of extensive training and knowledge.[3]

Role in Irish and Scottish Society

As officials of the court of king or chieftain, they performed a number of official roles, such as chroniclers and satirists. Effectively, their job was to praise their employers and curse those who crossed them. Their approach to official duties was very traditional and drawn from precedent. However, even though many Bardic poets were traditional in their approach, there were also some who added personal feelings into their poems and also had the ability to adapt with changing situations although conservative.[5]

Example

The following is an example of a Bardic poem from the translations of Osborn Bergin:

Consolations


Filled with sharp dart-like pens
Limber tipped and firm, newly trimmed
Paper cushioned under my hand
Percolating upon the smooth slope
The leaf a fine and uniform script
A book of verse in ennobling Goidelic.

I learnt the roots of each tale, branch
Of valour and the fair knowledge,
That I may recite in learned lays
Of clear kindred stock and each person's
Family tree, exploits of wonder
Travel and musical branch
Soft voiced, sweet and slumberous
A lullaby to the heart.

Grant me the gladsome gyre, loud
Brilliant, passionate and polished
Rushing in swift frenzy, like a blue edged
Bright, sharp-pointed spear
In a sheath tightly corded;
The cause itself worthy to contain.

Anonymous

An example of a Bardic Poet can also be seen in the novel The Year of the French (1979) by Thomas Flanagan. In this book, a character by the name of Owen MacCarthy is bard known for his training with the native language as well as English. He is turned to write specific, important letters by a group named the "Whiteboys". They are in need of someone skilled with writing letters, such as a bard like MacCarthy.

Bardic texts

Selected poets

Selected poems

See also

References

  1. ^ Welch, Robert (1996). The Oxford Companion to Irish Literature (1st ed.). New York: Clarendon Press. p. 33. ISBN 0198661584. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  2. ^ Welch, Robert. "bardic poetry". The Concise Oxford Companion to Irish Literature Online. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  3. ^ a b Bergin, Osborn. Irish Bardic Poetry. Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. pp. 3–5. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  4. ^ Carney, James (1985). Medieval Irish Lyrics with The Irish Bardic Poet. Mountrath: Dolmen Press. pp. 1107–8. ISBN 0 85105 360 2.
  5. ^ Welch, Robert (1996). The Oxford Companion to Irish Literature (1st ed.). New York: Clarendon Press. p. 33. ISBN 0198661584. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)

Further Reading

  • Michelle O'Riordan, Irish Bardic Poetry and Rhetorical Reality, Cork University Press (2007)
  • Robert Welch and Bruce Stewart, The Oxford Companion to Irish Literature
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