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Tag Archives: kings
The Spear-Mighty
Overshadowed in legend by their contemporaries to the north, south, and west, the history of the Laigin tribes is no less rich. The land of these confederate tribes formed roughly what would become the Province of Leinster in southeastern Ireland. … Continue reading
Posted in History, People, Politics
Tagged Ireland, Iron Age, kings, Laigin, Leinster tribes
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Cormac for President
As you cast your vote for the next President of the United States, take pride in knowing that you’re carrying out an ancient Irish tradition. Of course, there were no voting booths then, no campaign funds, no polls, and certainly … Continue reading
Posted in Literature, People, Politics
Tagged Cormac mac Airt, Ireland, Iron Age, kings, leadership
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King of Kings?
While millions of voices are lifted in song to the King of Kings this time of year, I thought I’d take the opportunity to explore the ancient Irish concept of kingship – an all-encompassing but muddy construct. So many of … Continue reading
The Queen’s Gambit
I don’t get it. I’m playing chess on my new Nook and getting slaughtered on the easy game setting. The queen comes screaming out of nowhere! But I can hold my own on the difficult setting. I guess “easy” means … Continue reading
Tag, You’re It!
Last October, my boss – a director of a public library – suddenly decided to retire. She went to lunch and never came back. As second-in-command, I instantly inherited all her responsibilities, heaped on top of my own. Not even … Continue reading
Posted in Law, Politics
Tagged brehon laws, Ireland, kings, kingship, succession, tanaise
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Access Denied
A couple weeks ago, publishing conglomerate HarperCollins announced that it would require libraries subscribing to its eBook service to purchase a new copy of an eBook after 26 circulations. In other words, after a book was checked out (downloaded to … Continue reading
Posted in History, Law, Warfare
Tagged books, brehon laws, Celtic Church, Columcille, copyright, Ireland, kings, psalter
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The Cult of the Dead
At this time of year when the door to the Otherworld is flung open, I felt it would be appropriate to examine Gaelic customs regarding the dead, along with the more ancient Celtic customs from which they stemmed. The reverence … Continue reading
Posted in Food, Religion
Tagged feasting, festivals, funerary customs, Ireland, kings, Otherworld, Samhain
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Days of Future Passed
“…It was the custom for the firstborn of a tribal leader to dwell among a rival tribe once a truce had been declared. If the least of that tribe’s members died in a renewal of hostilities, the rival chieftain’s offspring … Continue reading
