Life in Medieval Ireland: Witches, Spies And Stockholm Syndrome

By Finbar Dwyer

The history of the Middle Ages [in Ireland] is so neglected that the only figure of renown is Strongbow, the man who led the Norman Invasion of Ireland in the twelfth century … There is little written about the lives of majority of men, who held no title or land, and even less about women … Indeed, so neglected are these people in history that many of the stories and people recounted … haven’t been heard of in centuries. In a society born of conquest, beset with famines and plagues, and where the staples of life were everything from spies and corruption to witch trials and warfare, life in medieval Ireland was seldom dull. In Life in Medieval Ireland, Finbar Dwyer offers a unique portrait of life as it was lived in medieval Ireland. Against the backdrop of what was often a violent and chaotic period of history, Dwyer explores the personal stories of those whose recollections have been preserved, finding in them continual relevance and human interest.

• Language: English
• Publisher: New Island Books
• Release date: Nov 20, 2013
• ISBN: 9781848402850

Reviews for Life in Medieval Ireland

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Interesting set of anecdotes about Medieval Ireland using the available information, which is mostly Norman, as the conqueror they had the privilege of writing most of the histories of this period.I have listened to the Irish History Podcast for several years and this reads like essays written in a similar vein to the podcast. It made me want to research more about some of the topics and has an extensive bibliography. Interesting and worth a read.