Early Irish (M.Phil.)

Program Overview

This one-year, full-time program in Early Irish Language and Literature offers a comprehensive study of the Irish language's evolution and the culture reflected in medieval Irish manuscripts. Students will develop skills in translating and analyzing Old and Middle Irish material, and explore the salient features of Early Irish grammar. Graduates pursue careers in text-based Arts & Humanities, including language, literature, history, and publishing.

Program Outline

Outline:

• The course lasts for the two semesters of one academic year beginning in September and requires full-time study.
• The course consists of six contact hours per week.
• All candidates take core modules in Old Irish prose, Old Irish poetry, Primitive and Archaic Irish linguistics, early Irish law and Middle Irish.
• In addition, students may attend a series of guest lectures organised by the department, and all undertake a dissertation of 20,000 words, which allows them to develop independent research skills in the field.
• The end-of-year examination consists of three three-hour papers and will be subject to moderation by an external examiner.
Students will be expected to demonstrate an ability to translate and analyse Old and Middle Irish material, including an unseen Old Irish passage, and to describe the salient features of all periods of Early Irish grammar.

Assessment:

• The end-of-year examination consists of three three-hour papers and will be subject to moderation by an external examiner.
Students will be expected to demonstrate an ability to translate and analyse Old and Middle Irish material, including an unseen Old Irish passage, and to describe the salient features of all periods of Early Irish grammar.

Other:

• This course is for you if you are interested in learning how the Irish language has evolved over time and how the culture reflected in medieval Irish manuscripts like the Book of Leinster, housed in Trinity College's Old Library, has also changed.
• It will help you to develop the skills you need to explore the rich literature of medieval Irish in its primary sources and understand the society in which it was created.