The Old Irish World

The book brings together a series of lectures and earlier papers that trace the development of Ireland’s earliest societies. It surveys the Celtic world from its prehistoric roots through the arrival of Viking traders and later Norman influences, showing how each wave left its mark on language, art and law. The author also highlights recent archaeological finds, such as a newly recorded Celtic cross in Kilclief, to illustrate how the landscape itself preserves the past.

Written for a broad audience, the work balances scholarly detail with clear explanations, making the complex web of trade routes and migration patterns easy to follow. Listeners will discover how myths, oral tradition and stone monuments intertwine to form a picture of a vibrant, adaptive culture that shaped later Irish identity. It offers a thoughtful invitation to explore a forgotten chapter of European history, encouraging curiosity about the people who first turned Ireland’s rugged coasts into a thriving civilised world.