Medieval Irish Poetry

Irish Poetic Forms

Early and middle Irish verse forms
Dán díreach features
Dán díreach verse forms
Poetic conventions

This isn't just an academic exercise. Old poetic forms are still viable in today's language, and Irish ones are fresh meat! So I'm also providing a few links to new poems in these forms to encourage the rest of us. E-mail me, and I'd be glad to link or host your efforts.

New poem
Conchobar has new poems and a better-written forms packet.
Medieval Poetry and How to Write It A somewhat SCA-skewed document, but never mind. The good sense here is universal. Don't fear the forms!

. Established 1996. Updated 1/29/00.

The Medieval Irish Poetry website belongs to Maureen S. O'Brien. My translations are copy-permitted for educational purposes, if I am given credit. Let me know about it, though; it's good for my ego!

Medieval Irish Poetry

Poems and Translations
Social background
Critics
Bibliography and Links

E-mail: mobrien at dnaco.net