hunting in medieval ireland

Fiona Beglane

Figure 1: Stag attacked by hounds: Clare Island (after Morton and Oldenbourg 2005 Plate XXXVIII)

This study will examine the role of hunting in medieval Ireland using fieldwork, published and unpublished excavation reports and faunal reports, historical documents, literature, art and artefact evidence.

The aim of the study is to understand how hunting was used in medieval Ireland to create and maintain identities and as a form of social and cultural expression.  This is an area that has received little attention in Ireland, probably due to the interdisciplinary nature of the evidence and the traditional tendency of medieval scholars to concentrate on upstanding architectural structures such as castles and abbeys.  By contrast, in Britain and in Europe hunting has been well studied and continues to be a fruitful topic.  It is hoped that this study will shed light on hunting in medieval Ireland and its place within a wider European perspective and hence provide a greater understanding of medieval life.

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Reference: Morton, K. and C. Oldenbourg (2005). Catalogue of the wall paintings. In Manning, C., Gosling, P. and Waddell, J. (eds.) New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 4: The Abbey. Dublin, Royal Irish Academy: 61-95.

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