Medieval Ireland. An Encyclopedia

ROMANCE

Fenian Cycle; the Tuatha Dé Danann, descendants of
a pre-Celtic people, who inhabited the Other-
wordalthough their role is more as catalysts than
protagonists—and occasional “historical” provincial
or high kings. At least one foreign cycle is evident,
the Arthurian. Although Irish in subject matter, these
romances share the same themes as their Continental
counterparts, adventure and love, narratively framed
as a quest conducted by an individualized hero. More
specifically, they often have as a theme a conflict
between an Irish hero and an enemy from outside,
whether foreigner or someone from the Irish Other-
world. The foreigner, alone or with an army, invades
Ireland and after a long struggle is defeated. Elsewhere,
the foreigner is imbued with magical powers (often
because he is of the Otherworld) and can only be
defeated with the help of friendly supernatural agents.
The most popular theme involves the hero in an exter-
nal adventure, either outside Ireland or in the Other-
world, a genre known as Eachtraí. As with Continental
romance, the adventure involves a quest: for a woman
who has been carried off; for someone bound by
enchantment; on behalf of a foreign woman in trouble;
or to satisfy a requirement imposed by a wicked char-
acter. Likewise, the Irish romance is often composed

structurally of a chain of loosely connected episodes.

Unlike most other types of medieval Irish literature,

the romance survived the collapse of the Gaelic order

in the sixteenth century, finding a new home in the

folk tale.

PÁDRAIGÓ NÉILL

References and Further Reading

Baumgarten, Rolf. Bibliography of Irish Linguistics and Liter-

ature 1942− 71. Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Stud-

ies, 1986.

Best, Richard I. Bibliography of Irish Philology and of Printed

Irish Literature. Dublin: Stationery Office, 1913.

.Bibliography of Irish Philology and Manuscript Liter-

ature, Publications 1913− 1941. Dublin: Hodges and Figgis,

1942.

Bruford, Alan. Gaelic Folk-Tales and Mediæval Romances.

Dublin: the Folklore of Ireland Society, 1969.

Murphy, Gerard. The Ossianic Lore and Romantic Tales of

Medieval Ireland. Dublin: At the Sign of the Three Candles,

1955.

. “Irish Storytelling after the Coming of the Normans.”

InSeven Centuries of Irish Learning, 1000− 1700 , edited by

Brian Ó Cuív. Dublin: The Stationery Office, 1961.

See alsoBardic Schools/Learned Families; Echtrae;

Historical Tales; Mythological Cycle; Ulster Cycle