Description

The period between the late Middle Ages and the collapse of the Gaelic order saw the flowering of a highly sophisticated, courtly tradition of love poetry in the Irish language. In Dánta Grádha, pioneering scholar Thomas F. O’Rahilly brings together a definitive, critically acclaimed collection of these elegant verses, known as dán díreach.

The text showcases the brilliant technical mastery of Irish poets who blended continental themes of courtly love (amour courtois) with traditional Gaelic literary forms. Written entirely in Irish with meticulous textual notes, the anthology features works by aristocratic poets like Pierce Ferriter and Earl Gerald Fitzgerald alongside anonymous bards. It is a gold-standard reference tool specifically preserved for Irish language scholars, university literature departments, and serious collectors of classical Celtic writing.

Critical literary features within this volume:

• Authentic Bardic Verse: Preserves the precise meters, rhyme schemes, and linguistic nuances of classical modern Irish.

• Comprehensive Textual Notes: Features authoritative commentary and variant readings compiled by O’Rahilly.

• Elite Scholarly Standard: An absolute necessity for advanced academic study, research libraries, and historical linguistics.