The Origins of the Irish Language: Texts and Traditions

October 28–29, 2027

The Norwegian Institute in Rome

The myth relating to the origins of the Irish language is a fascinating part of medieval literature and a remarkably early example of learned engagement with the vernacular in Western Europe. Emerging around 700 CE, the origin story was actively developed and adapted for near a millennium until at least the end of the early modern period. Medieval discussions about the language’s origin were often tied to a wider grammatical examination of the language, actively relating to Roman grammarians such as Donatus, as well as the myths surrounding the origin of the Irish people, which drew on both biblical and classical traditions. In the early modern period, such discussions featured in the larger humanist discourse about the first language.

We invite contributions to a two-day workshop aimed at producing an anthology of texts on the mythical origins of the Irish language, from the early medieval to the early modern periods (c. 700–1700). The anthology will consist of text excerpts of roughly 2.500 words in the original, accompanied by an English translation and an introductory essay (c. 5.000 words), discussing its date, context, and place in the larger tradition.

Relevant texts should either give a description of the origins of the Irish language or alphabet, discuss the mythological figures who are involved in the making of the Irish language or ogham, or actively engage and discuss such sources. The source can be in any language. From the medieval period, relevant texts include Auraicept na nÉces, In Lebor Ogaim, and Liber Hymnorum. Relevant early modern texts include Roderick O’Flaherty’s Latin discussion of Irish letters in the Ogygia (1685), Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh’s Irish-language tract De scriptoribus Hibernicis (1656, edited by J. Carney in Celtica 1, pp. 86–103).

Each contribution should focus on one specific primary source. The workshop will allow all contributors to present their text, its contexts, and any issues relating to it (dating, difficulties of interpretation, etc.), followed by plenary discussions.

Those interested in contributing to the conference and anthology may send an abstract of no more than 250 words (excluding references) with a clear indication of the primary source in focus, as well as the presenter’s full name and professional affiliation by September 30, 2026. We welcome contributions by both established and early career scholars.

Abstracts can be submitted here: https://nettskjema.no/a/626459.

Any enquiries can be sent to Nicolai Egjar Engesland at negjarengesland@ucc.ie and Erlend Østrem Myklebust at erlend.myklebust@ifikk.uio.no.