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Revision as of 12:00, 14 March 2005 by 193.120.102.167 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)T F O'Rahilly (Early Irish History and Mythology) believes that everything in these lists prior to the time of Niall of the Nine Hostages is fiction. A few of the people named (eg Tuathal Techtmar and Mug Nuadat) may have been historical characters, but even they have been misplaced and provided with bowdlerized reigns.
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Don't place too much faith in O'Rahilly. I still think he's a wonderful writer, but much of his theorys can be challenged. Our job here is simply to transmit the material in the most even-handed manner possible.
For my own part, I am more than willing to believe that many of those listed are fiction, but I would also argue that there are a great many grains of truth within them.
Plus, you have to admit it's pretty cool to have regenal lists going back so far for such a small little island out in the Atlantic! AND they are more extensive than those in Britain! Ha!
If I might suggest a few other sources ... the Annals of the Four Masters, MacFhirbhisigh's wonderful book of genealogies, Francis J. Byrne's "Irish Kings and High Kings", and Bart Janski's book on Irish Kingship.
What source do those dates come from? adamsan 20:32, 13 Feb 2005 (UTC)
I think they're from the Annals of the Four Masters. Different sources give different reign-lengths, so they'll be approximate.--Nicknack009 01:32, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)
- Oh sure, I'm not taking them seriously. Fascinating stuff though. I'm going to slightly rewrite the first sentence as I think it's missing a noun. adamsan 20:12, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)
- I'm going through creating pages for all the High Kings, and noting the different versions of their reign-lengths. When they're all done we should be able to figure out a margin for error. --Nicknack009 22:28, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Everybody: Would anyone agree with placing the dates of the reigns in their original manner, that is A.M. rather than B.C.? We could place the necessary tranitional dates at opportune points. Please let me know what you think. Fergananim
I'd rather not, at least for now. The Four Masters chronology differs from Ceitinn's chronology, and probably the Lebor Gabala Chronology as well. I'm trying to put together a composite chronology based on all sources which would give a margin for error for the dates. --Nicknack009 07:30, 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)
Fair enough. Was it yourself that filled in all those previously inactive names? Brilliant stuff! Fergananim
Aye, 'twas. It's given me an excuse to read Keating all the way through. I've read to the end of Book 1 and got to Laegaire , so pretty soon I'll be in the realms of real history. I dunno, I find legend and semi-history much more fun. --Nicknack009 10:22, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)
Me too. That's why I spend so much time trying to figure out who was who and when in my own little corner of Ireland. Check out a list of my stuff and see what you think; comments, critisism and advice always welcome. Fergananim