Program Overview

Overview of the MPhil in Medieval Irish

The MPhil in Medieval Irish is a postgraduate program that aims to provide students with the knowledge of language, literature, metrics, and palaeography necessary to edit and translate a medieval Irish text from the original manuscripts. Students can focus on either the Early Irish period (600–1200) or the Classical Modern Irish period (1200–1650).

Course Details

• Awards: NFQ Level 9
• Number of Places: 20 Places
• Next Intake: September 2025
• Course Coordinator: Dr. Mícheál Hoyne
• Course Director: Dr. Mícheál Hoyne
• Closing Date: 30 June 2025

Admission Requirements

• Applicants must have a good Honours degree (2.1 or higher) in Irish or a cognate subject (e.g., History, Archaeology, Linguistics).
• To study Early Irish, a solid grounding in Old Irish is essential, as demonstrated by achieving 50% or higher in the Diploma in Old Irish or an equivalent qualification.
• To study Classical Modern Irish, a solid working knowledge of Modern Irish is essential.
• All lectures will be conducted in English.
• Applicants are required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements.

Course Content

The taught portion of the course extends over two semesters and consists of six contact hours per week. For students concentrating on:

• Early Irish: Modules include Early Irish prose A and B, Early Irish poetry, Early Irish law, Historical linguistics, and Middle Irish language.
• Classical Modern Irish: Modules include Palaeography, Metrics, Language, Linguistic tracts, Editing from manuscript, and Encountering the text. In addition, students undertake a dissertation of c. 20,000 words, written with the assistance of a supervisor, after the conclusion of the teaching term.

Career Opportunities

This course prepares students to undertake independent research in an area of Medieval Irish. It may also be of interest to librarians, archivists, and others who work with or have a passion for older Irish-language material.

Course Fees

For a full list of postgraduate fees, please refer to the relevant section of the university's website.

Is This Course For Me?

The MPhil in Medieval Irish is suitable for those fascinated by the Irish language and its evolution over time, particularly those interested in Early Irish saga or Bardic poetry, and who wish to learn how to read an Irish manuscript with confidence and translate its contents. It is also for those who want to make a contribution to our understanding of Medieval Ireland, its language, and literature.