The Rule of the grey monks
a collage of early medieval Irish monastic poetry
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25145/j.cemyr.2026.34.20Keywords:
Ireland, old and middle Irish, poetry, rule, monasticism, spiritualityAbstract
Unlike other Irish «metrical rules» (spiritual poems of a parenetic nature entitled Ríagul or Ríagail, composed in the 9th century), the one known as the Rule of the Grey Monks (Ríagail na Manach líath) has been identified by Liam Breatnach (2020) as a late medieval fabrication: a compilation of loose stanzas by the scribe of the only manuscript witness (Uilliam mac an Leagha, fl. 1460). Although the compilation is late, its components are early products and reveal interesting aspects of the spirituality and beliefs of the Irish Church in the pre-Norman period. Moreover, their selection and arrangement suggest Mac an Leagha’s intention to create a «rule» that would give voice to the collective wisdom of the monastic elders of his homeland. This article consists of a comprehensive introductory study, a diplomatic transcription, reconstructed text and a Spanish translation of each stanza, linguistic and translation endnotes, and conclusions.
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