Ireland The Invention of Tradition - 1063 Words

In order to legitimise a regime or cause, traditions may be constructed around historical or mythological events, people or symbols that reinforce the image required to focus people’s conception of the past. People can be encouraged to invent a cohesive view of their shared ‘traditions’ by what could be called cherry picking bits of history. The ancient mythology of Ireland is one of its’ greatest assets. The glorious, poetic tales of battles, super humans, demigods and heroes ranks among the best of ancient literature. The book of the Dun Cow, (Lebor na huidre), was written around 1100 and contains stories from the eighth and ninth centuries. The Book of Invasions, (Lebor Gabala), tells how the mythical ancestors of the Irish, the†¦show more content†¦They caused an upsurge in Irish art in modern times by artists such as Jim Fitzpatrick who updated the ancient images to become modern and fashionable. This further embedded the tales in the con sciousness of the Irish people. The mythology of Ireland is also secular. Whereas many of the sweeping sagas of antiquity have religious connotations the Irish cycles cut across the religious divide of Catholic and Protestant and could be appreciated by both denominations. The texts not only illustrate the antiquity of the Irish but also their literacy and artistry. Their content emphasises their heroic nature. These are all of great significance to the Nationalistic movement and the many modern works of art they inspired are of importance not only to the Irish but also to their international reputation. The ancient tales of Ireland were written in the original language of Gaelic. The native language of any people is one of their defining characteristics. The antiquity of Gaelic can be authenticated by manuscripts written as far back as the Wà ¼zberg Codex of A.D. 700 and possibly even back to the sixth century, although modern Gaelic is probably from around the thirteen hundreds. The imposition a foreign tongue on a conquered people is a sign of oppression obvious as soon as anyone speaks. The English attempted to sublimate Gaelic and the use of it declined sharply from the seventeenth century. The English suppression ofShow MoreRelatedTypography And The Printing Press1438 Words   |  6 PagesAlthough the use of typography became drastically more popular during the invention of the printing press in the mid-fifteenth century, the use of typography goes beyond this period in history. Before the invention of the concept of typography, writing was already a popular form of visual communication, the history of which dates to the use of hieroglyphs or pictograms in ancient times (Siebert). Per John Siebert, before the invention of the printing press which revolutionized the practice of typographyRead MoreIreland Tradition and Dissent2112 Words   |  9 PagesHumanities: Tradition and Dissent TMA03 - Option 1 Ireland: the Invention of Tradition How useful are the concepts of â€Å"tradition† and â€Å"dissent† in understanding attitudes to the built heritage of Ireland? The two concepts of â€Å"tradition† and â€Å"dissent† are extremely useful in understanding the built heritage of Ireland. To understand the differing attitudes to the built heritage of Ireland is to contemplate the historical accounts, stories and legends that fabricate traditions and incite dissentRead MoreBenedict Anderson’S Book Is One Of The Most Cited And In1184 Words   |  5 Pagesimagined communities. However, why does the nationalism occurred in the first place and why is a nation imagined community? Anderson sees the main causes of nationalism in three different historical events or periods. 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