James MacKillop: Myths and Legends of the Celts

[Nuadu]

Im all questions Im sorry if Im annoying people. Heres another question anyway :)

The book (Myths and legends of the celts) is on various Celtic Reconstructionalist recommended reading lists so I picked it up a little while ago and Ive just finished a second confusing read. It left me with more questions then answers. The major one is what point is James MacKillop trying to make in his book Myths and Legends of the Celts?

I think I find it confusing because it isnt written from the native perspective and it isnt what I expected. Irish Authors usually convey a sense that they have great pride in the subject and that the books are published from a sense of duty to our ancestral heritage. They usually publish things with the purpose of enritching or advancing our culture and that is the clearly stated point. James doesnt write like that he seems to be writing more like the romantacist travel journals in that he is presenting interesting and maybe previously unheard of facts rather then pulling them together to make a statement.

Are the little tidbits the real value of the book?

[darkwhispersdale]

I must have read the book differently to you I found the book fascinating and much more lively read than some other books I've read (Anam Cara was one that annoyed me). I came away with new ideas and ways to approach irish mythology and history after this book.

[Nuadu]

Thanks for replying DarkwhispersDale :)
I havent read Anam Cara why did it annoy you?

Im not saying Myths and legends of the Celts wasnt a good book just that I dont understand it and that worries me because its on alot of Celtic Reconstructionalist recommended reading lists :weirdsmil I think I might be missing out.

James MacKillop generally seems to have done good research and he quotes from both Native Irish, European and North American authors. As a recommended reading list it is good and because it skims the surface on most popular irish culture it could be valuable if you want to research things yourself. Did you like it because it gives you topics and sources to research?

[Faol-chù]

I'm curious to know what books YOU would recommend regarding Irish mythology...:boing:

Tapadh leat....

[Nuadu]

Thanks for replying Faol-chù. Have you read James MacKillops book? What did you think?

For studying mythology I can recommend two good books. Both the books are in James MacKillops select bibliography in Myths and Legends but the points I think are most important in both books arent emphasised by James.

First Id recommend that people read the history of the major myths and the irish literary traditions.

Id recommend the Irish Tradition by Robin Flower. It explains The composition of the book of invasions and other major myths from the Mythological cycle. Its not a book about Mythology its a collection of lectures from Dr Flowers career published posthumously but since the myth is so well known and so misleading and the book is *cheap* but insightfull its worth a read.

Second Id recommend studying the history that influenced the myths.

For that you wont find better then Kings and High Kings by F.J. Byrne. Its a book on early Irish history focusing on the Dynastic septs and how our society influenced our mythology especially the Historical Cycle of myths.

[darkwhispersdale]

Thanks for replying DarkwhispersDale :)
I havent read Anam Cara why did it annoy you?

Did you like it because it gives you topics and sources to research?


That is why I liked it I love to research (old habit left from uni) and quite often I skip a book's contents and go straight to the references and read them before I look at the book itself. A strange way of doing it but it helps my understanding :-)
I'll have to find the books and give it another read.

Anam Cara (Spiritual Wisdom from the Celtic World) by John O'Donohue appears at first glance to be a book about irish beliefs (past and present) but quickly turns into the author's own personal beliefs. While thats ok what I don't like is the author's habit of saying the Celts believed this, the Celts did that, etc. There are no references for me to check up with just a small further reading section that leaves alot to be desired.
The only thing about it I liked was the poetry scattered throughout the chapters.

[Faol-chù]

Thanks for replying Faol-chù. Have you read James MacKillops book? What did you think?

Honestly, it's been so long ago that I was reading the old recorded mythologies....and I read so many different ones of them, I really can't remember whether or not MacKillop was one of those.

For the last several years, I've spent most of the time I've had studying relatively recently recounted folklore in Scottish Gaelic...along with the language.




For studying mythology I can recommend two good books. Both the books are in James MacKillops select bibliography in Myths and Legends but the points I think are most important in both books arent emphasised by James.

First Id recommend that people read the history of the major myths and the irish literary traditions.

Id recommend the Irish Tradition by Robin Flower. It explains The composition of the book of invasions and other major myths from the Mythological cycle. Its not a book about Mythology its a collection of lectures from Dr Flowers career published posthumously but since the myth is so well known and so misleading and the book is *cheap* but insightfull its worth a read.

Second Id recommend studying the history that influenced the myths.

For that you wont find better then Kings and High Kings by F.J. Byrne. Its a book on early Irish history focusing on the Dynastic septs and how our society influenced our mythology especially the Historical Cycle of myths.

Thanks for your recommendations...I'll have to check those out...

I'll toss in here with it (since you've suggested studying how society influenced mythology)...a recommendation for The Church in Early Irish Society by Kathleen Hughes.
As I recall, though it dealt with Christianity, it was very telling, in that the Christianity that existed in Ireland until the Synod of Whitby in the 600's drew nearly entirely on native impulses. It was really an eye-opener!

Thanks again,

Le durachd...

[odubhain]

I think I find it confusing because it isnt written from the native perspective and it isnt what I expected. Irish Authors usually convey a sense that they have great pride in the subject and that the books are published from a sense of duty to our ancestral heritage. They usually publish things with the purpose of enritching or advancing our culture and that is the clearly stated point. James doesnt write like that he seems to be writing more like the romantacist travel journals in that he is presenting interesting and maybe previously unheard of facts rather then pulling them together to make a statement.



MacKillop is an American author writing out of Syracuse, NY. He is publishing more as an academic than as an Irish or Celtic author. I think he is intentionally distancing himself from the traditions in an attempt to be objective.

I've read the authors and their books that you've suggested in another reply and they are a good start toward understanding the Irish traditions. I'd add Proinsias MacCana to the list.

Searles O'Dubhain