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Distributed for University of Wales Press

Charms, Charmers and Charming in Ireland

From the Medieval to the Modern

This collection surveys the rich tradition of ‘words of power’ – prayers and varieties of verbal magic, both spoken and written – together with associated rituals, in Ireland from the early Middle Ages until the present day. Presenting the work of a broad array of scholars and field researchers, it is the first book to cover the full range of the topic.

288 pages | 4 halftones, 1 illustration | 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 | © 2020

New Approaches to Celtic Religion and Mythology

History: British and Irish History

Literature and Literary Criticism: General Criticism and Critical Theory


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Reviews

"Charms, Charmers and Charming in Ireland introduces the reader to the range of medieval and modern Irish charms and illuminates the complex and changing cultural contexts in which such charms were employed and transmitted. Striking a good balance between earlier and later sources, this outstanding collection will be of value to readers interested in medieval Irish medicine and Irish folklore, as well as to readers with general interests in alternative approaches to health and healing."

Elizabeth Gray, Harvard University

"Connecting ancient and modern, textual and oral traditions, this collection of essays is a landmark publication in the field of Irish charm scholarship. For the first time, readers can access the richness of Irish charm materials insightfully interpreted and theorized by the very best scholars in the field."

James Kapaló, University College Cork

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations and Maps List of Tables Abbreviations Notes on Contributors Introduction 1. Jacqueline Borsje – European and American Scholarship and the Study of Medieval Irish ‘Magic’ (1846–1960) 2. John Carey – Charms in Medieval Irish Tales: Tra

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