Cattle Lords and Clansmen

Here, Nerys Patterson analyses the social structure of medieval Ireland, focusing on the pre-Norman period. By combining difficult, often fragmentary primary sources, with sociological and anthropological methods, she produces a unusual approach to the study of early Ireland.

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In Cattle Lords and Clansmen, Nerys Patterson provides an analysis of the social structure of medieval Ireland, focusing on the pre-Norman period. By combining difficult, often fragmentary primary sources with sociological and anthropological methods, Patterson produces a unique approach to the study of early Ireland—one that challenges previous scholarship. The second edition includes a chapter on seasonal rhythm, material derived from Patterson’s post-1991 publications, and an updated bibliography.