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Email academic.registry@tcd.ieThe MPhil in Medieval Irish aims to give you the knowledge of language, literature, metrics and palaeography you need to edit and translate a medieval Irish text from the original manuscripts.
Students focus either on the Early Irish period (600–1200) or the Classical Modern Irish period (1200–1650). It is not possible to take a combination of Early Irish and Classical Modern Irish modules.
Modules in Classical Modern Irish are offered every year. Modules in Early Irish are offered in alternate years with the Diploma in Old Irish: MPhil modules in Early Irish will next be available in 2026/27.
Are you fascinated by the Irish language and how it has evolved over time? Are you curious to discover more about Early Irish saga or Bardic poetry? Would you like to know how to read an Irish manuscript with confidence and translate its contents? Do you want to make a contribution to our understanding of Medieval Ireland, its language and literature? If so, this course could be for you. Contact us to find out more.
This course prepares students to undertake independent research in an area of Medieval Irish. It may also be of interest to librarians, archivists and others who work with or have a passion for older Irish-language material.
The taught portion of the course extends over two semesters and consists of six contact hours per week.
For students concentrating on Early Irish, the following modules are offered:
• Early Irish prose A (1 hour)
• Early Irish prose B (1 hour)
• Early Irish poetry (1 hour)
• Early Irish law (1 hour)
• Historical linguistics (1 hour)
• Middle Irish language (1 hour)
For students concentrating on Classical Modern Irish, the following modules are offered:
• Palaeography (1 hour)
• Metrics (1 hour)
• Language (1 hour)
• Linguistic tracts (1 hour)
• Editing from manuscript (1 hour)
• Encountering the text (1 hour)
In addition, students undertake a dissertation of c. 20,000 words, written with the assistance of a supervisor, after the conclusion of the teaching term. The dissertation will normally consist of an edition and translation of a text from manuscript, though literary and historical studies are encouraged also.
Details of what modules will be offered in a given year will be available on the website of the Department of Irish in advance (https://www.tcd.ie/Irish/postgraduate/index.php).
Dr. Mícheál Hoyne, Department of Irish and Celtic Languages, introduces the M.Phil. in Medieval Irish at Trinity College Dublin.
September 2025
Dr Mícheál Hoyne
Dr Mícheál Hoyne
30 June 2025
All lectures will be conducted in English. Applicants for the MPhil must have a good Honours degree (2.1 or higher) in Irish or a cognate subject (e.g. History, Archaeology, Linguistics). To study Early Irish on the MPhil in Medieval Irish, a solid grounding in Old Irish is essential, as demonstrated by achieving 50% or higher in the Diploma in Old Irish or an equivalent qualification. To study Classical Modern Irish on the MPhil in Medieval Irish, a solid working knowledge of Modern Irish is essential.
All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language. Applicants to this course are required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements. For more details of qualifications that meet Band B, see the English Language Requirements page here.
Click here for a full list of postgraduate fees.
To apply, click on the relevant Apply Link below
+353 1 896 1450
mhoyne@tcd.ie
Register your interest in studying at Ireland’s leading university, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin.
