Gone Medieval – A Complete History of Medieval Ireland

Podcast: Gone Medieval (History Hit)
Host: Dr. Eleanor Yannicka
Guest: James Hawes, historian and author of The Shortest History of Ireland
Release Date: March 27, 2026

Episode Overview

This engaging episode takes listeners on a sweeping journey through a thousand years of medieval Ireland. Host Dr. Eleanor Yannicka and guest historian James Hawes delve into the evolution of Irish society: from the arrival of St. Patrick, through the age of high kings, Viking invasions, and Norman conquest, to Ireland’s complex relationship with England by the end of the Middle Ages. Their discussion emphasizes the unique resilience and vibrancy of Gaelic culture, the central role of cattle, the intricacies of Irish law and kingship, and the enduring myth versus reality of Irish-English relations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Medieval Ireland: An Outlier in Europe

[03:19 – 11:13]

• Island Untouched by Rome:
  Ireland stands alone in Western Europe for not having been conquered by Rome. Unlike its neighbors, Ireland was never “reploughed” by Roman paganism or Christianity, nor traumatized by the Empire’s collapse—retaining undisturbed Bronze Age roots for over 3,000 years.

  “You have a country there entirely undestructed for 3,000 years... actually the wealthiest and safest country in Europe.” (James Hawes, 06:56)

• Cattle-Based Economy:
  Irish wealth and society have been organized around cattle since the Neolithic period.

  “The entire tribal wealth is cattle. This affects everything, notably the way of... warfare.” (James Hawes, 08:44)

  • Cattle raids were a central aspect of society and warfare.
  • The mobility of wealth (i.e., cattle could be moved to escape raiders) made Gaelic society more resistant to conquest than arable-farming societies.

• Unique Response to Climate and Plague:
  Ireland’s economy and geography insulated it from continent-wide disasters, further solidifying its stability and affluence.

2. Christianity and Irishness

[11:13 – 15:04]

• Christianity Adapts to Gaelic Customs:
  The arrival of St. Patrick introduced Christianity, but the faith was “augmented” rather than imposed; Irish Brehon Law and traditions were retained and merged with Christian principles.

  “They've assimilated Christian teaching without actually changing anything.” (James Hawes, 12:44)

• Distinct Church Structure:

  • Irish abbots (not bishops) led the church; abbots could be hereditary.
  • Irish Christian traditions often clashed with Rome’s expectations.

3. The Shape of Irish Kingdoms

[14:39 – 18:39]

• Early Provincial Divisions:
  The four (sometimes five) provinces—Ulster, Connacht, Munster, Leinster (and Meath)—take shape deep in prehistory, pre-dating the idea of the modern nation state.

  • Ancient north–south division (Lethcuin and Lethmorra) continually reappears in records.

  “The division of Ireland into north and south appears to have gone back to the Neolithic. It’s nothing to do with the Brits…” (James Hawes, 16:35)

• Contrast with Nation State Formation:
  Decentralization and the lack of a single capital made Ireland better able to survive external attacks compared to highly centralized neighbors.

4. The Vikings: Shock, Assimilation, Transformation

[20:07 – 26:04]

• Why the Vikings Came:
  Ireland’s wealth and lack of history of external attacks made it a ripe target.

  • Local warlords at first saw Vikings as useful allies for internal conflicts.

• Assimilation and the Second Wave:
  Vikings were initially expelled (by 902 AD), but a later wave returned, already partially Gaelicized, and founded Ireland’s major cities.

  • Southern Irish kings, like Brian Boru, assimilated these Viking groups, leveraging their economic networks and naval power.

  "For the first time now, the southern kings of Ireland have a way to generate actual money… and they have a navy." (James Hawes, 24:43)

5. Kingship: Rules, Blood, and Power

[26:04 – 29:33]

• Brehon Law Succession:
  Kingships were not hereditary in the modern sense—multiple claimants from a dynastic group could contest for power, often violently.

  • The office of High King (Árd Rí) was an extension of this selection system at a national level.

  "It’s a completely different conception of kingship… It’s a kind of medieval federalism." (James Hawes, 28:21)

• The Battle of Clontarf Demystified:
  Contrary to popular legend, the 1014 battle was not a unified Irish stand against Vikings, but a tangled, internecine conflict involving alliances across ethnic lines—including Brian Boru partnering with Vikings.

  “The legend of Brian Boru kicking the Vikings out is entirely cack handed...far from being kicked out, the Viking Sitric, the King of Dublin comes back and reigns for a further 26 years quite happily.” (James Hawes, 33:44)

6. The Normans & the Problem with "English" Invasion

[34:05 – 46:15]

• Norman, Not English, Invasions:
  The so-called "English" invasion post-1169 was orchestrated by French-speaking Cambro-Norman elites, not ‘English’ as we’d understand today.

  “The people who invaded Ireland were entirely French speaking... Henry II did not speak a word of English as far as we know.” (James Hawes, 34:46)

• Crusading, Papal Politics, & Climate:
  The invasion had religious (Papal bull “Laudabiliter” calling for Christianization), economic (fertile land due to the Medieval Warm Period), and crusading motives.

• Military Revolution:
  Normans brought armored cavalry and longbowmen, utterly new to the Irish, leading to early battlefield successes.

  “These guys have something completely new which the unarmored Irish foot soldiers just have no chance against.” (James Hawes, 41:34)

• Irish Resistance and Adaptation:
  Despite initial Norman victories, Irish kings (notably Rory O’Connor) were able to regroup and even win crucial battles, leading to a shifting settlement that briefly saw a divided rule—before King John’s direct rule reset the situation.

7. The Legal Fault Line: English (Norman) Law vs. Brehon Law

[46:15 – 54:20]

• John Lackland’s Lawfare:
  When military conquest did not subdue Ireland, John imposed “English law” (Norman common law) and criminalized the ancient Brehon law system.

  “From now on, all law in Ireland is English law. Irish law just does not count as law. Anyone who does not use English law is automatically an outlaw.” (James Hawes, 47:00)

• Linguistic and Cultural Assimilation:
  Despite official efforts, Norman settlers—still French-speaking and distinct from native English—were often absorbed into Irish society, adopting Irish customs, marrying locals, and sometimes “going native.”

  “From 1297 onwards…degenerate means the common English turning Irish. Nothing could be further away… from this fantasy of an ethno nationalist collision.” (James Hawes, 54:02)

• Statutes of Kilkenny (1366):
  Laws attempted (in French!) to prevent the assimilation of Norman/English settlers, forbidding marriages, adoption of Irish dress, music, even the playing of hurling.

  “They cannot play the gaming men call hurling... and the most mad thing about it, of course, it’s all in French.” (James Hawes, 54:48)

• Gaelic Revival:
  By 1380–1500, Gaelic culture was resurgent; even once loyal areas had largely abandoned English authority.

8. Ireland’s Role in Late Medieval Power Politics

[56:45 – 62:00]

• Independent Power and English Weakness:
  Throughout the Wars of the Roses and beyond, Ireland was not a minor player: it was populous and wealthy, half the size of England, and able to influence English politics—including providing direct military support for Yorkist invasions (1459, 1487).

  “Ireland is much bigger than Scotland and Wales. It’s much more powerful... it is a big, powerful country.” (James Hawes, 57:22)

• By 1500, Crown Rule Shrinks:
  By the end of the period, effective English royal authority was reduced to the “Pale” around Dublin (today’s commuter belt), surrounded by a fortified ditch. The rest of Ireland operated with virtual autonomy under local lords like the Earl of Kildare.

  “By now, the crown only controls essentially the greater Dublin commuter area of today, almost exactly.” (James Hawes, 61:24)

9. Final Reflections & The Reformation as Turning Point

[62:00–end]

• On the Brink of Change:
  At the close of the medieval era, Ireland had nearly expelled English influence—if not for the coming upheaval of the Reformation, its independent trajectory might have continued.

  “The comeback is almost complete. Oh, my God. And then we have the Reformation, but that’s another story, Right?” (James Hawes, 63:50)

• Pivot in English Policy:
  After centuries of focusing on France, the collapse of English interests on the continent in 1546 led to an intensified focus on Ireland—the archipelago would become the new focus for English statecraft.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Irish Continuity:

  “No one has disrupted Irish society since the Bronze Age, since the...repopulation by what we would now call Western European...This is a culture is now way over 3,000 years old and has never been disrupted by anybody except Christian missionaries.”
  (James Hawes, 05:34)

• On Ireland’s Resilience:

  “If you’ve got cattle...you can take those cattle away into the mountains or the bogs...you can survive to fight another day in a way which an arable farmer just cannot.”
  (James Hawes, 09:36)

• On Popular Myths:

  “[The] legend of Brian Boru kicking the Vikings out is entirely cack handed...the Viking Sitric, the King of Dublin comes back and reigns for a further 26 years quite happily.”
  (James Hawes, 33:44)

• On the 'English' in Ireland:

  "It means you cannot use the law, which you’ve been using for...4,000 years...without being automatically a criminal."
  (James Hawes, 49:45)
  "There is almost no record of ethnic English people in Ireland...they are of no social account as they are not in England. Still, that’s what we always forget..."
  (James Hawes, 51:25)

• On Law and Identity:

  “From 1297 onwards...degenerate means the common English turning Irish. Nothing could be further away...from this fantasy of an ethno nationalist collision here.”
  (James Hawes, 54:02)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:19] – St. Patrick and the birth of medieval Ireland
• [06:56] – Ireland’s unique post-Roman continuity and prosperity
• [08:44] – Cattle economy and societal resilience
• [11:40] – Christianization and cultural synthesis
• [16:35] – Deep-rooted provincial (north/south) divisions
• [20:42] – Vikings: from devastation to assimilation
• [24:43] – Brian Boru and political revolution
• [28:21] – High kingship and federal succession traditions
• [33:44] – Re-assessing the Battle of Clontarf
• [34:46] – The Cambro-Norman (not English!) conquest
• [41:34] – Military innovation and the Irish response
• [47:00] – King John and the legal imposition
• [54:48] – Statutes of Kilkenny and Irish cultural revival
• [61:24] – By 1500s, crown rule limited to “the Pale” around Dublin
• [63:50] – Pre-Reformation independence and looming transformation

Tone and Closing

The conversation balances scholarly rigor, myth-busting, and humor, often playfully dissecting national narratives. Dr. Yannicka and James Hawes stress the remarkable endurance of Irish culture and the persistent misreadings of history—particularly the myth that Ireland was simply a victim of relentless English oppression. Instead, the story of medieval Ireland is one of complexity, resilience, and adaptability.

"You have a very powerful small country only half the size of England, which is constantly interfering in England and actually invading it twice in the late 18th century."
(James Hawes, 60:46)

For a deeper dive:

• The Shortest History of Ireland by James Hawes
• Statutes of Kilkenny
• The Annals of the Four Masters

End of Summary