The Triads of Ireland – An Old Irish Wisdom Text

This wisdom text – mainly in triad form – provides a lively and original view of ninth-century Irish society. The identity of the principal author is unknown, but it is likely that he was a cleric – he was certainly a person well acquainted with the Irish monastic system and with the locations and characteristics of the main monasteries.

He also exhibits an intimate knowledge of secular life, and of the interaction between people of different age, sex, class and personality type. He displays a subtle feeling for nature in a number of his triads, and sometimes uses his observations of natural phenomena to illustrate aspects of human behaviour. In addition, his legal triads are concerned with a wide range of issues relating to Early Irish or ‘Brehon’ law.