Irish Kings and High-kings

In this classic text, Francis Byrne explores the nature of the traditional Five Fifths of Ireland, the mythology of Tara, early monasticism and the growth of the high-kingship. He uses ancient annals and genealogies to ellucidate Irish legend and saga and through this he reconstructs both secular and ecclesiatical history and politics from the 5th to 9th century. This new edition includes an essay on the emergence of Irish surnames and additional notes and corrigenda to the first edition.