The book offers a comprehensive overview of forms of modern Irish within a general linguistic framework. Starting with information on the sociolinguistics of modern Irish and on the overall sound system of the language, it then proceeds with a tripartite division of the present-day language into northern, western and southern Irish. It gives specific information on the features of each dialect and considers many sub-divisions, using maps and tables to illustrate clearly what is the subject of discussion. There are several innovations in the book, such as a system of lexical sets which facilitate the description and analysis of variation and change in modern Irish. The data for the book stems from recordings of more than 200 speakers and all the statements made about the structure of Irish are based on native speakers' speech samples. These are supplied online with a software interface which allows users to quickly orient themselves among the varieties of Irish via clickable maps. A number of further issues are focused on in the book, such as the possibility of dialect reconstruction and the use of place-name evidence for determining the earlier distribution of Irish. Additional historical and background information is provided so that scholars and students without any previous knowledge of the language can readily grasp the themes and issues discussed.

The aim of this investigation is to reconsider the cultural confrontation between England and Ireland from a new methodological perspective, and to trace how this confrontation resulted in a particular notion, literary as well as political, of Irish nationality.

Patrick Sims-Williams provides an approach to some of the issues surrounding Irish literary influence on Wales, situating them in the context of the rest of medieval literature and international folklore.

Eigse is devoted to the cultivation of a wide range of research in the field of Irish language and literature. Many hitherto unpublished texts in prose and verse ranging from Old Irish down to the modern language and including items from oral narration have appeared in its pages. It regularly includes important contributions on grammar, lexicography, palaeography, metrics, and the history of the Irish language, as well as on a wide variety of Irish literary topics. There is a special emphasis on all aspects of the study of the language and literature of Modern Irish.

This title, by John Saward, explores foolishness and fools in Catholic and Orthodox spirituality.