Ireland did not have dukes and princes created by emperors or kings in the manner of other European kingdoms in the medieval and early modern ages. There were a few dukedoms (Ormond, Leinster, Abercorn), but these were all created for Anglo-Irish families who had emigrated to the Emerald Isle at some point after its conquestContinue reading “The MacCarthys—Irish kings to princes … to dukes?”
Category Archives: Ireland
The Princes of the Isles: From Viking Warlords to the Great Clan MacDonald
I’ve been watching ‘Vikings’ on television again this summer, and always find it fascinating to see how Norwegian and Danish seafaring culture impacted the culture of the British Isles in the early medieval period. But this series, or the series ‘The Last Kingdom’, focuses almost entirely on the eastern and southern realms of Anglo-Saxon England:Continue reading “The Princes of the Isles: From Viking Warlords to the Great Clan MacDonald”
Schönburg, Schönberg, Schomberg: Beautiful Princes from Dresden to Dublin
If a beautiful fortress in French-speaking lands gave its name to a dynasty or two of dukes and princes (‘Beaufort’), then attractive castles in German-speaking lands can too. There are certainly a number of castles in Germany and Austria named schön burg, or the similar yet different schön berg, referring to a mountain, not aContinue reading “Schönburg, Schönberg, Schomberg: Beautiful Princes from Dresden to Dublin”
An Ulster Circuit: O’Neill princes and Abercorn dukes
Travelling in Britain and Ireland can be quite damp. While there are certainly moments of glorious sunshine, any traveller should also be prepared for days and days of drizzle, grey skies, and mud. Yet this can be a bonus for viewing historical monuments, adding drama and mystery to the landscape. Northern Ireland is one placeContinue reading “An Ulster Circuit: O’Neill princes and Abercorn dukes”
Leinster Dukes and Princes: An Irish Driving Tour
In September 2014, I attended a wedding of a dear friend in the south-east corner of Ireland, near Kilkenny. The wedding was hosted in a gorgeous country house called Borris. I knew nothing about this house with an odd-sounding name, but in the evening before the wedding, after the rehearsal dinner, I chatted with theContinue reading “Leinster Dukes and Princes: An Irish Driving Tour”
Dukes and Princes 