Courtney Selvage, (PhD Researcher)

My research is focused on early medieval Irish monasticism, hagiography, and folklore as well as early Irish law and its production, promulgation, and transmission within Ireland. Of particular interest is the development of medieval hagiography into folklore, and especially that relating to cults of saints in northwestern Ulster and the Hebrides, the cultural connection between Donegal and the Hebrides, and "Gaelic identity" in Ireland and Scotland. I am also interested in the political atmosphere of 6-9th century Ireland, Scotland, and Northumbria. Further interests include: representations of early Irish law within Irish hagiography and the Ulster Cycle, Irish Christianity in relation to the continent, holy wells and modern veneration of Irish saints, medieval insular perceptions of the sea/maritime and sea voyage literature (immrama), masculinity and femininity in early Irish and Welsh literature, modern Celtic language advocacy, and related side interests in Anglo-Saxon and Norse Studies. My most recent work has focused on Iona, the roles of Adomnán and Colum Cille in the development of early Irish Christianity, and the role of cáin-law within the native Irish tradition.