11th C. Irish Persona

 In the SCA (Society of Creative Anachronisms) we develop a persona we play as.  Focusing and learning about who we are (or would have been) during a specific time and place really helps the history come alive.  You're looking at real people and how they lived their lives.  I decided to do a little write up of my persona and her life.  While I have been researching this time and place, I am always learning new things and do not consider this complete, just as accurate as I can with the information I've gleaned so far.  Our chosen time has limited records as invaders tried to wipe out the culture and destroy the records. 

11th Century Irish Persona

        I’m Muirenn inghean Uí Cléirigh, born in 990 in Connacht in what is now known as Ireland.  It is a beautiful place, with temperate northern climate, though the Romans count it too cold.  From my home I can see rolling hills covered in grasses for our cattle, craggy cliffs, patches of forests and streams beyond the lake that our crannog is on.  I was born in a neighboring clan to the south, and married Eoghan and we now have two children, Finn (named from the legendary Fionn Mac Cumhaill) and Onóra.  Eoghan inherited this family home and we work to keep it comfortable.  There are no large villages near us, but we have heard of the Viking settlement of  Baile Átha Cliath (“town of the hurdled ford”) from traders where the norse were recently driven out by Brian Boru at his death.  It used to be called Eblana (140 AD), and Dubh Linn (black pool) by the monks at the monastery built there.  But the Norse were not seen as often on our side of the island, at least not near our clan

Our daily routine is very seasonal, but always includes tending to the cattle, some sheep, quail, and dogs, and our little garden.  The calves come in the spring and we get milk from the cows.  Sometimes we will hunt for geese or ptarmigan or fish for the river salmon, and often we visit the hedges for blackberries, elderberries or sloe in season.  This is also where we would find most of our medicine. In the winter we have more time for making and mending clothing as well as music and games.  Finn is teaching us neftafl, a viking game that he learned from the traders.  We wear léine and brats, with shoes from our cattle’s hides.  I wear my hair braided with a headband.  I’ve heard of more prominent women wearing gold balls at the ends of their braids and torcs around their necks.  If I find time, I gather local pigments from ochres, woad, oak galls, buckthorn berries and cudbear lichen to sell to the monks at the monastery for their paints and inks.  While we are incredibly literate (all of our traditions and stories are oral), we value knowledge and I love the intricate, interwoven designs they create.  It reminds me of the way we weave bog reeds into baskets and hats.  

During this time, cattle are our main source of currency, though we see coins and jewelry from other lands from the traders.  Brehon law is in effect, but we mostly rely on our old ways.  My husband and I work together, both free, and women have a good amount of freedom.  We are inspired by the women of our stories, Brighid, the Morrighan, and even Maebh who went in battle against Cu Chulainn.  Our battles are usually smaller cattle raids today.  Our fighters wear flexible clothing and fight with axe and sling.  Our closest leader is Tag in Eich Gil, and we hear that Pope John XIX is leading the Christian Church, though we only hear of him at Cong Abbey where Saint Feichin built the church a few generations ago.  When I was young, Munster raiders burned that place down, but the High King of Ireland, Turlough More O’Connor refounded it. It’s currently being established as an Augustinian settlement.  

My goals in life would be to be able to feed our family well and see our children’s children.  And bask in every celebration such as hand fastings, seasonal festivals, and new births!