Irish Folklore Weekend
November 3rd - 4th 2007

The first ever RVIA Folklore Weekend was a wonderful opportunity for people to meet and learn about Irish folklore and mythology.  We were delighted to welcome Dr. Noelle Higgins from Dublin City University and Eithne Ní Ghallchobhair (her second visit) from the Royal Irish Academy.  Renown in the fields of mythology and Irish language studies, they presented a series of lectures at the Hotel Schwarzwälder Hof, Herrenstrasse 43, 79098 Freiburg, Germany.

The presentations from the weekend are available for you to download (MS PowerPoint):  Brehon Law  Cyclops  Goll Mac Morna

Programme:
Saturday 3rd November.

Lecture one 'Goll mac Morna - The Real Hero of the Fianna'
Presented by Dr. Noelle Higgins at 10am  
This lecture will focus on the character of Goll mac Morna, the Connacht hero of the Fiannaíocht cycle.  Noelle will analyse the background and development of this illustrious character in Irish literature and mythology.  We will also discuss how the portrayal of this character as the enemy of Fionn mac Cumhaill illustrates a level of 'provincialism' among the writers of Fiannaíocht literature and the tellers of Fiannaíocht stories.

Lecture two 'Oral literature from the Fiannaíócht tradition'
Presented by Dr. Eithne Ní Ghallchobhair at 11.20 am
Oral literature from the Fiannaíócht tradition in South-West Donegal with evidence from the school's folklore collection          

12h30 Lunch

Lecture three 'The Cyclops in Irish Literature and Folklore'
Presented by Dr. Noelle Higgins at 6pm
This lecture will outline the character of the Cyclops in Indo-European mythology and will discuss how the Cyclops is represented in Irish literature and mythology.  The role of the Cyclops in literature and folklore will also be examined.  Particular focus will be on the character of Goll mac Morna to whom the qualities of the Cyclops were attributed.

20h30 Dinner at O'Kellys Irish Pub, Milchstrasse 1, Freiburg.

Sunday 4th November
Lecture four 'The Brehon Laws - Regulating Early Irish Society'
Presented by Dr Noelle Higgins at 10am
This lecture will discuss the Brehon Laws, the rules that regulated Early Irish society.  The nature and characteristics of these laws will be discussed, with particular attention being paid to the rules regulating the waging of war.

12h30 Lunch at O'Kellys Irish Pub, Freiburg and farewell