Literary Cross-Pollination in 14th C. Ireland

The life and poetry of Gearóid Mc Gearalit, also known as Gearóid Iarla, Garret FitzGerald, or Gerald fitz Maurice FitzGerald (1338-1398), 3rd Earl of Desmond, offers a unique insight into literary influences in Ireland in the fourteenth century and the contradictory positioning of women as subjects by medieval authors. This essay will use one of Gerald's poems which has been translated to English,[1] Woe to Him Who Slanders Women (Mairg Adeir Olc Ris Na Mn√°ibh), to demonstrate the influence of Continental literary arguments in Ireland, and in particular in Gerald's work. While multiple theories exist on potential literary influences and their significance/impact on literature in the Irish language, this paper will proceed with looking only at how continental literature on the defense of women was used by Gerald FitzGerald.[2] Gerald's uniqueness lies in the variety of continental source material he drew upon in his writing, which ranged from the often-documented French courtly love tradition to the continental defense of women. [1] Most Gerald's poems remain as of yet translated. This poem can be found in: Deane, Seamus, et al. The Field Day Anthology of Irish Writing. Field Day Publications, 1991. Vol. 4, p. 324-5. [2] For a detailed summary of literary trends in Ireland over this period, see: Cosgrove, Art. A New History of Ireland Medieval Ireland, 1169-1534. Oxford University Press, 2008. Chapters twenty-five "Literature in Irish, 1169-1534" and twenty-six "Literature in Norman French and English to 1534" are of particular value.