Dr Deborah Hayden

Early Irish (Sean-Ghaeilge)

Gaeilge agus fáilte

Lecturer

Arts Building
Room 23
(01) 7083711

Biography



I completed a BA in Liberal Arts, with a double major in French and Latin, at Wellesley College and the Université de Provence Aix-Marseille I before taking a second undergraduate degree in Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic at the University of Cambridge, followed by an MPhil (2006) and PhD (2010) in the same department. I subsequently carried out postdoctoral work at Christ Church, University of Oxford (Junior Research Fellow, 2011-2013) and the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (O’Donovan Scholar, 2013-2015). In 2016 I earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Modern Irish Translation (Dioplóma Iarchéime san Aistriúchán) from Coláiste na hÉireann/Gaelchultúr. I was appointed to a lectureship in the Department of Early Irish at Maynooth in 2015.                         

Research Interests



My main research interests centre on medieval Irish, Latin and Welsh language, literature and textual culture, in particular the history of linguistic thought and education in classical and medieval tradition, early Irish medical manuscripts and medieval Irish and Welsh law. I am currently working on editions and translations of two medieval Irish texts: one a tract on literary analysis and rhetorical doctrine, and the other a discussion of practical medical matters.

From September 2018 – August 2020 I will be Principal Investigator for the project Medieval Irish medicine in its north-western European context: a case study of two unpublished texts (MIMNEC), funded by a Laureate Award from the Irish Research Council. MIMNEC aims at making progress in the study of medieval Irish medical writing through a close examination of two texts, one a tract on human anatomy and disease, and the other a compendium of mostly herbal recipes for various ailments. Both texts provide a wealth of lexicographical information for the history of the Gaelic languages, and shed light on medieval Irish networks of learning and intellectual exchange. They also contain other intriguing features, however, such as allusions to early Irish mythological narratives, charms and versified medical recipes, that attest to a complex and dynamic relationship between inherited classical medical learning and medieval Ireland’s diverse and vibrant vernacular literary tradition. The project will take both a cross-disciplinary and a cross-linguistic approach to these and other Irish medical sources: considering, for example, their relationship to other contemporary genres of Irish-language technical or didactic writing, as well as to the extant medical texts of neighbouring regions, such as medieval Wales and Anglo-Saxon England.

Edited Books

  Year Publication
2016 Grammatica, Gramadach and Gramadeg: Vernacular Grammar and Grammarians in Medieval Ireland and Wales. Studies in the History of the Language Sciences 125
Deborah Hayden and Paul Russell (Ed.). (2016) Grammatica, Gramadach and Gramadeg: Vernacular Grammar and Grammarians in Medieval Ireland and Wales. Studies in the History of the Language Sciences 125 Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins. [Details]
2014 Authorities and Adaptations: The Reworking and Transmission of Textual Sources in Medieval Ireland
Elizabeth Boyle and Deborah Hayden (Ed.). (2014) Authorities and Adaptations: The Reworking and Transmission of Textual Sources in Medieval Ireland Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
2018 'Attribution and Authority in a Medieval Irish Medical Compendium'
Deborah Hayden (2018) 'Attribution and Authority in a Medieval Irish Medical Compendium'. Studia Hibernica, [Details]
2017 'A Medieval Irish Commentary on the Magister'
Deborah Hayden (2017) 'A Medieval Irish Commentary on the Magister'. Celtica, 29 :90-108 [Details]
2014 'On the Meaning of Two Medieval Irish Medical Terms: derg dásachtach and rúad (fh)rasach'
Deborah Hayden (2014) 'On the Meaning of Two Medieval Irish Medical Terms: derg dásachtach and rúad (fh)rasach'. ÉRIU, 64 :1-21 [Details]
2011 'Poetic Law and the Medieval Irish Linguist: Contextualising the Vices and Virtues of Verse Composition in Auraicept na nÉces'
Deborah Hayden (2011) 'Poetic Law and the Medieval Irish Linguist: Contextualising the Vices and Virtues of Verse Composition in Auraicept na nÉces'. Language and History, 54 (1):1-34 [IR Link] [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
2019 'Auraicept na nÉces and the Study of Language in the Book of Uí Mhaine: Textual Transmission and Scribal Context'
Deborah Hayden (2019) 'Auraicept na nÉces and the Study of Language in the Book of Uí Mhaine: Textual Transmission and Scribal Context' In: Elizabeth Boyle and Ruairí Ó hUiginn (eds). The Book of Uí Mhaine/Leabhar Uí Mhaine. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. [Details]
2018 'The Book of Ballymote and the Grammar of Irish'
Deborah Hayden (2018) 'The Book of Ballymote and the Grammar of Irish' In: Ruairí Ó hUiginn (eds). The Book of Ballymote/Leabhar Bhaile an Mhóta. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. [Details]
2017 'A Medieval Irish Dialogue between Priscian and Donatus on the Categories of Questions'
Deborah Hayden (2017) 'A Medieval Irish Dialogue between Priscian and Donatus on the Categories of Questions' In: Gordon Ó Riain (eds). Dá dTrian Feasa Fiafraighidh: Essays on the Irish Grammatical and Metrical Tradition. Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. [Details]
2016 'Observations on the 'Doors of Death' in a Medieval Irish Medical Catechism''
Deborah Hayden (2016) 'Observations on the 'Doors of Death' in a Medieval Irish Medical Catechism'' In: Liam P. Ó Murchú (eds). Rosa Anglica: Reassessments. London: Irish Texts Society Subsidiary Series 28. [Details]
2016 'Editors' Introduction'
Deborah Hayden and Paul Russell (2016) 'Editors' Introduction' In: Grammatica, Gramadach and Gramadeg: Vernacular Grammar and Grammarians in Medieval Ireland and Wales. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins. [Details]
2016 'Cryptography and the Alphabet in the 'Book of Ádhamh Ó Cianáin''
Deborah Hayden (2016) 'Cryptography and the Alphabet in the 'Book of Ádhamh Ó Cianáin'' In: Grammatica, Gramadach and Gramadeg: Vernacular Grammar and Grammarians in Medieval Ireland and Wales. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins. [Details]
2014 'Anatomical Metaphor in Auraicept na nÉces'
Deborah Hayden (2014) 'Anatomical Metaphor in Auraicept na nÉces' In: Authorities and Adaptations: The Reworking and Transmission of Textual Sources in Medieval Ireland. Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. [Details]
2014 'Introduction: Authority and Adaptation in Medieval Ireland'
Elizabeth Boyle and Deborah Hayden (2014) 'Introduction: Authority and Adaptation in Medieval Ireland' In: Authorities and Adaptations: The Reworking and Transmission of Textual Sources in Medieval Ireland. Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. [Details]
2013 'Two Fragments of Auraicept na nÉces in the Irish Franciscan Archive: Context and Content'
Deborah Hayden (2013) 'Two Fragments of Auraicept na nÉces in the Irish Franciscan Archive: Context and Content' In: Celts and their Cultures at Home and Abroad: A Festschrift for Malcolm Broun. Sydney: Sydney Series in Celtic Studies 15. [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
2014 Some Notes on the Transmission of Auraicept na nÉces
Deborah Hayden (2014) Some Notes on the Transmission of Auraicept na nÉces Proceedings of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium 32 , pp.134-179 [IR Link] [Details]

Electronic Publication

  Year Publication
2017 Language and Linguistics in Medieval Europe (Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Linguistics).
Deborah Hayden (2017) Language and Linguistics in Medieval Europe (Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Linguistics). Electronic Publication [Details]
2017 Yellow Book of Lecan - Catalogue Entry for cols. 401–36 and 500–72.
Deborah Hayden (2017) Yellow Book of Lecan - Catalogue Entry for cols. 401–36 and 500–72. Electronic Publication [Details]

Book Review

  Year Publication
2018 Grammatical Works Attributed to Peter of Pisa, Charlemagne's Tutor.
Elke Krotz and Michael M. Gorman (eds) (2018) Grammatical Works Attributed to Peter of Pisa, Charlemagne's Tutor. Book Review [Details]
2017 The Art of Bardic Poetry: Irish Grammatical Tracts I.
Eoin Mac Cárthaigh (2017) The Art of Bardic Poetry: Irish Grammatical Tracts I. Book Review [Details]
2017 Literacy and Identity in Early Medieval Ireland.
Elva Johnston (2017) Literacy and Identity in Early Medieval Ireland. Book Review [Details]
2016 In Dialogue with the Agallamh. Essays in Honour of Seán Ó Coileáin.
Aidan Doyle and Kevin Murray (2016) In Dialogue with the Agallamh. Essays in Honour of Seán Ó Coileáin. Book Review [Details]
2015 Gablánach in scélaigecht: Celtic Studies in Honour of Ann Dooley.
Sarah Sheehan, Joanne Findon and Westley Follett (2015) Gablánach in scélaigecht: Celtic Studies in Honour of Ann Dooley. Book Review [Details]
2014 Saltair saíochta, sanasaíochta agus seanchais: a Festschrift for Gearóid Mac Eoin.
Dónall Ó Baoill, Donncha Ó hAodha and Nollaig Ó Muraíle (2014) Saltair saíochta, sanasaíochta agus seanchais: a Festschrift for Gearóid Mac Eoin. Book Review [Details]
2012 Structure and Interpretation in the Auraicept na nÉces.
James Acken (2012) Structure and Interpretation in the Auraicept na nÉces. Book Review [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
2018 Annual Colloquium of the Henry Sweet Society for the History of Linguistic Ideas.
Deborah Hayden (2018) Annual Colloquium of the Henry Sweet Society for the History of Linguistic Ideas. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Annual Colloquium of the Henry Sweet Society for the History of Linguistic Ideas, Maynooth University, Ireland , 05-SEP-18 - 08-SEP-18 [Details]
2018 The 10th Celtic Linguistics Conference.
Deborah Hayden (2018) The 10th Celtic Linguistics Conference. [Conference Organising Committee Member], The 10th Celtic Linguistics Conference, Maynooth University , 04-SEP-18 - 05-SEP-18 [Details]
2018 UCD/TCD/MU Postgraduate Medievalists' Day.
Deborah Hayden (2018) UCD/TCD/MU Postgraduate Medievalists' Day. [Conferences hosted], UCD/TCD/MU Postgraduate Medievalists' Day, Maynooth University , 19-MAY-18 [Details]
2018 A medieval Irish collection of medical poems.
Deborah Hayden (2018) A medieval Irish collection of medical poems. [Oral Presentation], Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Study of Healing Charms and Medicine, Harvard University , 06-APR-18 [Details]
2018 Galen and the early Irish gods.
Deborah Hayden (2018) Galen and the early Irish gods. [Invited Lecture], Maynooth Classics Seminar, Maynooth University , 09-MAR-18 [Details]
2018 Myth, law and medical writing in medieval Ireland.
Deborah Hayden (2018) Myth, law and medical writing in medieval Ireland. [Invited Lecture], Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Seminar, UCD , 26-JAN-18 [Details]
2017 The terminology of anatomy and disease in two medieval Irish medical compendia.
Deborah Hayden (2017) The terminology of anatomy and disease in two medieval Irish medical compendia. [Oral Presentation], 37th Annual Harvard Celtic Colloquium, Harvard University , 05-OCT-17 - 08-OCT-17 [Details]
2017 Auraicept na nÉces and natural philosophy.
Deborah Hayden (2017) Auraicept na nÉces and natural philosophy. [Oral Presentation], Workshop on Comparative Glossing Practices, Fourteenth International Conference on the History of the Language Sciences, Paris, France , 28-AUG-17 - 01-SEP-17 [Details]
2017 Attribution and authority in a medieval Irish medical compendium.
Deborah Hayden (2017) Attribution and authority in a medieval Irish medical compendium. [Oral Presentation], 31st Irish Conference of Medievalists, Maynooth, Ireland , 29-JUN-17 - 01-JUL-17 [Details]
2017 Auraicept na nÉces and the study of language in the Book of Uí Mhaine.
Deborah Hayden (2017) Auraicept na nÉces and the study of language in the Book of Uí Mhaine. [Invited Oral Presentation], The Book of Uí Mhaine: A Conference at the Royal Irish Academy, Royal Irish Academy, Dublin , 02-MAR-17 [Details]
2016 The anatomy of healing from head to toe: on the significance of diseases in a medieval Irish compilation of medical questions.
Deborah Hayden (2016) The anatomy of healing from head to toe: on the significance of diseases in a medieval Irish compilation of medical questions. [Oral Presentation], Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies Tionól, Dublin, Ireland , 19-NOV-16 [Details]
2015 A medieval Irish commentary on the magister.
Deborah Hayden (2015) A medieval Irish commentary on the magister. [Oral Presentation], XV International Congress of Celtic Studies, Glasgow, UK , 16-JUL-15 [Details]
2015 The Book of Ballymote and the grammar of Irish.
Deborah Hayden (2015) The Book of Ballymote and the grammar of Irish. [Invited Oral Presentation], The Book of Ballymote/Leabhar Bhaile an Mhóta: A Conference at the Royal Irish Academy, Royal Irish Academy, Dublin , 05-FEB-15 - 06-FEB-15 [Details]
2015 The Book of Ádhamh Ó Cianáin and the medieval Irish grammarian.
Deborah Hayden (2015) The Book of Ádhamh Ó Cianáin and the medieval Irish grammarian. [Invited Lecture], Maynooth Early Irish and Celtic Studies Research Seminar, Maynooth University, Ireland , 23-APR-15 [Details]
2015 Observations on a miscellany of medical questions in NLS MS 72. 1. 2.
Deborah Hayden (2015) Observations on a miscellany of medical questions in NLS MS 72. 1. 2. [Invited Oral Presentation], Irish Texts Society Seminar on the Rosa Anglica, University College Cork, Ireland , 07-NOV-15 [Details]
2014 On grammatical questions in an unpublished fragment of Auraicept na nÉces.
Deborah Hayden (2014) On grammatical questions in an unpublished fragment of Auraicept na nÉces. [Invited Oral Presentation], Gramadach agus Prosóid na Gaeilge: Medieval and Early Modern Irish Grammatical and Metrical Tradition, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies [Details]
2014 Scholarly networks and information in medieval Ireland: the evidence of legal manuscripts.
Deborah Hayden (2014) Scholarly networks and information in medieval Ireland: the evidence of legal manuscripts. [Invited Oral Presentation], 14th Conference of the International Society for the Study of European Ideas, Porto, Portugal [Details]
2014 Observations on the 'doors of death' in medieval Irish medical catechism.
Deborah Hayden (2014) Observations on the 'doors of death' in medieval Irish medical catechism. [Oral Presentation], Annual Meeting of the Celtic Studies Association of North America, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Roanoke, VA, USA , 06-MAR-14 - 08-MAR-14 [Details]
2013 A medieval Irish colloquy on rhetorical doctrine.
Deborah Hayden (2013) A medieval Irish colloquy on rhetorical doctrine. [Oral Presentation], Annual Colloquium of the Henry Sweet Society for the History of Linguistic Ideas, Berlin, Germany [Details]
2013 Medieval Irish notes on a 'quarrel' between Priscian and Donatus.
Deborah Hayden (2013) Medieval Irish notes on a 'quarrel' between Priscian and Donatus. [Oral Presentation], Grammatica and the Celtic Vernaculars in the Medieval World, Christ Church, Oxford, UK [Details]
2013 Two fifteenth-century fragments of Auraicept na nÉces in the Franciscan archive at UCD.
Deborah Hayden (2013) Two fifteenth-century fragments of Auraicept na nÉces in the Franciscan archive at UCD. [Oral Presentation], Eighth Australian Conference of Celtic Studies, Sydney, Australia [Details]
2013 Grammatica and the Celtic Vernaculars in the Medieval World.
Deborah Hayden (2013) Grammatica and the Celtic Vernaculars in the Medieval World. [Conferences hosted], Grammatica and the Celtic Vernaculars in the Medieval World, Christ Church, University of Oxford, UK [Details]
2012 Grammatical exegesis in the 'Book of Amairgen'.
Deborah Hayden (2012) Grammatical exegesis in the 'Book of Amairgen'. [Invited Oral Presentation], Workshop on the Applications of Exegesis in the Early Medieval West, Trinity College, Cambridge [Details]
2012 A linguist, a lawyer and and outlaw: some notes on the transmission of Auraicept na nÉces.
Deborah Hayden (2012) A linguist, a lawyer and and outlaw: some notes on the transmission of Auraicept na nÉces. [Oral Presentation], 32nd Annual Harvard Celtic Colloquium, Harvard University [Details]
2011 Annual Colloquium of the Henry Sweet Society for the History of Linguistic Ideas.
Deborah Hayden (2011) Annual Colloquium of the Henry Sweet Society for the History of Linguistic Ideas. [Conferences hosted], Annual Colloquium of the Henry Sweet Society for the History of Linguistic Ideas, University of Cambridge, UK [Details]
2011 Declensional theory in Auraicept na nÉces.
Deborah Hayden (2011) Declensional theory in Auraicept na nÉces. [Oral Presentation], XIV International Congress of Celtic Studies, Maynooth University, Ireland [Details]
2011 An Analysis of a medieval Irish tract on analysis: a “fragment” of Auraicept na nÉces?.
Deborah Hayden (2011) An Analysis of a medieval Irish tract on analysis: a “fragment” of Auraicept na nÉces?. [Oral Presentation], Language, History, and Language History among the Celts and their Neighbours: A Conference in Honour of Professor Thomas Charles-Edwards on the Occasion of his Retirement, Jesus College, Oxford [Details]
2011 Metrical mnemonics and anatomical accents in Auraicept na nÉces.
Deborah Hayden (2011) Metrical mnemonics and anatomical accents in Auraicept na nÉces. [Invited Oral Presentation], Authorities and Adaptations: the Reworking and Transmission of Textual Sources in Medieval Ireland, University of Cambridge [Details]
2011 On the linguistic commentary to Amra Choluim Chille.
Deborah Hayden (2011) On the linguistic commentary to Amra Choluim Chille. [Invited Lecture], Oxford Celtic Seminar, University of Oxford [Details]
2010 Poetic law and the medieval Irish linguist.
Deborah Hayden (2010) Poetic law and the medieval Irish linguist. [Invited Lecture], Hughes Hall Research Seminar, Hughes Hall, Cambridge, UK [Details]
2010 Verse faults and correctives in medieval Irish texts.
Deborah Hayden (2010) Verse faults and correctives in medieval Irish texts. [Oral Presentation], Annual Colloquium of the Henry Sweet Society for the History of Linguistic Ideas, University of Sheffield, UK [Details]
2010 Natural and artificial language in Auraicept na nÉces revisited.
Deborah Hayden (2010) Natural and artificial language in Auraicept na nÉces revisited. [Oral Presentation], Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies Tionól, Dublin, Ireland [Details]
2009 Anatomical metaphor in Auraicept na nÉces, Sanas Cormaic and the trefhocal.
Deborah Hayden (2009) Anatomical metaphor in Auraicept na nÉces, Sanas Cormaic and the trefhocal. [Oral Presentation], California Celtic Colloquium, Berkeley, CA, USA [Details]
2008 Human anatomy in early Irish grammatical exegesis.
Deborah Hayden (2008) Human anatomy in early Irish grammatical exegesis. [Invited Oral Presentation], AHRC Early Irish Glossaries Symposium, Cambridge, UK [Details]
2008 Form and function in analysis of the Irish genitive case.
Deborah Hayden (2008) Form and function in analysis of the Irish genitive case. [Oral Presentation], Oxford-Cambridge Celtic Colloquium, Cambridge, UK [Details]
2007 At arm's length: the metaphor of the body in early Irish grammatical terminology.
Deborah Hayden (2007) At arm's length: the metaphor of the body in early Irish grammatical terminology. [Oral Presentation], International Medieval Congress, University of Leeds, UK [Details]

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
Maynooth University Lecturer in Early Irish 01-SEP-15 /
School of Celtic Studies, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies Postdoctoral O'Donovan Scholar 01-NOV-13 / 31-AUG-15
Christ Church, University of Oxford Postdoctoral Junior Research Fellow 01-OCT-11 / 31-OCT-13

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2016 Coláiste na hÉireann/Gaelchultúr Dioplóma Iarchéime san Aistriúchán/Postgraduate Diploma in Translation (Céad Onóracha/First-Class Honours) Postgraduate Diploma in English to Modern Irish Translation
2010 University of Cambridge PhD Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic
2006 University of Cambridge MPhil (Distinction) Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic
2005 University of Cambridge BA (First-Class Honours) Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic
2003 Wellesley College BA (Summa cum laude) Liberal Arts (double major in Latin and French)

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2018 IRC Laureate Award Irish Research Council
2018 Maynooth University Early Career Research Achievement Award - Faculty of Arts, Celtic Studies & Philosophy Maynooth University
2017 Royal Irish Academy Charlemont Grant Royal Irish Academy
2016 Bonn óir, Dioplóma Iarchéime san Aistriúchán Coláiste na hÉireann/Gaelchultúr
2013 Modern Humanities Research Association Conference Grant Modern Humanities Research Association
2013 Celtic Research Trust Conference Grant Celtic Research Trust
2013 Sir John Rhys Memorial Fund Conference Grant University of Oxford
2013 SSMLL Conference Grant Society for the Study of Medieval Languages and Literature
2011 American Fellowship Publication Grant American Association of University Women
2011 Scouloudi Historical Award Institute of Historical Research
2011 British Academy Small Research Grant British Academy
2010 SSMLL Research Travel Bursary Society for the Study of Medieval Languages and Literature
2009 CSANA Student Paper Prize Celtic Studies Association of North America
2006 UK Overseas Research Studentship Award University of Cambridge
2005 Gates Cambridge Scholarship Gates Cambridge Trust
2005 President's Award Studentship Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge
2005 E. M. Burnett Prize Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge
2004 E. M. Burnett Prize Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge
2004 Eugene L. Cox Alumnae Fellowship for Medieval Studies Wellesley College
2003 Trustee Scholar Wellesley College
2003 Germaine Lafeuille Prize for Excellence in French Composition Wellesley College
2003 Michel Grimaud Prize for Excellence in the Translation of French Wellesley College
2002 Jerome A. Schiff Thesis Research Fellowship Wellesley College
2001 Katherine Malone Sophomore Prize Wellesley College

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
Henry Sweet Society for the History of Linguistic Ideas Treasurer and Membership Secretary 01-SEP-09 / 31-AUG-15
Society for the Study of Medieval Languages and Literature Member /
Societas Celtologica Europaea Member /
Celtic Studies Association of North America Member /
American Society for Irish Medieval Studies Member /

Other Activities

  Description

Editorial Board Member, The Journal of Celtic Linguistics

Teaching Interests



I have taught modules for all levels of the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the Department of Early Irish, including the following:
  • SG 152 - Gender & Sexuality in the Celtic World
  • SG 207 - Old Irish 1
  • SG 291 - Sean-Ghaeilge 1
  • SG 208 - Old Irish 2
  • SG 292 - Sean-Ghaeilge 2
  • SG 300 - Undergraduate Dissertations
  • SG 307 - Old Irish 3
  • SG 325 - Medieval Irish Poetry
  • SG 328 - King Arthur's Britain: Medieval Welsh Literature
  • SG 613 - Learned Literature of Medieval Ireland
  • SG 619 - Outreach and Public Engagement
  • SG 625 - Middle Welsh Language
I have also supervised MA and PhD students researching various aspects of medieval Irish history and literature. I currently serve as Postgraduate Coordinator for the Department of Early Irish, and welcome inquiries from prospective students wishing to apply for our Taught MA, MLitt and PhD programmes.