Irish Names contains just under a thousand names selected from the enourmous wealth of historical sources - annals, genealogies, myth, legend and epic poetry - that make up the literature of early medieval Ireland. Of the the extraordinary variety of names available to the early Irish - some twelve thousand are recorded - only a handful are in current use. This classic work of reference explains the background and meaning of these names, and provides a fascinating insight into the society in which they had their origin. 'This splendid work encapsulates Irish history.' - The Irish Times