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thecelticist.bsky.social
Elizabeth Boyle
@thecelticist.bsky.social
6.4K followers 3.2K following 890 posts
Historian/writer • @maynoothuniversity.ie • executive committee @mediumaevum.bsky.social • board member @dublinnorthwest.bsky.social • Fierce Appetites (Penguin, 2022) • rep'd by Robert Caskie • extreme metal fan • she/her
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thecelticist.bsky.social
Home sweet home. Back in Dublin.
View from the air of part of Dublin Bay (in the centre-right of the photo), and the east of Dublin city wrapped around it, taken from a Ryanair plane (the tip of the wing visible in the picture) at night with a couple of patches of cloud visible above the city.
January 17, 2026 at 8:39 PM
thecelticist.bsky.social
Just had the most inspiring & invigorating couple of days @ Creative Medievalisms Now workshop @ Cambridge. Fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, print-makers, comic-makers, film-makers, visual artists & more, all drawing on medieval sources. I spoke about my work & received so much in return ❤️
A PowerPoint slide showing an artwork by comic-maker Marnie Galloway, in which modern (digital) artists are presented as though they were scribe-artists in a medieval monastic scriptorium. The three modern-medieval figures are surrounded by mythical creatures and leafwork in a modern take on medieval manuscript art. Comic-maker Kristen Haas Curtis stands at a lectern, looking towards a screen showing a PowerPoint slide. The bottom right quarter of the slide shows a pair of scissors, the blades of which are pointing towards Curtis's face in an alarming/amusing way that makes it seem as though the scissors are coming for her. A screen showing a PowerPoint slide with images showing 12 pages from Isabel Davis, Conceiving Histories: Trying for Pregnancy, Past and Present (MIT Press, 2025). The images in the book are done by Anna Burel and they are analog/collage art. In the bottom right of the photo Isabel Davis is speaking at a lectern. Laura Varnam (University College, University of Oxford) presenting her work which is projected on a PowerPoint slide on a screen behind her - the slide gives the title of her paper "Beowulf and Margery Kempe Poetry: Show and Tell".
January 16, 2026 at 10:00 PM
thecelticist.bsky.social
Arrived in Cambridge, and am staying at the college where I was a postgraduate student and postdoc. Looking forward to the "Creative Medievalisms Now" symposium, which begins tomorrow!
Part of New Court at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. This is a 19th-century addition to the 14th-century college, built in Ketton stone. The entrance to the chapel is visible at the right of the picture and the entrance to the dining hall is left of centre. The photo is taken in early evening, so the building is lit inside and a lamp post is in the foreground at the far left of the picture.
January 14, 2026 at 9:25 PM
thecelticist.bsky.social
The Picasso exhibition at the National Gallery of Ireland is fantastic. It's on until 22nd February.
Picasso, Women at their Toilette (1956) A detail from Picasso, Woman Reading (1935) Detail from Picasso, Goat (1950). Picasso, Woman in a Red Armchair (1918).
January 12, 2026 at 7:06 PM
thecelticist.bsky.social
Six years. I still miss you and think about you every day, Dad. I'm so happy when you turn up in my dreams.
A black and white photo of my father as a young man. He is dressed in an old-fashioned football (soccer) kit, kneeling, and holding a football (soccer ball). He is surrounded by other teammates - two kneeling either side of him, and others who are only visible from the waist down are standing behind him.
January 4, 2026 at 8:55 AM
thecelticist.bsky.social
Started back at work today after a brilliant holiday. On Christmas Day morning my partner proposed to me & I said yes! To me, it was completely unexpected, although it turned out that both of our daughters had known about his intention to propose for months. Here's to love & bright futures!
A heart-shaped glass bauble, with the embracing figures of Moominpappa and Moominmamma (from the Moomins) painted on it. The bauble is hanging with gold thread over a Christmas stocking.
January 2, 2026 at 7:41 PM
thecelticist.bsky.social
My Christmas holiday reading (magnificent so far!). 📚📚📚 If you have a few days of holiday at the moment, what are you reading? Happy to receive any book recommendations!
A hardback copy of Helm by Sarah Hall, published by Faber.
December 26, 2025 at 10:01 AM
thecelticist.bsky.social
Merry Christmas from a random selection of my family members, including Leia the dog! Have a lovely day, everyone! 🌲🎅🏽☃️
A group of smiling young people standing in a kitchen: two Southeast Asian girls, one Black teenage boy, one white girl, along with one middle aged white man. Another middle aged white man is visible in the background on the left. The white girl, on the right of the group, is holding a dog, who is distracted by something off camera. The Black boy is affectionately resting his elbow on the head of the taller of the Southeast Asian girls.
December 25, 2025 at 1:10 PM
thecelticist.bsky.social
Nollaig Shona dhaoibh / merry Christmas to all of my Bluesky buddies! I hope it's a great one for you. 🌲🍾🥂
A Christmas tree, almost 2 metres tall, decorated with lights, ribbons and baubles that are mostly silver and red, in a bay window at night.
December 24, 2025 at 8:26 PM
thecelticist.bsky.social
The back of a man (wearing an Eyehategod hoodie from the History of Nomadic Behavior album) looking through albums at the Sound Cellar, Dublin. Vegan mezze served at Shouk, Dublin, on 7 small plates between a central pate of hummus with chickpeas on top.
December 20, 2025 at 10:24 PM
thecelticist.bsky.social
First day after lectures ended, & the sun was shining, so we walked the Howth Cliff Path Loop. ❤️
The rocky cliffs of Howth, along the coast north of Dublin. The Irish Sea is visible on the left, and the sun is low on the horizon. Rocks in the foreground, overlooking Howth harbour, with Ireland's Eye in the distance. A man on the left & a young woman on the right, seen from behind, looking out at the rocky coastline of Howth, with the sun low on the horizon. A picture looking up at the top of the cliffs at Howth, Dublin, with the sun about to set behind the cliffs.
December 19, 2025 at 9:26 PM
thecelticist.bsky.social
Last night I attended the @maynoothuniversity.ie Christmas Carol Concert and this afternoon I have my final two hours of lecturing. The holidays are in sight near the end of a long, hard semester ... ☃️🌲🎅🏽🍾🥂
The chapel at St Patrick's College Maynooth, a neo-Gothic architectural masterpiece, filled with people.
December 18, 2025 at 12:18 PM
thecelticist.bsky.social
Last night in Maynooth, Dr Sparky Booker @tcddublin.bsky.social gave the 2025 Paul Walsh Memorial Lecture on "Law and Narrative in Fifteenth-Century Petitions to the Irish Parliament". An absolutely fascinating lecture, shedding light on late medieval Irish social history. @ceilteachomn.bsky.social
Dr Sparky Booker of Trinity College Dublin giving her lecture on fifteenth-century petitions to the Irish parliament. Her PowerPoint slide visible on the screen to her right (left of photo) shows a map of Ireland and images pertaining to the Irish parliament in the later Middle Ages.
December 5, 2025 at 11:38 AM
thecelticist.bsky.social
This year I seem to have posted mostly about the things I care about!
A word cloud of my most used words on Bluesky this year, in which the most prominent words include: Ireland, medieval, Irish, history, book, Dublin, family, research and university. Slightly smaller words include: women, Black, Atlanta, modern, happy, light, students, novel, books, happy and free. The smallest words include: essay, live, hope, food and lecture.
December 2, 2025 at 11:03 PM
thecelticist.bsky.social
I too am a hot work in progress.
An orange safety sign with black writing which states: CAUTION. HOT WORKS IN PROGRESS.
November 28, 2025 at 1:29 PM
thecelticist.bsky.social
Yesterday I was at the Tionól, the annual conference of @scs-dias.bsky.social. The final 2 papers happened to be by 2 of my favourite scholars of medieval Ireland - @dhaydenceltic.bsky.social on Cath Maige Tuired & early medieval medicine; & Conor McDonough on medieval Irish exegesis! #MedievalSky
Prof. Deborah Hayden (Maynooth University) presenting a paper, with the title slide of her presentation showing that her paper was on "Cath Maige Tuired and the Conceptualisation of Medicine in Early Medieval Europe". Fr Conor McDonough OP (University of Galway) presenting a paper, with the title slide of his presentation showing that he was speaking on "Analysing Arguments: Dialectic in Early Medieval Pauline Exegesis".
November 16, 2025 at 10:05 AM
thecelticist.bsky.social
Hot off the press! Exciting new arrival 📚

#MedievalSky
A copy of Fergus Kelly's new edition and translation of The Triads of Ireland, published yesterday by the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.
November 15, 2025 at 11:59 AM
thecelticist.bsky.social
Sunday dinner with my Syrian family, always the best conclusion to a weekend. ❤️
An array of Syrian dishes (rice dishes, salads, lamb, stuffed cabbage leaves and stuffed vine leaves), spread out on the floor. Two people's hands are visible reaching in to serve the food.
November 9, 2025 at 8:02 PM
thecelticist.bsky.social
For those unfamiliar with grindcore, Wormrot are most famous for the set they played to Biquette, the goat rescued from a French slaughterhouse. For those of us more familiar with grindcore, Wormrot are famous for being Wormrot & that is beyond awesome. They were fucking brilliant tonight in Dublin!
An infamous photo of the vocalist of Wormrot playing a gig in a French squat with a white goat named Biquette standing front and centre in the audience. Live gig photo of Wormrot in Dublin this evening. A classic photo of a member of Wormrot playing in front of the goat, Biquette, who lived in a squat in France. Biquette seems to be enjoying the gig.
November 4, 2025 at 11:50 PM
thecelticist.bsky.social
Went to see Mono at the Button Factory this evening. 🎸
The Japanese band Mono on stage at the Button Factory this evening in Dublin. The band are in the distance, bathed in red light. The backs of the audience are visible in the bottom third of the picture. The lighting rig is visible on the ceiling in the top third of the picture.
November 1, 2025 at 10:24 PM
thecelticist.bsky.social
This was one of David Drake's creations that was displayed. His poem refers to people grieving after Christmas has passed. Explanatory notes at the exhibition stated that this was because enslaved people were sold on in the New Year, & therefore families at Christmas would be separated thereafter.
A close-up of a pot created by the enslaved artist-poet David Drake. The transcription of the poem on the pot in the previous photo. It states "nineteen days before Christmas - Eve - Lots of people after its over, how they will greave. Lm December 6, 1858. Dave".
October 30, 2025 at 11:27 PM
thecelticist.bsky.social
We will be launching Vikings in Early Medieval Ireland: Church-raiding, Politics and Kingship, by our late colleague Dr Colmán Etchingham, on Thursday 13th November in Maynooth. @maynoothuniversity.ie @ceilteachomn.bsky.social
Invitation to the launch of Vikings in Early Medieval Ireland: Church-raiding, Politics and Kingship by Colmán Etchingham. The book will be launched by Professor Alex Woolf (University of St Andrews) in the foyer of the TSI Building, North Campus, Maynooth University, at 6pm on Thursday 13th November. For catering purposes we would be grateful if you could indicate your intention to attend via email to earlyirish@mu.ie by 10th November.
October 29, 2025 at 10:09 AM
thecelticist.bsky.social
On my way to the polling station to vote for a new president of Ireland 🇮🇪
An alley way on a sunny day, with an autumnal-looking hedge on the left and a street art-covered wall on the right.
October 24, 2025 at 1:38 PM
thecelticist.bsky.social
My friends in Atlanta sent me these pictures. Beautiful day for a protest! #NoKings
A group of protesters in Atlanta, Georgia, holding banners and signs, including a large banner which states "Democracy doesn't defend itself - we do". Protesters in Atlanta, Georgia carrying a huge banner which states "Defend democracy - it's time for a general strike". Protesters in Atlanta, Georgia holding signs saying things like "No fascists, no tyrants, no Nazis, no kings" and "This is what democracy looks like".
October 18, 2025 at 6:51 PM
thecelticist.bsky.social
Just arrived. The posthumously published book of my late colleague, Dr Colmán Etchingham. Thanks to everyone who saw it through to publication. We plan to hold an event in Maynooth to mark its publication (details to follow). Available to order here: boydellandbrewer.com/book/vikings...
#MedievalSky
A copy of Colmán Etchingham, Vikings in Early Medieval Ireland: Church-raiding, Politics and Kingship (Boydell and Brewer, 2025).
October 10, 2025 at 11:47 AM