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The Brehon Law
by
Michael Ragan
© 1999


Part 1; Origins

Part 2; Law texts

Part 3; Clan and
social classes

Part 4; Women's Rights

Part 5; Professionals

Part 6; Land ownership
and use

Part 7; Property

Part 8; Legal tender

Part 9; Contracts

Part 10; Distraints
and fasting

Part 11; Summation
and appendix

Part 12; Glossary

divider In this essay I have given a very brief view of an old and complex tradition of law. I am neither lawyer or language expert, but I am a student of the human condition with a passion for truth about my ancient forebears. I have tried to view the law with the eyes of a citizen, rather than a lawyer. What I find is a complex, but marvelously efficient system that reflected the society and more importantly, ensured the rights of the citizen. Considerable study remains to be done. My fervent hope is that such studies be done without the religious and ethnic bias of the past.

APPENDIX

Social Rank

rí ruírech (ri rureh)
king of Ireland
rí túath (ri too-ah)
overking of a few petty kingdoms
rí tuathe (ri too-ah-he)
king of a petty kingdom
aire forgill (ar-eh for-gill)
noble of superior testimony
aire tuíseo (ar-eh too-ih-sho)
noble of precedence
aire ard (ar-eh ahrd)
high noble

 
bóaire (bo-ahr-eh)
prosperous or strong farmer
ócaire (oh-gahr-eh)
small farmer
fer midboth (fehr-mid-voth)
person of middle huts, semi-independent youth
fuídir (foo-jer)
semi-free tenant
bothach (bo-ha)
unskilled laborer who "squatted" on unused tribal land.
Senchléithe (shen-x'le-he)
hereditary serf
Cumal (koo-vahl)
female slave or unit of value
Mug (moog)
male slave
Units of Currency
Value in right-hand column is in relation to one milk cow.

Cumal (koo-vahl) female slave or equivalent 3
Bó milcht (boh milxt) milk cow 1
Ungae (uhn-geh) ounce (of silver) 1
Bó inláeg (boh in-laig) pregnant cow 2/3
Samaisc (sah-vishk) three year old heifer 1/2
Colpthac (cohl-hahk) two year old heifer 1/3
Daírt (dahrt) one year old heifer 1/4
Dartaid (dahr-tidj) yearling bullock 1/8
Scepul (skreh-bul) scruple of silver 1/24


 
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