Luar Na Lubre - Leabhar Gabhála (Torre de Breoghán)

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This Galician-Portuguese poetry was composed between the 12th -14th centuries. It was written in the vernacular of the people and the main themes were those of love and work. Originally, this poetry had been transmitted orally from generation to generation. Later on, troubadours and minstrels incorporated those themes into their own compositions, which boosted Galician-Portuguese as a language of great literature. This poetry was also influenced by poetry from Occitan literature which travelled along the Camino de Santiago. Most famous amongst those who championed the language were Martín Codax, Mendinho, Airas Nunes, Alfonso X “The Wise” and Don Denís.

Around the same time, the Leabhar Gabhála Éireann (The Book of Invasions of Ireland) was compiled. This text consists of a mixture of mythology, pseudo-history, folklore and Christian historiography. The Irish accepted this account as their history even as late as the eighteenth century.

This manuscript, written in medieval Irish, relates how, on a clear winter´s night Ith was on top of a tower which Breoghán (his father) had built in a place called Brigantia. The Galician people consider Breoghán to be the father of their nation and as such is recognized in the Galician anthem. From the top of the tower, Ith saw an island and determined to seek it, sailed out to sea with his son Lughaidh and several warriors.

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Carme R. Alonso
Dublin, April 2012

http://www.luarnalubre.com/letras_dis...