Ireland, (ca. 16th cent.)
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Pig Playing Bagpipes
- [MS D ii 2, Dinnshenchas Érenn, f. 34 r]
- (ca. 16th cent.), pigments on vellum
- 27.9 × 20.3 cm. (11 × 8 in.)
- Royal Irish Academy
- full page view
- Editor’s Note:
In this 16th century copy of Dinnshenchas Érenn, f. 34, the image of a pig playing its bagpipe creates an illuminated zoomorphic capital M for the poem “Matan do Choin na Cerdda” on the origin of the place name Srub Brain in Co. Kerry, although there are no pigs mentioned in the text.
About the Artist:
Anonymous. The Dindsenchas, (Gaelic: “Lore of Places”), is a class of onomastic text, written in early Irish prose and verse, recounting the origins of place-names and traditions concerning events and characters associated with these place names — e.g., of streams, raths (strongholds of ancient Irish chiefs), mounds, hills and rocks.
Since many of the legends are related to the acts of mythic and legendary figures, the Dindsenchas has been an important source for the study of Irish mythology. SEE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dindsenchas
Although they are known today from the written sources, the Book of Dinnseanchas is a product of oral literature and structured to be a mnemonic aid as well as a form of entertainment. Many versions and additions have been made to it by later writers. As such, they are far from an accurate history of how places came to be named. 03/12 DES
Additional information:
- Also, in 2018, the An Post – the Irish Postal Service – released a €1 stamp to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of The Society of Uilleann Pipers, also referred to as Na Píobairí Uilleann or the NPU. Here are images of the stamps:
- More on the Irish Piping Pig Stamp
- Na Píobairí Uilleann – The Society of Uilleann Pipers
- Buy a logo t-shirt of the piping pig!