The Irish Invented Chess!For over three centuries a controversy has raged as to the exact origins of 'fidhchell' - in modern Irish 'ficheall' - or Irish chess, a game played in Ireland from biblical times. This book argues that that game of fidhchell, or brannaimh, was recognisably our modern chess. It also raises disturbing questions about the real history surrounding the Lewis Chess find. |
Contents
References in the old stories and histories of Ireland | 5 |
Lewis Chess Set | 23 |
Appendix | 39 |
Comments | 137 |
Finis | 161 |
Common terms and phrases
Ailill ancient Irish atque backgammon battle board games boardgames Book of Lecan Book of Rights branán brandub Brehon Law Bresal Bricriu Caeilte called Canon centre century Charles Vallancey chess pieces chess-board clár Cummaine diagram dictionary draughts Dublin early Irish English Ériu Fergus Fianna fidchell fidchell and brannaimh Finn Bane fithcheall fithchille foirenn foirne Footnotes four Gaelic game of chess gilla Gospels Guaire Guaire’s hence history of chess hnefatafl Hyde iiii invented chess Ireland Irish game Irish language Irish text Irish word John O’Donovan kill king Latin Lewis chessmen Lucam Luke manuscript Mark Matheum Matthew means Medb Midir modern chess ocus óir ol Midir old Irish original Oxford pawns play fidchell playing chess quatuor quote references to chess sceó scribe seems sinistris squares story tablut tafl Táin tawlbwrdd thee Thomas Hyde thou translated Tuke vero Whitley Stokes writing