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IRISH MYTH AND the landscape of the West of Ireland were deeply embedded in J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings’ concept of Middle-earth, according to one Derry-based academic.
University of Ulster Lecturer and Tolkien scholar Dr. Liam Campbell will this weekend present new evidence suggesting that the world-famous karst landscape of the Burren Region and Celtic legends of the West of Ireland inspired Tolkien’s masterworks The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion.
Manuscripts
Campbell has based his assertions on his examination of the original Tolkien manuscripts and papers at Marquette University in Wisconsin, USA.
Dr. Campbell says his research findings and their outreach in terms of how the English writer’s acclaimed work has profound and traceable interconnections with Ireland.
He said that the inspiration for this was brought on in the wake of Tolkien’s visits to Ireland.
Tolkien visited the West of Ireland on many occasions and spent considerable time in the Burren when he held the position of External Examiner to the English Department of NUI Galway between 1949 and 1959.
During this time he revised and published The Lord of the Rings.
“An unexpected body of evidence is beginning to emerge that unmasks Ireland and The Burren in particular as a significant influence on Tolkien’s creative imagination,” explained Dr. Campbell.
My wider research into Tolkien, Ireland and the Burren has been given real and unforeseen direction through my engagement with these original Marquette papers. Ireland and, in particular, the Burren, it seems may have played a key role in Tolkien’s conceptual design for masterworks such as The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion.
Campbell said his research had shown that there were some very late alterations to The Lord of the Rings including an entire very late passage that speaks of a risen and rugged landscape, “very much mirroring the Burren in some extremely revealing and specific aspects”.
Having knowledge of Tolkien’s editing techniques, researched for specific evidences, and knowing of the chronology of Tolkien’s rewrites, I can place this addition to a main section of The Lord of the Rings to amongst the very last things to be added – and thus after the period he had actually experienced the Burren for himself.
It wasn’t just the landscape of the Burren that Campbell said Tolkein drew inspiration from.
Campabell said there are there are also clear parallels to be drawn between the Tuatha de Danann, Tolkien’s Elves and their lands in Tolkien’s fiction.
Dr Cambell will present his findings the Burren Tolkien Society Festival which gets underway this Friday 15 August.
For more on the Burren Tolkien Society Festival taking place from August 15th-24th visit the website here and the Facebook page here.
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What unbelievable horror,this is the 21st century and the world stands by to allow this to happen.
I wonder how many *leaders* will turn up to show solidarity or isn’t there enough cameras there for them.
I agree… it’s horrific that this type of thing can still happen.. I can’t even comprehend it
Its not a first world country and Israel aren’t involved so the world doesn’t give a toss. It’s shocking.
Given their views on western civilisation, it’s ironic that their biggest hit was ‘whiter shade of pale’
WW3 started in Rwanda 24 years ago and no one seems to have noticed, all these things are connected. Religious extremists are taking advantage of the world-wide dog fight over resources , the disenfranchised are easily swayed. It is heart breaking how divided everyone is, everyone looking at who is too blame. One side tarring all Muslims with the same brush, ignoring the reasons why the number being radicalised is always increasing, ignoring the root cause. The other side always looking for ways to blame the ‘west’, not realising that this stirs up anti-Islam sentiment as much as anything else, all the while increasing the fear and anger. People are being slaughtered in increasing numbers on a daily basis while we argue about whose fault it all is, I feel helpless and very, very sad. As a race, we have learned nothing from the past.
Man inhumanity to man…
Just send shivers down your spine.
I always tell my children there is no such things as monsters.. But actually there is.
Meanwhile the western world just looks on. Quite sickening that the powers at be can allow this to happen.
The Nigerians should be well able to sort out their own mess. Why should westerners die for Nigerian corruption and incompetence?
Nigeria and Africa as a whole is a basket case. YeArs of western aid has done nothing because the people are still racked by tribal differences and greed and corruption. Its about time they looked after themselves and stopped telying on handouts. Sink or swim Africa !!!!
Change starts at home, go do something about it
We should remember that the victims as well as the perpetrators were Muslim. This was an atrocity greater in scale than the attack on Charlie Hebdo.
It absolutely dwarfs it. Yet given the media coverage afforded it by the Western media in light of the Paris attacks, you’d think it never happened.
As immature as it is, I’ve been avoiding this story til now, because I find it too hard to wrap my head around this. If this happened in the western world, the media would discuss it 24/7. Beyond shocking
They aren’t all Muslims but that isn’t really relevant. Many people seem to be unaware that there has been a massive, on-going conflict stretching from Kenya to Nigeria for the last 20 years. The insane brutality goes largely unreported in the west because it has no bearing on our supply of consumer goods or fossil fuels.
Nigeria is a class act, the most corrupt nation on the face of the Blue Planet, one of the fastest growing populations in the world and the craziest witch doctors, Voodoo People Magic People.
Concrete it over and paint it green!
Thr cia and America have a lot to answer for this is horrific!
Shane do enlighten us as to how America are responsible for this ? And try not to invoke any conspiracy theories, Frank, Glen and the rest will no doubt be Along shortly to cover that angle.
Spot on Shane , black gold and other natural resources are the motivating factor , but don’t be fooled into thinking the US administration are pulling the strings , look to the lobby groups that hold huge sway over the White House then look to who those groups serve …it’s up to oneself after that whether to believe the narrative or follow your own reasoning
Tinfoil hatters
Ailbhe, you mentioned above that the western worlds media have mostly remained silent on this massacre , what’s ‘beyond shocking’ is who owns the worlds media , and how few they are , and if I were to tell you they all have allegiance to one country in the ME you would think it criminal , but it’s true , no need to wear a tinfoil hat to observe the facts.
With no leaders mentioning this and haven the Israel leader in Paris for unity rally just shows you how they want the world!
It’s simple Justin , the CIA spawned Al-Qaeda who in turn spawned Boko Haram , their advanced weaponry came via the US , NATO and its allies during the illegal overthrow of Gaddafi’s Libya , China have heavily invested in Nigeria much to the US administrations (benefactors) annoyance , instability is a pre-requisite for “humanitarian intervention” .
You are daft and have no historical context to what you are saying. Book Haram’s name implies anti western education nothing directly related to America other than being a western country.
What’s in a name , actually their official title is “Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad” which translated means “People committed to the propagation of the Prophet’s teachings and Jihad” , before 2009 they carried out attacks armed with clubs , machetes & molotov cocktails , as well as drive by assassinations using small fire-arms , Its arsenal now also boasts of Ak-47 style rifles, grenades,
rocket propelled grenades, automatic rifles, surface-to air- missiles, vehicle mounted antiaircraft,machine guns, machine guns with anti-aircraft visors, and explosives such as Semtex,all of which have been smuggled in from Libya , oh and let us not forget that wikileaks released a document which identified the US embassy in Nigeria as an operating base for Boko Haram activities , there is no need for you to display such ignorance of facts when all that’s needed is a little research , mind you , all the facts in the world mean little to someone when they suffer from cognitive dissonance.
What is so hard to get your head around? This type of behavior has been around since the founding of Islam. It is called jihad and the religious duty of “true” Muslims to struggle and resist non believers in Allah. It’s purpose is to force submission to Islam and Allah of all infidels–it also punishes Muslims who follow western ways as in this case slaughtering those who seek, especially girls, western education.
I saw a youtube video almost 2 years ago now where a young girl was made marry an older man from this terror group.
After the ” wedding ” she was seen to be making a handshake with another male.
The video stops.
The video starts again when it day light.
They bring the girl to a pre dug hole in the ground and make her get into it, cover her with the earth they have doug up..
Then they stone her to death for cheating..
Theres no love as we know it this this cult..
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