Irish Peregrinatio and Cultural Exchange

Abstract

This essay looks at the social and cultural aspects of the Irish peregrinatio to the Continent. The Irish wanderlust is generally recognised to have witnessed two phases; that of the Irish missions from the late sixth century and that of the Irish scholars flocking to the Continent in search for patrons in the late eighth and ninth centuries. In both phases, the migrants were consciously bringing social and cultural contributions to their new homes, while also having to negotiate continental norms and expectations. This essay aims to reflect on the ensuing episodes of cultural exchange, in particular the processes that determined how resident and incoming customs, practice, and beliefs were balanced, and the differences and similarities in this respect between the two phases. An important aspect will be identity formation and the extend to which the act of migrating and the role of the Irish in cultural exchange contributed to their self-definition and outsiders' views of them.