A collection of texts, translated from both Latin and Irish, which provides a many-faceted view of the religious culture of Ireland in the early Middle Ages. A feature of the anthology is that it attempts to portray this culture in its own terms, rather than select material to suit modern tastes or preconceptions. Texts are given together with the prefaces, notes and comments that accompany them in the manuscripts. In this way, the reader gains a sense of what these crucial writings meant for the people who cherished and handed them on.