Saint na Cléire mar Mhóitíf sa Traidisiún Béil

Abstract

This article discusses aspects of anticlericalism as portrayed in Irish oral tradition. The Roman Catholic clergy are seen to have power not only within the performance of their official duties but were also understood to have control over supernatural beings and to possess curative capacities in matters of prophecy and damnation. The article places the clergy in their social context describing, among other factors, how they were separated from ordinary people. Criticism of the clergy was expressed in popular verse, proverb and tale and by these means, the community assisted in forming the perception of clergy. Poets were independent of the clergy as they felt they could criticise them in the vernacular verse of the people. Dissatisfaction expressed in verse commented on their fine living while, at the same time, realising the need for their service. Mocking is frequently a means of expressing discontent and in oral tradition, a particular trait associated with the clergy is that of miserliness. The author cites examples of tales and proverbs depicting priests’ greed and avarice. Such sayings and verses might be seen to indicate people were independent of the clergy, especially at a time when Irish was the general vernacular in Ireland. These sayings, verses and tales are part of a ‘vehicle for social protest’. The essay suggests that the aetiological tales offering reasons for the avarice of priests helped to reconcile general popular empathy with the clergy.