Dr Elva Johnston BA, MA, DPhil.
Contact Details
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Biography:
| Elva Johnston is an early medieval historian who specialises in the history of Ireland. She teaches in UCD School of History and Archives at undergraduate and graduate levels and is the co-ordinator of the Early Irish History specialist strand in the MA in History. |
Research Interests
| Early medieval Irish history; literacy and the creation of identity in early medieval Ireland; Late Antique Christianity and Christian controversy; history of sexuality; history of religion. Individual Research My primary area of research is early medieval Ireland, specialising in the histories of religion, sexuality, literacy and identity. The approach is interdisciplinary, drawing on literature (especially Old Irish and Hiberno-Latin), material culture and history. I have published on a wide range of topics in peer-reviewed journals and collections of essays. These papers offer important new analyses of the complex relationships between literary texts and historical events. In particular, I have interrogated the role of gender in early medieval Irish society, its consequences for group identity and its under-appreciated impact on elite formation. My research situates itself within the broader contexts of Late Antique and early medieval historiography. I believe this to be a key contribution towards creating a more nuanced understanding of the past. Research Projects Sponsor: Irish Research Council |
Book Chapters
| Johnston, E (2011) 'Kingship made real? Power and the public world in Longes mac n-Uislenn' In: Fiona Edmonds and Paul Russell (eds). Tome: Studies in Medieval Celtic History and Law in Honour of Thomas Charles-Edwards. Woodbridge: Boydell and Brewer. [Details] |
| Johnston, E (2003) 'A Sailor on the seas of faith: the individual and the Church in the Voyage of Mael Dúin' In: H.B.Clarke, J.Devlin (eds). European Encounters. Essays in memory of Albert Lovett. Dublin: UCD Press. [Details] |
| Johnston, E (2002) 'The pagan and christian identities of the Irish female saint' In: M. Atherton (eds). Celts and Christians: New approaches to the religious traditions of Britain and Ireland. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. [Details] |
| Johnston, E (1999) 'Timahoe and the Loígse: monasticism' In: P. G. Lane, W. Nolan (eds). Laois history and society: interdisciplinary essays on the history of an Irish county. Dublin: Geography Publications. [Details] |
Peer Reviewed Journals
| Johnston, E (2003) 'Review Article: The Field Day Anthology of Irish Writing, Vols 4 and 5 and the invention of medieval women'. The Irish University Review, :392-399. [Details] |
| Johnston, E (2003) 'Review Article: Early Irish history, the state of the art'. Irish Historical Studies, 33 :342-348. [Details] |
| Johnston, E (2001) 'The salvation of the individual and the salvation of society in Siaburcharpat Con Culaind'. The Individual in Celtic Literatures, CSANA Yearbook 1, :109-125. [Details] |
| Johnston, E (2001) 'Powerful women or patriarchal weapons? Two medieval Irish saints'. Peritia, 15 :302-310. [Details] |
| Johnston, E (2000) 'Íte: patron of her people?'. Peritia, 14 :421-428. [Details] |
Dictionary Entry
| Johnston, E.; (2009) 'Deirdre', 'Étaín', 'Fergus mac Róich', 'Gráínne', 'Macha', 'Samthann' in The Dictionary of Irish Biography. Dublin: Dictionary Entry [Details] |
| Johnston, E.; (2004) Munster, saints of (act. c.450-c.700)' Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford: Dictionary Entry [Details] |
| Johnston, E.; (2004) 'Beoán', 'Fiachra', 'Gormlaith', 'Mo Ling', 'Mo Nennus', 'Nathalan', 'Senchán Torpéist', 'Urard mac Coise', in H. C. G. Matthew, B. Harrison (eds), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Dictionary Entry [Details] |
Encyclopedia Entry
| Johnston, E (1998) 'Britannien (Altbritische Kirche)', 'Brigida von Kildare', in Die Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart, Band 2. Tübingen: Encyclopedia Entry [Details] |
| Johnston, E (2007) 'Britain (the early British Church)', 'Brigit of Kildare'. Religion Past and Present: Encyclopedia of Theology and Religion, vol 2: Encyclopedia Entry [Details] |
| Johnston, E (2007) 'Columba, saint'. Religion Past and Present: Encyclopedia of Theology and Religion, vol 3: Encyclopedia Entry [Details] |
| Johnston, E (2008) 'Geoffrey of Monmouth', 'Gildas', 'Glastonbury'. Religion Past and Present: Encyclopedia of Theology and Religion, vol 5: Encyclopedia Entry [Details] |
| Johnston, E (2008) 'Dublin', 'Dunstan'. Religion Past and Present: Encyclopedia of Theology and Religion, vol 4: Encyclopedia Entry [Details] |
| Johnston, E.; (1999) 'Columba der Ältere (Columcille)', 'Dublin', 'Dunstan', 'Geoffrey von Monmouth', 'Gildas', 'Glastonbury' in Die Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart. Tübingen: Encyclopedia Entry [Details] | |||||||||
| Johnston, E.; (2000) 'Transvestite saints' in The Encyclopedia of Monasticism. Chicago: Encyclopedia Entry [Details] | |||||||||
| Johnston, E.; (2001) 'Iona' in Die Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart. Tübingen: Encyclopedia Entry [Details] | |||||||||
| Johnston, E.; (2003) 'Aislinge', 'Amergin', 'Brian Bóruma', 'Cormac mac Airt', 'Dagda', 'Dési', 'Fili', 'Gobbán Sáer', 'Gods and goddesses', 'Imbolc', 'Immram', 'Mac Murrough, Dermot', 'Munster (early)', 'Oral culture (early)', 'Paganism', 'Pre-Christian religions', 'Termonn', 'Tuatha Dé Danann' in The Encyclopedia of Ireland. Dublin: Encyclopedia Entry [Details] | |||||||||
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Electronic Publication
Johnston, E.; (1995) Betha Féchín Fabair, for Celt: Corpus of Electronic Texts (Cork 1995). Cork: Electronic Publication  [Details] |
| Johnston, E.; (1995) Lives of the Saints from the Book of Lismore, for Celt: Corpus of Electronic Texts (Cork 1995). Electronic Publication [Details] |
| Johnston, E.; (1995) Betha Fursa, for Celt: Corpus of Electronic Texts (Cork 1995). Electronic Publication [Details] |
| Johnston, E. (with Donnchadh Ó Corráin) ; (1996) The Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee, for Celt: Corpus of Electronic Texts (Cork 1996). Electronic Publication [Details] |
| Johnston, E.; (1996) Bethada Náem nÉrenn, for Celt: Corpus of Electronic Texts (Cork 1996). Cork: Electronic Publication [Details] |
| Johnston, E.(with Beatrix Färber, Ruth Murphy); (2000) Betha Phatraic LB pp. 24b¿29b, for Celt: Corpus of Electronic Texts (Cork 2000). Cork: Electronic Publication [Details] |
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| Johnston, E. (with Beatrix Färber) ; (2000) Bethu Brigte, for Celt: Corpus of Electronic Texts (Cork 2000). Electronic Publication [Details] |
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| Johnston, E. (with Beatrix Färber, Ruth Murphy) ; (2001) Betha Choluim Chille pp. LB 29b¿34a, for Celt: Corpus of Electronic Texts (Cork 2001). Cork: Electronic Publication [Details] |
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| Johnston, E. (with Beatrix Färber, Ruth Murphy) ; (2001) On the Life of St Brigit (Leabhar Breac) , for Celt: Corpus of Electronic Texts (Cork 2001). Cork: Electronic Publication [Details] |
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| Johnston, E. (with Ruth Murphy); (2004) Life of Cranat (Betha Cranatan) for Celt: Corpus of Electronic Texts (Cork 2004). Cork: Electronic Publication [Details] |
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| Johnston, E. (with Beatrix Färber); (2005) Betha Meic Creiche: an electronic edition, for Celt: Corpus of Electronic Texts (Cork 2005). Cork: Electronic Publication [Details] |
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| Johnston, E. (with Mavis Cournane & Benjamin Hazard); (2005) Betha Náile for Celt: Corpus of Electronic Texts (Cork 2005). Cork: Electronic Publication [Details] |
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| Johnston, E. (with Beatrix Färber); (2010) Four Saints: Cormac, Beccan (Emin), Culan, Diarmait, for Celt: Corpus of Electronic Texts (Cork 2010). Cork: Electronic Publication [Details] |
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| Johnston, E (2010) Cormac mac Cuillenáin and the Jesters for Celt: Corpus of Electronic Texts (Cork 2010). Electronic Publication [Details] |
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Book Reviews
| Johnston, E (1994) Aaron Gurevich: Cultural Anthrolpology of the Middle Ages. Peritia 8: Book Reviews [Details] |
| Johnston, E (1995) Llanerch Reprints. Peritia 9: Book Reviews [Details] |
| Johnston, E (1995) Kuno Meyer: Ancient Irish Poetry. Peritia 9: Book Reviews [Details] |
| Johnston, E (1995) Liam de Paor: Saint Patrick's World. Peritia 9: Book Reviews [Details] |
| Johnston, E (1997) C. E. Meek, M. K. Simms (eds), 'The fragility of her sex'? Medieval Irish Women in their European Context. Peritia 11: Book Reviews [Details] |
| Johnston, E (1998) Uinseann Ó Maidín OCR, The Celtic Monk: Rules and Writings of Early Irish Monks. The Heythrop Journal vol. 39, no. 3: Book Reviews [Details] | |||||||||
| Johnston, E (1998) Lisa Bitel, Land of Women. The English Historical Review vol. cxiii, no. 451: Book Reviews [Details] | |||||||||
| Johnston, E (1998) Peter O' Dwyer O.Carm, Towards a History of Irish Spirituality. The Heythrop Journal vol. 39, no. 3: Book Reviews [Details] | |||||||||
| Johnston, E (1998) Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, Early Medieval Ireland 400-1200. The Heythrop Journal vol. 39, no. 3: Book Reviews [Details] | |||||||||
| Johnston, E (1998) Erich Poppe, Bianca Ross (eds), The Legend of Mary of Egypt in Insular Hagiography. The English Historical Review vol cxii, no. 454: Book Reviews [Details] | |||||||||
| Johnston, E (1999) Fergus Kelly, Early Irish Farming, A Study Based Mainly on the Law-Texts of the 7th and 8th Centuries. Medium Ævum vol lxviii, no. 1: Book Reviews [Details] | |||||||||
| Johnston, E (1999) Annette Kehnel, Clonmacnois - The Church and Lands of St. Ciarán. The English Historical Review vol cxiv no. 457: Book Reviews [Details] | |||||||||
| Johnston, E (2000) Thomas O'Loughlin, Saint Patrick: The Man and his Works. The Month vol cclxi no. 1587: Book Reviews [Details] | |||||||||
| Johnston, E (2000) H. A. Wilson (ed), The Calendar of St Willibrord. The English Historical Review vol cxv no. 460: Book Reviews [Details] | |||||||||
| Johnston, E (2002) T. M. Charles-Edwards, Morfydd E. Owen, Paul. Russell (eds), The Welsh King and his Court. Irish Historical Studies vol xxxiii no. 130: Book Reviews [Details] | |||||||||
| Johnston, E (2004) Christina Harrington, Women in a Celtic Church: Ireland 450¿1150. The English Historical Review vol cxix no. 483: Book Reviews [Details] | |||||||||
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Honours and Awards
| Year: 1990. Title: College Scholar |
| Year: 1990. Title: Dr Henry Hutchinson Stewart Literary Scholarship |
| Year: 1991. Title: College Scholar |
| Year: 1992. Title: College Scholar |
| Year: 1992. Title: Michael Joseph McEnery Memorial Scholarship in Irish History |
| Year: 1994. Title: National University of Ireland Travelling Studentship in History |
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| Year: 1994. Title: British Academy PhD Scholarship |
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| Year: 1994. Title: Prendergast Bequest |
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| Year: 1996. Title: Christ Church Senior Scholarship for Research in the Humanities |
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Associations
| Association: Irish Historical Society, Function/Role: Member |
| Association: Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Function/Role: Member |
Conference Contributions
| Elva Johnston (2012) Reassessing Literacy in Early Medieval Ireland. [Keynote Address], Literacy, Memory, Sanctity and the Conversion of the Isles, UCD , 03-NOV-12 - 03-NOV-12. |
| Elva Johnston (2012) The Voyage of St Brendan: Landscape and Paradise in Early Medieval Ireland. [Invited Lecture], Paisagem e Natureza: Cotidiano, Imaginário e Memória, UFF, Rio de Janeiro , 18-OCT-12 - 18-OCT-12. |
| Elva Johnston; (2011) Mapping Death: Ireland and the Christian Frontier. [Chaired Session], Launch of the Heritage Council INSTAR 'Mapping Death' Database, University College Dublin , 28-JAN-11 - 28-JAN-11. |
| Dr. Elva Johnston; (2010) Beliefs and Frontiers: Reconsidering the Textual Sources for Conversion in Early Ireland. [Chaired Session], Mapping Death Symposium, UCD , 27-NOV-10 - 27-NOV-10. |
| Elva Johnston (2009) Palladius and Conversion. [Invited Oral Presentation], Medieval Studies Graduate Seminar, NUI Galway , 12-FEB-09 - 12-FEB-09. |
| Johnston, E.; (2009) Palladius and Conversion: Historical Contexts. [Chaired Session], ASNC Guest Lecture Series, Cambridge Univesity , 22-MAY-09 - 22-MAY-09. | |||||||||
| Elva Johnston; (2009) Why was Palladius sent to Ireland?. [Chaired Session], Mapping Death, International Conference, Dublin , 27-OCT-09 - 28-NOV-09. | |||||||||
| Elva Johnston; (2008) The Mystery of Palladius, First Bishop of the Irish. [Chaired Session], International Medieval Congress, Leeds , 07-JUL-08 - 10-JUL-08. | |||||||||
| Elva Johnston; (2008) Missionaries or Aristocrats: Early Exiles from Ireland. [Invited Lecture], Louvain International Summer School, Louvain , 05-MAY-08 - 09-MAY-08. | |||||||||
| Doherty, C.; (2007) Lives and Afterlives IV. [Other], Lives and Afterlives IV, Micheal O Cleirigh Institute for the Study of Irish History and Civilisation, UCD , 22-MAR-07. | |||||||||
| Elva Johnston (2007) Challenges to Periodisation: Saints Cults from the Seventh to the Seventeenth Century. [Oral Presentation], Lives and Afterlives IV, UCD , 23-MAR-07 - 23-MAR-07. | |||||||||
| Johnston, E; (2006) Imagining Conversion in Irish and Anglo-Saxon Hagiography. [Oral Presentation], International Medieval Congress, Leeds , 10-JUL-06 - 13-JUL-06. | |||||||||
| Johnston, E; (2006) Columba, Christianity and the Secular Community. [Oral Presentation], Lives and Afterlives III, UCD , 28-APR-06 - 29-APR-06. | |||||||||
| Johnston, E; (2006) Lives and Afterlives III. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Lives and Afterlives III, UCD , 28-APR-06 - 29-APR-06. | |||||||||
| Elva Johnston (2006) Literarcy in Early Medieval Ireland. [Invited Oral Presentation], UCD Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Seminar, UCD , 10-MAR-06 - 10-MAR-06. | |||||||||
| Elva Johnston (2005) A New History of Ireland?. [Invited Oral Presentation], Irish Historical Society, Galway , 08-NOV-05 - 08-NOV-05. | |||||||||
| Elva Johnston; (2005) The Two Saint Brigits. [Chaired Session], Lives and Afterlives II, UCD , 22-APR-05 - 24-APR-05. | |||||||||
| Elva Johnston; (2004) Muirchú's Life of Patrick. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Lives and Afterlives I, UCD , 22-APR-04 - 24-APR-04. | |||||||||
| Elva Johnston; (2004) Muirchú's Conception of Sanctity. [Chaired Session], Lives and Afterlives I, UCD , 23-APR-04 - 24-APR-04. | |||||||||
| Elva Johnston (2003) Types of Sanctity in Early Medieval Ireland. [Invited Oral Presentation], Celtic Seminar, University of Oxford, Jesus College, Oxford , 15-APR-04 - 15-APR-04. | |||||||||
| Elva Johnston (2003) Power and Authority in The Voyage of Máel Dúin. [Oral Presentation], International Medieval Congress, Leeds , 10-JUL-03 - 10-JUL-03. | |||||||||
| Elva Johnston; (2002) The End of the Celtic Otherworld in Michael Moorcocks The Prince with the Silver Hand. [Invited Lecture], International Medieval Congress, University of Leeds , 09-JUL-02 - 09-JUL-02. | |||||||||
| Elva Johnston; (2002) Immacallam Choluim Chille: The Otherworld and scripture. [Invited Lecture], Celtic Texts Colloquium, Lampeter , 21-SEP-02 - 21-SEP-02. | |||||||||
| Elva Johnston; (2001) Gendering Islands in Early Medieval Ireland. [Invited Lecture], Conference of the Theoretical Achaeology Group (TAG), University College Dublin , 14-DEC-01 - 14-DEC-01. | |||||||||
| Elva Johnston; (2001) The Identity of St Brigit. [Invited Lecture], Conference of the Womens History Association of Ireland (WHAI), University of Ulster, Coleraine , 08-SEP-01 - 08-SEP-01. | |||||||||
| Elva Johnston; (2001) Women, Saints, Mothers and Whores in the Voyage of Máel Dúin. [Invited Lecture], International Medieval Congress, University of Leeds , 10-JUL-01 - 10-JUL-01. | |||||||||
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Outreach Activities
| Podcasts Saint Patrick: The Historical Man and the Popular Myth, hosted by HistoryHub http://www.historyhub.ie/pages/updates/012/mar/patrick.html |
| Radio Contributions 2003: RTÉ Radio 1/ Morning Ireland - St Patrick 2005: RTÉ Radio 1/ Reputations - Diarmait Mac Murchadha 2008: Newstalk Radio/ Talking History - St Patrick 2011: RTÉ Lyric FM/ Grace Notes - St Brendan the Navigator 2011: Newstalk Radio/ Coleman at Large - The Origins of Christmas 2012: Newstalk Radio/ St Patrick 2012: South Dublin FM/ St Parick 2012: Highland Radio/ St Patrick |
| Television Appearances In Search of Ancient Ireland - PBS, 2002 The Story of Ireland - BBC Northern Ireland, 2011 Would You Believe? Saint Patrick the Renegade Saint, RTÉ 1, 2012 |