The Serpent and the Goddess: Women, Religion, and Power in Celtic Ireland

abbess Adamnán ancient apostolic succession Armagh become bishop Brigit Cashel celibacy Celtic Celts child Christian clerical clerical celibacy Connla contemporary Cúchulainn cult culture daughter death Dublin Dún Ailinne early Irish Ériu Europe father female feminist fertility Genesis gods Gwynn Harper & Row heroes holy Ibid Imbolc Ireland Irish church Irish law Jesus Kildare killed king kingship Kuno Meyer land Leinster Lives London Macha marriage Mary matricentered Medb Medieval monastery monastic Monica Sjöö Mother Goddess myth mythology Ninhursag obedience Oeng old religion patriarchal Patrick penance political pope priests R. A. S. MacAlister reform relationship religious rites role sacred sacrifice saints scholars Serpent Serpent Symbolism sexual social society spiritual story Studies symbols Táin Tara themes theology thou tion took traditions trans twelfth century Ulster University Press vestal virgins warrior wife witches wives woman women Yahweh York