Thomas Charles-Edwards is Professor of Celtic in the University of Oxford. His previous books include Bechbretha (1983, with Fergus Kelly), The Welsh Laws (1989) and Early Irish and Welsh Kinship (1993).

• List of maps; List of tables; List of figures; Acknowledgements; Abbreviations; A note on pronunciation; A note on the Chronicle of Ireland; Introduction; 1. Ireland in the seventh century: a tour; 2. Irish society c.700: I. Communities; 3. Irish society c.700: II. Social distinctions and moral values; 4. Ireland and Rome; 5. Conversion to Christianity; 6. The organisation of the early Irish church; 7. Columba, Iona and Lindisfarne; 8. Columbanus and his disciples; 9. The Paschal controversy; 10. The primatial claims of Armagh, Kildare and Canterbury; 11. The origins and rise of Uí Néill; 12. The kingship of Tara; 13. The powers of kings; 14. Conclusion; Appendix: genealogies and king-lists; Glossary: Irish and Latin; Bibliography; Index.

'Early Christian Ireland is a considerable achievement; it should be essential reading for students and scholars for many years to come.' The Innes Review