Early Irish Poets and Combat

[claimhteoir]

I read an article there the other day -

The Idea of the Three Orders of Society and Social Stratification in Early Medieval Ireland
Author(s): Timothy E. Powell
Source: Irish Historical Studies, Vol. 29, No. 116 (Nov., 1995), pp. 475-489
Published by: Irish Historical Studies Publications Ltd

In it the author deals with the societal structure of early medieval Ireland, discussing the grades or rank and the grades/ranks/duties/roles of commoner, noble and professional in the various law tracts. It was an interesting read. But in one or two places the author seems to suggest evidence for the grades in practice being less strict and defined. He sights abbots leading armies on behalf of their monasteries, as an example of secular activities being undertaken by clerical ranks. So, although he doesn't mention poets in the same way, it is food for thought. It would lead me to be a little less dismissive of the idea of poets engaging in battles.