Táinig an tráth nóna: old age in classical Irish religious verse

Old age and fear of Judgement are common themes in the religious poetry of late medieval and early modern Ireland. These widespread themes are, of course, well attested in other periods and in many other literatures. The purpose of the present paper is: (1) to provide a brief introduction to the topos of old age in Classical Irish religious verse, and (2) to trace the use and development of the word nóin in this context.