High Middle Ages
Gaelic has a rich oral (beul-aithris) and written tradition, having been the language of the bardic culture of the Highland clans. However, according to Peter Berresford Ellis, the only extant manuscripts preceding the Book of the Dean of Lismore from 16th century are some notes in the Book of Deer, one 11th century poem and the Islay Charter of 1408, presumably due to the rest having been "destroyed by the anti-Gaelic administrators of the country".
It is clear from John Barbour (d. 1395), and a plethora of other evidence, that the Fenian Cycle flourished in Scotland. There are allusions to Gaelic legendary characters in later Anglo-Scottish literature (oral and written).
Read more about this topic: Scottish Gaelic Literature
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