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Ballinderry game board Image scanned from The World of Games, by Jack Bottermans (English edition by Facts on File, NY, 1989)

The Ballinderry Game Board was found in 1932 during the excavation of a "crannog", or lake dwelling at Ballinderry, West Meath, Ireland. The board is 9.5 inches square. The border decorations carved into it are similar to those found on the Isle of Man dating from the 10th century A.D. Although scholars have argued whether it is an example of "Fidchell," or "Brandubh" board (both games mentioned in early Irish texts) they generally agree it is probably related to Scandinavian "Tafl" games. Our Fitchneal game. See also our article on Fitchneal and Celtic games in issue 23 ofRenaissance Magazine.
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Bibliography

  • Bell RC, 1960. Board and Table Games from many Civilizations. Vol I. Oxford University Press (1979 combined republication Dover Publications Inc., New York).
  • Bell RC, 1969. Board and Table Games from many Civilizations. Vol II. Oxford University Press (1979 combined republication Dover Publications Inc., New York).
  • Eales R, 1985. Chess - the History of a Game. BT Batsford Ltd, London.
  • Esvnertos, 1994. Vidupesla, le bois de riflexion. Ialon 6: 24-32.
  • Gantz J, 1981. Early Irish Myths and Sagas. Penguin Books.
  • Jones G & Jones T, 1993. The Mabinogion. Orion Publishing Group, London.
  • Kinsella T, 1969. The Tain. Oxford University Press.
  • Lewis F, 1941. Gwerin ffristial a thawlbwrdd. Trans. Hon. Soc. Cymmrodorion 185-205.
  • MacWhite E, 1946. ÒEarly Irish Board Games.Ó Iigse, a journal of Irish studies 5: 25-35.
  • ap Morgan O, 1993. A brief look at some Welsh games. Y Camamseriad 2: 6-9.
  • Murray HJR, 1913. A History of Chess. Oxford University Press (1985 republication Benjamin Press, Northampton, Massachusetts).
  • Murray HJR, 1952. A History of Board Games other than Chess. Oxford University Press.
  • Robinson JA, 1923. The Times of Saint Dunstan. Oxford University Press.
  • Simpson WG, 1972. A gaming-board of Ballinderry-type from Knockanboy, Derrykeighan, Co. Antrim. Ulster J. Arch. 35: 63-64.
  • Sterckx C, 1973. Les jeux de damier Celtiques. Itudes Celtiques 13: 733-749.
  • Sterckx C, 1973.Les trois damiers de Buckquoy (Orcades). Ann. Bret. 80: 675-689.
  • Suckling N, 1990. Fidchell - celtic chess. Quintessential Games, Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

    • links regarding Fidchell / Brandub / Hnefatafl / Tablut.
     

    Hnefatafl- an Anglo-Norse Boardgame. members.aol.com/_ht_a/vanishwood/city/game1.htm

    King's Table: Game of the Noble Scandinavians.www.expomedia.se/tablut/eng/

    Try playing Gwyddbwyll onlinemembers.tripod.com/~thevole/

    A Brief look at some Welsh Games. metalab.unc.edu/pub/academic/languages/welsh/welsh-l/1994/Apr/Gwyddbwyll-Rules---at-last

    Searchable Historic games list-serve Archive. http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/hist-games/archive/

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