Poet Classes

There were many different form of poets, each with a different amount of training, and a different jobs. The Ollamh were the highest position a poet could hold. These poets were normally given the best jobs and were typically very wealthy.Ollamh was “achieved after at least 12 years of study, during which the poet mastered more than 300 difficult metres and 250 primary stories and 100 secondary stories.” The Chief Ollamh of Ireland was a special position, having the same social status as the High King. According to Law, he was allowed to wear six colors in his dress (same as royalty). In addition, he had his own palace where he lived along with 30 other Ollamhs and their servants.

The next highest form of poet is the Fili. These poets were typically raised in a family of scholars. They also start studying different works from a very early age.

The Bard is the lowest legal form of poet. These are poets who are just starting out and beginning to learn the different styles of poetry, and the focus specifically the poetic eulogy, according to Britannica.     

The lowest form of poet is the Cáinte is an illegal satirist. Some of these illegal satirists started out as legal poets and then lost the right to use satire. One can use the right to use satire if they used it against a person of power or the church. According to this article   Cáinte threatened the validity of all legal poets because of their use of satire. 

Unlike many other professions of the time, poets, allowed women. The women poets could be called Banfili after some training. The Banfili are ranked higher then bards but under the male Fili. Though they did not have the work Ollamh received, they could receive commissions, according to this site.