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TRANSACTIONS 



OF 



THE OSSIANIC SOCIETY. 



TRANSACTIONS 



olt 



THE OSSIAMC SOCIETY, 



FOB THE TEAR 



1856. 



VOL. IV. 



i9X0)'c\fei )=jaNNU)3t)ftact)C2i. 



DUBLIN: 
PRINTED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNCIti, 

VOB THK DBB OV THB milBEBS. 

1859. 






taojcDe FjaNNUjstjeacijca; 



FENIAN POEMS, 



JOHN O'DALT. 



DUBLIN : 

PRINT8D FOR THB OSSIAHIC SOCIBTT, 

By JOHN O'DALT, 9, ANGLISEA-STBEBT. 
1859. 



rRmriD bt aooAvnr, wnr, akd niEBjtcoTT, 79, maslbobodgh-stuzt, ddbiik. 



C^e ^ssianit Sonetj, 



Founded on St. Patrick's Day, 1853, for the Preserration and Publi- 
cation of MSS. in the Irish Language, illustratire of the Fenian period 
of Irish History, &c., with Literal Translations and Notes. 

OFFICEBS ELECTED ON THE 17th MABCH, 1858. 

William S. 0*Bbisn, Esq , M.B.LA., Cakirmoyk, Newcastle West, 

Bbt. Uligk J. BoiTRKB, Professor of Irish, St, Jarlath*t College, 7\tam, 
Bey. Eusebt D. Cleaver, M. A., S, Barnabag, Pimlicoy London, 
John O'Donovan, LL.D., M.R.I.Am Dublin. 
Standish Hates O^Gbadt, Esq., Erinagh House, CaatleconnelL 

€mnxii : 

Ret. John Clabkb, C.C, Louth 

Professor Connellan, QueetCs College, Cork, 

Rev. Sidney L. Cousins, Bantire, Cork. 

Rby. John Forrest, D.D., Kingstown. 

Rey. Jambs Goodman, A.B., Ardgroom, Castletown, Berehaven. 

William Hackbtt, Esq., Midleton, Cork, 

Rby. Patrick Lamb, P.P., Newtownhamilton. 

Michael Lysaoht, Esq., Ennis, 

Michael J. Mac Carthy, Esq., Derrynanoul, Mitckehtown. 

M. M*GiNTY, Esq., Bray. 

Professor John 0*Beirnb*Crowr, A.B., Queen*s College, Galway. 

John 0*Daly, Esq., O* Daly's Bridge, Kelts. 

John O'Duffy, Esq., 26, Great Brunswick-street, Dublin. 

Rby. John L. 0*Flynn, 0.S.F,C., Church-street Friary, Dublin. 

Rby. John 0*Hanlon, C.C, 17. Jameses-street, Dublin. 

Jambs O'Mahony, Esq., Bandon. 

John T. Rowland, Esq., Drogheda, and Abbey*street, Dublin. 

Andrew Ryan, Esq., GovtkeUy^ Castle, Borrisoleiyh. 

Gboroe Sigbrson, Esq., Queen's College, Cork. 

John WIndele, Esq., Blair's Castle, Cork, 

CnmrniHn of f nbiiratiou. 



Professor Connellan. 

JONH 0*D0N0YAN,LL.D.,M.R.I.A. 

Rby. John L. O'Flynn, O.S.F.C. 
Rby. James Goodman. 



Stamdish Hayes 0*6rady, A.B. 
Ret. John 0*Hamlon, C.C. 
George Sigerson. Esq. 
John Windblb, Esq. 



tmsmx : 

Edward Wm. O'Brien, Esq., 40, Trinity College, Dublin. 

SnitorHni ^nttlstn : 

Mr. John O'Daly, 9, Anglesey-street, Dublin. 



The main object of the Society is to publish manuscripts, consisting of 
Poems, Tales, and Romances, illustratiYe of the Fenian period of Irish 
Histor^r; and other documents illustratiYe of the Ancient History of 
Ireland in the Irish language and character, with literal translations, 
and notes explanatory of the text. 

Subscriptions (5s. per annum) are receiYcd by the Treasurer, by any 
member of llie Council, and by the Honorary Secretary, with whom the 
publications of the Society lie for distribution, and from whom pros- 
pectuses can be obtained. 



GENERAL RULES. 



K That the Society shall be called the Ossianic Society, and that 
its object shall be the publication of Irish Manuscripts relating to the 
Fenian period of our history, and other historical documents, with literal 
translations and notes. 

2. That the management of the Society shall be vested in a President, 
Vice-presidents, and Council, each of whom must necessarily be an 
Irish scholar. The President, Vice-presidents, and Council of the So- 
ciety shall be elected annually by the members, at a General Meeting, to 
be held on the Serenteenth Day of March, the Anniversary of the So- 
ciety, or on the following Monday, in case St. Patrick's Day shall fall on 
a Sunday Notice of such meeting being given by public advertisement, 
inviting all the members to attend. 

3. That the President and Council shall have power to elect a Trea- 
surer and Secretary ftom the fiiembers <^ the Council. 

4. The receipts and disbursements of the Society shall be audited an- 
nually by two Auditors, elected by the Council ; and the Auditors* Re- 
port shall be published and distributed among the members. 

5. In the absence of the President or Vice-President, the Members of 
Council present shall be at liberty to appoint a Chairman, who will not 
thereby lose his right to vote. Three members of the Council to form a 
quorum. 

6. The funds of the Society shall be disbursed in payment of expenses 
incident to discharging the liabilities of the Society, especially in the 
publication department, and no avoidable expenses shall be incurred. 

7. Every member shall be entitled to receive one copy of the Society's 
Publications ; and twenty extra copies of each work shall be printed for 
contingencies. 

8. The funds of the Society shall be lodged in- Bank, in the name of 
the President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Society, or any three 
members the Council may deem proper to appoint. 

9. The Council shall have power to elect additional members, and fill 
vacancies in its own body. 

10. Members of Council residing at an inconvenient distance from 
Dublin shall be at liberty to vote by proxy at elections. 

11. Membership shall be constituted by the annual payment of Five 
Shillings, which sum shall become due on the Ist of January in each 
year. 

12. The Ossianic Society shall publish every year one volume, or 
more, if their funds enable them. 

13. No change shall be made in these Rules, except at a General 
Meeting, and at the recommendation of the Council ; the proposer and 
seconder of any motion for such change, shall lodge a notice of their 
intention in writing, with the Secretary, twenty clear days before the 
day of General Meeting, 

U That all matters relating to the Religious and Political differences 
prevailing in this country, be strictly excluded from the meetings and 
publications of the Society. 



FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT 

BBAD OH THE 17th DAT OF MARCH, 1858. 



It is now nearly six years since the Ossianic Society was ushered into 
existence by a few individuals who saw the neglected and sad state 
of the MS. literature of their country, and of that portion in particular 
known as Oniamc^ which no one seemed to value. 

A meeting was held and a committee of gentlemen* Irish scholars, en- 
rolled themselves determined to commence operations in the yast field 
open before them, and try the experiment as to whether anytlung could 
be done in the shape of printing, and preserving from destruction the 
poetry, and legends ascribed to Oisin and Caoilte, the ancient bards of 
Fenian history. 

The result of their labours is that there are now three handsome 
volumes of Ossianic Literature rescued from distruction and in the hands 
of the members, a fourth is just ready for press and will shortly appear. 

These volumes have elicited the warm praise of the Irish as well as of 
the English press ; and the result is that there are now on the roll of the 
society, five hundred and thirty-two members. 

The Council have great gratification in announcing that daring the 
past year, one hundred and five members joined the Society ; and it is 
cheering to find that such a spirit exists in behalf of their labours. 

The Council deeply regret the unaroidable delay which has occurred 
in the publication of their recent Tolume, " CoTta^seAcc t3lj|Aftii)ut)A A5ur 
5l)ttt^?i7qe/' which could not be well avoided ; as the gentleman who under- 
took the editing of the book was called out of the country on business 
on various occasions, while the book was going throagh press ; but care 
shall be taken in future that delays of this sort shall not occur. 

The Council feel great pleasure in calling attention to the labours of 
kindred societies formed in America and Australia. One established in 
Philadelphia under the careful management of a committee of Irishmen 
(of which we may name two most Indefatigable members, John Burton 
and Patrick O'Murphy, Esqrs.), has sent the sum of fourteen pounds, the 
subscription of members for copies of our last volume. 

The Australian Celtic Association, established in Sydney, has sent 
seven pounds ten shillings, and the books are on their way. 

It is cheering to find that in these distant regions of the globe. Irishmen 
do not forget the literature of their native land ; and that they exult at 
the thought of hearing once more the poems and tales so often recited by 
the 5eAt)cu|6e, or story-teller, at their father's firesides. 

The mission of the Ossianic Society is a noble one, and the Council 
hoi>e they will receive that support from their countrymen, which will 
enable them to preserve every fragment—no matter how small or trivial 
which may throw light on the past glories of their native land. 

With this view they come before you this day ; their labour is one of 
love for the neglected literature of their country, and they sincerely 
hope that an Irish public will meet them in the same spirit. 



BOOKS PRINTED BY THE SOCIETY. 

I. Cac 5bA^t^ ; or, the Prose and Poetical Account of the Battle of 
Gabhra (Qarristown), in the county of Dublin, fought A.D., 283, be- 
tween Cairbre Liffeachair, king of Leinster, and the Fenian forces of 
Ireland, in which the latter were conquered, and their ranks finally 
broken up. Edited by Nicholas O'Keabnbt, (Out of print,)* 

II. Feit C|5e Cl)Oi)A|ij Cbioi) 5bl6]be ; or. The Festivities at the House 
of Conan of Ceann Sleibhe, a romantic hill which is situated on the 
borders of the Lake of Inchiqoin, in the county of Clare. Edited by 
N. O'Kbabnbt, (Out of print,) 

This document contains a colloquy between Flonn and Conan, In which much light Is 
thrown on the Ancient Topography of Munster ; and also on the Habits and Customs of 
the Fenian GhieftiUns. 

III. CotiuiJeAcc t>lj|Ann)UbA Ui t^bu^boe A5ur 5bn«^10i)e» liJSfoo Cbofi- 
fQUfc iQe]c 2l|^c ; or, an Account of the Pursuit of Diarmuid O'Duibhne 
and Grace, the daughter of Cormac Mac Airt, Monarch of Ireland in the 
Third Century, who was married to Fionn Mac Cumhaill, from whom 
she eloped with Diarmuid. To them are ascribed the Leaba Caillighes 
(Hags* Beds), so numerous in Ireland. Edited by Standish Hatbs 
O'Gbadt, President op the Society. 

IV. lAO]cbe T^|Ai7i)U|5beAcbcA ; or, Fenian Poems. Edited by John 
O'Dalt, Honor ab 7 Sbcretart. 



BOOKS IN PREPARATION. 

I. IfQcoAcc i)A Cnoi96ftffbe ; or the Departure of the Great Bardic 
Assembly, being the Introduction to the Tain Bo Chuailgne, Edited 
by Professor Connellan, from the book of 9X)ac CAn^A|5 Ri^bAc : a vel- 
lum MS. of the XIV. Century. In Press, 

II. Cjmo t>d CbUA|l5f)e; or, the Great Cattle Spoil of Cuailgne 
(Cooley), in the county of liouth, being a History of the Seven Years* 
War between Ulster and Con naught ; in the reign of Meadhbh, Queen 
of Counaught, and Conchobhar Mac Nessa, king of Ulster, on account 
of the famous bull called Donn Chuailgne ; and which terminated, ac« 
cording to Roderic O^Flaherty, the Irish chronologist, one year before 
the Christian era. To be edited by William Hackbtt. 

This very ancient and cniious tract oemprlfles three hundred doflely-wrltten folios, and 
contains many Intereatisg details of Mytliolofi^cal Incidents, Pillar Stones, Ogham In- 
crlptlons, Tolachs, War Chariots, Leanan Slghes, Mice and Cat Incantations. Together 
with an account of the Mysterious War Weapon used by Cuchullakm, called Got ^Ig t 
also Some Account of the early Christian Missionaries in Ireland, and the privileges 
enjoyed by the chief bard. 

III. 2l5AlUtb i)A 5eAiy6]tti6e ; or, the Dialogue of the Sages : an His- 
torical Work in Prose and Poetry, full of rare information on the 
achievements of the Fianna Eirionn ; collated with a copy in the Book 
of Lismore, a vellum manuscript of the Fourteenth Century, by per- 
mission of his Grace the Duke of Devonshire. To be edited by John 

WiNDELE. 

IV. Cac V^}r)x} Cn^SA ; or, an Account of the Battle fought at Ventry, 
in the county of Kerry, in the Third Century of the Christian era, be- 
tween Daire Donn, Monarch of the World, and the Fenians. To be 
edited by the Rev. James Goodman, A.B. 

Tills Battle lasted for 3G6 days; the copy nt tlic disposal of the Society is the earliest 
known to exist, having been copied from a rcHum manuscript of the fift<;cnth ccnturv, 
now deposited In the Bodleian Library, OAforil, l>y the Itev. E, D. Cleaver. 

• New Editions of Vols. I. and II., now out of print, will be pnhlislicd 
as soon as the Council receives "250 names to assist in bearing the cost of 
printing. 



XI 

y. Cac ChvocA; or, the Battle of Castleknock, in the county of 
Dublin, fought A.D. 273, between Conn Ceadchathach, i.e., Conn of the 
Hundred Battles, and the Clanna Moma ; by his Tictory in which, Conn 
obtained the SoTereignty of three Provinces in Ireland, viz. Connaught, 
Ubter, and Leinster. To be edited by the Rev. Thaddeus 0*Mahont. 

TlilA tract iB copied from a maniucript made by John MaTphy of GarrignaTar, in tho 
ooim^ of Cork, A.D. 1725, and from tbe £ime of the writer as a scribe, no doubt U 
entertained of Oie accuracy of the text. 

VL A TRACT ON THE TOPOGRAPHY OF IRELAND ; from 
the Psalter Mac Richard Butler, otherwise called ** Sahar na Rann,*" 
containing the Deriyation of the Names, Local Traditions, and other 
remarkable circumstances, of the Hills, Mountains, Rivers, Caves, 
Cams, Rocks, Tulachs, and Monumental remains of Pagan Ireland, 
but more especially those connected with the deeds of Fionn Mac 
ChumhaiU. To be edited by Proves sob Connellan. 

Psalter Mac Blchard Butler was originally written for Edmond, son of Richard Butler 
eommenly called "Hac Bichard," bat on his defisat by Thomas, the eighth Barl of Des- 
mond, (who was beheaded in 1467), near' the banks of the River Suir, where great numbers 
of the Butlers* followers were drowned and slain, the book fbll into the hands of this 
Thomas, and was afterwards the property of Sir Qeorge Carew, EUxabeth's President of 
Munster; but finally came into the hands of Archbishop Laud, who bequeathed it to the 
Bodleian library, Oxford, where it Is now preserved, and the Society hare permisaion to 
make transcripts of its contents. 

Vn. A TRACT ON THE GREAT ACTIONS OF FINN MAC 
CTJMHAILL, copied from the Psalter of Mac Richard Butler. To 
be edited by the Rev. Ulick J. Boubkb, of St. Jarlath's College, 
Tuam.* 

Vm. A MEMORIAL ON THE DAL-CASSIAN RACE, and the 
Divisions of Thomond at the Invasion of the English, A.D. 1172 : to 
which is annexed a Short Essay on the Fenii or Standing Militia of 
Ireland ; also. Remarks on some of the Laws and Customs of the Scoti, 
or Antient Irish, by the late Chevalier O'Gorman; presented to the 
Society for publication by J. R. Jolt, Esq., LL.D., Rathmines. 

These manuscripts contain a Ust of the several families of the Macnamaras, who wei-e 
named fh>m the houses or lands of inheritance they severallv enjoyed ; also a list of the 
several castles in the baronies of Bnnratty and TuUa, with the names of the persons who 
erected them. 

IX. Ctt| CttuA5 i)A Ss^AlAiseAccA ; or. The Three Sorrows of Story- 
telling, which reUtes the tragical fate of the sons of Uisneach, the sons 
of Tttireann, and the cliildren of Lir, who are represented to have been 
metamorphosed into swans by their stepmother, Aoife; and in that 
shape spent seven years on SriUh na Maoile Ruadh, supposed to be that 
portion of the British Channel which separates Ireland and tlio Isle of 
Man. 

* Thi8 tract appears in the present volume, edited hy Dr» 0*Donovan, 



SOCIETIES IN CONNECTION. 



1. ThB ArCBITBOTDBAL and ABCBJIOLOaiCAL SOCIBTT OF BUCK- 
INGHAM. Rev. A. Newdioatb, Aplesbury, Honorary Secretary. 

2. Tbr Arcbitbgtubal Socibtt of thb Abchbbaconbt of Nob- 

tbampton ahi> tbb countieb of tobk and lincoln ; and thb 
Abchitbctubai. and Abchjbologigal Socibtt of Bbdfobd- 
BHiRB AND St Albans. Bct. H. D. Nigholbon, M.A. Si, 
AlbanSf Herts, Honorary Secretary. 

3. Thb Cambbian Inbtitutb. R. Mabon, EBq. High'$treet, Ten* 

bjft Treasurer. 

4. The Cambridqb Antiquarian Socibtt. Ghab. C. Babinoton, 

Esq., M. A., Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, Treasurer. 

5. Thb Historic Socibtt of Lancabhibb and Ghbshirb. Rbt. 

A HuMB, D.G.L., LL.D., F.S.A., St. George's, Liverpool, 
Honorary Secretary. 

6 Thb Kilkenny and South-East of Ireland Arcraolooigal 
S0CIP.TT. Rev. James Grates, A.B., and John George 
Augustus Prim, Esq., Kilkenny, Honorary Secretaries. 

7. The Suffolk Institute of Archjiologt. Samuel Ttmms, 

Esq., F.S.A., Burp St. Edmunds,UonoTUj Secretary and Treasurer, 

8. The Socibtt of Antiquaries of London. John Y. Akerman, 

Esq., F.S.A., Somerset House, London, Secretary. 

9. The Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle- upon-Ttnb. John 

Adamson, Esq., The Castle, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Secretary. 

10. Thb Socibtt of Antiquaries of Scotland. John Stuart, 
Esq., General Registry House, Edinburgh, Secretary. 

11. The Surrey Archjbolooical Society. Gborge Bish Webb, 
Esq., 6, Southampton-street, Covent Garden, London, Honorary 
Secretary. 



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CONTENTS. 










Page 


BloaRAFHICAL SkBTCH 


op ' 


FEB LATB WiLLIAM 




Elliott Hudson 


• • 




XV 


Introduction 


f 




xxi 


A A^ X A»\/ X/ W \/ A X \/ *^ • • 


Page. 


The Dialogue between 


^E^^ikA 


Pb^CTtA]C . • . 


2 


Oisin and Patrick . 


8 


CaC Ct)0]C At) ^]]t . • 


64 


Battle of Gnoc-an-air • 


65 


LaoiS ^beA]t5A]6 t)^ 




The Lay of Meargaeh 




Ia1)1) l)3feA]i . . . 


94 


of the sharp spears • 


95 


Lao] it)i)^ 8Qb«A]t5A]6 




The Lay of the Wife 




i)A Iai)i) T)5eA|t . . 


164 


of Meargaeh . . 


166 


2lon)At)pA i)A b-p]t]Oii)- 




Names of the principal 




lA0C|tA6 ho'v Iph^^ryt) 




heroes of the Fenians 




bo cu^c A]t cr)oc At) 




who fell on Cnoc-an- 




^IT* 


194 


air •••••• 


196 


Se^ls LocbA t^]r) . . 


200 


The Chase of Loch Lein 


201 


CAO|lce jio CAO . • 


226 


Caoilte sang . . . 


S26 


tA0l6 O|f]0 Aji t^jt 




The Lay of Oisin on 




t)At)-63 .... 


234 


the Land of Youth 


236 


CAqlce ^to CAP . • 


280 






2^AC-51)]lbAtlCA lF]Vt) 




The Boyish Exploits of 




2Qac CunjuiU . . 


288 


Finn Mac Gumhuill 


289 



WILLIAM ELLIOTT HUDSON. 



William Elliott Hudson, the subject of this short sketch, the 
second son of Edwai'd Hudson, a celebrated dentist of Dublin, was 
bora at his father's countiy residence, Fields of Odin (now Hermi- 
tage), near Rathfaraham, in the county of DubUn, August 18th, 1796. 
He early displayed those fine qualities which afterwards caused hiin 
to be so much courted in society when arrived at man's estate. His 
superior talents, together with his natural thirst for knowledge, urged 
him forward, both during his school and collegiate courses, so that 
each year he distinguished himself by obtaining either premiums or 
certificates for superior answering. After he was called to the bai* 
in 1818, he went the Munster Circuit, and his abilities, far beyond 
the ordinary, soon attracted attention, and brought him in brief after 
brief, so long as he continued to practice as a circuit barrister. So 
much was he admired in Cork, that such men as the late Recorder 
Waggett, Rev. Mr. Leslie, Dean Burrowes and others, were accus- 
tomed to watch the coaches, when expecting his arrival for the 
assizes in that city ; each endeavouring to anticipate the other in 
having as their guest, even for a short period, one, whose talents 
they admired, and whose pleasing and instructive conversation, 
they so highly appreciated, proceeding as it did from an intellect, 
well stored with the varied knowledge, which a widely-extended 
course of reading had supplied to a mind admirably fitted for its recep- 
tion. In the year 1836, he was appointed Assistant Barrister for the 
county of Carlow, which post he did not long continue to fill, having 



xvi 

been promoted to the situation of taxing-officer in the common law 
conrts, which office he continued to hold mitil shortly before his death^ 
when declining health obliged him to retire on a pension, to which 
he was entitled for his services. 

Amongst his other accomplishments, W. E. Hudson early dis- 
played a taste for music, and a musical talent of the highest order. 
That he had acquired a practical and theoretical knowledge of that 
science far beyond his compeers, was often tested ; and especially by 
Dr. Russell a highly-gifted clergyman, and himself a great theorist. 
This gentleman, aware of the acuteness of W. £. Hudson's ear in 
distinguishing sound, put him to the severest proofs, without a single 
instance of failure; this induced him to test through young Hudson 
the accuracy of a theoiy which he held, that eyery natural sound, 
such aa the roaring of a furnace, the howling of the storm, thunder, 
water falling in unison, &c ; were all one and the same note, the great 
A of nature. Day after day for nearly three months Hudson accom- 
panied Dr. Russell from place to place, to catch what he called *' na- 
tural sounds" ; and so elated was he with the proofs ^ven of the per- 
fection of his own theory, that it required the utmost vigilance of his 
physicians to prevent his intellect becoming impaired. In after years 
William E. Hudson was the composer of a Te Deum^ and several 
chants, none of which were ever published ; he likewise composed a 
variety of songs, some of which he sent to the press ; but his naturally 
modest and retiring habits prevented him putting himself forward, and 
thereby caused his fame, either as a literary character or as a musical 
composer, to have a much more limited circulation than would be ex- 
pected in the case of a person so highly gifted. When that well known 
periodical, The CUueriy was tottering to its fall^ and had well nigh ex- 
inred, its publishers made a desperate effort to restore its vitality, by 
bringing it out, in a new form and under a new name, as the Dublin 
MoiMy Magazine, In this struggle Mr. Hudson lent the assistance 
of his purse and talents, and chiefly owing to his exertions, it revived 
for a while ; besides contributing to it in a literary way, he brought out 
in it a collection of Irish airs, the finest published since the days of 
Bunting, and many of them far surpassing that eminent musician's 
in arrangement. "His affection,'' said the editor of the Nation 



XVll 

newspaper, " for aU the remainfl and witnesses of Celtic dvilization, 
was intensified in this instance by a deep and cultiyated feeling of 
the art." • 

Mr. Hudson was a member of the principal literary and scientific 
societies of Dnblin in his day, and a constant attendant at their 
council meetings t his enthusiastic love for his country led him to 
be ever forward on these occasions, aiding in whateyer could throw 
light on the history and antiquities of Ireland, in forwarding and 
advancing the scientific labours and discoyeries of our fellow-coun- 
tiymen ; or promoting Irish literature. He was one of the original 
members of the Irish Arch»ological Society founded in 1840, in 
whose publications and proceedings he took a deep interest. The 
leading object of this society was the publication of such docu- 
ments as were calculated to increase our knowledge of Irish history, 
antiquities, and topography. With him, however, its efficiency and 
utility have all but expired. Its indications of a feeble existence 
are now but few and far between. In the year 1845, the editor of the 
present volume, an enthusiastic lover of the language and antiquities 
of his country, founded the Celtic Society under the auspices of Mr. 
Hudson, who took a most active part in its organization, and sus- 
tainment. The editors of its publications were paid out of his pocket, 
whilst his mind and pen were incessantly at work in their behalf, 
to secure a favourable reception from an apathetic public. Mr. Hud- 
son was not himself the editor of any of their books, but still the 
cwas of much of the work rested on him, whose judgment and in- 
tellect, well stored with historic learning, w^ e ever ready to guide 
and assist. He revised aU their books in their passage through the 
press, and to him were they indebted for much of the valuable in- 
formation which the volumes of the Celtic Society contain. The 
only portion of these works which appeared exclusively from his own 
pen was the appendix to the LeAbAft i)a 5-CeA|tc ; or. Book of 
Rights, consisting of various readings selected from the Book of 
JBat20-an-if%t(fa (BaUymote) as compared with the text in the Book 
of Leacan, and ending with a dissertation on the peculiar sound of 

* The Nation^ Jul/ 3nd, 1853. 



xviii 



some of the letters of the Irish alphabet. His purse was ever 
open to promote the usefuhiess of the institution ; and on one oc* 
casion, a short time previous to its amalgamation with the Irish 
Archseolo^cal Society, at a meeting held at Dr. Wilde's in Westland- 
row, he discharged a debt incun*ed bj the council, to the amount 
of over three hundred pounds / When Mr. John O'Daly arrived from 
Kilkenny, for the purpose of establishing the Celtic Society, Mr. 
Hudson was the first to take him warmly by the hand, and support 
his efforts. He was, in fact, the main spring of the Society, and 
owing to his exertions it attained a prominence that gave promise 
of final success. In the year 1 853 Mr. 0*Daly conceived the idea 
of forming an Association for the Preservation and Publication of 
MSS. in the Irish language illustrative of the Fenian period of Irish 
History, and having consulted Mr. Hudson, then as ever foremost 
to promote every endeavour to preserve from oblivion, those docu- 
ments in which our ancestora recorded '^ all important events con- 
nected with then: father-land ;'' he received his warmest encourage- 
ment and support. A meeting was called at Anglesea-street on St. 
Patrick's day, 1853, at which was formed the Ossianic SocietTj 
not as a rival but as an auxiliary to other similar institutions. Mr. 
Hudson took an active and lively interest in fostering it to maturity, 
and a prominent part in its proceedings during the short period of its 
existence previous to his decease. His health, however, broken down 
by frequent paralytic attacks, rendered him incapable of affording 
the Association that help which the Celtic Society had derived from 
his extensive knowledge and exertions. His death, which occurred 
on the 23rd of June, 1853, may be truly regarded as a heavy blow 
and irreparable loss to the best interests of our Society. His name 
gave it character, and the interest which he manifested in the under- 
taking assisted in bringing it into notice^ 

The success of " The Library of Ireland," and of " The Sphit of 
the Nation" are in some measure due to Mr, Hudson. Indeed the 
writer of this paper, has been informed, by Mr. James Duffy, the 
publisher of these works, that Mr. Hudson advanced three hundred 
pounds towards defraying the expenses incurred in bringing out the 
quarto edition of the latter publication. 



XIX 

To obviate the difficulties fonnd so seriotiBlj to obstruct the 
translation of the Brohon laws, arising from the imperfect Irish 
dictionaries extant, Mr. Hudson opened a subscription, to ajssist in 
defraying the expense of the compilation of a work, which would 
facilitate the study of the ancient records of our country. Of this 
project the Rev. Dr. Todd thus speaks in his opening address as 
President of the Royal Irish Academy, April 14th, 1856 ; " Oar 
late lamented associate Mr. Hudson, to whose patriotism the 
library of the Academy owes a valuable addition, deposited in my 
hands, before his death, the sum of £200 in government securities, 
as a contribution towards the publication of the Irish Dictionary. 
This sum with the interest since accruing upon it, which I have 
added to the principal, is aU that is available in the way of funds for 
carrying out this important national object.'' In addition to this 
sum (we have been informed) he proposed giving a further subscrip- 
tion of £1000 ; but his demise took place before he was able to carry 
his intention into effect. " It will be one of the many permanent 
monuments of his career," — says the Nation,* "to write the 
simple truth of him will sound like the hyperbole of an epitaph. Of 
all the systematic attempts to encourage the ancient or modem lite^ 
rature of Ireland, made for the last twenty years, or to create a wider 
interest in our arts, history and antiquities, one thing may always be 
safely assumed, whoever shines like a dial-plate on the front of the 
transaction, William Elliott Hudson was hard at work at the rear ; 
the organizers of it were gathered round his hospitable board ; his 
pen was slaving in its behalf; and hia purse opened with a 
princely munificence to pay its way to success. His contributions 
to several, totally separate objects within the last few years 
counted to our certain knowledge, by hundreds of pounds in each 
case. And he had the singular property, in common with Davis, of 
being totally indifferent to any reputation for his share in the work, 
if only it were done. Nor was his literary enthusiasm, as it some- 
times is in this country, restricted to dead ages and institutions, for- 
swearing the future and the present." 

• Of July 2nd, 1863. 



XX 

The Council of the Ossiakic Societt, fallj convinced that WilHam 
Elliott Hudson had done more for Irish literature than Sir James 
Ware for its antiqnities, and being desirous to pay the best tribute 
of respect in their power to the memory of one who took so deep an 
interest in their affairs, whilst it pleased a wise ProTidence to spare 
him among them, employed Mr. Geary the eminent photographer, 
whilst residing in Grafton-street in 1857, to take a likeness of his bnst 
by the celebrated sculptor Christopher Moore, which Mr. Hudson's 
brothers generously presented to the Royal Irish Academy. ^^ It is an 
admirable piece of sculpture, and having been taken during his life- 
time, before struggling with ill health, it conveys much of his 
character, — ^the dear brow of silent speculation, and the delicate lip 
of cultivated taste ; the full beaming eye, was beyond all sculpture.''* 

To the Council of the Royal Irish Academy, the Council of the 
OssiANic Societt owe a debt of gratitude, for their kindness in per- 
mitting Mr. Greary to take the photograph, and they avail themselves 
of this opportunity to return their heartfelt thanks to that learned 
body. This photograph has been cut in wood by the eminent engraver 
Mr. William Oldham of Bedford House, Rathgar, and will in future 
ornament the title pages of the Transactions of the Ossianic Society ; 
it is but a small token of the esteem and regard that they stiU, and 
must ever cherish for the memory of the man— William Elliott 
Hudson. * 

• The NaHon, July 2nd, 1853. 
DubUn, March Ist, 1859. 



INTRODUCTION. 



BOM the most reliable and 
beet accredited documents re- 
epectiog the ancient Irish hand- 
ed down to U8, it appears certain 
that, not only the monarchy itself 
but likewise all posts of honor 
and profit, had become heredi- 
tary in different septa and fami- 
lies. Purity of blood was held, of 
:ourse, a national object of the 
irst importance ; and the lite- 
•ati, therefore, the conservators 
lence, were regarded as of the 
j; as they alone conJd prove the 
ermine the rank and station of 
ice the necessity of the great 
iiaries, whom we find supported 
wments. The monarch and the 
. as well as the nobility and the 
:he crown, being alike of the 
ilesius, great care was taken 
gy and descent; and &/&tj 
ise various offices was obliged 
10 give: — ist proof of descent; 2ndly, of 
his having been a knight, (for in each of the provinces there 



xxii 



was an equestrian order) ; 3rdly, that be had no remarkable 
deformity or blemish ; so that his person might command 
respect, suitable to his birth and education. No wonder, 
then, that the genealogies of the different families of the 
kingdom, of the Milesian race, were preserved with the 
utmost care. To secure the literati from any temptation 
to abuse their trust, honorable provision was made for them 
by the state. From their rank they were presumed to be 
beyond the reach of corruption ; and the laws secured their 
persons and properties inviolate ; so that, from the founda- 
tion to the overthrow of the monarchy, a single instance 
does not occur of any violence being offered to this body of 
men. Abuses, however, gradually crept into the bardic 
institution, mainly arising from the number of idlers who 
enlisted themselves under its banner ; during two or three 
successive reigns the kingdom was found to be greatly im- 
poverished by their exactions, until it was found necessary 
to reduce the number. 

Though the monarchy as well as all other posts of honor, 
was elective, yet, to prevent as much as possible, any in- 
conveniences which litigated elections might produce, the 
successor of the monarch was appointed in his lifetime, and 
was called Righdhomhna, and this, it is observable, is at this 
day, we believe, the practice in China and other foreign 
countries. The Ollamhs or Doctors in the various sciences, 
who were of the most noble families, had also their successors 
declared in their own lifetime ; and he that was to fill the 
post of honor, or have command in the state, had his Tan- 
aiste appointed to succeed him in office. This arrange- 
ment prevented the evils of incompetency occasionally 
arising from direct lineal succession. 

The provincial kings in their own position, were equal to 
the monarch in his exalted station. Each had his order of 
chivalry, of which he was himself the chief. He had his 



XXIU 

Ardnlraoi or high priest, to superintend religioni his mar- 
shal, standard-bearer, chief-treasurer, &c., all these ap« 
pointments were hereditary in families, to which the most 
distinguished alone in each was chosen by election. 

The diflFerent military forces of the kingdom were the 
particular guards of each province. They were a species of 
standing militia, composed of trained bands called Guraidhe . 
(champions), an order of knighthood into which none were 
admitted without exhibiting unexceptionable proofs of birth, 
learning, generosity, valour, and activity. 

The particular militia or knights of every province held 
their head-quarters, or were located near the residence of 
their chiefs : thus the militia, or knights of Ulster, called 
Guraidhe-na^Craoibhe-Ruaidhe (champions or heroes of the 
Red Branch), were stationed at the Royal Fort at Eamhuin 
(Emania), near Armagh. They were of the Rudrician 
race, and were commanded in the reign of Gonchobhar Mac 
Nessa, by the famous champion Guchullin', who, accord- 
ing to the annals of Glonmacnoise, and the Chronicon Sco- 
torum, died in the second year of the Ghristian era ; and was 
succeeded in command by his cousin Gonall Geamach. 

Vestiges of the ancient palace of Eamhuin, or Emania, 

■ At the time that CuchuUin was chief of the knights of Ulster, in the 
reign of Conchobhar Mac Nessa, (a celebrated prince of the Rudrician 
race, king of UUter, and monarch of Ireland), Conrigh Mac Daire, a 
renowned champion, and chief of the Clanna Deaghaidh in Munster, 
was treacherously slain by Cuchullin, in revenge of an indignity 
which Conrigh offered him, by cutting off his hair when asleep, and 
taking from him the object of their contention — the beautiful Blanaid, a 
lady whom they brought captire from Scotland. She showed greater at- 
tachment to Cuchullln than to Conrigh, and consequently oontrived for 
him an opportunity of perpetrating a horrid and treacherous murder in 
the palace of Cahirconry, the ruins of which are still extant on Sliabh 
Mis in Kerry, near which runs the rivnlet caUed Fionn-Ghlaise. For a 
fuller account of this transaction, see Keating* $ Ireland, and Smith't 
Kerry, p. 156, &c. 



XXIV 

and of the house of Graoibh Ruadh (Bed Branch), adja- 
cent to the palace are still extant, two miles to the west of 
Armagh, the site retaining the name of the fort of Navan. 

The militia or knights of Leinster, were called Coraidhe 
Ghamhanruighe, or the Damnonians of Gailian, seated at 
Dun Aellinne, about twelve miles south-east of Alnihuin, 
the place of their head-quarters in that province previous 
to the time of Fionn's appointment to this post of honour. 
On his receiving the command, he removed with his force 
to Almhuin, a place in the county of ELildare, bordering on 
Hy-Failghe, now Ophaly, which with the adjoining territory 
he possesses in right of his mother. Murrain Munchaoimh 
(the fair haired), daughter of Teige Mac Nuadhat. Here 
he fixed his seat on the far famed hill of Almhuin as a 
more central point ; and the knights of Leinster were from 
thenceforth called Guraidhe na h-Almhuine, or the heroes 
of Almhuin.* 

The militia or knights of Oonnaught, whose chiefs were 
the Clanna Morna, of the old Belgian or Firbolg race, have 
been distinguished by the appellation of Guraidhe lorrais 
Dun Domhnainn ; a territory in the county of Mayo, their 
head quarters. The ruins of the Fort of Dun Domhnainn 
are still extant in lorras or Erris, the most western part 
of that county. Goll Mac Morna, according to G'Flaherty 
(see Ogygid)^ commanded the Clanna Morna, at the famous 
battle of Magh Lena, A.D.192, and was detached by GonnGed- 
chathach as the most able and expert champion to oppose in 
person his ^eat competitor Mogh Nuadhat. In that engage- 
ment Conan Mac Morna, who is said to have been the grand- 
son of Goll, commanded the Glanna Morna in turn ; and ever 
since the fall of Fionn Ua Baoiscne, A.D. S83, at Rath Bre- 

1 Almhuin. The roiDs of the fort of Almhuin are 8tiU extant on the 
west end of the Curragh of Kildare ; and what we corruptly call the 
'* Bog of Allen" at this day, was formerly the forest of Almhuin, in 
which the knights were accustomed to enjoy the pleasures of the chase. 



ogha^ near the Boyne, by the treacherous hands of Athlach 
Mac Duibhdrein, had frequent contentions with the Clanna 
Baoiscne for the captain-generalship of the Fians. 

The defection of the Clanna Moma from the rest of their 
corps at the battle of Gabbra, may be attributed not only to 
their rivalry for the general command, but also^and more 
particularly to the murder of Conan, their late captain, 
by the Clanna Baoiscne or Fianna Finn. In many epic 
poems written by the bards on the achievements of the 
Fianna Eireann, this Conan is indiscriminately described by 
the appellations of Conan Maol Mallachtach Mac Moma, 
and Conan Mac Garraidhe, and might have been brother to 
Aedh the son of Garadh, the son of Neamen, the son of 
Morna, fipom whom the Clanna Moma were named. He 
was then king of Connaught, and the last of the Firbolg 
race who governed that province. 

The militia, or knights of Desmond^ or South Munster, 
were called Guraidhe Clanna Deaghaidh, or Ua Deaghaigh, 
a tribe of the Emaidhs, of the Heremonian race^ who, on 
being expelled from Ulster by the Clanna Rughraidhe, 
obtained a principality in South Munster." These, some 
time before the birth of Christ, obtained great power in 
Munster under their leader Deaghadh, who aflerwaras 
became king of that province. His posterity succeeded 
him in power, in West Munster particularly, and were 
the champions of Desmond. The territory of Luachair Dea- 
ghaidh; in the county of Kerry, was their patrimony. There 
still remain on the western extremity of Sliabh Mis, the 
foundations of an enormous cyclopean stmcture, supposed 
to be the palace begun by Conrigh Mac Daire, whose history 
we have briefly glanced at. This part of the mountain com- 
mands, perhaps, one of the finest prospects in the world, and 
still retains the name of Cathair Chonrigh. Fionghlaise, as 

> Vide O'Flaherty'8 Ogygia, rol. IL, pp. 142, 143. 



xxvi 



already stated, rans down the steep hill on which this ruin 
is based, and discharges itself into the bay of Tralee, a short 
distance to the north, corresponding exactly with the de- 
scription given by history of the fort of Dun Deaghaidh. 
Mac Luigheach, a famous champion of this sept, command- 
ed the Clanna Deaghaidh at the battle of Gabbra, and was 
slain in that engagement, according to the annals of Innis- 
fallen. 

The militia, or knights of Thomond or North Munster, 
were the Clanna Baoiscne,^ so called from Baoiscne, their 
principal ancestor, who, according to the Book of Ballimote, 
now deposited in the library of the Royal Irish Academy, 
was the second son of Nuada Necht of the royal race 
of Leinster, and fifth direct ancestor of Fionn the son of 
Gumhall, the son of Treanmor, the son of Salt, the son of 
Elton, the son of Baoiscne. 

Fionn soon afterwards received the investiture of For- 
maoil na bh-Fian, a district in Hy-Kinsellagh,* concerning 
which there has been much conjecture, by the donation of 
his cousin and relative Fiachadh Baiceadha,' then king of 
Leinster and youngest son of Gathaoir Mor. The Clanna 
Baoiscne were also called Fianna Finn, whilst Fionn Ua 
Baoiscne was their leader and before he took the general 
command. Gisin the son of Fionn was their chief at the 
battle of Gabhra, in which his son Oscur fell in an ambush, 
laid for him by Cairbre Liffeachair, monarch of Ireland, 
A.D. 277. 

It is probable that, inasmuch as Ireland was in these early 
days much exposed to the descents of African and Northern 
pirates, a strong necessity existed for the formation of these 

1 Clanna Baoiscne, For farther particulars of this tribe and their 
territory, see le^bAtt t)A s-Ce^Tic (Book of Rights), p. 48, n. g. 
> Hif Kintellagh. Ibid, p. 206, n. g. 
s Fiachadh Baiceadha, See Book of Rights, pp. 200, 203. 



XX vu 

corps of militia — one in each province, which Pinkerton has 
ingeniously conjectared, may have been modelled on the 
plan of the Roman legions in Britain. According to the 
Cath Fhinn-traghai their stations were distributed along the 
coasts, in the most elevated and inaccessible positions ; and 
in distant view of each other — so as to communicate by 
signals, the approach of an enemy, and thereby enable 
them to come to the succour and relief of the fort invaded. 
Thus, the forts of lorras Dun Domhnainn in Mayo, and of 
Cahir Conrigh on Sliabh Mis, in Eerry^ though the distance 
cannot be less than 100 miles were made available ; and the 
one at Eas Aedh Ruaidh mhic Badham, (now Assaroe), near 
Ballyshannon, in the county of Donegal, wherein was always 
posted a strong detachment of the Ulster militia, was brought 
in view of that of lorras Dun Domhnainn. These were the 
coasts most exposed to the southern and northern invaders. 
But besides this duty as ** coast guards," these military- 
orders were charged with the preservation of "law and order" 
in the interior of the country ; they were bound to send 
certain detachments yearly to protect the persons of their 
respective kings. Thus, the guards of Eoghan Mor, were 
called teaghlacky or household troops. Cormac Mao Airt, 
whose reign shines so refulgent in Irish history, had for his 
body-guards, one hundred and fifty of the principal knights 
of the kingdom, besides one thousand household troops to 
guard his palace. The guards of the kings of Munster, 
or Leath Mhogha, were the people of Ossory, whose coun- 
try formed the extreme boundaries of that kingdom ; and 
according to the Book of Rights, ascribed to St. Benignus, 
we find the duty imposed on tl is people, by the king of 
Munster was to wait on him constantly, with a certain num- 
ber of armed troops. The guards of the king of Desmond, 
or South Munster, were the Glanna Deaghaidh, as has been 
abeady stated, and those of the kings of Thomond, or 



XXVIU 

North Munster, were a detachment of the Clanna Baoiscne ; 
bat in latter times for these were substituted the Dal Gais^ 
a most intrepid body of men. The palace of Brian Boroimhe 
at Eiillaloe was called Tigh Ghinn Goradh^ or the house 
at the head of the weir. It was the duty of the heredi- 
tary standard-bearer to preserve the royal banner ; to be 
amongst the foremost of the troops in action, and in the 
rear on a retreat — for the troops ever kept their eye on the 
standard, and when the prince was killed (for he seldom 
or ever survived a defeat), the standard was struck, which 
was the signal for a retreat : thus, in the sanguinary battle 
of Magh Mucruimhe, fought between the monarch Art and 
Mac Gon ; on the death of Art we are told by the poet : — 

'*4!)o ra^c iDeijise caca Cl)tt]i)b." 
Genu's battle standard fell. 

Next to this oiSicer sat the hereditary treasurer, whose duty 
it was to see the king's copitributions and taxes regularly 
paid ; which was always done on the first of November. 
These taxes were fixed, and a register kept of them ; so that 
the particular duties, imposed on the different portions of 
the kingdom, may be the more easily known. ^ 

Besides these state officers, there were a chief justice or 
brehon, to expound the laws, a poet or ollamh, an historian, 
antiquary, physician, surgeon or liagh, and chief musi- 
cian ; and three stewards of the household with their at- 
tendants constantly residing at court. All these different 
offices were retained in Ulster, and in parts of Munster 
and Gonnaught, until the accession of James I. to the 

1 In the reign of Cnchorb, king of Leinster, in the first centur/, 
Laighsech, of the progeny of Conall Ceamach, progenitor of the present 
O'MorftS, or O'Mores, obtained from that king a territory, in Leinster, i.e. 
Laoighis or Leix, called after him, on account of his personal hnrerj 
and services. He was at the same time appointed treasurer of Leinster, 
and priTileged to take the fourth place at the council board. 



XXIX 



throne of England : thas, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth^ 
Anno 1601, O'Neill, Prince of Ulster, visited London, in 
consequence of a promise made by him the previous year 
to the Queen ; and Camden tells us that '' he appeared at 
court with his guards of Gall-oglachs [Gallowglasses] bare- 
headed, armed with hatchets, their hair flowing in locks 
on their shoulders, on which were yellow shirts dyed with 
saffiron, with long sleeves, short coats, and thrum jackets; 
at which strange sight the Londoners marvelled much." 

The hereditary marshals of Ulster were the O'Gallaghers ; 
the Mac Gafieries the standard-bearers ; the Mac Sweenys 
captains of the guards, and the O'Gnives the poets. 

The hereditary marshals of Leinster were the O'Connors, 
princes of Ui Fhailge; the standard-bearers were the 
O'Gormans or Mac Germans, princes of Hy Mairge or 
Margy; the O'Dempsys, lords of Clanmalier, were the 
captains of the guards ; the Mac Keoghs were the historio- 
graphers ; the O'Dorans the brehons ; and the O'Mores 
were the hereditary treasurers. 

The hereditary marshals of Gonnaught were the Mac 
Dermods ; the O'Flaherties were the standard-bearers ; the 
O'Eellys of Hy Many were the treasurers ; the Maelconaires 
the historiographers,^ &c. We do not find who the other state 
officers were ; but the Mac Firbises were the physicians. 

The hereditary marshals of Desmond, or South Mun- 
ster, were the O'Eeeffes ; the OTalveys were the admirals ; 
for we find in ** Toraigheacht Cheallachain Chaisil," an- 
nounced for publication by the Irish Archaeological and 
Celtic Society, that the fleet was commanded by Failbhe 
Fionn. We do not find who the standard-bearer and trea- 
surer were ; but the Mac Egans were the hereditary chief 

> See a paper on the loaugnration of Cathal Crobhdhearg, king of 
Connaught, A.D. 1244, published in the Transactions of the Kilkenax 
Archieological Society for 1863, in which all these ofSces are noticed. 



justices or brehons, the 0* Daly's the poets, and the O'Cal- 
lauans the physicians, in which family leechcrafb is still 
a favorite profession. 

The hereditary marshals of Thomond, or North Mnnster, 
were the Mac Namaras ; the standard-bearers the O'Deas, 
and the O'Gradys were the captains of the guards until 
about A.D. 1200, at which time they were succeeded in 
that trust by the O'Gormana or Mac Germans, who, being 
compelled by the Danish or English invaders to abandon 
their principality of Hy-Mairge in Leinst^r, removed to 
Owney and Shingal in the county of Limerick, from whence 
they were invited to Ibh Breacain (now Ibricane), and were 
granted that lordship under feudal tenure by Donogh Cair- 
breach O'firian, king of Thomond, who i^pointed them 
captains of his guards, and adopted them as his chief favorites 
and counsellors, by the style and title of 'pi ft iJttS U] 
BbT^14^10> by which appellation they are constantly styled 
in our annals, and in the writings of the Mac Brodins, 
historiographers of Thomond. Gumheadha (Covey) Mor 
Mac Gormain was, according to 8eaan Mac Eughraidhe 
Mac Craith, (see CaitArdm TAairdAealbAaidA, or Triumphs 
of Turlogh), one of Donogh O'Brien's life Guards in the 
wars of Thomas de Clare in Thomond, and his son Cumh- 
eadha, succeeded him after his death in 1310. 

The Mac Clanchies were the hereditary chief justices or 
brdhons of Thomond, the Mac Craiths the hiBtoriographers 
and poets. The O'Nealons and the O'Hickies were the 
hereditary physicians. All thea^ public officers of the 
state had sufficient estates allotted to them for their main- 
tenance. 

In the Book of Ballimote, it is stated that Nuada 
Neacht, who reigned monarch of Ireland one year, was 
the fourth son of Setna Sithbhaic (the peaceable) son of 
Lughaidh Loithfinn, the progenitor of the royal Lageniau 



XXXI 



race^ and gecond son of Breasal Breac, or the speckled. 
From this Nuada Neacht is descended the stock of the 
Lagenians ; he was king of Tara : and it was he who slew 
Eidirsgeoil Mor, or the Qreat, the son of the descendant 
of lamaillin, which deed he committed in opposition to 
Lughaidh Biamhdhearg, and thereupon he became king of 
Ireland. From the aforesaid Nuada Neacht descended 
Fionn Ua Baoiscne and the celebrated Gaoilte Mao Ronain. 
For Finn's pedigree see page 285. 

Borne of our Scottish antiquaries have sought from the 
mere name to represent Fionn as of Scandinavian or rather 
Finnish origin I but the attempt is so devoid of proof or 
evidence, as to be worthy merely of notice as an ingenious 
paradox. His death occurred, according to the annals 
of Innisfallen^ in A.D. 283, in the fourth year of the 
reign of Cairbre Liffeachair, when, says our veracious 
chronicler, fell the celebrated general of the Irish militia, 
Fionn the son of Oumlkally by the treacherous hand of a 
fisherman named Athlach, son of Dubhdrenn, who slew 
him with his fishing spear at Bath Breogha, near the Boyne, 
whither he had retired in bia old age to spend the remainder 
of his life in tranquillity fVom the noise and tumult of war. 

The collection of poems, which forms the present volume, 
are taken from copies made by the following scribes : — 

The Agallamh is taken from a copy made in 1780 by a 
Mr. Laurence O'Foran, who kept a village school at Kil- 
leen, near Portlaw, in the county of Waterford. It con- 
tains besides, many other interesting poems and prose 
matters relative to the Fenian period of our history. 

The battle of Cnoc-an-air, or Hill of Slaughter, was 
taken from a large volume compiled about the year 1812, 
by Clare scribes, for the Rev. Thomas Hill, of Cooreclure, 
a member of our Society ; it now belongs to Mr. Blake 
Foster of Knockmoy, county of Galway, who kindly lent 



izxii 

it, with permission to make any use the Society required 

of its contents. Those that follow were taken from a ma- 

• 

Duscript Yolume of Fenian poems made in 1844^ by Mr. 
Martin Griffin, an intelligent blacksmith who resides at 
Eilrnsh in the county of Clare. The poem entitled Tir 
na n-Og, or Land of Touth, is accounted for by Mr. 
O'Looney ; and Dr. O^Donovan has said all that was ne^ 
cessary regarding the curious and valuable tract which he 
has, Buo more, himself so ably edited. 

In conclusion, we feel it our duty, ere we close, to tender 
the warmest thanks of the Society to the President and 
Council of the Boyal Irish Academy, for the facility they 
have afforded us in collating our proofs with their valuable 
collection of manuscripts, whilst oui: book was passing 
through the press : also to the Committee of Publication, 
for their kindness in revising the same. 

The English reader will excuse the style, consequent 
upon our being obliged to adhere as closely as the idioms 
of the English language would admit to our originals ; and 
although the translation may be occasionally a little rugged 
and uneven — ^yet, on close comparison with the original, it 
will, we think, be found a faithful and correct rendering. 

JOHN O'DALY. 

2>if6/tJi, March XJth, 1859. 



taoj^t)^ TsjaHHU)5Dftact)t:a. 



2i3att2i2i)t) o)S)N asus pijacBajc. 




SjN If f AbA bo f UA17, 

bo t\i^}^ zu bo luc Y bo peA|tc, 



4)o cfifei5eAf TOO lur Y njo i^eAftc, 
^ i>AC tnA|)idAi)Q cAc a; p]oi^ ; 
Awr Ai> 5-clfe]tt v]l nyo fpfeif^ 
ce6l ba fe^f i>^ b^iji) l]0Ti). 



p. N] cuaIa cu c6fi)-ii)A]c bo ceol,' 

6 car Ai) bOfbA]D 'suf Ai)]u5 ; 
3|8 CAO] ^|if a6, A1")5lic, l]AC, 

7f fl)A]C bo UlAftf A elf A|l Ajl CPOC. 
O. 4>0 |l]A]tA11)Pn cllA|t A|l CIJOC, 

A Pb^ftA^c ]f bocc jtut); 

If tDAlUS btt^C bo C^]1) IIJO CjtUC; 
aY 1)AC b-fUA]tAf 5ttC A|l b-c6|f. 

^ Ceol, mtinc. The musical instmmonts pecnliar to the ancient Irish 
were the harp and bagpipes. The Dord FUmn was ased on hunting 
excursions, and may be considered the Fenian liom of the chase, like 
the hunter's horn of our own day ; but it must be looked upon as a 
▼ery simple musical instrument, inasmuch as it was only adapted 
for the aboTe purpose. But it is believed bj Scanchuidhes or reciters 



THE DIALOGUE OF OISIN AND PATRICK. 



jfj2J222^ 




ISIN I long IB thy slumber, 
Rise up and hear the psalm ; [thee, 
Thy agility and valor have forsaken 
Though thou didst engage in battles and 
fierce conflicts. 



0. I have lost my agility and strength, 

Since no battalion survives to Fionn ; 
In the clerics is not my pleasure, 
Music after him is not sweet to me. 

P. Thou hast not heard music equally good. 

Since the beginning of the world until this day ; 
Tho' thou art aged, silly, and grey [haired], 
Well wouldst thou attend a host on a hill. 

0. I used to attend a host on a hill, 

Patrick of the morose disposition ; 
111 it becomes thee to traduce my form, 
As I have never been aspersed till now. 

of Fenum tales that the Dord wai also lued aa a war-tmmpet to summon 
the Fenian chiefii to battle. We are not aware that anj specimen of it 
is preserved in our national museums. For a learned dissertation on 
ancient Irish musical instruments, see CambrensU Bvertu; YoL I., Cb. 
ly., edited by the Her. M. KeUj, D.D., for the Celtic Society. 



O. 4)o cu^Af ce6l bA h]t)tye xy^ bufi 5-C€6l, 

50 id6|i nyoX^x ^^ ^^ cl|A|t ; 

V Av |!A0]6 bo 5Di6 AD 43o|ib 'pbiAi)!?. 

Sti^dUc |io-b|Di) sUawa S5A1I,* 

1)6 iDO03^l|t DA l1^bA|lc A5 buAiD T*® CT»^15 f 
bA b|DD« IfOfi) c|iOfb DA 5-COD, 
D^ bo rsol-f A, A clfeims cA|6. 

Cdw' 6e]|teo]l, Cdu ido cuijip, 
AD c-AbAC beA5 bo b] A5 T^jodd ; 
AD uA]|i bo feiDD«A6 cufii aV l>tt||ic, 
bo Ctti|teA8 fiDO a b-coi|icffD fUAiD- 

BUcDAib AD ID^eAD 65, 

DAC b-cu5 ">^1^ b'^eAjt f Aoi d i)-5ftfe|D; 

Acc Ati7A]D ^ CljDtt 6e]|teoil, 

oc I A Pb^CTtAic, bA biDD A bfeAl I 

21d bA S^bATi bfeAj bo b^ A5 'pjODD, 
D uA]|i bo te]5cl lAb f 5 JleADD R^ ;* 
bA biDD^ V^ ^^^^ c]U]l, 

Y A D-A5A16 d'D C-Siaifl* AfDACi. 

1 55AlcAtii)Ac U>|i7 leictie^ Iao], Me <ofi^ o/*M« blackbird of Letter Lee. 
The blackbird, the thruBh, the eeagoll, the eagle and the raven, are the 
birds most often commemorated bj the Fenian muse. The i9f ol iQUise 
(our hare), the VV^ nuAft, or red deer, the buck and doe, the cofic, or 
wild boar, and the t& aUca, or f aoUc6, the wolf, were the objects of 
their chase. Letter Lee is not yet identified. 

* 5leAi7i) At) 55A]l, i.e., the glen or vale of Seal. In the MtseeUany of 
the Celtic Society, p. 24, the following note appears : ^ 

** Seal Balbh, i.e., Seal the Stammerer. 0*Flaherty says that Bania, 
daughter of Seal Balbh, king of Finhind, was the Queen of Tuathal 
Teachtmhar, monarch of Ireland, A.D. 130. A personage of the same 
name seems to hare flourished in Ireland, from the many places named 
after him, as Gleann-an-Scail in the county of Antrim, Leac-an-Scail, 
a great Gromleac in the county of Kilkenny, and Leacht-an-Scail, i.e., 
ScaVs monument, in the barony of Corcaguiny, county of Kerry.** 

Ihere is also SUsai^i; aq ScAfl, and tt5A]i|iy a9 ScayI, about ten miles 
west of Dingle. leAec ad ScajI is still in existence. By accenting the 
letter a in the word ScAfl these localities would mean the glen of the 
shade or shadow. 



0. I have heard music more melodious than your music, 
Tho' greatly thou praisest the clerics ; 
The song of the blackbird of Letter Lee^ 
And the melody which the Dord Fiann made. 

The very sweet "thrush of Gleann-a-sgail, 

Or the dashing of the barks touching the strand ; 
More melodious to me was the cry of the hounds, 
Than of thy schools, chaste cleric. 

little Gnu, Cnu of my heart. 
The small dwarf who belonged to Fionn ; 
When he chaunted tunes and songs. 
He put us into deep slumbers. 

Blathnaid, the youthful maid. 
Who was never betrothed to man under the sun, 
Except to little Cnu alone, 
0, Patrick, sweet was her mouth. 

The twelve hounds which belonged to Fionn, 
When they were let loose through Glen Rath ; 
Were sweeter than musical instruments, 
And their face outwards from the Suir. 

* Ci^ii. Dr. O'Donovan sajs that Cnu was taken by Fionn near a 
Sith (a fairy haunt) in Magh Feimhean, an extentiye plain situated near 
Sliabh-na-m-ban in the county of Tipperary, (see le^bAt^ 17 a s-CoAftc, 
Book of Rights, p. 18, note b), and that he was scarcely tall enough to 
reach the strings of the harp. From the frequent aUusion made to him 
in Ossianlc Poetry, in connection with Fionn, he seems to have been his 
chief musician, by whose soothing strains the Fenians were lulled into 
deep and heavy slumbers. Cou or C176, also signifies a nut or kernel « and 
one of the prettiest ballads erer written by the late Edward Walsh, was 
entitled ** Mo Chraoibhin Cno*^ (my cluster of nuts) commencing thus : — 

** My hewt is Ikr from LifTey's tide. 

And DnbUn town ; 
It BtrajB b«7ond the Southern side 

Of Cnoc AUol Donn : 
Where Ceape Chntnn hath woodlands green. 
Where Abhnin Mhor'i waten flow ; 
Where dwellB ansang, unsought, unseen. 

Mo Chraoibhin Cno. 
Lo«r clustering in her leafy green. 

Mo Chraoibhin Cno." 



Dt ttAbAIDA|t ADO ACC c6|5 ^i|t 66^5 ; 
bo 5AbAii>Att ]t|5 SA5f Ai) t)A b-fleAb, 

Y bo ca||teAti7Att cac A|]t 7115 3t*^a5. 

43o 5AbAT1)A|t A1) )l)b|A Ti)d^, 

bA Ti)6|l A|l DdATtC A5Uf A|l b-cit6AT> ; 
C|l^OC toclA]DlJ f Al) )Db]A f 0]|l, 

^ C15 A 5-Ctt]b 6||t 50 ceAC T^iw- 

'CuS t^ ^^^1 5-<^ACA f Al) Sp^ii), 

Y DAOi b-ncc^b CAC A ly-Q^mvv tt|U ; 
of I do c-f|tuc 'oA|i bAifceAS Cuiojx, 
OAC b-c]5eA8 A 5-c^or 50 ceAC 'pbioo* 

"CUS ffe OCC 5-CACA f AO Sp^IO C6Af , 

Af ^in^nis tocUioo Ain U]io leir; 

]X boAcc bo b] Ao boioAO V^ ^^ ^)^Tf 

ir fe bA rti5 Afn AO T)-3Tifei5 *is- 

« 5l6Ai)o HAc, 6/«» o/* Me AaM«. Not traceable in the Four Maatert, 
nor in the publications of the Irish Arckceological Society, 

» S|U|ti, the river Suir. This river hto its source in Sliabh Ailduin, 
better known as Oreim an Diabhail, (the Deril's Bit mountain)* in 
the county of Tipperary. It takes a circuitous rout by Thurles, Holy- 
cross, Caher, Ardflnan, Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir, and Waterford; 
and, being joined by the rivers Nore and Barrow, ai) fbeoifi Asuf 4i) 
bbeAnbA (hence the appellation •• Sister Rivers"), at Cheek Point, six 
miles below Waterford, foils into the British Channel. Donnchadh Ruadh 
Mac Conmara, a Munster Poet of great celebrity, describes its waters 
thus, (see Poet$ and Poetry of Muneter, p. 48) :— 

' * Uirse i)A Siuitie A5 bfiuccAb 'ija tlojAift, 
Coir bAi)-ci)o|c CiiteAi7i7 0|5." 

While the waTei of the Soir, noble rlrer I ever flow. 
Near the fitlr Hills of Eire, 1 

The poet Spenser, in his Faerie Queen^ describes the scenery of these 

rivers (with which we happen to be familiarly acquainted), thus. See 

Book IV., Canto XL, Verse XLIIL •— 

** The flret, the gentle Shore, that making way 
Bj iweet Clonmell, adomee rich Waterforde ; 

The next, the stubbome Newre, whose waters gray. 
By fisir Kilkenny and Bosseponte boord i 



0. I have a little story respecting Fionn, 
We were but fifteen men ; 
We took the king of the Saxons, of the feasts, 
And we won a battle against the king of Greece. 

We conquered India, the great, 
Great was our strength and our might ; 
The country of Loohlin and eastern India, 
Their tribute of gold comes to the house of Fionn. 

He fought nine battles in Spain, 
And nine score battles in noble Erin ; 
There is no country from the river in which Christ 

was baptised, 
Whose tribute did not come to the house of Fionn. 

He fought eight battles in southern Spain, 
And Loehlin's chief king was his captive ; 
Full wholly the world was under tribute to him, 
'T was he was king of Minor Greece. 

The tWrd, tb« goodly Barow, wbiokMotb lio«r4 
Great heapet.ef salmonei in hla deepe boiome ^ 

All which long sandred, doe at last accord 
To loine in ene, ere to the lea ttiej epma. 
So flowing all from one. all one at la»t become." 

SpeDier must be in error when attributing the same source to these 
rirers; ai the Barrow rises in Sliabh Bladhma in the Queen's County. 
But we must presume he ibilowed Giraldus Cambrensis— he being the 
only writer on Irish history who fell into this mistake. See Haliday*s 
Keating, p. 29. Duk. 1309. Cambrewis Ever$u9, Vol. I., p. 123. This 
river formed a fruitful theme for the Munster Poets of the last century ; 
and Eoghan Buadh 0*SuiUiobhain, a native of Sliabh Luachra in Kerry, 
who died A.D. 1764, and is buried at Nohoral near Mill-street, wrote a 
very beautiful Jacobite ballad to the air of CaiMtM Mfitmhan, in which 
he introduces it thus : — 

" 9)Aibioi) btittccA le b-Air i)A Smt^ 'f *oe 50 ca^ibM-Ug faoij." 
Bee ide the Bnir pn a dewy morning I was feebly laid. 

and a street ballad, which is very popular in Munster, commencing thusi— 

'* The Tery flrit day I left Carrioh, 
Wm the twenty-ninth day of Uut Jan©.' 

describes its scenery most graphically. 



8 
O. ^Af 115 bAfbr^ b'^Ai) b^ 6]f , 

'r 5^0 nK> rp^ir a 5-ciaicce 'i>a 5-ceai ; 

All) 6<yo^1) C|I^OQ b A]cle AX) c-fluAiJ, 

bAfi) 7f cftaA5 bo he]t be6 ! 

iDe be|c cA|t fe^f i)A b-freAft 50 f aod ; 
A5 ^tfceAcc fte cl]A|i Y CI05, 

V 11)6 All) f eAi)d||i bocc 6aII. 

43a iDA]]tfeA6 "Plow AjUf At) "pbiAi), 
^ Rtfei5|r]tyi)f I cl]A]t A> clo|5 ; 
bo leADpAjDO AD |r]A6 fd'i) ihsleAQD, 

V bA ii)lAi),l]oiD b|ie]c a|i a coif. 

)A|l|t, A Pb^CftAYC, oeAii) Aft 4)blA, 

b')=T)ioi)i) i)A b-)=^iAW r ^^ cUiw ; 
b^A!) 5tt]6e Afi AT) b-|rlA]c, 

V 1)AC 5-CttAlA6 A coriMDA]C Tieb' l]i)0- 

p. Nl iA|t|i|:Ab-f A DeAib b'pbpoi), 

V Stt|* b'fe A 11)1 A1) fie PA l]l)l)> 

befc A Dslfiji) A5 riAor^D f^Als. 
O. 43a iD-befce^-rA |fA|i|tA|f ai) 'pb]Ai)> 

^ ^i^imS ^^ 5-cliA|i V OA 5-CI05; 

i)t cAbA|i|!A c'Aijie bo 43b]A, 
i)A bo |i]A|i cliA|t A5uf f5ol. 

p. N] c|tft]3f |i)i)fe iDAC 4)6 b1, 

A|i A b-cA]D|5 f oitt Ajur fl^T» ; 
A OirlD, A ^]le btt]5, 

]f Olc |tACAf bUfC b]0l DA y^l]Afi. 



9 

0. Woe ifl me that have remained after him, 

My delight not being in games or music ; 
But being a withering unretch after the host^ 
To me it is sad to be alive I 

Patrick, sad is the tale, 
To be after the heroes, thus feeble ; 
Listening to clerics and to bells. 
Whilst I am a poor, blind, old man. 

If Fionn and the Fenians lived, 
I would abandon the clerics and the bells ; 
I would follow the deer through the glen, 
And would fain lay hold of his leg. 

Patrick, ask heaven of God, 
For Fionn of the Fenians and his clan ; 
Pray for the chief, 
Whose equal had not been heard of in your time. 

P. I will not ask heaven for Fionn, 

subtle man against whom hath risen my ire ; 

Since it was his delight in his time. 

To dwell in glens pursuing the noisy chase. 

0. Hadst thou been in company with the Fenians, 
cleric of the priests and bells ; 
Thou wouldst not give heed to God, 
Or to the attending on clerics and schools. 

P. I would not forsake the Son of the living God, 
For all that have been east or west ; 
Oisin, soft bard, 
Thou wilt fare ill for depreciating the clerics. 



10 

ri^or^O A COD A b-fTAb AY|t fl]Ab ; 

co|0 aUca^ a5 irl^sb^il cuA^p, 
tDd|t6a]l A fluAis b^ h^ ^ infAD. 

p. )r ]Ot178A mi AD bo h\ AS T^IOOD, 

DAc 5-ci»]|tceA|i fufTD ADD bli 6ff ; 

Dl lbA]|ieADD 'FlODO D^ A CO]D, 

V Di TbAinn* ciifA, A OiriD ^ii. 

O. Jr n)6 bo fs^Al 'FiODD D^ riDi), 

V D^ A b-c^iDi3 l^e AT* Mw 1*1 AID ; 
A DbeACAi6, V A ^V^]^ be6> 
b'^4^]tit )2:^0D0 1fAO| 6\i t)t^ lAb. 

p. 5ac Alt bi(ODt!)A]f Af piODO b'dp, 

If olc ]iACAf bo '5uf bttip ; 
zSs f6 A D-1FI*^AW -A DS^aIU 
TDAit bo jDl^eAb ireAll aV bftiiib. 

O. )f beA5 A citeibiiD-fe bob Jldp, 

A flit d D Kdirb DA leAbAli TD-b^D ; 
50 tD*beic piODD> AD |:Iaic fiaU, 

A3 bOAtDAD D^ A5 b^AbAl Aflt UlID* 

1 Coj9 aUca, i. e., wild dogs, wolves. These animals seemingly 
afforded a Tast amount of amusement to the Fenians in their hunting 
excursions ; and until reiy recently they wtra not altogether banished 
from Ireland. In the Irish Peiuiy Journal, there is an article on Natural 
History by the late H. D. Richardson, a gentleman who deToted much 
of his time to this pursuit, in which he states that wolves were 
killed in Wexford in 1790 — 40 ; and one on the Wicklow mountains so 
late as 1770. In the Banquet q/* Dun m n^edk, &c published by the 
Irish Arehaological Society, and edited by Dr. O'Donovan (p. 169), it is 
stated that the last native wolf seen in Ireland was killed on a mountain 
in the county of Kerry, in the year 1725 ; and at pp. 64, 65 {idem) we 
are told that wlien Dubhiliadh, tlie Druid, foretold the fate of Congal 



11 

0. A delight to Fionn of the heroes 

Was the cry of his hounds afar on the mountain ; 

The wolyes starting firom their dens, 

The exultation of his hosts, that was his delight. 

P. Many a desire Fionn had, 

Which are disregarded after him, 

Fionn or his hounds liye not, 

Nor shalt thou live, generous Oisin. 

0. A greater loss is Fionn than we, 

And all that have ever lived within our time ; 
All that ever passed away and all that are living, 
Fionn was more liberal of Ms gold than they. 

P. All the gold which Fionn and you bestowed, 
Tis of no avail to him or thee ; 
He is in heU in bondage, 
Because he committed treachery and oppression. 

0. Little do I believe of thy talk, 

man from Rome of the white books. 
That Fionn, the hospitable chief. 
Could be detained by demon or devil. 

Claen, in a most satiric rtraiii, th« foUowiDg reference i» made to the 
wolf:— 

'* CttfixiYt ocur ba|09e btiAiy, 
cti|i)»F|Ccib qtjij bun 5-cttttA6, 

m b-ATTWAnrcAn cii>o UU6." 

Wolret and flocks of raTcne 
ShaU deToar the heads of your heroes, 
Until the fine clean sand is reckoned. 
The heads of the Ultonians shaU not be reckoned. 

The only specimen of the Irish wolf-dog now in Ireland, that we are 
aware of, is in the posseesion of Mr Conyngham Moore of Strand-strcet 
in this city. 



12 

AQ f eA]t f ^Tf) bo bftODOAb dft ; 

A tJ-fefUlC eAfa]t|tAt17A Ain 4)b]A, 

c^ ffe b-ceAc i)A b-p]Aij f A0| b|i6o ! 

O. 4)a^ ti)-be]&]f cIaota ^OojtoA A|X]5, 

1)6 cIapi)a BAOff coe, i)A f i|i bA cfidAO ; 

bo bftA|lf AbAO]f 'p]OI)l> AT9AC, 

1)6 bo b|A6 Ai) ceAC aca f6|i). 

p. Cu|5 c6i5e BiiteAOO, F^ r^^^> 

Y 1JA f eAcc 5-CAtA b] f Ap b-lp^wv ; 

X)} t]ttb|tA]b]f 'pjOTO All) AC, 

56'|i ii)d|i A i)eA|ic A5Uf a b-c]t6]i>« 

O. 4)A ii)A]|tfeA6 'pAoUii) ASUf Soil* 

4>]A]tn)U]b boi)o Af Ofcufi I^^J, 
A b-c|5 bAft cuti) beAii)Ai) i)^ 4)ya, 

1)] be|C 'plOT)!) PA b-'pfAl)!) A|l l4^|li). 
p. 4)«l IDA^tlfeAb 'pAOlAD A5Uf 3oll> 

Y A |tA]b ADD bo'p b-'pfeiOD |t|Aii) ; 

D] C]ub|tAlb]f 'plODD AIDAC, 

Af AD ceAC 'da b-f u|l A b-p|AD« 

O. CflfeAb bo HID FlODD A||l 4)I)1A, 

Acc be]c A3 |t|A]i cIya]! aV f5ol ; 
5]teAf rD^H A5 bftODD^S ad 6]\i, 

V 5|teAf e]le |ie iDef6]|t a cod. 

p. 21 dS^aU |ie n)e]S]ji da 5-C0D, 

'f le |i|A|i DA f 50I 5AC AOD lA ; 

V S^t) Aftie Aise AiH 4)blA, 
AcA 'piooD DA t-'plADD A||i U]rf). 



13 

P. Fionn is in hell in bonds, 

The pleasant man who used to bestow gold ; 
In penalty of his disobedience to God, 
He is now in the house of pain in sorrow. 

0, Were the Olanna Moma within. 

Or the Clanna Baoisgne, the mighty men ; 

They would take Fionn out, 

Or would have the house to themselves. 

P. The five provinces of Eirin severally. 

And the seven battalions which the Fenians had ; 

They could nofc deliver Fionn, 

Tho' great might be their prowess and strength. 

0. If Faolan and GoU lived, 

Diarmuid the brown-haired and Oscar the noble ; 
In any house that demon or God ever formed, 
Fionn of the Fenians could not be in bondage. 

P. If Faolan and GoU lived. 

And all the Fenians that ever were ; 
They would not bring Fionn out, 
From the house where he is in pain. 

0. What did Fionn do to God, 

Except to attend on hosts and schools ;' 

A great while bestowing gold. 

And another while delighting in his hounds. 

P. Because of the amusement of the houndsp 
And for attending the schools each day ; 
And because he took no heed of God, 
Fionn of the Fenians is in bonds. 

1 That is to wy, bardic schools. 



14 

i)AC b-qa6TiA6 At) 'pblAijo 'ppijij ahjac ; 
Da c6]5 cStje 8tTieADD led, 
S^V iWji A i)eAYtc fAO] f eAC. 

^^ rS^Al beA5 A5AT0-f A A|t Iphjovv, 
V] TiAbAn)A]t AW Acc cu]3 ^]|i bfeA5 ; 
bo jAbAfijAft ]i]5 BfteACA]!) DA b-fleA6, 
le T>eAftc A|t f leAj ^uf A]t Uoc. 

t)o 5AbA8 l]DD ^ASDUf iDd|t, 

">^<^ MS 1-ocIa]i)1) da loD5 iD-bfteAc ; 
t^VZ^rt)^}^ 5AD btidD, SAD rSlof* 

Y bo Ctt|||6AtDA]l ^H 3-C|0f A b-fAb. 

a Pbac|iA]c, ]f cjiuAj AD rs^Ai, 

^^ R|S-^^|OTl6 beic ^A0| jUf ; 
c|H)f6e 5AD A|D5l6eACC, 5AD ru^i 
cpo}6e crti&A]6 A5 cof datd cac. 

)T fe-^^Sc^lT* D^Tt tbA]c le 4[>]a, 
6]t aY b|A6 bo 6AbA|]tc bo DeAc ; 
Diofi 8]ulcA]6 'plODD C^tftAD D^ C^tUAj, 
YffteADD F**^?* "J^V ^ ^ te^c ! 

2Q]AD ib|c Cb<irt)A]ll f^ lbA]C 5DAO], 

^IfceAcc ]ie F^6* 4>b^OTDA 4)e]|i3 ;* 

CObU f A f |IUC 6Af A RttA|8,' 

V n^ 3bAillfbe DA^ 5-ctiAD bo f e]l5. 

1 FAOfb ffigniflei a Toice, hum, or sound. 

* t>tioio t>eAn5, literally the red ridge. In the H^AXUiif f)A SeAVorfij^j 
a Tery cnrious tract containing a complete history of the F1A1717A eiYtfopq, 
it is stated that t>ttofQ beans ^"^"^ ^® ancient name of Dinmcliir, a small 
Tillage in the barony of Carbnry, and county of 81igo, remarkable for 
the remains of an ancient Bound Tower, )^tl019 be^tts was also the an- 
cient name of t>a9 b& leAcsUt, now Downpatrick, where a great battle 
was fought, A.D. 1200, between Brian 0*Keill and Hugh mac Felim 
[0*Conor], and the Oalls of the North of Ireland, in which many of the 
Irish chiefs were slain ; which cTent formed the subject of a long poem 



15 

0. Thou sayefit, Patrick of the psalnis, 

That the Fenians conld not take Fionn out ; 
Nor the five provinces of Erin with them, 
Tho' great might be their individual strength. 

I have a little 0tory respecting Fionn, 
We were but fifteen men in nxmiber ; 
We took the king of Britain, of the feasts, 
By the m%bt of our spears and of our heroes. 

Magnus the Great was taken by us, [ships ; 

The son of the king of Lochlin of the speckled 
We returned without grief or weariness, 
And extended our tribute a£ftr. 

Patrick, wofdl is the tale, 
That the Fenian king should be in bonds ; 
A heart devoid of spite or hatred, 
A heart stem in maintaining battles. 

It is not just that Gtod should not feel pleased. 
At bestowing gold and food on one ; 
Fionn never icfiised mighty or wretched, 
Even though cold hell be his doom. 

'Twas the desire of the son of Gumhall of noble mien. 
To listen to the sound of Dromderg ; , 

To sleep at the stream of Eas Buaidh, 
And to chase the deer of Galway of the bays. 

for the pen of Qilla Brighde Mac Conmidhe, chief poet of Ulster at the 
time, published in the Miscellany of the Celtic Society, p. 146. Fionn 
had a son named Dearg, whose adyentores formed a theme for poetic 
romance, and from whom the place may derire its name. 

'CAf KuaA or Eas Aedha Ruaidh, A»$arae, the Salmon Leap, a cata- 
ract on the rirer Erne, at the- town of Ballyshannon in Tir ChonaiU 
(TTTConnell), i.e., the country of Conall, which was nearly co-extensiye 
with the present county of Donegal, and takes its name from Conall 
Gulban, the son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. — Book of Rights, p. 34, 
note p. See also Oss. Soe. Trans, Vol. III., p. 115, note 8. 



IG 

co!)i) Ru3|tA]6e' A5 buAiu |ie zji^^^ ; 
bo]tblii) Ai) bA]Ti) 6 riilifj ^b^ofp,* 
ba|C|te At) Uo]$ 6 3b^Ai)i) 6li n}t}l^ 

FojAjt feilse fteibe 5-C|toc,* 
fuAim i)A irof u]ii> fl]Ab 5-Cua;* 

5^]|i t)A i9-bA6b df c^otii) A9 c-fluA$. 

Cu|t9ATi| CfteAc pA n)'hA\ic jie zoiyi), 
AiMtA]ll cooA]]tc bo 4>ly|iu]ii)-l]f ;^ 

b|t]AC|IA BbM|1) A 5-C19OC A1) ^]|t|* 

V 5^in ^^ ffieAb u]ii> f l|Ab «^ir.» 

31ao6 OfCtt^ii A5 bul bo fe^ls, 

50CA 5A8A]t Aft tet]t5 DA b-TH^fATO ;*® 
be]c DA f afl>e a f9eAf5 da D-b^ibi 
bA b-^ flD bo Jl)^ A ti)]AD* 

^]A9 bo tb|ADA]b Ofcu||i ^]l, 
be]c A5 ^YfceACc j%e h^}n) f 5|At ; 
be^c A 5-CAC A5 cof3A|t CD^ti7> 

bA b-^ f ID bo $D^ A TD^AD* 

I Co^ Htt^Al^e, Me wave of Ruffkraidhe ; a loud soige on Tnigh 
Budhraidhe, in the Baj of Dondnmi in the coontjr of Down, which 
drowned Budhraidhe, the Bon of Putholan. — Four MatterM, p. 1189. 

' 97A5 97AOTiy» the plain of Maon, otherwiBe called Maonmhagh, a ce^ 
lebrated plain lying around Looghrea, in the county of Qalway, the 
inheritance of the Clanna Moime. 

' SleAQi) t>A ii>Ail» OUn of the two heroee, 

* Sll^b 5-Ctu>c, Sliabh g^Crot. Now Mount Grud, in the townland of 
Mount Uniack, parish of Killarory, barony of Clanwilliam, and county of 
Tipperary. The fort and cattle of Ihin-g-Crot are situated at the foot 
of this mountain, in the Qlen of Aherlow [near Bantba] . — ^^bar Maeteri, 
Ed. J. 0*D., A.D. 1058, note y. 

• SliAb CttA, Sliabh Cua. Now the parish of Sea^gnan in the county 
of Waterford, situated about midway on the road firom CUmmel to Dun* 
garran ; and chiefly inhabited by the middle class of fimners, many 
of whom hare amassed considerable wealth by agricultural purtuiti. 



17 

0. The warbling of the blackbird of Letter Lee, 
The wave of Rughraidhe lashing the shore ; 
The bellowing of the ox of Magh-maoin, 
And the lowing of the calf of Gleann-da-mhail. 

The resounding of the chase of Sliabh g-Crot, 
The noise of the fawns round Sliabh Cua ; 
The seagulls' scream on lomis yonder, 
Or the screech of the ravens over the battle-field. 

The tossing of the hulls of the barks by the wave, 
The yell of the hounds at Drumlish ; 
The cry of Bran at Cnoc-an-air, 
Or the murmur of the streams about Sliabh Mis. 

The call of Oscur going to the chase. 

The cries of the hounds at Leirg-na-bh-Fiann ; 
To be sitting amongst the bards, 
That was his desire constantly. 

A desire of the desires of the generous Oscur, 
Was to listen to the clashing of shields ; 
To be in battle hacking bones. 
That was his desire constantly. 

Mr. James CKeeffe, of Mountain Castle in the adjoining parish, Modeligo, 
holds considerable landed property in this parish. One of the five pre- 
rogatives of the King of Cashel was to pass orer SUabh g-Cna with [a 
hand of] fiftj, after pacifying the south of Eire. — Book of Rights, p. 5* 

« 1on5ttr, Erris. An extensive and wild barony in the north-west of 
the coonty of Mayo. ^Four Master m, 

f t>tuiif9-lir* Kow Drumlease* an old church in ruins, near the east 
extremity of Lough Gill, in the barony of Dromaliaire, and county of 
Leitrim.— Four Afasiers, Ed. J. 0T>., A.D. 1860, note i. 

• CiH>c-Ai)*Ait^r the Hill of Slaughter, A romantic hiU in the coun^ 
of Kerry, situated near BaUybunian^ at which there was a great battle 
fought by the Fenians in the second century. 

* 5lTAb 9)ir* Now Slieve mish, a mountain in the barony of Trougli- 
anackmy, in the county of Kerry. There is also another mountain of the 
same name in the barony of Lower Antrim in the county of Antrim.-^ 
Book of Rights, p. 23, note x. 

2 



J8 

O. S6 f ]|i b6A3 bo cuAbrnAft f|A|i, 

L&fti) |te b-^AbAi) ci)OYC ad Sca|1, 
b'^6ACAiD c^Ab |tACA Aft j-cofleao* 

SlQtDADPA AD b^ OCCAIfl 5|lfDDy 

bo b^AfiAb ba^c a T^bA]l3|D9; 
he]t h^ ij-b^lf ^f c|iuA5 ad ca]f, 

TDODttA|l ]f TD^aIa ad ]OfDCtt|f • 

?^fe f 67D 'r AD fl^l'c^ Plo^Jt)* 
A'f fDo ib^c Of cu|i DA iD-bfeffDeADi) ; 
'f AD c6 bo boA^D O BAO^rS*?^ Af b|iu]b, 
AD l^isAfi bub O 4)u]bDe, 4)YA|iiDtt]b. 

^^i^iS M'JD T^AolaD K^AftbA, 

aY c|t]a|t TDAC 2loDceA]t|tbA B6A]tftA ; 

3iAr, aV S^^itu, aV 5obA D^T* SADT>y 

bo cleACc iD6fi-feACc a s-coidIado. 

'C^lDiS Iwv CoD«^D SAD iboiDS*' 

a'i* CaoI c^Abjo^D^Ac 6'd 6Afbtt]Di) ; 

IDAC t.U3A]6 DA]1 bADbA, a']* DA|t CA|f, 

aV 3oll IDAC ^dfiDA bo'D FttlMOi)- 

10 leins-nA-b-I^IAijij, an eminence or slope on the side of some hill in 
Leinster, bat not identified, where the Fenian hunters were wont to 
muster preparatory to starting for the chase. 

> Jpo}ir})AO}\ i)A h V]Af) Formaoil of the Fenians, There is a place called 
^ormoyle in the barony of Upper Ossory, in the Queen's County, the 
estates of William Palliser and Jonah Barrington. Eeqrs., also of Mrs. 
Judith Wheeler, as heirs at law, and Oliver Wheeler, Esq. of Grenane, 
of which we have a large map on Tellum, made in July, 174^1 by Thomas 
Beading. From its contiguity to the Hill of Almhuin in Kildare, where 
Fionn had bis palace. It is likely to be the Formaoil refbrred to in the 
text ; but there is another foiiviAoji at Brandon bay in the county of 
Kerry, to the north of Cijoc ai) Sca^I ; and in Professor Connellan'a 
Diskerfatian on Irish Chrammar {Dub. 1834), p. 50, mention is made of 
a place near Cill Easbuig Broin in the county of SUgo, called FonroAOfl 
ft A b-^]Ai7n, by the Irish- speaking people of the district, who allege that 
the JPbrmaoils were the hospitals of the Fenians. 



19 

0. We went westwarda sixteen men in number, 
To hunt at Formaoil of the Fenians ; 
Nigh the face of Cnoc an Scail, 
To see the first running of ouir hounds. 

The names of the ttro mirthful eights 
I shall relate, Tailgin ; 
To live after them is a sad fate» 
Woe and sont>w are my lot. 

Myself, and Fionn , the chief. 
And my son Oseur of the blows ; 
And he who delivered O'Baoisgne firom bondage, 
The black-haired O'Duibhne Diarmuid. 

There came with us Faolan the manly, 
And the three sons of Aonchearda Bearra ; 
Glas, and Gearr, and Gobha the generous, 
Who were accustomed to great feats in battle« 

There came with us Conan without hair. 

And Caol, the hundred-wounder, from Eamhuin ; 
Mac Lughaidh who was neither efieminate nor weak. 
And Goll Mac Moma was of the band. 

* Coi)My 5^9 190195, i.e., Conan without hair. This is the celebrated 
Conan Maol ao often referred to in these poems, and of whom there are 
many Indicrons stories told. He 'was called Maol from the loss of his 
hair, being bald-pated ; but the term Siaol also signi^es a person of 
low statnre, or the hnmblest menial in iln j employment. Donnchadh 
Bnadh Mac Ck>nmara, a Munster poet of the last century, in his Eachtra 
Qhiolla an Amallaint applies the temi thus :_ 

*' H]o\i coftt 6AfO r^AUb befc caioaI fOAft iqaoI beA5, 

AS noiQ^tS 46 A5 5ttAf a6, 96 45 cAttCAft i)A cfA roAU'* 

It was not right fot ine to be for a while like little Maol, 
Digging, or hoeing, or tossing the clay. 

There are rarious families in Ireland who derive their patronymic from 
this term, viz. Maolmanaidh, Maolbrighde, Maolmhichil, Maoldamh- 
naidh, Maoilsheachlainn, Maolmhuire, ftc. 



20 

5obA 5A0]ce A'f Coi>cAbA|t ad 4^(3, 
a']* CAO|lce C]iAi7T)CA]|t rt)AC Roija]!).*. 

4)o b] B|tAD A]|i coipfeiU A5 Y]ot)r}, 
aY If A5ATijfA bo h\ S^eol^x); 

pCAflAD A5 4)|A|tTf)U]& PA IIJ-bAI),' 
aY 2l&1)UA]ll ^SltJAft A3 OfCUlt. 

6|le bfteAC A3 'pAoUij iijac pb^TOi 
A3 31"<^r ">^<^ 2loi)ceA|i|ibA B6A|t|tA, 6]c|ll ; 
A3 5e^T*f*> ^V>S 3obA i)A p-eAC !)31ai?, 
bo b] 'peAb A3uf FofCAig. 

4)o b] SeAftc A3 Coij^t) iDAol; 

aY 6]f ce.Acc A3 CaoI |ie p^ cAob ; 
-^5 ^WS^16 l^lblfi Y ^3 3oU, 

bo b| pttA|ID A3ttf 'pOCflAfl?. 

4)o b] l,uAf A3 L]A3^i) laA]n7r)eAC, 
aY 43accaoii) A3 43^||ie buA^Ac ; 
'^^]rt) A3 5o6a 3A0ice aij 3TI]t?i), 
aY 43aoI A3 CAO|lce tijac Kof)&]i>. 

S3AO]lceA|i 6u|i)i) 3a6a]|i n)]c ^bo|ii>A, 
f^ ]rDeAllA]b ci)OC i>a b-c2i^i)qb; 
^^ C]art7Af A|b co|ipo|t6A Cbo|iA]i)i),' 
aY bfeAl 1)A loTb^D* T*© f ^l)Al6. 

2lf fub f0]|i 30 be]T?i) BocA^ft/ 
l|i)ij bA ce6lii)A]i A]i p-AbAfiCA ; 
fl|t <Db^l|te A 3-C01II 30 3u|c.b]DD, 

aY l^b A3 Of1)A6A]l Alfl t^]t)Z]h. 

1 ^Ac Ko9A]Y)f Afac Ronain. The chief occupation of Mac Ronain in 
the Fenian ranks was to draw lots whenever any spoil was to be divided ; 
hence the epithet Crannchair, of the lot, 

s t)jA]ti!ja|t> 17A n)-hAt), This is DiarmuiU O^Duihhne, the subject of our 



21 

0. There was in our company liagau the nipible, 
Together with Daire of the duans ; 
Gobha Gaoithe and Connor the valiant, 
And he of the lots^ Cailte Mac Ronao. 

Fionn held Bran in a 6lip, 
And 'twas I that held Sgeolann ; 
Diarmuid of the women held Fearan, 
And Oscur held the lucky Adhnuaill. 

Faolan, the son of Fionn, held the speckled Eile, 
And Glas, the son of AonchearrdaBearra, held Eitill ; 
'Twas Gearr and Gobha of the pure steeds, 
Who held Fead and Fostuigh. 

Conan the bald held Searc, 

And Caol at his side held Eisteacht ; 
Lughaidh the mighty, and GoU, 
Held Fuaim and Fothram. 

Liagan, the nimble, held Luadhas, 
And Daire of the duans held Dathchaoin ; 
Gubha Gaoithe, the merry, held Leim, 
And Caoilte Mac Ronan held Daol. 

We let loose the hounds of Mac Moma, 

Throughout the borders of hills in numbers ; 
Round the borders of Corann of the rocks. 
While the fawns led down hill. 

Thence eastwards to the peak of Bothar, 
Most musical were our horns ; 
The sweet-voiced men of Daire in the wood. 
While shouting at the herds. 

third volume, who is said to hare had a ball aeirce* or beauty spot on his 
left breast, which caused any woman who saw i\ to fall In love with him. 

> CottAoiy, now Keash, or Ceis-choraino, in the county of Roscommon. 

* loTQSi^i), literally means a lamb, but is here applied to.the yoong deer. 

^ l)e|i)i; l>6cA|Tt, the peak of Bothar. Not identified. 



22 

CAOJAb f AOICOI), CA05Ab tf|0)t-COfiC, 

5i)]oit> A|t i)-63-coi) A b-'po|tii)AO]l.' 

S]0 Al) CftAb U bo f5AO]l6A8 

^n]j%eAt)V b A|t f AO^cib coi) a 5-clitYCce ; 

A'f 1)1 mA]ft]Oi>i) bA |tA]b A lACA]fi 

nc ! A Pb^cfiA^c, Acc Ti)]f e. 

a Pb<^cftA]C, ]r qtuAj niite, 
All) feAi)6i|i 50 b-Aca]fifeAC ; 

5AD tlfeltl), 5A!) CApA, 5AI) C|ieO||t, 

A5 c|i]aII cuny A]p|iHJD 50 b-Alcd||t. 

5aI) A]lb-f 1A8aC LttACA]]t ^Db^^jA,* 

5A!) njiolcA flfe]be Cu]1]itd ;* 
5At) bul A !)-5llAi6|b le )^]oou, 
5AIJ ]i]A|i fsol njAH cleAccAYQi;* 

3ai) beAbcA, 5AI) b6Ai)ATb CfteACi 
5A1J ^tt}}\vc A|t cleAf A]b luic ; 

5AI) bul A5 rwmSI^ ^^ T^}^Zf 
6A C^lfib DA ftA^b mo 66|U 

p. Ssttin A feAt)6]\i, Ui5 bob bAOif, 

1)1 beA5 bu]c fOAfCA a i)-beAn]ti^AOif ; 

f tnOA]!) A]t t)A pYA1)CATb ACA ]teoii)Ab, 

b']TDCi5 A!) 'FblAOT Asar |n)ceocA]tt. 

O. 2QA llDC|5tll), A Pb«tC|IAlC, DA]t ^^5CA]l CUf A, 

A rin Al) C]toi6e coiitrDirsce ;• 

bA ti)A]fif eA6 CooAd atq 6A|1> 

1)1 telSn^e leAc bo C|A|tf Ao- 

1 H|99.fiAcAC« a promoDtary, probablj, in Jbh Rathach, (Ireragh) 
county of Kerry. Terhitps Bolus head on BallinaskelUg bay. 
s FocAo], not identified. 

• fonnjAoiU iee p. 18, note 7. 

* luACAin t>l)eA^ now Sliabh Luachraf 8ometime« called Ciarruidhe 
Luachra, from Ciar, one of the ancient kings of Munster, a long range 



23 

O. Seven score of strong wild oxen, 
From Rinn-rathach tg Fochaoi ; 
Fifty wolves and fifty huge wild boars 
Were the spoils of our young hounds at Formaoil. 

This was the first day on which were let loose 
A portion of our noble hounds in the chase ; 
And there lives not of those who were present, . 
Alas ! Patrick, but I. 

Patrick, I am to be pitied, 
Being a broken-hearted old man ; 
Without sway, without agility, without vigor, 
Going to mass at the altar. 

Without the great chase of Luachair Dheaghaidh, 
Without the hares of Sliabh Cuilinn ; 
Without going into fights with Fionn, 
Without attending schools as was my custom. 

Without conflicts, without taking of preys, 
Without exercising in feats ; 
Without going to woo or to the chase, 
Two amusements which I dearly loved. 

P. Cease, old man, let be thy folly, [done : 

Enough for thee hencefortff what thou hast already 
Befiect on the pains that are before you. 
The Fenians are depftrte4 and thou shalt depart. 

0. If I depart, Patrick, mayest thou not be left, 
man of the ascetic heart ; 
Were Conan now alive, 
Thy growling would not be long permitted thee. 

of moTintaiD which extends from the harbour of TnUee in Kerry, to th« 
month of the Shannon. 

• 5l?Ab Cu|l|nij, now Sliabh Guillinn in the conntj of Armagh. 

• Cofttii>]r5ce, i.e.. aicetiCf literally of the forbidding heart, becamo thf 
taint forbade him to enjoy many of hit pleasarea. 



24 

O. 4)ei ii)a8 6 At) la bo h] lp]oi)t), 

A 3-cACA]b A]l!)e aY a i)-31|a6 ; 
ca]t>]C A1J coIai^i) 5AI) ceAoi)' 
cu5A]i)i) 50 31^at;i) 6«i 6Ati).* 

)r CU5A& A cai)5Af 6Tt) ceAC ffe|D, 
]f bfte^TpcA bAc A5ttf 31?ao| ; 
A5 ]A|i|iA(8 A]r3« Ai|i AD b-pbeiDD, 

ir F^i^m 1^0 no A 3fe]iu 

4)0 3^AbA]|i A||i3|o&, Oft, A'f b|iu|c; 
b]o6 f|i) A3Ab A|]i bo cuAfitb ; 
in)C]3 ADO]f, bo |iai6 'piouD, 
If iDiqb l|i;i) cu 6al ua^dd. 

Ni s^AbAb A||i3|ob CU3AID v^ 6ft, 
^ M5-F^10t)l6 Ai; Jldfft bfl; 
Acc'cufA f^fo, 3AI) ceflc Aft AD b-)^efDD, 
bo befc A3AID ti)A|t c^fle f f|i. 

)f b|tf ACAft bArbfA, bo yt^fS ad mj, 
b^ fD-bef 6f DO-fl 3^0 iDDAOf iteiD ftAe ; 
D^ be|8fDD A3Ab^A iDA|t ^foft, 
A|t A b-fufl 6 DeATD 30 jr^Afi. 

O CU3Aff bo bftfACAft Afft b-CUff, 

^n 0]f]t), A 3-clof bo D 'Fb^iw ; 

cufftfiDfe cufA ro seff, 

iDUDA D-befD3]|t |?e]f 1]oid KftfD- 

C0U17 5A1) ceAiji), a headless body, an apparition. There are Bereral 
legends current amongst the Irish peasantry, regarding headless appari- 
tions One of these legends, •« The Headless Horseman of Shanaoloch," 
by the late Edward Walsh, appeared in the Dublin Penny Journal, 
Vol. ii. No. 57. pp. 33-35, Another legend of the same character is 
related of a member of the Cosby family, interred in the vault of the 
rained church of Noughval, nearStradbally, in the Queen's County. It 
was said that at stated periods, a black coach, drawn by four headless 



25 

0. Or had it been on the day in which Fionn 

Was engaged in glorious battles and conflicts ; 
When there appeared to us a headless being, 
At Gleann da dhaimh. 

To thee have I come from my own home, 
Of the most brilliant hue and shape ; 
' Requesting a gift of the Fenians, 
To which they can give assent. 

Thou shalt get silver, gold, and mantles. 
As a reward for thy visit ; 
But depart now, said Fionn, 
We think it time thou shouldst go from us. 

Silver or gold I will not take, 

royal chief of the pleasant speech ; [Fenians, 
But thee thyself without concealing it from the 
To live with me as my spouse. 

By my troth, said the king, 
If I were without a wife during my life, 

1 would not consent to be thy husband, 
For all that is from the heaven to the grass. 

As thou wert the first to plight thy troth, 
Says Oisin, in the hearing of the Fenians : 
I adjure thee by a bond. 
That thou become my partner. 

black hones, with a beadhu coachman, and a headless footman, had been 
leen diiTing at a farions rate, in the dead hour of mid-night, through 
the village of Stradballj. The coach itself was said to contain one of 
Cosbjs ; but the writer of this note does not now recollect the particular 
indiridual mentioned, 

3 "5^^1)1} tii^ ^Ati;, the glen of the two oaren. The F^r Masters giro 
no account of this locality ; but at A.D. 945, there is a Gleann Damhain 
mentioned situate near Diir Inis (the isle of oaks), or Molana, an island 



26 

O. %1q uAift bo fn)a^]neAf A]|i ii)o Iao;, ii 

cttjur AD c-HtD no A 5-c6fU ; 
bo lu^s^of l6 A 5-cor4^|tby 
ti)A|t bob' 1 TOO f^}t bo iboAOi. 

2I5 ceACc bo'o 'pb^ipo cuip bA^le, 

ijA b-c|i]ui]t, OA 5-ceAC|iA]n/ PA 5-ctt|5f |t ; 
A5 f6ACA]i7 OA 1170^ bob' ^|li;e, 
i)]0|t euro A leo cfe'jt cu]f3e. 

215 ceACC bo o coIa]00 5ao ceAoo^ 
bo b] fttb 'fAO O'SleAoo fe*A|i b-ceACC ; 
]f ]Oio6a bftAO| bo b] ^^ clu, 
be]c 5-cfeAb ctt aY be|c 5-c6Ab oac. 

t)eic 5-cfeAb eAC 500A f\i]^Vt 
be]c j-cfeAb cu 500A 5-co]0]aU ; 
be]c 5-c6Ab 5]oIIa oa |tA]b oeA|ic, 
aY be|c 5-cfeAb freAji bo'o itoc^Acc. 

^eic 5-cftAb co]io OA to-bf 6|t, 

be|c 5-cfeAb clo]6eArb c6]|i aY fSjAC ; 
bA toa6 rbAO|6ce bAtbf a, be^c 5-c6Ab bd, 
cu5Af boTO c^ile AO Aoold ]Ab. 

43o be]|i f^iooe b'0]r1o ?1aII, 
If Toiqb l]oro cft]All boio teAd ; 
bo 56AbA]6 cu 3AC A]f5e ua^6| 
Acc 5A0 ttlfS© *>o bttA|o le]f. 

^^1015 f ^10le63 f AOj AO b-)^6l00; 
bo |iu5 AO ^^]00e f AO] AO loc ; 
^'l"?*lS ^^ f <^100e 6 fO]0 AOttAf, 

5AO f lOr A fSfefl 5Uf AOOCC. 

in the rirer Blackwater, in the barony of Cothmore and Co«hbride, in 
the conntj of Waterford, near Ballinatray, the seat of the Hon. Bir. 
Moore, two and a half miles north-west of the town of Yonghal. 
The island is called Molana, from St. Maolanfaidh, its patron saint ; and 



27 

0. When I reflected on my dear, 

I put this thought in execution ; 
I lay beside her without disguise, 
Because ahe was meet to be my wife. 

As the Fenians reached their houses, 
In groups of threes and fours and fives. 
To behold the most noble woman, 
It was not indifferent to them who should be first. 

When the headless being came, 
There was then in the glen ; on our coming, 
Many a druid of high repute. 
Ten hxmdred hounds and ten hundred steeds. 

Ten hundred steeds with their bridles. 
Ten hundred hounds with their leashes ; 
Ten hundred servitors in whom was strength, 
Ten hundred heroes in our ranks. 

Ten hundred goblets made of gold. 

Ten hundred excellent swords and shields ; 
Were it a boast for me, [there were] ten hundred 

cows, 
I bestowed them on my love in one day. 

She gives a ring to the generous Oisin [and says], 
'TIS time I should depart for my home ; [this. 
Thou wilt obtain every thing tiiou desirest from 
So that water wiU not touch it. 

A swallow flew among the Fenians, 
And carried off the ring towards a lake ; 
The ring disappeared ever since. 
Without any tidings of it unto this night. 

in it are the raint of an abbey of Regular Canons founded in the sixth 
century by that saint, who waa its first abbot. Here was buried Ray. 
mond Le Gros, one of the co^renturers with Strongbow in the in?asion 
of Ireland.-^Smith's Waterjbrd, p. 43. 



28 

V feAo beA5 e^le* f uAf ija b^Al ; 
A5 SAb^tl A 5-cuA|ib 6f 4i|i 5-ceAi)ij, 
A5 r®]iji)]n) i)A b-fow f A1J Ae6eA|t. 

4!)o 6^8Af A5Uf lp]OX)V V^}Vt 
A5 y;6acaii) da i)-feAi) tie feAl ; 
5A1) nor, S^'JCUAimrS* c^ i)-beACAi8 ao c-6ap, 
t>4^ f]OY ts^aIa cli t)beACAY8 ao beAi). 

p. )r i>«^5 rin, ^ 6«i5T»?ic Fbiw, 

1)^ ItA^b A5Ab iijijce Acc feAl; 

If fell|l|t f A1)An)U]1) IDA|t A CAO], 

V^ he]t Anif DA fi)eAf5. 

O. ^ iDic ?l]tpluii)i) Ai) Jl6i|i 6]l, 

If ii7A]Tt5 be]]t cAob |te cl6||t ryty CI05; 
bo b^Af A3Uf Cao^Ic], ti>o Iua6, 
A5Uf bo b^6n7A|t uA^ft i)^}\ bocc. 

Ce6l Tie a 3-coblA6 'ptoptj 5AI) b6|c, 
Iaca]dd 5 loc DA b-c]t^ 5*CaoI ;• 
|-5aIcatidac lo^D Dbojite ad ca]|id/ 
aY btt]C|te AD bA]tb 6 JleADD-DA-5-CAOii.* 

Vh^ Iacaidd 6 Loc 6i|iDe,' 
6a 6obA|t-coiD^ 6 Loc ^e^lse ;• 
6a JeA|i|i^A6 6'd ^U|De caU,® 
A f 6a feA^AC fte^be 5-C0DA1II.*® 

I CAiy nttA6, reddith bird. The cuckoo Ib the bird referred to here, as 
boTering over them in the air. 

> Qav beA5 e]le, another UttU birtl. This is the ^1^1:05 or hedge-sparrow, 
which pursues the cuckoo in its flight, and is beliered to make various 
attempts to get into its beak when singing. 

s loc 9A b-cnl 5-CaoI, the laht of the three Caolu This is the name 
of a small lough near Eells in the countj of Meath. 

i ^oftte Af) CbAYfti), Derrycam. Now Derrjcam in the county of Meath. 



20 . 

0. The reddish bird of the grey winga 
And another small bird in its beak^ 
[Were] soaring around oyer our heads, 
Singing their songs in the air. 

Fionn and I together were 
Gazing at the birds for a while ; [flown, 

Without knowing or learning where the bird had 
Or tidings whither the woman had gone. 

P. That is nought, noble son of Fionn, 

Thy possession of her was bat for awhile ; 
Better to remain as thou art, 
Than to be again among them. 

0. son of Calphum of the bland speech, 

Woe to him that confides in clerics or bells ; 

I and Gaoilte, my friend. 

And we were for a time and did not want. 

The music to which Fionn slept rqjidily. 
Was [the cackling of] the ducks from the lake of 

the three Gaols ; 
The singing of the blackbird of Derrycam, 
And the bellowing of the ox of Gleann-na-g-Gaor. 

The two ducks of Lough Erne, 
The two otters from Lough Meilghe ; 
The two hares of yon brake. 
And the two hawks of Sliabh g-Gonaill. 

B 5leAi)o V^ 5-CA0ft> the gltn of the berries. Not mentioned hy the 
Four Matters; but there is a QUannna-g-Capr in the countj of Cork. 

* loc Cnti)e. Now Lough Erne in the county of Fermanagh. Duald 
M*Firbis and the Leahhar Gabhala agree as to the eruption of this lake. 
See Four Master b, A.M. 3751. 

' ^obAtico]i7, the otter. A remarkable instance of the Toradons propen- 
sities of this animal occurred lately at the glen of Aherlow near Bansha 
in the county of Tipperary. A farmer, named Dwyer, found the throats 



. 30 

1)6 6 f3A||tc C|ittAi8 45bltui»n l« n*"*!^;* 
ceA|iCA tr|iAOfc 6 Cb^ttAC^17 Cl)|iu|ii),' 
1)6 feAb 6obA]tco]i) ^b|iu]fn |ie Cojfi. 

S5AlcA|ti)Ac lo|f) 4)botYte a^ ca]|I9,^ 
1)^ cuaIa6 ji]An), bA|i 50 befii)]i)i 
ce6l bA Kf i)De l]Oii) t)^ ^> 
Acc 50 it)-bis|6]pi) ^^ bai) a i)e|b. 

of seyeral of his iheep cut after the ni^i, and, detennining to watch 
the thief, took hU gun and conoealed himaalf near the flock ; when about 
midnight he obaerred something in the shape of a large dog attacking 
the sheep, at which he took deliberate aim and killed him on the spot. 
On approaching the animal, to his utter surprise it turned out to be a 
monstrous otter, upwards of four feet long ; and although the rirer Suir, 
from which it crawled upwards of half a mile by a narrow stream, 
abounds with salmon and other fish at this season, (June, 1858), yet his 
propensities for animal food was such that he preferred it to fish, no 
matter how tender or delicious it tasted. 

> loc 9)eil5e, the lake of Meilghe, The Four Masters record, under 
date A.M. 4694, that Meilghe Molbhthach, son of Cobhthach Gaol 
Breagh, after baring been seyenteen years in the sorereignty of Ireland, 
fell in the battle of Claire, by Modhchorb. When his grave was digging. 
Loch Meilghe burst forth orer the land In Cairbre, so that it was named 
after him. It is situated on the confines of the counties of Fermanagh, 
Lcitrim, and Donegal See Four Master e, A.M. 4694, note h. 

* 9)uii7e caU. This must be some adjacent plain or green. 

ii> 51]a5 5XoiyA|ll, the mountain or hill of Conall. Called after Conall 
Gulban, who was nursed at the Beinn or peak of Gulban, where the 
hardiest hawks in Ireland were found in the latter end of the fifteenth 
century. 

1 510^199 v^ ii9.bttA6, the gUn of victories or conquests. Not men- 
tioned by the Four Masters, 

> t)ftu|ii) ne rnuTc, the ridge by the stream. Unknown. 

s CttUActkiy Cbttttfi9, the Cruachan of Cram, Cruachan was the name 
of the ancient palace of the kings of Connanght, and was situated 
near Belanagare, in the county of Roscommon, and is now called Bath- 
croghan. However, we doubt whether this is the place referred to in the 
text Crom was the name of one of the idols of the Pagan Irish, to' 
which, according to Dr. Charles O'Conor (ProL part I. p. 2*2), the early 
colonisers up to the time of St. Patrick, offered the firstlings of animals 



31 

0. The whistle of the eagle from Qleftan na m-buadh, 

Or £rom the rongh Uucket of the Ridge by the stream ; 

Or the grouse of Cniachan Chruiin, 

Or the whittle of the otter of Drmn-re-Coir. 

The song of the blluskbird of Denycarn, 
I never heard, bj my troth, 
Music more melodious to me than it. 
Were I only beneath his nest. 

besides other offerings. Here are his words • — '* Magh-SleaeU ean%$ 
ronnvm^ or ts and ro bat Righ edhal Br, .t. in Crom-Cruaek, agun da 
fdhal deg do eloehaibh uime, agus adhelbsain door, agus asae ba De do 
gach lucht ro gabh Eirinn go toracht Padric. It do do idhbraitis ced 
gen gaeha aotka, agus primighgen gacha clainde. Am cuige do riaeht 
Tigemm%$ mc FoJL Ri Br dia Samnd, eoferaibh ague o» mnaibh Eit 
maillefii Dia adkradk to ro Mkacht sat wttt idhu coro aemdhetar tuU an 
tdan agus eth a tron, agtu fairgUdha anglun eorra anuillend, eonebladar 
teor eethraimke fhtt n Er ac na aUchtaibh — undt Magh alecht dr»^ i.e. 
Campos stragis Ita appellatur, qaia ibi fuit prsBcipnum Idolomm Hiber- 
nise, nempe Ootn-CruacA, et dnodecim Idola Sazea circumstantia, et 
caput ejus ex anro, et hie Dens fuit omaiam popnloram qaotquot posse 
emnt Hibemiam, usque ad adTentnm S. Patricil. Huic sacriflcaverunt 
Primogenita ctgusque Sobolis, et primogenita filiorum suorum. Hunc 
Tigernmaslus, Alius Foil : Bex Hibemlae, precatus, est die Samnii, cum 
Viris et mulieribus Hibernias, tall adoratione, et ulnas suas rumperent, 
cadendo et adorando, donee vulneribus infligerent etiam frontes suas, 
contunderent nasus» et genua, usque ad sanguioem fundendum. Hinc 
itaque dicitur MoQh-SleachL Campus Stragis.'* And O'Flaliertj (ride 
Ogygia, part 3, p. 197» 4to. ed.» Lond. 1685), says, " Cromcniach Ido- 
lum, cui Tigernmasius rex, nt supra, cum ualTemo populo sno ex do- 
drante Titam deroTerant, totius regoi Idolonmi omnium prlnceps ad 
Idolomanie in flibemia per 8. Pairicium erersionem in campo Koy- 
sleuct perstitit ; quod reges, et regni proceres summa, stataque sacrorum 
rituum veneratione colebant ; eb quod respoma dare putabatur 6 populo 
atulto, et ineipientif cui colebat illud, ut alt Jocelinus." (See Jocelln, in 
vita S. Patricii, c. 56). Dr. O'Donoran says in a note to the Four Masters 
under A.D. 1117* that there was a chieftain, named Cromdubh, in 
UmhaU [in Connaught] who was contemporarj with St. Patrick, and, 
though a powerful opponent of his, was afterwards conrerted by the 
Saint to Christianity on the day called Domhnach Chroim Dhuibh, 
<)3o]tte Ai) CbAiftQ, Ddrryearn, In the Transactions of the QaUc 



32 



^f olc boil) ood|ft bAfi l^oii) ; 

A]|t Ti)-be]c 8Afi) 5AI) b^AS, 5AP beoc, 

A5 b^ATjAii) cfiof3A A f u|ti)AY5ce. 

P- N] b-olc, A feAi)6i|t, bA|t Ijori), 

bo 56AbA]|t i)AO] b-^n^l^ *>^11*5lP AT*^|»7; 
500A n'At)r)\^v l?]Oi)A aV f ddlA, 

If olc A p-AbA])! CU, A feA1>d]ft. 

Socitiy o/DubUn (1880), now a rare book, the following beautiful poem 
vill be found at page 194, addresBed to one of these birds which fre- 
quented Derrycarn wood in the county of Meath -, and which is aecom- 
panied by a spirited translation from the pen of Mr. William Leahy : 

*• l>fi)i) mf A loin feAiTie An CbAinn I ?ln «^t11© TAn CAevvo a ctia^i), 
Hi cttAUr, AD ATtt5 Y AD iD-b|C, 
Ceol btt6 b|qD« DA bo 5UC, 
^CAf CU fA bUD 00 Dib. 

SleD ceol if b|DDO ^AO iD-bjc, 
?Da1!15 DAi feffbeDD ^TT 5© f6|1, 
n n>]c ilfipluiD DA cclocc iD-bTDD» 
*S 50 iD-betic«t Attfr Att bo doid. 

2I5AC, iDAn ct^ A5AID r^lD. 
t>A io-beit be^iblD rs^ll ad eo|D, 
t>o b^DCA b^nA 50 bfAD, 
»S d1 biA6 c'Aifte AIT* t)|A 50 roiU 

a cctilc locUD, DA rtieb sofiiD, 



'S^t)0 CttftteA6 ADD AD Iod. 

SsolSAltte loTD 6ome ad CbA^pD, 
X)iSL\tjie AD bAfiD FbAill DA ccAeft» 
Ceol le ccoblA6 T}VV 50 1900, 
Iaca]i| o loc c«t ccftf ccAel. 

CeiicA FnAe]c ufD CI)tiUACA|ij cufDD, 
febSAjl bobrvoin tJixufiD bA loc ; 
5ocA FllAin i\w DA FTUAC, 
loDSoine CUAC cDtt]c DA tcoc. 

5ocA 5a6ati sleDDA caoid, 

If 5«^m fbiiAin cAofc OA roi5 ; 

CA]tttD DA CCOD A5 CniAl 50 n>OCr 



f UAifi ?I)ac Cfibftfl, DA ccotiD D&ens^ ftfreAc 6 ctiA|5 da cclot D-be^ 



?l5 m A rsel btt|c 50 bettb, 

t)Oine AD CAITID AD cojll ub CJAtl, 
«f)Ati A D-bfe|Db|r AD f b|AD VOX ; 



JlD Ctlt^fC bo iDATtt f IDD 'r AD fblAD, 
t)ob ADDrA leo fliAb DA qU, 
l^A btDD leofAD FU]5le Iod, 
3ocA DA CCI05 leo Dm blD.' 



f* 



Translation. 

Hail tuneful bard of sable wing. 
Thou warbler sweet of Cama*s grovel 
Not lays more charming will I hear 
Tho* round th' expansive earth I rove. 



33 

0. Alas I that I ever received baptism, 
It affects my honor, I perceive ; 
In being without food and drink, 
Whilst fasting and praying. 

P. Not so, old man, I am sure, 

Thou shalt get nine score cakes of bread ; 
With thy fill of wine and meat, 
Evil thon speakest, old man. 

No melodj^ more foft than thine, 
While perch'd thj mossy nest beneath ; 
How sad to miss thy soothing song I 
When harmoDj dirine you breathe. 

O son of Alphron, cease thy bells. 
Cease thy hollow-sounding strain ; 
To Cama*s grove thine ear incline,^ 
Thou wilt overtake thy psalms again. 

O didst thou hear its mournful tale ! 
Didst thou, as I, its story know I 
Thou wouldst forget thy God awhile. 
And down thy cheeks would torrents flow. 

Found was the bird on Lochlin*s plains, 
(Where purling flows the azure stream) 
By Comhal*s son, for goblets famed. 
Which bright with golden splendor beam. 

Ton lofty wood is Carna*s grove. 
Which bends to west its awful shade, 
Where pleased with Nature's wild display, 
The Fians — noble race I delayed. 

In that retired and dusky wood. 
The bird of sable wing was lay*d ; 
Where the majestic oak extends, 
Uis stately boughs in leafy shade* 

The sable bird's harmonious note. 
The lowing hind of Cora's steep. 
Were wont, at morning's early dawn. 
To luU the mighty Fionn asleep. 
3 



S4 

p. ^ob' fe riT) coaAf4ic OA b-pofic,* 

A5ttf r]4k6AC i)A i)5Aitb-ci)oc ; 
^^jieM^v fmA^ji f& 6e]|ieA6, 
A]i fSl^c bufi i)-b^o|c-c|iefbiiij. 

O. N}o|i bA b"^ rit) ^ttiwe Fftl«)> 

Acc A|i l^ODAft b'^^op aY b'f e6il ; 
cof AC ceijic A'f cocyiAit) ^leA6, 
beocA ii)|lfe, a^ c^c bA thdi. 

]X C]ta6 l|0»i) 4)|A]tn)uib A3uf 'Soil, 

Ao uAijt i)AC te]3ceA|i bu|i)i) A Iua6, 
A Pb^ctiAtc paAi6, c^l!)13 6'ij F6|n). 

P. Ba ceAb lioi? cu bA Iua8, 

ACC 50 b-CAbA]]t b A]|te a]i l)b|A A]t b-cuf ; 
6f Apoif If beijie bob* Aojf, 
rS^ll* ^^ 6AO|r, A ^ifi 5AI) I6c. 

The noise which haunts the weedj pond. 
That into triple straight divides ; 
Where cooling in the crystal wave. 
The bird of silver plumage glides. 

The twittering hens on Groan's heath 
And from yon water-girded hill. 
The deepening voice of gloomy woe, 
Sad, pensive, melancholy shrill. 

The eagle's scream from Foaf s vale. 
From the tall pine the cuckoo's song ; 
The music of the hounds that fly. 
The cond-pehbled strand along. 



35 

0. This mouth conversioig with thee, 

May [it] ney^ to a priest confess ; 

If I irouLl not prefer the crumbs of Fionn's house 

To my share of your entertainments. 

P. That was the picjdng of the banks, 
And the chase of the craggy hills ; 
Hell was his portion at the end, 
Because of your unbelief. 

0. Nei so to us indeed, 

But our fill of wine and meat ; 

The first of justice and equality at feasts, 

Delicious draughts aad all drinking them. 

Woe is me Diarmuid and Qoll, 
And Fergus of the tuneful voice ; 
Since it is not allowed us to name them, 
Patrick, lately come from Rome. 

P. We would allow thee to name them. 

But only give thy attention to God first ; 
Since now thy life is at its end, 
Leave off thy folly, feeble man. 



When liY*d brare Fiona, and all his chiefly 
The heath did more the heroes please. 
Than church or beU they'd demurer deem. 
The sable bird's melodions lays. 

1 CqUArAC i|A b.pottc, picking or gleaning of the hankt» Here St 
Patrick intimates that Slonn*s table was not so plentifully supplied after 
aU. That the liands consisted of berries picked up in the bays, and 
of wild animals captured on the " craggy hiUs,** which were for that 
reason in poor condition and not easily eaten. 



36 

O. 21 Pb^c|tA]c ii)i)ir bATb Cflft |tUI^, 

6f AjAb Ac^ Ai) c-e6luf ]f feA^|t]t; 
A!) Ui5|reA|i 11)0 5A8A|t pli ?do c&, 

iiofi) 50 ctt||tc nig DA Dsn^r ? 

p. 21 feAI)6|ft AC& Aft bAOIfi 

aY i)ac |:a5A]id C|i|c bo cnji ojit ; 
1)1 Ul5peA|i bo 5A8A]t t)t, bo cu, 
leAc 30 cuiftc ]ti3 DA jieACC. 

O. 1)^ ID-bA6 AJAIDfA bjAS AfCDe A|t 4>1>|Ay 

^'r 50 Tij-bfAb n)o cu boil)' Ttfefft ; 
bo p^iitceocAiDO ^ ^ori) co^p, 
516 b'fe bo b&A|tA6 b]A6 8aii) f^tD* 

p. NA l)-AbA]|l f ID A f eADOfit, 

aV cu a D-bei|te b-AOffe ; 

Dl cor|iA?D, 3AD b|t6A3, AD b|te]r, 

bo be||ii|i A|i iDO rlS-ri- 

O. t)ob' fe^ftfi AOD ctt|iA6 atd^id l^lbfji, 

bo h] A|i pb|ADDAib 6i[ieADD; 
D^ qJcAfiDA AD C|tAbA|6, 
A3ur cttfA t?ftiD, A Cblfe|Tt|3. 

P, 21 OfriT) DA D3^A1* lAP'Jf 

clHD^r ^^ bft]ACfiA bu]le; 
bob' ^e^]ift t)]A |ie !)-aod l6, 
D^ 'FlADDAfb &]|teADD ufle. 

O. 5l6 ca]?Dre ADOir 3AD rl^lceAf, 

aV n)fe lAfi 3-CAiC|0fD TD AO|fe; 

A Pb^CftA]C, D^ CAbA]]l A]C|f, 

bo n)^]t]h cIadda BAO]f CDe. 



37 

0. Patrick, tell me in confidence, 

As it ia thou that hast the best knowledge ; 

Will my dog or my hound be let in 

With me, to the court of the king of grace. 

?• 0, old man, who art silly. 

And of whoni I can get no good ; 
Thy dog or thy hound will not be let in 
With thee, to the court of the king of justice, 

0. If it were I that were acquainted with God, 
And that my hound were at hand : 
I would reconcile him with my hound, 
Whoever gave food to myself. 

P. Say not so, old man. 

And thou at the end of thy life ; 
Unjust, without doubt, is the sentence, 
Which thou passest upon my king. 

0. Better were any one mighty hero only. 

Who was in the ranks of the Fians of Eire, 
Than the Lord of piety. 
And thou thyself, Cleric. 

P. Oisin of the sharp blades, 

That speakest words of madness ; 
God is better for one day, 
Than all the Fians of Eire. 

O. Though I am now deprived of lordship, 
And am at the close of my life ; 
Patrick, do not cast reproach, 
Upon the nobles of the Glania Baoisgnet 



38 

O. 45a fl)-b]A6 AJAIDfA CopAl), 

f eAft fi)^-lAbA|t6A 1JA 'pfeiwe ; 
bo bft|feAft ffe bo ceAi)i)fA, 
AfCiJ AfijeAfs bo clfe||ie. 

p. Bb«lC A5 flOjltftttCC A|l A1) b-1^6]w, 

A feAi)6||t, ]f bAOc bo cofi ; 
CttiiiroiS 56 b.c^]i;]5 bo ^ao, 

A f 5Ab IDAC 4)6 Ajl bo f 01). 

2lcA cu a|tf A|8, |fO|]tbie, 1]ac, 
b']fDci5 bo C|aU a f bo sjteAijo ; 
1^15 b]oc AX) co!i7|i^ ^]^Vf 
A'f bjAjb bo leAbA6 a b-^rlA^ceAf caU. 

O. 4)o coblAf ATi)U|5 |:a'i) c-fl|Ab, 

f AO| 8|tUCC l|AC A|t batt|l CftA1)1) ;' 

i)]Oft cleAcc l]Oti) leAbAb 3A1) b]A6; 
^eA8 bo b|A6 |r|A6 A]t At) 5-C90C to caU. 

p. 2lca cu A|i fi)eA]iu3A8 a i)-be||ie b-AO|fe, 

1^!^ fMs® 8ilteAc ASAf caid; 
feACAip fl]5e CAii) da b-piAp, 
A'f c|oc|r A|6 A]i)3|l 4)6 f Ao^ b' ceApt). 

O. 4)A fD-bei8]Di)ri A5ur FeAftsAf ri^i. 

A3Uf 4)]ATITl7a]b AtJOlf A|l Al) Hj-bAll; 
AT)T) 5AC fllje b'Aft 3AbAn)A|t TllATI), 

3AI) ceAb bo*i) clfejit bo 3feAbAfi)A0]f aiji). 

p. 'pd]!, A 0]X]t), t)A IDAflAlJ AD cUift, 

C^DAf bft]AC7tA 4)6 AD 3AC bAll ; 

iDUDA l6|5F|8 cit 8]0c AD corbrta8 bfAD, 
]f IDOfl AD 1»]AD ACl^ Ab ceADD* 

1 bid^nn cfiAiiii, top$ of trees, i.e.» his bed was made of the tender 
branches i>f the trees, and of the foliage. The *' gfey dew*' xeferred 



39 

0. Were Conan with me, 

The reviler of the Fenians ; 
He would break thy head, 
Within among thy clerics. 

P. To be ever talking of the Fians, 

old man, is silly work ; 
Bemember that thy hour is come, 
And take the son of God in thy behalf. 

Thou art old, withered, and hoary, 
Thy understanding is gone, and mirth ; 
Leaye oS thy yehement talk. 
And thy bed shall be in heaven beyond. 

0. I slept out on the mountain. 

Under grey dew on the tops of trees ; 

1 was never used [to go] to bed without food. 
Whilst there was a deer on yonder hill. 

P. Thou art astray at the close of thy life, 

Between the straight way and the crooked ; 

Shun the crooked path of pains. 

And Qod's angels will come under thy head. 

0. Were I and Fergus the generous. 

And Diarmuid, now on the spot ; 
In every path that we ever passed, 
Despite the clerics we would pass. 

P. Cease Oisin, do not insult the clerics. 

Who proclaim God's word every where ; 
If thou wilt not leave off thy insolent talk, 
Great is the punishment that awaits thee. 

to, it the hoar froit so frequent in the months of September and 
October. 



40 

O. 4)0 bAbAfA A5U|* ^UjC DA b-)^|AI)l)# 

A'r COflC A|t |Atl|lA]8 UA]1>D A USieAVV , 

bA ibeAfA l|on) tjac b-^ACA Ap i?ia6, 
1)^ bo cl^Afif A be|c 5AQ ceAi)i). 

p. 2lcA cu b6l&f AC 5AQ c|aU, 

If fpeAf A 6u|c nt^ ^^ ^1^ bAll ; 
bA b-f ufJceA bo nA6A|tc Af C|5, 
bA rbdft bo c\ox) Aft f lA|C6Af caU. 

O, iDob' AfCe l]OTD lfe|TD AO pu]c, 

1)6 |tA6A|tc A|t bftojc ib]|i 6^ 5leA99 > 

V^ A p5eAllAi7i) bo b^Alf A 6An), 

A'f A b-f:u]5|iji) bo f ale a b-flAfceAf caU. 

p. 2lc4^ bo ii)tt|i)]5|i) bAOC 5AIJ fljocc, 

b'|ii)C]S bo f ttlc A5uf bo 5rieAt>t) ; 
n;uT)A 175IACA6 cu mo coibAiftle 'pocc^ 
t>^ b-Ftt]5]8 ctt be|c a bu|* oA caU. 

O. 4)^ tt)-b6i6iOTn ^Sttf ^'J ^FbfAW At?]U5, 

A|i be|1)1) CIJOIC A3 CA]t|lA|OS l^W >* 

b'Airb8eo|i) leAbAjt, cl|A|t, a']* clo|5y 
b|A6 twjA A5tt]!7t) be|c A^bttf po caU.* 

p. ti] ]tA]b PPOCA ACC TDA|t JaI fU|p, 

tj6 njAji f fittc A5 ceACC 5 ^leApp ; 

1)6 ii)A|i floc5AO]ce A|i ii)AO|l|pt) ci)0]c, 

5AC luce A5A]b hf^ ]tA)b |t|An) ai)1). 

O. 4)0 bAbAf A 11)-BeA|l|tI)A Al) bA 3b0]ll/ 

A b-f OCAflt IttCC DA 1)-A|lfD ceADD ; 

bob' f eA|t|i l]on) a xy-^^e asaid, 

1)^ A1) Cjlttp fO t)A n)-bACAl 5-CATD. 

1 Iadh. a 6/ff4f«, sometimes means the head of a lance or spear. lo 
some copies of the poem the word beAiyiy, is incorrectly sabstitated for 
Ui)i}, by illiterate scribes. 



41 

0. The Fenian chief and myself 

Were in quest of a boar, in a glen, 
Twas worse to me that I saw not the deer, 
Than if thy clerics lost their heads. 

P. Thou art piteous and devoid of sense, 

That is worse for thee than being blind ; 

If thou didst get thy sight within, 

Great would be thy attachment to heaven beyond. 

0. I would take more delight in the bound of the buck, 
Or in looking at badgers between two glens ; 
Than in all that thy mouth promiseth to me. 
And all the joys I would get in heaven beyond. 

P. Thy hope is silly and fruitless. 

Thy joyousness and mirth are gone ; 

If thou this night receivest not my counsel, 

It shall not be granted to thee to be here or there. 

0. Were I and the Fenians this day 

On the summit of a hill drawing swords ; 

Despite of books, clerics and bells. 

We would have our choice of being here or there^ 

P. They were but like the smoke of a wisp. 
Or like a rivulet coming from a glen ; 
Or like a whirlwind, on the peak of a hill. 
Each clan of you that ever lived. 

0. I was at Bearma-an-da-Gboill, 

By the clans of the stout arms ; 

I would prefer their face again. 

To this troop of the crooked croziers. 

* SI bur ^ ^% <Mi <Am Mt or that. A oommon Irifh phnwe for " in 
ihifl world or the next.** 

* l>e*t^ftiyA A9 ^A 51)oiUy i.e., the gap ^f the two QolU, Not ideiitiii«d« 



43 

CA 6-fu]l Afi l^c A'f coft i)A ceA99; 

r5|ui|if |6e 6A ttoASAb le n}ih, 

aV 5At) Ikcc i)e)ftc A5 ceAic bit ^aAaitu 

O. til *>1t?P lio") ^o 5^1* S^V fttlc, 

c|A c^ cu slfc A^i bo |tA90 ; 
V} clu|i>|n) F^ii? ireAb ao Iqo/ 
b]teAC A|i f ftac' qA cofic a PsleAOi)* 

p. tiA ii)eAllcATi cu A 5-cort)Ai|ile at) co||tp, 

If iijA]c led f]D ceAcc Ab ceAi?^; 
TiAic i)A cob A 11761 fte A|i Ai) 5-ca]b ti)-b]3, 
6 OAC f1^beA90tt1St;eA|t ]Ab Abuf 9I1 caU. 

O. 4>lt m-biA6 Sjolb Sjeiije A5A117, 

ij6 Of cu|i 3I1C i)A 5-cAc b-ceAi^Q ; 
1)] b]A6n7AO(f 5A1) feoltvAC aoocc, 
A|i coii)A]Ttle do; i)A f eAcc tn-he^ryt)* 

P a Oifio, a b'lrocfs bo c]aII, 

5IAC i)A b|i|AC|iA f o le 5|teAi)ij ; 

If be|Tb]t) l]OTD 50 b-cTtfe|5f|fi ai) 'FblAW, 

A*f 50 !?5feAbA]|l le D|A 1JA ]teA1?17. 



1 feAb Aiy loio* The whistle or song of the blackbird. 

> X)\xeAC Aft rt^uc, a trout in the Urtam. Aquatic sports formed another 
of the Fenian amusements, and perhaps Oisin himself was the Izaak 
Walton of his day. Bowing boats (regattas?) was another custom 
to which thej were much addicted ; for at page 49, Vol I. of the 
Society's TranMaetiom, in a poem of six stanns copied from the Book of 
Leinster, a manoscript of the twelfth century, now deposited in Trinity 
College Library, we find the following passage: — 



4S 

P. Well am I awsre, [In his head, 

Where he is [fitretehed] on a flag-stone and a twist 
SooorgeB aaaailing him with poison. 
And no mighty clans coming to his aid, 

0. Not sweet to me [is] thy voice without cheer, 
Tho' thou art clever at thy verses ; 
I hear not the blackbird's song, 
A trout in the rivulet, or a boar in the glen. 

P. Be not deceived by the counsel of the flesh, 
They shall be glad to dwell with thee ; 
The happiness of the great be on the few. 
As they ore not blessed here or there. 

0. Were Scolb Sgeine with me. 

Or the wise Oscur of battles fierce ; 

We should not be without flesh this night. 

At the command of the bells of the seven tolls. 

P. Oisin, as thy understanding is gone, 
Accept these tidings with joy ; 
I verily believe thou wilt forsake the Fians, 
And that thou wilt walk with the God of heaven. 

fto 19AttbA9t> coftc I CA|U C^p 

Music, boating, rewarding, 

The prey most difficult I chose ; 

1 would kill a boar in the hard wood, 
• I would rob a vengeftil bird* of its eggs. 

* Thif bird !■ tappOMd to b« tbs ttfto. 



44 

O' jr l<>T)5i)A l]on) bo ccnfjitkS b|Ap, 

A cUf ft 1$ bo cuAYtbA^ J 5^6 bAll ; 

A 1^6 50 b-c|t6|5rii7Q pfe|D Ap )=^blAW, 

p. Da b-FAicpe^n-A iiyuioqii <Dfe, 

-^5 fttl^e 50 sl^AfCA curt) pleA6 ; 

ir F^inn'?5® ^l^r ^ca sac rdj, 

V^ A5 ii)U|i)ci|i 'pblPt? 516 n)6n A TDeAf. 

jf p6A|i|l 30 IDOfl rSftAlfA A1)01f , 

5ld]|te 6|l a']* cttft |O0A ceAij!) ; 

SIaC A!) AicftjSe C6]fl Apoif, 

b^ft^ leo||i3ij^oti) Abuf Af i)^ ca]U caU. 

O. 4)o CA]11 njfe 1170 c]aU Abuf , 

A'f 1)] bA fpeAf A l]on) t)^Y]t}; 
bo CAjlleAf 'piooo Ai) ^15, 
V 0* 1^11* ^]li)e bo h] piaI. 

p. SlcA )^1001J A'f Ap pbl^W A0O]f, 

50 biib]i6ijAc A|i l]c i)A b-p|At) ; 

SAjbfe le II7AC <Dfe 'i)a i?-^]c, 

aY 1)] be|6 bA05Al o|tc be|c 5AIJ c|aII. 

O. N| c|te|biTD p^io bo Jldft Ap0|f, 

A Cte]|l] J 1)A fp-bACAl 3-CA1U ; 

30 tD-b]A6 pfopo Af AO pbl^OD *rc|3, 
ftjuijA fr-ftt|3b^r r^lc A be]c Aop. 

p. 3Uc Ai) AiqiiJe c6]ji Ai)0]f, 

f ul A 3-cu|TiFl6eAfi piof Ab cjoo!) ; 
361II bo 4)blA, aV be]8 p|Of A3Ab, 
cjA Aco AfC]3 r)6 An^ttjc c^ pjoijij. 



45 

0. I marvel at thy daring talk, 

cleric who hast visited every land ; 
To say that I would forsake tiie Hans, 

An open-hearted hospitable people, who were not 
niggardly. 

P. Didst thou see the people of God 
Seated attired at feasts ; 
More plenteous have they of each good cheer, 
Than the people of Fionn, tho' great their consi- 
deration. 

Better are my tidings now, 
Glory bright and strive to attain to it, 
Receive true repentance now. 
Make atonement here and don't lose heaven, 

0. I have lost my reason here, 

And what I esteemed more than that ; 

1 have lost Fionn the noble. 

And the fine men, who were generous. 

P. Konn and the Fenians now are [lying] 
Sorrowful on the fl{^-stone of pains ; 
Take thou [follow] the son of God in their stead. 
And there is no danger of thy being without sense. 

0. I believe not thy talk now, 

cleric of the crooked stafis ; 

That Fionn and the Fenians should be within, 

Unless they found pleasure in being there. 

P. Receive just repentance now, 

Before the sunmions shall be ^ent to thee ; 
Believe in God, and thou shalt know 
Whether Fionn is in [hell] or out of it. 



46 
O. 4)^ n>-b|A6 )^|ao9 A5A19 A f 19AC All Loff)/ 

bfAf 9^]t 6fiis]b 6 $Ud 9A 1409 ; 
b Affobaofo bo cl]Afi Ajar a S-cloi;, 
ir ^5tt|90 bo be]6eA6 Aiy bAlL 

p. N^ b]A6 no co]8ce A|i btt|t j-cufi, 

^f f e^]i|i At) lace ACA ADO ; 
n}AC ]t]$ i)e]ri)e 6]b|ieAf pA b-uflc, 
f f 196ft A cfOQ A]t bofoe 6aU* 

O. '^^'t ^^11 ^^^ intt]i)ci|i 4)6, 

A'f 5a|tAb ]Ab i)A bA]ll |f Ai^i^f a le]f ; 
If coftbAtl i)Ac s-cuffipeAb A9 Fb|A99, 
50 coAC 9A b-p|A9 bA rwiof . 

p. C|C^l6C6ACC OftC A fOApdfft, 

cApAf i>A b|i]AC|tA btt]le ; 

bob' f e^Ti]i 4d)A fie b'^otf ua]}!; 

9A 'pfADVA 6]ftdA99 ttfle. 

O. 21 Pb^c}tA]c 9A bACA]le c^k^nye, 

bo be(|t o|iti7 f:|teA5]tA6 bAi)A ; 
bo b|A6 bo 6acaI 9A bftnfSAitj 
bA t9-biA6 OfCOft bo lAcA]|i. 

4)A Tt)-be^6eA6 ti)0 ri^AC Orcujt A3ttf 4)|A, 
lAii? A|i l^]n} A|i Cbooc PA b-'pbjAOO i* 
bA b-^A]cr]!)9r^ 11)0 19AC Afi lA]t| 
b6A]t|:A]99 5U|i ):6A|i l^1b]]i 4)|A. 

Cfopijuf i>ob' ^6ib|n le 4!)|a, 

9A ii cl^Ati A 6e|c X)] buf f eA]t^ ; 
9^ Fl099 f Uic, H|S 9A b-F]A99# 
te|9« 1^14^1 ^ b; 5A9 cAr|H) ? 

> V)Ae A9 loi9, the name of Fionn Mac Cumhaill'i tpear. 



47 

0. Were Fionn ^and M«c an Loia with me^ 

Two who never vitiidrew from the fightof the spears; 
Despite thy elearioo and their beUa, 
'Tis we that would hoU the place. 

P. That would never come to your torn, 
A better tribe dwells there ; 
The Son of the King of heaven, who expels evil, 
Great is his love for a blind man. 

0. If the people of God are blind, 

And that the blind are they whom he loves best ; 
Tis likely^ he would not send the Fenians, 
To the hott$e o{ pain to be exterminated. 

P. Misery attend thee, old man. 

Who speakest the words of madness ; 
God is better for one hour, 
Than all the Fians of Eire. 

0. Patrick of the crooked orocier. 

Who makes me that impertinent answer; 
Thy crozier would be in atomB, 
Were Oscur present. 

Were my son Oscur and God 

Hand to hand on Gnoc-na-bh-Fiann, 

If I saw my son down, 

I would say that God was a strong man. 

How could it be that God, 
Or his clerics could be better man ; 
Than Fionn the chief king of the Fenians, 
A generous man without a blemish ? 

> Cnot i)A b-l^iAOi), i.e.. the bill of the Fenians. Probablj CMoccm^atr, 
in the coantj of Eeny, if the hill referred to. 



48 

bo itfe]|% TtfAsUc |t^S OA iteAOD ; 
bo h] f ub A b-)^iAi)i)A]b )n)]i>u, 

aY C^lb A b-|?lAlceAf 4>fe 50 C6A1>9. 

4)^ iD-be]8eA8 A|c ai)o f 1^ ^^ f^^Vf 
bob' f eAf%]t ij^ ]:lAiceAr 4)^ ; 
If At)t> ^ ]iaca8 )^lot)p, 
aV a |iA]b A|3e bo'u 'pbftii)!). 

SI be^ft cutA i)AC b-cfe]b fiAl, 

50 h'}V\^^^W V^ b-piAi)i) 50 b|t^t ; 
t)] liAjb AOi) ijeAC *fAo b-p^iijp, 
PAC ]iA]b f]Al Afi>eAr5 C^jC. 

4)^ b-f AicfeAf A, A cteims c^]8, 

M) Fbl^W l«^ A|i AD b-C|t^i5' ^*^ ^^r i 
V^ A N«^r tAiJeAW* I) A ffioc^p f^\n), 
A|i Ai) b-'pfeipp bA ti)5|i bo ibeAf. 

a Pb^C|lA]C flA^TlAfS bo 4>biA, 

A9 cuiiijii) le]f AO 'pblAOO ^o ^ic be6 ; 

1)0 A b-^ACAl8 f6 fO]|l 1)^ f ]Att, 

f]|i bob' fe^ttft OA |Ab A i)3le6? 

tl6 A b-FACA]8 ffe 't)A 8ii]cce ffe^o, 
5^8 A|ib 6 5f A|i 5-C]OTO ; 
A i)S1^ll> -^ 3-coS^8, 1)6 A T)eA|te, 
f eA|i bo b^ c6ri)-it)A|c le )^]Oi)p. 

1 CtU^i^ Urtmd, This mmt nfer to the battle of Yentrj (Fi&fm 
Truigh) fought in the tliiid centoiy of the Chrittuui era, between Daira 
Donn, Monarch of the World, and the Fianna EireaiM, now in pre. 
paration for the Socie^, from a mannscript of the fourteenth centuiT'. 



49 

O. All that thou and ihy clerics tell, 

According to the laws of heaven's king ; [Fionn, 
These [qualities] were possessed by the Fians of 
And they are now powerful in God's kingdom. 

Were there a place, above or below, 
Better than heaven ; 
Tis there Fionn would go, 
And all he had of the Fenians. 

Thou sayest that a hospitable man 
Never goes to hell of pain ; 
There was not one among the Fenians, 
That was not hospitable amongst all. 

Hadst thou seen, chaste cleric. 
The Fenians one day on yon southern strand ; 
Or at Naas of Leinster of the gentle streams. 
Then the Fenians thou wouldst greatly have es- 
teemed. 

Patrick, enquire of Ood, 
Whether he recollects when the Fenians were alive ; 
Or hath he seen east or west, 
Men their equal, in the time of fight. 

Or, hath he seen in his own country, 
Tho' high it be above our heads ; 
In conflict, in battle, or in might, 
A man who was equal to Fionn. 

s H^rUiseAOv DOW Kms, in tiM ctmaXf of Kildtfe, a noted plM« 
in ¥eni«n hiatory. 

4 



50 

bo Ti)AYtbA]5 A|t SbM^b ija ii7-Bat) )^fOi)i)-' 

O. 4)0 f5A0]leAii)A|i Aoij Tb^le c6, 

bob* fea|t|i Ittc aV bo bi 3A|t5 ; 
bo tn}z b^ f^Ab le 5AC cd 6^06, 
A'f Ai) 0||teAb le]f A1J b-'pejoo wile- 

4!)b^ CO]1) b6A5 A|t Sb^l^b LuACftA,' 

8^ co^i) fbdfi A ti9-Be^]t|tt)A aq Sca^I ;' 

ba CO}r) A 1>-]A|tCA]t At> RofbAf]t,* 
aY 6^ CQ|D A9 AbA]0 BbA1)QA/ 

4>b^ cofu A5 CAfftsii) DA 5-cloc,« 
A'f 6^ co|ij A]t Loc Jor® U] CbttioiJ ;^ 
64^ cc|ij A b-'pboftnj^^ll DA b-p]ADD,' 
A'f 8a co^D A]|i Sblf^b D^ ID-Bad b-}^|ODD« 

21 P\)^z\iA]c, A 5-cuaIa8 cu ad c-feAls, 
A iD|C CAlp|tu|DD D^ pf aIid ftkii} ; 
tDA|t bo |t|3DeA8 le 'piooD IDA aodaji, 
A'f 5 AD AOD DC AC ADD b'pbiADD^lb pAjl ? 

> S\}Ah 9A i9'-t)An 1^70199, from r^Ab, a moantain, 17A i^-bAij, of the wo- 
men, and fjoifn, fair-haired ; literaUy, the moantain of the fair-haired 
women, now Sliabh'na»man in the county of Tipperary, which is situated 
within four miles of the town of Clonuiel, and two of Carrick-on-Soir. 
For the legend of these fair-haired women, see an interesting paper on 
the Fenian Traditions of Sliabh na m-Ban, in the TranMaction$ of the 
Kilkenny Archseological Society, for 1851. 

s 51ta5 luAcftA, now Sliabh Luachar, in the counties of Cork and Kerry. 

* bel^t^Yt^A AI) 5cA]i, Gap of Seal, See note, p. 4. 

^ Rof^Ats now the Rower, an extensire district in the county of Kil- 
kenny, separated by the river Barrow from the town of New Boss. 

6 t>Ai9i)A, the river Bann, in the county of Wexford, celebrated by 
George Ogle in tlie beautiful song ;— 

*' At down by Banna'i bank! I ttraj'd. 



'6\ 

P. Oisin, sweet to me is thy yoice^ 

And a blessing furthermore^ on the soul of Fionn ; 

Relate to us how many deer 

Were slain at Bliabh-na-m-Ban Fionn. 

0. We loosened one thousand hounds^ 
The swiftest, and the most fierce ; 
There fell by each hound two stags, 
And as many more, by all the Fenians. 

Twelve hounds at Sliabh Luachra, 

And two large hounds at Bearma-an-Scail, 
Two hounds on the west of the Rower, 
And two hounds at the river Bann. 

Two hounds at Garrigeen of the rocks. 

And two hounds, at the lake of Inchiquin ; 
Two hounds at Formaoil of the Fians, 
And two hounds at Bliabh-na-m-Ban-Fionn. 

Patrick, hast thou heard of the chase, 
son of Calphruin of the tuneful psalms ; 
How it was made by Fionn alone, 
And no one with him of the Fians of Fail ? 

* CAiTt5^9 9A 5-el0&t Carripeen of the rocAi» This is the name of a 
townland, on the Walsh mountains, in the ooonty of Kilkennj ; hat whe- 
ther it IS the Garrigeen allnded to in the text we cannot determine. 

' loc l9ro Uf Cbuioiy, the lake of Inchiquin, literaUy, the lough of 
the lehmd of 0*Quta. This romantic lake is situated in the parish of Eil- 
naboy, barony of Inchiquin, coun^ of Clare* and is about two miles 
and a-half in circumference. It is bounded on its western side, by a range 
of rugged but richly wooded hills. It is from this lake, that the barony 
takes its name ; and the chief or head of the O'Briens, the Marquis of 
Thomond, took his more ancient title of Earl of Inchiquin. For a rery 
interesting acoount of the connection of the (VQuin family, with this 
locality, see the Irieh Pemmf Journal^ No. 16, Dublin Journal, ice. Vol. 
II., pp. 136, 152. 

* foitfQAO]l tjA b-FiAQij. This Formaoil is situated between Miltown 
and Ennis, in the county of Clare. 



62 

p. Ni cuaIa6, a lijfc Ao R]S> 

^ OirlT) 5l|c i)A t)5t)loii7 t>3^ns 5 

cfOQbuf bo |tY5i)€A6 l^b ao c-feAls ? 

O. N^ CAt)AII)AO|f1)e Ai) 'pbf AW 5^* 

aV bitfeAj l]i)i) i)]0|i r^fpUg ]i|Aii) ; 
le K^]t]Qi) aV le i)eAf%c Aft Uifp, 
^ c|5ipif tl^p Af 5 AC 5liA6, 

Ntoji f tt]6 cU]|teAC A 5-C]H, 
5]6 h]i)t) l|b A CAQAf b pf aIh) ; 
bob' feAfift fOCAl 9^ At) lFh]Antj, 
f f}t oA]t loc A ITSlfAb $A|ib. 

Tl]0|t f a]6 cU])teAC a 5-c|ll, 
A PbttCYtA]c cAO]Tf> If b|W 5l6f%; 
bob' f6|le t)A plow K^IOi 
f eA|t pAC CAol bo b|u>in)^6 ^T^ 

4)^ fi7A]|t|:eA6 1DAC 29^|i|>A T9eA|i, 
1)6 3<>U CAln)A 0^]! CA|t f 6Ab ; 
96 t9Ac Ut 4)baib9e i>a ro-bAt^ 
A9 Iaoc bo caf}teA6 cac A|t c6Ab. 

4)A fi7A]|tfeA6 )^eA|t5ttf f jle f |aI, 

f:eA|i A 5-CApcA bo ftopA Aft A9 b-p6]po ; 
Od ^^)\ie bo fe]i)9eA6 5A17 locc, 
A i)5uc bo clo5 D] b]A6 n)o fp^YP 

4)A TDAinireAb TDAC 5^1*1*^16 pA Upp, 
Ap f eA|i pA|t 5APP A5 cu|i Ap A]|t ; 
0|*ca|i p6 ipAc RopAfp Sitipp, 
bo C|tdp^p f AP S-cjU p^oji f ^jip. 



'w^r9^^rtm^^mt^m^'''^T^^9K!^wm 



53 

P. I have not heard, son of the king, 
wise Oisin of the fierce deeds ; 
Belate to me and tell no nntrath, 
How the chase was made by ye ? 

0. We [the Fenians] neyer nsed to tell untruth, 
Falsehood was never attributed to us ; 
By truth and the might of our hands, 
We came safe out of every conflict. 

There never sat a cleric in a church, 
Tho' melodiously ye think they chant psalms, 
More true to his word than the Fians, 
Men who never shrunk from fierce conflicts. 

A cleric never sat in a church, 

Patrick mild of the sweet voice ; 

More hospitable than Fionn himself, 

A man who was not niggardly, in bestowing gold. 

If Mac Moma the swift were now alive. 
The mighty Goll, who loved not jewels ; 
Or, the son of O'Duibhne of the women. 
The hero who used to engage a hundred in the fight. 

If Feargus, the hospitable bard, were alive. 
He who used to bestow their songs on the Fenians ; 
Or Daire who used to sing without fault. 
In the sound of thy beUs, I would take no pleasure. 

If Mac Qaradh of the blades were alive, 
He who was not slow, in making slaughter ; 
Oscur or Mac Ronain the cheerful. 
Your droning in the church would not be pleasant. 



54 

1)6 )=^aoUd 3|tli)i) t^^tt ftA|t|t peAC ; 
1)6 Coija^ SQaoI bo b^ 3AI) st^uajs, 
^f ]Ab b'f ^5 11)6 f A0| 5TtuA]n) le fe^l ! 

116 At) c-AbAc beA5 bo h] A5 lp]otjp, 

bo ca)|teA6 5AC bu|i)e t)A co)]tC|n) fUA^i) ; 

t>A b|!)1)e l|On) f UA]f1) A li)feA|l, 

i)A A b-f ujl bo'i) cte||i A 5-C|ll aY a b-cttA]c. 

Of A1)0CC PAC IDA]|teA9Q A1) )^blAI)«)i 
1)^ lF}Ot)V fJAl 1)A D-bUAf ; 

bo bo6A|i f lAi)f ^1) i)A pf aIii), 

-^'r 5^^?* 5^1*^ ^^ 5-CI05 iDo cluAf* 

p. S5UIT1 bo b6Al A feA96|f% f uA]|tc^ 

t)A h] fCAfbA A3 Iua8 i)a b-)^]ADi) ; 
aV 30 i)-beACAbA|i cope ii)A]t Ai) 5-ce6, 
^V 30 ii)-bfe|b 30 bc6 A DsUf i)A b-p|Ai) ! 

O. NA l)-AbA]|l f ID, A Pb*^C|lA]C 3l]C, 

aY t)AC |IA]b Afl b]C V^ A|i t)eAtt) 1)A V3J}^Xf 

A01) Iaoc le A TD-b6A|tpA^8e buAb, 

A|l CeAOO AD C-rluA|3, 1F]0VV AI) Ai3. 

2t)ui)A ii)-bfe]8eA6 i)a 3eAf a bo b| aji lph]0VV9 
aV i)4i|i Ti)|A!) leff bft^feAb c|i|b; 
A b-pu^l ib||t DeAri) A3Uf l^ji, 
Dl cUoibpibif Uri) TDO |i]3. 

p. )r ^^o T^IST^ 6eAlbAi3 oeAii), 

]]• 6 bo beifi peAjtc bo Iaoc ; 
]f fe bo CUT!) Ai) b|oc-buAp, 
If fe bo beijt bl^c tja 3-C|iAob, 



55 

0. If Aodh Beag the son of Pionn were alive, 

Or Faolan the jovial who never refusefl any one ; 
Or Conan Maol who was without hair — 
They left me sorrowful for a while ! 

Or the little dwarf whom Fionn had. 
Who put each man into heavy sleep ; 
More melodious to me was the sound of his fingers. 
Than all the clerics in church and laity. 

As tonight the Fenians do not live. 
Or the hospitable Fionn of the gifts ; 
The loud chanting of the psalms, [hearing. 

And the hoarse sound of the bells have deafened my 

P. Cease thy talk, pleasant old man, 

Be not henceforth talking about the Fenians ; 
For they have passed thee by like a mist, 
And will be for ever, in the fetters of pain ! 

O. Say not so, O Patrick the wise. 

For there was not on earth or in heaven of grace. 

Any hero able to gain victory, 

Over the head of our host, Fionn the noble. 

Had it not been for the injunctions imposed on Fionn, 
Which he would not break through ; 
All that is between heaven and earth. 
Would not subdue the hand of my king. 

P. It is my king, who formed the heavens, 

It is he, who gives might to the warrior ; 

It is he, that created the universe, 

It is he, that gives the blossom of the trees. 



56 

p. )r ^ ^ 6eAlbA|S ftAfSA A'r 5I*1^T>* 

ir ^ bo belt* }AfS A]* l|w ; 
ir 6 bo cftttCAiS 5011C A> |f*A|l, 

1?] b-101)*W Af 6ACCA pb|90- 

CU5 nro ]i|S-re p^it) a 6u]l; 

ACC A]t COf5A|]tC CO|tpA IaOC, 

A}1 COfQAli) Cft^OC, A'f A|t CUft A 616. 

*!?» fttmSl^i Atiiti)i|ic, Atifeil5> 
A|i i)occa6 ti7e]}ii;e a b-ca]f 5led ; 
A|t tmittc fjccille/ a']* A]t fp^tb, 
A'f A]t f etceAib c^^c A b-c)$ ai) 6]l. 



1 l^ictoAll, Chiu, Thia was the fkrorite game of the ancient Irith 
chieftains; and is freqnentlj referred to in the earliest manuscripts 
extant. In leAbAfi qa 5-CeA|tc (^Book of Bighi9), p. Izi. the follow- 
ing account of this game, copied from leAbAft 9^ b-ti|6it]» a mannscript 
of the twelfth oentory, is given ; and it will senre as a curious ^ecimen 
of the language of that period : - 

*«C]A c-A|i?f9-reo p oi eocbA]6. wf AtifiAinc too, o\ r6, V)pn^ x>r^3 

leic. Ci^ boc fkOAtc ? ol Coc1|ai6 ? t>o imbtpc n6cille FMCfO, ol r^. ftio 
n)A]C re ei9i ol CochAY^, fo^ F1CC|U ? ^ nioibAb&uOt ol 9)|bTtu 2tc4^ ol 
eochAfb 7190 ni5A9 l 17-A cocla6, ir le T9 cecb ACA fiy f fccelt ^A ruQb 
ceiyAe, ol 9)ibTtt ir|6ceU OAb i^erro. bA ftn oQcUn 9An57C oeur lift ofit, 

ocur FttnruDa6 [j. iArA6] caca bAfn^i ironr }v cun b| luc lo^Am, ocor 

fell bol5 bi nSI t*oijb CTte6ai9A6. Ccttttjft 9X)pvii V9 tV^i^ lAt* m« 1«vb!m 
ol 9f)lbm« Nl PQiQ^nAcc bi 5|ttll, ol CochA6. Cfb sell biAf A99P ol 
!2l)lbin« CannvA l?fO, ol CocbAfb. Koc b|A IfiVTA, ol SOl^t^, 19A c6 better 
190 cocell cAesA? SAbuit p^ubsUr*" 

*< « What is thj name ?' said Eochaidh. * It is not illustrious,' replied 
the other; * Midir of Brigh I^ith.* • What brought thee hither?* said 
Eochaidh. ' To play flthcheall with thee,' replied he. ' Art thou good 
at flthcheall ? said Eochaidh. * Let us have the proof of it, replied 
Midir. * The queen,' said Eochaidh* ' is asleep, and the house in which 
the dthcheall is b^ongs to her.* < There is here,* said Midir, ' a no 



61 

P« It is he, that made the moon and the san, 
It is, he that brings fish into a lake ; 
It is he, that fonned field and grass. 
Not like the deeds of Fionn. 



O. 'Twas not in forming fields and grass. 
That my king took delight ; 
Bnt in mangling the bodies of heroes, 
In contesting kingdoms and spreading his fame. 

In conrting, playing, and hunting, 
And unfolding his banner, in the front of the fight; 
In playing at chess and shimming. 
And in beholding all in the house of drinking. 



worse fithcheaU.* This was true, indeed : it waa a board of silTer and 
pore gold, and ewety angle was illaminated with precious stones, and a 
man-bag of woven brass wire. Midir then arranges the fithcheall. 
'Play,' said Midir. 'I will not, except for a wager,' said Eochaidh, 
*What wager shaU we stake?' said Midir. 'I care not what,' said 
Eochaidh. * I shall haye for thee,' said Midir, * flf^ dark grey steeds, 
if thon win the game.' " 

In Hardiman's IrUh MinMtrelty, Vol. II., p. 373, there is an Irish 
poem ascribed to Aldfred, king of the Northnmbrian Saxons, and said 
to hare been composed by him, daring his exile in Ireland, A.D. 665, in 
which he describes the Ossorlans, as expert hands at the game, in the 
following stanza i - . 

** no bbeAC 6 Attoin co5le, 
21 ccfii Aloiijo Om*l5be, 

9)ioiu ipiireAcb uau i^oft nvAcbc, 

I Ibnnd from Am to Gle, 
In tho r)ob country of OMory, 
Bweoi frnlt, •trlct jorltdiction, 
Mita of tnitb, ebeM pteylns* 



68 
O. 91 Pb^cftAfc, c^ ]tA|b bo 4)b|A, 

AO CAQ t^]t)}C At) b|Af CA|I leAji ? 
U'lt CU|C }0n)4yb fO1)0 ]*AQ CfteAf ? 

tijAC mJ tocUijt) t)A rsiAc i?-6]|i ; 

C|t6Ab l)ll|t ^ftCA|5 |I15 1)A 1)AOrij, 

b6|b A]t b6|ti7|Ot)i)A|b Ai) f^ft ti)6]|i ? 

Nd Ap CAi) c^]i)i3 'QASpuf tD6|i, 
At) feA|i bA bofib A osleo 17^11 t]tf) ; 
If coftf)A]l b4 ti7A|]t^eA6 bo ]t^3, 
50 5-cu]beocA6 le lp(ATn>A|b 'pblOT- 

N6 A1J CA1) c^|i)]5 T^Ailc iDAC 'Cfteofp, 

A1> F^AJt A|t AO b-pfe]!)!) bo CU||l AI) c-^ft ; 

p] le 4D]a bo cu|c AI) cu|tA8, 
Adc le b-Of cufi Ati7eA]*5 c^c. 

2l|lleAi)i), Ti)AC Ba6tda n)6]ji, 
le ti)]llc^ TJeAiijAlTt i)a fluAj b-c|t^AO ; 
Dlo|t Uiti) r|i), ti)^ ri)A||t bo |ti3, 
bul b^ cIao]6 acc Y]ot)t) f^ip. 

)oti)6a cac, ti)A]8ii), A'f 31ia8, 
bo coTDdftAb |ie 'p|Ai)i?A]b lp^\l ; 
t)] cuAUb 30 D-beAjtoA 6acc 
|i]5 ijA i)Aoit), v^ 3U]i 6eAft3 A U^tt). 

p. tfeisinj^f b'^fi 3-coii}6|icAf A|t 3AC CAob, 
A f eAijdin Cfi]i) Ac^ 3AI) cfe]U ; 

CU]3 30 b-|rU|l 4)|A A|l DOATf) l)A t)*o|ib, 

A3uf 'pioijo aY a fl6|3ce u|le a b-pfe]i)t). 



S9 

0. Patrick, inhere was thy God, 

When the two came aoroBa the sea ; [the ships, 
Who carried off the queen of the king of Lochlin of 
By whom many fell here in conflict. 

Or when the mighty Dearg came. 
The son of the king of Lochlin of the golden shields ; 
Why did not heaven's king protect them, 
From the blows of the great man ? 

Or when Maghnus the great landed. 
He who was fierce in dread conflict ; 
'Tis likely, had your king then lived. 
That he would have joined the Fians of Fionn. 

Or when Tailc mac Treoin arrived, 
He who on the Fians great slaughter made ; 
'Twas not by God the hero fell; 
But by Oscur in the presence of all. 

Ailleann, the son of Badhma the great, [spoiled, 

By whom Temor of the powerful hosts used to be 
There did not dare [even] if thy king Uved, 
To go to conquer him but Fionn himself. 

Many a battle, victory, and contest, 
Was celebrated by the Fians of Fail ; 
I never heard that any feat was performed 
By the king of saints ; or that he reddened his hand. 

P. Let us cease our comparison on both sides, 

Withered old man, who art devoid of sense ; 
Understand that God dwells in heaven of the degrees. 
And Fionn and his hosts are all in pain. 



60 

O. Ba ii>6|i At> i)^||te f\x) bo ^l)]^f 

5AI) 3Uf t)A b-p|Ap bo 6uA]i) b'y])]oi)t) ; 
A3ttf DjA ffe^i), bl^ ti)-b]A6' A Ti^b}iu]b, 
50 b-c]toib|;eA6 ai) flA^c cA]f a ceAt>9. 

Nfo|t ^ttlA]t)5 'piopi) A|i feA8 A |tAe, 
l)eAC bo he\t a b-pfe]i)ij i)^ a i)5ttA]f ; 
3At) KUAfjUS A]t le b-A]|t5eAb pd 6|i, 
le CAC 1)6 sled, 50 ii)-be]|teA6 buAb, 

)f it)A]c Ai} ceA9o bAfD A]t bo 43b]A, 
be^c AnreAf5 a cI]a|i> roA]t c^|ti7 ; 
5AI) b|A6, 5AP 6AbAC, 3AI) ceol, 
5AI) be|c A5 b|ioi)i)A6 5|]i A|t 6a]ii). 

3a1) 5^1|l 1)A !J5A8A|t 1)^ DA fCOC, 

5AD be]c co]ii)feAb po^c t)^ cuai) ; 

bo c|ODP A b-|raA]tAf b'eA]*bA6 av b^6e, 

n)A]t]Tt) bo inj i)e|tj)e aii)' uacc. 

'5^V V)^n), 5Ai> |!]A3Ai6eAcc, 5AD f]Ovv, 

5AI) ru|6eA6 A D-fo^Ab fDA}i bA 8uaIj 
SAD foSla]!!) cleAf Ittc v^ sled. 

p. l,fe]5 cuf A bo be|c ba jt^OTi), 

A m]C At) K15 bA ti)A|c clu; 
56^11 bo't) c6 bo Soi^ 5AC fDA]C, 
C)toti) bo ceAtyi) Af peAc bo 5IUI). 

BuA^l b'ucc A'f bO]Ytc bo 6ed|t, 
cjie^b bo'i) c6 c^ or bo c]oi)o ; 
5]6 5tt]t b']oi)3i)A Uac a Iua6, 
]f 6 bo |tu5 buAfS Aft THj^oop* 



V 
f 



61 

0. Great would be the shame for Qtod, 

Not to release Fionn, from the shackles of pain ; 
For if God himself were in bonds. 
The chief would fight on his behalf. 

Fionn never suffered in his day 
Any one to be in pain or difficulty ; 
Without redeeming him, by silver or gold, 
By battle or fight, till he got the victory. 

It is a good claim for me on thy God 
To be among his clerics, as I am ; 
Without food, without clothing or music, 
Without bestowing gold on bards. 

Without the cry of the hounds or of the horns. 
Without guarding harbours or coasts ; 
For all that I have suffered for lack of food, 
I forgive heaven's king in my will. 

Without bathing, without hunting, without Fionn, 
Without courting generous women, without sport, 
Without sitting in my place, as was due. 
Without learning feats of agility or fighting, 

P. Cease recounting them, 

son of the king whose fame was great ; 
Submit to Him who doeth all good. 
Stoop thy head and bend thy knee. 

Strike thy breast and shed thy tear. 
Believe in Him who is above ; 
Though thon art amazed at its being said, 
Twas he gained victory over Fionn, 



62 

V] 6|a6 ledbA^t 1)^ bA6Al blii)^ 
1)^ CI05 c^t^^A AQt) bo C|U. 

21 bubA]ftc 0]f]i), rt)o fS^Al tftUA^ ! 
PI b]i?i) l|oii) ):uA|n) bo bfejl ; 
50]l^eAbrA 50 iriiAf, acc V] V^ ^h]^, 
Acc f AO] lp})]Oi)i) DA b-piAi)!) 3AI) be]t be5 ! 

p. ^A|i bo SeAlUtf A]C|iff btt]i)t?, 

cit^lS^ reAcuii), fUAC Af f eA|i3 ; 
n)A|t bo ^eAlUir IV'Jir ADoif, 
cfopbuf bo T^YSi^eAb l^b at? c-feAls.* 

O. Hto]t b']Oi)50A 66]w A be]c b]idpAc, 

aY c^aot ah fl6]S be^c b':aii i^bic ; 
316 b'fe bo Ti)A0|tfeA8 0}iafi)9 3At> 3^]?*®* 
If bu]OQ bob' ^bA|t be^c A3 cao] ! 

1 2I9 c-reAl5» the chute. This poem, which fonuB part of the St5AlUi9, 
and generallj comes in here in our Irish manascripts, is printed in ftill 
in Miss Brooke's Reliques of Irish Poetry, p. 412, Dub. 1816, with a me- 
trical translation at p. 91, to which we refer the reader. The Ber. 
Br. Drommond has also made a highlj poetic translation of it, which 



63 

0. Patrick, were I without sense, 

I would take off the heads of thy clerics ; 
Thej^ would not be a book or crOzier bright, 
Or matin bell left in thy church. 

Oisin said,, sorrowful is my tale I 
The sound of thy lips is not sweet to me ; 
I will cry my iSll, but not for God, 
But foe Fionn and the Fians not being alive I 

P. As thou hast promised, relate to us — 
'Forsake, shun, hatred and anger — 
As thou hast promised, relate to us now, 
How the chase was made by you. 

0. No wonder we should be sorrowfal, 

Whflst bereft of the head of our host ; 

Whoever may boast over us that we are not joyful, 

'Twas we that had cause to weep I 

is published in hif Ancient Irish MinUreUy, The legend which gave tim 
to the Poem of the Chaee^ h fre^entlj allnded to in Irish Manuscript^ 
and is intenroTen with the nmumoe, entitled '^ Ten Cfse Cboqiiiv Cbnyv 
5bl^1^> which fonned the Second Volnme of our Dransaetione, The 
scene is laid at SHabh QuUHnnf in the coontj oi Armagh* 



cart) ci)HO)c aw a)B. 



O. Do bAiQAfi ttile At) T^IAD a'y ^)01}t}, 

A 5-c(y]tb^|oo6l Afi At) 5-ci)0c fo fiAti; 
^5 1")11*^ ^t* cleAf A|b luc, 

^V riw 50 r^ft^ A5 cAicfoti) I1A5.* 

C{o6 qtlicc bit|t)i) Ati)lA]6 fft>, 
A btt6A|]tc b|iAO| reArbltAC* 50 5I19!) jl^c j 

ir «^5^l hott), A )=1j]Dt) 1)A b-)=1j|A!)l), 

t)AC f AbA AQ ]tiA9 5afi bO|lf5 b^b. 

Cit6Ab to A90ir> bo iit}6 f\oi)t), 
le A b-ca|5ceAfi Uac A]t 5-citf f bob|t6|i) ; 

aV t^AC b-f tt|l IaOC pAOf A9 1)31*^11), 

i)AC b-ptt|l x^V b-)^6|i)i) feAf Alb le6. 

1 CAicfoib Ita5, throwing or eaUing gtomeg. This ringnlar costom was 
carried on to a great extent in the earljr part of the present centniy 1 
and, it is traditionally said that the t^Allieit^ or pillar-stones» found in 
various parts of Ireland, were the '^elo^^iYtc," of the Fenians^ and 
that Fionn Mac Cumhaill himself made no great boast of casting one of 
these huge rocks from the hill of Almhnin (Allen), where his palace 
stood, across to the hill of Howth, a distance of about twen^ miles* 
In ** CACctiA i9fc tfA f^f-coibATitle," or 7%s Adventw€8 of an lU^dviMed 
SoHt hj Carroll ODalj, better known on account of his rhyming pro- 
pensttles> as— 

** CeAftbAll bu|6e qa n^^hfitv^ 
Oo tei9oeA6 rcfteAimeAV Aft c^AbAfb/* 

Swarthy Carroll the rhymer. 

Who would pUy a dit^ on the harp. 

the custom is thus referred to:— 

** In 9A b-reAfl *90Ant CATAS 106 TAtt CfllAb, 

Sl'r lA 9A b-peAfi bo tAftj^i) lfo5 lOAti lAb." 

On the day that the men were mustered, I met them on the hill. 
On the day that the men were mustered Td cast a stone as well as any 
of them. 



fRE BATTLE OF CNOC AN AlU. 



O. Wb were all, the Plans and Fionn, 
Assembled on this hill to the west ; 
Practising feats of agility, 
And we so mirthful casting stones* 

Not long were we so. 
When the Druid of Tara, wisely said ; 
I greatly fear, Fionn of the Fians ! 
That the time is not far when thou shalt regret 

What means this, saith Fionn, 
That thou foretel our cause of grief; 
There is not a hero under the sun. 
Who among the Fians cannot find his match, 

Carroll 0*DaIy was the most odebrated wit of his day, as weU as the 
most eccentric character. He was the first harper of his time, and anthor 
of that beantifttl and soul-stirring song '* Cfblfi) a Ruii;**' or, Ellen, the 
ucret of nuf hearty which he composed for the daughter of Earanagh» 
the history of which is so weU known, that there is no necessity for 
repeating it here. 

* t)ftAor CoAipftAc, the Druid of Tara, According to our ancient an* 
nalists, Tigeammas, monarch of Ireland, of the race of Heremon, was 
the first who introduced the worship of idols into Ireland, about nine 
centuries before the Christian era ; and it is atated, that while wor- 
shipping the Crom Cruach, the chief deity of the Irish Druids, along 
with a vast assemblage of his subjects at Magh Sleacht in Breifne, on 
the feast of Samhuin, one of their Deities (the day dedicated to whose 
rites was the same as the last day of October), he himself, with three- 
fourths of his people, were struck dead by lightning, as a punishment 
f^om heayen for his introduction of idolatry into the kingdom. See 
Connellan's Four Masierst p. 75, note. For a learned Dissertation on 
Dmidism in Ireland, see O 'Conor's Rerum Hihernicarum Scriptore$ 

Veteree, ToK. L, Proleg, Pars, 1., pp. xz. — ^zzzir. 

5 



66 

30 b-f tt]l Ai) c6||t A t)50|fteACc bAO]b; 
f:6AC DA T)feAlA ^oIa* lib, 

A3 bA3A|t 8ttbAC CAO|b A]l CAO^b. 
t)'^6AC p]OI)D Of A C]01)U fUAf, 

A'r bo coo^]]tc cttA]t i:oIa 30 cfifeAi^; 

If eA3Al llOTt), bo ]l^]8 A9 f AO|, 

30 b-ciocf A^b «i|i-3ttAif A|i At) b-)=1)6]W. 

4)0 squ lF]Ovr) cu]3e 0fcu]t, 

A'f bttbAittc, A cufiAib T)A Iai?p 3feAti, 
]f cu]be 6u|c A be^c A3 cao|, 
^feAc A]i f|3»?lb At) Ae8]|t. 

a HIS t>A b-Fbl^W, bo |t^i8 Ofcu|t, 
1)^ 3IAC b^o83 v^ Apbf ADD t\i]t> ; 
Ac^ De^l^c A'f Ittc Ab 3feA3Aib, 
A'f C|torD-f luAj c]tfeAD T*®b' CAOib. 

4)0 cAiceATDAn u]le ad lph]^V^f 
f CAlAb A3 3iiiDD-AibAitc DA Dcul ; 
bo bt byioATD a3U1DD fO]lbi|i, fiibAC, 
A'f bjieAtD eile bubAC d^ D3t)^* 

4)0 UbAiit CoD^D* ^ t^t 4v]ib, 

-^3"r If ^ ^^ T*^1^ SO '*0T*'> cftfeAD ; 
d1 b-f uil DeAC b'A|i AC|iA]3 bAC, 
AbbuiiD f^lD -^^cc feA|i f AOD. 

1 t^^AlA roU, chudt of blood. The Irish still look upon say chftoges 
in the clouds u portaitous of some forthcoming oTent ; and here, Fionxi 
foresaw the destraction which awaited the Fenians al Cnoc-an-air. 

s Coi>&9 was the most noisy person in the Fenian ranks, though, at 



67 

0. Believe me, Fionn of the tempered blades, 
That the foe is nigh at hand ; 
Behold those clouds of blood, 
Threatening gloomily side by side, 

Fionn gazed above his head, 
And he beheld a mighty omen of blood. 
I greatly fear, saith the sage. 
That a ruin of slaughter will come upon the Fians. 

Fionn called Oscur to him, 
And said, hero of the sharp blade, 
*Ti8 likely that thou shalt be mourning ; 
Behold the portents in the heavens. 

O king of the Fenians, saith Oscur, 
Be not startled, or depressed by them ; 
There is might and strength in thy arms^ 
And a mighty host at thy side. 

We, the Fenians, all spent. 
Some time keenly beholding the clouds ) 
Some of us were merry and gladsome, 
And others with gloomy countenances* 

Conan spoke with a loud voice. 
Exclaiming haughtily and proudly ; 
There is no one whose colour changed, 
I confess, but a coward. 

the same timo, the most contemxytible. For aq account of. his enchant- 
ment in the BnUghin Ckaorthainn, and what he BafTered there, we would 
refer the reader to that curious tract, which will hereafl»r form one of 
the Society's publications. 



(58 

O. 21 ip\)]i)i) n)]c Cuii)A|ll, bo ]t&|6 ai) 43ftAd|, 
qoi^dl bo btt]8eAo Ab' 6^]l, 
aY T^oiooceAji lAb leAC Aft leAC, 
50 u-b6|i)]b fA]|te A|i ceAcc bo'i) ij4^ii)A]b? 

4)o fe]i)i) lp]Oi)r) AX) ^ofib pbl^W^ 
A> b^lieASAiii n^^ 1i)A 03^1!*; 
5AC f eA|t rt)^ luA^c A5 ceACc, 
e]b|]t ^Ia|c^ cit^Ac, aY c^|1). 

2l]coe6cAb Ai)0]f, A|i 'pioiji) 50 ^]0\i, 

5AC ijeAc bAiij bu]6eAt) leV b'jowT^ ")^ ; 
-^V l^^r 5^^ D«AC b^ b-f u^l boil) ^UAC, 
n)^ cuf|t]b fUAf A be|C boiij' t*^!!^- 

O. 21 Ofcufft, bo ]t^i8 piooi) A|i b-cuf, 
6p cu uftfA* A f luc, i)A b-piAOT ; 
Ai) b-|:A]|i|!]6 cu 50 l-8t ]ife c^c, 
reAcc bo'ij i}^ii)A]b z^ cu3aii)i) A3 cjtiAll. 

Ap bul can? ]*UA]p bob' ^]l leAC ; 
V]0}K ii)A|fe 8u]c, A'f bA ii)i-clu, 
nja'f eA3Al leAc i?^iii)be ceACC. 

N] le b-At)bFAi)i? |io|ii) l^fii) c^c, 
bo jiACfAipi) ^1*^ can) fUAfi? ; 
Acc 3Uft fiof btt]c 3U|t 3ij^c l]on), 

CA]rb&A0A8 bY^3A]l Aft 3 AC 3UA||*. 

N] 8]dlcd]3 "Jir® F^in^ T*^ ^^^> 
ufl ii)6ft-f3^c 'i)^ ApbfTA]!?!} 0|in); 
3|8eA8 If eA3Al l|on>, A T^blDt), 
5tt[t beA3 bob' bu]8eAQ ijac eA3Al led. 

1 UttfA) << piUar, a prop or support^ the frame on which a door hangs, 
Oscar was conudered the stoutest and most yaliant of the Fenians ; hence 
Fionn designates him as abore ; but we question whether he bore the 



69 

0. Fioim, son of Cumhall^ saith the Druid, 
Call thy forces in thy presence ; 
And divide them into two separate bodieSj 
That they may watch the approach of the foe. 

Fionn sounded the Dord Fhiann, 
And they answered by a shout ; 
Each man yieing to be first, 
Noble, chief, and host. 

I shall now truly discern, saith Fionn, 
Such of my followers as are attached to me ; 
And also such as do me hate. 
If they refuse being led by me. 

Oscur, saith Fionn at first. 

As thou art the prop and strength of the Fians, 
Wilt thou with others watch this night [us. 

The approach of the enemy who are making towards 

1 ask of thee now, Fionn, 

If it be thy wish to take repose ; 

It would not become thee, but bring ill fame, 

If thou fear that foes may come. 

'Tis not through dread of any man's hand, 
That I would awhile go to rest ; 
But thou knowest I am accustomed, 
To have visions of every danger. 

I shall not refuse keeping watch with the rest, 
There's neither fear nor terror on me ; 
Though I greatly fear, Fionn, 
That the most of thy followers are in dread. 

palm in heroism from GoU mac Moma ; or even his father the poet Oisin, 
He was kiUed by Cairbre Lifeachair at the Battle of Gabhra. Vide 
TranMCtiotu, Vol. I., p. 60. 



70 

O. SoilteAf y^]or)r) Aft 4)blA|tii)u]b 4!)ot>i)> 

A r riApitA^seAf 50 ceAi)t)fA &o'd f ^16 J 
A1) b-fTAituqb ctt TpA^t A01) I© b-Of CU|l, 

A 5-CAC t)A 5-C01Ti)-eAJ5A|t 1)A b-C|lOl1)-f l^A5 5 

Acc 50 ii7-b^A6 Ofcuft |i(ii> TDO c]tO]6e,* 
Itdib^n} t)5ii)' 6]A^5 le ^eAcc buA^* 

?l SboiU cAlnjA 1JA 5-»cfittA6 Iai)i>, 
Ai) cun)Ai)i) leAc K^J tjA b-piAi)i) ; 
Ai) b'j:Ai)pA]8 cu A b-frocAifi d^c, 
tjb c|iiu|t |tu5 bA|t|t i)A P5^T*5 SM^^- 

M] b«eA5Al l]OTt) Uti) b^ c|tuA8Acc, 
6 z^ OfCttfi t)A t)5UA]* ATI7' 8^]l ; 
aV 4D]AtiiDU]b c]i58a ija b-T^^AWj 
b6]8 tt)]fe TDA|i lAb 50 U, 

T^A]i7]C T^AoUi)' bo lAcA]|t pbipt?, 
aY ^ lAbA]|i 30 }:]ocn)^\i, ^]ib ; 

aV bubAlltC, A mS 1)A b-'PlAT)!), 

ij] it)6|i lioo ^wic bo fuAp 50 lA. 

1 Kui) f9o ctiot6e, the secret of my heart ; or, my hearVe treasure, Thii 
is sUU a common phraae in Ireland, bat applied only as a term of affection. 

s I^AolAVt or O'Faolain^ now anglicised PMan or Whelan, There were 
many distingnished persons of this name in ancient times who gave 
names to territories, tribes, and families in Ireland: such as the Ui 
Faolain of Leinster, a name rather prominent in the county of Kilkenny 
at the present day. Dr. O'Donoran writes of them ( Vide WbAfi qa 
5,iCeAt^c, Book of Rights, pp. 205—6), — " This was the name of a trib^ 
and territory containing about the northern half of the present county 
of Eildare. It comprised the baronies of ** Clane" and "Salt," and 
the greater part, if not the entire, of those of ** Ikeathy," and " Oughter- 
anny." The town of Nas (Kaas), and the churches of Claenadh (Clane), 
lAitbreach Brain (Laraghbrine, near Maynooth), Domhnach Mot 
^Ui^he Luadhat (Donaghmore), Cluain Conaire (Cloncurry) ; an4 



71 

0. Fionn calls Diarmuid Donn, 

And he asketh calmly of the sage ; 

Wilt thou watch with Oscur, 

If thou art more attached to me than the rest. 

I never yet flinched, Fionn^ 
In battle or conflict of mighty hosts, 
So that Oscur the treasure of my heart, 
Were before or behind me in time of victory. 

valiant QoU of the well-tempered swords, 
Dost thou love the king of the Fians ; 
Wilt thou remain with them, 

Ye are the three who gained sway in fierce conflict. 

1 dread not the hardiest hand. 

As Oscur of the feats is with me ; 
And valiant Diarmuid of the Flans, 
I will be with them this night. 

Faolan came into the presence of Fionn, 
And exclaimed fiercely and loudly ; 
Saying, Fenian king, 
We grudge thee not thy repose this night. 

Fiodh Chuillinn (FeighcuUen), were in it. After the establisliment of 
gurnameSy [which happened in the reign of \)\v]Ait l>uttoTii>e Brian 
Boroimhe, or Boru, as the name is often for brevit/'s sake incorrectly 
written] the chiefs of this territory took that of Mac Faolafn, and soon 
after, that of O'Brain {Anglice O'Byme) ; but they were driven from 
this lerel and fertile country, about the year ]U0% by Meyler Fltz-Henry 
and his foUowers, when they retired into the mountains of Wicklow, 
where they acquired new settlements for themselves ; and in the reigns 
of Henry VlII. and Elizabeth, they were possessed of more than the 
southern half of the county of Wicklow." And at p. 222, note b (idem), 
he says that, " Magh Laighean was another name for the territory of 
the Vi Faolain, O'Faolain was the chief of a tribe, named Deise, de- 
scended from Fiacha Suighdhe, the elder brother of Conn of the Hun* 



72 

O. 21 C\)Oi)^}r) ir)AO]l, bo ji^]6 lp]ot)r), 
^At) A 5-cuAf A]b bub^ l-eic-^]|ib ; 

^ r c» ir s^in^^ tt^iii-gi^iri b]w, 

cuit) f 3A[icA idaY ceAcc bo'ij i^at^A^b* 

?^)aY bttl bATi) |;6|i), A yh]i)Vf ^'v ttAl»i); 
A3 l?A]|ie A]t baA]|tc, i)6 a|i t^i)} 

ATI? A017A|I 5At) CU]le bo'p 'pbfe]!)!?, 

50 p50]oceA|i 11)6 zjiett) l^|i ? 

N] cu^be 6tt]c, A Cbop^ii) ii)AO]l, 

b]ulcA6 lFh}VV> bo Tt^|6 FDAC 1,U3A]8, 

AC^ T)A |l]5 Of CfOpt) T)A b-'p]Api), 
A 3-C0Ti)]tAC, A f A tlJ-b]A8, 'fA 1)-6fl. 

21)^ c-^ 7^]0i)i) 1JA |ii3 Of c}or)t) pA b-'piAW, 
A it)]C 1-U5A]6, bo ]t^i6 Coi)ai) ; 
V) cofii)U]l 3tt|i cu]be bArn, 

bul Atij AOi)Aft 30 b-UA^lt) VeAC'^lflb.* 
Mf I f AT) b-p|AI)TJ Ufle, A]t tIJAC tuSAO, 

|!eA|i c6ri)-ii)-b]T)t) bob' cld-Juc ^|ib, 
Af clo]i)fi8 AT) }^blAT) u|le bo 3l5|t, 
Ti)a'f ceACc bo'i) c6||i a i)3A|i bo'i) 2l|ib. 

H^ b] ]:eAfbA Ipn) b^ Iua8, 
A ibic tu3Ai6 i)A TD^T) 36A3 ; 
b'pb]oi)T) i)A bo'i) pb^l')!? PI |iACAb at;i), 
cu)|i]rT) fUAf bo le njo jiAe. 

dred Battles, who were expelled from Deece or Deite Teamhrach, in the 
county of Meath, by their relative Cormac, the grandson of Conn of 
the Hundred Battles, about, A.D. 254, when they settled in the county 
of Waterford about half a century back." One of their descendants, the 
Bey. John WheUn, P.P. of Modeligo, who died in the year 1819, was as 
fin^ a specimen of the old Irish race as one could wish to see. 



73 

0. Oonan the bald^ ssdth Fionn^ [Ard ; 

Bemain thou in the dark receeaes of the cave of Leatb-^ 
As it is thoQ who can shout most loudly. 
To warn us of the approach of the enemy. 

If to the caye I shall go, Konn, 
To watch for troubles, or for hosts 
Alone, without more of the Kans, 
May I be pierced through the middle. 

Ill it becometh thee, Conan the bald. 
To refuse Fionn, saith Mac Lughaidh ; 
Who is king over the Kans, 
In battle, in food, and in gold, 

Although Fionn be king over the Fians, 
son of Lughaidh, saith Gonan ; 
'Tis not likely that I must go 
Alone to the cave of Leath-Ard. 

There's not among all the Fenians, saith Mac Lughach, 
. One who can shout so loudly as thou ; 

And all the Fenians shall hear thy voice. 

If the foe comes near the Ard. 

Speak no more of this to me, 

son of Lughaidh of the smooth limbs ; 
For Fionn or the Fians I shall not go there — 

1 refuse it during my life. 

1 UApQ IcAc ftitb, the cave of Leath Ard ; or, Lahatd* Mr. Daniel 
Sheehan, of Ardagb, Newcastle West, count j of Limerick, who baa been 
often on the top of Knockanar, near Balljbitnion, says, that there is a cave 
there, and a spot which to this daj is called Lahard ; which circumstance 
fdone is su^cient to identify Ci^oc-Aiy-Am as the scene of the battle. 



74 

bo fi^|6 Ofcufi, aY b6^8 Ab 8^^l ; 

Slob Be^s c^6dA n>Ac lph\t>t>9 

aY ttt^lle lo^Y 59A01 Uac bf^S^l^* 

Be]|t leAC 7^eA|iAp* aY B|tAi) Ioac, 
SseoUi)^ 7^ttA|Ti7, aY so® AfiAs^i) ; 
Bo5-te^n) aY SlljteAd Cl)luA]f, 
^V 1"J^S S^^ SttuAin), A Cbop^]t), 

4Do JlttA]]* Cory^t) Aft coTbA]|ile Ofcutit, 
b'pi)i7fA]J x^ bo|tAf T)A b-ttATi)A; 
T)A co]t) A3Uf 2lo6 B6A5 iDAC "pbipi)** 
bo leApAbAfi Ai) cli]p caA|]tb. 

t)0 CUA]6 7^|0l)1) AW TI^ ^'*"> fttAip, 
aY 1JI cjAi) bo b] A f uA]ii)i)eAf aijo » 
Ai) CAP bo f ATt)lu]^A6 60 t}i\h, 
2I08 BeAS njAc 'pbipt) A be^c 5AI) ceApij* 

Do CA]fb&At)A6 bo IDAfl AOI) |t]f f ft), 

50 fiA^b 3oll C|i66a a l^]Ti) 51]a6, 

I® S^irSl^^ r^Ofl-6AdCAC, CAln}A> 

bV|i b^AjPftp T^A^lc tpAC 'Citeoip* 

Do ib^rSAjl Af A COblA 30 p|lAp, 

aY ^ 30]|i cui3e bfiAO] ija b-)^|At)i) ; 

b'^H bA c5ib-A^i)]Ti7 bo fioji, 

D|tAd] eAUbAp,* 1)0 peA|i ^^]c-C]aII. 

1 I^AttAi), 55tt^^<^9t btiA9, 4bc. These were the names of some of tlio 
Fenian hounds ; and btt^i?, which was Fionn's favorite one, was known 
by the following marks : — 



<( 



CofA btt]de bf An bim^i?, 

21 bj^ cAe5 btt5 'fA cikft 5dAl ; 
t)tt»ti9 TttAfci|f6e 6t ceA^i) f©^, 



0. Qo there^ Conan the bald> 

Saith Oscur, and there will be with thee ; 
Aodh Beag the valiant Bon of Fionn, 
And more if thou require. 

Take with thee Fearan, and Bran the BWift^ 
SgeoTan, Faaim, and Mearagan, 
Bog-Leim and Aireach Chluais, 
And depart without BuUenness^ Conan. 

Conan went by the advice of Oscur, 
And made towards the door of the cave ; 
The hounds and Aodh Beag, son of Fionn, 
Followed in the track of the host. 

Fionn, then, retired to rest, 
And not long was he there in repose ; 
When he saw in his sleep, 
That Aodh Beag, the son of Fionn, was beheaded. 

Qe likewise saw. 
That QoU the valiant was engaged in battle, 
With a mighty powerful champion, 
Whose name was Tailc Mac Treoin. 

He awoke suddenly from his sleep, 
And called to him the draid of the Fians, 
Whose synonyms always were 
The Druid of art, or man of prescience. 

TcDow legs had Bna. 

Both hw tidM blMk, aad bv b«Uj white} 

A speekM back orer her lolne. 

And two orimeon eera, reiy red. 

> Slo6 l>eA5 it)AC V^ni)% Little Aodh the ton of Fionn, This Slo6 was 
the youngest son of Fionn. He was called ** boAs" {gmalt) from his di- 
minaliye stature. 

4 t^fiAo] eAU6A9, i*e., the Druid of art^ or one skilled in magic or sor- 
per7. In " The Banquet of Dun na n-Gedh/' Sao., published hj the Irish 



76 

AW 5AC cA]f b^Ap^b b]ob f iib ; 
bo ]tai8 piotop, A b-p^ic-ciAll no 
li)t)ir Ai)0|f 5Ap tboill bu|t>o. 

"ClOCfTAlS |taACA|t A|i AT) b-pfe]!)!), 

A 'pbiOOy IT bAojAl, bo |i^]8 AT> 4D|iao] ; 
5l8eA8 1)1 5oit)|?eAit At) b^f ]*a t?5le|c, 
3oll caXwa, cTtd8A^ PA 2lo8. 

H]0|i b-fJAbA ATi)U]8 f]i) bu]i)i), 

Al) ZAt) bo CUAlAn}A]t UA]ll-3a]it, 

bo fe|i)i) pjoiji) Ai) ^Doitb'pblAijt), 
aV b'rneA3A]|i blA1^r5A]tlc Cboi)^]!). 

<Do sluAjf Cor)^v 1)A t|t&AT) |t]C,' 
aY 1)A CO|t) A]l lilt) lut 1)A 8|A75J 

b'^Ai) 2lo8 BeA3 A|i b|tuAC ija \yuAri)A, 
Stt^i clo]i)eA8 le]f fUA]?!) ija f5|Ac. 

Archaeological Society, p. 46, note b, the following curious recipe is giren 
for transforming a poet into a dmid : — 

** This is the way it is to be done : the poet chews a piece of the flesh 
of a red pig, or of a dog or cat, and he brings it afterwards on a flag 
behind the door, and chaants an incantation upon it, and offers it to idol 
gods ; and his idol gods are brought to him, but he finds them not on 
the morrow. And he pronounces incantations on his two palms ; and 
his idol gods are also brought to him, in order that his sleep may not be 
interrupted ; and he lays his two palms on his two cheeks, and thus falls 
asleep ; and he is watched in order that no one may disturb or interrupt 
him, until every thing about which he is engaged is reyealed to him, 
which may be a minute, or two, or three, or as long as the ceremony 
requires ; et ides Imbas discitur, i.e., one palm over the other across his 
cheeks.*' But it is said (Idem^ that « St. Patrick abolished it, and the 
Teinm Loeghdha, and declared that whoever should practise them would 
enjoy neither heaven nor earth, because it was renouncing baptism." 

* Ctt^Ai) nic, nDtJlt running, fleetneu of foot. The Fenians were re- 
markable for nimbleness of foot ; and one of the qualifications necessary 
for entering the service was that *' the candidate should be a nimble 
runner ; and tliat in his fiight before a chosen body of the Fen^ns, he 
should be able not only to outrun them, but even to defend himself intact 
against their assaults." £ven in modern times the Irish are remarkable 



77 

0. He revealeth to the Druid the entire secrets. 
Which he saw in each vision of these ; 
Fionn saith, the meaning of those 
Tell us now without delay. 

Slaughter awaits the Fenians, 
O Fionn, I fear, saith the Druid ; 
Yet the twain will not be wounded in the conflict, 
GoU the noble and valiant, nor Aodh. 

Not long were we thus, 
When we heard a loud shout ; 
Fionn sounded the Dord Fhiann, 
And the fierce yell of Oonan replied. 

Conan ran with all his might. 
And the hounds in full speed after him ; 
Aodh Beag remained on the brink of the cave, 
'Till he heard the clash of the shields. 

for nimbleness of foot; for in a very learned paper on the pbjBical cha- 
racteristics of the ancient Irish, bj Dr. O' Donovan, published in the 
twenty-third number of the Ulster Journal of Arch<Bology, we find the 
following allusions to the agility of the Irish quoted from a French author 
who Tisited Ireland in Dermod Mac Murrough*s reign, and who was eye- 
witness to the fact : — *' They assailed us often both in Tan and rear, 
casting their darts with such might, as no habergeon, or coat of mail, 
were of snfBcient proof to resist their force ; their darts piercing them 
through both sides. Our foragers, that strayed from their fellows, were 
often murdered [kiUed] by the Irish ; for they were nimble and swift of 
foot, that, like unto stags, they ran over mountains and ralleys, whereby 
we received great annoyance and damage.'* 

And again, quoting Froissart : — " But I shewe you bycause ye should 
knowe the truth. Ireland is one of the yvele countries of the world to 
make warre upon, or to bring under subjection, for it is closed strongely 
and wydely with high fbrests and great waters, and mareshes, and places 
[unjinhabytable ; it is hard to entre to do them of the countrey anie 
damage . . For a man of armes beyng never so well horsed, and 
ran a» fast as he can, the Trisshemen wyU ryn afote as faste as he, and 
overtake hym, yea, and leap up upon his horse behynde him, and drawe 
him from his horse." 



7^ 

7*itl bo fUYOfc ^Ab CoQ^fi f04^ol $ 
cfiftAb 4^9 |r^, bo |iaf6 OrCttit, 
z^'t) c6||t' ca3AYi)9, cl^ b*f ufl 8b6 ? 

4X) bf 2lo6 A i)-bQfiof 9A b*0Ai9A, 
Ap cAi) bo slttAjf iDif e A|i liic ;• 

t)|01t Ali>4ttCAf 6 fO^II CA^ tp'Aff, 

aY I7i0|t Vh 2io6 bA liieAf A l}on). 

C}t^Ab e^le bo 6A]C0]b; a|i Of cufi, 
A Chot)Z^]r) l]Of bA, fi^AO]l, 3A9 c^^ll ; 
qA Aco J^]cn0 t>A b-ptAi)i|, 00 nJIfei 
1K> qA AD feA|i qle bo'9 l^dfpt)* 

11)0 bA]ttf\b A 9-A19 5AC b^fi9 ; 

S1*>' S^f* TOWiifO lion) btt^ n)4t1*, 
T)1 f (6 1Q0 6A]in]b, AGC 11)6 f6f9. 

4)o $laA]f OfCttfi bo I6c C|t6Ai), 

SO 1*^1 'JiS r^ ^n«r t)^ b-w^iib; 

bo FttA]]i 2I08 BeA5 njAC ^pblOO F^lU 
5A0 Ai)bf Ai)i)i 54^9 6A5y S^obtiAtuc. 

Cit&Ab Ai) f^c 2I06 Bbi5 "Jic ^Fbioi)* 

Aji Of CH|iy fa]]«eAC A 1^bYA]$ ai) f f |t iqaoiI ? 

A'f 1)^T1)A]b CAOb UaC 1)A Tt]^ 

A leit)b, i)^|t iu]5 5U|t beA3 b'AO]f. 

C]A b^ AI) cd]|t A b^fojiif 6Am, 

aV n)fe ATDqJ 6 CAbA]|t i)a b-)^|Ai)i) ; 
V]o\i c|i]oci)u]5 TD'|i)i)qi) 0^ »D0 c\iO]6e, 
D^ 190 ri)|fi)^AC ft^Aii) T)to|t clAqboAb. 

1 Coim puTiuit ; one enemy in pursuit of the other. 

' Uic, ninJ}l€nett or agUiiy, This and the two following stanzas show 
how indilTerent Conan was ahout the difficulties the Fenians had to 
encounter ; so that he himself was able to make good his ground by a 
speedy retreat, realising the old Irish proTerb— 



79 

0. Fionn sounded tixe Dord again. 
Before Conan tbe bald arrived ; 
What means this, saith Oscar, 
The pursuers are cooung> where is Aodh t 

Aodh was at the entrance of the cave, 
When I left in baste ; 
I have not looked behind since, 
'Twas not Aodh that troubled me. 

What else thy trouble, saith Oscur, 

Conan, lazy, bald, and deyoid of sense ; 
Whether is it Fionn of the Fians» or I, 

Or what other man among the Fians ? 

It is not Fionn, thou, nor any of the Fenians, 
Concerns me at the time of each blow ; 
Though I rejoice in the wel&re of you all« 

1 care for no one bat mysdf . 

Oscur ran with mighty speed, 
Till he reached the entrance of the cave ; 
He found Aodh Beag, the son of Fionn the generous, 
Alive without terror, without trouble. 

Why is it, Aodh Beag, son of Fionn, 
Saith Oscur, [thou] remaineet after the bald man, 
And the foe nigh thee in full speed, 
child, who percdvedst not thy teller age. 

Though the enemy were nigh me, 
And I beyond any aid from the Fians ; 
My intellect or heart faltered not. 
Nor was my courage ever subdued. 



Or, 



A good ran !• botUr than a ImuI stand. 

Ha wIm igkta and nma awaj, 
WIU Ufit to fight anoihar d«j. 



80 

O. 9fyy cufjtfe ! n)o £|teAC ! n}o cuti^aS I 
A Ph^zjiA]c, If M}aI bo 4>bl^ ; 
bli n7A]ft):eA6 21o6 BeA5 ati)' 6^|li 
bA 6o|l]5 bo 5U|ib* t^A 5-cl]A|i ! 

C|t|OC CACA Cb^o^c Ap ^Y|i ; 

v] ibAitt^Api) 2lo6 BeA5 Ab 6&]l, 

aV d^ cu]|i A s-c^r ^r)]on) t?A 5-cliA|i. 

O. Ct)OC A1) ^Ift* Ap CI)OC fO HAfl, 

aV 50 l^ ^V hji^tA b]A]6 b^ JAiftn) 5 

A Pb^CJlAlC t}A TIJ-bAdAl T17-b^l), 
9] 5AI) f ^ Ctt5A6 AT) C-A|1)n7. 

P, N^ 5IAC cAon?^ A Oif 10 ^6il, 

-^5 f n)AO]i)eA6 a|i T^iow i>a b-pjAijo ; 
5AC A]t feAj Af A b-jruil bed, 
i7e|Tb!}]6 |Ab u]le Acb 4)] a. 

O. Nio|i t)e]n)^]6 '}p]ot)D i)a b-'piAiji), 

A'f i?]0|i ije]TbP]6 <D]Atin)u]b 04)u]b|)e; 

P]0|i ire}n)t)]6 Of cu]t pA Iaiji?, 

1)^ ijeAC bo'i) b-7^fe]t)i>, Acc Coi^ai; 5]i|i)i>. 

p. <Do b|t]5 3u|i De]Tbi)l6' 'pioiji), 

4)]A|tTi7U|b 4>oi)t) aV Ofcuji 4i]5; 
a'i* At) T^jApi) a]le it)A|i ]Ab, 
T)] fb^iitib iDA|i <Dbl^ i)A DSfi^f. 

I 5lt^|i9, a ihout, howl, loud talk^ or c/amoiir. 

> Ci)oc A9 Alts 'A< ^^' <>/' slaughter or destruction. Any one Tisiting 
BaUybunioii in the county of Kerryi noted for its cayes, could not better 
enjoy themselYes than by paying a visit to this celebrated hill, which 
lies quite dose to it. The remaining portion of the poem, but somewhat 



81 

0. My grief, my ruin, my sadness, 

Patrick, who art obedient to God ; 
fiad Aodh Beag himself lived with me, 
It would be ill for the clerics' clamour. 

P. Belate to us, Oisin, son of «Fionn, 

The conclusion of the battle of Cnoc-an-air ; 
Aodh Beag doth not live with thee, 
And question not the clerics' deeds. 

0. Cnoc-an-air is this lull to the west, 

And till the day of judgment 'twill be so called ; 

Patrick of the croziers bright I 

Not without cause did it get the name. 

P. Do not become faint, Oisin, the generous. 
Reflecting on Fionn and the Fians ; 
All that departed and those who live. 
Were as nothing compared to Gtoi. 

0. Fionn of the Fians was [more than] nothing, 
And so was Diarmuid Duibhne ; 
Oscur of the spears was [more than] nothing, 
And all the Fians, save Conan, the gay. 

P. Because that Fionn was nothing, 

Diarmuid Donn and Oscur the noble ; 
And all the Fenians likewise. 
They live not like the Qod of grace. 

different from our Tersion, will be found in The Trantactions of the 
Gaelic Society, Dub. 1808, p. 199. 

* NeiipQt^, nothing. Here SL Patrick shows that the Fenian heroes 
were in«igniflcant beingi when compared to the majesty of God. 
6 



82 

O. a Pb^c|iA|C, v] A V'^]n)V]\^ ^^ t-pIAijo, 
bo b] At) treAfi fji) 4)]A aijo; 
If beA]tb ba TD-b|A6 fo]\i r)6 f]A|i, 
30 f5A|t|:^6 AT) 'pbiAijo leif a ceAiji).' 

p. <Do bl t)lA A1)l> A 1)-AllDfl|t DA b-plAI}!); 

AC^ |t] ATO aV bfe|6 50 bft^c ; 

t1)A]|t10pt), ASttf flJAltl|:]8 50 C[l]OC, 
Dl b-101)At)l) fAI) 'Fbl^')'); ^ b0CC«l]l) !* 

O. 21 Pb^c|tA]c, TijaV Fi<>T* ^^ r5^^'> 

At) c-feA5 50 b-fruA]|t Ai) 'pbiApi) ; 
p^ clu|i)]TD cu b^ Iua6, 
5U|i b'fe |iu5 buA6 0|t|iA t)iA. 

p. Ba TbA]c Ai) pblAi)!) aY a r)^t)]on), 
^ Offli) 3Tiii)i), Acc fo Albeit) ; 
i)^ft A6(tA6 led AI) c-Aoi) <D]A ub^ 

Al)01f UaI) bU]1)f) A|l Cbl)0C-AT)-4l]|t. 
O. <Do CftfAll Al)1) fUb A|l AI) b-p^|1)l), 

Ofcuji aV 2I08 6eA5 i)A 8^]l ; 
bob' |Ot)ri)tt]i)e l]i)i) ceACC t)A b]fe, 
T)^ b^ b-qseAb ]i|3 da DSn^f* 

4) f IAF|iA|8 7=^iODD b'OfCttii ^13, 
AD b-|:ACA]6 c^]d' da D3?tob Iaoc, 
A bubA|]tc OfCttfi 30 b-pACAi8 ]Ab, 
A'f 30 |lA]b A D-1A|iACc A]t AD b-'pfefDD- 

1 ft ceA!)Ot Ai« head* This phrase is very coramon in Ossianic poetry ; 
and the pagan Oisin, must have been sorely irritated by the mild and con- 
YiDciDg arguments of the Saint, when he gave Tent to such blasphemous 
expressions. In Mr. O'Grady's copy of the poem the stanza runs thus :•*- 

IT cu]5ce bo DljlA fA beic aiji) ; 

ir be^itb t)*Zk n)-b|Ab i)d MAi;, 

f}9^ bei6eA6 r)A t)5eAtti7A of a s-ejoqi)." 



83 

0. Patrick, 'twas not in the time of the Fians, 
That that man God lived ; 
Certain if he were east or west, 
The Fians would have stricken off his head. 

P. Qod was in the time of the Fians, 
Always was and will be for ever. 
He lives and will live to the end. 
Not so with the Fians, poor creature ! 

0. Patrick, if thy tale be true. 
That the Fians are all dead ; 
Let me not hear thee boast. 
That it was God that overcame them* 

P. The Fians and their deeds were good. 
Pleasant Oisin, but in this alone. 
They adored not the one true God, 
Now proceed with [the tale of] Cnoc-an-air. 

0. There marched towards the Fians 

Oscur and Aodh Beag in his company ; 

More delightful to us was the coming of the two. 

Than had the King of Grace approached. 

Fionn inquired of Oscur tiie noble. 
Had he seen a host of heroes brave ; 
Oscur said that he had seen them. 
And that they were in search of the Fians. 

O Patrick, if it were in the time of the FenianB, 
Tliat thy God had been iiving ; 
Verily, if he were in their way, 
He would not lord it oyer them. 

' bocct^i7, a pauper, a beggar, a miser, f^c, 

* Ca|9, ngniflea a multitude, a host, an array, or any other muster 
or assemblage. 



84 

A Plj^CjlAlC, njO fS^Al C]tUA5 ! 

i)]Ofi b-pAbA 3U]t c|tuA]6 AT) c6]n) ! * 

p. Joir "^^n ir cuirblD leAC, 

A rb]c CuTbA]ll, c^fs* Ap 5le6 ; 
A|C|i|f aY n)0 beAi)i7ACC Ofic» 

O. M] c^ijiDAOifije Ai) 'pbiAoi) 56, 
bfi§A5 le5 i)]0|i f atijIaS }i]^n) ; 

ACC le ftftft)!} A^f 1)eA|tC A|l 1^117, 

qs njAoif fUi) Af 5AC sI|a6. 

^'^IT^Sl^'^^T* 3^ ^^^ Art) AC, 
p^AT)i)A 6i|ieAi)i) i)A i)-eAC* reAi)5 ; 

-^1^ Al) 5-CI)0C 1*0 l]01) At) C-fluA5, 

i)]Ofi b*jot)5i)A 86|b ceACc 50 ceAi)i)« 



> C&111), which generally Bignifies a step, is used here to show the dif. 
ficulty that awaited the Fenians. 

* Ctirs* fime, report. 

' 5llA6y battle, Urife, eonlention. 

4 Qac, a steed» The earliest record wo have of the Fenians haring 
horses is in 2l5AlUii) v^ 5eAi76]ttf5, or Dialogue of the Sages ; where it 
is said, that at a chase at Deioi) b-Cibm, (the Hill of Uowth), a chieftain, 
named Slncdn iqac Uejijiye \)i^]oz^ son of the king of Britain [EngUnd], 

took awaj by stealth three hounds belonging to the Fenians, namely 

Bran, Sgeolan, and An-uaill ; and made for the mountain of Lodaa 
Mac Lir, where he made chase on his arrival. As soon as the Fenians 
missed the hounds, the following chieftains were despatched after the 
fugitive, viz., Diarmuid O Duibhne, Goll Mac Moma, Caol from 
Eamhuin (Emania), Oscur the son of Oisin, Feardubhain the son of 
Bogha-dearg, Raighne of the broad eyes, son of Fionn ; Cainche, son 
of Fionn ; Glas the son of Aonchearda Bearra, and Mac Lughaidh. 



85 

0. Thus we remained till dawn, 

And none dared to approach ns ; 

Patrick, my woful tale ! 

Twas not long till our case grew perilous ! 

P. Kelate, as thou rememberest, 

son of Cumhall, an account of the fight ; 
Eelate, and my blessing be on thee, 
A true tale, and tell no lie. 

0. We, the Fenians, never told a lie. 

Falsehood to them was never known ; 
But by truth and the might of our arms, 
We came unhurt from each conflict. 

We went forth early, 
The Fians of Eire, of the slender steeds ; 
Upon this hiU the host mustered. 
No wonder for them to come in force. 



They landed at Tnbhear Geiniath, in Britain ; and proceeded to the 
mountain of Lodan Mac Lir ; wliere tliey were not long when they 
heard the cry of the hounds, and they surrounded Artuir, and slew 
himaelf and all his retinue, and rescued their three favorite hounds. 
GoU Mac Moma, more cunning than the rest, cast a side-look, and be- 
held a magnanimous steed with reins of gold ; and saw another with a 
silyer bit chased with gold in its mouth ; GoU captured both animals, 
and handed them over to Oscur, who gave them in charge to Diarmuid 
O Duibhne. They then returned to Ireland ; and never halted until they 
reached old Moynealty, where Fionn was staying at the time ; and de- 
livered the two horses to him ; one of which was a stallion, and the 
other a mare, which gave eight births, and eight foals at each birth ; and 
nntU then the Fenians had no horses, and these foals were distributed 
amongst the most distinguished in rank of the Fenian chieftains. In 
some copies it is said that Artuir'$ Ufe was saved by Oisin. 



^ I 



86 

O. BeAt) bob' ^ilije ty^'v SpI^^> 

cot)A]\tc At> 'pbfAijP A3 ceAcc fAD leips ;> 
tylph]OVV ri)AC CuiijAiU, itj^ii) 6ufC, 
bo beAi)pAi5 piosAii) ai) b|ttt]c 6ei|t5. 

C]A Ctt pfelT), A ]tl05A]D, ATI 'plOfJD, 

If b]i)!)e llon> f uAiit) bo 5lo|]i, 
'v^ A b-ptt]! |ie ce6l 30 beA|ib ? 

NlAli)-t)UA6-C]lOCAC,* If ft 11) AlD]lt), 

IdSIoi? 5bATt]tAi6, Ti)Ac <DbolAi]i <Dfe|i) ; 

^l*^t*l5 3l*feA3, iDO iijaUacc Ai]t I 
bo T)Aif3 Tpe ]te CaiIc hjac 'C^t]!}. 

O. CttfeAb bo bei|i b^ feAcpAb cu, 
17^ bfeiT) t^ut) 0]iiD Apoif ; 
A]i bo co|ii)]]ic 30 l^ Aij bfie^r, 
3AbA|n) bo l^^iTi) cA|t a c]iO|f ? 

Nl 3AI) f ac bo Ctt3Af f UAfc, 

bAc At? 3ttA]l bo b] A]t A Jijfti ; 

8^ clttAf , jAftbAll, A'f CeAIJI) CA|C, 
C^ A|l A1) b-feA|l 1)AC T1)A1C fSfelTl). 

<Do f ]ublAf AD bOl1)At), fO Cft], 

A'f t)iO|t f ^sbAf Ai)i) |i]3 D^ |:Iaic ; 
tK>cA]t f ijieAf Acc nbfe, a lph]V^9 

A f 1)10|l JeAll CftjAC TI7'a9ACA|1 A|]l, 

<D]ODFAb ctt A }ViS\ov 613, 

bo n^jb ^AC CurbA|ll, ij^it cIao]6' ]t]An) ; 

1)6 cuftf ]8 uile Afi bo f3^c, 

t)A feACc 3-CAc Aca f Ap b-'pbl^^Dt)* 

1 lejits, a plain, a pathway, or /)fac« of meeting. See also note 10, p. 18. 

a IfjATb ijttAft-cttotAc, i.e , the ray of the newest form. This lad/ ib 8Up« 

posed to be the daughter of Garadh the 00a of Dolar Dein, or the Fierce ; 



87 

0. A woman more beauteous than the sun^ 

The Fians beheld approaching on the plain ; 

Fionn Mac Curahaill, I tell thee, 

Was saluted by the queen of the red mantle. 

Who art thou, queen, saith Fionn, 
Of the gentlest mien and loveliest form ; 
Truly more sweet to me is thy voice. 
Than all the strains of music. 

Niamh-nuadh-chrothach, is my name, 

Daughter of Garraidh, the son of Dolar Dein ; 
The chief king of Greece, my curse upon him ! 
Bound me to Tailc Mac Treoin. 

Why is it that thou shunnest him, 
Do not conceal the fact from me now : 
As thy protector till judgment's day, 
I take thy hand against his will. 

Not without cause did I hate him, 
Black as the coal was his skin ; 
Two ears, a tail, and the head of a cat, . 
Are upon the man of repulsive countenance. 

I walked [travelled] the world thrice. 
And did not leave a king or lord. 
That I did not implore, but thou, Fionn, 
And a chief never promised me protection from him. 

I will protect thee, youthful daughter, 

Saith Mac Cumhaill, who was never conquered ; 
Or all shall fall for thy sake. 
The seven battalions of the Fians. 

king of Greece, who forced her to marry Tailc Mac Treoin, against her 
win, and the tale recorded here is the result of that unhappy union. 



88 

o. <DA|i bo UiTi)-ri r^io, A yh]m, 

If &eA|tb l]OT, 50 i^be4t|ti)Air b|tfeA3 ; 

30 b-cu]ceA9i) leff cac aY c^Ab. 

2lt) f eA]t ii)d]i A be]]i]ii) l]b, 

}X 6 b'^^S »i>e le f AbA b-pfe]Ot> ; 
fttl A]t ijAfSAb njife leir, 

N^ bfeAi) ^on)A|tba6 A I* A 5^1 rje, 
A ^o]lc cA|f A|t 6ac At) dfft ; 
d)|t PI b-|:u]l Iaoc f ao^ ai) i)5|t6]p, 
i)AC b-pA3A6 f Ai) b-'pftiDp FeA|t a eld. 

Jr 5^^T*P 5<> b-pACAii)A|i A3 ceAcc, 

A1) CAO]feAC 'CajIc bA C}tUA]6 Iat)o, 

ij^oji uit)lA|3, ^V Pl^T* beAi5i?Ai3 b'^blooD, 

ACC ]A|t|tAf CAC CAjt CeA1?t) A Ti)Q^. 

Cui|tTi)^b be]c 3-cfeAb 1JA 6t]l, 
bob' ^e^jifi laii) A i>-Aiiijf]|t 3le6; 
buYpe b^ob x)]o\i ^|U cA]t A]f, 
3AIJ cu]qn) |ie T^Ailc tijac Z^jieo]r) ! 

4)o cu]|teAn)A]t aijp, aV bA cd]|i a TbA0]6eATn 
3AP ATb]tAf, CAO]lce Ti)AC Rdi>^]t) ; 
be^c 3.cftAb f3iAr 301111) 3lAr, 
30i)A FeA]iA|b c]td6A b'fe4i|t|t. 

<De|c 3-c6Ab cA0]feACj pAO] 3-c6Ab Iaoc, 
bo b] CAob A|i CAob bVp Ti)u^t>ci]t |:6]i5 ; 
aV a Pb^cftAjC, AD c|te]b]Ti) c)tttA]6, 
Y)r) A]t teAfCA]& aA]i)9 be'o b-pfeipp. 



89 - 

0. By thine own hand, Konn, 

It is certain thou hast told a lie ; 

For by him from whom I hare fled afar, 

Fall a battalion and a hundred. 

The great man of whom I speak to yon, 
Is he who has left me long in pain ; 
Before I was bound [wedded] to him. 
He ravaged Greece twice. 

Do not contend about his valour, 
curling locks of the color of gold ; 
For there lives not a hero under the sun, 
Who will not find among the Fians a man his match. 

Soon we saw coming towards us. 
The chieftain Tailc of the hard spear ; 
He did not salute or pay homage to Fionn, 
But demanded battle on account of his wife. 

We sent ten hundred to meet him. 
Strong of hand in time of war ; 
None of them ever returned. 
All fell by Tailc Mac Treoin! 

We sent there, and of it we should boast 
Without doubt, Caoilte Mac Bonain, 
Ten hundred shields blue and green. 
With the mightiest and best men, 

• 

Ten hundred chieftains, nine hundred heroes. 
Were side by side of our own people ; 
And, Patrick, of the strict faith. 
All these we lacked of the Fians. 



90 
O- J^ftftAf Of cuft ceAb A|i y^]Of)t), 

bul bo coriniiAC 4!) ^f|i t9d|ft, 

At) CAt) bo COQAIftC b^C I^A flu^^* 

<Do ^&AbAi]t ceAb uA^Ti), AH 'piooo, 
5]6 cajaI l]OTi> bo iu]Z]n) tji\b ; 
6||t]J I A'f be||t tiTO beAQPACc leAC, 
cu\n)V}^ bo 30|l, Af bo p)}n)' 

SlttAffeAf Ofcuft, Ap peA]t ^]J, 
Aft A lA]ib i^lofi cu] fteAb b^in?, 
A9 Iaoc CAln)A bob' f e^ft|t l^]ii7, 

50 |t^1P]C f6 i^A^lc T1)AC T^ft^^Y). 
'CAbAjft aJA]6 6ATbf a f^lOy 

A Cb^llc n)}C Cftfe]!), A|t Of cup ^]J ; 

5||t bAfi)f eAbf A 6]oc bo ceAi^i), 

A p-b]05Al Ap bfieATi) fo Jo^ij bo Isiirb. 

<DA|t bo lA|Ti)fe, Ofcujii -^]5, 

5]6 bu]6eAC 6]oc bajib* A'f beAi?; 

bjAb CU A5AT1)f A ijocc 5AIJ ceAOPy 

A f b]A]6 Ao f eAjt, Y]or)t), 30 leAti). 

I b^ftb, bard or poet. The Irish bards were always ready to chauDt 
the deeds of their patrons in the most glowing language imaginable ; but 
had they not been patronised they were equally ready to satirize and 
decry them. In The Tribee and Customs of Hy-many, published by the 
Irish Archnological Society at p. 104, we find under date A.D. 1351, 
that *' William Boy 0*Kelly, who was celebrated by the Irish bards as a 
prince of unbounded munificence, invited all the professors of art in 
Ireland to his house, and entertained them during the Christmas holidays." 
And in the same year, " William Mac Donnough Moyneagh 0*Kelly, in- 
Tited all the Irish poets, brchons, bardes, harpers, gamesters, or com- 
mon kearroghs, jesters, and others of their kind in Ireland, to his house 
upon Christmas, whcse every one of them was well used during the 



91 

0. Obcut asketh leave of Fiomii 
Though I regret to tell it, 
To go to fight the great man^ 
When he heheld the loBS of the host. 

Thou shalt get permiflsion from me, saith Fioani 
Though I dread thy fall by it; 
Arise I and take my blessing with thee, 
Remember thy valour and thy deeds. 

Oscur, the noble, 
On whose hand there never was a stain ; 
The mighty hero of the valiant arm, 
Went forth till he reached TaUc Mae Trein« 

Encounter me, Tailc Mac Trein, 
8aith Oscur of the noble deeds ; 
For I shall take off thy head. 
In revenge for those who were wounded by thy hand. 

By thy hand, noble Oscur, 
Though thankful to you are bard and maid ; 
I shaU have thee headless this night. 
And the man Fionn shall be mournful. 

holidays, and gare contentment to each of them during their departure ; 
80 that eyery one was weU pleased, and extolled William for hii bounty ; 
one of which assembly composed certain yerses in commendation of 
William and his house, of which the foUowing is the first line >— 

"f]l76 erteAQiy 50 I)-A0)i|.ce4c." 
The bards of Erin to one house.*' 

For an account of the Irish bards, we would refer the reader to O'Reilly's 
" Chronological Account of Four Hundred Irish Writers,*' *' The Tribes 
of Ireland,** by Dr. O'DonoYan, Walker's " Memoirs," Hardiman's 
'« Irish Minstrelsy," and the Introduction to the <* Tain Bo Chuailgne/* 
which wiU form a future Tolume of the Society's TVaasac/ions. 



92 

O. ?l|t feAb cu|5 p-o]6ce Af c6|3 It, 
b] AV bfr P^fi cU]c A t>3l]A]6 ; 
3AI) b|A6, 5A!) beoc, A|t b^c fUA]!), 
5tt|i ctt|c 'CaiIc ]ie buAb njo Tb]C. 

43o casbAIDAjt, AP 'pb]A15t), Of 4l|tb, 

CA]t ft]f At) C0Ti)|tA]c 5A|]ib, Jlfejc ; 

5^]]i cAOfijce z^ieji cA]lleATDAft bo'ij T^b^liJO, 

Af 6^ 5«^||i rbAOfbce c|t6 feA5 CbA]lc. 

<DAfi bo U]tbfe, A CbA|lc ^15, 

516 T>AC ba|6eAC bfoc b4i|ib 154^ beAt) ; 

c^ cu A5An7f A 3A0 ceADOi 

A'f Di b|A]6 At) f eA]t pioou, leAitj. 

l1]ATb-0tt^-CTM>CAC, Tpdft A1) fS^Al, 
AD CAP CO!)A]ftC tD^Ab At) ^]|t ; 

sUcAf !)4ii|te A!) 3|tttA6 6eA|i3, 
Af cu]ceAf Ti)A|tb A n>eAf3 ctifc. 

B^f i)A nioSijA, b'fe]r 3AC u|lc, 
II* 6 'xn)6 bo ca||i a|i c4ic, 

A|t A1) 3-CIJOC fO b'6|f A1) 3l|A|8, 

bo bAffc Ai) )^})]^VV C!)OC-Al^a||t. 



93 

0. For fiye nights and five days, 

Were the two, who were not feeble, in battle ; 
Without food, without drink, without sleep, 
'Till Tailc fell conquered by my son. 

We, the Fenians, raised on high, 
After the fierce and rough conflict ; 
A wailing cry for all we lost of the Fians, 
And two shouts of joy for the death of Tailc. 

By thy hand, noble Tailc, 
Though not thankful to thee are bard or maid ; 
I have thee now beheaded, 
And the man Fionn shall not be mournful. 

Niamh-nuadh-chrothach, sad the tale. 

When she beheld the extent of the slaughter ; 
Shame overcame her crimsoned face. 
And she fell lifeless among the slain. 

The death of the queen after all ills. 
Was what preyed most upon us all ; 
This hUl after the conflict. 
The Fenians named Cnoc-an-air.* 

* The HiU of Slaughter. 



tao)4)t) «t)i)eaR5«i)cc nn t«iNN n5feaB. 



5l8 t>^|i fubAC, AO]biOT, fiw; 

3tt|t t|l]All fdV t)-^11) CA]t leAft, 

5A]f5eA6Ac §AccAc bA cftuAfS 5!)|<>ii). 
Hfo|i beAOTA]S f6 bo i>eAC, 

Adc b'f f Af ftA]$ f ^ bo ^ld|i bo|tb; 

CJl TIAlb A]t 5-COf9A11) A'f A]l b-qi]Afc ? 

c^A f» r^it) A s^irsl^is ^iSf 

A|i 21o6a B6A5 !)lk|t fCAYi>ceAc cfu>|6e; 

90 c|t^Ab bo ta5 bo'i) bol fo tu, 

c^ fAb bo cuftAf !)aA]|t rS'^f^P^ll^ M^^ ^ 

H] CAbAft|!Ab bU]C fS^Al Aft b|C, 

Tn)uAi!)n A le]T)ib 5tt|i beAS b A0]f ; 
|r|Of tiTO ituft; v] CAbA]tt?Ab bo peAc, 
50 b-pASAfb to6 bul b A5AllAri) pblt)0» 

4>o bfeAppAb eolAf bttfc, A|i y^]or)t), 
^ S^irSl^lS *tt|iH« DA n)]r) 5^A5 ; 

1>t f AbA UA|C AD ^IC A b-f C]l, 

A]t AD 5-CDOC A|t leA5A6 7^A]lc TDAC T^]t&]D* 

4>o SluA]f 21o6a BeA5 Afi luc^ 

A'r AD S-^irS^^^^ so ^l**^ T)A 6]A15, 

30 ]t^iDlc le]|i5 AD ^\\i, 

'da ]tA]b Aft l^ft 'CAflc tDAC 'Cft^fD* 



THE LAY OF MEARGAOH OF THE SHARP SPEARS. 



0. Not long were we left thus, 

Though being not pleasant nor gladsome ; 
'Till there approached [us] from afar, 
A mighty hero of the sternest deeds. 

He did not salute any one, 

Neither did he do homage to Fionn or the Fians ; 
But he enquired in a most haughty manneri 
Where our protector and chief was. 

Who art thou thyself, valiant champion, 
Saitii Aodh Beag whose heart trembled not ; 
Or what brought thee on this errand. 
How far is thy journey when thou departest from us ? 

I shall not give thee any information at all. 
Remember, child, that thou art young ; 
Knowledge of my secrets I will not give to man, 
*Till I can see Fionn and talk to him. 

I shall inform thee about Fionn, 
courteous hero of the smooth arms ; 
Not far from thee is the place where he is 
On the hill on which Tailc Mac Treoin fell. 

Aodh Beag went in haste. 
And the champion close behind him, 
TKll he reached the field of slaughter, 
Where Tailc Mac Treoin was slain. 



96 

O. Ht) cAi) bo coQAiftc At) pbi^w aV 'plOOOi 
At) b]f ub 45 ceACC da D-ba^l, 
If eA5Al ljOTi>, bo \it]6 At) <D|tA01, 
i)AC fTAbA If A0]b|t;9 bo ^b^c CuiijAiU. 

2lt) cu 'piot^p; bo \i^}6 Ai> f eA^ caItda, 
Tt)Vf zu, t)) ca]6e bo 6eA|t6 Iaoc, 
A]i)]n) bo f6AQA6 50 l^ At) b|t^^, 

t)AC CU bo f <t]tA^S CaiIc tl)AC 'Ciife]^. 

Hf bo buA6 too Uiti)A bo tu]z, 

At) t?eA|t DA D-54^1^n)ceA1t T^A^lc tt)AC 'C|t6]D ; 

bo coti)-A]Ditt) ffe]D iwir ^poif, 

A'r bo SeAbAjfi fiof c|A leA5 aq Iaoc. 

80eA|i5AC C|iuA]6 da Iadd i)5W t)5ftA]i, 
IDO coti)-A|DliD^ A lPh]VV n>]C CiiiDA|ll; 
Dto|i 6eA]t5 A|i tDO co|tp A]|itDi 
aY d1o|i litA6A6 led tD^ cnft a]i 5-c4l. 

<Do SluAif Of cu|t t?^ Juc AD Sl^llt, 
aY b'KlAfHAi5 AD le6tDAD 5ad f5^ ; 
ADD bo boA^b bo UitbA A'f bo Iadd^ 
DAC D501DCeA]t ADD Ctt 50 b|t^t P 

Mf b-f tl]l A]i CAlAtt) DA b-c]tott)-^db, 

A 5-CAC D^ 5-coti)|iAC 5A]ib 5I1A8 ; 
Iaoc b^ qife^De a DSDiottj 5A]f5e, 
bo beA]t3 ]te b'A|ttD ojtn) Yt]Atb. 

Nl b6i8i|t tDA^t f ID, A]i Of cu|i ii^S, 

n)t»DA c^^eACc |te i>4^i|tc bu]c bo'D Th]^Wf 
A 20beA|i3Ai5 DA Iadd DS^Af d3^a|i, 

501Df€A]t CU ADD 50 b"A08A]b. 



97 

O. When the Fians and Fionn beheld 
These two approaching them ; 
I [greatly] fear, saith the Druid, [moured. 

That Mac Oumhaill will not be long bo good-hu- 

M. Art thoa Fionn? saith the mighty man. 
If thou art it becometh not a great hero, 
Ever to conceal his name ; 
Artnot thou [the man] that subdued Tailc mac Treoin. 

P. Tell [us] thine own name, 

And thou shalt be told clearly 

That it is not by the might of my hands fell 

The lAan whose name is TaUc mac Treoin. 

Stem Meargach of the sharp tempered green blades, 
Is my name, O Fionn Mac Cumhaill, 
Arms reddened not on my body, 
And none could boast of my retreat. 

Oscur goeth at the sound of the voice. 
And enquireth of the hero, without dread, 
Is it by the victory of thy hand and spear. 
That thou art never wounded. 

M. There is not on earth of the heavy sward. 
In battle or conflict fierce and tough, 
A hero stout in feats of valour. 
That ever reddened me by his arms. 

Thou shalt not be so, saith the noble Oscur, 
If thy visit to the Fians be not a friendly one, 
Meargach of the green spears, 
Thou shalt bo wounded to the very heart. 



98 
^- 2i;5A|r3|6]5, A 5-I0, ]r &eA]tb Uoc, 

Ab ^fl|OCA|l X)] 6feAt)A]rD C^f, 

b^ rb^jb bo 66|c Af peAftc 15A b-)^]Ai)i), 
cufcpiit A3Uf lAb iteri)' Uri). 

)^. 2t)ttOA b-|:a|l ASAb acc buAb Ajtifp, 

36 A3 i)eA|tc CAlnjA coi]tp, A'f 3i?iOTi) ; 
bo be]]t]rt) ipAit 6eAftb 6uic rt)o l^rb, 
30 D-30ii)peA]i cu c]te U|t bo c|ioi6c« 

^. )t)V\T bu^PU, A 2t)b|c CttiijAiU caIipa, 
bo |ifei|i Ti)A|i geAlUif bATi) A|i b-cuf ; 
c]A leir, DO c]Oi)UAf bo cu]C, 
CaiIc cjifeAi) Aij ijeiiic, 'f-^ S^^l lt»*i7« 

'p. <Do cu]c 'CaiIc njAc 7^]teo|i> ti75]]ij 

le bttA6 i)eA]tc-U]ii)e Of cum ^15 > 

bo cu]c le CaiIc, bo'ij pbl^W a|i b-cuf, 

Ifoij befc 3-cfeAb b feA|iA]b c^]6. 

^. H^ji li^afi Ap t)a|]ie feu^cfe, a 'pbfij!?, 

b'^ulAii53 A1J ]ti3-beA!) bob' fe^itfi c^]l, 
bo cu]t cuTi) b^if leff aij b-'piAiji), 
A cttiqri) ]f feA3 b"pb]Ai)i)Aib 'pajU 



T. N] Ti)ife x)^ Aoi) bo'i) pb^lW, 

CU3 A]C!)e A|i Ai) feA3 bo'o n)t)^o] ; 

ACC AI5 CAP bo CO!)AjTtC b^C A1) C-fl6|3, 

A1J &A3A]b b^^if bo cuA|6 f]. 

21)a'f COli)|tAC AC^ UAfC, A]t 'plOIJI), 
A l)-^]]i]C CU]C]T1) CbA]lc 'f A TlJUat ; 

bo 3eAbA]|t fe 6 6u]t7e bo'i) pbl^iJO^ 
1)0 iii)ci3 30 x^]n) le pa]|tc. 



99 

M. champion, whose appearance is that of a true hero. 
Thy words I but little regard ; 
Though great thy hope in the strength of the Flans, 
Thou and they, by 4ny hand, shall fall. 

F. If thou hast but the sway of thine arms. 
Mighty strength of body and action ; 
I give thee my hand in pledge, 
That thou shalt be wounded through thine heart. 

M. Relate unto me, son of mighty Gumhall, 

As thou didst promise at the commencement, 

By whom, or how did fall 

Tailc the strong and powerful and his bright love. 

F. Tailc Mac Treoin the great fell. 

By the power of the strong arm of Oscur the noble ; 
There fell by Tailc, at first of the Fians, 
Full ten hundred of spotless men. 

M. Was it not shameful to thee, Fionn, 

To suffer the princess of the loftiest fame, ^ 

To be put to death by the Fians ; 

Her death will bring havoc among the Fians of Fail. 

F. Not I nor any of the Fenians 

Ordered the death of the woman. 

But when she beheld the loss of the host. 

Into the pangs of death she fell. 

If it be battle thou requirest, saith Fionn, 
For the death of Tailc and his wife ; 
Thou shalt have it from one of the Fians, 
Or depart quietly with good will. 



100 

^. Sl^ 50 b-|:u|l T!)o flu^lS ^ b"K<>5^r 6^"?** 

Ayi CAob Ap COOIC CO|f 1JA Cfl^jA J 

ij] iA|i|rAb A 5-coij5DAtt), A pblOT^ 
aY t)j ^5i5|rAb Acc blfVA5Aib bed. 

y. C]A b-TAb Ai) b]f f]t) b'^^5KAi|i bed, 
A %)beA|i5A|3 ijA rl^5, A|i 'pioDD ; 
If 10T)3i)A liofi) ii)A|i cu|3ceAfi leAc, 
b^l* le6 T)eA|tc bo cAbAific bujijo- 

2t). CuicceAii liofi) btt|i fij-baf uile, 

ACC cufA Afi7^]i) A*f bo lijAC 2I06 ; 

V] f ^5|:Ab At) cooc fo 30 bfi^c, 

30 ij-^oc|rAb b^f 'CbAilc n)]c 'Cjteoji^ 

'p. Ma[t ledfi leACf A a ^beAfi3Ai3 i)a Iaou, 

b]f CAfi A ceAijt) bo cu]c]n7 bo'p 7^6(i)i); 
aY 3AI) beA|t5-^|t bo CAbA]^c A|fi c^c, 
aY a l]A3ACc |reA|t c^|6 bo tu]Z leif ffe]?). 

2t). Njofi leofi Ifottji-A, A pblOT) t)A b-'piApo, 
0]f 1)^ zji]u\i A p-biol A b^]f, 
b^ fD-b]A6 A3Ab A!) o||teAb e^le bo'ij b-pb^ipo 
cuicjr^b 30 lfe]fi le iijo l^]ri). 

'p. N^ cu]|t A i)-b5|c 6u]c ^^\r}, Aft pjoijij, 
3tt|i b-pi]liiJ3 \]on) b]x V^ Aoy, 
A ij-Si|iic b^]f T^b^llc Y^ njt)'^, 
bo cujqn) le b' l^irt) bo'ij pb^lPP* 

2t). 4)^ ^eAbA|- bu|i l^rijA aY bu|t V'5V]on), 
aY b^ nj^jb bu|t l]or) bYeA|iA]b c&|6, 
ij] |'3A|t|rAb l|b 30 la AT) bji^cA, 
t)6 b]ol 1JA Ttj-b^f bo 3eAbAb uA^b. 

1 In a copy in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy this stanza 
reads: — 

"C|A CA]b n)0 flUAISCe CAO^b l]OIIJ, 

ijf njTAT) Hon) b'^ftsbAjl bed A5Ujb, 
ACC 6fr o 50111; fijo cfioip-cloibjiti.** 



101 

M. Although my hosts are nigh at hand, 

On the side of the hill beside the shore ; 
I shall not ask their aid, Fionn, 
And I will only leave two of you alive. 

F. Who are these two thou wilt leave alive, 

Meargach of the hosts, saith Fionn ; 

1 am astonished that thou shouldst think, 
By thy strength to put us to death. 

M. I am determined to kill all, 

But thee only, and thy son Aodh ; 

I shall never leave this hill, 

'Till I repay the death of Tailc mac Treoin. 

F. Is it not suificJent for thee, Meargach of the blades, 
That two for his death should fall ; 
And not deal red slaughter to all the Fians, 
After all the brave men that fell by his hand. 

M. They would not suflSce, Fionn of the Fians, 
Two nor three for his death ; 
If thou hadst as many more of the Fians 
They will all fall by my hand. 

F. Do not imagine to thyself, saith Fionn, 
That I would suffer two or one 
For the death of Tailc and his wife, 
Of the Fians to fall by thy hand. 

M. Though great thine arm and thy deeds, 

And though thick thy ranks of noble men, 

I shall not leave Hill judgment day, 

Or satisfaction for their death I shall have from you. 

Although my hosts are nigh at hand, 
I shall not seek their aid, O Fionn ; 
I will only leave of you alirc, but two, 
From the venom of my heavy sw<5M. 



102 

O. 21 P})^t\i^]c ! x)] ce^lpeAb mo ]tuD, 

5U|i 5UC Ar)hf^-\Di) lF)Oi)t} A f Ai) TPb|AW, 
Acc Att)^ii) 0|*cu|i i)A ll^bfe^ll>eAt)1), 
i)^|i c|iic iio^fi) AOi) xyeAc ftiAti). 

p. 21 ^beAHSAis !)A DsUf Uw i)5feA|t, 
bo ]t^i6 pioi)D, bo jAfib 5l6|i, 
bo 5eAbA7|t cott)T*AC Ab AOi}A|t&D, 
ij6 t>ul Ab 6ail bo't) pb^TJt) 50 le6fi. 

^. ^Vf Ctt]be leACf A, a pblW n)]c CurijAfU, 
itjffe bo corijltAC bo fi)6|t fluAg, 
o f eA|i 50 |reA]t, i)5 b'AOi) b^^ri), 
b^ulcA v] I^IT* ^ttjc b'^^jA^l UA]ii). 

p. ^^ c]5eAi)i) cu A'f bo cftfeAi) bui6eA0, 

curl) CACA IfQI) leAC A]t leAc, 

o 6u]i)e 50 cfeAb CA]C|ri& ai) 7^]At)i), 
UjTi) 6]Ai) bo cotJSTb^ll leAC- 

^. FACAbf A At)0|r, A y\)\(ro n)ic CurijAiU, 
iDA|i A b-|:uil A5AT!) corbftAC le i:^5A|l, 

b'^fOr T1)0 fluAj, 1JAC |:AbA uAinj, 

a't* b] f uAj- 50 fi)OC All) &a]l. 
p. TAbAiii bo f l6i5ce leAC UfCfteAC, 

Ajl Tl)Alb]lJ ll)^f TI)A|C leAC, A|l 'pjOlJI) ; 

ij^ b-f u^l ceAlj le b-in)lT*c Oftc, 
b]A6rt7AO]bi)e oUaii) |r^'b C]ot)i?. 

2t). B16, A|t ii)o ceAcc, bo |i^]6 eifeAij, 
Ai) Iaoc If caIt!)a A|i A!) b-pfe^iji) ; 
A i)-A|in) 'fA ij-^lbe itdrijAn) cuii) caca, 
30 b-fA^cfeAb A 3010TI) aY a sl^ic. 



103 

O. Patrick ! I shall not my secret conceal. 
That terror struck Fionn and the Fians, 
Save only Oscur of the blows, 
Who never trembled before any one. 

F. Meargach of the green sharp blades, 
Saith Fionn, in a menacing tone ; 
Thou shalt have single combat. 
Or more of the Fians shouldst thou require them. 

M. If it be desirable to thee, Fionn Mac Cumhaill, 
That I should fight thy great hosts, 
One by one, or by one great swoop, 
Thy request I cannot refiise. 

F. If thou and thy mighty followers 
Come to fight us man for man, 
From one to a hundred of the Fenians shall 
Meet thee with a firm hand. 

M. I shall now depart, Fionn Mac Cumhaill, 
Since battle I am to have, 
To visit my hosts, which are not far from me. 
And be up early to meet me. 

F. Bring thy hosts with thee here. 

In the mT)ming if thou like, saith Fionn ; 
No treachery will be played upon thee, 
We shall be ready on thy arrival. 

M. Have, on my arrival, saith he. 

The mightiest hero among the Fians ; 
In shield and armour ready to fight, 
That I may see his prowess in battle. 



104 

ijlo|t fCAb le]r 50 1*^1015 -<^ f l»^3 ; 
bo cu||t 'pfopi) qoijal A|i At) b-pfe|oiT, 
Af b']iji)if bo^b r^^Ab a 5UA]f. 

Oo ]t|iju' feAcc 5-cACA* Aiji) no bjob, 
^'v 5^^ 1*01 W ^0 ]Oi)Ab bUA]I; 

4)0 lAbA||t A[t b-cuf le]y At) cfeAb cac, 
b^ t)50i|tcf CAC T)A Iaoc n)]or) uft ; 
b'^|A|:|tA|3 b]ob bo guc 6f ^fib, 
A!) b-CfiO|b|:|b]f bo Jo^c *pA cu|f- 

43'^|ieA5|iAbA|t b'AOi) Aot)CA b'^pbioijij, 
50 b-c|iO]b|:|bif cAji a ceApt) 50 b|t^ ; 

A bubAjftC CAC 1JA b-CAOlfeAC Art)U|l^ 

Acc 50 leAt)frAbAO]f cAc i)A 3-c6AbcA l^ti^. 



21 bubA]]tc CAC PA b-|:eA|t ii)e66 t)ac, 
A 5-CAC p^ A ijsleo b^ c|t6|pe 3I1A6 ; 
V^\i r^3bAbA|t r^ip A |tl3 ca]3, 
aY t)A C|t6]3|rib]f 30 b|i^c Aop c^irt). 

21 bubA]|tc CAC PA b-^eA|i b-peofAc, 
p^|i ce]be b6|b 30 l\ At; b^]f ; 

a'i* CAC PA ip-bup ^eA|t TPA|1 Ap 3-CfeAbpA, 

30 leApfTAbAO]!* |:Sip 6 ipAft cAc. 

I Sejkcc 5.C4jkCA> seven battalions. The names of the Beven battalions 
are : — Cac i9|on-uTi» i.e. the battalion of fresh heroes ; which name thej 
bore on account of their fresh-looking complexion ; cac i)a &-CAO]roA^ 
the battalion of the chieftains ; cac i)a b-treAft rt)eA6Af)t)AC, the battalion 
of the middle-sized men ; cac i}d, b-reAf\ b-i^eorAc, the battalion of the 
middle-aged men ; cac 17A iQ-bui} t^Aft, the battalion of the stout men ; 
CAC 17A b.|reAtt io-beA5, the battalion of the small men ; and cac qa 
t)]At^i9At^&f), the battalion of the rear guards. * If we could find equiya- 



I 



105 

0. Meargach of the green blades departed, 

And stopped not till he reached his hosts ; 
Fionn summoned the Fenians, 
And informed them of his danger. 

He then divided them into seven battalions, 
And put each division in its own place ; 
Hearken, saith he, to ray counsel, 
Not distant is danger from us. 

He first addressed the front battalion, [fresh ; 

Who were named the battalion of heroes smooth and 
He enquired of them in a loud tone. 
Would they fight as usual in his cause ? 

They all at once answered Fionn, 
That they for him would ever fight ; 
The battalion of the chieflaiQs said likewise. 
That they would follow thebattalicHi with most hands. 

The battalion of the middle-sized men said, 
In battle or conflict however desperate. 
That they never deserted their noble king. 
And would never flinch one step. 

The battalion of the middle-aged men said, 
They would not flinch till the day of death ; 
And the battalion of the stout men said also. 
That they would follow him like the rest. 

lent terms for th« above, it would throw some light upon the military 
history of the ancient Irish. In the Library of Trinity College, there 
18 a Fenian tract, in which the names of aU the generals and officers 
serving under Fionn Is given ; and this, if published, would probably 
iUustrate the above military distinctions. In the British army there are 
sappers and miners, pioneers, grenadiers, light infantry, sharp shooters, 
&c., which terms, perhaps, owe their origin to the various ranks in the 
army of Fionn &fac ChnmhailL 



106 

O. 21 bubA]^c CAC !)A b-peA|t be^s fof, 

aV ai) cac i)a t>-beo|5, i)a b-lAT»")A]i^|o; 

50 IIAbAbAft ffe]l) b^liof 1)A i)5i)i<>fn, 
Af 50 leA1)ffAbA0^f 6 11>A]t C^«^ 

^ 5<>ir* Flow caije Ofcuit, 

ii)A|t ^A|t z(i]x ^1* -^0 5-CAc tD]ot)a|t ; 
a'i* b'|:^A|:|iAiS be At> corbt^^c Ao^pf fft, 
bo 2Q])^A|t5AC b6A|tf a6 A|t b-ciif . 

SI bttbA]ftc Ofca|t 50 b-c|abftA6 f^]t), 
cotbtt^c 60 cA|i ceAiji) T)A b-^pjAp!) ; 

aV ll)Vf CU|C]ft) bAM), A 'ph]f>V, A]l ffe, 

ir ^^5^1 5tt|i bA05Al b]b ati) 6|AY$* 

Ml b-A?blA]6 f]t) ir c6|]i, Aft pioDo> 
bA 6]c 6tt)i)i> ctt cu)C]ti) cft^b ; 
^f cu A|t b-c|teo]]t, a']" A|i b-cit^AC, 

A|l b-CACA, A|t |tlAI), A'f Aft 1>-b]01). 

)r lODAW ^6ii)t) f]t) p6 fub, A pblW, 
A|t Ofcujt, 1)^ b] b^ ltiA8 ; 
ii>Vf cu]C]ii| b'Aoi) peAC bo'i) pb^iw, 
1)] |tACA]6 le]f f AO]t f^ buA6. 

^o 30]|t lp]ot)t) 3oU bA caIida !)eA|tc> 
A'f bA cftuAb SD^ori} f leA5 A*f cloi6|fb ; 
A'f b'f |AfHAi5 A t)-b6Ai)f a6 cdrbftAC, 
le 2QeA|t5Ac moft bo leAC-CAO^b. 

Ir riof* no, pi 51*^ ^^^ ^ » 

bA rbfAi) leAc r^e ca|t a T)5aA]f, 

A'f Ofcu|t o't) n^buA6A||tc bo be^c f AO|t. 

I This liae reads thns in the Boyal Irish Academy's copy :— 
•* Saij leins 6|neAc 50 lA'ij bA]r." 
In the direct path till the day of death. 



107 

O. The battalion of the small men said, 

And the battalion behind them, the rear guards, 

That they were faithinl in their acta, 

And that they would Mow him like the rest. 

Fionn called Oscnr to him, 
As commander of the battalion of brave heroes, 
And asked him if it was in single combat, 
He would encounter Meargach first. 

Oscur saith, that he would himself^ 
Give him battle in behalf of the Fians ; 
And if I fall, Fionn, saith he. 
It is to be feared that you wiU be danger after me. 

It must not be so, saith Fionn, 
We would suffer by thy fall ; 
Thou art our guide, our chief, 
Our prop, our path, and our protector. 

Tis all the same to us, Fionn, 
Saith Oscur, do not magnify him ; 
If a single man of the Fenians fall. 
He shall not depart victorious. 

Fionn sent for Qoll, of powerful strength, 
Whose feats of sword and spear were great ; 
And inquired if he would fight 
The great Meargach in single combat. 

Fionn, saith GoU cunningly and wisely, 
'Tis true, thou lovest not me ; 
Thou wouldst wish to put me in danger. 
And Oscur firom trouble to be safe. 

by which the poet implies that the rear-guards would nerer desert their 
colors but fight to the rerj last. 



108 

T' ^^T* se^lUif-fe leb' to]l f AOft, 

50 5-cu||tpea6 cu |rfe]D a i)3ttAif ; 
A[t I1)0 f OlJfA n)A|i JeAll c8ic, 

50 leAt)):A]i7o bo 51)1 OTi) njAji c^c ; 
T)] |iACAb A|i 5-cul 6*ij 5-CAC, 
ti)& S^bAOt) 5AC )!eAft & bo l^]n). 

p. Do 50||i )^toi)ij <t)|A|iiDu]b 4)oijij, 

Af b'^iApfiAij; lF]ovv be 30 cao^o ; 

Ai) b-c^ub|tA6 corbftAC ao]o KIT^> 

bo 2l)beA|i3AC cftuA]6 i)a loi)o VZV)on)* 

N] ]iACAb A 3"c5|m-^liA6 30 b|iac, 
le 2t)eA|t3Ac i)A i)3lAf Iai)I) ; 

^ T^IIJT)^ T!)^V CO|CCeAl)l) AIJ CAC, 

b]Ab cdn) ttjAjc le feA|i At)r}. 

<t)'p(Ap|tAi3 b"pb<*oUi) bo 3UC A|ib, 
A i)-bfeAi)|:A6 c6ti)fiAC ca|i a C]0T)1) ; 
A bubA]|ic ffe le lF]Oi)r) ija b-p]Ai)i), 
0[tc i)]0}} c^AC b^ b-cuiqijij Aijp. 

t)0 f AOlleAf-r^, Aft plOl)!), A!) fUlC, 

i)AC Aii)lA|6 fit? bo seAlUir buipi), 

3AC A|l SeAllAf, Ajl pAoUt), 

|ie Ti)0 |iAe \)\ ftACAb Aft 3-cttl. 

t)'^|A^:fiA]3 bo 3AC feAjt b^ob 
At) |tAC|:A6 it)A AOi)A|t le^f; 

A bubAlftC 3AC AOt) bo't) CAC T1)]O1)0 U]fl, 

bo bfeAjirDAOib b]ulcA6 6u|C. 



109 

F Hast not thou promised of thy own free will, 
That thou wouldst place thyself in jeopardy, 
On my account as each has promised ; 
Not to stand [to thy word] is shameful to thee ! 

G. I did promise, truly, Konn, 

That I would follow thy deeds like the rest, 
I shall not flinch from the battle. 
If every man take his part. 

F. Fionn called forth Diarmuid Donn, 
And he enquired of him, mildly, 
If he would give single combat 
To stem Meargach of the powerful deeds. 

I shall never engage in single conflict, 
With Meargach of the green blades ; 

Fionn, if the battle be general, 

1 shall be as good as any there. 

He asked Faolan in a loud voice, 
If he would fight for him ; 
He said to Fionn of the Fians, 
Thou wouldst not be sorry if I fell there. 

I imagined, saith Fionn, the chieftain, 
That it was not thus you promised me ; 
All that I promised, saith Faolan, 
During my days I shall fulfil. 

He asketh of every man of them. 
If they would singly go with him ; 
Each one of the battalion of the smooth armed men 
We refuse thee. [said, 



110 

A 5-CAC i)A b-CAO]feAC peA|t l^iii)-ceAt>i); 
bo b6A|tfrA6 buAlAb l^ri) Aft l^iibi 
bo 2QbeA]t5Ac 6A17A i)A i)5lAf Iai^i). 

81 bubfiAbA]! tt]le b^Al A|t b^Al, 

9AC ]tA]b f eAfi bo l^ti)pA6 f ^17 bo IuaS ; 
Acc 50 ]tACf AbAO]f le cfe^le, 

A 5-CAC bA C|t6]1)6 CHOf1)-f luAj. 

4>o lAbAf ft led 6 CAc 50 cac, 

A'f 0] b-|:aA]tt t^AC bo'i) }on)lK]r) ; 
bul bo corbTiAc 2Qb^A|t5A]S i)a Xavv, 

5U|t Ctt^C A1) C|tA!)1> A]l t)A l)-lAllTi)A|t^l9. 

4>o UbAjft le cAO^feAd !)A t)-|At*vi)AYt^i) 
aY i)]0|t loc ^:eA|t |A|tfn)A 6'i) 95I1AC ; 
A bubA]|tc 5AC Aot) b|o6 50 be]^, 
50 leAi>f AbAo^f e]le Caoii)-1]AC. 

4)o C65 lF]ot}D ASttf OfcuTi «itS, 
UA]U S^in 6f A|ib A5 iDa^8eAm ; 

PA 17-]AftTi7A|t^f) bo 3AbA]l At) CACA, 

a'i* oa feACc b-c|tfeAi) CACA 6|ulcA^3 y^h]W» 

4)o caA6r9A||t u]le con? f ua]1), 

aV t)^0|t fArt) faA]ii)!)eAt* 6tt]i)i) 50 lA; 
^'^]Vi}^m^}i 50 TDOC A|t n)A]b]Q, 

A'f t)10|i b-f AbA 50 b-f ACAI1)A|t A!) C^l). 

4)0 JIac CAO|t)-l]Ac fefbe a'i* A]tii7, 
aV bo buA]l b6]ii) CACA 50 ceAT)D ; 

A'f A flaA5 50 pftAp A|t A1) tp-bAll. 



Ill 

0. He likewise enquired if there was [arm, 

Among the battalion of the chieftaine, a man of mighty 
Who would give battle hand to hand, 
To fierce Meargach of the green blades. 

I 

They all said with one accord, [speak, 

That there was not one who would thus presume to 
But that they all would go in a body, 
In battle, however desperate, of mighty hosts. 

He spoke to them from battalion to battalion. 
And he found none of the whole 
That would go fight Meargach of the swords. 
Till the lot fell on the rear guard. 

He addressed the chief of the rear guards [who said], 
We never shrunk from the fight ; 
They all said from first to last, 
That they would follow Caoin Liath.* 

Oscur the noble, and Fionn, 
Raised a loud shout of applause ; 
Boasting that the rear guard engaged in the battle. 
After the seven great battalions had refused Fionn. 

We all went to rest. 
And our repose till dawn was not delightful ; 
We arose early in the mom. 
And 'twas not long till we saw a host, 

Caoin Liath took his armour and shield. 
And fiercely struck the battle-blow ; 
Meargach of the blue spears came 
With his host immediately to the spot. 

* t. e, the gentle gtej old man. 



112 

O. 'FiA^fiAfseAf 2t)eA|i5AC da Ui>i) osUf, 

bo ^b^c Cuii>A^ll le cft^Ai) 50]Tt) 5l5ft ; 

A|t b'6 f]D AT) l^OC CAjAftCA, 

bo b] A ij-fe|be CACA Af a cdrbA^jt ? 

p. Nt b-^ S^ ^e]^}V, A|t TPjOt)!) tt)AC Cutt)Alll, 

ACC CaO|1J-IiAC CjlfAC 1)A t)-lA|lT!)U|l^lj; 

upit cu]be le b-^oi) t)6ac e|le bo'p pbl^OOi 

CU COlbftAC ACC § Ab C-AOt>A|t^l). 

^. Ca]]t^eAbfA, A )^blO»)> V^ c6tb6a]l f ]ub, 
f eA]t e]le b^ fbACf ATbu]l ffef i; ? 
C]5b]f |ie cfeile bfe^ri) Afi b§|T!), 

A|t 2t)eA]l5AC qt6AT) IJA IapI) t)56A|l. 

^<^ 5011* ^2^A|i3Ac |?eAti le]f ^^]r) 
b'A|i b'AiD^n) 5i)^|c 4)oT)D 4)ofic^]o; 
bVor^lS AT) b^r A c^jle Ai)i) tlT)# 

50 CAlt1)A 3l]C A|l CbOOC-At)-A]fl. 
Ba IjOtbCA, ^eA|l5AC, f ^0C1T7A|1, 

bo b^ 4)oi)D 4)o|tcA]ij aY Cao|1)-1|a^ ; 
A3 301 1) A f A3 C|i6acc43a6 a cfe^le, 
3AI) ceAccAft A3 3^1 le Aft aoo CAob. 

43o b^ AD "pblAW A|l CAOb AD CDO]C, 
A3 ATDAftC A]t CftUC DA IaOC ; 

aY ^eA|i3AC, a'i* a f IuaJ ceADD, 
A3 |re]ceAtb le ceADD CbAoiD-l^jc. 

<t)0 lAbA]]l COD^D 30 boflb Cjl^AD; 

3fe']t b-f AbA HAft fe o D D3le]c ; 
cApA|6 bo l^tt) 30 b-c]C|6 leAC ^ot)i), 

A CbAO]D"llAC C]tUA]6 DA IaDD> A|l ffe. 



113 

0. Meargach of the green blades enqairetli 
Of Mac Cumhall in a fierce Toice, 
If he were the conceited hero, 
Who was in armour in his presence. 

Not I, indeed/ saith Fionn Mac Cumhaill, 
But Caoin Laath, the chief of the rear guard, 
No other man of the Fenians but he dare venture 
To fight thee singly. 

ril send, Fionn, to meet him, 
Another hero like himself; 
Let them meet face to face, 
Saith fierce Meargach of the sharp blades. 

Meargach called forth one of his own men. 
Whose name was Donn Dorcain ; 
Then the two attacked each other. 
Dexterous and stoutly on Cnoc-an-air. 

Fierce, angry, and vengeftil, 
Were Donn Dorcain and Caoin liatb, 
Wounding and cleaving each other, 
Without giving way at either side. 

The Fians were on the side of the hill, 
Beholding the appearance of the heroes ; 
Meargach and his mighty host 
Awaiting the head of Caoin Laath. 

Conan spoke haughtily and fiercely, 

Though far back firom the battle he stood ; 

Hasten thy hand till thou conquer Donn, 

Caoin liath, the hardy, of the swords, saith he. 
8 



114 

O. t)o bj Av b|r 9^1* cUlc 31|a6, 

A5 3eA|tftA6 50 b-»fi COUP a^ bAll ; 
^ fOfSAil 5|ifeioe 50 peo|D b6|b, 
5tt|t ctt]c <Do99 fl)o|ic^]i) 5AI) ceA9i>. 

'CdsbArtjAOiboe Ai) pbl^OO 5f^|tb, 
5^f|i Ti)AO]6ce c|ie ii)A|t feA5 
4E)oi)o 4!)o|tca]i) ^be^ft5A|3 i)A Uoo, 
c^A t;&^i>^5 ca5A^t>0 Cao]I)-1|ac f aoij. 

21 bubAfftc lF]ot)i) Ai)t) f|i) le Cot^^p, 
o C|ApA^b bA cji^Ai? bo sldft ; 
irfeAC At>o|f peA|ic bo l^ibf 
Ab c-Aoi)A|t le f e^Aft bo'9 c-f l^* 

Nt ffeACfAb 1)eA|t7 I1)0 UiTI) PA 11)0 JPlOfi), 

le b'^^T) peAC b^ob 50 bjiac; 
b^ fp-bA6 cuiqrt) bAtt) fAp 5-CAc, 
Ti)0 cuti)a6* p]0|t b-|:AbA oiic^a pbliJO* 

2lp CAP COpA]|tC ^6A|t5AC pA Upp, 

50 b-ctt5 Cao]p-1]ac <Dopp f o l^p ; 
bo ^teAf A coftp c|iitc-^la]ppi 5IAP1 

A p-6]be CACA IpAbipA A'f b^ii*. 

4)o sluA^f 50 p|iAp bo UcAift pb]pp, 
A'f A bubAfjtc le]!* bo bojtb gldjt ceApp, 
6 ^6|p bo S^^^ll ^ !)-6ibe CACA, 
po 'p Iaoc bo b'pe^|t|i A5 § cufi App. 

I V)o cfiipAb, literally my grief, Conan knew rery well that the Fenians 
would not regret his death, but on the contnury that they would regard 
it a boon to be reliered from one upon whom they looked as their stul- 
tified vilifier and defamer. In the romantic tale called the biiUfscAo 
C))AOt\cATi)0) or the Mansion of the Quicken Tree, it is reUted that Co- 
nan and the Fenians entered the Mansion, which they found most sump- 
tuously supplied with all the delicacies peculiar to such a place ; and 
after regaling themselves most comfortably, wondered why they saw no 



115 

0. The twain, who were not feeble in battle, 
Were freely cleaving bodies and limbs. 
From the rising of the sun till evening, 
Till Donn Dorcain fell a headless corpse. 

We, the Fenians, raised aloud, 
A cheer of exultation for the death 
Of MeargaeVs hero, Donn Dorcan, 
Though Gaoin Liath came to us feebly. 

Fionn then said to Conan, 
Awhile ago thy talk was fierce ; 
Try now the strength of thy hand 
In single combat with one of the host. 

I shall not try the valor of my hands or deeds 
With any one of them for ever ; 
If I fell in the battle, 
Lament for me would not be long on thee, Fionn. 

When Meargach of the blades beheld 
That Caoin Liath laid Donn low ; 
He armed his well-proportioned elegant body, 
In battle armour for conflict and death. 

He went quickly into the presence of Fionn, 
And said to him in a fierce bold voice. 
To gird himself in battle armour, 
Or to send his bravest hero there. 

servantB or attendants whaterer in the place, but saw that the yarious 
aplendonia, and even the doon were vanishing, until it was flnallj re- 
duced to a mere hoc, or hut, eare one entrance only. One of the Fenian 
chiefs from this dzcumetance suspected it to be a place of treachery, and 
exhorted the Fenians to leave as fast as they could ; bat Conan, who re- 
mained behind to do more justice to the viands with which the tables were 
80 abnndantty supplied, was at length by some spell or other, fastened 
to the floor where he would have remained had not some of the Fenians 



116 

aV bubAfftc i)Ac le6fi le^^c Ajt ta\z frdf ; 
A bubA]]tc feifeAi), Y If ^ bA ^o|i, 
17^11 ledfi ti)An S^ol A i)-feA5 d)^]lc I 

43o Joffi "pioiji) Aji Bbui)Ai>^i) bfoo, 
A r cA|i)]5 5^1) rsfc AH Ui) Ittc; 
If n)6fi Ai) CAjiCA|roe> ^T* ^eAjiSAc, 
A f ATt)U]l f |i> b feAH bo Iua8 l]i)i). 

^. 3o||*FeA^r^ Tt)o cfionj-flttAj tt|le, 
AH SOeAHSAC ^6 ^iHS le T^]Oi)o ; 
f 5A0|lfeAb i^A UocftA f 5 c^fle^ 
|A7tTbA|t DA 7^6|i>t>e i)A Iua6 l|on). 

O. ,NtO|i b-f AbA 30 b-|?ACAn)A|t A5 ceAcc^ 

Ofcii|i A]5eAi>cA i)A Tt)-be|fi)]oijij 5-c|tuA|6 ; 

A Ia90 MotncA t)A 8eA]* lA|ii) bo b], 

A PbAcnA]C I ]r b]c Ai) peAfi bo luA6A]rt). 

c|oi)t)Af bo cuA|8 Ai) CAc bo't) b]f ; 
1)6 AT) le ^eAHSAC ija Iaiji) i)5lAf , 
bo ctt)c bo Ti)AC, AI) c-Of cufi 57io|6e I 

O. )i)tnri"> ^**!^> ^ Pb^^cjtAic, A71 b-cttf, 
5UH bo|l|5 IjOTi) A bejc ny^ji cA]iu ; 

A D-b|A|5 OfCUlTl Af DA b-piADD> 

A riTeAfS DA 5-cl]A|t 5AD }>o]r)t) a|i^|d t 

p. 21 cftuAs^jD bo]cc ! ]f bAicDfb lfe||t, 

DAC A njeAfS DA 5-cl]Afi bu|c o cup 
Dl be]ceA 'DOff bSi IuaS 5AD cfejll, 
A'f bo leADfAb 30 ^|aI fil3 DA D-bul. 

taken compassion on him, returned and pulled him with all their might 
and succeeded, but not without leaving the most part of the skin of his 
back stuck to the floor. It is. traditionally recorded by the peasantry 



117 

O. Fionn replied in a fierce tone, [fallen ? 

And said, art thou not content with all that have 
Meargach answered, and with truth, 
«(r That it was not sufficient for the death of Tailc I 

Fionn called Bunanan the melodious. 
And he came without delay in full speed ; 
Great is the affiront, saith Meargach, 
To talk of such a man to us. 

M. I shall muster all my mighty hosts, 
Saith Meargach angrily, to Fionn ; 
I shall let the heroes loose on each other. 
Of thy Fenian reserves do not speak to me. 

O. Not long was it until we beheld approaching 
Exasperated Oscur of the stem blows, 
His polished blade in his right hand he bore, 
Patrick I sad is the loss of the man of whom I speak. 

P. Belate to us, pleasant Oisin, 

How fared the battle with the two ; 

Or was it with Meargach of the green blades. 

Thy son fell, the heroic Oscur. 

O. I tell thee, O Patrick, at first, 
That I regret being as I am, 
After Oscur and the Fenians, 
Among the clerics without much bread. 

P. poor wretch I it is much to be regretted, [beginning ; 
That it was not among the clerics thou wert from the 
Thou wouldst not now be speaking foolishly. 
And thou wouldst modestly follow the king of the 
elements. 

that hi§ comrades ran to a flock of sheep which they saw grazing in a 
field, skinned a huge black ewe, and fastened the skin tightly to Conan's 
back, by which mark he was known erer after. 



116 

O. tffp^A^A^fi |^|09n bo boftb jtefi, 

aV ^«6A|T« i>AC ledfi le^c A|t cu|c |:6f ; 
A bobATTic refreAQ, V IT ^ bA fio|t, 
lAfi ledn iDAfi 8]ol A i)-*A5 T^bA]lc I 

A> cJkT9i5 5AI7 rSF AH Uo Ittc; 

ir "P^ AO CAftCAf file, A]t ^A]t5AC, 

A f Aiinnl no b'feAft bo Ua6 l]pi). 

^ SoiHpCAbrA mo cfiofi>-flaA5 ^\^» 
AH ^OeAfi^Ac p6 ^1115 le j:^ovt} ; 
rS^OflfeAb 9A lAOCfiA fd cfefle, 
I^F^Afi QA l^iove 0^ laA8 l|Oii>. 

O. rtfOfl b-f AbA 50 b-f ACAIt>A]t A3 CeACC, 

Orai|i A)5€AQCA i>a nhhe]it)]onD 3-C71UA18 ; 
A Uim MoniCA 9A 6eAf Ufti) bo b], 

A Pbte|tAfC ! If b]C AD f eA|t bo luA6A]tD. 

p. 3|qt|r bttiTO A Oiffil fttAific, 

CfODUAf bo C4iA|6 Ai> CAC bo'o b|f ; 
l>6 Ap U 99eA|i5AC DA Iadd V^Uf, 
bo cttfc bo lijAc, AD c-Ofcufi 5fto|6e ! 

O. ji*Dinn) bajc, a Pbte]tA]c, A]t b-cuf, 
S«1* ^1*!3 ll«9 A be]c iDA]t ca]iD ; 

^ ^H>|Af5 OfCOlH Af DA b-piADD, 

A meAfs DA 3-cl|A]t 3AD po|DD ah^]d I 

P- a cfiuA3&fD bo]cc ! ]f bA]CDib lfe||t, 

nAC A iDeAf3 DA 3-clYAft ba|c o cup 
v\ beiceA 'poif b«i loAb 3AD c6|ll, 
A> bo leADF^ 30 FIaI M3 da D-bul. 



t*k« conpMBioa OD him. Ktunied and pulled him with all their might 
i»d Mcc«cdcd. bat not without leaving the most part of the skin of his 
l»ek stuck to Ukj floor. It is. traditionally recorded hy the peaaantry 



^^^r.'eplied in a fierce tone. 
And Baid art thou not content >vith all *, /?"'" ^ 
ij^i answers, and with t^^ "'' ''"' '-" 
*nat It was not sufficient for tu^ a \. 

Roim called B„ T "***• °^ '''""<' ' 

*^^^^- -'■"ir of uie ttprr. » " 



H^PcIz^o^d L^ :'^ ««» blow.. 

How fir^r- ^ -'^***^ ^^-r.. 

O,. w^^ *^" ''*'^^-^ ^'^'- ^^*^ two ' 

Thr son. 5^ - - !^ : " "'' ?***• f"a*«, 
0- I tell th«» - ::^^_ ^ ' " 

Alter C. -"^-in^. 






or 







• M'ttf", 



118 
A5ttf 50 |:|0]t cttfi; bo cl|A|t; 

Af 50 b-C|lft]5f|DI) C|t|AC l)A b-)^lA1)0. 

p. N^ b^8 b^ f"15«^"?* ^ Offi!) ii)|c )=l)fi)U, 
cujn bu]iji) C|t]OC AH CAc cpoic AT) A||i> 
bo b] Ai) Yh]^vv cttfeAij 50 le6]t, 
Ai)0]f ]f bo|b 50 f ai)i>-Ia5 cU^c, 

o. 21 Pb^cftAfc ! Tij^'f fe t)f A T)A osit^r* 

CU5 A!) c^rS ri^ ^1* ^^ 6-T^6l W ; 

1)^ c]teib UA16 6 fo fuAf, 

A01) i7]6 luA]6|:^6 leAC \eb* jtAe* 

2t]Cft]f bATI) ApO|f A Pb^CftAfC^ 

At) 6 A1) 4)f A SYl^^Ajt f|9 A bubA]ftc ; 

50 ]iu5 |:6|i> buA6 A|t Ai) b-1%|W, 
aY 5UJI b'6 ]^|teAQO f ttA|t* A 5-clu]b. 

p. jDOfri"? ^WfC, A'f Dl bft^AS, 

5af« beAjtbu] J b^Al <D6 6(t|0!) ; 
At) b|teAn) 17 AC p-b6Ai)f A]6 a |t6]]t; 
l|:fteAt)i) bAOji 5U|t b'6 a p-bui) ! 

O. N] Se^HijAb At) lPh]^^V A ]tfe|]t \i]Ati), 
1JA c|ie]bn I^IA i)A f Aob Jldft ; 
1t)i)]f bAii) iD^V ^ T^'^S bttAb, 
CA b-puAift fluAjgce A 5-cufi)Af b6]b, 

p. )|* 6 <DiA |tu5 buA8 A|i At) b-pfefijo> 

A'f t)10fl ]A|l|l b^ 6^At)Alt) CAC pA f l55 ; 

Acc A cooSDAit) |:fe|i) 'ta corb^ccA i:Tt^]c, 
r IT ]PC|ie|8ce i)ac pl^f a jldfi. 

I T^uAft, coM. The poet seems to have been acquainted with the opinion 
of some of the schoolmen, that the damned pass from one extremity of 



119 

0. Misery without redress attend thyself, 
And truly thy clerics 

Do not say to me that I would follow God, 
And that I would forsake the chief of the Fians. 

P. Do not be arguing, O Oisiu son of Fionn, 

Tell us how the battle of Gnoc-an-air ended ; 
The Fians were mighty enough, 
But now they are weat and feeble, 

O. Patrick I if it be the God of grace 

Who spread that report about the Fians, 
Do not believe from him henceforth 
Anything he tells thee during thy days. 

Belate to me now, Patrick, 
If it be that God of love who said. 
That he himself conquered the Fians, 
And that cold hell is their habitation. * 

P. I tell thee, and 'tis no falsehood, 

God's own mouth hath declared to us, 
That those who will not follow his counsel 
A hell of pains will be their dungeon I 

O. The Fenians never followed his counsels, 

Believe not thou God of the feigned speech. 
Tell me if it were He that obtained victory 
Where he found hosts their match. 

P. It is God who obtained victory over the Fians, 
And did not ask the aid of battalions or hosts. 
But his own strength and timely power, 
And truly his speech is not feigned. 

Buffering to another, in the next life — from the most intense flames of 
fire, to the most intolerable degree of cold. 



120 

O. N^ cfte]b o16 A|t h)t b^ Iua6ai>i)» 

11)^ b6||t 50 ]ttt5 bttA6 A]i At) b-p6]oi); 
5AT? fluA5 p^ c6||i 1JA 8^|l, 
1)^ 5eAll 50 bfi^c Acc 6 t^^lQ. 

p. )r ^ *t>|A f^lt) At) uile fldg, 

]f 6 <Di A cdftt Af peAftc c4ic ; 

If fe <DlA 71U5 buAb AH Ai) b-7=^6ii)o* 

A'f V] le i)eAHC Iaoc i)i^ c6||t c^i). 

O. 2li)o]f FAO] bfi^5 bo leAbA|fi b^|i>, 
aV bo bACAfUe z^ le t)A A]f, 
|:ao] f lAijf^t) bo CI05 5ld|t l^|ib, 
At) b-f u^l b|i§A5 ]oi)A ti^iSceAH leAc ? 

p. 21 Offio cfieib uA^ft) 50 |:|Ofi, 

5AC fYtiocAl b^ ij-iwinm btt]c A71 l^bf a ; 
50 b-fuilib 5A1) ce|l5, 3A0 bfift^s, 
A> S«l* l^'^ r^|T> ^o fe5|l bttiDo ]Abu 

O. 3ac ^]ocaI b*A|i A]c|tff bu]c, 
Ol Ti75fi tijo ce|f c, ACC ATij^ji) ; 
Ti7A|i A be] ft leAc 5Ufi Ab ua]6 p6|i>, 

HU5 buA6 Aft Ap b-P^llJI) Al) AOf)Aftek!). 

p. 43o |ttt5 buAb Aji A b-c^|i)|5 fdf, 

6 Cttf An borbAji) Tbdift 50 f^o|* ; 

aV b6A|if Af A|i A b-qocpA i)A 0-b|A|5> 

b^ cfife]i)e lAb 50 be]|te ao c-fA0f5|l. 

O. N^ cjieib focAl b^ i)-bubAi|ic \i]An), 
t)^ fOf bA T)-bfeA|iFAf6 le ija ^lAe ; 

or S^)^*^ 1^1 r ^®1* ^^ 1"a6, 
5ii[iib'fe |iu3 buA8 ah At) b-)^6|i)i3* 



121 

O. Believe nothing that he saith, 

If he say that he obtained sway over the Fians, 
Without hosts — ^without help at hand, 
Or pledge at all but hinuself. 

P. Ood himself is all hosts [all powerful], 
God is the might and pursuer of all, 
'Tis God who obtained sway over the Fians 
And not by the strength of heroes or pursuit of hosts. 

0. Now, on the virtue Of thy white book. 
And thy crozier which lies at its side. 
Under the chiming of thy highnsounding bells, 
Dost thou lie in what thou sayest ? 

P . O Oisin, believe me truly, 

Every word that I relate to thee of God ; 

Is without guile or falsehood, 

And 'twas himself who taught them to us. 

0. Each word that I have related to thee, 
My query is not much, but only. 
Whether he tell thee that it was by himself alone 
He obtained sway over the Fians. 

P. He obtained sway over all that have been 
From the beginning of the world surely. 
And he will, over all that will come after. 
Though great their might, till the world's end. 

O. Believe not a word he hath ever uttered, 

Nor yet what he may say during his day. 

As he is constantly proclaiming 

That 'twas he who gained victory over the Fians. 



122 
'f ]f beA|i& IfoiofA 50 i^'^^^TH* ^l^> 

1)^ CUf A AJUf lAb, A feAQ^I^ I 
O. Jf COftbttjl n^C 6-f ACA CU AT) 'pblAlJDi 

i)A b-c|0i)6l sM a6 a 0-AiD sled ; 
Xl\oxi cofrb&^l Tie f fA^f^^i) pf aIih, 
i>^ fte clo]5 A3 CAffpA]]iC| A 3-cedl. 

Nto|i cofrt|6]l le 4>|A, A Pbl^cfiA]C, 
A f IttAg f96ft6^lAe, dT]i6eATtc, f6b ; 

1)f CUAIa^S C^f3 ^ACCAC fl^Ali), 

Acc A j-cttjitiitfe 'f^i) 6l]A|t b^ clu. 

p. N]on Aicjtir 11)1 r« 1)^ Ai) ci|A|t, 

5 caf bu]c cit^At) A Aa^c St^IOti) ; 

11)A]C bO-C|ljOC1)AlSce, A Tt)A]C, 

O. Nt s^ill]iu, A Pb^^citAic, bo 4>biA, 

1)^ f 6r bob' bft]A6|tA ir leATi) 5l6|t ; 

juH Ti7A]C fe pfeji) !J^ A Soiori), 

6r buit)e 6 bo b]Of SAt) cac, jai) rldj. 

p. Ni i^TiAW coi|t CACA !)A rl^> 

ACC |W)|iji)eAf coc|tAti) bo |tfe|fi cttiljri), 

aY 1)1 l^r^SAIJO n)]lleA6 6 1)A 1):^lbA|b. 

aV TD^f 1DAIC 1)0 olc leAc ft, 

If fe bo COlfS ttft|tD 1)A 6-7^1 A1)1). 



123 

P. Thou imaginest that the Fians were mightier 

Than all who ever came and will come hereafter, 
But I believe that God is stronger 
Than thou and tbej, old man I 

0. 'Tis likely thou hast not seen the Fians 
Mustered for battle in time of war ; 
Not like the humming of the psalms, 
Or the clangor of bells, was their music. 

Not like unto God, Patrick, 
Were his [Fionn's] proud illustrious hosts, 
I never heard of any great feat [by him, i.e. God,] 
But what thou and the clerics spread of his fame. 

P. The clerics or I have not told thee 

One-third of his good deeds since the beginning, 
Goodness without end is his goodness, 
Oisin, it is truly. 

0. I do not submit, Patrick, to God, 

Nor yet to thy words which are foolish, 

That either he himself or his actions were great, 

As he was a man without battalion or hosts. 

P. He asketh not for the pursuit of battalions or hosts 
For ever, Oisin, in his presence, 
But distributes equally according to merit. 
And he never gets a hurt from bis foe. 

Believe me still and truly submit, 
silly Oisin who lovest not God, 
And whether it seems good or ill to thee, 
'Twas he who checked the career of the Fians. 



124 

ftu5 bttA8 1JA 6-7^141)1), 1)^ A nrb^f ; 

bo |toii>i)f eA8 50 f i^ll AT) c-A]t«^i). 

p. Ro|i)i)ceA]t leAc A|t^i) a't* beoc, 

bo 5AC ca|b b^ b-f;A5Ai)T) ^v c\)Aji ; 
cu]3qo|t l]oti) 5u|i i>Ai7teAC bujc, 
ii)AflA a']* 5ut bo cAbAiftc bo 4)blA» 

O, 8^)^ 5e]bin)fe AftAi) aY beoc, 

^V r^ii 5^^ cor3 AiDCAfs t)A s-^M^i* ; 

A Pb^t?]tA]C ! t)| li)eAf*AYT1) Alt AOt) COft, 

bo 43b]<^ 30 b-f AiceAi)!) ai> tiiaji. 

p. CiOT)0Af bob f 6|b|7i bo leAc ]tiAn, 
A!) CAi) $e]b]ft bf a6 ti)A|t cAc ; 
x)] cofib^jl 5tt|i leAc-can)A6 f]i), 
^ 0|ni>> ir "'I'^ic bo 3IA711) ! 

O. 21 Pb^citAfC 1 1)1 c|te|bf;ii)i) bo lObi^, 

CUf A, 1)^ 't) cllAft t)AC CAO^t) ; 

njA'f A i)-6]ijfeAcc 3eAbn)A0|b b]A6, 

3U]t Ab 101)^1)1? Al) |llA|t f A |tO]l)IJ. 

p. 21 0|f]i) 1)^ cuift A Tuiii) 1)1 buf 11)5 

A b-|!uA][i]|' b Awitdb An)eAf3 i)a 3-cl]A|t; 

leAc-cun)A6 p^ 6e^Yti)AbA|t Yt]Aii), 

V If F©^T*1* A P-olc v^ n)^)t i)A b.)^|Ai)D« 

O. Olc Asuf ATi3ufi) df^ftb, 

bo tvL]Z]m A i}-bA]l bo cl|A]t; 

aV 1)^ 7iAbA|ni*e fAOfi 5 ija iJ30|fi), 

6i|t p^ojt cofii)uil f|b le fluAj i)A b-lP|At)i). 



125 

0. Thou hast told a falsehood, *twas not God [death, 
That obtained sway over the Fians, or caused their 
And if he ever acted justly or evenly, 
He would generously share the bread. 

P. Bread and drink is shared with thee, 
Of each meal the clerics get ; 
I perceive it is shameful to thee 
Abuse and scandal to give to God. 

0. If I get food and drink, 

And a willing share among the clerics ; 
Patrick I I cannot think on any account 
That thy God seeth my share. 

P. How is it that thou couldst get but half diet, 
Whilst thou gettest food like the rest ; 
It is not likely that it is injustice 
O Oisin, how constant is thy clamour ! 

0. Patrick, I would not believe thy God, 
Thou, nor the clerics, who are not nodld. 
If it be together [i. e. at one table] we are fed 
That the portion each gets is alike. 

P. Oisin talk no more, [clerics; 

Of all the hardships thou hast undergone among the 
Injustice they never did, [of the Fians. 

And their worst acts are better than the best deeds 

0. Ills and loud contention 

Mayest fall among thy clerics ; 

And may thou not escape their venom, 

For ye are not like the Fenian hosts. 



126 

p. jf olc IfOiii A feAi)6|ft l6|c, 

94C |0i>r9V|i> leAc cte||i 9^ 4>|A ; 

50 bO]lb A 9-bAO|t ^Uf 9^ b-7>|A!)i)i 

O. )r le5|t l]on> bo 8A0it jUf PH^, 

be]c ATi)eAf5 i)a 5-cl]Afi ii)A|t c^|n> ; 
A5 iieiceAii) Afi Jft^r^ib 4>6, 

bo |tO]1)0eAr 50 CAOI AT) C-A|t^17. 

le f]<njD A5 itiAji aV A5 ]io|W Afi^ii), 
Plojt i^u|]ieA|i^ le|f f lttA5 t)A h'lp\4kt)t), 
a'y a b-C|5eA6 pAC |Ab ^a 6a]l. 

Nt t9A1« n^ bttfcfe A'f bob cl^^ji^ 
t>^ b'A buiji f AO]i-f lA]t ^f ii>dYt c^^l ; 
ir nj6)t l|b ctiuas^d' bocc, 5AI) jijA^, 

A!) bu)t T1>eAf5 A CUTI^plACC At) i/oit}!)** 

p. 4>ob' ]a9i9»|9 li99e A*r le 43|A, 

A feAvdfp l|AC cu be|c b'^p p&f|« ; 
p^ h&\t f Aob-]t4i]bceAd IjOf ca, 

TlJAtl }X 5P^C CUfA, A OinO bAOfC ! 

O. SI Pb^|tA]c I bo 86Ai)FAit>i) bo ]tft|n, 

Af bob' pDtbu)!) l|Oii) f fe]i) bo 4!)blA ; 

ACC jap T17]1)|C l]011) bo IttAbA^lt, 

50 pus buA6 Ap "pbioijD 1)A b-T^JAtJI). 

1 9t)u|fMAtt, a (tfr<A«n, a family. Here Oisin indicates that Fiona 
would not doae his doon or refuse food to any that Tisited hiin» no matter 
how numerous th^ came. 

s CttaA5S^iy. Thii word rignifles a perscm in the most abject state of 
poverty and want. 



k. 



127 

P. It is grievous to me hoftry otd man. 

That then loyest not tha elariea and God ; 
A time will coiue when thoa shalt regret it 
Sorrowful in the bonds of pain. 

0. It is enough for mte of craal boiiids of pain 
To be with the elerics as I am^ 
Awaiting the grace of Qoi, 
Who slenderly shares with me tho bread. 

Not like are ye or your (Jod* 
To Fi(Mm shamg and giymg bread. 
He would feel no burtbeo in the Fenian hosts, 
Or in all who (adne in hia {HreaMco besidea them. 

Not so with thee and thy clerijcs. 
Or thy chief though great his fame ; 
Ye grudge a poor feeble wretch 
To dwell among you, crying horde. 

P. We and God would rejoice 

hoary old man, that thou wert of our way, 
Nor to be vainly garrulous and tedious 
As thou always art, silly Oisin ! 

O. Patrick 1 1 would do as thou desirest. 
And *tis I that would love thy God, 
But only that thou too often prodaimest [Fians. 
That 'twas he who obtained sway over Fionn of the 

8 5olA9 Bignifles one that ib constantly crying or growling. The poet 
uses the expression here, in reference to the singing of psalms and hjmns 
by St. Patrick and his choir ; fbr whUe he himself was obliged to fast, 
the singing of psalms was not Tery Mivueh to his taate ; and* therefore, 
taunted the saint on eyery possible occasion. 



128 

P. BeAijOAcc le caca]6 pa b-pi^ijij, 

b^ t\i^Atm^ji lAb a'i* bA tb<^]c A 5-cl^]l; 
A]citif bufw Ai)Oir 5A0 b|iai), 
c]A |ta5 baA6 a|i ci>oc ai) 4i]|t ! 

O. C|A 5U|i tb|Ai) l^oti) A b-C|i^cC f6b, 
A be|c A|i f^ubAl le lori^Ab p^]|tc : 
leADf Ab bii]c, fij«i 56|b|ii) jiiAji, 
Afi c6ftbf5le6 6^ai) ci)0]c ao ^l]t ! 

aY OfCttfi, 50 ceAi)9> A 5-c6|ii^5lfefc ; 
A Pb<^c[iA|c I b^ b-pejCfeA ai) b^f, 
t)] nfo\}:^b 50lovb Aop ibjc 4)6 1 

4Do btiti^a^ft u]le At) pbl^W) 

A 5«C|ieACAib b^Ai) fA b|t6ij 50 cl^^ ; 
le b~^A5Al 3urt cu]C]ti7 b'tifi Iaoc, 

le ^^Ajt^AC C]t6A0 0<^ 5-C|tUA8 l^tb* 

1t)o bf fluAj ^beA|i5Ai3 ijA usUf lAi)t>, 
5A0 c|ioi8e, 5A1; srteADD, A5 f |le be6fi ; 
b'eAslA njAjibAb a 5-ceAi)i) CftfAc, 
le b"Orctt1^ ^l^t) V^ Iaijtj PS^Afi. 

21 Pb^c|iA|C 1 b-ti tthbe|C|re^ A5 f 6aca]1)1), 
A|i 5AC Ti|Aij cu|l5-bfe]ii) c|tuA|8; 
t>t jtAjb A|i co]tpA]b i)A OS^^ftb Iaoc, 
4>|A i)-ti 'p clfe]|i p] befCfeii luAjb. 

P. a OiriD I rs^ii cofic 50 |:5iii, 

bo b|i]ACfiA bAOif aY leAp bob' cji-ticc ; 

IWTT ^^IW CIA 'co bo'i) b]f, 

bo buA|6 At) 5f)]0Ti) A|t cpoc A1) ^^]t I 



129 

P. Peace be with the battalions of the Fians^ 

They were mighty and their fame was great; 

Relate to us now without grief, 

Who gained the victory at Cnoc-an-air ? 

0. Though it would be my desire to talk of them, 
And to relate it with much pleasure, 
I shall tell thee if I am served [with food], 
Of the fierce conflict at Gnoc-an-air ! 

Meargach of the green blades. 

And Oscur, engaged fiercely in single combat, 

Patrick ! hadst thou seen the two 

Thou wouldst not praise the actions of God's only son, 

We, the Fenians, all were 
Trembling intensely, and in heavy grief. 
Apprehensive our hero would fall 
By the mighty Meargach of the stem arms. 

The hosts of Meargach of the green blades 
Were spiritless and joyless, shedding tears, 
Fearing for the fall of their head and chief 
By Oscur of the severe arm and sharp blades. 

Patrick I wert thou a spectator 
Of all the traces of the sharp swords 
Which were on the bodies of the stern warriors. 
Thou wouldst not mention God or the clerics. 

P. Oisin I leave off a while 

Thy silly words, and pursue the tale ; 

Tell us which of the twain, 

Was victorious in the action at Cnoc-an-air. 
9 



130 

O. a 2t)l7eA|t5A|S I A|t Orcufi 6r^ttb, 
bo 6eA|i5 njo Ui)t> aji bo cOjip ; 
bo 5eA|i|iA8 l|Ofi) b'^eoil 50 cr)tn), 
Af c^ |A|i5ijd6 At) bAjf A5 ceACC ope ! 

^. N| b-eASAl liofi) h^Y 6b' Ut]Tb, 

U^ cu||i A 3-cAf 11)6, Ofcuifi ^|l ; 

If beAftb IfOfi) bo cu]C]it) l|i)i)> 

A'r A iDA]peApi) b^ob bob' fluAj f§|i), 

O. )y beAjtb Ijort) a ^b^A|i5A|5 c|iuai6, 

1)AC fTAbA UA|C 30]1) At) bA|f, 

A'f 50 b-ctt|C|r]|t-f I A'f bo c|tOfi)-flttAj, 
l]ort)rA A'f le fluAj ^f Ain)A p^|l.* 

Ck) 5IAC Of CU|t 50111) A'f f jtAOC, 
A'f t>0 665 A Ia1)1) l^l)-buA6AC ; 

le iD]|te ti)eAi)TDAp A'f i)eA|tc l^H), 
5ufi ceil5 f 6 l^fi 2t)eA|t5AC cftuA^b. 

Nlofi b-fAbA bo'i) Uoc AH CAlii)u]t), 
A!) CAD fe e|]t]5 3A!) cUf A|i]f ; 
bo jAb' i)Aj|te lAfi x)i) A9 feA|t, 
A'f bo ti)^bu|5 A i)eA|tc 'f a 5i)]ori). 

» f lAijOA f A|l, /*« Han» of Fail. FA]1, or li^r F^il, according to 
Keating, was one of the ancient names of Ireland. At the Tuatha De 
Danann inyasion the conntiy received this name from a celebrated stone 
which thej brought with them, called the I1A5 T9^^ or Stone of Destiny, 
and of which the poet writes t^ 

" O'p 5-cloc fo zz^ ^<nt)* Jbtk fivil. 

From this stone which is under my two heels, 
The Island of Fail is called. 

This stone was considered enchanted and held in great Teneration for its 
supposed power of making a terrible noise reeeoibliog thunder, which 
could be heard at a great distance, when one of the royal race of Scythia 
sat upon it to be crowned. It was then the custom, upon the decease of 
the reigning monarch, that his successor should sit upon this stone for 



131 

0. Meargach ! saith Oscur aloud^ 

My spear lias reddened in thy body ; 

I have cut thy flesh to the bone, 

And the anguish of death cometh upon thee ! 

M. I dread not death by thy hand, 

Be not concerned for me, generous Oscur ; 
I verily belieye thou shalt fall by us, 
And all that survive of thy hosts. 

0. I verily believe, stem Meargach, 

That thy death wound is not far from thee, 
And that thou and thy mighty host wiU fall, 
By me and the hosts of the Fians of Fail. 

Oscur became furious and vehement, 
And he wielded his all-victorious blade, 
With BU^h heroic courage and might of arm, 
That he laid Meargach the hardy low. 

Not long was the hero on the ground. 
When he arose without dread ^gsin ; 
Shame then seized the man, 
And his strength and valor increased. 

coronation ; but if the candidate so sitting was not of the royal blood of 
Scythia, neither motion nor noise of any sort proceeded from the stone. 
AU the monarchs of Ireland npon their succ^ssipn vere crowned upon 
it ; and Arom its great fame, Fergus Mac Earca, first king of Scotland, 
sent to his brother Murtongh, who was then king of Ireland, requesting 
him to send it to Scotland, in order to be crowned thereon king of that 
country. He belieyed tliereby that the crown would be more firmly pos- 
sessed by him and his posterity, by its innate extraordinary virtue. The 
king of Ireland complied ; and about A.D. 513, Fergus received upon it 
the crown of Scotland. It was preserved with great care at the Abbey 
of Scone in that country, for the purpose of crowning their kings upon 
it, until the time of Edward I., king of England, who brought it from 
Scotland. It is said to be now placed under the coronation chair in 
Westminster Abbey, where it has lost all its former virtue and power. 



132 

O. *Do cAfc <ti) b]r be^S-Uoc 3U1J, 

o Ati)A|tc iDA]bDe 30 b*lAli-!)eo]i) ; 

3^^? n^> 5^^ fof^^j 5^0 c^lTibe, 
oc 1 A Pb<^c|iA]c, A ij-b|Ai7-3led. 

4)'f |Ar|iA|3 2QeATi3Ac b'Orctt]t ^13, 
AP b-c|t6]3|r]8 30 la ad 3le6; 
A bubA^jtc Ofcufi bo JeAbAiji bo Tb|Ai>, 
A*!* bo f3tt]|ieAbA|i ^Ab a ]tAop. 

'Cai)3o^bA|t At) b^r lari) A|i la]ti), 

aY bo 3Ab At) pat)u]3e a f Iua3 \:^]r), 
bo JluAif Ofcu|t 30 caIida^ n)eAft, 
fAi) lef|t3 An)Ac |io]n) ai) b-'pbfeiijo* 

Bbl bfieAII) A3U11)0 30 t^^^AC, fUAIJlC, 

aY b|teAiD e]le ^^ SftuA^iD ija 1)31)^, 

30 b-^mSi^ 31*^ IP® ^T* t)^ ib^n^c, 

3u[i c(oi)6l Ao i^^tbAib ca3A]0Q 30 cft^AQ. 

4)o cuA]8 Ofcuft A i7-&]be caca, 

aY bo JIac a Afifij Y^ r31^^ P^ ^^1^ 1 
bo c[t|All A 3-corb6A|l Y^ 3"C0|i)t)e, 
2t)beA]t3A^S tb||te, ao cfifeAt) ledrbAi).' 

<D'|O0i)r^l3 Ai) b]r At) bA]tA Ia, 
A|i n)A]bit) 30 laib-3]tob b]Ai) ; 
A3 3eA|i|iA8 aY A3 c|t&Accu3Ab A cfejle, 

aY Pioft b-f AbA 3U|l i^]\i^ AIJ pbfAijD. 

1 leoib^i), a /t'ofi. This name is also applied by the poets to a hero, or 
one who distinguishes himself in battle. 

s 5^]m a ahoui. The Fenians were wont to shout loudly at any signal 
victory obtained by them, whether in the field or elsewhere ; and Donn- 
chadh Ruadh mhic Conmara, iu his Caccjia 5b|olU At} StipAlUfij, or, 
Adventures of a Slave of Adversity, thus describes the shout of Charon, 
the boatman of the Styx : — 



133 

0. The two noble brave heroes spent [the time] 
From morning's dawn till evening, 
Without quarter, without cessation, ydthout delay, 
Alas I Patrick, in severe conflict. 

Meargach asketh of Oscur the noble. 
If he would relinquish the battle for the night ; 
Oscur saith '' thou shalt have thy desire," 
And they both left separated. 

The two 'came hand in hand. 

And the stranger went to his own host ; 
Oscur strode forth bravely and stoutly, 
On the plain before the Fians. 

Some of us were merry and humorous, 
And others looked sullen in their countenance ; 
Till the rising of the sun on the morrow, 
When the foe mustered around us powerfully. 

Oscur went forth in battle armour, 
' And he took his arms and shield in his hand. 
He went onwards to meet 
Angry Meargach, the lion of bravery. 

The two attacked each other on the second day. 
In the morning with fierce blows, 
Cleaving and wounding each the other, 
And 'twas not long till the Fians shouted. 

t5o xip) ffe 5JM|i orftfib A'r b6]ceAc, 

le ruAno A iozA bo cniceAd i)a rp&AficA, 

t)o cuaU A9 cttOTOOe 6 A*T cttni VH^eAVtf 5&11Q Af." 

The giant seized my hand with gladden'd boii1» 
Then louder roar'd than mightiest thander's roll ; 
Heaven's high cope trembled at his bellowing shout. 
The round world heard, and hell's black depths cried out. 

S. Hayeses Traimlaiion, 



134 

p. C|lfeA& At; F^C Aft Jil]fl A!) lFh]^V^f 

A 0)f]V 5P1W A]Cfiir 6uti)i) ; 
i)t bCAftrDAb, A]cc|n), bo ]t^|8, 

O. Nioji 5^11 ft njAOfbce, a Pb^cftAjc i)6a& ! 
bo C65 AO y^^rji) At> cfi^c ub ; 

ACC 54l]|t CAO|t)Ce Af C|tll]6c6ACC, 

5^11% JoU^i) A'f 5^^|t cuti)A6 ! 

p. CjlfeAb p^C A|l CA0]1)eAbAH AO Fbf ^W/ 

If (?AbA IjOnj 50 IJOCCA^fl ^tt, 

tf cofriju]! ii)AH leAijAf bo Iao], 

50 |lAlb OfCU]t A IjOl) CftUAb-C^lf 

O. 4)ob' h f ^c f o'ji 5«iit^ AA pbT^iJi?, 

A Pb*^c|iA^c i)A clfe]|ie 50 beAjtb ; 

Ai) cjteAf bfe]!!) CU5 2t)eA|i5Ac i)a Iato, 

b'^«i5 Of CUft 50 f AOO f A0| CAlAfb I 

210 ^^V bo coi)A|icroA]t Of cu]t a|i l^]t, 

bo f AO|leAI0A|t aY C^C 50 |lAjb 3AO AOAfO>* 

ACC i)1o|* b-pAbA bo'o Iaoc c|t66A; 
A1J CAO b'6|]t]5 bed oa feAf aH) ! 

a OfCUflt, A]t p]001? DA b-p|AOO, 
1)1 f ACAf |t]ATb bo CO|ip A|l l^t* i 
A|l 6ltt CaItOAI) 5ttf AlJltt, 

A5 Aoi) S^lfSl^eAc ba bu]|ibe liiio. 

jf beA]tb l|oii)f A A]t 9^eA|t5AC 0^ Iaoo* 
50 to-biA6 Ofcuii 50 fAoo 5A0 fp^r; 
Ajuf AO cujb e]le bo'o yb]^V^f 
ACC cuf A A5af 2I06 BeA3 Arb&io* 

1 ^llrr ^ T5e<>^ street thy tale. The saint here indicates to Oisin that 
he was well pleased with his narrative ; and urged him to proceed, for it 
is to be supposed that Oisin grew silent for a time, thinking mournfully 
of the great achievements he had witnessed of old. 



135 

P. Why is it that the Fians shouted^ 

pleasant Oisin relate to me ; 

Do not forget, I implore, thy narration, 

Delightful is thy account of it [to me]. 

[arrived I 

0. 'Twas not a shout of exultation, Patrick, recently 

That the Fenians raised at that time. 

But a shout of sorrow and misery, 

A shout of lamentations and [deep] woe I 

P. Why is it that the Fenians wailed ? 

1 long to hear thee reveal the cause ; 
'Tis likely as thy lay goeth on, 
That Oscur was in a perilous position. 

0. This was why the Fenians wailed, 
Patrick of the clerics, truly ; 
The third hlow given by Meargach of the blades, 
Left Oscur weak upon the ground. 

When we beheld Oscur down. 

We and the rest supposed him dead ; 
But 'twas not long till the valorous hero 
Arose alive and stood up. 

Oscur, saith Fionn of the Fians, 
Thy body was never seen laid 

On the clay of the earth till to-day. 
By any hero however mighty his hand. 

1 verily believei saith Meargach of the blades, 
That Oscur will be feeble without delay. 
And the rest of the Fians, 

But thou and Aodh Beag only. 

s 5ai) ai)A19, literallj without tpirit, meaning that he was a ItfelcsB 
corpse. 



136 

o beA|t5d6 Ijon? Ajt bo co|tp, 

1)] b-eAjAl bo*o Fbl^W bo ceAi)ij. 

Cu]tT)i)l6; A Ofca|]t, A|i Coi)^p r9Aol> 
bo cujqtp bo*o FbfA^o 5tt|i b|c ; 

bo f^^rn'ttlSir bo fltt^lS^l'^ Fbioo- 

4)o fPfteAS Cor)^t) Ofcun ^]i, 

aY CU5 A5A]6 50 b^i^A Aft 2QI>e^|t3Ac cft^Ao; 
V] f aca6 |r6f, A Pb^c|iAic I 
CAC bob' ^eA|t|t ib||t b]f Iaoc. 

1)ob' fe f Ub AIJ CAC bA 6]At), 

A Pb^C]tAic ! DA 5-cl]A|i 5A1) ja ; 
CAC 5A0 fOf a8, CAC 5AI) pdilT^c, 
CAC 5AD fCAOijA A t)S^T*b jleo. 

1t)o b] A1) b^f bob' A]lije cpeAf , 
Ofcuji A5uf 2t)eA|t5Ac a beAft ii)e ; 
Ap bA|tA la A|i b-ceAcc ijeofo, 
A'f i)1o]t b-A]ci)e A 3-cld t)^ rS^lfi). 

N^ |iA]b bAll ba 3-co|ipA^b CAOtb^ 
•3AI) It] At) c]i6acc, d^ 301 1) Upi) ; 
o bACAf' c]i)ij, 30 bow C|iacc,* 
bu| 1)1)6 A'f bo c^c 0]0|t 3|teAQ0« 

21 Ofcu]|i! cu|Ti)0i8 3u[i leb' la]H)> 
bo ca]c 3TIUA3AC At) <Duf 6f|i j* 
it)^ cu|tcA|i le 2t)eA|t3AC A|t 3-cul cu. 

V] A|fcl)lb bUlDt) Ctt, AJl p]Ol)!) DA b-^pb^ADO- 

1 \)AtAT, This 10 the name bj which the crown of the head is known ; 
and it is generally belieyed that talented men lose the hair off this part 
of their head at an early age. The celebrated poet Carolan is represented 
as a bald-pated man in a print prefixed to Hardiman*s Irish Mimtrelsjf, 



137 

0. The Fenians completely defy thee, 

Stem Meaorgach of the green blades ; 

As I have reddened thy body, 

The Fians need not dread thy power. 

Eemember Oscur, saith Conan Maol, 
Thy fall to the Rans will be a loss ; 
Eemember every hard battle 
Thou sustained for the hosts of Fionn. 

Conan roused the noble Oscur, 
And he boldly faced the powerful Meargach ; 
I have never yet seen, Patrick, 
A better fought battle between two heroes. 

That was the battle that was severe, 
Patrick I of the clerics, without doubt ; 
A battle without cessation, a battle without partiality, 
A battle without intermission in fierce conflict. 

The two were of the fairest feature, 
Oscur and Meargach I say ; 
On the second day on the approach of evening, [ed. 
That their form or appearance could not be distinguish- 
There was not a spot of their smooth bodies 
Without trace of scars and wounds of blades. 
From the top of their heads to the sole of their feet. 
To us and the rest it was not pleasant. 

Oscur I remember it was by thy hand. 
The wizard of Dunore fell ; 
If by Meargach thou art vanquished. 
We recognise thee not, saith Fionn of the Fians. 

> Cttticc. or boij9 r^iXtz, used poetically for ciu>t5> the foot ; however, 
bo9i) zxa^cc, or hoi)tf ctto]5, means the sole of the foot. 

• t>ai> 6iti, i.e., the fortre$$ of gold. There are three localities in Ire- 
land bearing this name — one of which (Dunore) is situated in the county 



138 
O. Mac cttfii){i7 Uac 5u|i ceAOO ^ bf/ 

o v^c i)-A]CDt5oeA]t l|t)i) bo Jou]!-, 
clo]i7ceA]t Ijw 5^ C|ilic bo 5I611. 

N^c cu]n)]r) leAc c^^t 6]f At) ^l]t> 
5U]t leAc bo cuf c TJaiIc iijac tJiteoii; ? 
A'r 5AC 5A|r5^8eAC a f C|i6Atf) f IuaJ, 
bo ca5 A coA^t' A]t AO 6-1^1)6199 • 

Ba 6eA|ib \\vv ttlle, ai) 'pbiAW, 
i)^|i b-f AbA a*!? thb]]* A9 t>-6A5 ; 
bA 5eA|i[i 5tt|i b'AO]b|i)i) buioi)* 
A]i b-cuiqnj SAtf) luc bo'o fe^l* c|ifeAi). 

C|A cu]c Aft caIati) ai) Iaoc^ 

A 5-CJteACAlb feA5A bA]! l|1)0 i 
b'fe]]t5|8 50 CAltl^A rt)6A|l A|l^f , 

A*f bubA||ic, ir ^1^ T^ ^'^ pb^lt^O. 

1t)o bi AT) i)e6|i) A b-po5af btt^i)!), 

a'i* bo cuf5eA8 bo'i) T^b^iiji) a't bo c^c ; 
50 11)0 cufbe Ai) b^f Iaoc, 

1t)o UbA^it piooi) HIT v^ flit cAln)A, 
aY bubAiitc 5ttit tijAife boib AitAoi) ; 
fCAO^A d'l) 5-CAc bo iojl A c^ile, 
50 b-eirel^ 51^^11)6 A iij^itAC Ue. 

a bubAiHc «l)eA|i5AC t)A PsUr Iaw> 
If cu]be f ID, A T^ID!) ibic CufijAiU, 
aV V]OJ^ c^|iIai6 ]i]Aii) lionj a ijsleic, 
Iaoc If cit6|i)e i)6Aitc aV luc. 

of Kerry ; the Fart del Or of the Spaniards near Smerwick ; the second 
is now a caetellated rock in the southern shore of Cape Clear in Cork; 
and the third is in the county of Meath. There is an Ossianic Poem in 
our collection, entitled Caccixa av »i!?AbMO ?l)bo]n, i.e., The Adyentures 



139 

O. Dost not thou remember how powerful was 
Nosniadhi the flower of Dunore ; 
As we recogiiiae sot thy cou&tenanoe, 
Let us always heiar thy Toiee. 

Dost thou not remember after the slaughter. 
That it was by thee Tailc Mac Tredn fell 7 
And each hero and mighty host. 
That made a journey towards the Fians* 

We, the Fenians all, perceived, 
That death was not far from the tWo ; 
'Twas not long till we were joyful, 
On the feeble fall of the mighty man. 

Though the hero fell to the ground, 

In the spasms of death, as we thought, 
He arose quickly and fiercely again. 
And saith, " this is sad for the Fians." 

The evening was nigh at hand, 
And the Fians and all conceived, 
That it was better the two heroes 
Should cease from the conflict for the night. 

Fionn spoke to the mighty men. 
And said it would be to the renown of the two. 
To give up the battle of one accord, 
Till the rising sun on the morrow. 

Meargach of the green blades said, 
That is but just, Fionn Mac Cumhaill ; 
And I never yet encountered in battle, 
A hero mightier in strength and vigour. 

of the Big Fool, or Simpleton ; in which reference is made to 5ftttA5Ac 
of t)l)tfiy Ai) 6m9 which may refer to either localltj. Thii poem wlU 
appear in our Transactions at some future period. 



140 

O. O ryocz An)<iC, a 2QbeAf(5A|J cftuA|6^ 
cu]|i|fij fuAf bufcfe, aY b'lPi)|ooo; 
bo l6 t)5 b'o|6ce, A3ttf 50 b|i^, 
05 5tt|t b^f bo ceACcA]t 6tt|i)i). 

4>o rSttip Ai) b^p beA^-Uoc 6'i) tested, 
At) 0|6ce y]v aY bA c|t6AccAC c|t)iy ; 
A 5-co]fip, A b-fe6]l, aY a 3-ct)4iii)A, 
SAt) bplS, 5AD bU6, 5At) f ei6iiu. 

8tf( 1)A rb^t^AC A|t ATi)A|tC lAe, 

b'fowr^iS ^ ^|l« ^'J ^1r 50 ^1-^0 ; 

bA CAltf^A f^eA^tc aY '5V]orb lt,n)A, 

A|t CAlAtil b^ b-C&]1)]5 ]t|Ari7. 

4Dob' ]Ab fiib, a Pb^ciiA^c, ai) b]f , 
bA 5A]fibe, aY bA cjifeipe a ijjled; 
Ylf K©^T*T^ bo cuifieAS AfceAc 30 ct>diti}^ 
Iai)1) b'A l*i]ii)' b^ b-fACAb ^6f. 

H] fACAf fdf b^f iDAfi ^Ab, 

A 1^A|tC, A |t]At}; 9^ b-C|t&A1> luc; 

A 3-caIii)Acc, a n)||ie, aY -<^ TDifijeAc, 
aY ^ !?-T")lT*c A|i tt)eAr)n)^]r), bAft l]Ofij. 

N] ^aca6 a f Ar9U]l ]*ub A|iAoi)^ 

A3 f ulAt)3 C|lOIl^b6]fl)eAl)l) cftttA]8 ; 
A3 3eA|i|iA6 fedlA; aY coeAf caoH)^ 
A3 feAfATi) 3AI) fleAS, 5A!) fuAi). 

21 b-c|ie]fe,' a b-c|tfe|i)e, Y^ l"^, 
3AI) ce]|tce A b-|?ooi? 'pa t)ba|l ; 
bo b] Ai> b]f 3AT) rS^T* ^'t) t)30loii), 
bo Id t)d b'o|6ce a]|i f eA6 be]c U, 

> lAiyil b*A imbt a stror^/ o^ their hand: Specimens of the swords used 
by the ancient Irish can be seen in the hall of the Mansion-house, 



141 

0. Prom this night forth, stern Meai^ch, 
I will not by thee nor by Fionn ; 
Neither by night nor by day, nor for ever, 
Until either of ns is dead. 

The two brave heroes relinquished the battle 
For that night, and sorely wounded, 
Were their bodies, flesh and bone, 
Without vigor, without fame, without force. 

On the morning of the morrow, 
The two encountered each other fiercely ; 
They were the strongest and mightiest of arm, 
That ever came on earth. 

These, Patrick, were twain, 
The roughest and mightiest in battle ; 
The most skilful to strike unto the bone, 
A lance off their hand, that I have seen yet. 

Two like them have not yet been seen, 

In strength, in pursuit, or in robust agility ; 
In prowess, in swiftness, and in courage, 
And in feats of dexterity I apprehend. 

I have not seen the like of the two. 
In enduring heavy severe blows ; 
In cleaving flesh, and soft skin. 
Or in enduring without food or repose. 

In might, in strength, and in agility. 
Without want of feats or deeds ; 
The two gave not up the action, 
For day or night during ten days. 

Dawson- street, Dublin» which oo man of the present daj could wield 
with one arm. 
' In other copies a b.c|teArA|5. 



142 

O. 21 8QbeATi5A^5 cftuAfb da Uij^ DsUfr 
ATI Ofcufi, 50 ceAOi) 6f 4^ftb ; 
If n)^ At) o^ijte 6(tfi)Q A|tAOi>^ 
^AO cVq sled Ai|i A|i l4r9A. 

2^), 21 Ofcujii ! If cu Af c|tuA]6 l^inj, 
b'-tiji TTi)]|i ATI) c6rt)6^ll M^H); 

bo Ctt]C^t19 l]Otl) ]f 6 Cfl]OC 

A|t 2t)eA|t5Ac, Af bo l\or) t)A h-lphl^vv* 

O. Nf b-6 tpo cft|oc 1)^ cfi^oc i)A b-pbl^'JP* 
A 29beA|i5Ai5 c|iuA]8 tf)A t^sUf Iaiji) 5 
cniqn; ii)A]i Iua6a||i leb' l4t]ri7i 
A|t Of cu]t IDA ]t4^|6ce ceAi)!). 

4)o 5IAC Of ca]t 9A Iai)o ^S^^T^y 
Ti)eAi>i9U|i)i qA 5a]i bAoc a fi)aA6 ; 
i)^0|i 6-f AbA 50 i>-b(ibA||tc cA|t ^|f , 
At) ceAT)i) sldft SQeAftSAc^ bA tbA]c fUAi). 

B]A|8 cu A|t b|c b]6 v^ f oAii), 
A 2t)beAft5A|5 cf(aA]6 ! A]t Of cup ^13 ; 
1)5 5U]t 6u]c A|i b^c C|i)i), 
1)6 6Ali)f A, T1)A|l ii)tt)5||t, A^t Ut^. 

M]0]t b-f AbA 6tt]91) CAOb Aft CAObi 

A5 fefceAn) A'f A3 &]fceACC led; 
50 ttAfb 2^A|t3AC A|t cul f36ice, 
A5 Of ctt]i t)-^ n)-b6]n)eAT)i) 5-C|iaA]6. 

H] b-f iiAift f3ic D^ fOf a6 6 Ofcu|i, 

Acc 3AC b§]iD C01I3 b^ leA3A8 30 zeAX)t)f 
A b-f 6i|iceAi)i) Ai) corbltAfc C|taA]6, 
bo 2t)beA|t3Ac, 3ttft buAji) a ceAiji) ! 



143 

0. stem Meargach of the green blades, 
Saith Osour, stoutly and aloud, 
Great is the shame to us both. 
That the conflict is on our hands so long. 

M. Oscar I 'tis thou that hast the hardiest hand, 
That ever played with me ; 
Thy fall by me will be the end^ 
Saith Meargach, and the end of aU the Fians. 

0. It is not my end, nor the end of the Fians^ 
stem Meaigach of the green blades^ 
To fiill, as thou sayasty by thy hwd, 
Saith Oscur of the stem words. 

Oscur of the sharp blades assumed 
Courage, thoagh weak was his appearance ; [said, 
It was not long afterwards till the boastful Meargach 
It would be well if we took repose. 

Thou shalt not take food or repose, 
stem Meaxgach ! saith noble Oscur, 
Until thou art beheaded, 
Or that I, as thou boastest, shall have fallen. 

Not long were we on both sides, 
Ministering and listening to them ; 
Till Meargach was behind his shield, 
Prepared for Oscur of the serere blows. 

Oscur did not give him rest or quarter, 
But severely dealt each fierce blow ; 
At the close of the severe combat. 
Of Meargach he cat his head. 



144 



A'f ctic 5^]ft CAO]i)^e 50 c|iiiA|6 ; 

c|5eA6 FeA|t aid coib^^il uA]b ? 

"Cb^lDTS V^ co]t)^]6, aV t)A c6Ti)6^il, 
toDSAbai) tDAC B|tuA]b]D PA i)-eAC ; 
AitJin) n)]c 2t)b^A|*5AiS Da Iadd, 
C]A]tbAi) bob' fosAlUc A b-ctieAf . 



a 



Sttl f 6 b-Ctt5ATD C^f3 AO CACA,' 

Orcu|t bA cjiuAS 5AI) cu]i A f tt]rt? ; 

bo b^ IfopcA bo Cft^AccA^b ;a6bAl, 

o 2t)beA|t5AC c|i66a t)^ 5-c|iua6 it)]on)* 

Ru5Ati)A|t AX) Iaoc caItda^ 

o AtbAjtc i)A b-f eAyi Ti)6yi-c|ieAi),' 
aV b']A]t]t ceAb A|i 'lFh]ot)r) A|t b-cuf, 
bul bo coTbltAC ti)]c 2t)beAti5Ai3 ffejo- 

N]0|t AOOCU]^ PlOPD ^'P IaO^ C4^16; 

bul bo corijyiAC le CiA|ibtip roeAft ; 
bo ctt]|ieA6 leiJeAf |ie a CDe^A]b, 

1 To show how TariooB copies of the poem differ ; as indeed do all oar 
Ossianic and other compositions, when transcribed by illiterate scribes, 
we quote the following stanzas from Mr. O'Grady's copy, which was 
written in 1845, by an intelligent blacksmith, named Qrifibi, in Kilrush« 
connty of Clare s— 

"Jiti cufqiv *H) 9)l)eAn5A^ ceAW» 
bA boftb froJAlUc a b-cdr 5leo | 
A bubATitc A 19AC le 5l6ti lyi^n sneAijv, 
C|5eAC Ai)9 r©Ati Aio toiti.** 

Upon the fall of stout Meargach, 
Who was fierce and destructire in the beginning of battle 1 
His son said in an unpleasant tone. 
Let a man meet me here. 



145 

0, We, the Fenians, raised a shout of triumph, 
And the foe a bitter wall ; 
The son of Meargach of the spears said. 
Let a man from among you come to meet me ? 

There came in his presence to face him, 
Longadan, the son of Brodin, of the steeds ; 
The name of the son of Meargach of the swords, 
pTVas] Ciardan, the avenger in battles. 

Before I render an account of the battle,''^ 
Pity that Oscur should not be immortalized. 
He was covered with huge wounds. 
By heroic Meargach of the hard deeds. 

We brought the magnanimous hero [with us], 
From the sight of the great mighty men ; 
And he asketh leave of Fionn first 
To go fight Meargach's son. 

Fionn would not consent that the noble hero. 
Should go to fight Ciardan the swift ; 
Healing medicine was applied to his wounds. 
And soon to us it was sad. 

s Again : — 

OfCttn bA CYVI1A5 5A0 A cutt A rufti) ; 

^o h] cetoo ctt^ACCAC faqi), 

5A19 CApA 5Aq ToeAbAifv 5A1) IttJC I'* 

* Before I relate the account of the batile> 
Pity that Oscur would not be noticed ; 
He was sick, wounded, and weak, 
Without agiUty, without sense, without strength I 



* Again : — 



•' 5o cijeAfbA 6 AiQAttc iAc." 
Mildl/ from the gaze of the rest. 
10 



146 

fioce 30 ^Aop Aft leAbA fttA|i) ; 
aY luce iryteAfbA^U pA cdti)6^]l> 

C^05At1)A]t bo Uli:A]ft AO CACA loAbAf. 

4)']oijfA]5 C]A|tbap 30 CAln^A, 
A3ttf LooSAb^f) bA SAjtb sleoS ; 
aY i?]0|i b-f AbA bojb A pslefc. 
At) CAP Ctt]]teA6 tDAC B|tttA]b]f) A]t i?e63 P 

<Do cu]c, A Pb^C|iA]C, b'iJiyi b-'pb^lWi 
le CfAitb^o, A i)-AotjAH, Ai) d6Ab l^ ; 
be]coeAbA|t aY cftAb b'feA|tA]b cftaA]6 
bA 6A|ci)fb bujijo uAfiji) A|t ny-bl^c.* 

4)o tu]z lejf Ai) bA|t^ lA, 

3A17 beA]t3A6 A]t A ct)e)f cAo^ii? ; 

ba c^Ab |:eA|i bA caIh^a luc, 

A Pb^c|tA]c I bA 8ubAC A17 C^]t1). 

Ht) CA1) bo COOAfJIC 3oU 11)AC 8Q6ftl)^, 

C]ATib^i) A3 c]0|tbA6 pA f IuaJ ; 
bo JluAir ffe|i) PA c5rb6A]l, 

aY P]OJt b-f AbA A]t l«^]l 30 b-f UA||l. 

jA|t b-cu]C]fi) bo Cbl^Ttb^f) |ie 3oU, 
^ 5^11** ^<> Jl^l"), aY ^o cAOfp c4ic ; 

3]6' t)Z^}K f A<J|i lAb. 6 6]OTob^6. 

'C^]P]3 beA|tb|tacA]|t bo Cb]A]tb&i>, 
b'^|t bA coTt)-A|P]Tt) l.]A3^p n)eA|t ; 
bA Cft66A CAln)A 6 rpAft Iaoc, 
aY a|* feAbAf 1)A 7^6101)6 bY63A]fl CAC.* 

1 lu<:c frfteArt>Afl, i.e., attendants, or penoni to wait upon him, nurses. 
* f e66, or reocA6, to fade, wither, or decay. 

s blAc, ^ower ; by which the poet indicates that the flower of the 
Fenian army were slain in the engagement. 



147 

0. When we left our hero, 

Feebly laid upon a bed of repose, 

And attendants with him, 

We made towards the battle I announced. 

Ciardan encountered stoutly, 
With Longadan the tough in battle. 
Nor long were they in the conflict, 
When the son of Brodin was put to death I 

There fell, O Patrick, of our Plans, 
By Ciardan alone, on the first day. 
One hundred and ten of hardy men. 
Sad to us was the loss of the flower [of our hosts]. 

There fell by him on the second day, 
Without his smooth skin being reddened. 
Two hundred men with sinews strong, 
O Patrick I sorrowftd was the deed. 

When Goll Mac Moma beheld 
Ciardan sweeping away the hosts, 
He himself went forth to meet him, 
And 'twas not long till he laid him low. 

On the fall of Ciardan by Goll, 
He shrieked and yelled, and his friends wailed ; 
The Fenians shouted with gladness. 
Though they were not free from sorrow. 

A brother of Ciardan arrived. 

Whose name was Ldagan the active ; 

He was a hero valorous and stout, 

And the bravest of the Fians he challenged. 

* t)*^d5A|tt cAz, he proclaimed baUle, i.e., he challenged the best among 
Ibe Fians to coml>at« 



148 

i)]0|t b-pAbA 86|b A5 n^^^l* 

l)UAl]t b] Cfe]]t11) TDAC LugA^b A|t U|t. 

'C^IDIS ^eA|i eile bo'i) T^bl^W> 

b'^fi b'Aip]ri? ^Ajijur njAC LobA]t^iD, 
bo tu]C ffe]i) aY cfeAb bo'i) b-'pfe]!)!?, 
le LiAji^D C|i66a ai? AOi)A|tai?. 

A'r ijein lAitfi c^il 5A]rse 1)^ 5^1"? i 

A 5-c6ii)8ail tiAjaii), A]i JieAcb bo UcA^jt, 

]f bAOC bo CUA]]lb A f l|t fbAO]l ! 

)a|i b-ceACc bo Cbo!)^0 ^ fe-poSttf ^* 
bo 663 t]A3^t) 50 c]t66A A Uitt), 
]f c|ie|fe o|tc Ai) t:eA|t A]t bo c6l, 
1)^ n)ife jidrbAb, A|t Coi)^i). 

O'pfeAC tlAS^l) C]t68A DA 6iA]5, 

aV bA CAP A AP ]A|t|tACC, A5 Coi)^l? ; 

v] t»^iDi5 i^ir r^ACAiD cA]i Air, 

Ap ceAijij 5U|i r5A]i 6 PA ti)u]i?feAl I 

N^Ofl feA|*A]Tb CoiJ^t) A1) bAll, 

aY 1)10|1 lAjljt feAjt A CCACC A t)'^]Z ', 

bo sluA]]* bo c6||t ]teACA ]:aoi 'i? b-T^]ADi7, 
a'i* bo cA^c A Iai)1) df A Uiri). 

<t)'^IAf|iAi8 T^'aoUi) bo'i) b-|reA|t njAol, 
CftfeAb r^c D^fi f eArTi)A]6 ai) bAll, 
5uti ij^ijteAC Ap soiofb bo |i]I)d, 
a'i* 5tt|t le ceAls ctt]c L]A5ao ai?i)- 

1 'NSkt^ 6]Ai7 A 5-cAc, no< powerful in battle. In this stanza Conan is 
represented as the greatest of cowards. He never sought praise for anj feat 
he performed, and very justly, hecause he did nothing to boast of, having 
exhibited the most glaring acts of cowardice on every occasion. On this 



149 

0. There arrived in his company^ 

Ceirin, the son of Lughaidh, of the vehement hand ; 

Not long were they engaged, 

When Ceirin the son of Lnghaidh fell. 

Another of the Pianna arrived, 
Whose name was Magnns Mac Lobharain ; 
He with one hundred of our men fell 
By Liagan the heroic alone. 

Gonan, never potent in battle, 
And who never sought fame for valour or deeds, 
Went to meet Liagan, who when he came in his pre- 
sence, 
Said, " silly is thy visit, thou bald man !" 

When Gonan came nigh to him, 
Liagan fiercely raised his hand ; 
More dangerous for thee is the man behind, 
Than I before thee, saith Gonan. 

Liagan the heroic looked behind. 
And quick was the blow made by Gonan ; 
Before he could look forward. 
His head was severed from the neck ! 

Gonan did not maintain his ground. 
Nor did he ask any to take his place ; 
He ran with all haste towards the Fians, 
And flung his blade &om his hand. 

Faolan enquireth of the bald man. 
Why he did not maintain his ground ; 
That he was guilty of a shameful act. 
And that 'twas by treachery Liagan fell. 

occasioD, howerer, he waa cunning enough to alarm his antagonist Liagan, 
falsely telling him of an attack from the rear ; and thus avail himself 
of the opportunity, whilst he looked backwards, to cut off his head. 



1 



150 

Ai) r^uAg zji^^i) bo cufi cuTt) ba]r ; 
le ce]l3, T)1o|t i^eiyi \]on) ao be^yic, 
aV i?1 b-F^S^AOir ]:of5 ATDeAfS da b-'piAntj. 

)«)Ci5, Ayi TPaoUd, 6r^|tb, 

A'f sIac Ab Uiii) bo Iaot ^P]T i 
aY f 55A]]t CAc cAln)A ch56a, 

A]! ^6A|t bo'l? C-flog !t)^f :^]l, 1)0 Aft 6]^. 

Mj 3eAbAb bo cori) Affile, a|i Coij^ct?, 
5|6 b'^ Ajuib le'71 o^|t ")0 5i?iori); 
fd5|tA6 f feji) CAC aY con}]i4^c, 
A]i f eA]i 1)6 85 bo'i) c-'rlttA5-bu]6]i). 

CitlAll AH) 6«i]lre, A^t 'pAoUi), 

aV coi)5bAi6 Uri) l^oo) AWf a i)51|a6 ; 
iD^Y cujciti) 8ATt) lex) c6 qoc|?Af, 
5A]Ttn) cttSAb FeA|i bo'i) T^]A1)i). 

M] ]lACAb AH) A01)Atl A1)l), 

t)^ pdf Ab 6^]lr|f Aft AT) ]:eA]t idaoI ; 
b^ Ti)0 cttiqn) b^ibr^ ^ 'pb^ol^l^* 
i)10|t b'fe All) bATi) be^c A3 3IA08AC I 

TJAIIt 11)Aft AOI) llOTD, A ^Ifl ri)AO]l, 

aV CAbAJlt ICAC Aft^r *^ ''^W ; 
t)^ YAX) ATT) fOCA^fl TD^r ^ll leAC, 

it)^t eA3Al leAC c-ac bob' ceApi) I 
t)o c|1]aII Ip^cltx) aV ai) f eA|i ti)aoI^ 

50 ]iai)3AbA]l A jtAOl) COf A]l CO]f ,' 

AT) ^IC 'l)A ]lA]b t|A3^1) A|t U|l, 

A )^bA0U]1) I A|t C0T)^T), b] Ab COf b ? 



151 

O. If I could by one blow 

Put tjie mighty host to death, 

By artifioe^ I would not blush at the deed, 

And thay would not be sheltered by the Fians. 

Go, saith Faolan, loudly, 
And take thy sword in thy hand again, 
And proclaim battle fiercely and heroically. 
To one of the host if they will, or to two. 

I shall not take thy advice, saith Conan, 
Whoever of you is ashamed of my act, 
Let himself proclaim battle and fight, 
Against one or two of the host. 

Approach with me, saith Faolan, 

And give me a helping hand in the battle ; 
If I fall by him that comes. 
Call to thy aid one of the Fians. 

I shall neither go there alone. 
Nor yet with thee, saith the bald man ; 
Were I to M, O Faolan, 
Then it would be too late for me to call ! 

Gome along with me, bald man, 
And bring with thee again thy sword ; 
Stay not with me if thou likest, 
If thou art afraid of losing thy head. 

Faolan and the bald man proceeded. 
Till they both reached step by step. 
The place where Liagan lay, 
Faolan t saith Conan, be silent ? 



f 



152 

O. <Do C65 AT) f eAfl ItJAol A Ut)!), 

A'f bo |i]c 50 ceAi^o |rAO] ai) b-)^fe|i)ij; 
^'k^3^I7^ )^AoUtt> Ai) CAC 50 b-^l*^, 
A|t feAbAf f IdJ c^cc A 5-c6]ii)-5le]c. 

^ c^lP|3 50 b-^AfjA 'ijA cdri)6^|l» 
Iaoc f 07i]iAt}cA bA 5A|ib 5I6H ; 

4)Aol-C|Ab* bo SP^IC A A|17|T1), 

A'f A Ia^I) 'f a Xol^^ t)A 8eAt U]!b» 

NlO|t b-|rAbA boD bff a b-cjto^b r)A l^vn, 
50 b-f ACAit)A|i, A f bA SfteApt) Tte c^c ; 
pAoUp cl]fbe, A|t t)3A|tb Iaoc, 
A]t cikl f 56]ce A5 43Aolc|Ab A]tj. 

t)o cdsbAbAji c^c s^^jtcA 5|t]i)D, 

cfe'n 6o|l|S ^ 3-c^l c|te b^]^ t]A5^]i) ; 

bo cd5bAti)A^|tt)e 3^ttCA 50]! 

cfte cfife]5]oi) A Deijtc bo 'pbAoUi) I 

4>o cuaIa]6 Ofcttfi A|t i>-aA|ll J^fft, 

A|t A leAbA TOA]t A ]lA]b JO f A1)p ; 

CiJl At) CAC CO]CCeA1?0 A]l f 6, 

Af 1?1 b6|8 IjeAC bo'l) )^bft|T)l? |UMbATl) f A0| ceAOi>« 

N]0|i b-f AbA 30 b-f ACAn)A|t A3 ceAcc, 
At) Iaoc Ti)eA|t caIfija Afi c|t6AU Iwc ; 
i)to|t b-peAf bu|ot) 5wn ^l> ^ ^1 ^Ot), 
3u|t beAp!)U]3 30 ceADor^ ^Tbloi)i). 

<Do f AO|l ll)fe, A 'pb]^!) ! Alt f fe, 

AD CAT) cuaIa]6 ap 3^]|i 8ob}t6fi); 
i)Ac ]tA]b Iaoc ofSAfi^A Afi ai) 5-ct)oc^ 
Af bu]i)e A3u]b i)^ ]iA]b be6 ! 

1 i.e., The dark-Jiaired^ 



103 

• 

0. The bald man raised his sword 

And ran quickly towards the Fians ; 

Faolan loudly proclaimed battle 

To the bravest of the foe single-handed. 

There came quickly to meet him, 
A yaliant hero with bombastic talk, 
Daolchiabh was his usual name, 
And his shield and spear were in his right hand. 

The two were not long fighting with their swords 
Till we saw, and to our foes it was a cause of joy, 
Faolan the active, our brave hero. 
Behind his shield by noble Daolchiabh. 

They [the enemy] raised a shout of joy, 

Though sorrowful they wept at the death of liagan ; 

We raised a shout of wailing 

For the failure of his strength by Faolan ! 

Oscur heard our loud shout 
In his bed where he was feebly laid ; 
The battle is general, saith he, 
Before I arrive the Fians will be all beheaded I 

It was not long till we saw approaching. 
The stout swift hero in fall speed ; 
We knew not that *twas he was there 
Till he courteously saluted Fionn. 

I imagined, Fionn I saith he, 
When I heard the sorrowful wail. 
That there was not a brave hero left on the hill, 
And that not one of you was left alive ! 



154 

m 

O. 4)0 bt 'pAoUt) Af 4)Aolct4^b, 

A5 5eA]i|iA6 f e5lA, co^Pj ^'f cpH^m, 

A 1)-ATi7A]iC AjtAOt) bA C]iltA5 I 
<D']A]t|t lp)0r)1!) Aft At) IaOC CAlf1)A^ 

Ofca|t A]5eAi)CA ]f 6 laAbA^tQ, 

bul Ayi]f cA]i Aif bo'i) btto, 

aY 5A1) fuf^Ac f d luc Ap sled. 

N] |tACAb CA]t to A|f , A I^IOT Ca]8 ! 

A]t OfCttft v^p cl^ic A 175I1A6 ; 
1)6 50 b-iTA^cpeAb c]A aco bo'ij b]f , 
bo ttt]cfeAf f Ai) 9517)010 le b'^^s* 

4)o b] IpAol^x) bt^ C]tA0CA6 50 n}6\i, 
A5 4)Aolc)Ab 50 C|i56a, ceApo; 
A 'pbAoUio I Ayi Ofcufi OA Law 0S^^?*> 
Ctt tu]Z]n) le 13aoI I^oid oio|i sf^eAOO* 

4>'f feAC pAoUp, At bA C|UlA]b A 6^f , 

All Ofcufi le b|oiDb^ ]t>A spuif; 

A ^Up 1)A IaOC CaIt1)A> A]t f fe, 

ID^ cttlC|iD i>^ C|i6]5 1D0 cu]r. 

^a'f cuiqw) bu]c le <DAolciAb 

A l^bAoUit) 1 c^A b|Ai) A cftoiD fldj ; 

Ctt]C|?eAbf A AJttf r^uAS t)A b-7=']A!J0, 

Od cu|C|r|6 t)AolciAb Ab 6eo]5. 

C\X}m]iy ^ FbAoUlD ! Afl OrCU|l C]i6A9i 

5tt]t b'ioii)6A Iaoc bo cu^c leb' l^]n); 

aV i)ac cuibe 8mc a i)-An)A|ic oa b-'piAW* 

5AI) fCAfAib le <DAolc]Ab A 1[>-b^jU 



155 

0. Faolan and Daolchiabh were 
In battle and hard conflict ; 
Cleaving fleab, body and bones, 
To see them both was pitiftd 1 

Fionn asked the chiFalrons hero, 
Oscur the magnaoimous, I meui. 
To go back again to the Don, 
And not to remam under the excitement of the fight. 

I shall not return, noble Fionn I 
Saith Oscur who was not feeble in battle^ 
Until I see which of the two it is 
That will fidl in the action. 

Faolan was greatly overpowered 
By Dftolchiadh the valiant and stout ; 
Faolan t saith Oscur, of the sharp blades. 
Thy fall by Daol would not be pleasant to me. 

Faolan gazed, and p^ilons was his position. 
On Oscur, with grief in his countenance, 
prince of heroes brave, saith he, 
If I fall, forsake not my cause. 

If thou fallest by Daolchiabh, 

Faolan ! though fierce his great hosts, 
The Fenian hosts and I shall fall, 
Or Daolchiabh shall fall ailer thee. 

Bemember, Faolan I saith the valiant Oscur, 
That many a hero fell by thy hand, 
And that it ill becomes thee before the Fi4Uis 
If thou stand not with Daolchiabh hand to hand. 



156 

30 b-f ACATDAyi A'f b AOibiW a?) TS^aI ; 

4)Aolc]Ab A5 'pAoUi) 5A!? ceAW, 

At bo cdsbAiDA]! 3^|Tt 5^1^^ '^^l* ^'^^3 • 

a bi»bA]|tc OfCttii bo Jat ^t*^, 
q5eA6 ci^c u]le b'Aop cAO]b ; 
A t JeAbAib CAt co|CceAi)9 3A|ib, 
3AI) mill le i:eA]t3 f l^^lS^ pblW- 

^1 f3A]iFAbf A Ayi T^Aol^t) i)A Iaw> 
30 b-cu]C|r]6 l|oiD ctt|le ho^v c-fl6S; 
len)' Ulii) r^lO t)^ b-AOi>A]tAt), 
ti)ui)A 3-Ctt]icA]t le c^c iij6 All f e65 1 

p. )vV]Tf ^ 0|rlD, A> 1)^ CAD bitfeA3, 

n)^V ri*n> ^^ 'Fbl^TJi), ^t)' fea]tyi liic; 
c|t6Ab i)Ac cAc co]cceApn, ceAiji), 
f uAjT* «^eA]i3AC 'fA f luA^ ATI b-cur ? 

O. a Pb^^cfiAic I v]oji Sp^IC leir Ap b-'Fftiw, 
S^t) n^S^ SM^^ ^ CAbAitic bo tKc ; 
i)]o}i iombttlt) led ceAl3 i)A tueAiJS, 
i)eAC bo'i) bfteAti) ijioii Vfe c^il. 

M^oft 8]ttlcttt3 Ap 7=^blAW lie !?A liw, 
A 3-CAC v^ 3-coiti)eAr3un ciifeio fldg, 

CAC COlCCeAIJP 1)5 At) AOOAll, 

bo cAbAiiic b'Aop b']Ar*F^^ ^• 

p. 4>ob' tttAiiArsbail 30 fioji leAi), 

30 b-f A3ii)A0ib ciiioci)tt3A8 ai) caca c|iuai6, 

1)5 All ctt]c A1) ireAii boiib 6b, 

b^ i)30|iiceAii bo Jijac leAc T^aoUi) ? 



157 

0. Not long were we thus [situated] 

Till we saw^ and pleasant was the sight, 

Daolchiabh by Faolan beheaded, 

And we raised for his death a shout of triumph ! 

Oscur saith in a loud voice, 
Let them all come at once, 
And they shall encounter a fierce general battle 
Without delay from the wrathful Fian-host. 

I shall not give up, saith Faolan of the blades. 
Till more of the host shall fall. 
By my own hand in single combat, 
Unless they put me to death. 

P. Belate, Oisin, and tell no lie. 

If ye, the Fenians, were the most expert, 
Why was it that a determined general battle 
Meargach and his hosts did not encounter at first ? 

. Patrick ! it was not customary with the Fenians 
Not to give choice of the fight to their foes. 
They cherished not treachery nor malice 
'Twas not the fame of any of the tribe. 

The Fians reused not to give during their time 
Battle or contest of mighty hosts, 
General battle, or single combat. 
To any one who sought it. 

P. Thy narrative follow truly 

Till we find how the hard battle ended. 
Or did that mighty hero faU, 
Whom BO often thou caUedst Faolan ? 



158 

O. CAft fe^f 4)bAolc]Ab bp cttfi can) b^ff ; 
b'f A|tft 'pAoUi) ceAb A|i T^biopo* 
bul bo cofbfiAC 5A0 c^ijtbe Aft h}t, 
le Iaoc e|U bo floAj c^]c. 

9loT>cA T>A T^fefwe At> CAij iroAtni 
b'fosAifi 50 c]utAf6 CAC Aft c^c; 
cl^]Df5 Iaoc b'^ft bA c5ii)-AiD]ii>, 

CjAt) T9AC tACCQA 9A Cdlb^^ll* 

VfoOfAiS AD b^r beAj-Uoc a cfefU, 
50 c|t6Ai) caIida cftttAfb ; 
V]o\i b-pAbA 5tt|i h'AO]h}vV b(i|!)0 ; 

A'r CAC 50 b6bAC pAO] lAD^UAIfD. 
Nl Ctt5 'pAol^lJ Al) bAftA bfe]l1), 

ctiii) C\)^A}v ii)ic Laccoa da 5-c|iua6 Iadd ; 

AD CAD bo CODCAlDAft AJ CCACC, 

1»M^|9 cAflce bA bfte^^A jDuif* 
<)o cttfc CfAD tDAC Iaccda le 'pAolAD, 

iml PA b-C^lDIS AD nl^S-^l^ CttJAf DD ; 

^ rS^^I]^ ^^ 5^^^ ^t* 3^^ cAob, 
A5 peffceAiD DA beAj-iDD^ to- 

4>o c65bA8 |te c^c 5A)«ca cao], 
Ajt AfCDe DA T^loJ-iDD^ bd]b, 
bo h] AD FblADD DA f ofb bA b-ATbA|tc, 
A> 1 A3 rion file bedjt ! 

2lf ft A ceADD bo b^ ad pole d|tbA> 

A Pb^^AfC I D1 5^ ^AID A tDAOf 6eAtD ; 

t)] pACA CUpA D^ ^ 45blA, 

A f Albttfl bo Cf Ab Aft AOD tDDAOf. 



159 

0. After putting Daolchiabh to death; 
Faolan asketh leave of Fionn^ 
To go fight without any delay 
Another hero of the host. 

When he obtained the consent of the Fians, ' 
He vehemently proclaimed battle against the foe ; 
A herO; whose name was 
Gian Mac Lfachtna^ came to meet him. 

The two brave heroes attacked each other, • 
Mightily, fiercely, and sternly ; 
'Twas not long till we rejoiced, 
And the foe was sorrowftd and gloomy. 

Faolan had hardly dealt the second blow, 
To Gian Mac Lachtna of the hard blades, 
When we beheld approaching 
A fair princess of noble features. 

Gian Mac Lachtna fell by Faol an 
Before the princess arrived ; 
The battle was relinquished on each side, 
Waiting the arrival of that fair lady. 

The enemy raised a wail of grief 
On recognising the princess ; 
The Fians were silently gazing at her, 
Whilst she incessantly shed tears I 

On her hasA were the golden locks, 
Patrick I it is no falsehood to proclaim. 
Thou nor thy God never saw 
Such hair upon [the head of] any woman. 



160 

O. *D'^]^|r|tA]6 f^ bo Jl6ft bA foctt)^, 

ca TiA^b y^ODt), ]t|5 OA b-piAi)0 ; 
t>d Aji ca]c A c6]le CAori;, ipeAft^ 
A'f A b]f iijAC c4i'|i 5Ab nAb. 

CjA b-ft bo c6]le GAori?, a|i 'pjotji?, 
]Wir ^ttjOT A'f bo 6]f njAC ; 
iD^Y ctt]C|fD b6|b A|i ct)oc Ai) A] ft, 
bo 5eAbA]|t A b-c^f 5 le bjiejc leAC ? 

2lfi7]tD tDO c^fle bA ri)5ft buA6, 
^eA|i5Ac cjtaA^b da UtJO PSUf ; 

A f TIK> 6|f f1)AC, C]A]tbAp bA CftfiAO, 
C|A 50 11)0 lfOli)CA, CApA, C|i6A0; 

bo cu]ceAbA|t at> ^\i]Vi\i ub loAbAff, 
A 5-CAi f A 95l]A6 bii fi)feib a liic. 

A3Uf bo SfieAb da bAf a 50 lonj cftttAg ; 

^ fll 5<> 3«lF*c ff^^r^ bedfi, 

A f bubAific, iDO bfidD ! CA b-pql njo cmu|i ? 

Do gluAir AD niosAiD cAilce, 
50 b]AD AS rSl^eAbA po D Aft ; 

SO 1^^11)15 r1 30 t^ACC AD A|C, 

IDA ]tA]b A Cfejle fA bff TDAC Alt Uii, 

4)0 C|0D6l AD 'FbfADT) ADOlfl 'f A DIA]!, 

a'x bo qoD5l cAc iDAit ]Ab 50 cU]c ; 
5r 3AC cAob aV Ayib bo'D cdoc, 
A3 feifccAdc le CAO^-Juc da idd^. 



161 

0« She enquireth in a gentle voice, 

Where was Fionn, the king of the Fians, 
Or did her gentle hnaband fall. 
And where were her two sons ? 

Who is thy gentle husband, saith Fionn, 
Relate to us, and thy two sons ; 
K they fell on the Hill of Slaughter, 
You will get their history to bring home. 

The name of my husband, whose sway was great, 
[Was] hardy Meargach of the green blades. 
And my two sons were Ciardan the valiant, 
And liagan, who was stout in battle. 

noble princess, saith Fionn, 
Though accomplished, agile, and mighty, 
The Three thou speakest of fell 
In battle and conflict, though great their agility. 

The noble princess cried and wailed. 
And wrung her hands in dismal grief ; 
She shed a bitter flood of tears. 
And exclaimed I where are my Three 7 

The bright princess went forth 
Intensely wailing among the slain^ 
Till she reached the spot, 
Where her husband and two sons fell. 

The Fians mustered east and west. 

The foe, in like manner, feebly came 

From every side and peak of the hill, 

listening to the caain of the woman. 
11 



162 
O. 21 Pb^cfiAic ! V) r^cA bo 4)b|A, 

bo 6te]ft i?6r, 1)^ «6 F^fp; 

A b-peA|if A, A S'cld, 'fA rS*?'^' 

2ltj CAT) cl^lOIS ^r C|OW t)A S-coni^i 
bo f coc A KioU h] A]X 8ac at) o\^ i 
bo f ii> c4i]tfi)A A|t Ai) b-ct*lttlt* 
5AD cApA, 3AT) luc, 5A0 c|ieo]ti ! 

4> AC|iA|5 A b-6AbA0 njAir^AC, 1D11?, 

A beAitcA 5ni w 'r^ *>^A|i5 Sn**^*> ; 

A UacA, a b6Al, A'r ^ C]tW 50 U]]t, 
A tATbttll bo't) feA5 bA tltUAj 1 

N^ofi b-f AbA 6v^]t)r}, A Pb^CjiAic I iDAji f id, 

50 n-boACAib r1 A D-fe^v^^ife b^ir> 

43o cdSA^b AT) V^rt)^]^ haiU-cao] S^^^i, 
A'r At) FblAT)0 f^lt) bi fAOi 6]Ofub^8 ! 

<Do f AOileAfijAiitpe Af i:5f c^c, 
50 b-|»Ain bH ^t)t) li^V SAinfin; 
bo c«i]i)i5 i)A ctiuc ft]v ^V^T> 

At bo CAT) A5 CAO| A1) IaO] flJAjl ICATJAf ! 



I 



163 

O. Patrick I thy God hath not seen^ 
Nor yet thy clerics, nor thyself, 
The equal of that woman, 
In figure, fonn, and countenance. 

When she stood oyer their bodies, 
She tore her hair, which was of the colour of gold, 
She stretched across the Three 
Without moveoienty onergy, or strength I 

Her beautifdl and smooth forehead changed [colour], 
Her sparkling eyes and crimson face, 
Her cheeks, mouth, and form all over. 
Her equal to face death was woful I 

Not long were we, Patrick 1 thus, 
TiU she feU into the swoon of death ; 
The foe raised a bitter wail, 
And the Fians themselves were in grief I 

We and the foe imagined. 
That she had there died without a moan ; 
But she assumed her own shape again, 
And sung in tears the lay that follows I 



bo CU]C A|t CPOC Af) ^1|1« 



O. 21 2t)l)eAti5A]3 t)A t)3U|--lAoij 1)36^1*/ 
bob' ]ori)6A 3I1A& aY cfiorf)-CAc; 

A b-C101)6l fluA3 A'f AOI^Aftdl^D, 

bo cuic leb' cjiUAft-lJiiTi) feAl. 

\A]o\i b-^eAf AC 0)6 30 jtA^b ^tjA iH>^A]3, 
C|ifeACC i;^ ^]^t) A|i bo COUP j 
'X ]r beA|ib l^onj 3U|i ce]l3, a 3|t^6, 
aY i)ac ijeAjic l^ri) bo buA]6 0]tc I 

4)ob' -pAbA bo cji^aU ai) injciAi), 
6b' c|]i bA cAori) 30 b-jPir 'F^ll;* 
bVPOr^lSe FblDO A3ur i;a b-'p]At)!j, 
bo ceAl3 rt)0 C|1]A|i bo'p nj-b^f ! 

I Tills is a good specimen of the ancient Irish caoin or lament, and is 
also valuable as embodying and representing the belief In omens bj the 
ancient Irish ; and snfBcientlj bears out the opinion entertained hj those 
vho closely study the early history of our country, as to the eastern 
origin of its first colonisers. A fragment of this curious poem has al- 
ready appeared in print, haying been published by the late Philip F. 
Barron of Waterford, in his Magazine, entitled Ancient Ir eland, (See 
Lamentation of Ala over Mordhaigh, p. 105, Dub, 1835) ; but a comparison 
between that and the present version will show conuderable variance 
and difierence. 

' l9ir f Ajl, Island of Fail, At p. 130, note 1» referring to this term, we 
stated, on the authority of Keating, one of the most learned antiquaries of 
his time, that the 1|a f Afl, from which Ireland received the above name, 
was removed to Scotland, and thence to Westminster Abbey : where, 
according to our author, it now ]ies; but since writing that note, we have 
consulted Dr. Petrie's Antiquities of Tar a Hilly where, at page 150, the 
learned Doctor states that the Lia Fail is still at Tara, which important 
discovery, if we might rely on his arguments, would entitle him to the 
marked thanks of the Irish nation. He states, that af1;er the eventful 
year, 1798, it was removed from its antient situation in the Bath, called 



THE LAY OF THE WIFE OF MEARGACH, 

I.E. OF AlLNB, OP THE BRIGHT COUNTENANCE, OVER HER 
HUSBAND ANB TWO B0N8 WHO PELL AT CnoC-AN-AIR. 



O. O Meargach of the sharp green blades, 
Many a conflict and severe fight, 
Amidst the hosts and in single combat, 
Came off by thy hardy hand in thy time. 

I never knew that there remained after them, 
A wound or scar upon thy breast. 
And I feel assured, that it was treachery, love, 
And not the might of arms that overpowered thee I 

Long was thy journey afar. 
From thine own fair land to Innis Fail ; 
To visit Fionn and the Fians, 
Who treacherously put my Three to death ! 

the Fbrradh, to mark the grave of the insurgents, slain at Tara in the 
outbreak of that year. At p. 162, he gives a woodcut representation of 
this stone, which he describes as but six feet high above ground, but that 
its real height is said to be twelve feet. It is a matter of surprise tliat the 
Council of the Bojal Irish Academy, if they believe this to be the Lia Fail, 
has made no effort to save such a relic, leaving it thus exposed to destruc- 
tion. Surely when that body makes such strenuous efforts to rescue mat- 
ters of minor importance as they often do, they should not leave the Lia 
Fail to merely mark the graves of rebels on Tara HiU I The identification 
of the existing stone with the Lia Fail, requires, however, some further 
corroboration. Taking it that the ZtaPatV stood upright originally as at pre* 
sent, and that the monarch inaugurated, stood on the apex of it, while it 
audibly expressed approbation when the right heir occupied that position, 
we can hardly conceive that he could have found a locus standi on a space 
so unfitted for an exhibition of the kind as the narrow-rounded summit 
of this stone presents. Tlie account given by our bardic historians of the 
Lia Fail w^uld lead one to believe that it was a small flat stone» such as 
the one now under the coronation chair in Westminster Abbey, and not 
a pillar-stone six feet above ground, and six more below, as Dr. Petrie'a 
account represents it. 



166 

O. 4[>iorob^ ! rtK> c6]le, ti)o ceAijty, 

bo cA]lleAf le itjeAPS t)A b-)^iAiri> ; 

11)0 6|f 05I41C, TiK> 8^f it)AC, 

ii)o 6]f b'f eAjtA^b bA SA|tb "sl]^^ ! 

SQo curpA I ii)o b|A6 A5af 190 Seoc I 
TDo ctttbA I n)o cof5 6 5AC A^ftb ; 
rno cttri^A t tiTO citfAll AT) ^n^c^AO, 
aY 5uTt CA]lleAf nyo lAOCftA c^]6i t 

8^ c4ri)A ! ido 4)b^i9 A|t Ui|t, 
fi)0 ciiTi^A I IDO f5^ aV IDO r5]Ac ; 
1170 cuiJ)A I ^eA|t5Ac aV C|A|tb^i)^ 
1170 cuti)A L|A5^i9 1 hA bfte^ cl^Ab I 

9^ cuii^aI nyo coiii^eAb aV n)o 6]ot), 
n)o cttri)4^ I ino bftf^ A5Uf ti)0 ceAm; 
11)0 curi)A ! b'fe Af bo^lb 6'r) olc, 
ii)o cun)A A90CC I f |b 50 )rA9o I 

2t)o cati)A ! TDO loc^^ift A'f 11)0 3tteAf)i>> 
ti)o cun)A ! 11)0 seAll ai)i) 5AC Z^^z,^ 
tDO cuii)A I 11)0 Ittc aY ii)o peAftc, 
11)0 cuii)A ! 6 i)occ An)AC 50 b|t^ I 

8O0 caii)A ! 11)0 qteo]|t aV ti)o qtiAll, 
ti)0 c(}n)A ! 11)0 n)|Ai) 50 l^i't) ba]f, 
11)0 curi)A ! fi)0 cA^fSe A'f n)o |i6]ii>, 

190 CUn)A I IDO lA0CftA8 bA c^\6 ! 

2^0 cun)'^ ! n)o leAbAb a']* n)o f uai), 
IDO CU1DA I IDO cuA^ftc aY IDO ceAcc ; 
tDO cuii)A I iD'o^be aY n)0 bl4i6, 
IDO cuiDA C|i^i8ce I ido c|t]U]t |:eAfi I 

I CeAiyo means also a head, and in prononciaxion and signiflcatiOQ 
strongly resembles the Persian word khan' 



167 

0. Sorrowfal ! my hueband — ^my chiefs 
I lost by the wiles of the Flans, 
My two youths — my two sons^ 
My two men who were fierce in battle ! 

My grief I tny food and my drink ! 
My grief! my precept everywhere, 
My grief! my journey a&r, 
And that I lost my Aobl6 heroes I 

My grief I my Dun laid low, 
My grief I my shelter and shield. 
My grief ! Meargach and Giardan, 
My grief Liagan ! of the broad chest I 

My grief ! my ward and defence. 
My grief! my strength and might. 
My grief it is ! and gloom fhnn evil. 
My grief this night I to find ye slain ! 

My grief! my joy and my pleasure. 
My grief 1 my desire in each place ; 
My grief! my agility and my strength [are gone], 
My grief ! from this night evermore I 

My grief! my guide and my path, 
My grief I my love till the day of my death. 
My grief! my treasure and my sway. 
My grief! my heroes who were noble I 

My grief ! my bed and my slumbers. 
My grief! my visit and my arrival ; 
My grief! my consoler and my renown, 
My sore grief I my three men I 

3 AliUrf iN|tb, height, everywhere. 



168 

O. 8t)o cutbA f n)o rh^ife A'f ti)o fsftiifr/ 
it)0 citii)^ 1 11)0 f6AbA aV 11)0 cAirse 
11)0 c(tii)A ! 11)0 c]fbe aV ido ii)AO|i), 
ii)o citii)A 1 11)0 tfi] co}i)ibie SAffse I 

8^ carbA ! 190 c;dt||tbe A'f tno 5Aol^ 
11)0 cuii)A I iDO ti)a]!)C]|i A'f n)o CA|tA|by 

n)6 CUlbA ! 11)'ACA||t A'f 11)0 li)^CAl]t^ 

ii)o caii)A A'f 11)0 c^f ! fj^ iDAjtb. ! 

8^0 c6ii)A I n)o pA]]tc A f iD'f A|lce, 
ii)o cari)A ! 11)0 fl^]t>ce 5AC aii), 
iDO cuii)A ! n)0 ii)ftl6|fi A'f ii)0 f 6Uf, 
IDO 6o]l|S 66U]f I f |B 50 f Ai)i) I 

2^0 ciiibA I bo f leA5 -*'f ^ l^^^'J* 

IDO ciiibA I bo ceAT)i)f Acc A'f bo 5|tA6, 
11)0 ciiibA ! bo c^ii A'f bo bA]le, 
IDO cuiDA ! fib bo f5A]pe on} b^]l I 

2t)0 Cttri)A I IDO CttAD A'f IDO caIa]c, 
iDd cdlDA I IDO CA^fje A'f IDO f 6ad ; 
IDO caiDA I IDO iDdftbACC ^'f iDO \i\^eACC, 
IDO cuiDA A'f IDO cAOj I Y]b 50 b-^A5 ! 

9X)o cdri)A ! IDO tiAC 50 b-loiD-f l^D> 
IDO ci^iDA I nb AD AID sIia6 ; 

IDO CUli)A I IDO CfODol f I63, 

IDO cuiDA I IDO c|i|A|i ledrbAD Sfto^be ! 

2^0 CUIDA I iD'liDinc AJttf id'51, 
iDo CUIDA I IDO ceol Ajuf iD'AO]bDeAf ; 
IDO ciiibA I IDO 5TI]AD^d' A'f iDO bADDCttACC,* 
IDO cttiDA caddcIac ! f |b cUq6ce ! 

* 3nfAijAij, tf summer house, such as is found in gentlemen's gardens 
where the ladles of the houshold and their attendants take shelter from 
the burning heat of the sun in the summer season. Qrianan also was the 



169 

O. My grief! my beauty and my adornment^ 
My grief! my jewels and my wealth, 
My grief I my treasmres and my chattelsi 
My grief I my three valorous torches of chivalry I 

My grief! my kindred and my relatives, 
My grief ! my people and my friends, 
My grief I my father and my mother, 
My grief and my sorrow I that ye are dead I 

My grief I my affection and my welcome. 
My grief I my health at all times, 
My grief! my blitheness and my solace, 
My harsh desolation 1 that ye are feeble t 

My grief! thy spear and thy lance, 
My grief I thy gentleness and love. 
My grief I thy country and thy home, 
My grief! that ye are separated from me ! 

My grief I my havens and my coasts, 
My grief! my wealth and my prosperity. 
My grief! my greatness and my possessions. 
My grief and my wail ! are ye till I die 1 

My grief! my riches all, 
My grief! your absence in battle time. 
My grief! my muster of hosts. 
My grief! my three heroic lions I 

My grief I my games and my festivities, 
My grief ! my songs and my pleasures ; 
My grief! my summerhouse and my train. 
My crying grief! that ye are feeble ! 

name b j which that portion of a caBUe or palace set apart, or appropriated 
for the use of ladies was called— probably our drawing-room or boudoir. 
s DAvijctuce, female attendants, ladies in waiting, &c. 



170 

n}0 cM)A I rtfo cftf^^it be^iftb Uod; 

nyo cM}A oc I tqo c4ro4^ ^Ab ! 

A'f A leA5A6 A9 frtyc^AO m'i) )*b&|9t) I 

4)'aic]0 n^ Aft A9 r^uAi tIS®' tfi^i), 
^ ^1 A 03le|c Of cpQp At) 4)«|0 j 
A 5-CA6 le c6^le A 95l|9tib Ae]6)|t, 
50 ]iA]b At) l^Ai} le biu|i)c bdn)' tftiuft I 

4) A]qt) fiTft A]t AT) b*f63Aif3afc flje ! 
bo f6]b 50 c|itt]9i) AfCdAc Arty cluAff ; 
TjAjt 6-frAbA HA]ii) 501TP pUAb fS^fl, 
bufi b«<a|Cf r9 |f 6 bo cttA|l ! 

*D'A|Clt> 1D6 a b-Cttf A!) Ud, 

bo f^Afi n)o tfi}^\i b6A$^lAo6 l]oii) ; 
A|t Aii)A]ic b6A]iA irolA 1)A i)5ltu^8, 
t>A|i b-tr)lleAb |tAOi| btiA6 duSAit) ! 

4)'a]C|1) 11)6 Ap gttfc i)A fD-bA6b, 

Aijp bup S"<^^*^ll* "^I^IT* 5^^ t)eo]t> ; 
6 fJAfiAbAifi l]on) 50 CftO^Ad CAOtb, 
5u|i b-t:05Uf bAit) 16ao A'f h\i6r) ! 

3u|i n)]^'\c ii}6 l^b bo lttA]6 ; 

bA lu'^njceAdc go b-^lMW b^b, 

i)Ac b-^e^Cf ipi) bi»]t T)50AO| |fA0| bttAft ! 

1 5IUA5 riB^y/tiirp hoBt, The redtal of the long list of omens in the 
following stanzas is particularly beautiAii and characteristic* A belief 
in omens is of remote antiqui^ in Ireland, and, preyails in many 
parts of the country among the people at the present day. In no 
other poem in the Irish language is such a long list of omens strung 
together as in the present one. Ailne knew by the legions of fairies she 
saw in a Tision fighting in the air, that her heroes would never return 
to her alive ; also by the hosts in the ghtu of the sky^by the tdce 



171 

O. My grief I my lands and my ohase, 
My grief ! my three heroes true ; 
My grief alas ! my grief are they ! 
Conquered after by the Fians I 

I knew, by the mighty fairy host, 
That were in conflict over the Dun, 
Fighting each other in the chasms of the air, 
That evil would befall my Three ! 

I knew, by the fairy strain, 
That came direct into mine ear, 
That evil tidings were not far from me. 
Your fall was what it portended ! 

I knew, on the mom of that day. 
On which my three noble heroes parted me, 
On beholding tears of blood on their cheeks. 
That they would not return victorious to me ! 

I knew, by the vulture's croak, 
Over your delightful mansion each evening. 
Since ye parted me in strength and beauty. 
That sorrow and gloom were at hand I 

Well do I remember, mighty Three I 
How often I had told to you, 
That if to Eirinn ye did steer, 
I would not see you crowned with victory. 

of the sprites of the hill, as it wm wtfted to her ear on the breease, — hy 
the monmfol cry of the Banshee» which she heard ronnd the Cathair 
each night, since her heroes departed — bj the deep croak of the raven 
each morning — bj the foam of the torrent, when it changed to the colour 
of blood — by the visits of the eagle every evening and wheeling ominoua 
in flight over the Dan-^by the withering branches of the trees before 
the Dun—and by the black raven, which she saw flying before them on 
the way on the day that they left for Eirin^by her broken rest at 



172 

O. 4)'A]qi) 11)6 A]t JttC A!) f6]C, 

3AC ii)A]beAi) 5 c|t|All f ]b ttA|ti7 ; 
5U|t ca^C]ii> b]b^ 6 bA|t|tAii)U]l f]0}ii, 
a'i* i)^|t b-^]UeA6 b^b bo'p qfi le btiAS 1 

4)'A^CfO 11)6 A qt]U]|i bA c^]6, 

A|i i)-beA|tii)Ab bu|i 1)-] aU-coi) b^b ; 
t)^|i b-piUeAb 6]b A|i]f le buAb^ 
SAP ceAls a f IttAiScib 7^11)1) ! 

4)'A]cit) 11)6 A co|i)i)le 5A]f5e 1 
f fittc AT> eAf A A5 CAO]b Ai) 4>ii]i) ; 
Ajt fi)-be]C Ap fu]l le l]t)i) bu]t b-c|i]AiU, 
AI) fCAll fo |t|Ari) 50 |lA]b A b-'pioiji) ! 

4)'ai6iI) 11)6 A|t CttA]|lb At) 10lA]]t, 

5AC veo]i) A5 FilleAb df qopD ad 4)tt|i;; 
i)^|i b-|:AbA 50 :S'cU]vv\vr) r^\v, 
cAfS b|ioic-f36il 611)* c|i]a|t I 

4) Aiqi) n)6 Ai) cAi) b*^e6]3 ao b^le, 

'b||i 36A5 aV 8u|lle 5f cori)A]|t Ap 4>u|i), 
i)A|i ceACc ^o buA6 cAjt t)A]f b]b, 
6 ceAl5A]b pbjPO Ti)ic Cuti)A]ll ! 

Ma ifDcAio 'pioijD ! A ]tio5A^D A]5 (A]t 3t*^lt)e)/ 

v^ r^r irt)cA]p AD 'pbiAw ; 

d1 le ce^ls. D^ le idcads, 
bo ca]ceAbA[i add bo cft]A|i ! 

Nl CU5 AD niogAiD i:|teA5|tA6 a^ b^c, (aji 5bn^lDUe), 
A3ttr D10|t cuiri f u|fD DA 3lofi ; 
Acc leADTDUf^ ^^ CAOfoe aY bA cao], 
30 ^[lAt A3 rlon file bedit I 

Dight^by the floods of tears which alarmed her in her sleep— bj the 
mournful cry of the faTorite hound of Ciardan every eyening.— In 
one dream, she imagines herself to be in the form of a spectre — in 
another vision, she sees a lake of blood on the site of the Dnn ; by all 
which phenomena she conjectured the fidl of her heroes. In the Tale of 



173 

O. I knew^ by the raven'B croaking voice, 
Each morning since ye left me, 
That your fall was true and certain, 
And that ye would not return victorious to your land I 

I knew, noble Three, 

In forgetting the leashes of your hounds ; 
That ye would not again return with victory. 
Without treachery from the hosts of Fionn ! 

I knew, ye torches of valor ! 
By the cascade's stream, near the Dun, 
Having changed into blood at your departure. 
That this guile was ever found in Fionn. 

I knew, by the eagle's visit 
Each evening over the Dun, 
That ere long I would hear 
Evil tidings from my Three I 

I knew, when the huge tree withered. 
Both branch and leaves before the Dun, 
That victorious you would never return 
From the wiles of Fionn Mac Cumhaill I 

Do not decry Fionn, noble princess (saith Grainne), 
Nor yet decry the Fians ; 
'Twas not by treachery nor craft. 
That thy Three [heroes] fell I 

The princess made no reply to Grainne, 
And she heeded not her talk ; 
But continued her caoin^BJiA her wail. 
Incessantly shedding tears ! 

Beirdre, published in the TransactioM of the Gaelic Society (Dnb. 1806), 
■imilar Tisions appear to her, respecting Naisi, Ainle, and Ardan. 

> 5nA|90e, Oraee. This lady was the daughter of Cormac Mac Airt, 
who was monarch of*Ireland in the Third Century. She was betrothed 
to Fionn Mac Cumhaill, but her subsequent amours with Diarmuid 
O'Duibhne, forms the subject of our Third Volume. 



m 

Ai) l^ bo qt]4.U ffb d'i> iHt>4i>; 

A|t e]C|l AQ ^|C |l6l{|At6 ATI)AC, 

17^11 cdl9A|tCA t9A]t A^ CAf A C45AID ? 

4) Afc|t> n)6 AH do]!) CbiA]ib^nj, 

t)<llt b-f AbA 50 b-fASAlpi), TOO PI AD ! 

ftuit b-caf5, A t|tiA|t, 1170 6ob|tdi) ! 

4) A]CID 11)6 A|t eAf bA TWX]t}, 

5AC o]6c6 buAp fo f ftocAfb bed)! ; 
^»t)' tiorSA]b 6 rS^H f |b l]on), 
t>t\i cuA|i Cttii)bA]5 6]bre A f 5|ic. 

4) Aiqi) iijfe A|t Ai) Ajflips b|i6it), 
bo ceAfb^ip 11)0 JuAif bAii) p6|t) ; 
5u|t 5eA|t|iA8 Tt)o ceAW Af njo Uii)A 8ion), 
suit fibre bo b| 5At) fi^tn) I 

4) Aiqn n* AH UA]Cf^|i!> btwst^ftAc, 
Sa8a|i bA |ia-feA|ic Uti)' tiAs^t^ I 
A3 sUnjsoil 5AC n)A]b|i) 50 idoc, 
11)0 c]i|ujt 3u]i c|pi)ce 8d]b ad blif I 

Va|C|d 11)6 AD CAD ceAfb^^DAS Said, 
AD loc f oIa A]i t]z AD 4)tt|D ; 
co|tCAHCA 50 |iA|b iDO C|t]iift, 
<^'!) S-^«lls T)^11 fAO|t HlAlb Fl^OO ! 

Na bf AS Aicir fh^vt) (A|t Sn^Tope), 

A beAD, c|A c^]6ze bo c|to]6e, 
c|t6tS I^^AfbA beic AS iTDcAiDe, 
DA b-PiADt) iD5it6^lAC, d4^ FioDD* 



175 

0. I knew, on looking" after you. 

The day on wMeh jt leit tie Dn»# 

And on the flight of tbe ravw before yoa. 

That it was no good omen of yonr retmn I 

I knew, by the hounds of CHardan, 
Mournftilly howling every evening. 
That ere long, I would hear, my pain I 
Of your fate, Three^ my dark grief t 

I knew, by the want of rest. 
Each long night past with tears streaming ; 
Down from my eyes since ye left me, 
That such did not forebode luck to you. 

I knew, by the sorrowful virion 
That revealed my doom to ine. 
That my head and hands were cut off, 
That it was ye who were bereft of sway I 

I knew, by melodious UaLthnia, 
The favorite dog of my liagao I 
Howling each morning early. 
That death was certain for my Three ! 

I knew, when in a vision I saw, 
A pool of Uood where the Dun stood. 
That my Three were vanquished 
By the wiles from which Fionn was never exempt 1 

Do not reproach Fionn (saitb Grainne), 
O woman, though sorrowful be thy heart, 
Oive up henceforth to be speaking ill, 
Of the proud Fians, or of Fionn. 



176 

O. 81 5b|t^ippe ! A]i ittojA]!? Ao di|i-d]Ab^ 
b^ 190 leAC Ao c|i]A|i fo A]t U|t; 
]Oit7C^Yi) 1)5 Aiqf r)]Oji ledft leAc, 
ipA]i 610I 50 beA]tb ]t)A TO-baf ! 

4>^ b-f AI)bAO|f 1)A S"<^1^^11* K^l^* 

A'f 5At) ceAcc bo 6]05aIc n)]c 'C}ieo]T), 
<>r) b-TP6ii)v !?^Ofi 661b bA 6]C ! 

4)^ T0-bA6 ctt]C|ti7 bo]b le cocft^n? Iaqi), 
3At) ceAls v^ TDeAfJS, a Sbft^l^t^e cAO|iji 

A'f ij| lijAiftib cuii) Kl^S^lt) llPp! 

4>A IDAlfteAbAOir, A ltl05A]t) ^15, 

Pi liDCAiPiribii- |rfe|t) Ai) Fbl<vW : 
]f le C]t66ACc a'i" i)eA]tc a l^ri),* 
b*^a5bAbA|i A|t l^|t bo cft]A|tI 

4>o c]0Cf?A6 led, A Sbn^l»)Pe^ ^D Si?1oti), 
^ A 5-cuft f6 6|tAO]JeAcc; A]i b-tuf ; 

'r ir cofib6]l 5U]i b'ATi)lA]6 bf, 
1)5 pjofi Ctt|c]ii) 50 bpAc boV Cfiiufi.* 

C]teib uAiri), a TtlojA]^, A]i 5n^lT>pe, 
i)AC |tA]b ceAl5 f Ap X^rt), i)a tijeAt);, 
bo leA3 2t)eA]t3Ac t)A Iaijo iJSl^f , 
a'i* bo ce]l5 le i)eA]tc be a ceAi)f) ! 

t^AC le T9eAi}5 oo 16^5^6 ]a&.*' 

Ab their headless bodies bear thee witnessi 
That it was not by treadiery they fell ! 

S Aliter "^ b'r^ftiitt, a 5hn:e^f9f79» A t>e]tt|t9, 

A leASA^ le ce(l5 A'f le ivoAps ; 



177 

0. Grainne ! Bftith the princesB of the golden hair^ 
If those Three who have fallen were thine, 
Truly, reproach or shame would not suffice thee, 
As satisfaction for their death ! 

Had they remained in their own country, 

mild princess, saith Grainne of Fionn ; 
And not come to be avenged for Mac Treoin, 
From the Fians they wotdd receive no hurt I 

Had they fallen in fair battle. 
Without deceit or treachery, gentle Grainne, 

1 would not reproach the Fians, 

But they do not survive to bear me witness I 

Had they survived, noble princess. 
They themselves would not decry the Fians ; 
Twas by valour and might of arm. 
They laid low thy Three I 

They might, Grainne, the deed perform, 
By putting them under magic spells, at first ; 
And 'tis likely that it was so, 
Or else my Three would never fall. 

Believe me, O princess, saith Grainne, [arm 

That there was neither venom nor treachery in the 
By which fell Meargach of the green bladed. 
And that by might cut off his head I 

A 9-blcceAi}i|A6 le rdfttveAftc U90." 

It may be powlble, O Qnunne, I say. 
To slay them by treachery and malice. 
And after their being decrepid, 
To behead them by the force of iwordi 1 

12 



178 

Af) bfi* bo leA5 50 f^t) bo cU|>o ; 
i^Aft ca]6e A|Cff bo CAbAfjtc b6fb, 

b'^ft b'A|i)]ii> 2l]li}e JeAl-f i)UA& ; 
V] cjie]b]n) uAic, p^ op b-'pfeipo* 

5U]l CU]C|117 bAlp lAOC]tA ipA|t laA8A]|l. 

Nab] feAfbA l]t)p b^ Iua8, 

A'f D^ 5IAC cfi^b 57tuA]ti) f)4i |:eA|t5 ; 
V] TtA]b ]t|Arij coaIs Va9 b-)^fe]p9, 
Acc 3T?t0Ti)A]tcA Uocajf A3ttf 5A|f3e. 

JT)i)intt) bu]c i?6f 3AIJ b]t6i3, 

i)A i:ai!?i3 ]t]An) Iaoc ij^ c6i|t da ij-b^]!, 
bo |ttt3 A iD-buA6 A 3-ceAtic PA Iaiji), 
^V 50 n)-be]b atpIa]8 30 la a nj-ba^f I 

4)a b-cu3AbA0]f ceAftc u^ c6]|i, 
boil)' c|t]6ft bA c|td8A A P30lofi) ; 

aY bA fluAj CftfeApiPAfl CAC-buA6AC, 

A b-cu]Cfti7 i)fo|t uArbAp lyiji) 1 

81 2l]lDe I ]f alu]Di) ftjuAb A'f 3i)A0], 
6 pAc 3-c]ie]b|n f]i)i) ba luAb; 
tWinn? btt|c 30 b-ctt|c|!t6 t:tt|Ue/ 

21 3bna]we I A|i Ap ]il03A]f) ^13, 

AH f ot) PA 3-CTttiA6«feA|t bo 6ul b'feA3 ; 

Ca SOAftb 6d]C A3ATI)f A Af C^C, 

50 3-cu]|fftb a|t Alt Ap b-T^6ippv 



cuille 4|i Aij leA|t5 bob* cftof^-fluAS I" 



179 

0. I tell thee again withoat falsehood^ 

The two who laid thy children low, 
That reproach was not due to them^ 
And that they knew not sorcery nor guile I 

Grainne ! saith the noble princess. 
Whose name was Ailne of the fair form ; 
I believe not thee nor the Fians, 

That my heroes feU as thou sayest. 

Do not henceforth to us proclaim, 
And do not be sullen or angry at it ; 
There never was treachery in the Fians, 
But feats of heroism and valor. 

1 tell thee still, and 'tis no falsehood, [them, 
That there never yet came a hero or pursuit to meet 
That obtained sway [over them] by right of the sword. 
And that they shall be so till their death I 

Had they dealt justly or honourably. 
With my Three who were mighty in action ; 
And with their victorious mighty hosts, 
Their fall then would not surprise me I 

Ailne ! of the most elegant shape and fonui 
As thou dost not believe what I say, 
I tell thee that more will fall, 
Ere thy great hosts part us I 

Grainne 1 saith the noble princess, 
For the sake of the hardy men who have died, 
I have great hopes that my hosts 
Will deal destruction to the Fians I 

The Fians wiU tHaj, and not hj treacheiy^ 
More in the field of thjr great troopa. 



180 

O. 21 2lili)e ! All 3n«^IP0e ai) 3|t|w, 
]f beA|ib l|W KA|b bo C|t]All ; 
cA]|t l^orofA Af le|r Ao b-'pfeiw^ 
30 5-cA|ceATD le c§]le beoc aY biA6 ? 

4)0 8(ulcu|S 2l]lDe jeAl-fDUAb, 

At) cui]ieA6 truAjii 6 Sbfi^lPOe FblTJiJ ; 
A'f A bubA|ftc i)Ati cnibe l6| f^li^f 
|:leA6 17a r^AfbA 6 lace A i)5irjti) I 

5o !)3e4i|t|iiA|i 11)0 coftp pott)' lA|t, 
bo jia]6 Co^ai) bo SA]ib 3l6fi; 
30 l^|ocf A||ife, A 2l]li)e JeAl-f ouAb, 
|t1)CA]1) Aff f loAj 3At) cd]|i I 

a ^i|t ibAOjl ]r 3]iA]i)i)e beilb, 
bA b-fACAb A|t Aoi) le]]i5 p6f ; 
]f beAftb IjOTi) 3u]i ^ocAf 30 cftuA^b 
A V]rt)c^]Vf aY bA c|iuA3 Ai) f3e6l I 

)0Cf?A|6 ZU 1)^Of CftUAby A|t Coi)Ai), 
^l^ir ^V inJcA]!) PA b-P^]Api) ; 
bA|T)1?eAb At) ceAf)i) dfi-^0|lc; bfoc, 
ii)A 3e]b]ii) ccAb pbioi) T>a b-'pjAOO- 

3!^ vv)6|t co]YtceAii)U|l bo coftp^ 

aY 3U|i leACAi), loii), cpoc bo ti)AOYl ; 

aY ctt pAti)Ap-co^TbAc, Tit3]t)-f ^iceAc, n)eA|t, 

ti)A|t 6eAlb i)Ac ti)A|c A]i Iaoc !^ 

4!)o cd3bAiDA|t u]le At^ T^jadt), 
3A]|i bA 6|Ai) 3TteAi)i) aY cAc; 
AT) CAt) b'iit)6eA|i3 Ai) heAX), 
Ai) peA|i ii)Aol leAib aY b']ii)cAii). 

I promiae that the hero is not brave. 



181 

0. Ailne ! saith the pleasant Grainne, 

I know that thou hast come from afar. 
Gome with me and with the Flans, 
Till we together eat and drink ? 

Ailne of the bright form declined 
The invitation given her by Grainne of Fionn ; 
And she said it was beneath herself 
To partake of cheer from people of their deeds. 

May my body be rent in two, 
Saith Gonan, in a surly voice ; 
But thou wilt pay, O Ailne bright, 
For unjustly stigmatising our hosts. 

O bald man of the ugliest aspect, 
That I have yet met on any plain ; 
I apprehend I have sorely paid 
For the stigma given, and how sad the tale ! 

Thou shalt pay more sorely, saith Gonan, 
For the scandal thou hast given the Fians, 
I will cut off thy head of the golden locks. 
If I am permitted by Fionn of the Fians. 

Though huge and bulky is thy body. 
And though flat and bald is thy skull, 
And tho' thou art thick-boned, tough-sinewed, swift. 
These are marks which ill becomes a hero I 

We, the Fenians all, raised 
A shout of joy, and so did the foe, 
Wlien the woman rebuked and reproached 
The silly bald man [Gonan]. 



182 

O. 43o jUc Ai) reAfi iDAol TD6|t r^AftS, 
aV bo UbA]]t bo jA]tb Juc ^]ib, 
cu|f CAO] Ajur niocA be6]t, 
3U]6|iD bo'i) 'pbfeipt) aV ^ ^^c ! 

t)0 CA]1]IA103 A Upi? Af ^ C]tUAlll cAifse, 

^'r f **S ric 5^1»b cunj DA ri)!)^ ; 

bo buA]l OfCttjt A|i cfiuAiS-bfeiii), 

bo buA]i> fttA]?!) aY bfe|c Af Cboi}^Dl 

O'uAlll C01)^U, A V b'^feAC 50 CIIUA3; 

A|t Orcu]t tJA 3-cpuA6 Iat)1) t)5^^f*^ 
A bttbA|]tc Cov^V, t)4i||t AT) 5i)1oH), 
bo 50]T)|f 11)0 cl]6 6 cAob 50 CAob ! 

Nl SO|iJK!T)t) bo clj6 1)^ bo cofip, 
Acc 30 b-|!ACAb 3tt|i b olc bo ib^iuo, 
r)]Oji cu\he feu^c i)0cca bo clo]6|fi>, 

A]t AI1)A]tC 3f>AO| 1)A fl)l)<l t)^ r3^I")» 

N] b-|!U]l ft)o f ayii) A fS^iri) t)A rpo^; 

T)A 3DU|r MttlpT), t)^ t)A 31)AO|, 

If rt)eAfA lion) Ajcif 3AI) c]aII, 

A3 irt)c^|o T)A b-)^iAi)D A3ur 'pblDO I 

4)0 SluA]f "plOOT \av TPbl^W 6'd 3-CDOC, 

A'f Of CU|l ACO IjA f eA]t qi)!) lt]A]l) ; 

bo c]i]aU c^c f A!) Ttl03A]ij ffeiii), 

A|l A b-CAOb ffelO 30 p|tAp ll)A]l ]Ab, 
2l|l T)A ib^ijiAC C^ll)]3 At) 'FblADOf 

-^T* ^^ 3-ct)oc 'i)A jiAjb A1) c-^|i ;' 

Af 1)]0]l b-f AbA 30 b-pACAlDA]l A3 CCACC, 

2l]li)e f ijuAb-JeAl A3ttf c^c. 

AUter, ** 3o soiibeAtijUfl b^Ai) cunj Aij Svitu" 

With yenom serere towards the slaughter. 



183 

0. The bald man became very angry, 

And he spoke in a loud rough voice, 
A cause of weeping and floods of tears, 
I pray for the Fians and their foes I 

He drew his sword from its costly scabbard, 
And made a fierce dart towards the woman ; 
Oscur gave him a hard blow, 
That made Conan shriek and roar I 

Conan howled, and looked piteously. 
On Oscur of the sharp-tempered blades. 
And he said, shameful is the deed. 
Thou hast pierced my breast from side to side I 

I would not pierce thy breast nor thy body. 
But that I saw thy bad intent ; 
It was not meet for thee to unsheath thy sword, 
On seeing the shape and beauty of the woman ! 

I am regardless of the beauty of the woman, 
Of her fine features or her shape ; 
I think worse of the undeserved reproach 
She has cast on the Fians and Fionn I 

Fionn and the Fenians left the hill. 
And Oscur with them as their guide ; 
The gentle princess and her hosts 
Sped their own way in haste like them. 

In the morning the Fians came 
On the hill where lay the slain ; 
And 'twas not long till we beheld approaching, 
Ailne of the bright countenance and her hosts. 



184 

A'f bo |iu5 A]t Uiii) A]t 2l|li)e f^|it; 
le t)A c6]le A|i A017 |t]Ap Af f]i7, 
^V ^1r T]V qs A b-cuf At) c-flttAiS. 

fd'v ATI) 'l)A |l^t)5AbA|t f]m, 

^ f^lPP 4>^l|te b]i)i)-CAc ceo|l ; 

^ f^lW TPl01)1) A1) BA]l|t-buA6,* 

21 2l|li)e f DuAfe-jeAl ! a]i St*^!^'?^* 
Ai) ATi)lA]6 ]f A|l leAc bff beAj-lAOc ; 
bo 6ul A s-cd^Tb-Jl^Ab i)A Iapi>^ 

1)0 CACi C0]CCeA1)f) A|t 3AC CAOb. 

21 3bft^1Pi)c ' A|t 8l|li)e bA JeAl f 1)1*^8, 
]f An)lA^6 ]f cu|be A|t 3AC cAob ; 
c|i]ocAb* bo Iaociia i)a b-)^]A!)i), 
aY cp^ocAb Ti)A]i |Ab A 5-c5]n)-3lft]c f 

5AT]tii) cu5Ab bo cftfocAb Iaoc (Aft 'Sp^]^^), 

A]t AT) le||t3 T)A 1)-A01)Aftai) ; 

aY 30|]tpeAbfA c]t]OCAb i)a b-p|Ai)i), 

30 b-CU3A]b CAC b]AP A|t CI)OC AT) A1]t ! 

1 l)Attft.buA6, Bometlmes called hixm^i buAbA|l. TI118 and the bdftb 
T\))^nVt were the war-trumpets used by the Fenian chiefs to summon 
their troops to battle. 

> CttfocAb, thirty. Here Ailne proposes to Qratnne, that thirty com- 
batants a side should be chosen to decide the conflict, which number 
they summoned forth in their turn — each calling the bravest hero or 
combatant in the ranks. Among the names of those so called, the fol- 
lowing bear a striking resemblance to some of those of the present day ; 
Thus— Co!)A|i&i), seems identical with the present Conran ; Ri»A|ci)e, (writ- 
ten RuATC]tte, in the copy consulted by us in the Royal Irish Academy), 



185 

0. Orainne advanced to meet them. 

And took gentle Ailne by the hand ; 

They walked together on the one path, 

And the two approached the &ont of the hosts. 

At the time that they reached ns, 

Daire sounded the melodious mnsic of battle ; 
Fionn sounded the Barr-buadh, 
And called in haste his mighty hosts. 

bright Ailne ! saith Grainne, 
Is it thy wish that two heroes, 
Should fight with their blades, 
Or a general battle on each side. . 

Ghrainne ! saith Ailne of the bright countenance, 
It is thus it should be at either side, 
Thirty of the Fenian heroes. 
And thirty their match, to meet ! 

Call to thee thy thirty heroes (saith Grainne), 
On the plain by themselves, 
And I shall call thirty of the Fians, 
Till they give severe battle on Cnoc-an-air ! 

would go fiur to identify the name Renelian or Rooney i Cor5A]tte or Cor- 
5AftcAc, now Cosgraye, is a name famous in Irish History (see Ottianic 
Trans, Vol. L). OAtiUjxxe may be the modem name Uficu]le (Horley) or 
Utif^^rtei O'Herlihy, whom Dr. O'Brien in his Irish Dictionary, at the end 
of the letter I, describes as chiefs of a district in the barony of Muskeny ; 
and also states that they were hereditary wardens of the Church of St. 
Qobnait, at Ballyvoumey ; and were possessors for many years of the 
large parish of that name. Smith states that they were chiefs near Ma- 
croom. For an inte^ttng accoant of this family see Connellan's edition 
of the Four Masters, p. 199, note. 



186 

bo ca]c leb' U|ii) aq Aot) Id, 

cftiu|t Ajuf cftAb peAn CAltDA me Aft, 

^mr^ ^3 cA5|w^ Ab ceA99 sled ! 

81 SblAb^^i} I A|t 5lt^10i)e df^^ib, 
bo cuic leb' U]Ti)fe a^ aod cac, 
zji] c6Ab Ajuf r^ f]|t bfeA5, 
reAfipAi6 A|i cAob |ie v^U* 

a 20beAij6|ft I Afi Sljloe, c]1]aII Uac, 
bo cusc^ At) f|A8 ii)eA]t 6'i} c-rll^B, 
le luAf bo 6h coir lacT?)A|t cftuAib, 
t>t meAcA ir *>ttAl bu^c 31|a8. 

a RuAici?e I A|t 5|t^lWe ai) 5|1|to, 
t)1 ^nirpe^ Fob* cfiojs Ai) cfi]oi}^u, 
le b^iue bo fc6|tt A|t Ion? lut, 
be||t cljfbe bo rub a ^-conyS^^l. 

CO^ti) pA f?]ACAll fUp A3 Iaoc, 

bAji coTi)|tA]c leAC A 3-cAc v^ i)5le6, 
ipeArAiTi) 3a|t c6]|t cu sUoSac. 

21 Cbor3Ai]te ! Afi 5|t^]i)!)e 30 ceAtji), 
bo cu||iFeA8 Ap ceApo b*Mtyh^]n), 

^]^ 0\ 3-Colu|pp b'^A|tAQ9 ttT»* 

3AbA|iof e td A 3-cdfii)-gU|c. 

a 6A|tlA|Yte ! t>A To6fi cit6Acc, 
bo Ctt|t A|t cofipA]b Iaoc le Djii) ; 
ir meAfXA 3tt|t ca|be Safe cftjAll, 
aY Ctt|ri)!?|S A!) cftiiifi bo cufc ! 



187 

0. Thuardan ! saith Ailne, of the bright countenance, 
There fell by thy hand in one day, 
One hundred and three mighty swift men, 
Gome thou as leader in the fight! 

Giabhan I saith Orainne aloud. 
There fell by thy hand in one battle, 
Three hundred and sixteen men, 
Stand thou by his side. 

Meanuir I saith Ailne, go forth, 
Thou that hast brought the swift deer from the hill ; 
By the swiftness of thy two fleet hardy legs, 
Cowardice is not thy character in battle. 

Buaithne ! saith pleasant Grainne, 
Thou wouldst not crush the withered grass. 
When in pursuit [of the foe] by thy fleetness, 
Thou shalt match him in the conflict. 

Ck)naran ! who nevar left 
A bone nor a tooth sound in any hero 
Who engaged thee in battle or conflict, 
I think tiiou shouldst be called I 

Cosgaire I saith Grainne firmly, 
Who would send the head by one blow 
From the body a mile of soft ground, 
I will have thee in the combat. 

Earlaire I who left large scars, 
On the bodies of heroes with venom ; 
^Tis determined that thou shouldst go. 
And remember the Three who fell ! 



188 

0. 4)o b] At) b]f bo li^T^^^b f fe]fi), 

5U|i 1^09 C|t^ocAb 30 beACC a^ 5AC CAO|b. 
3AC b^f b^ob A 5-c6lfi^3l]A6 cftuA^b ; 

A b-|!6]|lCeA1)1) AIJ CACA IJjOjt ii)Ai|i bo'i) l^ot), 

A Pb^c|iA|c ! Acc b^f bo'i) lFh]Ar)V ' 

4>'Afi b-c|HOCA]bi)e bo ibAift ai) bff, 
If f At>f) n)0 Cfto|6e 6 be^c b^ IoaS ! 
t)1 c|ife|3peA|t \]on) rt)o qi^cc 30 t?6|ll, 
A Pb^C]iAic 1 6*ij Kd|ri)> Ap Cfie^biii) CftaA]8. 

?ll) CAI) bo C01)A|IC A1) T^IAIJI), 

A!) zu]t]n) 30 b]Ai) A|i c^c, 
bo cd3bAbA|t cft| 3&|tcA 3ft|i)i)j 
bA clof A rysh^V A'f a T)-^ftb. 

?l Sl]li)e JeAl-f i)tt^ ' ^1* 3T*^l^oe# 
IP fi^dfi Ai) caf A|i 3AC CAob ; 
A|t 17A Iaoc bA C]tuA6 3A]f3e, 

C|t|All leAC 'fA 117A|fteAP9 ^b' btt|6ll)* 

N] cfi|All|:Ab fftii) 1)^ l^b f &b, 

vo 30 b-cn]c^]b f]Ab 30 beffte, 

30 b-FA3A]b b|b-^||i3 Aft ad b-)^6ii)«)- 

JiJOiri"? 6«]c, A 2l|li)el DA D3eAl jUc, 
30 n)'FeA|iit 6jb |XAb bo'o c6||i, 
30 ]toccu|D b^it b-c^n Mu]DD V^^Vf 
1)6 peAfi f 3ft|l Dl ttACA]6 bed I 



189 

0. The two gentle women, 

Ailne and Qrainne, the wife of Fionn^ 

Were calling and choosing the men. 

Until exactly thirty were mustered at a aide. 

The mighty men attacked each other. 

Each two of them in hand to hand conflict. 
At the close of the battle there only survived, 

Patrick ! but two of the Fians I 

Of our thirty the two survived. 
My heart is sick from its recital ! 

1 shall not cease my narrative yet, 

Patrick ! from Bome, of the harsh faith. 

When the Fians beheld 
The foe falling fast. 
They raised three cheerfdl shouts, 
Whi«h were heard in valleys and on hills. 

Ailne bright I saith Graiune, 
'Tis a sad case on both sides. 
The slaughter of the valorous heroes. 
Depart with what survives of thy hosts. 

Neither they nor I shall go, 
Grainne ! to our own country ; 
Till they fall to the last man. 
And are avenged of the Fians ! 

I tell thee, Ailne ! of the fair hands, 
That 'twere better for you to cease the pursuit, 
Till you reached your own fair country, 
Than that no one to bear tidings shall go alive ! 



^ I 



190 

50 cajqit) b'lOiDUi) a|i fluAj ; 

DO 50 ii>-bei|ieATD Itw A trbiaSAl c^, 

ceAW Fb]W c|ittA6-l^ A ijsled. 

2lU CAI) bo COAU18 l^^J DA b-)=^iAt>f), 
516^1 Ap-iVTAWAC i>A njo^ ^b ! 
bo f eiTO )=^low AD B^W-bttAb, 

A5 5A1]tl1) A flllAS 1>A Cloib* 

4>o c]iuTD!>1seATDA]i 5 5AC ^|tb bo D tnoc, 
AD tij^lb bo bt A]l UCA]]1 AD!) ; 
A bubA]T« 'p|0i>9 bo Sue A^ib l|DO> 
c^iiDTSl^ A> bfojAl b^b ADoir SO t«At)«). 

N^ |lAlb ;^tif A16 D^ 65IAC fDeA]t| 
bo f IttAijcib caIida c|i66a T^iDO > 
D^^T* S^c 50 pjiAp Atiii) aV ^ibe, 

aV C«^ 5AD fCAODAb IDA^ flW* 

a ailDe ft)ttA6-5eAl 1 ir ^|l^ Moid, 
bo tiAi6 p]ODP t>A 5-c|«iA6-5le5 ; 
5eAllA]fD bttic aV dt 5^^ b]i^t5®* 
DAC iDAiturcAb AjAb AOD t)6AC bed ! 

4)o feiDt) ?10D!) ADt) no or^t^b, 
AD t)5tib le S^ilt-SoiiD CttiD r^^^i 

bV9T)r^l5^AbA|t A C6]l6 6 5AC CAOb, 
A'f bo feAjtAft AD CflftAD CAC JO bjAD^ 

Ucb, A Pb^liA]C 1 bob* h r(a> AD CAC, 
bA tj^]t)e A'f bA caIida Uid SliA|6 ; 
b'A]i cttjAb 6 Cttf A'> boiDAiDj 
aY bo'D nlojAjD 6eAD0 bA 6ob|i6D I 



191 

0. We shall not proceed to our country, saith Ailne ! 
TiU aU our boats shall faU ; 
Or that we bring in revenge 
The head of Fionn, the firm hand in battle. 

When the Fenian hosts had heard, 
The hostile declaration of that woman, 
Fionn sounded the Barr-buadh, 
To summon his hosts in his presence. 

We mustered from all parts of the hill, 
Such of us as were present there ; 
Fionn saith in a loud tone, 
Battle with vengeance now proclaim. 

There was not an aged nor an active hero. 
Of the mighty warrior hosts of Fionn, 
Who did not instantly take arms and armour. 
And the foe without fidtering did likewise. 

Ailne the bright ! I much regret, 
Saith Fionn of the hardy deeds ; 
I promise thee, and 'tis no falsehood. 
That one shall not be left alive to you ! 

Fionn then vehemently sounded, 
The Dord with a call for vengeance to the fight ; 
They attacked each other at either side. 
And the battle was fought furiously I 

Alas, Patrick ! that was the battle, [fiict. 

The fiercest and the mightiest of hand to hand con- 
That was fought since the beginning of the world, 
And to the stubborn princess 'twas disastrous ! 



192 

O. 4)o cfti^U Orcttft A b-c(iff DA b-)^|AW, 
A f A 1^1)1) l]<nntA PA beAf 6d|b ; 

50 |tAl)5AbA|l t?6|l) AJUf CAC, 
?l Pb^CTtA^C I 1)1 CAt)A1117 ACC |r^O|l, 

c]A 5U|i c|tuA6-lAii)Ac 5!7]orf)AC cAc ; 
bo cu]ceAbA|t mle le]f ai) b-'piAi)!), 

ACC Cfl^^H, A'f Al) jtlOJAjl) Afi)A|1) I 

4>o cufc f Al) 5*CAc fib bA $A|tb h]Ar), 
bo lioi) flttAj t)A b-)=^f AOT fft]«) ; 
be]ci)eAbA|t A'f ffe c^Ab feAfi, 
bo lAOC|tA bA SAftb sljAjb I 

4>'l W15 Ap itlojAiD 'f At) C]11U|I 6b, 
A'f i)io|i b-f eAf btt|i)i) c^'|i 5AbA6 le6 ; 

bA 6ubAC ]Ab A^ A b-C]l|AU, 

c& A]t o^n)A|b ]Ab I bA 6obftdi) I 

SI5 f |f) C|t^OC Af) CACA C|tUAl6| 

A Pb^ttA]C 1)ttA6l^ f)A 1D-bACAl ii)-bAi) ; 
6 fit) AT1)a6 bo bA]fC Ap pl)|Al)l), 
A|l A9 3-Cl)0C fO f ]A]l C1)0C Al) Al|t ! 

p. Jonif buiot), A 0|rii) 1 5AD 56, 

t)A UodftA C]t68A bo'i) pbl^Dt) ; 

A l)-feA5ll)A]f Al) Cft^OCAb C^|6, 

bo CU]C f Al) ^jt A]t At) 5-Ct)0C fO f lAjt ? 

O. CuA|Wf5b;^]l bo b6A|tAb 6tt|c, 

A]i 3AC p|tloii)-ceA|ic SAfib Iaoc ; 

bo ca|C A|t Al) 5-ci)oc |ie cAc, 

A f leif At!) b-feAfi b^i)A, ^a|Ic idac 'C}ih]i) ? 

< ^ pijAcitAic i)ttA6, Patrick newfy arrived. This phrase is very 
common in Ossianic poetry when 8t Patrick*s name is introduced, and 
it goes far to show that these compositions were written immediately on 



193 

0, Oscar went forth at the head of the Fians, 
With his polished sword in his right hand, 
Until they and the foe met. 
On the field of slaughter and conflicts. 

Patrick I I relate but the truth, 
Though the foe were hardy and fierce, 
They all fell by the Fians, 
Except three and the princess herself. 

There fell in that severe and fierce battle 
Of the Fenian hosts, 
Six hundred and ten men. 
Heroes who were valiant in fight. 

The princess and the three departed, 
And we know not whither they went ; 
Sorrowful they were at parting, 
And, O Patrick of the clerics, 'twas sad ! 

Thus ended the severe contest 
O Patrick, of the white croziers, lately come ; 
Henceforth the Fians named 
This hill westwards, the hill of slaughter ! 

P. Relate to us, Oisin I without guile. 
The mighty heroes of the Fians, 
Besides the noble thirty [men] 
Who fell in the slaughter on the hill of battles I 

0. An account I shall give thee 

Of the history of each robust hero. 

That fell on the hill by the foe. 

And by that daring man Tailc mac Treoin. 

the Saint's arriTal in Ireland, modem aa the Unguage and phraseology of 

the compositions maj appear to us of the present daj. 
13 



4)o ctt|c A|i ci)oc At) ^]]i, U tluAjb ^bcAfisAjsh. 



O. 430 CU|C A|l Al) 5-Cl)0C fO f |Afl, 

Coiji) C^AbfiAC bA 5A]ib sled ; 

bo b'^e^itji l^ii) Vf i)eA|tc a 1)51|a6, 

1)^ CAC 4)d cf A leAC ]f T96|i I 

Jf Ai)i) bo cu]c *f 7f b]orpb^ liony, 
4)|tAllA6 yiAVVf bA baAi) A 5-CAC ; 
A'f b*]n)]te6cA6 a|i luc a l^ib 5DlOTb> 
le iDAc ^y^ h] A^f ij^ qab|iA6 ceAb. 

Jr Aoo bo ctt|c Y tr n«^S iiw, 

l4iA9^9 S^of f 9A b-c|tOTi^ Iadi) ; 
bo ctt5A& Ai) cofic 6*1) c-fl^Ab, 
le ]taic 1^1) 6]Ai) A 3Aft bbAll. 

jf* At7i) bo cu]c C7mA3li9 caIhv^, 
b^^ceAb Ai> rf)Affe Ai>f> AOiy pfto^^i); 
aY b^ ^|cc]b bAifiJii) bo'i) AjtiS^i), 
A'f b^ n)Ai|ieA6 bA S^i^ii) le]r clftut i)a Roiija ! 

Jf AW bo ctt^c Ca61 LuAitbijeAc meAft, 
A|i luc bA luA^te r)X ai) 5AOC ; 

C|A|tT)^1) PA 5-C||6aCC Ia1)9 C|tUA]6^ 

b^ n)A]|teA6, i>jO|i f uA^ftc bob' cl6)|t ! 

bob' f e^|t|t A 3-CAC ijA 43|A to ; 

bo 5eA|i|iA6 i)a cu^ftp a']* i)A co^ii^a, 

aV ^ |iO|i)f)eA6 Ap c-A|i^i) 50 b-tt^ 



NAMES OP THE PRINCIPAL FENIAN HEROES 

THAT FELL ON CNOC-AN-AIR, BY THE TROOPS OP MBABGACH. 



0. There fell on this Wertem hill 

Conn Ciabhrach the fierce in battle ; 
Of firmer hand and migbi^in conflict, 
Than Qod's hosts of whom thou boastest 1 

*Twas there fell, and my grief I 
Dralladh Fhmn, who was firm in the fight, [arms, 
And who would play in regard of agility and feats of 
With the son of the living God, and would not suc- 
cumb. 

And my grief I 'twas there fell, 
Luanan, the wise, of the heavy spears ; 
Who would bring the wild boar fr<Hn the hill, 
By the great swiftness of his robust limbs. 

TPwas there mighty Crtiagan fell, 
Who would devour' a cow at one meal, 
With forty cakes of bread, 
Had he lived how he would hate the Roman clerics ! 

Twas there Caol the uwift fell, 
Who in swiftness was fleeter than the wind ; 
And Ciaman inflieter of seveve wounds ; 
Had they lived it would not be pleasant to thy clerics. 

'Twas there Dorcan the nimble fell, 

Who was stronger in battle than thy God, 
Who hacked bodies and bones, 
And cheerfully did share the bread. 



196 

O. )r Ai)i) bo cttjc CaoI buAi)Ac it)eA|t, 

Bol3A]rte, SeA]ic, Ajuf C|iia5^d;* 
ceACftATi S^^tb bo UocA^b c|iua]6, 
11)0 6Aci)A0]b lAb uAin) a|i f^i) ! 

)r Aoi) bo cuic LiA5«ii) n)|i) jfeAj, 
bA cl|f ce a'i* bA c|tfeAi) a j-cac ; 
aV bo b] A5 ffieAfCAl PA h'lp]^i)r), 

30 i:AiTiriD3> ^n* i^i^ii* ^^ f«^i- 

)f Ai)!j bo cu]c ^eAi)3^D CAori), 
bA co|icA[tcA bfeinj a b-c|ion) jleo ; 
^eAi)bu]|te A3Uf C^Ai^Ab^o, caIii^a, 
c|t]ufi bA Ti)6[t tijAic 3AP §6 ! 

Jl* AD1) bo cujc to|t3A]ite bA c|i6ai), 
CiAjib^D boi)i) bA cijeAfbA iijfeiijp ; 

3a|13^1) bo C0f3A|lCAC C1)&TI)A, 

2t)iAi)ai7 aV t>oi)i)-3U]|te bA cAOii). 

jf AOO bo Ctt]C Cfefjlll)* cdf CAol, 

CttuAbat) a'i* 2I08 i)A p-6|i ibeAiJO, 

rtnAti bob' f ^1 W?5 ^^1^ ^V ^1*** 
a'i" bA iijA]c liic A i)3lcd i)a Iat^i). 

Jf Ai)i) bo CU]C pollATIjAl) buAbAC 

BjOf &1), tuAir®, 43AO]fe A'f tA]3 ! 
CAii)ce, t^oD^D, A'f 3^i!)e ffe^iij. 
<l)|tu]lleA6, 61ao6^ A5uf CeAoocAjft. 

Jf App bo cu]c Cu|ii)^p bed6A, 

Ko]3i>e, 5l5]rtue, C]A|i aV BjiAb ; 
BeAllA]|ie, Cu]|ii)ii), a'i" ^eAijob^o iDeA|i, 
t^ifpe, 'pitAoc, N]aII A'f 3lAf. 

• Ctt]A5«^ij. This name is Bimilar to the present 0*Cregan, and pro- 
bably the Ulster family of that name descended from him. 



197 

0. Twaa there Caol the poetic and swift fell, 
Bolgaire, Searc, and Criagan ; 
Four stout and hardy heroes, 
Alas that they are away from me I 

'Twas there fell Liagan of the smooth limbs, 
The active and mighty in battle ; 
He who entertained the Fians, 
Plentifully, freely, and generously, in his time. 

'Twas there gentle Meangan fell, 
Whose blow was deadly in fierce battle, 
Meanduire and Cianadan the brave. 
Three of great worth, without exaggeration I 

'Twafl there the mighty Lorgaire fell, 

Ciardan the brown [haired] of gentlest disposition, 
Gargan the hacker of bones, 
Mianan and Donn-ghlaire the mild. 

'Twas there Ceirin, the slender-legged, fell, 
Cruadan and Aedh, of the golden diadems 
Three whose fame was wide spread, ' 

And who were expert in the fight of spears. 

'Twas there the victorious FoUamhan fell, 
Biosan, Luaise, Daoise, and Laig ; 
Cainte, lionan, and Gaine the gentle, 
Druilleadh, Blaodh, and Cionntair. 

Twas there fell Cuman the lively, 
Boighne, Gloime, Giar and Brad, 
Beallaire, Guimin, and Meanndan the swift, 
Laisne, Fraoch, Niall and Glas. 

s C6mT9* There are numeroas families in Ireland, at tlie present dajr 
bearing this name. 



198 

O. )f At)9 bo cafc SQuaUo t)^ 9-6acc> ' 
A 3-cpttA630]l 1JA 5-CAC bA te^iyt) ; 
Asuf ^on>Ab e]le, a PI>^cfiA]c i)ua^ I 
i)Ac b-fail]ii7 bA Iua8 A^off At^i). 

p. )v^]T ^^"> 0]f]ij, nja'f cn]tn]r) leAC, 

c^']t cftiAlUb leAc A'f leif ai) b-'pftioij ; 
^Aji b-f ^56^]! Ai) A]t-ci)oic S^b, 
leAi) 50 jr^oft A'f i>A CAo bfieAj ! 

O. 4>o cftttfot)eAtDA](t A|i 5-cofi) Y^T* t>3A6AHi, 
A cl6]|i|c f a reY6]iD, Af V] bftdAS ; 
bo luA6n7ttf|t tt]le bul bo fe]l^, 
A|i bftuAC aY ^T* 1^11*5 l-OCA \.^}1}* 

jl* fAbA n)^fe, A Pb^cftA^c i}u^6 ! 
5AI) beACA A5 IuaS bu^c f 5^a1 ; 
t)] coffijttil leAc 1)^ leb' 4>blA^ 
5u|t Ab ]oi)rpu]i)e l|b cljAft i)^ n)6 ! 

p. CAbAift cuAfittfsbAil DA fejlse 6i»|orj, 
A OiripJ Af fu]3 for c.]n)c^]i); 
|i)i)]f bttiDD Af)rt7Ai7t)A i)A S-coofAOi^e, 
aV T)^ D5a8a]i bA biw 5ttc A'f 5^i|i* 

O. 21 Pb^cftAjc ! bo 5eAbA]i) 50 U ao bft&c, 
]roceACC A'f C|i^cc A|i ai) b-)^fei0P ; 

uc I ]f c]tuA3 AD b^c A be|c bA D-be]f ! 
1 il/tVtfr, 9A v-^c, of thft^teeds. 



199 

0. 'Twas there fell Mualan of the exploits, 
In the midst of the battle's rage ; 
And many more, recent Patrick I 
That I cannot now name. 

P. Tell me, Oisin, if thou rememberest, 
Where you and the Fenians went ; 
When ye left the slaughter hill, 
Belate truly, and tell no lie ! 

0. We gathered our hounds and dogs, 

Cleric in want I and His no falsehood, 

We all agreed to go and hunt. 

On the banks and plains of Loch Lein. 

Long am I, O Patrick, lately arrived I 
Without food, telling thee tales ; 
'Tis not likely that thou and thy Qod, 
Would be fonder of the clerics than of me. 

P. Belate to us an account of the chase, 

Oisin I and leave off thy complaining ; 
Tell us the names of the high-bred hounds. 
And the dogs most melodious in voice and cry. 

0. Patrick I I could till doom's day. 
Go on and tell about the Fians, 
Of our hounds and melodious dogs, 
Alas 1 how sorrowful to live after them I 



se;L5 toci)a Le)M. 



O. 3luAffeAn>A0|bt)e ai> l]ot) bo tija^ii, 

cAfi fe]f cACA Ai> 4i||i bo'i) b-'pftiw ; 
50 |iAi)5An)A]|i Ao f Aicce ffeAit-sUy to, 
A|t bftuAc qurbr^lb U)ca Lfe^i).* 

Jr ^ riT) AT) loc ]r ^iioe rs^iti), 

b^ b-ptt]l po'i) i)5|tfeio 50 beAcc; 
If ]Oti76A fc5|i Ac4i 6*1) b-)^6]i)i), 
AOt) 5AI) b|ife]5 A b-cA|f5e a i)occ I 

p. jDt)ir fe^iw, A 0]nt) f^ii> " 

C10l)l)Af b*pA1) 6*1) b-pfe]!)!) fAI) loc ,* 

c|A Aco 6|t 1)6 AjftjeAb b, 

a'x cfifeAb Ai) cfe]Ti) bo msoe a co|^. 

O. Hz^ A1)1) f to f A1) CAOb CUA]6, 

cA05Ab lu||teAc 50|tn) sUf, 

ACA Apl) fAI) CAOb f ]A|t, 
CAOJAb cl03Ab AI) AOT) leACC^ 

> loc I6}i7, XocA ZetM. ThiB was the ancient name of the lakes of 
Killarney in Kerry, retained to the present daj. The O'Cearbhaills 
or O'CarroUs, of the race of Aedh Beannan, king of Munster, were 
chie& of this district, and had their residence there ; but the 0*£)onn- 
chadhas, (of the second branch of whom The O^Donokoe, M.P., is the 
present lineal representatire) ; who were originally seated in the plain 
of Caiseal (Cashell), having settled at Loch Lein, dispossessed and 
reduced the 0*Carrolls, with other families descendants of Conaire Mor, 
and erected a new territory, to which was giren the name Eoganacht 
Locha Lein ; and afterwards Eoganacht Ui Dhonnchadha. One of the 
five prerogatives of the king of Munster, was to remain to enjoy the 
feast of Loch Lein from one Monday to another ; and, according to the 
poet Benean or Benignus, who is said to have been a disciple of St. 



THE CHASE OF LOCH LEIN. 



0. We proceeded, such of the Fians as survived. 
After the battle of the great slaughter, 
Till we reached the verdant plain, 
On the banks and borders of Loch Lein. 

This is the lake — the fairest to be seen. 
That is under the sun truly ; 
Many treasures belonging to the Fians, 
Are in it, doubtless, secured this night. 

P. Relate to us, generous Oisin, 

How they were left by the Fians in the lake. 
Or whether it be gold or silver. 
And what it is that detains it there ? 

0. There are there in the northern side [of the lake] 
Fifty blue-green coats of mail ; 
There are in the western side, 
Fifty helmets in one pile I 

Patrick, the king of Loch Lein vas exempt from paying tribute to the 
king of Caiseal. Here are his words : — 

A (5)cAii) bo CbAftll m coin, 

nf SAbtiATo 1)1 sAbcijAti 5fe|U, 

tif RAicl)leAr)&, nf UcIjA l&\n/* 

There are three kings in great Mnmha, 
Whose tribute to Caiseal is not due ; 
The king of Gabhran whose hostages are not to be seized on 
The king of Rathleann, the king of Loch Lein. 

leAbAfx i)4i 5.CoAtic, pp. 58, 59. 

The following stipends were given by the king of Caiseal to the king of 
Loch Lein : — Seren steeds, seven drinking horns, and seven shields, and 
seven hounds (/6. pp. 68, 69). And at pp. 256, 257) (/(/em), we find the 



202 

O. SCA Apt) f AO CAOb teAf, 

be]c 5-c6Ab clo]8eAii) Uacai) 5IA9, 
be|C 5-c6Ab f5|AC aV ao 4X)|ib 'pbiAw^ 

aY ai) B^nt^'b^^^ '^i^ '^^^ i^i^i)- 

SlcA APQ r^O CAob f 0|t«, 

5|i aV dAbAC 50 le6|t, A'f 50]l; 
tcdfi bob' ^oti>A|tcAc le |il^ 
qSeAS A 5-c&]i> 5AC U ca^ ii)tt||t. 

C^A bo]l]J bo feApdtit i)A D-beoi5, 
A Pb^c|tA]C I |!AOf bfidp b^ IttAb, 
A ftAfb A5U|90 ^ copAfb fAOfCe, 
aV bo jA^Af ft SuC-b|PQ bo 5eAbA]]t ttAft9» 

43o b^ Ai)i) SseoUp A5uf BliAij,^ 
toii)A]|te, B|iob, A5Uf Von^-luc, 

ctt]5 coijA A b-cuf t^lls^ ^V S^l^"'^* 
V^c f 5A|ia8 co|Sce le "p^oiji) 1 

43o b^ A5 lp]ot)t) bo 3A6AftA]b b|9i)e, 

UA]ci)tp, Bit]o5Ti)A|t, Ajuf UA]U-bed ; 

SceAllAYite ReAccA||te a']* 43|Ap-n^f , 
CAllA]fte, p]A8iulii> aV SsiAitlaj- 

4>o bi Ai5e SI^AOAin^ A5ur "CtifeAT), 
VuAf, SAOcAft, SeA|tc aV CuA]]tb, 
BAQbu^ft, CAcbaA6^ A^uf t^Afi^t), 

KAbAfTte, 3t*1^i>^D> ^S^f 'Fw^in?* 

foUowiog awards granted by the king of Caiseal to the king of Loch 
Lein: — 

^M5l6 CUiOAlO cl)lkt1^MA*9AT^ 

f\c\ bo Acur Ficbi eAc, 

ncljl U>iJ5 bo— 17] bfiocb b|ieAcl).** 

To the kiug of extensive Loch Lein, 
Is due a friendly return, 
Twenty cows and twenty steeds. 
Twenty ships to him— no bad award. 

See also Windele's Notica of Cork and KUlamey, and Mrs. HalVs Hand- 
hook for Killarney, 



I 

I 

I 

I 

I 



1 



203 

0. There are in the Bonthem side 

Ten hundred broad and glittering swords ; 
Ten hundred shields and the Dord Fbiann, 
And the Barr-buadh likewise . 

There is in the eastern side 
Gold and raiment in plentji and spoils, 
Treasures too many to deseribe, 
That came afar each day across tbe sea. 

Though [it be] doleM for an old man living after them, 
Patrick I to be in sorrow recounting them, 
The names of all our well-bred hounds, 
And melodious dogs you will get from me. 

We had there Bgeolan and Bran, 
Lomaire, Brod, and Lom-luth ; 
Five hounds foremost in the chase and actions 
That never parted Fionn ! 

Fionn had of melodious dogs, 
Uaithnin, Brioghmhar, and Uaill-bheo ; 
Steallaire, Reachtaire, and Dian^ras, 
Callaire, Fiadhman, and Bgiarlog. 

He had also Manaire and Trean, 
Luas, Saothar, Searc and Guaird ; 
Banduir, Gathbuadh, aud Liasan. 
Radaire, Orianan, and Fuaim. 

1 Here Oisin relates to St. Patrick the names of the priDcipal hounds 
which the Fenians brought from Gnoo-anoair ; and if we are to rely upon 
tlie category, many of the names have something significant about them ; 
— For instance — Brioghmhar, signifies the strong or vigorous; UailU 
bheo, a lively howl $ Steallaire, spatterer ; Dian-ras, swift in the chase ; 
Trean, strong ; Luat, swift ; Saothar, expeditious ; Seare, afTeetlon ; 
Cuaird, to go on an errand ; Cath^hhuadh, victorious in battle ; Radaire, 
pleasing; Grianan, sunbright; Fiiaim, noite ; Lom-bhall, bare-limbed: 
Monaran turf-ranger ; Feargach, wrathful ; Ras, race. 

The classical reader will, no doubt, recollect a similar enumeration of 



204 

O. 4)o b] Aije LorD-bAll A3uf ^Qcqati^i;, 
peAjtSAC, peAftAi), Booo A5uf R^f, 

Cl)A5A|fie, pfemiO, ASttf ,BAll-ttfl, 

4)o 6i A|5e f 6f 4>ttAi)^i} ii)eAfi, 
SuAi7Ai)> BeA|tc, A5uf peAll, 
teASAjfie, FonA]fie, A5uf SliotnAi), 

SI5 f]0 A5Abf A A Pb^CflAIC b^]1) ! 

At) IfOI) coo ^lloe A'f SAbAft Cft^AT) > 

bo |tu5 '^]Oi)t) 6 ctyoc At) ^]}i, 

50 leins ^'r 5<> fleAf A|b Loca Lfe]^ 

4)o b] A5 OfCttTi bo fAO]c copAfb, 
peAb A5Uf TPofCA^S, CluA]i) a^ TPAobAjt ; 
2lme, «^i|te, l^Aiite, aV tuAf, 
4)aoI, 5|**w^1"Ji FI^T* ^V CaoI. 

4)o b| pA i)-bA|l bo 5A6|tA]b b|i)i)e, 
CleAr, FiIUa6, ^ai5, aV Rua]5, 
9llzti), "FAHfiAf fie, Sic-c|iuA]6 Af- 3c^l*l*> 
4->ftAi;A]fie, R6]ti), ObApi) A'f Cuai), 

4)o b] A|5e tx>|t5A|Tte, peiceATij a'j* Booo> 
Cof5A||ie, IpeAit), BuaIc^o, a'i* IPftAoc, 
CeAls^i), ^eAi)5, PfteAbAifte, A'f P|ai), 
Sc|tACA]|te, R|Ai), 3l^F*^P ^V Caotij. 

4)o b] A5 l^AolAi) bo 6017 A|b ^iloe, 

21i)-Ua]11 AjTbAfi, Ua]11 A5uf TofcAiJ, 

Bajic^i), peATijAiite, CaoI^i) A'f Cuac, 

4>Aol^9, SuAij, 2l|ift A'f T^ocfiAri). 

the names of Acteon's dogs, tliat pursued their master, transformed into 
a stag by the goddess Diana, in punishment for having surprised her 
whilst bathing with her nymphs (Ovid's Metamorphoses^ lib. iii.) The 
Latin poet, howerer, is neither so tedious nor so unvarying in his enu- 
meration, as the Irish bard, in the present instance, for having given 
distinctive characteristics to his dogs. He breaks off with the words: — 



205 

0. He had Lom-bhall, and Monaran, 

Feargach, Fearan, Bonn and Ras, 
Gnagaire, Feirin, and Ball-ur, 
Mallaire, Trean-luth, and Rinn-bhar, 

He had likewise Dtianan the swift, 
Suanan, Heart, and Feall ; 
Leagaire, Foraire, and Sliomhan, 
Crithire, Larbharan, and Geall. 

Here thou hast, Patrick ! the fair [haired] 
The number of fine hounds and stout dogs, 
Which Fionn brought from Cnoc-an-air, 
To the plains and borders of Loch Lein I 

Oscur had of true bred hounds 
Fead and Fostaigh, Gluain and Faobhar, 
Aire, Mire, Faire and Luas, 
Daol, Qruaim, Fior and Gaol. 

He had along with them of melodious dogs 
Gleas, Filleadh, Maig and Ruaig, 
Altain, Farraire, Sith-chruaidh and Gearr, 
Dranaire, Reim, Obann and Guan. 

He had Lorgaire, Feitheamh and Bonn, 
Gosgaire, Feam, Bualtan and Fraoch, 
Gealgan, Meang, Preabaire and Pian, 
Stracaire, Rian, Gloran and Gaomh. 

Faolan had of fine hounds 
An-Uaill the lucky, Uaill and Fostaigh, 
Barcan, Feamaire, Gaolan and Guach, 
Daolan, Suan, Arr, and Fothram. 

'* Quoeque referre mora est." — Lib, iiu, v. 225. 

Id Bome of our modem Anglo-Irish hnnting songs and baUads, the names 
of the dogs of the chase are likewise giren. Can it be that oar bards 
and song-writers followed a classical model, without a consciousness of 
)% the fact? 



206 
Colj^O, 'pAf 5A, 1^11011)^9 Af C|teAC, 

poTitPAOil, CiA]ifcAD, 5i«^iT *'r Ws i 
7Z\ivtA6t)t^f), C|A|t6occ, A3iif C|Ai>-citA|fib, 

4)0 b] A5 3^11 bo co9A|6 f Ao^te, 
3laA|fie, Bfo^A, Cfi^ACC A'f Sltftc; 

C]AI>^ RA^ftC^ ftlfbeACC A'f PA||IC, 

CfteAihlftc, Bl^ifte, &|«|oll Af 'peAf. 

4)0 b] A|5e 'pttlAi)3 Ajuf ^Abftott), 
'p»A|i*i), &A5,A^ Ajar ^Ai)*i>; 

3A|ib^i)> 'FiaU, Ajaf leAo^n* 
Bo5-U|fu, Sstt, SoUtj Ajuf Ca^ii, 

SeA]iBa(D, 5no6-UAtU^ AjUf- SoACTt^D, 
PojluAifD, FeAb-3^||i, Ajttf RAi)c6fn. 

4>o b] A|5e |c6r «^)ao|1||) b^iri), 
CuAfisAiite, RiP5, Ajuf SUdaUi), 

t)|lA!)A]|fe, NlTb-riACAll, ASttf ScflACA, 

CluADA]|te^ 'C}ioiD-5eA[i|i, Ajiif SeA|tclki)« 

4)0 b] bo copAjb A5 21)ac LugAcb,* 
SeAbAc, Lu|i)3eAc, Ajuf* 6f7tleAC ; 
2l)6fi-ea]i>, Cun)>&ir, Ajuf P'ttAniijA, 

2I0U1J, SsttAbA, AjUf T^AObAji 

1 ia)AC luJAcI). This Fenian chief vaa son of Daire Dearg, son of 
Fionn Mac Cumhaill. His mother's xutme was Luigheach—so called 
from luigh^ to swear, because all the females belonging to his household 
swore that she was a daughter of Fionn. Hence he was called Mac Lu- 



207 

O. He had of melodious dogs 

Marbban, Popfhegm, Rar md Teilig, 
Colgan, I^gB, Knomban and Greaeb; 
Leir-BgTKW, Feall, Uaill-Wimn and Leipg. 

He had also Glaiflin and Beolan, 
FormaoU, Ciarbhan, Gluais and Lopg, 
Truadhnan, Ciarbhocht and Cian-chuaipd, 
Ochtan, lolghuair, Fleagh and Fostaigh. 

GoU had of noble bounds 
Glnaire, Bioga, deacht and Airc^ 
Gian, Badbaie, Eisdaaebt and Pakt, 
Treau-ltttb, Boire^ Eitioll and Feaa. 

He bad also Fnlang and Eadrom, 
Fuaran, Eaga, and Teanan, 
Ard-leim, Sar-Ptrith, and Imcbian, 
Gapbhan^ Fialli and Zjeanan. 

He bad of melodious dogs 

Bogleim, Sgith, Golan and Toip, 
Seapbhan^ Gpod-uaiU, and Seacbpan^ 
Fogbluaim,. Fead-gbair, and Rantoip. 

He bad likewise Maodin the melodious, 
Tuapgaipe, Ring, and Amalan, 
Dpanaipe, Nimh-fbiacail, and Stpaca, 
Cluanaipe, Trom^gbeapp, and Beapean. 

Mac Lughach bad of bounds 
Seabbac, Luingeacb, and Eipleacb, 
Mop-tban, Cuman, and Fuapma, 
Aolan, Sguaba, and Faobbar. 

gfaach, after his mother^a name i beca»M it was coxnidered disgraceful 
to caU him after lus father. It was Lughaidh Lamha the Momonian that 
struck Fionn at the feast in the palace of Tara. Vide Agallamh na Sean^ 
oiridh, or Dialogue of the Sages: 



208 

O. 4)0 b| A]5e bo 5A8|tA|b hedSA, 

C6l-rA0ft, 2^)fop-2;^i]te, A5arScuA]fD, 

4)0 b^ A156 fof JotdUd c]ittAi5, 
CAotiai), <DttAi]ic, Ajuf Ctt]leo3, 
Slfisuii), BrieAC-bAll, Ajuf 43uount, 
2QeA|t-bAll; p^oi)pbu]|i, ASUf "Cfiuflos. 

<Do b1 A5 SQ^c Roij^iD jritpi), 
bo coi)A]b IttAjCe ^suf f AO]ce, 
CuAT)-co|n7feAb, A5ttf 30ACA]|te iDeA|i, 
Ct)eiii)AC, ClfiUc, A5uf 3^o]ce. 

4)0 b] A]5e f5f N^AipfiAC luA]c, 
2l]i)ii)eA|i, 'CuA^iic, Ajuf N6aI, 
65Uc, LAb|itt]p, ASttf B0I5 reAp5, 
^eAi)fi)u|!), FeATij, Ajuf 'CfiAOfc. 

4)o b] Aije bo 5A6|iA^b f d5lttA|Tt)i7eAC, 
C|iAipte||t, SuAij, Ajuf T^oirs ; 
Ctt]ijt)e, 3tt^5^P> 4)occ, a\ t>6]t, 

BuA!)^i), 'Fain, Asur l^oirs- 

4)0 b| Aise 4)uA|ib^p Asuf Si)Ap> 
tonjap, Cac, Asuf CAOf 5u]t ; 
CAibiTj, Se-^l^i)* -^^ r LuA]c-5l6Ar, 
iPo^t]v, BfeAf, Ajuf BAOtre. 

4)0 bi A|5e |:6f S^T^^-w^lU 5^^^ 
lp\Ui}t]i)9 'Caoii)a6, A5Uf lx>|ic^t^, 
2llpu]|te, 3nob-5a]]t, Ajuf T^eAfic, 
CuAi)A|]i, Bopi;lA]ce, Asuf UAfi^^p. 



209 

O. He had of sprighUy dogs 

Luadran, Beoladh, and Tacadh, 
Cul-saor, Mion-ghairOy and Stuaimi 
Biadan, Bniachair, and Casadh. 

He had likewise lomlan the hardy, 
Gaoran, Duairc^ and Cuileog, 
Arguin, Breac-bhall, and Dunoir, 
Mear-bhall^ Fionnduir, and Traslog. 

Mac Ronain the social had, 
Of swift and noble hounds, 
Cuan-choimead, and Machaire the swift, 
Gnamhach, Urlach, and Gaoithe. 

He had also Niamhrach the swift, 
Ainmhear, Tnairt, and Neall, 
Eolach, Ladruin, and Bolg the slender, 
Meanmhoin, Feam, and Traost. 

He had of well bred dogs 
Graipleir, Suan, and Toisg, 
Guinne, Gnagan, Docht, and Doith, 
Bnanan, Foir, and Foisg. 

He had Dnardan and Snap, 
Loman, Gath, and Gaosgur, 
Caibin, Gealan, and Luaith'-ghleas, 
Foithin, Beas, and Baoise. 

He had also Garbh-uaill the sharp, 

Fuaithin, Taomadh, and Lorcan, 

Alpoire, Grod-ghair, and Tearc, 

Guanair, Bonnlaice, and Uamhan. 
14 



210 

O. Oo b] ^5 t)|AtirDttfb 0*<Ou]htye, 
bo coi>^ib f AOfte a lonj luc, 
Co|r]]i Nd|DtD ASttf 5^A|t-leAUA 
4)u]Ue65, tfeifDfAbA, A5Uf Cltt|b. 

4)o b] Aije bo s^SfiAib f^jlse, 
CuaUi), LoiftseAc, A3Uf 3l^l">» 
<Du^3|iei8]iD, )=^olUi|te, Ajuf jAitfiACC, 
'PiiAitc^i), '5^^n)c^\\^e, Ajuf SloDAit^T). 

430 b] bo copAib A3 5l^r CAOti), 

T:]teAbA||te, SeAr3» ^S^f 3t)6ti-8^il, 
UiAbai), Buor^c, SeAf)3Ai]te, a> C|HaII, 
Lo|t3aD, Sc|AllA||te, A3uf Cit^cc^i). 

<Do b] bo 3A&fiAib Ai3e t)A b-fOCAi|t, 
)aIUd, CofSAift, t:i%eAr Asur CitujAb ; 
CiAO^^i), 3Ain?bii), TaUa A3ttr T^itfeAD, 
RlAfD^t), Seiitce, Ba|ic A3ttr Cjttt. 

<t)o b^ A3 'FeA]t3ur r)^ yh]vv, 

bo coijAib bA 3D^oii)AC, lttA|C ; 
5|0b«^D, 7=^ttAbAC, A3ar Rif)-ttu|c, 
tuAbTt^i), )=^uiDpeATb, S^l^e^^^ A3wr 4)ttll- 

4)0 b^ A]3e bo 3A8ftAib sUiD-bfwe, 
TPuAcai), 43lA6t, 'Pto?* ^5»*r Mo^^^> > 
CiiAfAc, B]t-h]x)t), A3Uf 3ntt^5^^> 
Uatdac, BUaog, A3ur OIacc^p, 

t)o bi A3AmrA ip^]r), A Pb^citA^c ! 

A3Uf A3 «ac d f fD r«^r ; 

A t)-feA3t1)A]f 1JA 5-C01) A'r 1)A D3A6A|t ttb, 

b6]c 3-c3feAb Aft 146 t)AC b-^ttiltii) bo lttAl>. 



211 

O. Diannuid O'Duibhne had. 

Of noble, fierce, and swift hounds, 
Coisir, Noinin, and Gear-leana, 
Duilleog, Leim-fhada, and Cluid. 

He had of doga for the chase, 
Gnalan, Loirgeach, and Glainih, 
Dubh-ghreidhim, Follaire, and larracht, 
Fuarcan, Glamaire, and Aonaran. 

Glas the gentle, had of hounds 
Treabhaire, Seasg, and Mor-dhail, 
Luaban, Bunsach, Seangaire, and Triall, 
Lorgan, Stiallaire, and Trachtan. 

He had of dogs along with them, 
lallan, Gosgair, Treas and Trughadh, 
Cianan, Gaimbin, Falla and Trean, 
Riaman, Seirce> Bare and Gru. 

Feargus, Fionn's poet> had^ 
Of swift and active hounds ; 
Giodan, Fuadach, and lUn-ruith, 
Luadran, Fuinneamh, Geibheann and Duil. 

He had of dogs of the sweetest cry, 
Fuathan, Dlacht, Fior and lionan, 
Cuasach, Bith-bbinn, and Gruagach, 
Uamach, Bleacht, and Dlachtan. 

I had myself, Patrick ! 
And so had all the rest. 
Besides those hounds and dogs. 
Ten hundred more for the chase that I do not name. 



212 

^1A]& le]ti3e At) locA ub?* 
O. 21 Pb^cTtAic! A s-cu^A cu AT) c-feilj,^ 

A ri)ic aipitwit) i?<^ pr^i") r^"> ' 

njAji bo tii3De ad he^V le T^ioijtj, 
A f 5A1) AOi) peAc AT)t) i)A c6it>6^lU 

p. Ml b6ic 30 3-cuaU a Tb]C AD T*lS • 
A OiriD 3I1C, DA D3^10T«> t»3^T*3> 
A]C|i]r 6uiDD 3^^ cuiTife bfi6iD, 
cpDAf bo iti5D« le6 AD c-feAl3 . 

C. Ml cADiDAOir^e AD 'FblADD 3^* 
DjOji cuibe fe bo f atdIusaS led, 
le i:]ft1DDe A'f le d^aiic ah Utd, 

bo ci3iDAoir ri^^ ^r 5^^ si^^* 

t1io|i f u|& DeAC Ab c]ll, 

APb^cHAic, ir btDD rttA]iD si^n I 

bob' rim^»?l5® t)^ FlODD r^iD^ 
AD F^-^T* V^V^ CAol bo b|iODA6 6|i. 

M]o|i f U16 DCAC A 3-c^U, 

316 biDD lib A CADAlb pfAiliD, 
bob fe:^|itt ^ocaI d^ ad 'FblADD, 
]!||t D^n lojc A v^le^ B^V^' 

1 i4/i/er *' »U I^I-** tl^) ^«» ^^A Oft." 

The deer of that lake. 

?i 5.CUAU cu Ao c-reiis ? ^««« yo« ^««''^ ^/ '** ^*"* ' '^^ **"* 

referred to here is that of SUabh Fuaid, (which wiU be giren in a imbse. 
quent volume of our TransactionB), where Ailne transformed herself 



I 



213 

P. Relate, Oisin, of the marvellous deeds ! 
Without falsehoods, a lay of the chase ; 
I am mistaken, or you soon slew 
The deer of the plains of that Lake. 

0. Patrick ! have you heard of the chase, 
son of Alpruin of psalms sublime ! 
That the woman caused to Fionn, 
And no one present in his company. 

P. 'Tis not likely I have heard, O son of the king ! 
Oisin the wise, of terrible deeds, 
Eelate to us without the sadness of sorrow, 
How the chase was performed by them ? 

0, We, the Fians, told no lies, 

Such should not be laid to our charge ; 
By truth and the strength of our hands, 
We came unhurt from every battle. 

A cleric never sat in thy church, 
O Patrick, of the melodious voice ! 
More truthful than Fionn himself. 
The man who was not niggardly in bestowing gold. 

None sat in a temple, 
Though sweet ye think they chant psalms, 
More strict of their word than the Fians, 
Men who faltered not in fierce conflict. 

into a deer in order that the Fenians may give bcr chase, for the purpose 
of entrapping them, to be avenged for the death of her husband and sons 
who feU at Cnoc-an«anr. 

* 56, a lie. This expression very frequently occurs in Fenian poetry, 
because a strict adherence to truth was one of the chief characteristics 
of the Fians. Even at this day a liar is held in utter contempt by the 
peasantry. 



214 
O. D^ ii)A||t|?eA8 2t)Ac 2t)dftf>4 fi76A|t, 

Ai) Iaoc bo cu]]teA6 cac a|i c^Abl 

4)^ n)AiTi|:eA6 ^peATijaf f]le 'pblDO, 

^eA]i A 5ce]]ic bo iio]w aji ai) b-pfe|t)i; ; 
vo 4)ai|te bo fe|i)i)eA8 5AIJ locc, 
A i)5uc t)A 5-clo5 Di be^c njo TP^ir • 

t>^ TijA||tf eA6 ^eA|t5Ac i)a Iaijp, 
AT) reAfi D^|i SAP?) A5 cu|t At) ^iit; 
OfcuTi aY 21)ac R6i?«^]P 5fttT)0, 
bo c]idpai) fAp S'Cfll TJlofi f ^ri) I 

4)^ ii>Ai]i|reA8 2I08 BeA5 idac Yh]t)r)f 
1)5 'pAoUi) 51111)1) t)^fi feAfifi i)eAC, 
1)6 Coi)^D Ti)Aol bo h] 5AI) 5|tttA]5, 
]f ]Ab b'f-^5 me ^AO] situA^ti) le fCAl I 

tl6'i) c-AbAC beA5 bo b| A5 'plow, 

bo cu|]teA6 5AC Aop a b-co^|tc]rf) fUA]o I 

bA bfi)i)e l]on) |ruA]ii) a ii)6A|t, 

t)^ b-|ru]l bo ctei]i A 5-C1II \a b-cuAC I 

Of AlJOlf 1)AC Tt)A]|ieA1)0 A1) pbl^l)!), 
1)^ 7^|01)1) f]AlTi)A|l 1)A t)-bUAf ; 

bo bo6A]i f|Ai)r^') ^^ pfAlfi), 

aV Sl^H 5A|lb pA 5-CI05 T1)0 cluAf . 

p. Ssttin bo b^Al A feApoift f uA]|tc I 

ija b^ fCAfbA A5 IttAS i)A b-lP|Ai)p; 
50 Tj-beACAbAjt fcoyic ii)A|i ai) 5-ce6, 
^V SO ii)-b6]b 50 be5 a PsUf DA b-p^Ai) I 



215 

0. Had Mac Morna the swift ilyed, 

GoU the mighty, who loved not gems, 

Or Mac Ui Dhuibhne, the beloved of women, 

The hero who vanquished one hundred [men in battle] I 

Had Fergus, Fionn's poet, lived, 
He who distributed justice to the Fians, 
Or Daire, whose music was faultless. 
To the sound of the bells Td give no heed. 

Had Meargach of the spears lived, 
He who was not scanty in dealing slaughter, 
Oscur and Mac Eonain the pleasant, 
Thy humming in the church would not be agreeable. 

Had Aodh Beag, the son of Fionn, lived, 
Or Faolan the pleasant, who refused not any one, 
Or Conan the bald, who was without hair, 
Tis they who have left me in gloom for a time. 

■ 

Or the small dwarf, who belonged to Fionn, 
Who lulled each one into heavy sleep ; 
The sound of his finger was dearer to me 
Than all thy clerics in church and country. 

As it is now that the Fians do not live, 
Or Fionn the generous, the bestower of rewards. 
The hum of the psalms and harsh sound of the bells 
Have deafened my ears. 

P. Close thy lips O pleasant old man ! 

Henceforth do not name the Fians ; 

They passed oflf like a mist. 

And shall be for ever in bonds of pain. 



216 

O. 45^ n}^\h clofS Ac^ Ab c|ll, 

i)t c]ie]b|r]i)i) bo b|ie]r aji ai) b-'pfeipi^ 
T)^ bfte]c bo cl6]|te acc Ati)U]l. 

jr "J191C A COblAf Art^u^c A|l fl|Ab, 
|rAO| Sftocc IfAr f AO] b^ftfi cfiAi)!? ; 
aY i)]OTt cleACc l]oti) leAbA 5AI) b]A6, 
f eA8 be^c f 1a8* a]i ai) s-cpoc ub caU I 

p. Nl bi6eAi)i) A5Ab leAbA 5A1) bfA8, 

bo 3e|beA0i) cu fCACc ii)-bA]|t5]0 ^p^li)^ 
A r ii)|Of3«i^ iijdft bo'i) fri), 

aY Ce^S^CftAfbAb TbA]]tC 5AC AOt) l^. 
O. 4!)0 C01)A||1C 11)6 CAOft CAOftCAll)!),* 

bA tb6 f AO] 60 1)^ bo TijeAfS^i) ; 

aY bo cooA]tc 11)6 ^U|lle65 e|6i)ea]i), 

bA n)6 aY bA le]te i)a bo bAiftJ]!) a|i^|T) ' 

1 F|a6» i/eer. The most perfect skeletons of thk animal, the Cervus 
Giganteus, as we assume, now known in Ireland, are preserred in the 
Museums of the Boyal Dublin Sodely, and of Trinity College, where 
there are three specimens to be seen. There is also a yery perfect skeleton 
in the Belfast Museum, into which we were conducted during a recent 
risit to that town, by Mr. Robert Mac Adam, a gentleman who takes 
peculiar interest in matters of archaeology ; and to whose exertions 
we beliere the Museum of that town is mainly indebted for the Tast 
collection of antiquities therein preserved. This skeleton stands upwards 
of six feet high, and is perfect in every respect. 

s CAoft CAoritu\r)t), i.e.. The Berry of the Rowan Tree. It is tradi- 
tionally recorded that, in order to defeat the arguments of St. Patrick, 
respecting the quantity of food given to Oisin, the latter, though aged 
and blind, set out, attended by a guide, and on arriving at Qlenasmoil, 
wliich is supposed to be'the valley of the Dodder, near Dublin ; the guide 
called his attention to a huge tree bearing fruit of enormous size, of 
which Oisin, told him to pluck one and preserve it. Proceeding 
further in the glen, the guide's attention was attracted by the great size 
of the ivy leaves which covered the rocks, and wliich from their immense 
size overshadowed the valley from one end to the other ; of these Oiain 



217 

O. Though many bells are in thy church, 

Chanting and dolefully humming psalms, 

I would not credit thy judgment respecting the Fians, 

Nor the judgment of thy clerics but regard it alike, 

I often slept abroad on the hill, 

Under grey dew, on the foliage of trees. 
And I was not accustomed to a supperless bed 
While there was a stag on yonder hill ! 

P. Thou hast not a bed without food, 

Thou gettest seven cakes of bread, 

And a large roll of butter, 

And a quarter of beef every day. 

O. I saw a berry of the rowan tree 
Twice larger than thy roll ; 
And I saw an ivy leaf 
Larger and wider than thy cake of bread. 

also directed him to pull a leaf and preaerre it They then proceeded 
to the Curragh of Kildare, where Oisin sounded the Dord Fhian, whicli 
lay concealed under a Dalian, and a flock of blackbirds answered the call, 
among which was one of enormous size, at which Oisin let loose a faTorite 
hound that after much wrangling kiUed the bird. They cut oiTa leg which 
they brought home, and laid the rowan berry, the ivy leaf, and leg of 
the blackbird before St. Patrick, to show that Oisin was right, and the 
Saint wrong in his notions respecting the dietary of Oisin whilst living 
with the Fenians. A very curious paper on the Fenian traditions of 
81ijibh-na*m-ban, where the scene of this legend is laid, by Mr. John 
Dunne of Garryricken, will be found in the TYansaciionM of the Kilkenny 
Archaological Society, for 1651, p. 333. 

We are informed that large and luxuriant ivy leaves grow at Chapel - 
i2od, county Dublin, and also at Glenasmoil, one of which was procured 
by an official on the Ordnance Survey, and now preserved as an original 
iliustration of the text, in the manuscript volume of '* Letters on the An- 
tiquities of the county Dublin,'* preserved in the Archives of the Irish 
Ordnance Survey Office ; as a proof that the large ivy of former days 
had not yet degenerated in Ireland. The largest ivy leaf we have seen, 
grew on the old walls of St. John's Church, Kilkenny, in July, 1858. 



218 

O. 43d coi)A]tc Ti)6 ce^i\iAn)A6 lo]t), 

bA ti)d v^ bo ceACftATf7A6 ti)Aftc^]t) ; 
]f 6 bo Ifoo n)o c|to]6e le cafftf e, 
be]c Ab c|5f 1^ a bocc^fi) 1 

h ^]Vi]c bo bAbAf A 50 I^aU; 
A D-4>ttt) AD |ttS o^T* Saw, 
Alt i:eA6 iD^of A 5-CAicifi) bo't) fi)-b|A8, 
bo b]A& cA|i t^'feii* 5AC C]Ot)t). 

2t)ur)A Ti)-beic pA seAf a b] A|% )^bl0W; 
aY t)^]i rp]Ai) leif cafcfti) Cfi^b, 
A itAjb A|i ve^n) 'fA, hrfuil a]! Ukji, 
t)] clAO]6f eAbAO]f Uti) iijo 11I5 ! 

p. Jf fe it>o itiSf I bo SeAlbu^S i)eATn, 
]f 6 bo bejTt i)eA|tc i)a Iaoc ; 
If fe bo cuii) At) biot-buAi), 
]f fe bo be||i bUc t)A 5-C|iAob. 

Jf fe bo 8eAlbu]5 feAfjA A'f ST*|A9/ 
If fe bo beift lAfs A|t liDD ; 
If fe bo cjiuttx]-^ 30|IC A'f f feA|t, 

1)1 b-101)A1)P A'f 6ACCA pT)|t)D ! 

O. Nl Aft citutujAb 50|tC t)^ l^^^it, 
c«5 n)o fi^Sf e f fe]!) a 8u]l ; 
Acc A5 cof5A]|i cojipA^b Iaoc, 
A5 cofDAii; cfi^oc A'f A3 cu|t a clu! 

A|i !)occa6 Ti)e]fi3e a b-c6f 3le6, 
Alt imiitc f lCC]ll6 A'f Aji ft)^n), 
A'f A|t f e]ceAit) c^c A b-c|S ai) 6^1. 



219 

0. I saw a quarter of a blackbird 

Which was larger than thy quarter of beef ; 
'Tis it that fills my soul with sadnesft^ 
To be in thy house thou poor wretch 1 

I often had pleasant times 
In the Dun of the generous king ; 
What food I [now] use in a month 
I would have left after me at each meal there. 

Had it not been for the prohibitions which bound Fionn, 
And that it was not his wish to violate them. 
All that dwell in heaven and earth 
Would not vanquish the hand of my king. 

P. Tis my king made heaven, 

'Tis he who gave the hero might, 

'Tis he who held eternal life, 

'Tis he who gave blossom to the trees. 

'Tis he who made the snn and moon, 
'Tis he who brings fish into the lakes, 
'Tis he who created fields and grass. 
Not such were the deeds of Fionn ! 

0. 'Tis not the creating of fields and grass 
My king took as his choice. 
But the hacking of bodies of heroes, 
Protecting territories, and spreading his fame. 

The wooing, the play, and the chase. 
The unfolding of banners in the battle's front, 
The playing at chess and swimmiog, 
And the entertainment of all at the festive board. 



220 

O. a Pb^^cTiAic ! c^ |tA]b bo 4)bl^f 
At) CAO c^lOlS Ao blr CA|l leATi? 
CU5 lea beAO 7115 iocUDD da Iodj, 
le'fi cuic ]CiDAb Uoc fAD c^teAf ? 

No AD CAD c^lD]5 ?t)AS^"r "J^l*^ 
AD reA|t bA bo]ib sled D^n c]rD ; 
If cofTbttll ba fDA]|i|:eA6 bo ^DblA, 
30 5'Cuibe6cA le TPiADDAib 'pblDD- 

Nd AD CAD C:^1D]3 ^Aflc IDAC 'C\ieo]Vf 
AD feAji Aft AD b-'pfeiDD bo cu]]t ad c-^|i ! 
t)] leb' <DblA bo cttjc AD cu|ia6, 
Acc le b-Orcu|t A n7eAr3 c^^. 

aUiDA,* IDAC Bb^^iDA ib6iit, 

le n)\\lt\ 'CeAibA|]t da rl^S c^^ad ; 
D^ori leo]iD no ">^ ">^1T* ^^ *t)b]A, 
bul b^ cIaoi8 acc f]Ot)V f^lD- 

)r lOfD^A cAc, TDA81D, A r 3I1A6, 

bo C0fD6tiA6 le 'plADDAjb 'pbjDD ; 
Di cuaIa 50 D-beA|lDA8 feACC, 

Ills DA DAOTD D^ 3w]^ 8eA|i3 a Utd ! 

?• tfe]3eATDA0ib b'ATt 3-corD6]icur a]i 3AC CAob, 
A feAD6i]i c[iiOD AcA 3AD cfe^ll ; 
CU15 30 b-fuil t)|A A|i DeAtb DA D-o]ib. 
A'r T^IODD r^ f l^lSce '^l^ ^ b-pfelDD ! 

O. Ba Tb5]t AD D^Itie x]V bo C)blA, 

3AD sUf DA b-piAD bo bttAiD b"pb]ODD, 
aV *Df a ffeiD bA iD-be]C A iD-b]iO|b, 
30 b-c|ioibfeA8 ad I^Iaic caji a ceADD* 

I Aliter, JftUiW. 



221 

O. Patrick f where was thy God, 

When the two came across the sea 7 [the ships, 
Who carried off the wife of the king of Lochlin of 
On whose account many a hero fell in conflict. 

Or when Magnus the Great landed, 
He who was in battle fierce, 
'Tis likely if thy God had lived 
That he would have aided the Fians and Fionn I 

Or when Tailc Mac Treoin landed. 
He who dealt slaughter to the Fians, 
Tis not by thy God the hero fell, 
But by Oscur in the midst of the foe ! 

Or Alama, the son of Badhma the Great, 
By whom Temor of the brave hosts was pillaged, 
Thy God dared not, had he lived. 
Go fight him but Fionn himself. 

Many a battle, strife^ and conflict, 
Was waged by the Fians of Fionn ; 
I never heard of any deed performed [hand. 

By the king of the saints, or that he reddened his 

P. Let us cease our contention on both sides, 
O withered old man devoid of sense I 
Enow that God dwells in heaven of the orders, 
And that Fionn and his hosts are in bonds. 

O. Great would be the shame of God 

If he did not release Fionn from his bonds, 
And if God himself, were a captive. 
The chief would fight for his sake. 



222 
A 5*CAC v^ ty^XeS 50 i9-b^f«A6 boA^. 

jf n)A]C At) CeADQAC bAfl) A|i bo 4>blAf 

be|c An)eAf 5 a cl]A|t)t iit}Aji c^|to ; 
JAD 6ya6, 5AI) dAbAC, 5A0 ceol, 
5At) befc A5 b|u>QA6 d]\i aj^ 64]?i)* 

3^1) 5<^in V^ T)3^A|i i^a t)A txoc, 
5Ai> be]c A5 co|ri)^Ab poftc p^ cuai) ; 
5]0i) A b-fruAfiAf b'eAfbAb ai) b]6, 
TQAjCfn) bo |t|5 i)e]n)e Art) u6Acc I 

3^1) ro^rij, 5At) i!iA85a]6eAcc, 5A9 TPfOt)!),* 
5A1) rtt||i5i8 ri^l-^Ai), 5At) ]T>6itc ; 
5AI) |*a]6e Ai) ]0i7Ab n)Afi bA SoaI, 
5At> ro5la|Ti) cleAf A lu6 i!)^ sled. 

p. 81 feA!)6]|i C|t)oi) AC^ Aft bAOjf, 

rSttIT* A r OA b^ A5 rmocAl sad c^fU ; 
TQA]CfeAfi le 4)) A 6it]c A b-cli]0Y5. 
-peAfCA fi)4'f 4^|l leAC A t^iT^ 

O. S^r^TQ 6aic F^]!) i>a bob' 4)blA, 

A cU)fi|5 DA 5*el|A)t t)i cAbA|ii!Ab; 

5a6 a i)beA)tpAf b^ i9i-ttl4fi, 

rj\ bu|6eACAf lioto o|ttt|b a vjAyt^Axn I 

p. jr CftttA5 l|0TD bo C|lttC C|t]O0; 

A 0|ri9 1 !l«^ bt A5 f it|OCAl 5A9 c^ill ; 
ir ^^1P ^ttic> ^n lloiD 50 Fiofi, 
Afii7a|lc bo f]0ft A]t Ti)AC 4)el 

> ii/iV«r, F0999 muiic, Undo, inheritance, 4c. 



223 

0. Fionn never suffered, in his day, 

That any should be in pain or bonds ; 
Without his ransom by silver or gold, 
By battle or conflict, till he won success. 

It is sufficient punishment for me from thy God, 
To be among his clerics as I am, 
Without food, clothing, or music. 
Without bestowing gold on bards. 

Without the cry of the hounds or the sounding horns, 
Without guarding havens and ports. 
For what I sufier for lack of food, 
I forgive heaven's king in my will I 

Without swimming, hunting, or Fionn, 
Without wooing modest women, without sports, 
Without being seated in my place as was my due. 
Without learning feats of agility or war. 

P. withered old man who art silly. 

Cease henceforth thy foolish talk ; 
God will forgive thee all that has passed 
If in future thou follow his laws. 

0. Satisfaction to thyself or thy God, 

cleric of the clerks I I shall not make ; 
All that I have transgressed of his laws, 

1 do not thank you to forgive I 

P. I pity thy withered form, 

Oisin I cease talking such silly words ; 
Shameful it is for thee, I believe truly, 
Thy constant mockery of the son of God ! 



22C 

The following Stanzas were written by Caoilte Mac Ronain, 
on the occasion of some feud arising between the king of 
Munster and Fionn Mac Cumhaill : — 

^ K^5l*^^ CACA 0|tcfA A 7-b|W» 
A ^Ifi i)A n)-bn]ACA|t Ti)-b]c-b|pt) ; 
6f cu c^]i?i5 30 CeAi^p C01) 
5^1} A^cced; 5AI) 6|l|a5A6. 

Coii)|iAc 'pblOO A f |i^5 ^urijAt?, 
f0CA]be b^ iD-b]A6 pu6Aft; 

-^ircn <^^ ^1<^^ -^ c^|le, 
bA cuftACA A 3-cd[fi)ft|]t3e. 

21 be]|t]Ti)fe ]iib |i:a6 t)3U, 
bA |:io|i bAfi) Ai) f^}fb]t)^, 
biA]6 b|tAc-^eA|i A b~2llfbaii!)i 
bo't) CAC fd5|tA6 o|tc a T^blPi?- 



CAOILTE SANG. 

Proclaiming war on thee, Pionn, 
man of the sweet melodious words ; 
Because thou hast come to Ceann Con, 
Without reproaching, without accusation. 

The combat of Fionn with Munster's king, 
A meeting that gave occapion to grief. 
One of them plundered the other, 
Their contention was most heroic. ' 

I say unto thee a plain saying, 
That my prediction is true, 
There shall be spies at Almhuin, 
For the war proclaimed on thee Fionn. 



* 

■ 

i 



t:)R Na N-65. 



THE LAND OF YOUTH 



EXCITED BT 



BRYAN O'LOONEY. 



DUBLIN : 

PBIMTED rOR THE OSSIANIO SOCIBTT. 

1869. 



The Council of the Ossianic Society do not hold them- ' 
selves responsible for the authenticity or antiquity of the 
following poem ; but print it as an interesting specimen of 
the most recent of the Fenian Stories. In the tract which 
follows it will be found one of the most ancient of the re- 
cords that describe the exploits of Finn Mac Gumhaill. 



TO 



WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN, ESQ., 



PRESIDENT OF THE OSSIANIC SOCIETY. 



Sim,— Pursuant to your wishes, and at your very kind suggestion,' I 
have undertaken the following translation of the Ossianic poem, on 
Cfti i)A ij-65 (" Land of Youth,") in the humble but confident hope that I 
may, however, unpretending as an Irish scholar, be in some measure in- 
strumental in restoring our neglected lore to its former style and stan- 
dard. 

From my knowledge of the Fenian stories, and Ossianic poems which 
circulate in this country, I would classify them under three different and 
distinct heads, Ist, Fenian history, which comprises all based upon fact 
•nd supported by the ancient records and chronicles of our country, sucii 
as Cac 5A5ttA, Caz Cquca and the like, which it would be absurd to dis- 
credit against the forcible evidence of our trustworthy annals. 2nd, 
inventions and poetic Actions which are entertaining, and intended by the 
authors more to amuse the reader and to embellish history, than, as some 
say, to impose on liis understanding, and claim the credit of truth. 3rd, 
the poems and prophecies of f 101717, Coftt]oU, CAO^lce, and others of the 
flAiyi)^ 6}ftiooi9 (Irish Militia), which are very interesting, and I should 
think entitled to as much credit as the early traditions of any other 
nation. 

Some assume that the genuine old poems and stories cannot be dis- 
tinguished from the modem Actions, and consequently that they cannot 
be credited, but that all must be considered worthless. This is a very 
unjustifiable assumption. The Irish scholar will at once know the com- 
position of the Fenian period, as the language and style is different 
from that of latter times. From the fourteenth to the begi Doing of the 



230 

eighteenth oentuiy* we bare another dais of poems and romantic tales, 
which exhibit a later stage of the language, bnt which are well worthy of 
attention. My own convlcton is that the Ossianic poem on the " Land of 
Youth'* is of this last class and date, and from the testimony of many 
corroborating facta supported by the result of an inquiry which I insti- 
tuted at your suggestion, I beliere it to hare been written by the learned 
Michael Comyn, contemporaneously with the romance of CotiolbtiiAc 
5cAnti7» ie. (Toroly the son of Stam), about the year A.D. 1749. By 
comparing Cf tt v^ 19-05 with the occasionally interspersed rerses in the 
romance of Torolr the son of Stam, Sec, whose author is uniyersally ac- 
knowledged to be Michael Comyc, it will be perceired that there is such 
a similarity and almost identity of style in them as to leare no doubt that 
they are both the productions of the same master mind. As further 
proof of this I may state that an illiterate man of my acquaintance can 
repeat several verses of it, but knows it under no other name but that of 
lAO| Aif CojiqfDis (Comyn*s Lay)» and that his father had it from Comyn*s 
manuscript. Another man states in a letter to me, that his copy of 
it waa written in the year 1762 by a celebrated Irish scholar, who llTed 
in Ruan, County of Glare. In this poem we hare an aooount of Cf n 9A 
fh^Aome itfAjt^ (Land of the good people), the elyslum of the Pagan Irish 
as related to 8t. Patrick by Oisin, when he returned to Erin after a lapse 
of more than three hundred years, which he spent in the enjoyment of all 
bliss, with his charming spouse, the golden headed (haired) Niamh. 
While Oisin sojourned in the paradise of perpetual youth, it was (it seems 
falsely) said of him that he was dead, but as those who enter the '* Land 
of the Just" can never die, so Oisin lived until he returned to relate the 
history of his adventures, and of this happy elysium. The inhabitants, 
of the eastern ooun tries believed that in the west there was a happy final 
abode for the just which was called Cfti qa v-bAoi^e m^fce (Land of the 
good people.) 

This elysium is supposed to be divided into different states and pro- 
vinces,, each governed by its own king or ruler, such asCfn i^a 9-65 (Land 
of youth) Cfn 9A ii>.beo (Land of the Living) C|ft i|a i9-bttA6A (Land of 
virtues) and several others. According to traditional geography and his- 
tory tlie ** L&nd of Youth** is the most charming country to be found or 
imagined, abounding in all that fancy could suggest or man could desire, 
and bestowing the peculiar virtue of perpetual youth, and hence the 
name. In the *' Land of Virtues," or as some call it, the Land of Vic* 
tones/* (but the latter name 1 suppose to be a mis-translation, as I have 
never heard of a battle or strife in tins country) s it is all peace, Iran* 
quility and happiness. As there is no conflict there can be no victory— 
and there is no virtue to be desired which is not to be had on entering 



231 

this country I The " Land of life*' is supposed to gire perpetual life 
to the departed spirits of the just. These are supposed to be located 
somewhere about the suu's setting point, and have means of approach, 
chiefly through the seas, lakes and rivers of this world, also through ruths, 
duns and forts. The seas, lakes and riyers act as cooling atmospheres, 
while the raths, duns and forts, serve as places of ingress and egress to and 
from them. There are besides, different grand-gates, as it were, through, 
out the world, such asQU ScuinQ (Kill Stuifin), situate in liscannor Bey, 
supposed to be one of the chief entrances into Cftt v^ 17-05 (*' Land of 
youth.") This is said to be abeautiftil but small city, marked by the white 
breaking waves between Iaacc (Lahinch.) and lTor-CeAi)i7i&in (Liscannor). 
The white breaking wares, which are always seen in this part of the Bay, 
are said to be caused by the shallowness of the water over this enchanted 
little city, which is beliered to be seen once in seven years, and of 
which, it is observed, that those who see it shall depart this world be- 
fore the lapse of seven years to come ; but it is not supposed that those 
persons diCt but change their abode, and transmigrate from this world uf 
toil, into the elysium of the just, t,e, Cfn da i)-65 (** Land of Youth,") 
where they shall, at once, become sportire, young and happy, and con- 
tinue so for ever. It is also believed, that those who see those enchanted 
spots, are slightly endowed with the gift of prophecy, from the time 
they see it till they depart this world, and that they pass through this 
enchanted passage, so magically shewn them, {)rior to their departure. 
For further information on C|U 5cu|F|9 (Kill Stuifin), read Comyn*8 Ro- 
mance, called Qacz^a totto]lb n^Aic ScAttto A5Ar a cttiutt 19 ac (the ad- 
Tentures of Torolv Mac Starn and his three sons). Contiguous to this 
place is another spot called C90C oa nos^^e (Fairy Hill), this was the 
ancient name of Lahinch, before the death of the Chieftun, O'Connor of 
Dumhach, (the Sand pits), who had been treacherously slain there, and in 
memory of whom there had been raised a monument called leAcc uj Coq- 
cubATft (0*Connor*s monument), which in Irish is the present name of this 
little town, but in its anglicised form Lahinch, or Lahinchy, it has lost all 
sight of the old deriration. It was called Cooc pA 5105x60 (Fairy Hill), 
from its being the meeting place of the fairy nobles of this section of the 
country, who, it seems, lived on terms of intercourse with the nobles of Cffi 
17A 0-65 («* Land of Youth,*') and this hill is traditionally believed to be the 
place where both tribes met and held their periodical conferences. The 
nobles of this country are said to live in the great and large duns, for- 
tresses, lisses, and raths, and to act as agents to the nobles of Cfft 17A 9.65 
('* Land of Youth,") and to those of all the states of the lower paradise. 
One of the duties of their station is to mark the persons suitable^ the lower 
country, and by their supernatural power they meet or send messengers to 



232 

carry off those persons. It is in the shape of a beautiful lady, such as 
HrAib Cwt) Of ft, golden-headed, (haired) Niamh, that this messenger is 
generally seen. After the human creature whom she has visited has 
seen her, she vanishes in some magic way, and goes back to her own 
country. Ere long the person visited will pine away by some formal 
disease, and will be said to die, but fairy tradition proves that he or 
she (whichever it may be), does not die, but that they go into this 
elysium, where they will become young again and live for ever. 

There are several such passages in this country, to describe which, 
would be both needless and endless. Suffice it to mention a few of the 
greatest celebrity— 16 or fb bfteAfAl (0*Breasail*s country), lb lefcfij, 
(0*Leihin's country), Inchjquin and Lough Gur. The great Earl of 
Desmond is supposed to have been submerged in the latter, where he 
is seen once in every seven years, anxiously awaiting the destined hour 
of return to his country. On reference to the ancient records and Pagan 
history of different nations, it will be seen that they have their traditions 
of Pagan ely slums as well as Ireland. 

B. OXOONEY. 
Monreel, October 6th , 1858. 



Since the above was written, the Honorary Secretary to 
the Ossianic Society has been furnished with a similar 
legend. 

9, Angleaea-st., Dublin^ Jan. 20th, 1859. 
•• Sir, 

** There is a similar legend to that related in the following poem told 
of Oi sin's descent, and living for three hundred years in UAftb ija Caojiac 
5lAffe (the cavern of the grey sheep), a large cave which is situated at 
C'oolagarronroe, Kilbenny, near Mitchclstown, in the county of Cork. 
After the printing of this poem had been decided upon, I wrote to Mr. 
William Williams of Dungarvan, who is a native of the district, for in- 
formation respecting any legendary lore connected with this cave, from 
whom I received the following answer, as being current among the pea- 
santry.** 

J. O'D. 



233 

LEGEND OF THE GREY SHEEFS CAVE AT COOLAGAU- 

BONROE, NEAR KILBENNT. 

*' Oisiii went into the cave, met a beautiful damsel, after crossing the 
strtam, lired with her for {us he fancied) a few days, wished to revisit 
the Fenians, obtained consent at last, on condition of not alighting from 
tk white steedf with which she fdrnished him, stating that it was oyer 
300 years since he came to the caye. He proceeded till he met a carrier, 
whose cart, containing a bag of sand, was upset ; he asked Oisin to help 
him ; unable to raise the bag with one hand, he alighted, on which the 
steed fled, leaving him a withered^ decrepid, blind old man,** 

" On a certain May morning long ago, a grey sheep was seen to come 
out of the caye, and to go to a neighbouring farmer's field, where she re- 
remained, until herself and her breed amounted to sixty grey sheep. 

" The boy who took care of the sheep, was a widow's only son, a dis- 
ciple of Pan ; for ho played on the bag-pipes. 

" His master, the farmer, ordered him one fine day to kill one of the 
sheep, he proceeded to the field for that purpose ; but the old sheep 
knowing his intention, and resolving to frustrate it, bleated three times, 
which instantly brought all the other black sheep around her, when they 
disappeared altogether into the cave. The boy followed them but 
having crossed the enchanted stream which runs through the cave, he was 
unable to return ; as no one ever re-crosscd it but Oisin. On reflecting 
on the anguish his loss and absence would cause his mother, he raised a 
mournful strain which he accompanied by the music of his bag-pipes. 
On every May day from that day to this, the lamentations of the boy, 
and the music of his pipes are heard in the cave.*' 



_ • 

Aicfiir bfiipij A uoif SAP lijAiits 
qoopttf ti)AHt|r CA||i 6|f DA b-'piADD ? 

O. jwedf Ab fiD 6tt|c, a P^TtufS i)ua6, 
5]6 bo|lb lioti) A IuaS 6f A|ib 

CAIH e^l* A1) CACA 3^6?*^* CflUA]8, 

AOT A|t TIJApbAS, IDO t)ttA|t 1 AD C-Of 5A]t AJ, 

L4 b'A ]tAbAn>AY|tDe u^le ad T'IAdd 

'PfODD ri^i 'r^T* "?<^m ^t^jo ^w, 

318 50 TDbA bo^lb, babAC Aft rs^Al, 
CA]|i fe|f 4|t lAocitA]8 beic 50 f ADD ! 

21 feflj ba]DD A|i TDA^bfD ceobAC, 
A D']n)iol bdftbAfb Loca t^]v,^ 
TDAji A |tA|b C|tA]DD cufDTiA bA TDlUf^ blAc, 
Y cfeol 5AC c]tAc 30 h]x)X) A3 6|D. 

^"iriS®^^ M^^ AT) e]llC TDAOI, 

bo b'feAYtfi U|TD. iiu^c f luc ; 

b] A|i 3-C01D V ^T* P-S^^Aift 30 Ifeift 

30 blue 'da b6]3 fA Iad riubAl. 

' 5Ab|iA. Garristown in the county of Dublin. See the Introduction 
to Vol. I. of the TranBactions of the Osaianic Society, also the note from 
Mr. J. Reid in same book, page 1 12. 

Gabbra is not Garristown, but a stream which flows into the Boyne, 



LAY OF OISIN ON THE LAND OF YOUTHS ; 

AB HB RELATED IT TO BAINT PATBICK. 



P. 1 Noble Oiflin, I son of the king ! 

Of greatest actions, valor, and conflicts, 
Belate to us now without despondency, 
How thou livedst after the Flans ? 

0. I will tell it thee, O Patrick I lately arrived, 
Though mournful to me to say it aloud : — 
" After the hard battle of Qabhra, 
In which was killed, alas I the noble Oscar. 

One day we, the Fianna, were all aflsembled, 
Generous Fionn and all of us that lived were there ; 
Tho' dark and mournful was our story. 
After our heroes being overcome. 

We were hunting on a misty morning 
Nigh the bordering shores of Loch L^n, 
Where thro' fragrant trees of sweetest blossoms, 
And the mellow music of birds at all times. 

We aroused the hornless deer 
Of the best bounding, course, and agility ; 
Our hounds and all our dogs 
Were close after in full chase. 

not far from the hill of Skreen, near Tarn, in the Countj of Meath 

J. 0*1). 

' lot Ufi}, the old Irish name of the l4ikca of Killarney in the oounty 
of Kerry. 



236 

O. NlO|l b'^AbA 50 b|:ACd1DA]|t a 1)]A|t, 

At) 117A|ICAC b]A1J A5 CeACC CuJA]!)!) ! 

Aop iDACAoti) 1D1J& bo b'4v]lle bfteAC, 
A|t CAel-eAC b^o bA n}]\ie luc. 

4>o fCAbAiDA]|t u]le bet) cfe]l3, 
A|t ArbAftc be]lbe t)a ]t^05-Tpij^ ; 
bo 2;A]b ]0D3ApcAf 'pioijij Y ai) Tiaijo, 

T)AC f ACAbAft fiiAii) bcAi) c6ri) b]lfeA5 I 

B] co|i5]D hioJSa A|i A ceAi7t)f 

A5ttf bfiAC bow ^'0 c-ffobA 6A071 ; 
bttA]lce fie |t6alcA]b beAfis 6]ji, 

A5 foUc A b|t63A ffOf 50 f&A|t. 
B] f ^11)6 0]|l A]i C|tOCA8 f]Of , 

Af 5AC bttAl bu^6e b'^ blA0i5 iDAft oft ; 
^ T*or3^ 50|in)A, 5IADA 5AI) pDU]b 
iDA]t b|tAop b|tuccA A|i b«i|t At) ^e6||i. 

Ba be|ft5e a 57mA]8 'pi^ At) 716^, 

V '^^ Sl'^ ^ ro66 'i)A eAlA A|i cu]T)i) ; 

bA ID^llfe blAf A bAlf ATI) fdf, 

't)^ Ti)]l A beA6 |idl cfife &eAfi5f]oi)i). 

A5 frolAC Ai) ]*cfe]b-eic ba^p ; 
b]AllA]b 5|ieAi)CA be 8eA|i5-6|t, 
A5Af f ft|At) b6Al-6||t 't)A beAf-l^jH). 

Bl ceic|te c|ta8 50 cun)CA fA^O], 
be'i) 6fi btti8e bA slA^pe f5^]l, 

rleAfS Altl3]b A 3-cal A C|DD, 

Y 1)] |iA]b *x^r) c-|*A0]3eAl eAc bo b'^e^jiyi ! 



237 

0. 'Twas not long 'till we saw, westwards, 
A fleet rider advancing towards us, 
A young maiden of most beautiful appearance. 
On a slender white steed of swiftest power. 

We all ceased firom the chase. 

On seeing the form of the royal maid ; 
'Twas a surprise to Fionn and the Fianns, 
They never beheld a woman equal in beauty. 

A royal crown was on her head ; 
And a brown mantle of precious silk. 
Spangled with stars of red gold, 
Covering her shoes down to the gra^s. 

A gold ring was hanging down 
From each yellow curl* of her golden hair ; 
Her eyes blue, clear, and cloudless, 
Like a dew drop on the top of the grass. 

Redder were her cheeks than the rose. 

Fairer was her visage than the swan upon the wave. 
And more sweet was the taste of her balsam lips 
Than honey mingled thro' red wine. 

A garment wide, long, and smooth. 
Covered the white steed ; 
There was a comely saddle of red gold, 
And her right hand held a bridle with a golden bit. 

Four shoes well shaped were under him. 
Of the yellow gold of the purest quality ; 
A silver wreath was on the back of his head. 
And there was not in the world a steed better. 

* Perhaps flguratlrel^ meaning that snch carl was like a loop of gold. 



238 

bo lAbAffi 50 CAO^i) cfje^fbA a b-|rttA]ft) ; 
A5Uf A bttbA]|tc ti, " A ]tiS i)A b-T^lAW* 
If ^AbA, C]Aij A i)0]f rt)o cu^iTtb," 

f. " CjA cu f fe]f), A nlos^lP ^15' 

]r f e^^n cl68, it>Aif e f 5t)Aoi, 
A]C|tif bu^Di) |?^c bo tseo^l, 
c*A]i7rp f fefi) aV bo q^ ?" 



t< 



^ tnt)o s^r^A t)A fi)5ti-ria]5 ; 

cA|t n)r}^]h At) bon)A^p^ f isA|]ieAf 5A]}tfiy 
ir "J^ 11)5^^1) CA]lce R^5 i)A i>-65/' 



c]teAb f;^ bo ceACC cA|i leA]t a c-c^it) ; 

A9 6 bo c^]le b'^fi7C^5 tiA]c, 

Nd CAb 6 Ap 6aAf6]|tc ac^ o|tc f 6^9 ?" 

" N^ 1)6 foo c^]\e b']ij)q3 uA]n7* 

'f f 5f T)]0|t IoaSaS iDfe le I^Aei) fe^^, 

A ]ii3 UA 7^feii)t)e ir Aoijtbe cA]l, 

Acc teA]ic \x Sn^ ^ TO3At bob' n^c 1" 

'^ C^A ACA 6oT9 clo]9, A foseA^ bU|i, 
V b*ctt3Aif 3|ia8, t)6 |:6r S^ao, 
T)^ ce^l OTia]i)p A i)0|f f ^, 
A'f A]cji]f btt^DP bo c^Xf A 6*A9 ?" 

bob' ti)AC 3tiit)!)# A|iip-cjittA|b ; 

OltiP ineAt)Afl)l)AC PA b-C|lfeAp-Ufb; 
A9 Iao6 ACli|19 ApOff bo lllA|6/' 



239 

O, She came to the presence of Fionn, 

And spoke with a voice sweet and gentle, 
And she said, '' 0, king of the Fianna, 
Long and distant is my journey, now/' 

F. " Who art thou, thyself, youthful princess I 
Of fairest form, beauty, and countenance, 
Relate to us the cause of thy story, 
Thine own name and thy country." 

" Golden-headed Niamh is my name, 
0, sage Fionn of the great hosts. 
Beyond the women of the world I have won esteem, 
I am the fair daughter of the Bong of Youth." 

F. '^ Relate to us amiable princess 

What caused thee to come afar across the sea — 

Is it thy consort has forsaken thee, 

Or what is the affliction that is on thyself." 

N. ^' 'Tis not my husband that went from me, 

And as yet I ha^e not been spoken of with any man,* 

1 king of the Fianna of highest repute 

But affection and love I have given to thy son." 

** Which of my children [is he] blooming daughter. 
To whom thou hast given love, or yet affection — 
Do not conceal from us now the cause, 
And relate to us thy case, woman." 

' ' I will tell fliee that, Fionn ! 
Thy noble son of the well-tempered arms. 
High-spirited Oisin of the powerfdl bands. 
Is tiie champion that I am now speaking of." 

* i.e.» I hare nat Imoi betrothed tQ asgr man^ 



240 
'p. Cfte^b A1J |r^c a b-cu3A]r 3|iA6 

borij TOAC f 6]ij feACAf c^ 

V A l]ACC f Ia(C ^fib fA'ij DST^^li) ?" 

Nl 5AI) abbAfi A ]ti3 1)A b-'piAt)!), 

bo C^1J3Af A 3-CIAIJ |?«^ 1)A bh\X) 

Acc cuA|iAf3b^]l b'|?«i3Ail Afi A 3Aif3e, 
|?eAbttf A peA|if Aiijt) A3ttf a 11)61 p." 

)X ioit;8A TpAC fi]3 A3Ar AT^b-^Uic, 
bo ctt3 bon) 3eAij A3ttr T10]*"5]*^*' 
P|OTi Aopctt^geAf |t]Aii) b'Aet) feAH, 
30 b'Ctt3At TCAtic b'OifiT) ^13 1" 

O. 43A|t A!) Ufi) tit) o|tc, A P^bftuis ! 

3^6 1)^|l T)^l|ieAC llOII) IDA]i t3feAl, 

1)1 itAib Aei) bAll b]OTi) i)AC jiA^b a D-3|t^, 
le b-1^5®^t> ^Iaiod A!) ^uilc ]tfei6, 

430 |ttt3Af Aft A l^iii) Att)' 66|b, 

Y bubftAf bo gldfi 3uc-bit)i? ; 
^]0]i-cAoii) y^^Xc^ |t6fi)Ab, 

" )r «^tt ir sii^' 'r ir fi^e, hx^t, 

If cu bo b'^e^ftji l^ofi) n)A|t fi)!)AO] ; 
It cu ft)0 T103A cAji ri)pli]b Ap bott)A|t), 
A tifeAlcA]t) ii)66ATi)Ail ]r beife SV^v' 

" S^^r-^ ^^ tulAT)5A]b t^oit-lAO|C, 
A Oiri!) r^lli cui^iD Ab' c6ii)Ai|i 

CeACC llOTI) t^ll) ADOff Afl T1)'eAC, 

30 ]ti3eAit) cAifi A]r 30 T>\yi da i)-63. 



941 

Oi '' What is the reason that thou gayest love^ 
! beautiM daughter of the glossy hair, 
To my own son beyond all, 
And multitudes of high lords under the sun/' 

'' 'Tis not without cause, 0, king of the Fianna I 
I came afar for him — 
But reports I heard of his prowess, 
The goodness of his person and his mien." 



i( 



it 



Many a son of a king and a high chief 
Gave me flection and perpetusJ love ; 
I never consented to any man 
'Till I gave love to noble Oisin." 

By that hand on thee, Patrick, 
Though it is not shameful to me as a story. 
There was not a limb of me but was in love 
With the beautiful daughter of the glossy hair." 



I took her hand in mine. 
And said in speech of sweetest toUe^ 
" A true, gentle, welcome before thee, 
young princess to this country !" 



^* Tis thou that art the brightest and the fairest of form> 
'Tis thee I prefer as wife 

Thou art my choice beyond the women of the world 
mild 'star of loveliest countenance I" 

** Obligations unresisted by true heroes 

generous Oisin I put upon thee 

To come with myself now upon my steed 

Till we arrive at the ' Land of Youth/ 
16 



242 

O. " Si At? c1|i If Aoibpe le ^^jAfl, 

]r ?i?d c^|l Ai)0|f fr^'i) D-5|ife]u; 
c|tA]Dij A5 cftoii)A6 le co|t]tcA 'f blAc, 
aV ba}lleAbA|t aj |:Af a|i bA|tfiA]b 36U3. 

'r 5^c u^le ij| b'A bfreACA |*uil 
1)1 tiACAi6 cAiceATi) 0|ic Ub' jiAe, 
b^f t>^ Ti^eAC PI ^eic|:|& cu. 

'' 4)o 5eAbA]Tt |rleA6, ]fi?i|ic 'f 6l, 
bo 5eAbA|]t cedl h]x)i) a|ii cfeAb ; 
bo geAbAiti Ainsiob ASAf 6fi, 
bo seAbAffi fof ]oti)Ab f^Ab. 

" 4)0 3eAbA|Ti cfeAb cloiSeAtp 5AP 56, 
3eAbAi]t cfeAb b|iAC f|to|l be fiobA bAOfi; 
3eAbAi|t cftAb eAc if iDi|ie a !)-3led, 
V J^^bAiji c6Ab led be copAib 3feu|i. 

*' Do geAbAiit iDloiji)-]ti038A K15 pA ij-ds, 
t)AC CU3 jtiAri) fdf bo ijeAc jta'p D-3|ifeli), 
bo SfeADfAf biop bttic b'oi6ce 'f l5, 
A 3-CAc, A !)-3le6 \a ij-SAjib-glfeAc. 



" Do 3eAbAi|i luifteAc curi)bAi3, cdm, 
A'f cloi6eAii) c|0t)-5i|t if clifbe bfeinj; 
T)^'lt c6aiii)ai3 i^eAc ]tiAii) ua6 bed, 

l)OC COQAlltC |:5f AP C-A|ITD s^uft. 

" Do 3eAbAi|t cfeAb feibe 'f tei^e f|t6il, 
geAbAiit cfeAb b6, 'f f of cfeAb IaoJ ; 
^eAbAiii c^Ab CAO|tA, 300A lon)|tAib di^t, 
geAbAiii cfeAb fe6b ijAC bpuil 'f-^P c-f A05AI. 



848 

O. ** It is the most delightful country to be found, 
Of greatest repute under the sun 
Trees drooping with fruit and blossom 
And foliage growing on the tops of boughs. 

** Abundant, there, are honey and wine 
And everything that eye has beheld, 
There will not comedecline on thee with lapse of time, 
Death or decay thou wilt not see. 

*' Thou wilt get feasts, playing, and drink, 
Thou wilt get melodious music on the harp strings, 
Thou wilt get silver and gold, 
Thou wilt get also many jewels. 

'' Thou wilt get, without falsehood, a hundred swords ; 
Thou wilt get a hundred satin garments of precious 

silk. 
Thou wilt get a hundred horses the swiftest in conflict. 
And thou wiltgetahundred with them of keen hounds. 

*' Thou wilt get the royal diadem of the ' King of Youth,' 
Which he never yet gave to any person under the sun, 
'Twill protect thee both night afld day, 
In battle, in tumult, and in rough conflict. ' 

** Thou wilt get a fitting coat of protecting mail 

And a gold headed sword apt for strokes. 

From which no person ever escaped alive 

Who, once, saw the sharp weapon. 

[satin, 

*^ Thou wilt get a hundred coats of armour and shirts of 

Thou wilt get a hundred cows and, also, an hundred 

calves, [fleeces. 

Thou wilt get a hundred sheep, with their golden 

Thou wilt get a hundred jewels not in this world. 



S44 



]!• trfeATtft be|lb, cftuc, Asuf f i)66, 
V ir t>]^^ bfeojl *f)^ ce6l i)A i)-feAp. 



«« 



3edbAi|i cfeAb Uec |f c|tfeii)e a i)-3le5, 
II* clifbe |:6r a 5-cleAfAib luc ; 
AftnjcA, ^ibce, oj* bo cdti)^1ft> 
A b-^Cin i)A 1J-63, Ti)^ c|5i]i l]OfD. 



" Do ^eAbAifi 5AC ij] b'^ i)-bub|tuf leAc, 
A'f AoibijeAf f6f OAC l6||i bArijf^ 'Iii4i6, 
5eAbA||i fijAife, T>eA]ic Vf bfijge, 
*f bjAbfA ffe|t) A5Ab n)A|i rijo^oi-" 

" <l)lttlcA6 Aft b]C ol b6tt|tf Ab uAifi), 
A HlosAp C-fttAlJlC 1)A 5-citACA i)-0|fi; 
If cu ft)o TtojA cA|t vjry^if^ ^V bOTbA]i), 

Af ItACAfl) le fOtJP 30 'C^lt PA p-63/' 

2l||i ii)tt]i) Ap e]c, caA6Ti)A]Ti A|tAOT), 
A||t Tpo b6ulA, bo ftt|6 At) df3 ; 
A biibAific, " A OirtO; T^V^W 30 Tifei6, 
30 liiSeAfi? bfettl At) rpAjiA Tb6i]t." 

2li)0 Tit) ^'©1ltSl6 AT) c^eAc A|t luc, 
At) c|i^ M3«AiDAf|t 30 CftttijAjf t)A c|t^3A ; 
bo cfiO|C 6 f6]t) At)t) rit) CtttD ]']ubA|l, 
'f bo lfe|3 cft] 30ttir Ar Of ^|tb. 

?lO C|t^ C01)1)A1|IC 'plOOl) V At) 'pbl^O!)! 

At) c-eAC 30 b]A!) 'f-^O c-f]iibAl ; 

A3 CAbAl]tC ASA]6 A]i At) b-C|t6At)-Tt7lll]t, 

bo l6|3eAbA|t qt^ 3^ti]tcA 3tt]l 'x cvin)A]6 1 



245 

0. " Thou wilt get a hundred virgirifi gay and young 
Blight, refulgent, like the sun. 
Of best fonn, shape, and appearance. 
Whose voices are sweeter than the music of birds. 

" Thou wiltget ahundredheroes most powerfulin conflict, 
And also most expert in feats of agility, 
In arms and armour waiting on thee 
In the ' Land of Youth' if thou wilt come with me. 

'' Thou will get everything I promised thee (f) 
And delights, also, which I may not mention. 
Thou wilt get beauty, strength, and power, 
And I myself will be thy wife." 

" No refusal will I give from me, 
charming queen of the golden curls I 
Thou art my choice above the women of the world, 
And I will go, with willingness, to the 'Land of 
Youth.' " 

On the back of the steed we went together, 
Before me sat the virgin ; 
. She said: " Oisin let us remain quiet, 
Till we reach the mouth of the great sea." 

Then arose the steed swiftly, 
When we arrived on the borders of the strand 
He shook himself then to pace forward. 
And neighed three times aloud. 

When Fionn and the Fianna saw. 
The steed travelling swiftly. 
Facing against the great tide. 
They raised three shouts of mourning and grief. 

t Erery rerse with this mark (f) is taken from a MS. which I lately 
got, and was not in the MS. transcribed for the president or in Mr. 
Grifiin's copy. 



246 
*' 11)0 curt)A6 t:6|T) cu A5 ^iDceACC uA|tD ; 

CUSArt) CA|l A]r fAO] V^v buA8 !" 

Y bo x\\ t^ltAfA bfeAfi AijuAf ; 

3tt|i f l^ttc A b|to|i)i)e, 'r ^ 3®^l"3'>^» 

> bttbAiitc, " n)0 Ifettu ctt, A 0]f]v uAitt) !" 

?l Pb^bT*A13i *>^ bubAC AD rS^Al, 
A|i f 3AtiArt)uipij |ie cfe]le ai)1) rw^ ; 

If bubAC, Ia3, iTAOi) be^c b'^ Iua6 I 

4)0 p63Af-f A ID*ACA]|t 30 CAO]1)| CAOfb, 

Y A1J cotDAiDO cfeA6t)A, iruAHieAf ua6 ; 

b'^^jAr r^^Vf ttlle ^3 ^^ h'ip^]vv, 
'f bo f |l DA b6A|iA 'DttAf le id' SftuAl^ • 

)f ]0td6a la AO^biDD, b|or-r^ f Fl^OD, 

V AD 'FblADD 'd^T* 3-qoDD V^O] UD-n^jrD ; 
^3 inline ricciUe AjAf A5 6l, 

'f A3 clof ceo]l, AD bu]6eAD bA cfteAD* 

2I3 feAl3Af|teAcc a D-sleADDCAib idid> 
'r^T* D3A6A||t bfe|l-b^DD A3UIDD ADD ; 
|*eAlAb e|le &u]DD a D-3A|ib 3l]AC, 
A3 c|ieAf3Ai]ic Iaoc 30 I^d-ccadd. 

p. 41 OiriD bAOic, c|ifei3 30 }:d]l, 

be b' 3Aif3e rD6|i Afi ad b-7^fe]DD ;^ 
qoDD^r ^ cttAbAif 30 V)ji DA D-O3, 
A*r leAD bttfDD 3AD 36 Afi bo f3feAl. 



247 

O. "0 Oisin!" said Fionn slowly and sorrowfully, 

" Woe it is to me that thou art going from me, 
I have not a hope that thou wilt ever again. 
Come back to me victorious." 

His form and beauty changed, 
And showers of tears flowed down, 
Till they wet his breast and his bright visage 
And he said, " My woe art thou, 0, Oiain ! in going 
from me." 

Patrick, 'twas a melancholy story 

Our parting from each other in that place. 
The parting of the father from his own son — 
'Tis mournful, weak, and faint to be relating it ! 

1 kissed my father sweetly and gently, 
And the same affection I got from him ; 
I bade adieu to all the Fianna, 

And the Tears flowed down my cheeks. 

Many a delightful day had Fionn and I, 
And the Fianna with us in great power, 
Been chess-playing and drinking, 
And hearing music — the host that was powerful ! 

A hunting in smooth valleys. 
And our sweet-mouthed dogs with us there ; 
At other times, in the rough conflicf? 
Slaughtering heroes with great vigour. 

P. I foolish Oisin, forego a while 

Thy great actions of the Fenians, 

How didst thou go to the " Land of Youth," 

Proceed, faithfully, with thy tale to us. 



248 
O. t>o cu3ATi)A]tt ^|i 5-ciil bo'i) z}ji, 

bo cfi^]5 Ap ii)ip-W]]i '(i6n)A]t), 

'f bo l]ot) 'i)A bfiO]i)i)C|b ]O0^|t i>-b]A]5« 

4)o COt>CAI17A^Yt 10t>3A!>Cttlf '1):^|l f jubAl, 

p]olA]q6e f^oi^i^AolcA, A3Af btt]i)ce, 
3TtYAT>a]p lof)0|*ACA, A3Af pU^ir* 

l)o cot>CAfi7A|ti, f Of ]ie ^|t c-cAeb, 
e]l]z ibAol A]i l6]iD luc; 
A^f 3A6A]t claA^f-6eA]t3, bAo^ 

A3 CACfTAI^O 30 b^t)A Y ^1> C-f]ubAU 
4)0 COI)CAl1)A||t f 6f, 3AI) 36, 

A]pb||t 63 A]fi fc^Ab-eAC b6t)i), 

ubAll d]|t 'pa beAf-U^ffij, 

V 1 ^S l«>ceAcc A||t b^|i|i PA b-copi>i 

4)0 copcAn7A]|t 'pa 6ed]3, 

tpA|iCAC 63 A]! f c6Ab b^p ; 

f AO] b|tAc co|tcu||t beA|t3 tfi6il, 
'f cloi6eAfp qpp-5i|t 'pA 6eAf-l*^injk 



<« 



if 



C^A b]Ab Ap b^f ttb, bo c!\6}n)f 
A ^I^S^It) CAO]p, ]pp]r boip ^^; 
AP b^p ub ]f A|lpe 3PAO|, 
'f TPAttCAC flfdip AP e]c bAfp ?" 

N^ Ctt]|t i*tt]Tp 'pa b-f^^cp^ft cd, 

A OiriT) tttpA]l, 'p^ b-IJACAlf f5f, 

PI b-fml ]oppcA vi]\e Acc pe|fp-p| 
30 wSeAip 30 Cfit Ri3 PA p-65." 



249 

0. We turned our backs to the land 
And our faces directly due-west. 
The smooth sea ebbed before us, 
And filled in billows after us. 

We saw wonders in our travels, 
Cities, courts and castles, 
Lime-white mansions and fortresses. 
Brilliant summer-houses and palaces. 

We saw also, by our sides 

A hornless fawn leaping nimbly, 
And a red-eared white dog, 
Urging it boldly in the chase. 

We beheld also, without fiction, 
A young maid on a brown steed, 
A golden apple in her right hand, 
And she going on the top of the waves. 

We saw after her, 
A young rider on a white steed. 
Under a purple, crimson mantle of satin. 
And a gold-headed sword in his right hand, 

*' Who are yon two whom I see, 

gentie princess, tell me the meaning, 
That woman of most beautiful countenance, 
And the comely rider of the white steed.'' 

" Heed not what thou wilt see, 

1 gentie Oisin, nor what thou hast yet seen. 
There is in them but nothing, 

Till we reach tiie land of the ' King of Youth.' " 



250 

O. 4)0 COT)CAt1)A]|t UA]1J A 5-C|At)1), 

p^Uf 5ftiAt)TbA|t, ucc-bUic ; 
bub bft^A^A be^lb AjAf 51)^, 
b'^ |iA|b 'f AT) c-f aoJaI le t?t^5A^l. 

" C|A Ap b6ij |t]056A^ ]td-btt645, 

'v^ b-fu]l]ii)]b A5 cft^All 'i)A b^]l, 
1)6 C]A If ^jib-flA^c Ai)i)- fub ?" 

]f bA]D|ll03All) f6f Al)t)f' A1) buij j 

CU3 7-orijO|t Bu|lleAc' bftujine 16Jac, 
le]f le f6]fti)eA|tc 3feA3 'f lu|c. 

" 3^Af A Cttjll fl A] ft Al) b-CflfeAT), 

3AP beAi) bo 66Ai)Ati) 6] 30 bjta^cAc ; 

30 b-f ^3A& x) Ctt|iA6 1)6 f ^ofi-lAOc, 

bo f6Afn)68A6 3l]Ac le|f Utb Afft lafTb-" 

" Beiji buAb A3ttf beAi)T)ACc, a NfAiij c|i)t) 6ni, 
1)^ cuAlAf bo cfeol HI ATI) ]f fe^|i|i ; 
'i)^ CA0]t)-3U]c b|i)i) bo ii)il]f-bfeoil, 
V ir ")^n A*) bfioi) l]i)i) bcAi) b'A cA]l. 

" 'CfelJbeAiij A!>Off b'A f fbf boi) btt!)/ 
aY b-ffe]b]ft 3u|t bujiji) AC^ ffe A i)-b4ii); 
At) c|ifeAi)-lA0C ub bo cu]CfiD l]ori), 
A 3-cleAfA]b lu|c, ii)Aft bA6 3i)3ic." 

*Do cua6ida]|i at)d f|i) boi) but), 

-^^V CA1DI3 CU5A|T)I) AD ]t]03AT) 65 ; 

bo V]OX)jxt)v beAllftAb 6] *x ^^'^ 5^^10> 
aV bo cu]|i x] c^Ab f:^]lce |i6it)Ait). 

> Fofijoft bu|lleAc, i.e. <A« striking Giant, was the despotic ruler of the 
" Land of Virtues,** — a country not mentioned in any other copy of this 
poem that 1 have seen. 



251 

0. We saw from us afar 

A sunny palace of beantiful front, 

Its form and appearance were the most beauteous 

That were to be found in the world " 

" What exceeding — fine, royal mansion, 
And also, the best that eye hath seen, 
Is this, that we are travelling near to. 
Or who is higli-chief of that place ? " 

''The daughter of the king of the ' Land of Life,' 
Is queen, yet, in that fortress 
She was taken by Fomhor Builleach,of Dromloghach, 
With violent strength of arms and activity. 

" Obligation she put upon the brave, 
Never to make her a wife, 
Till she got a champion or true hero. 
To stand battle with him hand to hand." 

" Take success and blessings, O golden-headed Niamh, 
I have never heard better music 
Than the gentle voice of thy sweet mouth, 
Great grief to us is a woman of her condition. 

" I will go now to visit her to the fortress. 
And it may be for us it is fated 
That that great hero should fall by me. 
In feats of activity as is wont to me.'' 

We went then into the fortress. 
To us came the youthful queeui 
Equal in splendor was she to the sun. 
And she bade us a hundred welcomes. 



252 

O. Bi cuIaiS be f^obA bu^6e, 

A\i Aij ]t1o5A|i) bo b'A]li)e f i)58 ; 

A CpeAf CAflce f1)A]t aIa A]|t Cttl1)l>9 

9t|i 6ac ai) d||t bo b] A folc, 
aV a 50|iiD-|iof3A sIatja jai) ceo ; 
A bfe]l]t) n^eAlA A]fi 6ac pa 5-cao|i, 

Y A toaIa cAol bA 5fteAi)CA cld6. 

4>o fui6eAii)Ai|i Apt) i^i; Xl^Yf 

5AC T)-A01J b]1J A|l CACAO|]t 5||l ; 

bo leA5A6 cu5A]i)9 mdft^t) b^S, 
A*|- cttffti) b^ge bl l^oi)CA beo]]i.^ 

21t) C|t&C CA]CeATOA]]t Aft f ^]C b]6, 

A'f iOfi)Ab f ^ooi)CA nj^l^f d^l ; 

bo UbA^lt AO It^OjAl?) 65, C^O]t), 

If e6 bubA])tc f j, " fe]fc lionj 30 f6]V' 

4D'it)i)ir b^iw f ]or A'r fat a rs^ii, 

Y bo f |l i)A bedjtA le t)A SltuAiS, 

A b(»bA]|ic ij^]t b-fillcA8 8] 6*^ qft pfeit)* 
'f A pACAc zji^At) bo be]c 50 boAi)'* 

" Bi bo corb, A |t1o5A]D 6|5, 
f Su^H be'b h\i6r)i), A'f t?^ b| cao|8 ; 
A'f bo be^itfti) 6a]c ti^o l^ri;^ 
AT) c-ACAC ^]\i, 50 b-cu]CF|8 liop I" 

" N] bf u]l Iaoc A!jo]f le k^Sa^I, 
b'^ cft6]i)e c-a]l f AO^'ij i)-5|i6i!j, 
bo b6tt|tf a6 cdfbriAc l^ri) a|I l^ifb» 

bO*l) ACAC bai)A PA 5-C|tttAl6-b6lTI)." 

1 Althoi(gli this word resemble the word ** beer," the liquors were verj 
diiTerent, 



263 

0. There was apparel of yellow silk 

On the queen of excelling beauty, 

Her chalk-white skin was like the swan on the wavej 

And her cheeks were of the colour of the rose. 

Her hair was of a golden hue. 
Her blue eyes clear and cloudless ; 
Her honey lips of the colour of the berries^ 
And her slender brows of loveliest form. 

Then we there sat down, 
Each of us on a chair of gold, 
There was laid out for us abundance of food 
And drinking-horns filled with beoir. 

When we had taken a sufficiency of food, 
And much sweet drinking wines, 
Then spoke the mild young princess. 
And thus said she, '' barken to me awhile." 

She told us the knowledge and cause of her tale. 
And the tears flowed down her cheeks ; 
She said, *' my return is not to my own country. 
Whilst the great giant shall be alive." 

" Be silent, O young princess ! 
Give o'er thy grief and do not mourn, 
And I give to thee my hand 
That the giant of slaughter shall fall by me I" 

'' There's not a champion now to be found 
Of greatest repute under the sun, • 
To give battle hand to hand 
To the bold giant of the bard blows.'* 



254 

Ti^apA b-cuicjr]6 Ijoii), bo b|i]S n)0 56A5, 
50 b-cu]cp6Ab f§]i) A|i bo rs^c." 

NlOjl b'^AbA 50 b-f ACAfOA^ft A5 Z€ACC, 
At; C-ACAC Cjl^A^ Ba 1176 5|i^Y9i 

beA|tc Aft be cfto|ci)e f 1a6^ 

A'f ltt|i5-feA|tf A|b ^A]tA]i;t; ioija U^ii)» 

Niofi beAi;i)A|5 f t>loit uipluij 6u]W, 

ACC b'f^AC A !)-5l)tt]f t>A O-^S-fbpIt, 
b'^OASAfft CAC A5Af c5n)TtAC Cft^At;/ 

aY cuA6Af f^fT) poA cari76^|U 

2l|i treA6 c]t] t)-0]6ce Asuf cji] U, 
bo b^fi)U]]t Yai) t)-Sl*^t5A|i ceAi)i9 
5]6 50 ti)-bA cft^Ai) 6 AT? c'acac 4^15, 
bo bA^i^eAf 5AI) f p^r be a ceApp I 

2lo C|l^6 coi)i?Ainc Ap bjf bAi) 65, 

AP C-ACAC rodft 50 f AOt) A]t l^|i ; 

bo U]5eAbA|t CM S^l*^^ 5T*!t?t)> 
le ti)dfi-TbAO|6eAii7 A5Af luc5^]ft! 

<Do cuAbrDAift AtjO flO bo'i) b&p, 

Y bo b]o8-f A b|t&]5te, IA5, f Aoij ; 
A5 fileAb |:oIa 50 lAp-ufi 

A ceACC 50 bloc Af 1170 Cft^ACb I 

4Do i^^}V]Z 1D5e^9 T»15 'J* n^be6, 
50 fi'oit A5 i:6]ni5i|t? o|iid ffejt) ; 
bo cu]|i ]ce V bAlfAn? Any' cf)^A8A| 

Y bob lOf |:fe|D fUp 'i>A bfeiJ. 



255 

0. " I tell to thee, gentle queen, 

I am not daunted at his coming to meet me. 
Unless he fall by me, by the strength of my arms, 
I will fall myself in thy defence/' 

'Twas not long till we saw approaching 
The powerful giant that was most disgusting, 
A load was on him of the skins of deer. 
And an iron bar in his hand. 

He did not salute or bow to us, [maiden. 

But looked into the countenance of the young 
Proclaimed battle and great conflict, 
And I went myself to meet him. 

During three nights and three days 
We were in the great contest. 
Though powerful was he, the valiant giant, 
I beheaded him without delay. 

When the two young maidens saw 
The great giant, lying motionless, weak and low, 
They uttered three joyfiil cries, • 

With great boasting and merriment. 

We then went to the fortress. 
And I was bruised, weak and feeble. 
Shedding blood in great abundance. 
Coming closely out of my wounds. 

The daughter of the " King of the Living" came 
In truth to relieve myself; 
She put balm and balsam, in my wounds^ 
And I was whole after her. 



256 

A'f bA ii)eA6|tAc 6an)i) aw f ]0 b'^ ^If > 
bo cdift^SeAS fui)t> Ai)i) f a'p b4tj, 

leApcACA cl&)b be tlvai) i>A Q-6A9. 

» 

4)0 cu||teAfi)ui|tt)e ap l^eAji Ttjoft, 

A b-|:eA]tc |:6b-6o|ii)lt), t^A|tf a^oSi p^l6# 
bo cdsbAf A l]A df A leAcc^ 

A'f rST»10bAf A A^l))!!) A tJ-OjAflJ-CflAOb I 
Sift 1)A li)^YtAC, A|t Ali)A|tC Iao|^ 

bo 6u|f]5ii)A]|i Af ^|t p^aI, 
ir iD|C|b b6|w/' A|t ]iJ5eAt; Ap ]t]5, 
citlAll 3AI) rsic b'Aft b-c]|i f^i^." 






4>0 jleAf AfDA||t 0[tllA|1)l) 5A^ f CAb, 

V ^ SAbAfijAifi Afi 5-ceAb |t|r Ap 615, 

bu6 bubAC bub|t5!)AC f]OD 'i^a b]A]5i 

*f v]o\i cA]fie bo't) 5ttlA!^beAo loi)A|t 9*b60]j; ! 

V] V^Af bori) f fejij, A P^bfiAis f fet*> 
CAb bo cAftU bo'p itfogAiij $15 ; 

o'd 1% fSAHAIDttlpije AftAOD teji 

t)5 Aft pjll pfefo 50 qn PA Ti>-be5* 

P. Hioji iwirir btt|Do A Oirip Spiw, (t) 

cia'i) ci|t V iiAbAir f ^i«) 5 

aY leAt? Anif inAp bo f5e]U 

O. Xy\]i t)A fi)-bitA6 A!) c^fi ttby 

aY so ^l")lt) V] b|ifeA5 ^t) c-Aii)iu ; (t) 

11)^ C:A 5l^|te A b-^lACAf T17A|l b^ A99, 

bo 8|A le SfteApp; cAbAitfAji^o SAifin;. 



257 

0. We consumed our feast with pleasure, 
And then we were merry after, 
In the fortress were prepared for us, 
Warm beds of the down of birds. 

We buried the great man 
In a deep sod-grave, wide and clear, 
I 'raised his flag and monument, 
And I wrote his name in Ogham Craobh. 

On the morrow, at the appearance of day. 
We awoke out of our slumbers, 
'' It is time for us," said the daughter of the king^ 
" To go without delay to our own land." 

We prepared ourselves without a stay. 
And we took our leave of the virgin. 
We were sorrowful and sad after her. 
And not less aflier us was the refulgent maid. 

I do not know, mild Patrick ! 
What occurred to the young princess. 
Since the day we both parted her. 
Or whether she herself returned to the Land of Life. 

P. Thou didst not tell us, pleasant Oisin, 

What country it is in which thou wast thyself; 

Beveal to us now its name. 

And continue again the track of thy story. 

0. That country is the " Land of Virtues," 

And certainly the name is not miscalled. 

If heaven hath glories as were there. 

To Qod, with love, I would give praise. 
17 



258 

O. Do cu5Ait)A]]t ^|i 5-cul box) biii;, 

Y 5^ "'^^^ la^ice le^f ai) cac b^i), 
'p^ 5A0C m^jtCA A|i &HU11D fUib. 

Miojt b-f AbA 3U|i 8o|icAf5 ai) fpfeift, 

bo Uf AT) ii)6fi-Tbttit* 30 Clt^At), 

SeAlAb bu|o») A5 atoaiic oa ijfeull, 

V A|t i)A jifettlcA b^ f A fiDU]b ; 

b']fl|5 At? C-Aljf A AJAf AI) JAOC, 

A'f bo foi^^TlS Pbocbuf 6f A]t c-ceAi)ij. 

430 cotn)CAii)A^|t ]te ^|i b-CAO|b, 
ci|t |t6-AoibeAp ]!A0] lai)-bUc, 
A'r TOtigA Ti)AifeACA, ]tfe]8e mil), 
Af ^9 I^IOS^A bA ]t6-b|teA5A. 

M] jtAjb bAc b'A b-|:eACA fujl, 
be 30|tiD ttfi, b'uA|ci)e, f b^i) ; 
be coiicut% 6eA|i5 a'i* be bu^6e, 
i)AC liA^b 't^P W03-b]t05 CAO|fD bo 1*^6. 

4)0 b] A|t A9 b-cAob eile 8e'i) bui), 
5|tYA0^1i) looDn^cA ASttf pM^if ; 
b6Ai)CA u]le be cIoca buAbA, 

le lAtbA fUAb' A5Af f AOft-CfeA|lb. 

M^O]t b-f AbA 50 b-treACATDAin cn^^]VV, 
A3 chiaU o 1) i)-buu 101) ^it 3-c6ii)6^il, 
c|ti cA03Ab Uec bo b'-fe^ufi luc, 
rZ^}th, <5lltt, <^'r *>o bVoifibe c^iL 



259 

O. We turned our backs on the fortress, 

And our horse under us in foil speed. 

And swifter was the white steed. 

Than March wind on the mountain summit. 

Ere long the sky darkened, 
And the wind arose in every point. 
The great sea lit up strongly, 
And sight of the sun was not to be found I 

We gazed awhile on the clouds, 
And on the stars that were under gloom 
The tempest abated and the wind, 
And Phoebus brightened o'er our heads. 

We beheld by our side, 
A most delightful country under full bloom, 
And plains, beautiful, smooth and fine, 
And a royal fortress of surpassing beauty. 

Not a colour that eye has beheld 
Of rich blue, green, and white, 
Of purple, crimson, and of yellow. 
But was in this royal mansion that I am describing. 

There were at the other side of the fortress, 
Radiant summer-houses and palaces, 
Made, all of precious stones, 
By the hands of skilM men and great artists. 

Ere long we saw approaching 
From the fortress to meet us. 
Three fifties of champions of best agility, 
Appearance, fame and of highest repute. 



260 

O. " C]A At) Cljl ^l^}1)^ ] f ub, 

If bfte^5CA bfiCAC b'^ b-|:eACA fu^l, 
Vov 1 f ub C^jt ijA p'65 ?" 

V]op lOTlfeAf bfifeA5 8tt|c 6'^ z^o\h, 
V]l 1)1 b'^ji 5eAlUf-f A 8tt|c \:^]Vf 
i)Ac b-^tt|l fOillei|i A5Ab bo fiofi." 

4Do c«iii)i5 cu5A]i)t) lOijijA 6e6|S, 
cfeAb beAi) 65 bo b'4i]lle f S^in) ; 

f A0| bftACA fjObA IjOtJCA b'dft, 

A5 f ^iilqusAft |toii)Aii)i) b'A b-qn V^]r>' 

<l)o'c01)l)CATI)A]|l A|tlf A5 CeACC, 

bul&eAi) bo jlfeittc, sUt? rl'i^S J 
A5Uf ]ii5 o]Ti6eA|tc, c6ii)AccAC, c|tfeAi), 
bo b-Fe4i]tri rS^jTb, be^lb, VlrowAS. 

13] l6ipe bui6e be f^obA f fi6ll, 

A3Af PIATO-bflAC 6ft6A 6f A CjOtJO ; 

b] co\id]X) b]ticleAT)ijAC be't) 6fi, 

50 f 0]ll|^AC, l01)l)H^ A|l A CeAT)1). 

4Do cooocAii)Ai|t A5 ceAcc 'i)A 6e6|5, 
AT) bAiiJulosAip 05 bo b A]]tbe c^jl ; 
A'f CAOSAb b|iu|OoeAll n)lU|f, c6||i, 
bo b'A]le cld6, ^opA c6ii)6A|l. 

2I5 ceACc bd]b tt]le A|t A019 bAll, 
bo lAbA]|i 50 ceADijfA 7115 i)a i)'55 ; 
A5ur A bub^]|ic, " ir ^ r^<> Ojfip n>Ac T=^w* 
cfejle CAOip NiAii) cioo $IT^*" 



261 

0. " What beauteous country is that 

gentle (laughter of the golden locks ! 
Of best aspect that the eye has seen, 
Or is it the ' Land of Youth V " 

" It is, truly, generous Oisin ! 

1 have not told a lie to you concerning it, 
There is nothing I promised thyself 

But is manifest to thee for ever." 

To us, came after that 
A hundred maids of exquisite beauty. 
Under garments of silk filled with gold, 
Welcoming me to their own country. 

We saw again approaching, 

A multitude of glittering bright host, 
And a noble great and powerful king, 
Of matchless grace, form and countenance. 

There was a yellow shirt of silken satin 
And a bright golden garment over it. 
There was a sparkling crown of gold. 
Radiant and shining upon his head. 

We saw coming after him 
The young queen of highest repute; 
And fifty virgins sweet and mild, 
Of most beautiftil form in her company. 

When all arrived in one spot. 
Then courteously spoke the " King of Youth," 
And said, '* This is Oisin the son of Fionn, 
The gentle consort of ' Qolden-headed Niamh !' " 



262 

A5Uf A bttbA^iic A 5-c6ti)-4i7tb bo'o c-fl^ > 
'' A 0]f fij caIii>a, a fi)]c Ai) |i]5, 
c6Ab nj]le f^]lce |t6ii)AC." 

" at) c^n fo ]0t?' All c^iDSTf K^iP, 
1)1 ce]l|reAb fS^^l^ 0T*c 5AT) 56 ; 
If f AbA, buAi) fe bo f aoJaI, 
A*f bc]8 cu f fe^i) co|6ce 65," 

" Nf I AOfboeAf bV]i f ii>A0|i)]5 Cfto^6e, 
i)AC b-fu]l f^i) c]|t feo f^'b c6ri)A]|i> 
A Offfi), c|ieib uAfiD 50 f joft, 
5U|i rDife ]ii5 ti]t pa i)-65." 

" 2I5 fO AP bAlPft^OgAll) CAOri), 

A nj'li^SeAi) ffeip NfATb C]t) 6f|i; 
bo cuA^b CA|i fblO-ipttlT* f^^' 6^10, 
cuti) ^]c Ti)Afi c6|le AfC] 50 bed. 



< " 



*Do jAbAf bu|beACAf le^f At) |ti5, 

aY b'uiplaiJeAf fiof bo'p t^ioJaip c6||t, 
i)10|i fCAbAb AW rip 50 b^Af5A]b lipi), 

4Do CA71)]5 UA]fle IJA CACftAC CAO|Tb', 

]b||t ^eAft A5Af ipoAO] }Od\ji 5-c6ii)6A|l ; 
b] f leAb aY ffeAfbA At>o bo f joft, 
Ajt f eAb be]c p-ofbce A'f be^c l^, • 

4)0 p6f a8 njfe le NfAH) c^w 6||t, 

A P^b|iAi5 6'i) F5|fi) i)A TO-bACul rp-b^Q^ 

fit) TI)A]1 CUAbAf 50 C]|l t)A t^d5, 

3]8 bofl]b bTt5i)AC Ifoipf a cit^cc. 



263 

0. He took me then by the hand, 

And said, [aloud to the hearing of] the host, 
" O, brave Oisin ! O, son of the king ! 
A hundred thousand welcomes to you 1" 

" This country into which thou comest, 
I'll not conceal ite tidings from you, in truth, 
Long and durable is your life. 
And thou thyself shalt be ever young." 



4t 



There's not a delight on which the heart hath mused 

But is in this land awaiting thee ; 

! Oisin believe me in truth, 

For I am king of the ' Land of Youth I' 



I' i> 



" This is the gentle Queen, 
And my own daughter the Golden-headed Niamh, 
Who went over the smooth seas for thee 
To be her consort for ever." 

I gave thanks to the King, 
And I bowed down to the gentle Queen, 
Nor staid we there, [but proceeded] soon, [Youth," 
Till we reached the royal mansion of the " King of 

There came the nobles of the fine fortress. 
Both men and women to meet us ; 
There was a feast and banquet continuously there. 
For ten nighta and ten days. 

I espoused " Golden-headed Niamh," 
1 Patrick from Rome of white croziers ! 
That is how I went to the " Land of Youth," 
Tho' woeful and grievous to me to relate. 



264 

P- LeAT) buioo feAfbA a|i bo fsedl, 
A Oyno 6||i 1)^ 1^A|l^J p-^ft ; 
c]OT)i?ttr bV^sbAif "Ciii DA iJ-^S, 
]f |:AbA f5f l]On) 50 ijoccA^fi i:^c. 

JDDif bujTjt) Aijoif le nj6fi JfieAijDf 
At? ttA]b Aox) cIaw A5Ab ]ie NiAitr, 
i;6'i) iTAbA b|8if A b-'C^tt v^ d'^j, 
A]C|iif 5AP b|tdi) b^]i)i) bo rs^Al 

O. t)o h] A5ATD Tie l1]Atij c]i?i) 6]|t, 

be cloiDD bu8 |io-njA]c 5i)A0f A'f fS^lH) ; 
bo b'^ea|t|i be|lb, c|iuc A5Uf fi)66, 
b]f iDAC 65 ASttf lOSeAD CAori). 

4)o cA]ceAf c|ifeiii)f e f AbA c|A1), 
C|ii c6Ab bl]A8Aii) ASAf V]oy 11)6; 
5ufi fmA0]i)13 n)e 50 itjbA b'fe njo n)|Ai), 
'FlOT)!) 'f^') Tl^DO b f A^CfiD bed. 

p. 21 Oirip, c*rttA]|tc leAp bob' fseAl, (t) 
A'f )VV}T ^w]D») ca b-ftt]l bo cUtjij; 
cAbA]|i 6u|np 5A1) Ti)0]U A i)-A|i)n;, 
aY ad c|iic 'da b-|:uilib add ? 

O. 6i A5 NiATD f^ D^ 5-cdibAiit.. (t) 

T^ljt' DA D-65, DA iD-beo 'f DA iD-bttA6 ; 

V^^To n coTi6|D be'D l^lS'^m; 
A'f jOfDAb feo^b dac d]»D bo Iua6. 

tuS N]AID AH IDO 6lf IDAC, (t) 

AID") iD*ACA|i A'f IDO &e]5-Tb]c ; 
lp]or)v o]]i6eA|ic, ceADD DA flttAj, 

Y AD C-OfJAll 01fl-A|lfD-|tUA6. 



265 

P. Continue for us further thy tale, 

golden Oisin of the slaying arms ! 

How didst thou leave the *' Land of jouth,'' 

I, yet, think it long till you reveal tiie cause. 

Tell to us now with great pleasure, 
Hadst thou any children by Niamh, 
Or how long wert thou in the " Land of Youth/' 
Relate to us, without grief, thy story, 

0. I had by Golden-headed Niamh, 

Of children of surpassing beauty and bloom. 
Of best form, shape, and countenance. 
Two young sons and a gentle daughter. 

I spent a time protracted in length, 
Three hundred years and more, 
Until I thought 'twould be my desire 
To see Fionn and the Fianna alive. 

P. pleasant Oisin continue thy story. 
And tell us where are thy children ; 
Give us, without delay, their names. 
And the land in which they are. 

0. Niamh had awaiting them. 

The Land of Touth — the Land of Life, and the land 

of Virtues : 
A wreath and crown of the kingly gold. 
And many Jewels I do not mention. 

Niamh gave to my two sons 
The names of my father and of my good son, 
Noble Fionn — head of the hosts — 
And Osgar of the red golden arms. 



266 

O. Cusuf p6fD boil) c^oth'^Viw, (t) 
Tie b-A09C4^ Nt Alb Ai) of|i-C]i)i) ; 
bo ftttAb A fi)A|fe Y^ 5D^S«A!J> 
Ai) v-A^tyo) t^oji, |>lu]t i)A fi)bAi>." 

aV A]i Ti)o cfe^le CAO]i), Mf Alb CfT)i) 6|ft ; 

bul 50 b-6|Tl]W CAtt Ajf AjC\x, 
b'^^^ACAjl) T^t^O AJAf A Tb5]t-fl6]S. 

" 4>o 5eAbAY7t ceAb uA]id/* A|i Ap ]i)3eAi) cAotb, 
" c]6 bo|lb Ap fS^Al l]on) cu bejc b'-ji Iua6; 
A|t eA5Al p^ft ceAcc 6ufc Aftjf |teAb |t6, 
boil) q|t p6|i), A Of]*]i) BttA6A|5." 

'' CjteAb ]f eA5Al bu]i)i), a lilojAii) hl^t, 
'f AI) t-eAC b^p bo be^c |:Vn) |tfe]]t ; 
n)U]t)\:]6 A!) c-feoluf bu|i)i) 30 f Jiib* 
aV 1?]W|:]6 fl^p CA|i i)V|f ciijAb f^^p/' 

*' Cii^ibPlS A 0|fip, CAb c4i 11)6 |t^, 
n)A le4^5A|ft cfi^cc Aft caIaH) |i6]6 ; 
DAC ceAcc ba|c co]6ce A]t]f 50 bft^cAC, 
bop q|i -aUipo-feo 'pa b-^u]l|fp t?fe]p. 



ff 



fr 



a befttiip leAC-fA Ajiir 3AP 36, 
ip^ cu]|tl|P3i|t fdf be'p eAC b^p; 
p^ ciuc^Aift coibde 50 Ci|t pa p-^s, 

A 0]X\V 6iri PA p-AflfP P ^iJ. 

21 be]7t|ip leAC bo'p cfteAf f eACC, 

ip^'f ceAcc be'p cac 6a]C f fe]p ; 

30 ip-be|8||t Ab' feApd]|t C|i]opA 6aII, 

3AP lu]t, 3AP 3TieApp, 3AP ^]t, 3Ap U|ip ! 



267 

0. I, myself^ gave to my gentle daughter, 
By consent of golden-headed Niamh, 
In virtue of her beauty and loving countenance. 
The true name — Plur-na-mbaUi [the flower of 
women.] 

I asked leave of the king, 
And of my kind spouse — ^golden-headed Niamh, 
To go to Erinn back again, 
To see Fionn and his great host. 

'' Thou wilt get leave from me/' said the gentle daughter, 
" Though 'tis a sorrowftil tale to me to hear you 

mention it, 
Lest thou mayest not come again in your life 
To my own land, victorious Oisin 1" 

** What do we dread, blooming Queen ! 
Whilst the white steed is at my service, 
Hell teach me the way with ease, 
And will return safe back to thyself." 

" Remember Oisin I what I am saying, 
If thou layest feot on level ground, 
Thou shalt not come agaift-fijr ever 
To this fine land in which I am myself. 

" I say to thee again without guile, 
If thou alightest once off the white steed. 
Thou wilt never more come to the ' Land of Youth,' 
golden Oisin of the warlike arms I 

" I say to thee for the third time, 
If thou alightest off the steed thyself. 
That thou wilt be an old man, withered, and blind. 
Without activity, without pleasure, without run, 
without leap. 









S68 

o. " jr bo|li 5 l]oiD, A Of fiu Sitt»>o, (t) 

cu 8ttl 50 h'Q>mvn sUf 50 beoS ; 
Dl'l fi AfK>]f AtbAfl bo b^ ; 

V Di f etcffTi co]6ce T^iodij da. flosAS. 

" Nt'l ADOtr A D-fe]|t1DD Ufle, (t) 

Acc ACAfft u]|ib Y fldijce MAdri) ; 

1)1 CAfF^iTi co]8ce, 50 'C]jlva V-^z" 

4>'f^^^af foAf 'uA SDuir le C71UA3, (f) 

Y bo f |l oti)' TtofSA bopcA beofi ; 
A PAb|tu|5 btt6 C7taA5 leAc f, 

A TtAobAb folc Ai) c]90 ^in* 

4>o ca]]t fi nj^ fJAO] seAfA c|ia&]6| (f) 
bul ]f ceACc 5AI) buA]pc |te b^i), 
A'f bubAf|tc Ifoit) bo buAb a tt)-b]t]Je, 
b'A n)-b|t]nw l^b 'da CAft?A]D») fl^D- 

4>o seAlUf b| 5AC Dl 5<^P bftfeAj, 

50 5-c6iTblfODfAiDD K^ID A D-bubA||ic f] 1]oid; 
bo cua6a|* A]t TDuiD AD e]C b^]Dy 
A'f b'F^sbAf flAD A5 luce AD bii]D« 

4>o p63Af-rA iDO cfe]le CAOfDi 

V bA bubAC f ]DD A5 f 5AitA6 Ife] ; 
fDO 6if tDAc, V id'tdS^ad 65, 

bo b] fAOf bftdD A3 fileAb bfeAft' ! 

4>0 jlfeAf A]* 0|llD caiD fiiibAfl, 

Y bo ca3A|' IDO cul bo Cfn da D-63 ; 
bo |i|c AD c-eAc 30 b^Af 3A]& fUfD, 

iDA]t bo ]t]DD lloiD, aY le NiAib cfDD S||t, 



269 

0. " 'Tis a woe to me, loving Oisin, 

That thou ever goest to green Erinn ; 

'Tis not now as it has been ; 

And thou never shalt see Fionn of the hosts. 

" There is not now in all Erin, 
But a father of orders and hosts of saints ; 
loving Oisin I here is my kiss, 
Thou wilt never reti^m to the ' Land of Touth !' " 

I looked up into her countenance with compassion, 
And streams of tears ran from my eyes, 

Patrick I thou wouldst have pitied her 
Tearing the hair off the golden head. 

She put me under strict injunctions 
To go and come without touching the lea. 
And said to me by virtue of their power. 
If I broke them that Td never returu safe ; 

I promised her each thing, without a lie, 
That I would fulfil what she said to me ; 

1 went on the back of the white steed 

And bade farewell to the people of the fortress. 

I kissed my gentle consort. 

And sorrowful was I in parting from her. 
My two sons, and my young daughter 
Were under grief, shedding tears. 

I prepared myself for travelling. 
And I turned my back on the " Land of Youth," 
The steed ran swifUy under me. 
As he had done with me and " golden-headed Niamh." 



270 

O. N] b-A]C|tffxeAri t^p rS^^l 50 heAcCf 

A|i 5AC t)] b<^V ceAi75ri>Ai6 Ijoii) f^io; 

21 P^b|iu|3 ^^ p'6|ib A5Uf pA t)Aoti), 
Diojt ]!>i)|reAr bftdA5 bu]c ii]Aii) f df ; 
riP ASAb-fA t:^ mo rsfe^l, 

4) A tDbe|6|i>i^^e ffe^ij, a PtibfiA^s, 
ATi)A]l bo b]Of-f A Ap l^ 6b f^TOf 
bo cufftfipo bo clfeifi 50 U]n can) bt^jf, 
A'f ceAt>i) Aft b|iA5A]b 0^ beAb Ati) 6613 1 

4>'<^ bpAjA^POr^ I^I^IW^ ^'t) 1)-A|tA1), 

TDAH 5e]b]i)t) 5AC Cji^ 6 7^|Oi)i); 

bo 2f»1^riTO euro T*15 ^^ ^Sn^f* 
cu be]c 50 f Ui> $f* A cfopp. 

p. 4)o 5eAbA]]t Afi^x) AjAf beoc, 

5AI) AOP loCC AQO]f UAYTO f6]1) ; 

If b]i)i) l]Ofij-f A 5UC bo be6]l. 
'f leAi) ba]9!> |:6f Aji bo j^feAl. 

O. , Sip ceAcc boil) f6]p ai) f^i) a b-c^|t, 

b'f^ACAf c\iu}t)v Ap 5AC uf le ^f]tb ; 

bo fiDAoioeAf ADO rii) 50 1^o^» 

OAc |iA]b coA^fitrs "pioD A5Afo le f ^3Ail I 

N^Op b-f AbA bOfO AJAf D|0]i C]A1), 

50 b-f eACA AO^Afi A3 ceAcc f Vn) 66|o ; 
fi)A|icf luAj n)6]t ^b]|i f eAitA]b A3Uf nyt)^, 
\ bo c^03AbA|i All)' UtAfft f6]o. 



271 

0, Our Btory is not told in full, 

Of every thing that ooourred to myself, 

Until I came again back 

To green Erin of the many jevfels. 

Patrick of the orders and of the saints, 
I never yet told you a falsehood. 
There is to thee the reason of my story. 
And how I left the " Land of Youth." 

If I myself had been, Patrick ! 
As I was, that self-same day, 
I would put thy clerics all to death. 
And a head on a neck would not be after me. 

If I got plenty of the bread 
As I used to get, at all times, from Fionn, 
I would pray to. the king of grace 
To have thee safe, over it. 

P. Thou wilt get bread and drink, 

Without any fault now from myself. 
Melodious to me is the voice of thy mouth. 
And continue for us still thy story. 

0. On my coming, then, into the country, 
I looked closely in every direction, 
I thought then in truth 
That the tidings of Fionn were not to be foun 

Twas not long for me nor tedious, 
Till I saw from the west approaching me, 
A great troop of mounted men and women, 
And they came into my own presence. 



272 

O. 4)0 beADDuiJfeAbAft 6on) 30 caojo, ffefH), 
Af ^ S^l^ lOD5Ai)CAf 5a6 i)-aoi7 biob ; 
Afi fAicno iDfeAb mo pcAHfAD ffe]D, 
11)0 &e|lb, njo 31)6 A3Af ido Jdaov 

<D'fiApfitti3eAf y:^]r) add f!^ ^1<* f^b, 
AD ^;-ctt^l^^^ 'FloDi? bo be]c beo ; 
Dd A]t ii)Ai|i AOD e^le be t) 'pfefDD 
d6 cfieAb 6 AD l^tttj bo bA^D bS^b ? 

" 4)o cuAUiD^lTtDe c|i^cc A]t ^|odd, 
A|i DeAjic, Afi Itt^c, A3Uf A|t c|i6ad ; 

DAC |tA]b fltATD A f AlbA]lc ffib, 

A b-peA|t]*A]DDi A3-CI6, A3ttf ATD^IDP- 

'* )V lOJD^A leAbAjt rSl^lobcA t]0]*, 
^5 ^15n^ ^lOD, n)illir 3*o6aI; 
DAC U]|i l^Di) ^icftir 6uic 30 ino|t, 
Ayt &ACCA|b ^]DD A3ttr A|i AD b-'pciDt)- 

" 4>o cuAlAfDAin 30 n^lb A3 T^fODD, 
tDAC bu8 loDDltAC f3^1Tb 'r cX66, 
30 b-c^iD15 5]3-beAD V^o] da 86|d, 
'r3A D-bcACA|6 16^ 30 V]}i DA D-63." 

HttAlfi CttAUf ffelD AD c6fbTtA6 ub, 

D^jt tbA^T* )^]ODD 'd^ DeAC beD T^IDO, 
bo JlACAf cuipfe A'f id6|i cutdaS, 
'f bA l^D-bttbAC iDfe ^ODA D-bfe|3 ! 

Hioit fCAbAf-r^ ADD n^ ^V 1tfeT"J> 

30 luAt feAt3Af6 3AD AOD IDOfll } 

30 b-cu3Af ID A3A]8 30 3IAD fi6f6, 

A|t 2lltbAlD ^ACCAC^ leACAD l'A]3eAD« 



273 

O. They saluted me kindly and courteously, 
Ajid surprise seized every one of them. 
On seeing the bulk of my own person. 
My form, my appearance, and my countenance. 

I myself asked then of them, 
Did they hear if Fionn was alive. 
Or did any one else of the Fianna live. 
Or what disaster bad swept them away 7 

*' We have heard tell of Fionn, 

For strength, for activity, and for prowess, 
That there never was an equal for him 
In person, in character, and in mien. 

There is many a book written down, 
By the melodious sweet sages of the Gaels, 
Which we in truth, are unable to relate to thee. 
Of the deeds of Fioim and of the Fianna." 

We heard that Fionn had 
A son of brightest* beauty and form, 
That there came a young maiden for him 
And that he went with her to the '* Land of Youth." 

When I myself heard that announcement, 
That Fionn did not live or any of the Fianna, 
I was seized with weariness and great sorrow. 
And I was ftill of melancholy after them I 

I did not stop on my course, 
Quick and smart without any delay, 
Till I set my face straightforward 
To Almhuin of great exploits in broad Leinster. 
18 • 



274 

V] |iA]b 't)A b]Oi?Ab Ai)T> so K1<>?*> 
a6c f]A6A)le, ^l|o6 A3uf lye^vv^^^ I 

Uc A PAb|iu]5 ! aY uc, Ti)Of>aA|t ! 
bA be Alb At) cuAfftc AjAro-f a 6, 
3AI) cuAimrs 1r]i)D 'da da b-'ptADD* 
b'f:<v3 |?AOi p]AO n;6.le'iD jt^ I 

p. a OiriD ! rs^^TT* ^^^ir ^«'^ ^fioD, 

f |l bo 6eo||t Aji *Db]A ijA D-5?t2ir* 
c^ 'pfonD fAo 7^1 ADD cl^ic 50 ledft, 
A'f T>f I A b-t?d||i]5C|D fttb 30 bft^c. 

O. Ba ibofi AD CT»**^S riDi A PAb|tAi3, 
'pioijt) 50 h\i1ki bo be^c a b-|>fe]ij; 
Dd c^teAb 6 ad cdift bo ]tu3 Aft buA]6> 
'f A l|Acc Iaoc c|tttA]6 bo cujc le^f I^YD* 

p. Jf 6 4[)']A bo 71U3 buA6 Aifi nO0D> 

aY Di DftAfic pAiDAb 't}& cfi^AD^l^n); 
A3Uf A|i AD b-'pfe]DD ttlle iDA|t 6, 
A D-1KT*^^DD bAOfi b'^ |»^o|i c]i^6 ! 

O. 21 ^a^b|iAi3 Tciun»lo ^^ Vad ^1c, 

'da b-fU|l lp]Ot)1) A|t l^]lb A3ttf AD J'l^Wf 

'f d1 b-^u]l ]f]teADD 'da ^lA]ceAf adDi 
bo ca]|t|reA6 \:^ ceADDfDAcc ^Ab, . 

2t)Vf ADD AC-a Of3A]t IDO lijAC ^fe|D, 

AD Iaoc bA c|i6]f)e a b-c|toiD-3lo6 ; 

Djofi cuidaS ]d IK^cadd 'd^ b-plAjccAf 4)6, 

bu|6eAD bV ib^jb dac c|ieAr3A|t63A6 1 



275 

0. Great was my surprise there, 

That I did not not see the court of Fionn of the hosts ; 
There was not in its place in truth 
But weeds, chick-weeds, and nettles. 

Alas, Patrick \ and alas, my grief ! 
A miserable journey it was to me, 
Without the tidings of Fionn or the Fianna ; 
It left me through life under pain. 

P. Oisin 1 now desist from thy grief, 

Shed thy tears to the God of Grace, 
Fionn and the Fianna are weak enough, 
And relief is not theirs for ever. 

► 0. That would be a great pity, Patrick ! 

That Fionn should be in pain, for ever ; . 
Or what pursuers gained victory over him. 
Since many a hardy hero fell by himself. 

P. It is God who gained victory over Fionn, 

And not the strength of enemy or strong hand. 

And over all the Fianna like him. 

Condemned to hell, they are eternally tormented. 

0. Patrick ! direct me into the place 

In which Fionn is in hands and the Fianna, 
And there is not a hell or a heaven there 
That will put- them under subjection. 

If Osgar my own son be there. 
The hero that was bravest in heavy conflict, 
There is not created in hell, or in the Heaven of God 
A host tho' great, that he would not destroy. 



276 

A'f leAi) beb' fj^Al, a Off ]1) ^ij ; 
CAb bo c^]tlA 6u|c 'i)A 6fe]3, 

O. Juoeof Ab |!fe]i) fio 8uic, a PAb|ttt]5, 

cA]i feif njfe |r^5b^]l 2llrbu|i) l^]3eAt), 
1J1 ]tA]b Aot) ^]C|teAb 'i)A ]iA]b ai) ^|A1)p, 
^a'|t cttA|icu|3eAf 50 b]Ai) 5ATJ Aoij rbo^lU 

2l|t njo 2;Ab3i]l bortj cfife sleAijo At) fipdil,* 
bo cooi^Ajftc 1176 ii7dft»cftu]i)t7|U5A6 aoo; 
c|t] c6Ab ^eA|t A5Uf ij] b^ ibd, 
bo b] jiorbAfp Appf' A17 P'SleAPO- 

43o lAbA]ft bu^ije Se'ij cftfeAb, 

A5Af A bubAi|tc ffe be Juc of ^|ib ; 
'^ cA|i|i b'^]t 5-CAbA)|t; A |1]05-Iao|c, 

aV fUAfSAll flOO Af A!) 5-C|IUA6-CA]* !" 

^^1015 n)6 Ai)i) f|ij bo l^c«^]|t; 

^'t MoS ">^r* ri?A|trou||i A5 Ai) fldj; 
b] n>e&6ACAi) ija leyce 0|tcA Ai?uAf, 
'fA cu|t b]ob f uAf , U]Ofi b'^fe|b||i le6 ! 

2I1) CUlb ACA bi f^'l) l^c f^Of, 

bo b]obA|i 8' A 5-clA0]&eATi) 50 f ai)1) ; 

le c|iu|ii)e At) uaIa^J tboift, 

bo CA^U 50 leoft b]ob a ti)eAbA]]t I 

• 

Do UbAjft bu|tje bo pA Tf)AO|fi, 

Asuf A bubA]|ic, "ATiio5-5Air5eA8Ai3 6|5; 
^uAfjA^l feAfcA A|i 11)0 bu^beAi), 
1)6 bu]pe b^ob, t)] h^]6 bed !" 

1 5leAi}f7 A17 nvojl, tAe va/iey of the thrush, now anglicized Glenasmole. 



277 

P. Let U8 leave oflE our coatroversy on 6ach side 
And continue thy story, valiant Oisin I 
What occurred to thee after that, 
Subsequently to the Fianna being low. 

0. I, myself will tell thee that, Patrick ! — 
After I left Almhuin of Leinster, 
There was not a residence where the Fianna had been, 
But I searched accurately without any delay. 

On my passing thro' the glen of the thrushes, 
I saw a great assembly there, 
Three hundred men and more 
Were before me in the glen. 

One of the assembly spoke, 
And he said with a loud voice : 
" Come to our relief, kingly champion ; 
And deliver us from difficulty 1" 

I, then came forward. 
And the host had a large flag of marble, 
The weight of the flag was down on them. 
And to uphold it, they were unable ! 

Those that were under the flag below, 
Were being oppressed, weakly. 
By the weight of the great load • 
Many of them lost their senses. 

One of the stewards spoke 
And said : — *' princely young hero I 
Forthwith relieve my host, 
Or not one of them will be alive." 



278 



O. Jf f>^|fteAc Ai; he^nr, Aoojf le |iA6, 

A'f Ai) offteAb Aca b'^eAftA^b Api), « 

PAc c|ocfrA6 le i^eAftc At> c-fl6|3, 
-^T? MoS'TO c65b^]l 50 Ui)-ceAi)i)." 

<D'4i fDA||ieAb Of5A|i iDAc 0^x]i), 1 

bo b6A7t|:Ab A|t AD lto5-fo 'ija 86Af-U]n7, 
bo cuijipeAb b'a|icA|i ] ca|i ai> fluAg, 
V) bpfeA5 ]f bttAl bofi) AtK)if bo p^b. 

Do lu]6eAf A|i 1170 cljAc^D beAf, 
V bo ]tu5Ar A^t At) le|C Am la]ri) ; 
le i;eA|ic A5uf le luc nyo 56A5, 
bo cu]|teAr feAcc b-p^||ife 7 6 ija b^ic. 

le pefSii) ijA le|ce Ui)-rb6]|t; * 

bo bji^f 5|0fiCA 61P AO e]C b^^i) ; 
bo c^t)5Af.f A Ai)UAf 50 Ui;-bocc, 

Afl bot)p mo 6a COf A|l A1J ID-bill) ! 

D^ jIac uAiDAp AD c-eAc b^D^ 

b'^TDCiJ AD ri*) cufD r]ubA]l, 

']• TDife ^\ pu&A|i 50 Ia5, cU]c ! 

Do CA|lleAf ATDA|tC IDO f ul, 

IDO 8eAlb fDO SDU^f 'f IDO tS^ll, 
bo b]Of AID* f eAD6]]i bocc 6aII, 
3AD b|i]5, 5AD iDeAbAift, 5AD A||ib I 

• 

a PabitA]5, x]t) A3Ab IDO rs^^i^ 

iDA|i c^jiIa 8o!D l^fe^D 5 AD 56; 4 

IDO 8ul A5U|" iDimceACC 50 beAcC; 

aV w)o ceAcc CA|i id'a]]* 6 tfji da D-65 ! 



^ 



279 

0. 'Tis a shameful deed, that it should now be said, 
And the number of men that is there, 
That the strength of the host is unable 
To lift the flag with great power. 

If Osciir the son of Oisin lived, 
He would take this flag in his right hand, 
He would fling it in a throw over the host — 
It is not my custom to speak falsehood. 

I lay upon my right breast, 
And I took the flag in my hand, 
With the strength and activity of my limbs 
I sent it seven perches from its place ! 

With the force of the very large flag. 
The golden girth broke on the white steed ; 
I came down full suddenly, 
On the soles of my two feet on the lea. 

No sooner did I come down. 
Than the white steed took fright, 
He went then on his way, 
And I, in sorrow, both weak and feeble, 

I lost the sight of my eyes, 

My form, my countenance, and my vigour, 

I was an old man, poor and blind, 

Without strength, understanding, or esteem. 

Patrick I there is to thee my story. 
As it occurred to myself without a lie, 
My going and my adventures in certain. 
And my returning from the *' Land of Youth." 



280 

The following Prophecy by Caoilte, respecting Cluain 
Cheasairtf deserves preservation ; but want of space must 
excuse our oflering a translation : — 

caojLce Ko cxfm. 

CluA]i) CbeAf A]D |i6 clof ^m^f 
jaf A b-cA]ri5eA6 tdac LfijAcb, 
h^ Kof tbic Ciieo^i)* |!0|i AH) ostiiW 
|ie |iAe co]5eACc ai) 'CaiIsii)!). 

2lcc 5] 8 cApcAjt pf A]liij f6 feAC, 

A 5-CluA]o CbeAfA]!) i)A 5-clfe|]teAc; 
Ab coQDA|tc At? CbluA]!) c|te]brbeACy 
|rdi 6Arb|tA]6 ituAb |td beAT^OAC. 

3^ beic leiseAf if aij Ia|i), 
|i6 b^ c^i) ADi) bA b-ofCA]ll ; 
10T)bA]6 bA l]i)p f p^ib Ap c-f|tuc, 

A6bAb C|tA1)T)A A17 CIUA^I) C|tOCAC. 
^A]C A Clurb^ A CA|l|lt)A, A \)'^t)9 

Ti)A]c A wjeAf jiaIac |l6 CfteAT) ; 
CAOfi) A b'^lT*T)l8e aY a b-wblA, 

T1)A]C A b'tt^A f |Opp'CttbA|tCA. 
'CatDlS Ap CA|t|ip5Al|ie CA]|l, 

CluA|i) CeAfAip A5 T^AilseAtjijAib, 
A bubAijic piot)i) KIaI |!4i]l5eAc, 
50 fijA^c pe]Tbe i)AOTt) AipjleAC. 

T^ti f |cc]Oc itlojA]^ 50 IteACC, 
b^bA|t A5An7 ]f iij6|i ^|Ti)i7eA]tc; 
30 ij^b]!) A leAfA tt^le, 
]tobf All) cleACCAC cluAi)ui6e. 

1 Bos mic Treoin is the old and present Irish name of the town of 
Kew Boss in the county of Wexford. 






^ 



«Q2ic-3Nj«^aRta y!)nn 2t)ac cu«^2ijU. 



THE BOYISH EXPLOITS 



OF 



FINN MAC CUMHAILL. 



EDITED BT 



JOHN O'DONOVAN, LL.D., M.R.I.A. 



CORRESPONDINO KEMBER OF THE ROTAL ACASEMT OF SCIENCES, BERLIN. 



DUBLIN : 

PBIMTBD TOR THB OBSIANIO 80CIBTT. 

1869. 



Letter addressed by Dr. John 0^ Donovan, to the 
President of the Ossianic Society. 



DubUn, Dec. 27M, 185a 
Dbab Sib — Haying, at vour request, andertaken to translate into 
English — to lengthen ont the abbreviations, and to fix the grammatical 
endings of the contracted words. In this notice of the bojish exploits of 
the celebrated Finn Mac Cumhaill, the Fingal of Mac Pherson's Ossian, — I 
beg to offer you a few obserrations on the age and importance of the 
little tract, as weU m of the manuscript from which it has been taken. 
This tract was copied letter for letter, and contraction for contraction 
from a fragment of the Psalter of Cashel now preserred in the Bodleian 
Library at Oxford {Laud. 610), by the Bev. Euseby D. Cleayer, M. A., 
of Christ Church, Oxford, in 1854, and now curate of S. Barnabas, 
Fimlico, London, whose progress in the study of the Irish language is 
truly wonderful, considering the slight advantages of oral instruction 
which he has possessed. He has copied this little tract so faithfully that 
I was able to understand it as well as if I had the original manuscript 
before me. No artist ever copied a portrait or inscription more accurately. 
This manuscript was examined in the year 1644 by the Bev. Dr. Todd, 
S.F.T.C.D., who published a full account of its contents in the Proceed- 
ings of the Boyal Lrish Academy, vol. 2, p. 336, sq. In 1846 1 examined 
it again with the most anxious care, and published a brief notice of its 
more important contents in the introduction to Leabhar na g-Ceart. It 
consists of 292 pages folio, vellum, and was transcribed in 1453 by John 
Boy O'Clery and others at Pottlerath, in the barony of Crannagh, and 
county of Kilkenny, for Edmund Butler, the head of the sept of Mac 
Richard, who afterwards became Earls of Ormonde. This manuscript 
remained in the possession of Mac Richard Butler till the year 1462, 
when Ormonde aod he were defeated in a battle fought at Baile-an-phoill« 
now Pilltown, in the barony of Iverk, county of Kilkenny, by Thomas, 
Earl of Desmond, to whom he was obliged to give up this very copy of 
the Psalter of Cashel, together with another manuscript (now unknown). 



284 

called the Book of Carrick-on-Suir. This fact appears from a memoran- 
dum on foL 110, p. b, of which the followiog !■ a literal translation :-* 

" This was the Psalter of Mac Richard Butler, until the defeat at 
Baile-aU'phoill, was giren to the Earl of Ormonde, and to Mac Bichard 
by the Earl of Desmond (Thomaa), when this book and the book of 
Carrick, were obtained in the redemption of Mac Richard ; and it was 
this Mac Richard that had these books transcribed for his own use ; and 
they remained in his possession until Thomas, Earl of Desmond, wrested 
them from him.** 

The foregoing memorandum was written in the manuscript, while it 
was in the possession of Thomas, Earl of Desmond, whose name ' ' Thomas, 
of Desmond,** appears in English, in his own hand, on fol. 92, a., See 
Leahhar na g^Ceart, Introduction, pp. zzriii — ^xxx. The publication of 
this manuscript, as it stands, would be a great desideratum in Irish liter- 
ature, and I trust that Sir John RomiUj will not think it unworthy of 
his attention. 

I am of opinion that this little tract is of great antiquity, and contains, 
perhaps, the oldest account we have remaining of Finn and his cotem- 
poraries. You will obserre that the style is extremely simple, and alto- 
gether devoid of thst redundancy of epithets which characterises the 
prose compositions of later ages, which are equalled only by those of 
**Eifamo$o Miciano de Silva."* 

The celebrated Irish antiquary, Duald Mac Firbis, in his genealogical 
work, pp. 435, 436, gives various pedigrees of the famous Irish hero, 
Finn Mac Cumhaill. Some deduce his descent from the Orbhraighe of 
Druim Inmocht, others from the Coroo Oiche, a sept of the ni-Fidhgeinte» 
who were seated in the present county of Limerick. Some state that he 
sprung fh>m the Ui-Tairsigh of Ui-Failghe, a plebeian sept, while other 
genealogists maintain that he came of the Ui-Tairsigh of the Luaighni 
Teamhrach of Fera-Cul in Bregia, which was one of the three septs from 
whom the chief leader of the Fians, or Irish militiai was elected. Mac 
Firbis, however, states that this discrepancy must have arisen from mis- 
taking one Finn for another ; but that by far the greater number of the 
authentic Irish authorities agree in deducing the pedigree of the famous 
Finn Mac Cumhaill fh>m Nuada Neacht, the fourth son of Sedna 
Sithbhaic, the ancestor of the kings of Leinster. 

By the mother's side, Finn Mac Cumhaill was descended from Tadhg, 
son of Nuadhat, son of Aice, son of Daite, son of Brocan, son of Fintan 
of Tuath-Daite in Bregia. This Mac Firbis believes to be his true ma- 
ternal descent, though others state that his mother was Torba, daughter 
of Echuman of the Ernaans of Dun-Cearmna (the old head of Kinsale, 
in the county of Cork), and that he had a half-brother by the mother's 
side, who was called Finn Mac Gleoir. 



285 

Mac FirbiB adds that Finn Mac CamhaiU possessed, in right of his 
office of leader of the Fians, seren hallys, or townlands, ont of ererj 
tricha-ched, or hundred, in Ireland ; that he was bom in the third year of 
the reign of Conn of the Hundred Battles, and died in the year 283. 

Some genealogical books give the pedigree of ottr hero thus : — ^Finn, son 
of Cnmhall, son of Tr^nmor, son of Subalt, son of Saltan, son of Baiscne, 
son of Nuada Necht : others, Finn, son of Cumhall, son of Baiscne, 
son of Tr^nmor, son of Ferdarath, son of Goll, son of Forgall, son of 
Daire, son of Deaghaidh, son of Sin ; but of the yarious pedigrees of 
our hero which Mac Firbis has copied from Irish authorities, the follow* 
ing is the only one that can be considered authentic : — 

1. Nuada Necht, 

2. Fergus Fallge, ancestor of the Kings of Leinster, 

! ^1 

3. Boesa Buadh, 8. So-alt, 

4. Finn, the poet, king of Leinster, * 4. Alt, 

5. Conchobhar Abhraruadh, 5. Cairbre Qarbhroin, 

6. Moghcorb, king of Leinster, 6. Baeiscne, 

I I 

7. Cucorb, king of Leinster, ?• Modh, 

8. Nia Corb, 8. Buan, 

9. Cormac Gealtagaoith, 9. Fergus, 

10. Feilimidh Firurglais, 10. Trendom, 

1 1. Cathaeir Mor, monarch of Ireland, 11. Trenmor, 

A.D., 177. J 

12. CumhaU, 

Id. Finn Mac CumhaiU, si. 284. 

He had a sister named Sidk, who was proverbial in Ireland for her 
fleetness of foot, and who was the mother of Caoilte Mac Ronain, also 
famous in the Fenian tales for his agility. He had another sister, 
Seogen, who was the mother of Cobhthach, son of Crunnchu. 

I hare always believed that Finn Mac CumhaiU was a real hittorical 
personage, and not a myth or god of war, like the Hercules of the 
Greeks, the Odin of the Scandinavians, or the Siegfried of the Germans. 
He was th»son-in-law of the famous Cormac Mac Airt monarch of Ire- 
land, and the general of his standing army. He was slain in the year 
A.D., 284, according to the Annals of Tighemach, a period to which our 
authentic history unquestionably reaches. (See Ogygia, part iii, c. 70). 

This celebrated warrior was, as we have seen, of the regal line of the 
kings of Leinster, of the Milesian or Scotic race (for my ingenious friend 
Mr. Herbert F. Here has theorised in vain to prove him of Scandinavian 



286 

origin) ; he had two residences in Leinster, one at Allen ( Almhaini) in the 
present county of Kildare, and the other at Mojelly in the (now) King's 
County, hoth of which descended to him from his ancestors. Pinkerton, 
the most critical and sceptical writer that has ercr treated of Irish and 
Scottish history, has the Ibllowing remarkable words, in which he ex- 
presses his conyiction of Finn*8 undoubted historical existence : — 

'< He seems,** says he, "to hare been a man of great talents for the 
age, and of celebrity in arms. His formation of a regular standing army, 
trained to war, in which all the Irish accounts agree, seems to have been 
a rude imitation of the Ron)an legions in Britain. The idea, though 
simple enough, shows prudence, for such a force alone, could hare coped 
with the Romans had they invaded Ireland. But this machine, which 
surprised a rude age, and seems the basis of all Finn*s &me, like some 
other great schemes, only lived in its author, and expired soon after 
him." — Inquiry into the History of Scotland, vol. ii, p. 77. 

Our own poet and historian, Moore, who read all that had been writ- 
ten by the Mac Pbersoas and the modem critics on the history of Finn, 
expresses his conviction that he was a real man of flesh and blood, and 
no god of war or poetical creation. He concludes his account of him in 
tlie ibllowing poetical strain. 

** It has been the fate of this popular Irish hero, after a long course of 
traditional renown in his country, where his name still lives, not only in 
legends and songs, but yet in the more indelible record of scenery con- 
nected with his memory, to have been all at once transferred by adop- 
tion to another country' (Scotland), and start under a new but false 
shape, into a fresh career of fame." — History of Ireland, vol. i. p. 133. 

The only known descendants of our hero, now known to exist, are the 
Dal-Cais» Le. O'Briens of Munster and their correlatives. Cormac Gas, king 
of Munster, who married Samhair (Samaria)> the daughter of Finn by 
Griiud, daughter of Cormac Mac Airt, monarch of Ireland, and had by 
her, according to the Irish genealogists, three sons, Tinnd and Connla, of 
whose race nothing is known, and Fearcorb, the progenitor of the Dal 
Cais, the hereditary enemies of the race of Conn of the Hundred Battles. 
Alter the death of Finn, the monarch Cairbre Liffechair, son of Cormac, 
tlie grandson of Conn of the Hundred Battles, disbanded and outlawed 
the ClannaBaeiscnd, of whom Finn was then the head, and retained in his 
service their enemies, the Clanna-Morna, a military tribe of the Firbolgs 
of Connacht. The Clanna-Baeiscne then repaired to Munster to their 
relative, Fearcorb, who retained them in his service, contrary to the 
orders of the Irish monarch. This led to the bloody battle of Gabhra 
(near the Boyne in Meath), in which the two rival military tribes 
slaughtered each other almost to extermination. In the heat of the ac- 
tion, Oscar, the grandson of Finn (and son of Oisin,) met the monarch 



• 287 

in single combat ; bat fell, and the monarch retiring from the combat, 
was met by his own relative Semeon, one of the Fotharta, (a tribe that 
had been expelled into Leinst^) who fell upon him after being severelj 
wounded in the dreadful combat with Oscar, and despatched him by a 
single blow. 

Oisin and Caeilte Mac Ronain survived all the followers of our hero, 
and are fabled to have lived down to the time of St. Patrick (A.D. 432), 
to whom they related the wonderful exploits of Finn and his cotempo- 
raries. This, however, is incredible ; but it is highly probable that both 
lived to converse with some Christian missionaries who preceded the 
great apostle of Ireland, and who found it difficult to convert them from 
their pagan notions. 

There is a very curious dialogue, partly preserved in the book of Lis- 
more, and partly in a MS. in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, said to 
have been carried on between Caeilte, son of Ronan, and St. Patrick. 
This dialogue, notvithstanding ita anacbyonism, or perhaps rather mis- 
nomer, is of great value to the Irish linguist, topographer, and antiquary, 
on account of the curious ancient forms of the language which it pre- 
serves, and the various forts, mounds, sepulchres, plains, mountains, 
estuaries and rivers which it mentions by their primitive and medisBval 
names. 

Hoping that this tract will soon see the light under your auspices, as 
President of our Society, 

I remain, dear Sir, 

, Yours very truly, 

JOHN O'DONOVAN. 

To 

William Smith O'Brien, Esq. 
President of the Ossianic Society. 



«0?ic-3Mj«uaBta rjNH JNN so sjs. 



1 A|5, ocuf injFicb &e*bcbA, 
Aij*i3^cc ocup |ti) aftem*ep- 
&jIieijD. lOlI* CunjuU m*c 
6ip, ocuf UifiSpe'J'J i7*c 
J Cu]fiii, bo l,it«i5ue, .1. bo 
Ocbe Cujle Cbotjtuijb boi) 
nu, AITt b* bibfibe |j-U| 
cuACf^n) [.1. CHAc] Cunjnjll. 
,]U 6ocljAnj*lf> bo &t>i7ATb, 
^cele bo CburquU, qo co 
v»|,u -v-n..>e?t)uoc*itit. CucA&iAftunj 
CAcb Ci>ucfc* eAcuit|iA .1. iC||t CuttjuU octtf Up3|teijb. 

'Dilfie'DeAiis, njAC ftcbAife T^|ij6, njic Con»f»|ie 5*l*lS. 
it)|c ^ai|teAbA|5, ocuf A riiAC, .i. 2teb, ^c . CAbAjftc ]t) 
cb*cbA TF;A|tr«Ab 9liutv^p]i}iy. 9l\t}n) ijA|ll boo 4>«i|te x^V 
9t)0TipA SftutjcAjn). 430 bettA^t jAiiutn jo cAcb i«p tf; 
bo |iaIa ice|i Lu)cec ocuf 3eb, ti}AC 2Qo|toA, if io cbAc; 
jopur Lucec 2leb, co |tor ipjU a Ucb-Jtorc. cotjjb be jio Ifl 
* AIDfJ 3oH o ri'7 lie e- "tto cuic tucec U 3oU; soi^Af 
bAij peji coim^cA cort|tbuil5 a ffec T^eifio Curpull irio 

> ChUJlainihip af the F^nt, te. tbe le»derabip of the Irish militia. 

• Cumhall. The beat account of tliii military leader will be fouiid in 
tlie battle of Cnucha, pre«erved in the book of Uimore. 

' Luaighni, a famous military lept in Menth <leicended from LiuUghni. 
oneof tbe bcothenof Conn of tbe hundred battlei. Offyjia, partiii.c, 57. 

* C«il CoNHiiRR, a territOTf sitOBted on the borden of the preteat 
counties of Meath and Caran, 

' C^HcAa. Connell Magheoghegan statea in his tranllalion of the 
annals of Clonmacnoiie, A.L). 7^. that thi* i* the place called Cattle- 
knock, [near the rirer Liffey, count; of Dublin.] 



THE BOYISH EXPLOITS OF FINN, DOWN HERE. 



;E happened b mcetdng of tb- 
and contention of battle, re- 
ing the cbieftainabip of the 
IB,' and the head-stewardBhip 

_. ^in, between Cumball,^ son of 

Tr^miSr, and Uii^renn, son of Lughaidb Corr, [one] of 
the Lnaighne,* i.e. this Cnmfaall woa of the Corca-oiche of 
Coil-contoinn,* for of these the Hoi-TaiTBigh hia tribe were 
[a BobsectioQ]. Torba, dangbter of Eochaman [one] of the 
EmaanB, had been the wife of Cnmhall, Tintll he married 
Mnireann Mnncbaeinh, [Mnrinda of the fair neck]. The 
battle of Cnacha* waa afterwards fougbt between them, i.e. 
between Gtunhall and UirgreDii. 

Daire Dea^, son of Eochaidh Finn, son of Coirpre Ga- 
lach, son of Mniredhacb Uninderg, and his Bon Aedh, were 
fighting Uie battle along with Muirgrenn. Another name 
for this Daire was Moma Mnnchaim. The batUe was then 
fonght, Laichet and Aedh sod of this Moma met to- 
gether [in single combat] iu the battle ; I>aichet woonded 
Aedh, and destroyed one of bis eyes, so that from this the 
name of Goll" [Lnacas] adhered to him from that time 
forth, Lnichet fell by 60II. The keeper of his own 
corrhbolg^ of a^da [treasure bag] womided Cumhall, aod 

* OeB U gloMed Cateh, uid mean* one-ejed, tfae Mune m the Lktia 

' CTTbholg, I.e. a raund bag, ud metaa a jeirel or aaj article of 
Talue. 

19 



290 

CAC- Oo cu]c Cumuli Ia 3oll ")AC ^tfy>\ir)A ]f ]?; CAcb, 
octtf be||i|b A |:o]bb ocuf a cei)^ l©ir> coT)1^ ^ fli? bu| 
|r|cb buoAb ]C]|i pioD ocuf ti)ac ^o|ti)Ok, coo]b be f]t) |io 
cec ]p feAi)cbA]6 : — 

3oll njAC 4DA|te t)e]|i5 co Ti)bU]b, 

%)ic CA||tp|ie 3^1^!^ CO PS^ll* 
^|C 2t)u]|teAbAY5 A Fl0bn)Ai5. 

Fo fPA]tb 3oU Lu|cec r)A cob, 
2t cAcb Cpuc^^, i)ocbA b|teC| 
tujcec P]OD ]0 S^irc^^ 5U10 
La idac ^o|toA bo itocb^YT^- 

Jf leir bo cu|c CuTi)all fn6|t, 

J C4C CoUCbA PA CACb-floj 

2lirie cucfAc ID CAcb cepb, 
Jo? |:]AT)AYbecc i)a b-ftlT*«D^« 

BaCAJI clADbA ^OftOA ]f fl) CACb> 

Ocuf LuA|3ije t)A 'Cen)itAc1>» 
2l|fi b4^ leo F]AOUf |!e|i p^]l, 
p|i|A Iai?i) cac |ii5 CO |tobA]5. 

Bu] Tt)AC AC CutDull CO ny-huA^b, 
)n P1UI) fu^lccb t^Aebufi c|tttA]b ; 
plDi? octtf 3oU Ti)5|t A inbUb, 

Z^\i^t) bo llOlJpf ACAjt COJAb. 
j^l* no bo |t0171)f ACA]t f]8, 

plDb octtf Soil i?A c^b VBt}]n), 

Co ro|tcu]|t BA^b SiDpA be, 

pAi) ii;u]cc A Tyett)u||t t.uA]C|te. 

2teb bA h^]rjn) bo rpAC 4)A]fie, 

.Co|i 5Aeb Lu]cec cot) AiDe, 

O ]to jAec it)AC LuA]5pe lopb, 

<t)A]|te cooTtujceA |i|f 3oll. 3« 

1 Finnmhaght otherwise Maghfinn, a plain in the harony of Athlone, 
county of RoBcommon, at this period possessed by the Firboigs, of whom 
the Clanna-Morna were a sept. 



291 

Cumhall fell by Goll son of Morna in the battle, and carried 
off his arms and his head ; and from this there was a funda- 
mental hatred between Finn and the sons of Morna, con- 
cerning which the historian sang: — 

** Goll was son of Daire Dearg of fame, 
Son of Eochaidh Finn of valiant deeds, 
Son of Cairbre Galach of prowess, 
Son of Muireadhach of Finnmhagh.' 

This Goll slew Lnichet of hundreds. 
In the battle of Cnucha, no falsehood,— 
Luichet Finn of noble chivalry, 
By the son of Morna fell I 

It was by him fell Cumhall the Great, 
In the battle of Cnucha of embattled hosts 
What they fought this stout battle for, 
Was for the Fian leadership in Erin. 

The Clanna Morna were in the battle, 
And the Luaighni of Teamhair 
For the Fiannship of the men of Fail was theirs 
Under the hand of each valiant king. 

The victorious Cumhall had a son ; 
The blood shedding Finn of hard weapons, 
Finn and Goll of great fame. 
Mightily they waged war. 

After this they made peace 
Finn and Goll, of the hundred deeds, 
Until the Banbh Sinna fell 
On the plain at Teamhair Luachra,* 

Aedh was the name of Daire's son. 
Until Luichet wounded him with dexterity. 
But since the stout son of Luaighne woimded him 
He was called by the name of Goll." 

* Teamhair Luachra, a place in Kerry not far from Castle Island, in 
the district of Sliabh Luacbra. 



292 

"CoitftAcI) ]to ACCA|b Cunjull a n)i)A] .i. ?Qu]|tije, ocuf 
be|rt]b x\ ii)AC, octtf beftA a]1)ii) bo, .1. 4)eii)i)e. 'Cjc 
'pjACCAjl n)AC Coijcipi) ocuf Bobbrt)All, bAt)b|tA], ocuf ]i) 
L]Acb LuACfiA bo fAi5eb 9Qa]|ti7e, ocuf be||i|b leo ]i) 
ii)AC, Ai|i i)]|i Un) A lije^CAtii A bee A^cce. puibif 2l)unti)e Ia 
5leoifi LATT}-be|t3, Ia ]ti LArD|iA]5e ]A|tbAii), coi)] heiYjbe 
]\) ]tAb, pfi)!) rt?AC 3l^0|!^- ^1*1^ c?*^ BobbnjAll ocuf 
1?) LiAcb> ocuf ]i) ipAC leo ] fO]C|t|b Sle^b] BlAbTi)A. Ko 
bAileb IP it)Ac Aijb f|i) 1 cA]be. 4)e]cbb]|i oi), Ajt bA 
b|n)bA SfllA cA|lcA]]t qi)t)efi)AC, ocuf lAecb ije^n^Decb 
T)A]it)b|3e, ocuf fe]f)|b |:e|i5Acb f|i|cbi)UfAcb bo Uecft^b 
LuA|3?)e, ocuf bo fDACA^b ^o|ti7A f o|i c] )t) xt)}c f]i), ocuf 
CulcA n)]c Cuti)U|ll. Ro A^lfec ]A|turt) ]p ^^ bAij|:e]pb]5 
X]t) y]i] |t6 fobA fe f Ai) f aidIa^S f^i?. 

'CiC A fl?2KCAl]t A Cfljb f6 n)bl]AbAl) ]A|t fll) bflf A Tt)]C, 

A||t bo bl»)»)n^ ^] A bee ]f |i) ]i)Ab uc, ocuf bo ]to bA b^CA^l 

le TDAC 2t)0|t1)A bo. C]b CftACC ACftACC Af CAC ^Af Acb }t)^ 

cfele, CO |t^]0]cc foicftfb Slebe BlAbn^A; ^se^b p ^aij- 
bo|cb ocuf ]T) ?i)AC ]tjA coblAb ]T)i)q, ocuf cocbA^b f| ai) 
n)AC ]i)A bwcbc ]A|ibA]ij, ocuf qTDf A|5e f:|i]A be> ocuf fi 
c|ioii) ^ATturi). Cot7]b Apb f^ij *>o |iO]ij ija |iAtjijA ]c Tr)Vk\\ir) 

]n) A IPAC — 

CobA]l |te fUAp^O f^l")^; 11*1- 

'CinjpAf A1J 11)511) celebitAb bo ijA bAi)feii)b6buib ,iAit 
fli), ocuf Acbeitc Fniu t)on75AbbAif ip njAC cotpAb 11)- 

1 Afutreann. This was very common as the proper proper name of a 
woman among the ancient Irish. It is explained in Cormac*s Glossary, 
as meaning mor^fhinn, long-haired. 

* Lamhraighe, a people of Kerry in the west of Munster. 

s Slinbh Bladhma, i.e. the mountain of Bladhma, (Ogygia IIL, 16.) 
now Slieve Bloom on the confines of the King's and Queen's Connties. 
It is Bometimes called Sliabh Sntoil. The smnmit of this mountain is 
called 2t)ulUcT) CifieAi)!), the summit of Erin, and from it, the O'Dunnes 
have taken the motto of ^alUcb 6||teAi)i) ;^bu ! 



293 

Cumhall left his wife pregnant, i. e. Mnirenn,i and she 
brought forth a son, and gave him the name of Deimne. 
Fiacail the son of Guchenn, and Bodhmall the Druidess and 
Liath Luachra came to Muirenn and carried away the son, 
for his mother durst not keep him with her. Muirenn 
afterwards married Gleoir the Bedhanded, king of Lamh- 
raighe,* from which Finn is called the son of Gleoir. 
However Bodhmall and Liath taking the boy with them 
went to the forests of Sliabh Bladma,' where the boy was 
nursed secretly. This was indeed necessary, for many a 
sturdy stalworth youth, and many a venomous inimical hero 
and angry morose champion of the warriors of Luaighni, 
and of the sons of Moma, were ready to despatch that boy, 
and [also] Tulcha the son of Cumhall. But however the 
two heroines nursed him for a long time in this manner. 

His mother came at the end of six years after this to 
visit her son, for it was told to her, that he was at that 
place, and she feared the sons of Moma for him, i.e. [might 
kill him.] But however, she passed from one solitude to 
another, until she reached the forest of Sliabh Bladhma 
[Slieve Bloom,] and she found the hunting booth [hut] and 
the boy asleep therein, and she afterwards lifted him and 
pressed him to her bosom, and she then pregnant [from her 
second husband,] and then she composed these quatrains 
caressing her son : 

" Sleep with gentle pleasant slumber, Ac."* 

The woman afterwards bids farewell to the heroines, 
and asked them if they would take charge of him till he 

« The rest of this Lullaby is lot t. Indeed it vould appear from the 
shortness of the sentences, and the abrupt and flighty nature of the 
composition, that the whole story has been very much condensed, and 
in some places mutilated. 



294 

f|0 cufi bA bl»?T^l3^ fe- 

T^AjOlC ]tj TDAC ]I)A AeDUft ^IDAcb ID AflA|le l^ At)b, OCUf |b 

cot;bAi|ic [lo ?T*^r l^cbA co] t)^ lAcbA]0 fO|tf ]i) loc. 
"CaiiIaic u|icbu|i |!U]cb]b ocuf |to cefCA]|i A ^}r)t)\:Ab octtf 
A b^cebA b], CO cocu]|i CATOoell |!U]|i|ie, ocuf ]to 5Abf Art> 
lA]tun), ocu]* |ior |!uc le|f bo cburi) pa |r]Ai)bo|cbl» CotJlb 

bi rio c«^ r^^ls Fio^- 

Lu|bf ]uii) Ia Aef ceAftbA iA|tcA|t7 |roTi cecbeb ti)AC 2t)ofi- 
r)A ; CO ipbo] |:o C|toccA]b Acca. )ze a i)-Ai)ii)AijbA f ibe, 
Ipuzh ocuf Kucb ocuf Ke5i)A ^A6-pebA, ocuf 'Cenjle, 
ocuf Ojlpe, ocuf Ro3e]t). 'Cajijis ]ti)bu]le cA|fi|nn) -^'J^ 
f IP, CO i>be|ii)A CA|i|iAcb be, coi>]b be bo 3A]|iceA <Dein)pe 
^Ael be. B] f05lAi6 a LAiseij ip cap f|p .i. piAccAjl 
tpAC Co6pA ef |be. 4)o |iaIa b^p p]ACAil ] p]b 3^|ble f ofif 
Ap Aef ceA|ibA], ocuf |io ipA]ib ujl] acc 4)e|ippe a Aepufi ; 

bu] fUip Ac plACAjl IPAC Co8pA ]A|l f|P ]PA Cf3, A fef- 

c]PP uA^itbeofl. CeccAic ]p ba bApf6|pbi3 bu beAf co 
cecb P]acIa rp]c CobpA^ \top iA|tA]|t 4)e]rppe, ocuf bo 
be|iAfi bo|b 6 ; ocuf bo beytAjc leo a pbef b^ ]A|icAip cuf 
■\V lODAb cebpA. 

<Do cbuA]bfoip Ia A]le Apb a AepAji AipAcb co |t]Acbc 
2t)A5 Life 30 A|to]le bup Apn, copof f ACCA^b ]p TpACftA]b 
63 oc ]TpA]p fO|i f A^cbe ]p bu]pe. T^icnuip coiplu6 po 
corp|rpA]P f fiiufuip. Tic lAfi pA b^jiAcb ocuf bo be|iAr 
cecb|iA]Fpe ippA A5A|b; qc]C A|i^f a c|1|AP ]p a A3Aib. 
C^b c|tAcc ACPA3AC u|le ippA A3Aib fA beo]3, ocuf bo 
befieb-f uip lecb clu|cbe fOfi]tA u]l]. Cia })^]vn) f |l fojtc, 

> At them. The original Irish is defective here. The words obviously- 
omitted are supplied in brackets. In Feis tight Chonain^ p. 129, it is 
stated that Finn in his first chase killed the praa-lacha (widgeon ?), and 
her clutch of twelve young birds. 

« Crotta, i.e. Crotta Cliach, now the Galty mountains in the south 
of the county of Tipperary. 

» Fidh' Gaibhle, now Feegile, in the parish of Cloonsast, north of 



295 

should be of heroic age ; and the son was afterwards reared 
by them till he was fit for hunting. 

The boy came forth alone on a certain day, and saw the 
[the pras lacha with her brood of] ducks upon the lake. 
He made a shot at them,' and cut off her feathers and 
wings, so that she died, and he afterwards took her to the 
hunting booth : and this was Finn's first chase. 

He afterwards went away with certain poets to flee from 
the sons of Morna ; and they had him [concealed] about 
Crotta.' These were their names, Futh and Ruth, and 
Regna of Mad Feada, and Teimle, and Oilpe, and Rogein. 
Here he was seized with the scurvy, so that he became a 
carrach [scald,] and was thence called Deimne Mael. There 
was a plunderer in Leinster at this time, by name Fiacuil, 
son of Codhna. Fiacuil came into Fidh Qaibhle' upon 
the poets, and killed them all except Deimne alone, 
who was afl;erwards with Fiacuil (in his house in a cold 
sheskin [marsh]. The two heroines came southwards 
to the house of Fiacuil, son of Codhna, in search of 
Deimne, and he was given to them ; and they took him from 
the south to Ae same place [where they had him previously]. 

He went forth one day alone [and never halted] till Ijo 
reached Magh Life,* and on the green of a certain Dun [for^t] 
there he saw youths hurling. He went to contend in agility 
or to hurl along with them. He came with them next day, 
and they sent the fourth of their number against him. He 
came again, and they sent the third of their number against 
him, and finally they went all against hina, and he won one 
game from them all. What is thy name said they? 

FortarlingtoD, in the King's County. This was the name of a famous 
wood in Leinster, in which St. Berchan, the Irish prophet, erected his 
church of Cloonsast, the ruins of which stiU remain. 

4 Magh Liffe, i.e., the plain of the Liffey; a very level plain in the 
county of Kildare, tliroogh which the rirer Liffey winds its course. 



296 

IT) t)t ri«?« ^A|ibAf6 f ibe 6 nj^ cot>cuicc], n)Af a cun>ACCAcbl 
fe, ol fe, 1)1 cAeti)f Ait)A]f 1)1 ^f ol f]Ac ; cu|tAb Oe^TDije a 
Afi)n). C]i)*>Af A beccofc, ol f6. ^ACAenj cuccAcb; 1?H)fe# 
ol f]Ac, ]f A|i)fi) bo 4>eit)i)e 'p]i)b atdIai^ f]i), ol fftfeAii). 
Cor)]b be f |i) Abbepqf ^i) Ti)AC|tA]b |?|ilfttn) 'piw. 

'Cicfttn) iA|i i>A b^iiiecb b|A f Ai5]b, ocaf la]b caccu ]i)a 
cluicbl |?o cejtcAC A lofijA |?A]|t Ai)Aei)Fecc. JiDAfAinw") 
t:tt|C]bf]mi), ocuf c}iAfC]tAib ii)0|tfemt b]b. lu]b ttA]cl)fb 
A f OfcbT^lb Slebe BlAbrDA. 

Cfc ]Aftati) 1 cbTi)b feccrDtt]i)e |A|i ffOi cuf ]i) t^bA^le 
cebi)A. jf ati^Ia^S bAcuft 11) fi)AC|iA]b |c f ijAfb iropf ]i) locb 
b] ii)-^ f A|t|iAb. St*®'>»)A]5]c ]1) Tt)AC|tA|b einurt) ]n)cecbc 

bfTDbAbA l?|lltt. I'llJSlbfll) If ]D locb CUCA lAfl flO, OCttf 

babfb poi)ba|t b^b ^roi) locb> ocuf zh}z f^ji) f a Sl|AbBlAbti>A 
lA|i f]i). C]A |to bli]b 11) mAC|tAib; ol CAcb* FlOO* ol fl^c ; 
coi)Ab Af f]r) |io leAt)Ab 'piw fe« 

ClCflUTI) l?eCC A1)b CAH SllAb BUbrDA ATDACbi OCUf ]1) bA 

bAi)p6i)bib itt)n)Aille fjiif ; cooACAjt aIii>a irDbicfCfit bVsAfb 
Alluib f oftAif |i) f l6be. ^R)oi)UAft c|ia oji }r) bA f ei)ca]i)t>, ij| 
C|c b]r)i} Afcubi)eicbbibfabACCAii)T>. CicblitfA, [ol'pipo] 
OCttf |i]cbAfb fonito, OCUf AfCAib b4i i)A3 b^b, ocuf bei|tib 
le]f b]A f iAi)i>boicb- 1)o 5T)lfl'*"' T®''3 ^<^ JtJ^cAcb b6|b lAjt 
X]V' ©11*16 buAio fefCA, A SiUe, oii i)a bAi)f^i)ebA fmf, 

AlJt ACAIC tt)lC ^dl^O^ fO|t AlClll bo ID^^bcA. 

4>o lufbfittii) A Aei)Ait uAbib CO itiAcbcLocbl-fefi) [ocuf ] op 

t.ttAcl)Af|l^ CUft ACCUllt A At1)fAll)e AC lt|5 Bei^CltAl^e A!)b 

fl^; V] 1*6 floiobf]!!) ifiD iDTXvb fiD be, Acc ceijA, v] hu] 
If IT) life flT) felsAiite A |pi)fAn)lA; Af AibUib ifbejic ii) fii 

1 Loch Lein, now the Lakes at Killamey in Kerry. 

> Luaehra, i.e., Luachair Deaghaidh, a district in the now county of 
Kerry, containing the two Pap mountains. 

* Beantraighe, a district in South Munster, believed to hare been co- 
eztensiye with the barony of Bantry in the county of Cork. 



297 

Deimne replied he. The youths tell this to the owner of 
the dun i/ortJ] " Do ye kill him if he comes again, if ye 
are able," said he. We are not able to do aught xmto him, 
replied they ; Deinme is his name. What is his appear- 
ance V said he. He is a well-shaped fair [Jinn] youth, 
replied they, Deimne shall be named Finn therefore, said 
he. And hence these young men used to call him Finn, 

He came the next day to them, and joined them in their 
game, they attacked him all together, with their hurlets, but 
he made at them and prostrated seven of them, and [then] 
made off from them into the forests of Sliabh Bladhma. 

He afterwards returned at the end of a week to the same 
place. What the youths were at [then] was swimming 
in the lake which was close by [the dun.] The youths 
challenged him to swim with them. He plunged into the 
lake to them, and afterwards drowned nine of them in the 
lake, and then made to Bliabh Bladhma himself. Who 
drowned the youths ? enquired all. Finn, replied they [i.e. 
the survivors]. And firom this the name of Finn clung to 
him [among all who heard of this deed of drowning.] 

He came forth on one occasion out beyond Sliabh Bladh- 
ma, the two heroines being along with him, and they per- 
ceived a fleet herd of the wild deer of the forest of the moun- 
tain. Alas ; said the two old women, that we cannot detain 
one of these with us. I can, [said Finn] and he ran upon 
them, and catching two bucks of them, brings them with 
him to his hunting booth. After this he used to himt for 
them constantly. Depart from us now, young man, 
said the female warriors to him, for the sons of Moma are 
watching to kill thee. 

He went away from them alone [and halted not J till he 
reached Loch Lein>, and over Luachair,\till he hired in 
military service, with the king of Bentraighe.* He did 
not go by any name here, but there was not at this time a 



298 

VV']T' ^1-^ 1?^cbAb Cari)all nj^c, ol fe, At) bA^iUc fio bo 
Cttf A ^ ; Acc cei7A| 1^1 CttAlAiDUft^e idac b|:AcbA]l bo Acbc 
rittlcAiDAC Curf7A]ll^ ocuf Actiffi) AC |t] 2llbAi) ]r) An)rA]Qe. 

Celeb|tA]6f|iD bop |t| ]A|i ^t)* ocuf cfec uA|b|b co Ca||i- 
b|t|5e .1. CiA|i|tAi5e i Db|tt, ocuf Atouis ic a hij rio 
A t)-Aiijf A^ije. 'C^c iTj ]i] ]ATiiiti) AC ^bcelUcc ]r) A|tA]le l6. 
T^co]f5]bf iTD lA]f octtf be|t]b fecc clu]cb| b]A]3 Ajtojle. 
C]A Off A ? ol It) p), ^Qac A]cb]5 ^ l.ttAi5i)ib 'CeiDiiAcb, 
ol f^. 2lcc, ol ]t) ji] ; ACC ]f c(i ii> tdac ]tOfpttc ^u]fit7e 
bo CunjAll, ocuf i^A b] fut)i) v] If X]^r V^p^^ n7A]tbcATt |ro|t 
Tuepecb-fA. Ltt]b Af ]A|i ffi) co Ca]ll|ob 6CttAt;AC, co cec 
tx>cA]i) |?Ia]c 3obAt>o J 1D5I0 po c^en) lA]i*fbe .i. Citu^cbpe 
A bAiDtt) : AbijA]5 f]be 5T»^b boij 5]IIa. Oo bft|if a n)]t)' 
511) btt]c, ol ]t) 5obA, c]i) CO |?ecA|i c^a cu. FAjb^f it> |P3]i) 
le^f }X) 5|IIa iA|tcA|i7. <D6da fleSA bAnj, ol ]i) 5]IIa it^f 
]tj t>5obAt>i). 4Do 51)] b]i) LocbAQ b] fle]5 bo. CeleAbftA^b 
bAp bo U>CAt) ocuf lu^b j%e]n)e* 21 njic, A71 Locad, v'^ 
be]T*5 ir It) rMs^ 1^0T*r a tD-b] At) it7ttc b]ADA Aiijtt) 11J Beo ; 
If T1 T^^ T^Af f A]b ipeoboi) 2fl)un)ut). Ocuf ]f fe6 cfiA bo jxaIa 
boo 5iUa bul |?o|tf ]i> flise ^o|t 117b] fp n^uc. SbijAis 10 
n^ucc cu^ce ]A|i f|i). poceifibfiii) boA ujicuji b| fle]3 
T^^tt^M' ^^ 1^^ ^^1^ z\i\te, CO Ytuf ^AjtCA]b ceo Ai)n;a]i). 
Bei|iib-ntt") ^T)A cet>o i)A ipu^cce le]f bop sobA^op a 
co^bcbe A iPSlpe. Jf be x}V aca Sl]Ab tpu]ce a ^tJurpA^np. 

l3o lu^b 10 3iIIa |iO|tDe ]A|i f |1) 1 CoooAccAjb^ b'|A]i|iA]b 
Cjt]rpA]ll ip^c "CjifepiDdiii. 2ltt)A)l |io bu^ |:o|i a f6b co 

> Albain, i.e., Scotland. 

• Ciarraighe, now Kerry. The territory so called extended in ancient 
times only from Tralee to the Shannon. Its more ancient names would 
appear to have been Cairbrighe, or Corbraighe. 

> Cuilleann O* g-Cuanaeh. This is the present name of Cnllen, in the 
county of Tipperary, near the borders of the county of Limerick. It 
originally belonged to the territory of Coonaghy now a barony, in the 
north-east of the county of Limerick. 



S99 

hunter like him^ and bo the king said to him : if Gumhall had 
left any son, methinks thou art he^ but we have not heard 
of Gumhall having left any son, but Tulcha Mae Cumhaill, 
but he is in military service with the king of Albain.' 

He afterwards bids farewell to the king, 9nd goes away 
from him to Cairbrighe, at this day called Ciarraighe^ 
[Kerry], and he staid with this king in military service. 
The king came one day to play chess. He [Finn] played 
against him, and won seven games in succession. Who art 
thou 7 said the king. The son of a peasant of the Luaighni 
of Teamhair, replied he ; Not so, said the king ; but thou 
art the son whom Mnirenn [my present wife] brought 
forth for Gumhall ; and do not be here any longer, that 
thou mayest not be killed while under my protection. After 
this he went to Guilleann g-Guanach' to the house of 
Lochan, a chief smith : he had a very comely daughter, 
Gruithne by name ; she fell in love with the youth. I will 
give thee my daughter, said the smith, although I know 
not who thou art. The daughter theu cohabited with the 
unknown youth. Make lances for me, said the youth, to 
the smith. Lochan then made two spears for him. He then 
bade farewell to Lochan, and went his way. My son, said 
Lochan, do not go on the passage on which the boar called 
Beo is usually [to be] seen ; it has devastated the [whole 
of] Middle Munster. But the youth happened to go on 
the very pass where the pig was. The pig afterwards rushed 
at him ! but he made a thrust of his spear at it, and drove 
it through it, so that he left it lifeless, and he brought the 
head of the pig with him to the smith as a dower for his 
daughter. From this is derived Sliabh muice^ in Munster. 

The youth then went into Gonnaught to look for [his uncle] 
Crimall, son of Trenmor. As he went on his way he heard 

« Sliabh Muice, i.e., the Pig's mountain, now Slieve Muck, situated 
between the town of Tipperary and the glen of Aherlow. 



300 

cuAlA]b 3al DA b-617 n)t)^. La]b |!A] co d-acca ^d n7t)A]i ocuf 
bA MfiA |!oIa cecb l^e fecc, ocuf bA fc6]c |!oIa ]9 K^Acbc 
A^le, CO tijbA be|i3 a bfel. Jf ac b6l bens, -^ ^^"Of ol f^« 
SlcA be]cb]]t ccutt), ol ff; 117'oet) njAC bo n)A|tbA6 b'oeij 
lAec fO|t5|tADbA ii75]t bo ^i^Ia cucan). Cia ^]r)n> bo 
tb]c, ol f6. 3loo*>A -^ A]Dn), ol f]. Jr ^ ^CA &cb 
i)-3lo0UA ocuf T^dcA|t i)-3loOD^ T?o|t ^Ae9TDU]5, ocuf if 
dt) b6l be]|t5i H') -^^ca 2lcb nj-Bel I3e]|i5| 6 f]o llle. Lujb 
b]o 'FlTJb ]t)be5A|b |t) Ufcby ocuf |?e|iA]c coiplooo ocuf 
bo ^u]c lA^f 6. Jf aii)Ia]6 ]n)OYt|ttt bu] f]t), ocuf co|i|ibol5 
DA f6b A]3] .1, feo]b CurDUfU. Jf be b|D bo |tocbA]|i ado 
f ]D 'I* ^]^t l.uAC|tA. Jf 6 c6b 5tt|D CurDttU ^ CAcb CDUcbA. 
'C^]b } CoDDACCA]b ]A|t f]D> octtf f A5e]b Cft|TDAll ida 
feD6]|t A D-b]cb|te|b CA]lle ADb, ocuf bjterD bOD feiDK^lDO 
tDA]lle fjiif, ocuf ]f jAb f]D bo 5DI f^ls^ bo. C6cbAi6 
ID co|t|tbol5 b^D ^ octtf Acfec a fc6lA 6 cuf co be]fie, 
ocuf AtDA^l ]to rpAftb ^eft da f^b. Ce|leb|tA]6 p]DD bo 
Ctt|iDAll| ocuf lufb ftoitDe b'foslA^rD ^ICf] co 'piDD^cef |io 
boi fO}i Bo]D« Nin Iaa) UTDOji|io befcb a D-6tilDD ccda do 
CO D*becbA]b fte fflfbecc, A|t oasIa tdac U|rt5jteDD ocuf 

1DAC SQdftDA/ 

Secbc iD-blfA6DA bo 'piDD^cif fop B6|d oc ujtDA]5e 
lAcb I'lDO^ T^^ic; A|]i bo hu] a ca||i|idS]T*® ^ eolp^]c 
bo coiDAilc, ocuf ceD t)l da A]DF]f icm ]A|tttfD. pmcb id 
tD-brtAbAD> octtf |io b-epbAb bo De|iDD© utdoji|io ]d bfiAb^o 

1 Maenmhagh, Moinmoy, a territory lying round Lough Reagh in the 
present county of Galway ; but the aitiiations of Ath-Glonda, i. e. the 
ford of Glonda, and of Tochar'GUmda, the causeway of Glonda, are now 
unknown by these names. 

8 Ath'Beldeirg, i.e., ford of Red mouth, not identified unless it be Bal- 
ly-derg. 

* The Boinnt i.e. the river Boyne in Meath. 

* Here ends folio 1 10 of the original MS. and on the upper margin of folio 
120, in the handwriting of the scribe, is the following observation ; — 



301 

the wail of one [solitary] woman. He went towards her, 
and viewed the woman : The first tear she shed was a tear 
of blood; and the other was a gush of blood, so that her 
mouth was red. " Thy mouth is red, woman !'' said he- 
I have cause for it, said she : my only son was killed by a 
huge ugly hero, who came to me. What is thy son's name ? 
said he. Olonda is his name, said she. From him Ath- 
Olonda and Tochar-Olondain Maenmhagh' are called, and 
from this Belderg the name Ath-beldeirg' remaitis ever since. 
Finn then went in pursuit of the hero, and they fought a 
combat, in which he fell by him [Finn.] The way he was 
situated was, he had the treasure bag with him, i.e., the 
[bag containing the] treasures of Cumhall. The person 
who fell here was Liath Luachra, he who first wounded 
Cumhall in the battle of Cnucha. 

He now proceeds into Gonnaught, and finds Crimall, 
then an old man, in a desert there, and some of the old 
Fianns along with him, who were wont to chase for him. 
He gave him the Corrbholg, and told him the news from 
beginning to end :-— how he had killed the possessor of the 
treasures. He bids farewell to Crimall, and goes forward 
to Finices [who lived at the Boinn*] to learn poetry. He 
durst not remain in any part of Ireland until he took to 
learn poetry, from fear of the sons of Uirgrenn, and the sons 
of Moma.* 

Seven years Finn-eges remained at the Boinn [Boyne] 
watching the salmon of linn-Feic,^ for it had been prophe- 
sied that he would eat the [sacred] salmon of Fee, and 
that he would be ignorant of nothing afterwards I He 
caught the salmon, and ordered [his pupil] Deinme to roast 

*^ 21 i9Uitt| ir TAbA CO z}c Ctotttyo 6q co\tffte/* 
O Mary [VirginJ it is long till Edmund comes from the meeting. 

This was Edmund Butler for whom the MS. was transcrihcd. 

^ Linn Feic^ i. e. the pool of Fee, a deep pool in the Rirer Boyne, near 
FBTta/erfecc, the ancient name of the village of Slane, on this rlrer. 



802 

bo Yru|t)e, ocuf Afbeftc Atj ^fle ^(tif cei) x}] boo bjtAb^o W 
cofDA]lc. Do be]tc 10 3ilU bo ao b]tAb^tj }Ap, t)A i^uioe, 
fOA|i cofolff 01 t>oo b|iAbao, A 5]IIa, ol ]o vi^* N^co, 
ol 10 SiIIa, acc too 6|ibu bo loifcef, ocuf bo jiAbuf ito 
beolu lAitcAio* CiA b-^ion) tn^ oitcfA, a 3iIIa, ol ffe. 
4)eiioo©* ol 10 5llU. Fiwo bo AiotO^ ol f6, a JiIIa, ocuf 
If buic cucAb 10 biiAbAO biA cotOAilc, ocuf if cu lo T'lV^ co 
iriji. 'CoiTolib 10 5llU 10 biiAbAo i^iicAio. )f fio citA 
bo itAc 10 fif bo pioo .1. AO CAO bo beiteb a ofibAio 10^ 
beolu, ocuf oocAO cpiA 'CeiovolAesA, ocuf jto f AiUfifceA 
bo lAitAto 10 ol po b|b 'o^ AiOKlf • 

Ko iroslttinjfittl) 10 ciieib be oenjcisiuf ir|lib .i. Ceioto 
lAe3A ocuf jfOttf foil OfOA, ocuf <Dicebttl biceoo^^lb. Jf 
AOb f 10 bo iioioe 1^100 IT) 1^13 fl oc iritoroAb a feicfi : 

CecceroAio caio pee ! iio f Aiit AOb cucbc I 
Caoa)C luio lAib 1^10, biA ro-beicb 1^13^13 aoo. 
3^1 nib CAi ciiuAib beAOi If foceo f Aib fAiii, 
Fuib|3 f lofe fip, b|iuioo® ceiib caiU cpAib. 
CeAiibuib f Aro fUAill f itucT), f Ai3ib 3itAi3 luAcb llOO* 
LeACAib folc fobA fiiAicb, iroiibitib c^o^cb fAoo flOO* 
'PuAbAift bif3ell fceill ff3ioe, ifOMb peib iiiAo iticb 

IteAO^; 
CuiiticbeAit f aI f uao, Ctti3cblli bUc 10 bic. 
BeitAib # ♦ ♦ 



I Finn is thy name. It appe«n that our hero had concealed from his 
master Finn-Kg^s that he had been known by the name of Finn, after he 
had drowned the nine boys in Magh-Liffe. But the poet finding that 
be had first tasted of the salmon of Linn Fete without intending it, 
saw that the ancient prophecy was fulfilled in him, and that his real 
name must be Finn. OTlaherty states that our hero assisted his fiither- 
in-law Gormac son of Art, in compiling codes of laws ; and the Life of 
8t Columkille compiled by Manns O'Donnell, states that he possessed 
the gift of prophecy, and foretold the birth and future greatness of St. 
Columbkille. 



w 



303 

it, and the poet told him not to eat of the salmon. The 
young man brought him the salmon after cooking it. 
Hast thou eaten any part of the salmon, young man ? 
said the poet, " No," replied the young man, but I burned 
my thumb, and put it into my mouth afterwards. What 
name is upon thee, youth ? said he. Deimne, replied the 
youth. " Finn is thy name,* youth," said he, and it was 
to thee the salmon was [really] given, [in the prophecy] to 
be eaten [not to me], and thou art the Finn truly. The youth 
afterwards consumed the salmon, and it was from this the 
[preternatural] knowledge was given to Finn, i.e., when he 
used to put his thumb in hi9 mouth, and not through Teinm 
Laegha [poetical' incantation,] whatever he had been igno- 
rant of used to be revealed to him. 

He learned the three compositions which signify the 
poets, namely the Teinm Laeffka,* the ImvAfor Oma, and 
the Dicedul dicennaib ; and it was then Finn composed 
this poem to prove his poetry : 

May-day* delightful time ! how beautiful the color I* 

The blackbirds sing their full lay, would that Laighaig 
were here 

The cuckoos^ sing in constant^ strains, how welcome is 
the noble 

Brilliance of the seasons ever; on the mai^n of the 
branchy woods 

The summer suaill^ skim the stream, the swift horses 
seek the pool. 

The heath spreads out its long hair, the weak fair bog- 
down grows. 

Sudden consternation attacks the signs, the planets in 
their courses running exert an influence : 

The sea is lulled to rest, flowers cover the earth. 

3 Tetfim Laegha, For a corioiu account of this poetical incantatioii as 
giTcn in Cormac's glossary, the reader is referred to the " Battle o/Magh 
Rath,*" printed for the Archaeological Society, p. 46. It is said that 



304 

St. Patrick aboluhed the Teinm LaegKa and the Imba»for Otna, as heing 
profane rites^ and allowed the poets to oee another called Dichedal do 
ehendaibh^ which was in itself not repugnant to Christianity, as requiring 
no offering to fiJse gods or demons. 

1 May-day f ceccei9A79, is glossed bellcAioe by O'Cleiy. It signifies 
the beginning of summer. 

< Color^ cuccv gl, bAc» color, gh ctti^^n^, gU 596, faoe, oonntenanoe, 
mien. 

* CAf, gl, COA&A, cuckoos. 

* Conatant, CfiUAd, gL dfAO* 

' Svmmer stNuff, gl. the swallows. The words of this firagment» which 
was considered to be the first composition of Finn, after haying eaten the 
salmon of the Boyne, is yery ancient and exceedingly obscure. The 
translation is only offered for the oondderatlon of Irish scholars, for it 
is certain that the meaning of some of the lines are doubtful. The poem 
obyiously wants some lines at the end ; and Mr. Cleayer states, that the 
remaining portion of the manuscript is so de&oed as to render it totally 
Illegible. 



INDEX. 



A. 

Agallamh oa Seanoiridh» quoted, 

14, ». 
Aherlow, glen of, 16, «., 29, «., 

299, ». 

Albain (Scotland), 296. 

AUeo, 286. 

Almhuin, 286. hiU of, 18, n. 

Ancient Irish sworda, where de- 
posited, 140, ». 

Ancient map, quoted, 18, »• 

Ancient prophecy, fUfilment of, 
302, n. 

Antrim, 4, ji. 

Antrim, (Lower), 17, n. 

Apparitions, 24, n. 

Armagh, 23, n., 63 n. 

Assaroe, 15, n. 

Ath Beldeirg, 300, ». 

Ath-Glonda, its present name, 

300, n. 
Athlone, 290, n, 

B. 

Ballinaskellig bay, 22, n. 

Bally bunion, 17, n., 73, »., 80, n. 

Ballyderg 300, n. 

Bally shannon, 15, n, 

BallyToumey, 185, n. 

Bania, 4, »« 

Bann, riyer, 50, 50, »., 57* 

Bansha, 16, «., 29, n. 

Bantry, 29 »• 

Bardic satii^ 90, a. 

Barrington, Sir Jonah, estates of, 

18, fi. 
Barron, Philip F.> 164, n. 
Barrow, rirer, 43, »., 50, n. 
Battle of Downpatrick, 14, n. 
Beantraighe, 296, n. 
Bearma-an-da-Ghoill, 40, 40, n.,41. 
Bearrna-an-Scail, 50, 50, n., 51. 
Belanagare, 30, n. 
Beinn Bothair, 21, n. 
Benignus, 200, n. 
BUckbirds, 217. n.f song of, 4, it. 
Bladhma, mountain of, 292, n, 
20 



Boinn (the Boyne), 300, 800, fi.» 

301. 
Boroimhe, Brian, 71, ii. 
Bothar, peak of, 20, 21. 
Bolus head, 22. a. 
Boyne, riTer, 285, »., 286, 300, «•, 

301,11. 
Brandon bay, 18, n. 
Bregia,284. 
Breifne, 65, n. 
Butler, Edmund, 288. 



C. 

Cairbre, land of, 80^ a. 

Gairbrighe, 298, it. 

Gaiseal (Cashel), 201, a. 

Cambrensis Eversus, quoted, 8, a. 

Gape Glear, 138, a. 

Garbury, barony of, 14, a. 

Garolan the poet, 136, ». 

Garrick-on-Suir, 50, a, 284. 

Garrigeen, 50, 51, 51, n. 

CSas, Gormac, 286. 

Gashell, 200, a, kings of, their pre* 

rogatlTes, 17, «• 
Gastle Island, 291, a. 
Gastleknock, 288, a, 
Gayan, 288, a. 
Geis-Ghorainn, 21, a. 
Ghess-playing, antiqui^ of, 56, a. 
Giarraighe (Kerry), 298, a. 
Giarruighe Luacbra, 22, a. 
Gill Easbuig Broin, 18, a. 
Gill Stuifin, 231. 
Glanwilliam, barony of, 16, a. 
Glanna Moma, their inheritance, 

16, a, 

Glaire, battle of, 80, a. 
Glane, barony of, 70, a. 
Clare, 51, a., 140, a., 230. 
Gleaver, Bey. E. D., 283. 
Glonmacnoise, annals of, quoted, 

288. a. 
Glonmel, 16, a., 50, a. 
Gloonsast, parish of, 294, a. 
Gnoc-an-air, 16. 17, where situated, 

17, a. 



306 



Cluain Conaire, (Cloncurry),71» »• 

Cnoc-an-Scail, 18, n. 

Cna» 4, 5. 

Cnucha, battle of, 288, 288, n., 289. 

Cobhthach Caol Breagh, 30, n. 

ComyD, Michael, 230. 

Conall Gulban, 30, n. 

Connall, country of, 15, n. 

Conn of the hundred battles, 7 1 • Hm 

286. 
Conan Maol^ IQ, n., anecdote of, 

114,n. 
Connaught, 30, n., 286. 
Connellaa, Professor, quoted, 18, n. 
Coolagarronroe, 232. 
Corann, where situated, 21, ii. 
Corcaguiny, barony of, 4, n. 
Corca-oiche, 284, 288, 289. 
Cormac Mac Airt» 173, n. 
Coonagh, territory of, 298. n. 
Cork, 29, n., 50,»., 138, n., 232, 

284., 296, n. 
Corrbholff, 300, 801, iU use, 280, n., 

288,289. 
Coshbridge, barony of, 24, ». 
Coshmore, barony of, 24, n. 
Crannagh, 283. 
Crom, one of the idols of the pagan 

Irish, 30, ». 
Crom Cruach, 31, n., 65, n. 
Crom Dubh, 31, «. 
Cromleac, where found, 4, n. 
Crotta CUach, 294, n. 
CruRchan Chruim, grouse of, 30, 

31, where situated, 30, a. 
Cuckoo, 28, n., ancient Irish name 

for, 304, n. 
Cuilcontuin, 288, 289. Where si- 
tuated, 288» n. 
Cuillean O'g-Cuanach, 298, n. 
Cullen, 298, n. 



D. 



Daire Dearg, 206, a., 288, 289. 
Dair Inis, Tisle of oaks), 24, », 
Dalian, (pillar stone), 217, n. 
Dal Cas, the O'Briens, S86. 
Dearg son of Fionn, adTenturee 

of, 15, B. 

Dcece, 71 • n. 

Deers, their skeletons, where depos- 
ited, 216, n. 

Deise, Teamrach, 71, n., a tribe 
name, 71 » n. 



Derrycam, 28, 29, 32, n., song of the 
blackbird of, 30, 31., where situ- 
ated, 28, It. 
Desmond, the great Earl of, 232, 

283,284. 
Dinn Senchus, quoted, 42, n. 
Dodder, river, 216, n. 
Doire an Chaim, 31, n. 
Domhnach Chroim Dhuibh, 31, n. 
Donegal, 15, n., 30, n. 
Dord Fhiann, 4, 5., 68, 69, 76, n., 

217, II. Its use. 2, n. 
Down, 16, n. 
Downpatrick, ancient name of, 14,n. 

battle of, 14, n. 
Dromahaire, barony of, 17, v. 
Drom Dearg, 14, 15. its ancient 

nanre, 14, n. 
Druim Lis,(nowDrumlease), where 

situated, 17, ft. 
Dniim-re-Cor, otter of, 30, 31, 
Druim Imnocht, 284. 
Drumcliff, ancient name of, 14, n, 
Drumlish, 16, 17. 
Drum Lease, tee Druim lis. 
Dublin, 140, n., 216, n. 
Ducks, 28. 29. 
Dumhach, 231. 
Dun Cearmna, its present name, 

284. 
Dundalethghlas, 14, n. 
Dundrum, bay of, 16, a. 
Dunganran, 16, n., 232. 
Dun g-Grot, fort and castle of, 16,n. 
Dunne, John, 217, n. 
DuDOTe> where situated, 137, n. 
Dwyer, 29, n. 



E. 

Eamhuin, 18, 19. 

Cas Aedha Ruaidh, 15, n. 

Eas Ruaidh, 14, 15. 

Erne, river, 15, n. 

Erris, where situated, 17, n. 

F. 

Fail, Fians of, 50, 51. 

Faoidh, meaning of the term, 14, n. 

Fee, pool of, 301, n. 

Fenian hounds, their names, 203, 

203, signification of, 2j3. n 
Feegile, its ancient name, 294, n. 
Fenian games, 4, n. 



307 



Fera cul, 284. 

Fennaoagh, 29, n., 30, fi« 

Fiachadh, Sulghdhe, 71- h. 

Fiaos, thdr chieftainry, 288, 389. 

Fidh Gaibhle, 42, n., 294, n. 

Finland, king of, 4. n. 

Finn-eges, dOO, dOl, 302, n. 

Finn's first poem« 302, 308. His 
pedigree, 285. 

Finnmhagh, where situated, 290, n. 

Fiodh Chuiliinn,(FeighcaUen,)71)ii. 

Firbolgs,286, 290,n. 

Fochaol. 22, 22, fi.« 23. 

FormaoiU 18, 19, 22, 22, it., 23. 

Formaollna-bh-FiaD» where situa- 
ted, 18f n. 

Fothartas, 287. 

Four Masters, quoted, 16, n., 17> »>» 
24, »., SO, n., 3],a. 



G. 

Gaelic Society, trauflactions of, 

quoted, 32, n. 
Galty mountidns, 294, n. 
Galway, 14, 15, 16, n., 234, n., 

300,11. 
Gairistown, 234, n. 
Garryricken, 2I7> »• 
Gleann-na*g-Caor, stag of, 26, 29, 

29, n. 
Gleann Damhatn, 24, n. 
Gleann.da-dhaimh, 24, 24, u., 24. 
Gleann-da-Mhail, lowing of the calf 

of, 16, 17. 
Gleann-na-m-buadh, whistle of the 

eagle of, 30,31. 
Gleann-na-Sgail, 4, 4, »., 5. 
Glenasmoil, 216, n. 
Glen of the two oxen, 24, n. 
Glen Bath, 4, 5. 
Gleoir, the redhanded, 292, 293. 
Glonda, the ford of, 300, n. 
Gilla-Brighde Mac Conmhidhe, 

chief poet of Ulster, 15, a. 
Grenane, 18, n. 
Grianan, its meaning, 168, n. 
Griffin, Martin, 140. n. * 



H. 



Hares, 28. 29. 

Hawks, 30, n. 

Here, Herbert F., 285. 



HorseSyhow brought to Ireland 85,fi 
Howth, hill of, 84, a. 
Hui Tairsigh, 288, 289. 



I. 



Ibh.rathach, 22, a. 

Idol worship, 65, a. 

Ikeathy, 70, a, 

Inbhear, Geiniath, 85, n. 

InchiquiD, 232, lake of, 50, 51,51, n. 

Inis FaU, 164, n. 

lonrus, scream of the seagulls of, 

16, 17. 
Irish druids, 65, a. 
Irish proTerbs, 79, n. 
Irish names, their identity, 184, n. 
Irish families to whom the prefix 

'«Maol" belongs, 19, n. 
Iverk, barony of, 283. 
Ivy leaTes, their groat size, 216, a. 



K. 



Keash, 21, n. 

Kell8,21, a.,28,a. 

Kelly, the late Bey. M., D.D., 

3, n. 
Kerry, 4, »., 17, a., 18, n., 22, n., 

23, a., 50, n., 80, n., 138, n., 

200, n., 265, n., 291, a., 292, n., 

296, a. 
Kilbenny, 232. 
Kildare, 16, n., 49,a.,70,a.,217, a., 

286, 295, a. 
Kilkenny, 4, 50, n., 51, a , 70, a., 

217, a., 283. 
Killarney, 235, a. Ancient name 

of the lakes of, 200, a. 
KiUarory, parish of, 16, a. 
Kilrush, \io, a. 
Kilnaboy, 5],a. 

King's County, 266, 292, a., 295, a. 
Kinsale, old head of, 284. 
Knockanar, 73, a. 



L. 



Laithreach Brain, 70, a. 

Lake of the three Gaols, 28, 29. 

Where situated, 28, a. 
Lamhraighc, 292, a. 



•308 



lahinch. 231. 

Laraghbrine, 70, u, 

Leabhar Qabhala, quoted, 29, ». 

Leabhar na g-Ceart, quoted, 5, n, 

Leac-an-Scail, 4, n. 

Leacht-an-Scail, 4, n. 

Leahy, Mr. WUliam, 82, n. 

Leath Ard, 72, 73, 73, n. 

Leirg-na-bh-Fian, 16, 17t 18, n. 

Leitrim, 17> »., SO,>ii. 

Leinster, 18, m., 70, n., 285, 286, 

287, 205, n. Ancestors of the 

kings of, 284. 
Letter Leo, 4, 4, n., 5. Blackbird 

of, 1^ 17. 
Liars, held in contempt bj the 

Irish peasantry, 213, n. 
Liffey. plain of, 295, it. 
Limerick, 73, n., 2R4., 298, n. 
Linn Feic, 300, 301, 301, n. 
Lismore, book of, 287> 288, n. 
Loch Lein, 200, «, 201, n. 
Loch Meilghe, 29, 29, overflowing 

of, 30, n. 
Lodan, Mac Lir, 85, n. 
Lough Erne, 28, 29. The ducks 

of, 28, 29. Where situated, 29, n. 
Lough Gill, 17, n. 
Lough Gur, 232. 
Lottghrea, 16, n. 
Lough Rcagh, 300, n. 
Luachair Bheaghaidh 22, 22, n., 23. 

where situated, 226, m. 
Luaighni, their history, 288, n. 
Luaghni Teamhrach, 234. 
Lumhan, meaning of the term, 

21, n. 

M. 

Mac Adam, Robert, 216, n. 

Mac Airt, Cormac, 286. 

Mac CumhuU, Fionn, 284. 

Mac Conmara, 19, n. 

Mac Faolain, 71, n. 

Macroom, 185, n. 

Mac Lughach,why so called, 206, n. 

Mac Firbis, Duald, quoted, 29, n., 
284. 

Mac Murrough's reign, 76, n. 

Mac Bonain, Caoilte. How occu- 
pied, 20, «., his agili^, 285. 

Mac-an-Loin, 42, 42, n., 43, 46, 47, 

Maenmhaigh, its present name, 
300,11. 

Magh Feimheann, 4, n. 



Magh Finn, 290, n. 

Magh Laighean, 71, m. 

Magh Life,it8 present name, 295, »., 

drowning of nine youths in, 302, 

302, »., 303. 
Biagh-Maoio, 16, n., bellowing of 

the ox of, 16. 17. 
Magh Sleacht, 31, n., 65, n. 
Maon, plain of, 16, n. 
Maoninhagh, 16, n.' 
Maynooth, 71f »• 
Mayo, 17, n. 
Meath, 28, n.. 32, n., 72, n., 188, n., 

235, n., 2U6, 288, «., 300, ». 
Meilghe, lake of, 30, i». 
Miol muighe, (the hare), 4, n. 
Mitchelstown, 232. 
Modhchorb, Si) n. 
Modeligo, 72, »<, parish of, 17f n. 
Molana, 24, it., 25, n. 
Molbhthach, Meilghe, 30, n. 
Moore, quoted, 286. 
Moore, the Hon. Mr. 24, s. 
Mount Grud, 16, n. 
Mount Uniacke, 16, n. 
Mountain Castle, 17, n. 
Moyelly, 286. 

Muirenn, her pregnancy, 292, 293. 
Muireann, a general name for wo- 
men among the ancient Irish, 

292, fi. 
Munster, 286, 296, n. King oL 

200,11. 
Musiod Instruments peculiar to 

the Ancient Irish, 2, n. * 

N. 

Naas, 48, 49, 49, n., 70, n. 

Newhall, 31, a. 

New Boss, 50, a., ancient name of, 

280. 
Niall of the Nine Hostages, 15. a. 

O. 

O'Brain, fO'Byme,) 71, a. 
0'Breasail*s country, 232. 
O'Briens, 51 , a. 

O'Cearbhaill's (O'CarroU's), 200, a. 
O^Connor, 231. 

O'Connor, Dr. Charles, quoted 9D,a. 
O'Clery, John Boy, 283, 304. a. 
O'Connor, Hugh Mac Felim, 14, ii. 
O'Cregan, 196, a. 

CDaly, Carroll, anecdotes of, 64, a., 
65, a. 






309 



ODonchadbas, 200, i». 
O'Donnell, Maniu, S02, n. 
O'Donohoe^ M.F., The, his deacent, 

200,11. 
0*DonoTan, Dr., 81, n-, 76, n. 
O'Duibhne, Diarmuid, hU ball 

seare, or beauty spot, 20, n. 
O'Dunnes. how they got their mot- 
to, 202, n. 
OTUherty, quoted, 4, n., 81, ». 
Ogle, Qeorge« 50, n. 
O'Qpady, 82, »., 140, n. 
O'flerUhy, 185, n. 
Oisin, legend of, 238. 
O'Keeffe, Mr. James, 17f it. 
O'Kelly, WiUiam Boy, his hospU 

tality to bards, 90, n. 
0*Leihiii*s country, 282. 
Omens, belief in, by the ancient 

Irish, 170, n. 
O'Neill, Brian, 14, n. 
O'Quin, family of, 51, n. 
Ormonde, 288, 284. 
Oscur, great call of, 16, 17. 
Ossory, Upper, barony of, 18, «. 
Ossorians, expert chess-players, 

57, n. 
Otter, remarkable instance of the 

voracity of, 29, ». 
Otters, 28, 19. . 
Oughteranny, 70, n. 

P. 

Pagan worship, 65, n. 
Palliser, William, estates of, 18, a. 
Pap mountains, 296, n. 
Petrie, Dr., quoted, 164, n. 
Piltown, 283. 
Pinkerton, quoted, 286. 
Portarlington, 294, n. 
Pottlesrath, 288. 

Q. 
Queen^s County, 18, n., 292, a. 

R. 

Rathcroghan, 80, n. 

Baymond le Gros, his place of inter« 

ment, 25, a. 
Beading, Thomas^ 18, a. 
Remarkable headstone for rebels, 

165, fi. 
Bidge by the stream, SO* 81. 



Rinn-rathach, 22, 22, »., 28. 

Biofog, English name of, 21, n. 

River Erne, a. 

Roscommon, 21, a., 80, n., 290, a. 

Round Towers, 14 a. 

Rower, 50, 50, a., 51. 

Ruan, 280. 

21, a. 
Rudhraidghe, son of Partholan, 

where drowned, 16, a. 
Rughraidhe, wave of, 16, 16, »., 17. 

S. 

Salmon of Fee, 800, 301. 
Salmon Leap, 15, a. 
Salt, barony of, 70, a. 
Seasgnan, (now Slievegoe), parish 

of, 16, a. 
Seal Balbh, (the Stammerer), 4, a. 

His monument, 4, a. 
Scotland, 164, a. 
Shannon, river, 298, a. 
Sheahan, Daniel, 78, a. 
Sheep, slaughter of,by an otter,80,a. 
Sidh, Fionn's sister, her fleetness of 

foot 285. 
Skreen, hill of; 284, a. 
Slane, ancient name of, 801, a. 
Sliabh Bladhma, 292, 292, a., 293. 
Sliabh g-Crot, 16, a. Chace of, 16, 

17. 
Sliabh Cua, 16, a., 17, a. Fawns 

of 16, 17. 
Sliabh g-Conaill, from whom called, 

80, a. The hawks of, 28, 29. 
Sliabh Cuilinn, 22, 23, 
Sliabh Guillinn, 23, a., 63, a. 
Sliabh Luachra, 22, a., 50, 50, a., 

51, 291, a. 
Sliabh Mis, (now Slieve Mish), 

where situated, 17, a. Murmur 

of the streams of, 16, 17. 
Sliabh Muice (the Pig's Mountain), 

299, a. 
81iabh-na.m-ban 5, a., 50, 50, a., 

51. Fenian, traditions of, 217, a. 
Slieve Bloom, 292, ». 
Slieve Muck, where situated, 299, a. 
SUgo, 18, a. 
Smith, quoted, 25, a. 
Smerwick, 138, a. 
Specimen of an ancient Irish Lul- 

Uby, 292. 298. 
Stone of destiny, 130, a. 
Stone-throwing, antiquity of, 64, a. 



31S 



Clelland, James, Esq., Irish-street, 

Downpatrick. 
Cole, W. L., Esq., Proprietor of 

the Irish American, New York. 
Coleman, Rev. Wn^., C.C., Glaun- 

tane. Mallow. 
Coleman, Everard Home, Esq., 

F.R. A.S., F.R.C.S., General Re- 

gister and Record Office of Sea- 
men, Adelaide FUce^ London 

Bridge, London, E.C. 
Collins, Rev. J., C.C., Innishannon, 

Bandon. 
Collins, Edward F., Esq., Hull 

Advertiser, Hull. 
ColUs, Capt., Citj-qnay, Dublin. 
Comjn, Francis Lorenzo, Esq. Lis- 

sinard, BalljTaughan, Barren, 

Co. Clare. 
Condon, Pierse* Esq., Brooklyn. 

New York. 
Condon, James, Esq., Ardreagh, 

Rathkeale. 
Connellan, Professor, Qaeen*s Col- 
lege, Cork, and Dablin. 
Considine, Mr. Donald, Jail-street, 

Ennis. 
Conway, M. E., Esq., General Post 

Office, Dublin. 
Cooper, Rev. Leonard Leader, 

A.B., The Castle, Antrim. 
Coote, Henry C, Esq., Doctors' 

Commons, London, E.C. 
Cosgrave, Michael, Esq., Ballagh- 

aderreen. Mayo. 
Costello, John, Esq., Galway. 
Cousins, Rev. Sidney Leslie, A.B., 

Banteer, Co. Cork. 
Creagh, Pierse, Esq., J.P., Barris- 
ter, Mount Elva, Co* Clare, and 

Mounljoy-square, Dublin. 
Crean, Thomas J., Esq., Dungarran 
Cronnolly, Mr. Richard, Kiloolgan, 

Co. Galway. 
Crowe, Thomas, Esq., J.P., D.L., 

Dromore, Ruan, Co. Clare. 
Crowley, Cornelius, Esq., Bandon, 
Culbert, Robt., Esq., Stanus-place, 

Lisbum. 
Culhane, James, Esq., Ballysteen, 

Askeaton. 
CuUen, Luke, Esq., Mount St. 

Joseph, Clondalkin. 
Culllnan, Ralph, Esq., Malgowna, 

Ennis. 
Cuming, George, Esq., Markethill, 



Cummins. Rev. Jeremiah, C.C., 
South Presbytery, Cork. 

Cunningham, D. P., Esq., Crohane, 
Killenaule, Co. llpperary. 

Cussen, Very Rot. Robert, D.D., 
P.P., V.G., Bruir. 

D. 

Dunraven, The Rt. Hon. the Eari 

of, Adare Manor, Adare. 
Daly, John, Esq., CharleTille, En- 

niskerry. 
Daly, R. B., Esq., West-street, 

Drogheda. 
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derreen, Co. Mayo. 
Dalton, Mr. Patrick, Dungeehy, 

Newcastle West, Co. Limerick. 
Davenport, Tyrrell, Esq., Bally- 

nacourty, Co. CUire. 
Dee, Jeremiah, £sq.,Newtown-San- 

des, Co. Kerry. 
DeUny, George, Esq., Longford 

Terrace, Kingstown. 
Delany, Mr. Hugh, Glandore, Ros- 

carberry, Co. Cork. 
De Yere, Aubrey, £«q.» Curra- 

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dagad fuid Ballynacally Co. Clare. 
Doher^, Rey. PhilipYinoent, O.P., 

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Dublin. 
Doherty, John Izod, Esq., Bloom- 
wood, Monkstown, Co. Dublin. 
Doherty, William Izod, Esq., 21, 

Westland-row, Dublin. 
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Galway. 
Donegan, John, Esq., Dame-street, 

Dublin, 
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Lee, Sanday*s Well, Cork. 
Dowling, Robert, Esq., 107, Great 

Howard-street, Liverpool. 
Drommond, Rev. Wm. Hamilton, 

D.D., M.R.I.A., 27f Lower Gar- 

diner-street, Dublin. 
Drummond, William, Esq., Rock- 
vale Castle, Stirling. 

E. 

Eassie, William, Jun., Esq., Glou- 
cester. 



313 



Egao, George William, Eeq., M.D.; 

Dundrum, Co. Dablin. 
Ellis, Richard, Esq., Qlenasrooe, 

Abbeyfeale. 
Enright, Timothy, Esq., Castie- 

martin, Rathkeale. 

P. 

Fairholme, Mrs., Comragh House, 

Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford. 
Faughney, James, Esq , Castlebar. 
Ferguson, Samuel, Esq., Barrister, 

20, N. Gt. GeorgeVst., Dublin. 
Field, John, Esq., Blackroclc, Co. 

Dublin. 
Finn, Jeremiah, Esq., 114, Patrick- 
street, Cork. 
Finn, Rev, Thomas, C.C., Ardfl- 

nan, Clonmel. 
Fisher, Rey. Wm. Allen, Kilmoe, 

Schull. Skibbereen. 
Fitzgerald, Edward, Esq., A.B., 

Nelson Terrace, Youghal. 
Fitzgerald, Robert, Esq., Geraldine 

Place, Kilkee. 
Fitzgerald, Gamaliel, Esq.,George's- 

street. Limerick. 
Fitzgerald, John IJoyd, Esq., Ole- 

nastar House, Newcastle West, 

Co. Limerick. 
Fitzgerald, Rey. F., Donnybrook. 
Fitzgerald, Very Rey. Archdeacon, 

P.P., Rathkeale, Co. Limerick. 
FitzgibboB, DanL, Esq., Rathkeale. 
Fitzpatrick, W. A., Esq., Kilma- 

cud Manor, Stillorgan. 
Fleming, John, Esq., Clonea, Car- 

rick-on-Suir. 
Foley, Rey. Daniel T., D.D., Pro- 
fessor of Irish, Trinity College, 

DubUn. 
Foley, Mr. John, Royal Marine Ar- 
tillery, The Fort, Cumberland, 

Portsmouth. 
Foley, John W., Esq., 19, Shepper- 

ton Cottages, New North Road, 

Islington, London. 
Forrest, Rey. John, C.C., D.D., 

Kingstown. 
Foster, Capt. Francis Blake, J.P., 

H.CT.C, Forster Park,Galway. 
Fowler, Thomas Kirwan, Esq., 

Alexandria, Egypt. 
Franks, Rey. James S., Reens, 

Rathkeale. 

21 



Frazer, Rey. D., Manse of Fcam 

by Tain, Scotland. 
FrQ«t, John, Esq., Solicitor, Ennis. 

G. 

Gabbett, Lieut-Colonel, Madras 

Artillery, India. 
Gabbett, Rey. Robt, M.A., Glebe, 

Foynes, Co. Limerick. 
Gkiuge, — , Esq., Museum of Irish 

Industry, Dublin. 
Geoghegan, J. C, Esq., Surveyor- 
General of Excise, London,£nnis. 
Geoghegan, Henry, Esq., M.A., 

C.E., Calcutta. 
Gibson, John, Esq., Kilrush, Co. 

Clare. 
Gilligan, Rey. P. J., C.C, 61, 

James's -street, Dublin. 
Glennon, T. P., Esq., Coyentry. 
Goff, Michael, Esq., 4, Barker-st., 

Waterford. 
Good, Rey. John, C.C.» Galway. 
Goodman, Rey. James, A.B., Ard- 

groom, Castletown, Berehayen. 
Graves, Rev. Chas., D.D.,F.T.C.D., 

M.R.I.A., Dublin. 
Graves, Rev. Jas., A.B., Kilkenny. 
Grealy, Rev. Thos., P.P., Kiltho- 

mas, Diocese of Kilmacduagh. 
Greaven, Anthony, Esq., Grand 

Parade, Cork« 
Green, Thomas, Esq., Ennis. 
Griffin, Mr. Martin, Kilmsh. 

H. 

Hill, Lord George Augusta, Ramel- 

ton, Co. Donegal. 
Hackett, Wm., Esq., Midleton. 
Hallinan, Mr. John, Ballinakilbeg, 

Castlemahon. 
Hammond, Thos., Esq., Drogheda, 
Hanley, Joseph, Esq., Barrister, 

25, Ldr. Gardiner-street, Dublin. 
Hanley, Wm. Francis, Esq., M.D., 

Holycross, Thurles. 
Hanna, J. W., Esq., Saul-street, 

Downpatrick. 
Harold, Charles, Esq., Curah, 

Crookstown, Co. Cork. 
Harpnr, Geo., Esq., Sheep House, 

Dtogheda. 
Hartigan, Patrick, Esq., Cloonagh, 

Rathkeale, Co. Limerick. 



316 



y' 



McCarthy, T., Etq., Bandon. 
M*Cullagh, Niall, Esq., Buenos 

^ vr^s 
M*DeYitt, Rev. James, C.C, St. 

Patrick's College, Maynooth. 
M*£yoy. D., Esq., Urlingford, Co. 

KilkeoDy. 
M'Gauran, John, Esq., Westland- 

row, DabliR. 
M*Ginty, M., Esq., Bray. 
Bfadden, Rev. John, C.C., Gort, 

Co, Galway. 
Biadigan, Thomas, Esq., Kilrush. 
Madigan, Andrew, Esq., Kilrush. 
Magauran, Patrick, Esq., Ballina- 

more, Co. Leitrim. 
Magennis, Edward Augustus, Esq., 

8, North-street, Newry. 
Maguire, Edward, Esq., J. P., Bar- 

rister, Gortoral House, Swanlin- 

bar, Co. Cavan. 
Maguire, Nathaniel, Esq., Bone- 
brook, Bawnboy. 
Mahony, Rev. Laurence, Buttevant, 

Co. Cork. 
Mahony, Richard, Esq., Dromore 

Castle, Kenmare. 
Marnel, Mr. John, Pallas, Mary* 

borough. 
Martin. John, Esq., 26, Rue Lace- 

pede, Paris. 
Meagher, Very Rev. Monsignore, 

William, D.I)., V.G., P.P., Rath- 
mines, Dublin. 
Meagher, Rer. John, C.C, Lorrlui, 

Borrlsokane. 
Meany, Rev. Patrick, C.C, Bally- 

knock, Carrick-on-Suir. 
Meany, Rev. G., C.C, St. James's 

Church, Blackburne Lancashire. 
Moloney, Rev. Michael, C.C, Kil- 
bride, Wicklow, 
Moloney, Rev Thomas, C.C, Mul- 

lough, Miltownmalbay. 
Moloney, Rev. E., P.P., Clough- 

jordan & Monsea, Co. Tipperary. 
Moloney, P., Esq., Jail-st, Ennis. 
MonseU, Rt. Hon. William, M.P., 

Tervoe, Co. Limerick. 
Moore, John, Esq., Solicitor, Mid- 

leton, Co. Cork. 
Moore, Rev. Philip, C.C, Piltown, 

Co. Kilkenny. 
Moore, Mr. Wm. E., N.T., Castle- 

mahon. 
Moran, Rev. Patrick, C.C, Kilkee. 



Moran, Michael, Esq., Dmmgra« 
nagh, Ennis. 

Moriarty, M., Esq., St. Mary's 
Cottage. Dumfries. 

Moroney, Jeremiah, Esq., Philadel- 
phia. 

Morris, Henry, Esq., 4, Little Ship- 
street, Dublin. 

Mozon, Wm. Milson, Esq., Survey- 
ing General Examiner of Excise, 
Somerset House, London. 

Moylan, John, Esq., Rathkeale. 

Moynahan, Mortimer, Esq., Skib- 
bereen, Co. Cork. 

Mulcahy, Rev. E., P.P., Timo- 
league, Bandon. 

Mullane, Mr. Michl., Castlemahon. 

Murray, Rev. Thomas L., P.P., 
Kilcolman, Mallow. 

Murphy, Rev. Dominick, South 
Presbytery, Code. 

Murphy, Rev. Wm., C.C, Skib- 
bereen, Co. Cork. 

Murphy, James, Esq., 1, Lombard- 
street, Dublin. 

Murphy, M. A., Esq., 7» James's- 
street, Liverpool. 

Murphy, Rev. T., P.P., Youghal. 



N. 

Nash, David William, Esq., Bar- 
rister, 9, Vyvyan Terrace, Clif- 
ton, BristoL 

Nash, Rev. A., Rathkeale. 

Nealon, Jas., Esq., Toonagh, Ennis. 

Newell, Rev. T., C.C, Ennistymon. 

Newport, Rev. Andw., CC, Ennis. 

Nicholson, John Armitage, Esq , 
Belrath, Kells, Co. Meath. 



O. 

O'Brien, Rt. Rev. Dominick, D.D., 
Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, 
Waterford. 

O'Hea, Most Rev. Michael, D.D., 
Bishop of Ross, Skibbereen. 

O'Brien, William Smith, Esq., 
M.R.LA., Cahirmoyle, Newcastle 
West, Co. Limerick (4 copies). 

O'Brien, Edward W., Esq., Sch., 
40, Trinity College, Dublin, and 
Cahirmoyle, Newcastle Wcist, 
Co. Limerick. 



317 



CyBrien CFiely, T., E§q., A.B., 
LL.B., Ruby Lodge, Dalkey, 
Co. Dublin. 

0*Beiroe-Croire, John, A.B., Pro- 
fessor of Celtic Languages, 
Queen's College, Gal way. 

0*Bo3'le, Rev. Thomas, C.C., South 
Gloucester, County of Carleton, 
Canada West, North America. 

O'Brickley, Mr. Dand, 27, flatten 
Garden, London. 

O'Brien, Patrick, Jun., Esq., Clare 
Castle, Co. Clare. 

O'Brien, Richard, Esq., 56, Cam- 
den-street, Dublin. 

O'Brien, Robert, Esq., Old Church, 
Limerick. 

O'Brien, Mr. Daniel, St. David, 
street, Cardiff. 

O'Brien, Rer. William, C.C., Kil- 
mihil, KilrUsh, Co. Clare. 

O'Brien, Mr. John, Ballycullen, 
Ashford. Co. Wicklow. 

O'Byme, John, Esq., 7» Jardin 
Royal, Toulouse. 

O'Byme, Messrs. P. &Co., Aston's- 
quay, Dublin. 

O'Cailaghan, Eugene, Esq., Lime- 
rick. 

O'CarroU, Rev. Vincent. O.P., St. 
Saviour's Priory, Limerick. 

O'CarroU, Rev. Christopher. C.C., 
Rue Castle, Craughwell. 

O'Cavenagh, John Eugene, Esq., 6, 
Essex-street, Islington, London. 

O'Connell, D., Esq., M. D., Flint- 
field, MilLstreet, Co. Cork. 

O'Connor-Kerry, Rev. Chas. James, 
C.C., Sanditbrd, Dundrum, Co. 
DubUn. 

O'Connor, Michael, Esq., Glena- 
geary, Kingstown. 

O'Connor, Mr. Thomas, 19. Shep- 
herd-street, Oxford St , London. 

O'Connor, Mr. Michael, 97> St. 
Martin's Lane, London. 

O'Connor, Patrick, Esq., Secretsiy, 
Scientific and Literary Society, 
Kilrush. 

O'Daly, John, Esq., O'Daly's 
Bridge, Kellsu 

O'Daly, Mr. John, 9, Anglesea-st., 
Dublin. 

O'Donnell, Michael, Esq., Solicitor, 
Charleville. 



ODonnell, Rev. Patrick, C.C., 
Carrick-on-Suir. 

O'Donoghue, Rev. Edmund, CO., 
Shannon-view, Shanagolden. 

O'Donoghue, Rev. Philip, C.C., 
New York. 

O'Donohue, Francis, Esq, Bally- 
gurreen, Newmarket-on-Fergus. 

O'Donovan, John, LL.D.^M.R.I.A. 
Barrister, 36. Upper Bucking- 
ham-street, Dublin. 

O'Donovan, Mr. J., Lisbehoge, De- 
sert Serges, Bandon. 

O'Donovan-Rossa, Jeremiah, Esq , 
Skibbereen, Co. Cork. 

O'Dufiy, John, Esq., 75, Dame- 
street, Dublin (4 copies.) 

CDriscoll, Denis Florence, Esq., 
A.B , Senior Scholar in Natural 
Philosophy, Queen's Coll., Cork. 

O'DriscoU, John, Esq., 10, Angle- 
sea-street, DnbUn. 

OT>riscoll, Patk., Esq., C.E., Ennis. 

O'Farrell, James, Esq., 1, Bevois 
Cottages, Bevois Valley, South- 
ampton. 

O'Farrell, Rev. Mark. P.P., Fer- 
bane. Diocese of Ardagh. 

O'Farrell, M. R., Esq., 2d, Upper 
Pembroke-street, Diiblin. 

O'Flaherty, Martin, Esq , Galway. 

O'Flanagan, Mr. John, Wellbn>ok, 
Corofin, Co. Clare. 

CFlynn, Rev. John L., O.aF.C, 
Church-street Friary, Dublin. 

O'Gorman, Thos., Esq., 28, Heytes- 
bury-street, Dublin. 

0*Grady, Admiral, Erinagh House, 
Castleconnell. 

O'Grady, Standish Hayes, Esq., 
Erinagh House, Castleconnell. 

O'Grady, Rev. Thomas, Berehaven. 

O'Grady, Rev. Thomas Standish, 
P.P., Adare. 

O'Grady, Mr. Stephen, KiUreidy. 

O'Grady, Edvrd., Esq., Rathkeale. 

O'Hagan, John, Esq., Barrister, 
20, Kildare-street, Dublio. 

O'Hanlon, Rev. John, C.C, 17, 
James'-street, Dublin. 

O'Hanlon, David, Esq., M.D., 
Ratlikeale. 

O'Hannigan, John, Esq., Dungar- 
van, Co. Waterford. 

O'Hara, Randall, Esq., 2, John- 
street, Cardiff. 



318 



O'Hiira, John, Esq., Garlougb, 

Bawnboy. 
O'Hea, Patrick, Esq., Bandon. 
O'Herlihy, P., Esq., 33, Ebeoezcr 

Terrace, Sunday's Well, Cork. 
0*Higgin, Rev. R. J., Limerick. 
O'Horgan, Rer . CO., St. Lau- 
rence OToole's, Dublin. 
0*KeUy, Wm, Esq., 32, Chestnut 

street, Liyerpool. 
0*Keeffe, Connor, Esq., Queen's 

College, Cork, and Abbeyview, 

Kilcrea. 
O'Kennedy.Morris, Michael, Esq., 

A.B., M.D., Queen's University, 

Bonlie, Kilccxdey Co. Tipperary. 
0*Laverty, Rev. James, C.C., Dio- 
cesan Seminary, Belfast. 
O^Loghlen, Sir Cdman M., Bart., 

20, Merrion-sq., South, Dublin. 
O'Loghlen, Bryan, Esq., Rockview, 

Ennis. 
(yiooneyi Brian, Monreel, Ennis- 

tymon. 
O'Mahony. Rev. Thomas, P.P.. 

Crusheen and Rath. Co. Clare. 
O'Mahony, Rev. Thaddeus. A.B., 

24, Trinity Colleffe, Dublin. 
O'Mahony, James, Esq., Bahdon. 
O'Mahony, James, Esq., Hallivil- 

lone, Bandon, 
O'Meara, John, Esq., Birr. 
O'Neill, Geo. F., Esq., B.A., Newry. 
O'Neill, Neal John, Esq., Marino 

Crescent, Clontarf, and 82, Marl- 

borough-street, Dublin. 
O'Neill, Rev. James, C.C, Rath- 

oormick, Co. Cork. 
O'Regan, Mr.,— N.T., Bally vohan. 
Ormond, Robert, Esq., Mulgrave- 

street, Cork. 
O'Rourke, Rev. John, CO., Kings- 
town, Co. Dublin. 
Orr, Samuel, Esq., Flower Field, 

Coleraine. 
O'SuUivan, Denis, Esq., Bantry. 
O'SulUvan, Mr. James, 2, Cowane- 

street, Stirling, Scotland. 

P. 

Parker, John H., Esq., Shamrock 
Lodge, Harold's Cross, Dublin. 

Parkhouse, Thos., Esq., Tiverton, 
Devon. 

Petty, John, Esq., C.E., Ennis. 



Pbayer, William. Esq., Limerick. 
PheUn, Mr. William,Walshestown. 
Pierce, Richard, Esq., Waterioo 

Place, Wexford. 
Pigott, John Edw., Esq., M.R.I.A., 

Barrister, 96, Lr. Leeson-street, 

Dublin. 
Pontet, Marc, Esq., 8, Upper 

Sackville-street, Dublin. 
Power, Rev. Joseph, M.A., Uni- 
versity Library, Cambridge. 
Power, William, Esq., 116, Bar- 

rack-street, Watcrford. 
Power, Patrick James, Esq., Cool- 

agh, Dungarvan. 
Prim. John 6. A., Esq., Proprietor 

of the Moderator, Kilkenny. 

Q. 

Quaid, Rev. Patrick, P.P , Drom- 

collogher, and Broadford, Char- 

leville, Co. Limerick. 
Quin, Very Rev. Andrew, P.P., 

V.Q., Kilfenora and KUtortght, 

Co. Clare. 
Quinlivan, Rev. Michael, P.P.. 

Newmarket-on-Fergus, CoiClare. 

R. 

Raleigh, F. Gibbon, Esq.. Castle- 

mahon. 
Reade, Rev. Geo. Fortescue, A.B., 

Innlskeen Rectory, Dundalk. 
Reeves, Rev. William, D.D. Lusk, 

Co. Dublin. 
Reeves, Rev. John, C.C, Kilmeady. 
Reynolds, Thomas, Esq., City Mar- 
shall, Dublin. 
Roche, Lewey, Esq., 49, Patrick-st, 

Cork. 
Roche, Mr. Michael, Castlemahon. 
Kooney, M. W., Esq., 26, Anglesea- 

street, Dublin. 
Rowan, Very Rev. Archdeacon, 

D,V„ M.R.LA., Traltje. 
Rowland, John T., Esq., Solicitor, 

Drogheda. 
Royal Dublin Society, Library of, 

Kildare-street, Dublin. 
Russell, Thomas O'Neill, Esq., 103, 

Graf ton-street, Dublin. 
Ryan, Andrew, Esq., Gortkelly 

Castle, Borrisoleigh. 
Ryan, Patrick, Esq., St. Patrick's 

College, Maynooth. 



819 



s. 

Scott, WilliAm, Esq., Ranelagh, 

Co. Dublin. 
Shairp, John Campbell, Esq., the 

Universitf , St. Andrews, Scot> 

land. 
8haw, Mrs.; Monkstown, Cork. 
Shcalian, Michael, Esq., Buttevant. 
Sheahan, Mr. Daniel, Ardagh, New- 

castle West, Co. Limerick. 
Sheahan, Mr. Michael, Newcastle 

West Post Office, Co. Limerick. 
Sheehan, Daniel, Esq.,! 16, Patrick. 

street, Cork. 
8heeh3% Geo., Esq., Castlemahon. 
Sheehy, Henry, Esq., Fort William, 

Balliogarry, Co. Limerick. 
Siegfried, Uudolf Thomas, Ph ]>., 

Trinity College, Dublin. 
Sigerson, Geo., Esq., A.Ii., Queeb's 

College. Cork. 
Skene, William 7., Esq., 20| In- 

Terleith-row, Edinburgh. 
Smiddy, Rev. Richd., C.C., Mallow. 
Soanes, Robert L., Esq,, 2, Royal 

Exchange Buildings, Corn hill, 

London. 
Stack, Rev. John, C.C.» Tomgeany, 

Scariff, Co. Limerick. 
Stackpoole, Capt. W., J.P., Bally- 

alla, Ennis. 
Stamer, Wm., Esq , M.D., Ennis. 
Stephens, Profeesor Oeorge, Copen- 

hagen. 
Stephens, Thomas, Esq., Merthyr 

Tydfil, Wales. 
Sullivan, W. K., Ph. D., Museum 

of Industry, Stephen's Green, 

Dublin. 
Sweeny, Mr. William, Tanlehane. 
Synan, Very Rev. Dr., P.P., Sha- 

nagolden, Co. Limerick. 



T. 

Talbot de Malahide, The Rt. Hon. 

Lord, Malahide Castle, Malahide. 
Talbot, Marcus, Esq., Ennis. 
Thomson, Miss M. M., Ravensdale, 

Flurry Bridge, Co. Louth. 
Tiemey, Daniel, Esq., A.B., C.E., 

Queen's Uniyersity, Blackwater 

Lodge, Shannon Bjidge, King's 

County. 



Tighe, Robert, Esq., Fitzwilliam- 

square, Dublin. 
Todd, Ret. James Henthorn, D.D., 

S.F.T.C.D., F.S.A., President 

of the Royal Irish Academy, 

Dublin. 
Todd, Burns, and Co., Messrs. (per 

Librarian), Mary-street, Dublin. 
Tracy, Rev. John, C.C, Bally neill, 

Carrick-on-Suir. 
Trevor, Kev. James, C.C, Bray. 
Troy, John, Esq., Fermoy. 
Tully, Rev. Patrick, P.P., Gort. 

Co. Galway. 



VandermaMsy Mods. Corr, Brux* 

elles 
Yarian, Ralph, Esq., 105, Patrick- 

street, Cork. 
Vaughan, Rev. Jeremiah, P.P., Kil- 

raghtis and Doora, Co. Clare. 
Yeale^ James» Esq., Cappoquin. 

W. 

Walsh, Michael, Esq., Labasheeda, 

Eildysart, Co. Clare. 
Walsh, Robert P. C, Esq., 3i, 

Ebenezer Terrace, Sunday's Well, 

Cork. 
Waird, John, Esq., Endowed School, 

Back-lane, Dublin. 
Ward, Rev. Peter, P.P., Turlough, 

Castlebar. 
Ward, Mr. Luke^ Castlebar. 
Westropp, Ralph M., Esq., Ravens* 

dale, Carrigalihe, Co. Cork. 
White, John Davis, Esq.» Deputy 

Registrar, Diocese of Cashel, 

Cashel. 
Wheeler, Rev. Robert, C.C, Cel- 
• bridge* 
Whitestone, John, Esq., Clonda- 

gad and Ballinacally. 
WUde, William Robt., Esq., M.D., 

F.R.C6.1., M.R.IJL., 1, Mer- 

rion-square, North, Dublin. 
Williams, Wm., Esq., Dungarvan. 
Williams, Patrick, Esq., Dungarvan. 
Wilson^ Andrew, Esq., Surveying 

General of Excise, Somerset 

House, London, 
Windele, John, Esq., Blair's Castle, 

Cork. 



320 



Woodlock, Mr. John, South Mall, : Wynne, Mr. Michael, Lough Allen, 



Thnrlea. 
Wright, Charles H.H., Esq., A.B., 

19, Trinity College, Dablin. 
Wright, Edward P., Esq., LL.D., 

5, Trinity College, Dublin. 



Drumshambo, Co. Leitrim. 
Wynne, Rev. — , D.D., Dundnim, 

Co. Dublin. 
Wyse, Capt Bonaparte, Waterfoid 

Artillery, Waterford. 



AUSTRALIAN CELTIC ASSOCIATION, SYDNEY. 
TVeaturtr — Jbbxmiah Mooma. Esq. 
Secretory — W. Datis, Esq. 



M^Encroe, The Venerable Arch- 
deacon, Sydney. 

Plunkett, The Hon. John Hubert, 
Q.C., M.L.A., Sydney. 

M*Carthy, Rev. Timothy, Armi- 
dale. 

Corish, Rev. M. A., O.S.B. 

Beart, Mr. Bryan. . 

Brien Mr. James. 

Caraher, Mr. Owen Joseph. 

Cleary, Mr. James,( Maryborough.) 

Cleary, Mr. Richard. 

Corerny, Mr. Robert. 

Crane, Mrs. Patrick. 

Cunningham, Mr. Edward. 

DaTls, Mr. Wm. M. 

Daris, Mr. John. 



Hilbert, Mr. J. 

Kearney, Mr. Denis. 

Lennan, Mr. James. 

M'Cormac, The Widow. 

Mac Donnell, Mr. Randall. 

M'EvUly. Mr. Walter. 

Moore, Mr. Jeremiidi. 

O'Dwyer, Mr. John. 

O'Molony, Mr. P. 0*D. (Secretary.) 

0*Neil, Mr. Thomas. 

O'Neil, Mr. Morgan. 

O'Neill, Mr. James. 

O'Neill, Mr. Cornelius. 

O'Reilly, Mr. Robert M. 

Reidy, Mr. P. 

Smith, Mr. James. 

Sterenson, Mr. John. 



LONDON, CANADA WEST, ASSOCIATION. 



Downes, Henry, Esq. 

Irwin, William, Esq. 

M*Cann, Philip, Esq. 

Norris, Patrick G., Esq., Solicitor. 

OliTer, D. Noble, Esq. 



O'Mara, Patrick, Esq. 
Robinson, William, Esq. 
Shanly James, Esq., Barrister. 
Tiemey, John M., Esq., (Law Stu- 
dent,) Secretary. 



ERRATA. 

Page 82, note, for 1880, read 1808. 

162, ttansa 5, line 4, for ceAiyiy, read ceAiyiy. 
166, „ 1, „ 1, insert reference to the word ioAiyqi. 
218, Une 1, note, for may read might, 
„ 221, Mtanta 6, line 4, for bonde read pain. 



»• 






THB BND.