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CATH WHOUjZne treana,
ocur
Coémanc Woména.
CATH WhHuJzZHne teana,
ocur
Coémanc Womépa.
CATH »puIsHe LEAN YG,
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA;
TOGETHER WITH
Toéemanc Woméepa,
THE COURTSHIP OF MOMERA.
Now FOR THE FIRST TIME EDITED WITH TRANSLATION AND NOTES, BY
EUGENE CURRY, ESQ., M.R.I.A.
PROFSSOR OF ARCHAOLOGY AND IRISH HISTORY IN THE CATHOLIO UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND.
DUBLIN : PRINTED FOR THE CELTIC SOCIETY. 1855.
At 1343, 5
E 4
HARVARD UNIVERSITY, LIBRARY
MAY 2 2 1984
O76 HDG
DUBLIN : PRINTED BY GOODWIN. SON, AND NETHERCOTT, 79, MABLBOROUGH STREET.
OFFICERS ELECTED ON THE 26rm DAY OF APRIL, 1853.
President; THE VERY REV. LAURENCE F. O’RENEAAN, D.D. President, Royal College of St. Patrick, Maynooth.
PMice- Presidents ;
CLoncunRy, Right Hon. VaLenrineE,
ORD
Dunraven, the Right Hon. the Earl of, M.P., M.R.ILA
KILDARE, the Most Noble the Mar- M.R.LA.
quis of, M.P.,
MonsELL, WILLIAM, M.P., M.R.I.A. RuSssELL, the Rev. CHARLES, D.D.
Graves, the Rev. Charles, D.D. TaLBotT DE MavaHipe, Lorp, Kang, Sir Ronpert, M.R.I.A., Presi- M.R.LA. dent of the Queen’s College, ‘Cork, Trustees:
Hupson, Henry, M.D., M.R.I.A. Hotton, THomas, M.R.,I.A. SWEETMAN, WaLtTer, M.R.I.A.
@reasurer 3
Picot, JoHN Epwarp, M.R.I.A.
oeccretarp :
GILBERT, Joun T.
@Wouncil;
Cocan, Wriu1aM H. F., M.P.
Curry, EvGEene.
Cross, James S., M.R.I.A.
Cro Ly, the Rev. "Grorar, D.D., Pro- fessor, Royal College of St. Patrick, Maynooth
Durex, CHARLES GAVAN, M.P.
Farre.ty, the Rev. THomAs.
FiTzpaTRICK, PATRICK VINCENT.
Graves. Rev. Jamzs, A.B, Kilkenny.
GrirFfin, DanieL, M.D. Limerick.
Harpiman, JAMES, M.R.I.A.
Hopson, Witu1amM Euuior, A.M., M.R.LA.
KE xy, the Rev. Matruew, Profes- sor, Royal College of St. Patrick, Maynooth.
LANE, Denny, Cork.
Lyons, Rosert D., M.B., M.R.LA.
Mac Cartny, J.J.
MARTLEY, JAMES FREDERICK,
O’CaLLaGaan, Isaac SToney.
O’Donovan, Joun, LL.D., M.R.LA.
O’Hacan, Tuomas, Q.C.
REEVES, the Rev. W1Lu1am, D.D. M.R.LA.
Smy Ly, Joun GeorcE, Q.C.
TENNANT, RoserT James, M.P.
WATERS, GEORGE.
Wess, Patrick RoBER?.
Wipe, Witiiam Rosert, M.D., F.R.C.S.1
WINDELE, JoHN, Cork.
Corresponding Secretaries :
EpinpurcH—W. B. Turnsuu, F.S.A.| Kinkenny—Ropert Cane, M.D.
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION,
Cat Wujze Léana,
Toémanc Wome,
Nore on the River @byp in Spain, .
Appennix I.
TaBLE I. The Genealogy of 2%)l;5 (Milesius), .
Tasue II. The Family of Usajne Won,
Tare Ill. The Genealogy of Ugajne Msp, monarch of Erinn; and of Cazaejp Mop, from Usajne Won,
TasBie IV. The descent of Gosan Wédpr from Sben Fron, the son of 2)l)8, .
Taste V. The descendants of Conaype * and Sanaye the daughter of Conn,
Taste VI. The descendants of Gotan ean,
Taste VII. The descendants of Copmac Car (son of ALU Oluym) and Saryajp daughter of Oyryo,
Taste VIII. The descendants of Cyan, son of MWlyUl Oluym . ; . . . se
Apprenpix II, On the Irish Law of Tanajrceacr, ; ; ‘
176
INTRODUCTION.
In order to bring more immediately before the reader the remote causes of the Battle of Magh Lena, and the reference to the Battle of Cnucha with which the narrative opens, a brief glance at the relative positions of those who acted the chief parts in both battles is deemed necessary.
Feidhlimidh Rechtmhar,* monarch of Erinn, and father of Conn Ced-chathach (Conn of the Hundred Battles), died A.D. 119, and was succeeded in the monarchy in the same year by Cathaeir Mor (Cathaeir the Great), king of Laighin (Leinster,) who, it would appear, was more powerful than the young prince Conn.
The course of the succession to the monarchy of Erinn was irregular and uncertain from the time of the Milesian conquest. The surviving leaders of that conquest were Ebher Finn (Heber the Fair) and
®Feidhlimidh Rechtmhar was the or the great, who was the eommon
son of Tuathal Techtmhar, the first monarch on the restoration of the royal line after the short usurpation of the Aitheach Tuatha, or Democratic tribes, commonly but corruptly called Attocots. Feidhlimidh was the twen- ty-second in descent from Ugaine Mér,
ancestor of the great families of Ul- ster of the Ui Neill, or ‘* Hy-Niall,” line, as well as of the Leinster families descended from Cathaeir Mér or the Great, and of the Uibh Fiachra and Uibh Briuin families of Connacht (See Aprenpix I., Table ITI.)
Vill INTRODUCTION.
Eremhon (Heremon). Ebher was the senior of the two, Donn and the other elder brother having perished on the expedition. When the two brothers had obtained possession of the conquered country, a dispute arose between them as to which of them should be its king ; but failing to settle their dispute, they referred it to their surviving brother Amergin, who was the Breithemh (judge) and poet of the expedition. Amergin decided (apparently according to some law of their former country, Spain), that the right in the land, which properly belonged to Donn the eldest brother who had been drowned, should be given to Eremon first, and that after his death it should revert to Ebher. To this de- cision Ebher objected, and they agreed to divide the country between them, and that each should govern his part independently of the other. Ebher took the part south of the Boyne and the Shannon, and Eremon took the northern parts. They soon disagreed, however, and the battle of Geishill (in the present King’s County), was fought between them, in which Ebher was killed (A.M.3501): Eremon then became sole king of Erinn. Iriall, Eremon’s eldest son, succeeded his father, but Conmael the eldest son of Ebher gave him battle, killed him and assumed the sole monarchy himself. Thenceforward the succession alternated between these two lines, according as either was able to wrest it from the other ; and sometimes it was successfully contested by the descendants of Ith, the cousins of the sons of Milesus, and of Ir, one of the brothers who perished on the expedition, (from whom descend the Mac Aenghusa, or Mac Ennis, and other Ulidian families).
There was no invariable rule of succession in the Milesian times, but according to the general tenor of our ancient accounts, the eldest son succeeded the father to the exclusion of all collateral claimants of the same line, as well as his brothers; unless it happened that he was disqualified by some personal deformity, or blemish, or by natural imbecility or crime; or unless, (as happened in after ages) by parental testament, or mutual compact, the succession was made alternate in. two or more families, as will be seen below. The eldest son being thus recognized as the presumptive heir and successor to the dignity, was denominated Tanaiste, that 1s, minor or second, whilst all the other sons, or persons that were eligible in case of his failure, were simply called Righ-dhamhna, that is, king-material, or king-makings. This
INTRODUCTION. 1X
was the origin of Tanaiste, a successor, and Tanaistecht (which the English writers call Tanistry), successorship. When, however, the suc- cession was alternate, then upon the death of the king, or chief, he was not succeeded by his own son or brother, but by the senior member (male) of the other line, subject to the disqualifications already men- tioned.— [See Appenn1x II. page 176. |
The Tanaiste whosoever he might be, had a separate maintenance and establishment, as well as distinct privileges and liabilities. He was inferior to the king or chief, but above all the other dignitaries of the state, as laid down in the ancient Institutes of Erinn, commonly called the Brehon Laws.
From all this it will be seen that Tanaisteacht (Tanistry) in the Anglo-Norman sense, was not an original essential element of the law of succession, but a condition that might be adopted or abandoned at any time by the parties concerned; and it does not appear that it was at any time universal in Erinn, although it prevailed in many parts of it. It is to be noticed also that alternate Tanaistecht did not involve any disturbance of property or of the people, but only affected the po- sition of the person himself, whether, king, chief, or professor of any of the liberal arts, as the case might be; and that it was often set aside by force. But to return.
Cathaeir Mor, of the Eremonian line, hereditary king of Leinster, was descended from the monarch Ugainé Mor, through Laeghaire Lore, a younger son, in the thirty-first generation. He became monarch of Ireland, and after reigning three years, was killed in the battle of Magh Agha by Conn, the son of the former monarch Feidhlimidh Rechtwhar, who was descended also from the monarch Ugainé Mor, through his eldest son Cobhthach Cael. Conn, as a matter of course, then assumed the sovereignty of Erinn, and arbitrarily gave the kingdom of Leinster to his own sub-tutor, Crimhthann Cul-buidhe, or of the yellow hair, wko was descended, like Cathaeir, from Laeghaire Lore.
At this time flourished Cumhall, the father of the celebrated Finn Mac Cuwhaill. He was of the same descent as Cathaeir Mor, and Crimhthann of the yellow hair, their family lines meeting in Nuadha Necht, five generations up. Before Conn’s accession to the monarchy, and whilst residing at Cenannas [Kells] in Midhe [ Meath] (which with
x INTRODUCTION.
its lands was the ancient residence and principality, of the reigning monarch’s eldest son, or Righ-dhamhna), Cumhall was captain of the Fianns, (Feini, or Militia) to Conn, who probably held the chief com- mand under his own father, and he was so continued under Cathaeir. The monarch Cathaeir had a celebrated Druid whose name was Nuadha, (from whom, it is supposed Magh Nuadhat [Maynooth], in the County of Kildare, has its name,) to whom he gave a territory in Leinster. Nuadha built a mansion for himself on a hill within his territory, and gave it the name of his wife, Almha, (now the Hill of Allen, in the County of Kildare). On Nuadha’s death he was succeeded in his lands and office by his son Tadhg (Teige), a Druid equally distinguished with his father. Tadhg had a beautiful daughter whose name was Murin Mun-chaein, or Murin of the beautiful neck, who was sought in marriage by several distinguished men of the time, and among the rest by Cumhall, Cap- tain of the Fianns under Conn. Tadhg rejected his suit rather scorn- fully, whereupon Cumhall carried off the young lady without the con- sent of her father, and made her his wife. The celebrated Finn Mac Cumhall was the fruit of this clandestine marriage. Teige complained bitterly to Conn of Cumhall’s conduct, upon which Conn commanded Cumhaill to restore the lady, and as he refused to do so, he was forced to fly with her to Scotland, whither he was attended by a slender party of Fenian friends.
In his exile news reached him of the death of Cathaeir, and the elevation of Crimbthann of the yellow hair to the throne of Leinster ; and thinking that his own claims were as high as those of Crimh- thann, Cumhal]l immediately returned home and assumed the sove- reignty of the province. Conn hearing of this, sent to his foster- father Conall Cruachna, king of Connacht (of the Ferbolg race), for assistance. He also applied to Aedh, alias Goll Mac Morna (also of the Ferbolg race), the hereditary chief of the territory of Maen- Mhuigh (in the now County of Roscommon), and Captain of the Fianns or Militia of Connacht; and even offered him the command of the Fianns of Teamhair [Tara] lately held by Cumhall, on condition of his coming to his aid at the head of his trained warriors, and per- sonal followers. These propositions Aedh willingly accepted, and ac- cordingly marched with Conall, the king of Connacht, to join Conn on an expedition into Leinster against Cumhall.
INTRODUCTION. Xl
In the mean time Cumhall mustered all his friends and adherents in Leinster, and also invited to his aid Mogh Neid, son of Derg, king of Munster, with Mac Niadh the son of Lughaidh, his nephew, and Conaire the son of Mogh Lamha, both of them princes and Tanaists of that province. These Munster princes at the head of a large army, and accompanied by Eoghan Mor [Eugene the Great], son and heir of the king Mogh Neid, marched forth and joined Cumhall.
The contending parties met at Cnucha, near Cumhall’s mansion of Raith Cumhaill [now Rathcoole, ten miles from Dublin, on the Lime- rick road,] in the plain of the Life [Liffey]. Here a furious battle ensued between them in which the Leinstermen with their allies were defeated, and Cumhall killed by Aedh Mac Morna. Aedh himself lost an eye in the battle and was thenceforth known as Goll (i.e., the blind) Mac Morna. The Munstermen returned home under the direction of Eoghan Mér, the king of Munster’s son, who performed high deeds of valour in the battle. This is the battle of Cnucha alluded to in the opening of the following Tract.
These Munster princes themselves were not without their intestine conflicts, because in Munster, as in other places, the succession to the throne was alternate in two lines, and, at this time presumptively in a third. These lines were—firstly, the real hereditary Ebherean line represented by Mogh Neid the ruling king. Secondly the Ithian line, from Lughaidh the son of 1th who settled in Munster along with and under Ebher, [See Miscellany of the Celtic Society ],—and at this time represented by Mac Niadh son of Lughaidh. The third was the Irian or Ultonian line, represented by Conaire the son of Mogh Lamha. A colony of the latter had forced a settlement in Middle Munster. some generations before the time of which we are speaking, and forming an alliance with the Ithian race, drove the old Ebherean tribes back to the sea coast of West Munster, and then settled the succession to the kingdom of Munster alternately in their own respective lines.
This compact was, however, broken up by Dergthinne, the grand- father of Mogh Neid, aided, as it seems by the Ithians under their leader Dairine, with whom he appears to have formed a new compact of alternate succession as between their two lines. This compact is
Xl INTRODUCTION.
thus referred to in the Leabhar Lecan (Book of Lecan), fol. 182. b. a: “Jn can do bid 11131 Ic Depsce 17 ano bpechemnur acurp ca4- purty 11s 1c Daynyve. Darpyne man yw cedna co yoeachajo mac con vo bpteych Aylylla.” “ When the Dergthine have the sove- reignty, then the Brehonship and Tanistship of the king are with the Dairine. The Dairine [in their turn} were similar, until Mac Conn rejected the judgment [or sentence] of Ailill.”
According to this compact Mac Niadh ought to succeed Mogh Neid, and it was his rejection that caused the batule of Magh Lena.
This compact held good till the time of the above Mac Con (who was the son of Mac Niadh by a daughter of Conn of the Hundred Battles, as will be seen hereafter), and Ailill Oluim who was the son of Eoghan Mér, son of Mogh Neid. This Ailill married Sadhbh the widow of Mac Niadh and mother of Mac Con, while Mac Con was yet a child, and had several sons by her, of whom Eoghan Mor, “Son of Ailill Oluim,” (ancestor of the Mac Carthys, and all the great families of South Munster), was the eldest; Cormac Cas (ancestor of the O’Briens and the other great Dalcassian families), was the second ; and Cian the third, (ancestor of the O’Carrolls of Ely, the O’ Reardons, O’Haras, &c.) Mac Con was, by right, king of Munster, and Ailill Oluim was the Tanaiste; and it appears that he also took upon himself the Brehonship that belonged to his line under the circumstances.
Mac Con and Eoghan, the son of Ailill Oluinn, having both at- tained to manhood, had a dispute one day touching the right to a beautiful yew tree which they both discovered, at the same time on the brink of the river Maige [in the now County of Limerick]. They referred their dispute to Ailill who decided in favour of his own son Eoghan, and against his stepson, Mac ‘Con. Mac Con impugned the decision, and refused to abide by it, and withdrawing from Ailill’s friendship,he collected as many of his own immediate friends andfol- lowers, and the neutral tribes of Munster as he could, besides some allies from Connacht, and he was further joined by the celebrated Finn Mac Cumhaill, (who was his relative by his mother), with several of the warriors of Leinster. With these Mac Con marched to Cenn Abradh, which is part of Sliabh Caoin, [bordering on the Counties of Cork and Tipperary |, where he took up his position, and sent a challenge
INTRODUCTION. Xi
of battle to Ailill. Ailill immediately mustered all his friends, and allies from the other provinces, and marched against Mac Con, whoin he defeated and forced to fly out of Erinn. Ailill then became sole king of Munster, without any visible competitor.
Mac Con after some years returned to Erinn with a large force of British and other foreign auxiliaries, and with a higher ambition, chal- lenged to battle his uncle Art, (the son of Conn of the Hundred Bat- tles,) then monarch, in contest for the sole monarchy of Erinn. Art accepted the challenge, and with all his northern forces, and with the adherents of the king of Munster, Ailill Oluim, his brother-in-law, led by Eoghan Mor and his seven brothers, he marched into Connacht, where Mac Con had landed, and met him on the plain of Magh Muc- ruimhe, in the now County of Galway. Here a great battle ensued between them, in which Mac Con was victorious, and Art the monarch, and Eoghan Mor and his brothers were slain. Mac Con thereupon became monarch of Erinn, but did not interfere farther with the affairs of Munster.
Eoghan Mor left a son, Fiacha Muilleathan, or Fiacha of the flat skull; and between him and his uncle Cormac Cas the old:king Ailill made a new division of Munster, and settled the succession alternately in their respective descendants. This settlement was not however faithfully carried out by the men of South Munster, for, finding that the North Munstermen, or Dalcasians, were forced to maintain an in- - cessant and wasting war with their neighbours the men of Connacht, in defence of the now County of Clare (which had been forcibly wrest- ed from the Connacians by Lughaidh Meann in the fourth generation from Cormac Cas), the Southerns shut them out from the succession as long as they could. However, about A.D. 520, Dioma, the son of Ronan, king of the Dalcasians, claimed the sovereignty of Munster under the old compact, against Failbhe Flann, then the rightful heir on the Eugenian side. But the clergy and nobles of Munster inter- fered and made peace between them, on conditions so favorable to the Dalcasians, that rather than hazard them they refrained during many years from pressing their right to the succession.
‘At last, in the time of Ceallachan-Caisil (Callaghan Cashe]), about A.D. 920, when the presence of the Danish invaders threw the state
XV INTRODUCTION.
of Munster into confusion, an opportunity was afforded them. Before the death of Lorcan, the son of Coinligan, king of Munster in the year 920, Ceallachan [Callaghan Caisil] (of the Eugenian race,) had wan- dered in disguise through the Danish settlements, wherever they were — throughout Munster, and in the course of his sojourn among them, he had made himself perfectly acquainted with their actual condition and resources. Hearing of the king’s death, Ceallachan repaired to Cashel, on the very day upon which the States of Munster were assembled to elect his successor. On this occasion there appears to have been a general desire to conciliate the Dalcasians by saising their king, Ceinneidigh [Kennedy } the father of Brian Boromha, to the throne of Munster.” “Orp ip @ oOpouszad arponysy do by yo77 élopny Boson Wop acur clayny Copmayc Cayz, an feast ba pe D6 HA paept-Clannarb, 19 1151 6. Da mad do clopny Gdzarn 1H cAIPOT], 1) TANATTECT dO élopyn Copmajc Carp; acup 0&4 mad do clown Copmaye Carp 1p caen-pj, yw canarpeece 00 élopny ssaqn Wop.” “For, the arrangement respecting the sovereignty [of all Munster] which was between the descendants of Eoghan Mér, and the descendants of Cormac Cas was this: that the senior branch should have the sovereignty. Should the chief king be of the race of Eoghan, the Tanaistship belonged to the descendants of Cormac Cas; and if the noble king should be of the children of Cormac Cas, then the Tanaistship belonged to the children of Eoghan Mér.”—( Book of Lecan, folio 148 b.)
Just as the Chiefs were about to proclaim Ceinneidigh [ Kennedy], Ceallachan [Callaghan] came into the assembly attended by his mother, who presented him unexpectedly to them, and insisted on the recog- nition of the priority of his claims to those of Ceinneidigh [ Kennedy], and on the fulfilment of the ancient compact in his favour. The as- sembly were taken by surprise; the South Munstermen, taking courage at the prospect of having such a gallant young fellow for their chief, decided in his favour; the Dalcasians deeming it more prudent to decline a contest, retired: and Ceallachan was proclaimed king.
The Narrative of the Battle of Magh Lena has not been before pub- lished, although frequently referred to in works on ancient Erinn. The present text is taken from a paper manuscript, in a fair and accurate
INTRODUCTION. XV
hand, of the early part of the seventeenth century, marked No. 104, in the Hodges and Smith Collection in the Royal [rish Academy, and with corrections from Nos. 1 and 22 transcribed at the beginning of the eighteenth century, and of the same collection. There is a vellum copy of it preserved in the College of Saint Isidore in Rome.
That the Battle of Magh Lena, and the battles and political move- ments which preceded it in Erinn, and which led to the partition of the country between Conn and Eoghan, are genuine historical facts, must be admitted from the frequent references to them in ancient Gaedhilg or Irish manuscripts, and their having been received and handed down as such by the descendants of the contending parties even to the present day. In the synchronisms ascribed to Flann of Mainistir Buithe (Monaster Boice) who died A.D 1056, the battle of Magh Lena is thus referred to. “Upyconjup Comaour sit. acur pry u. ed blyadsaqn « nige wuzad cat Wuyse Lena, ajc adprocaip Wos Nuadad.” “Antonius Comadus xiii. [years], and it was in the fifth year of his reign the Battle of Magh Lena was fought, in which Mogh Nuadhad [or Eoghan Mor] fell." —(Book of Baile an Mhota (Ballimote) folio 7, a, b.]
In the Book of Leacan, fol. 167, the following account of the con- test between Eoghan Mor and Conn Ced Cathach is preserved :—
“Lujo Gozan mop yap yy do Zabayl 173] Wurman ocur o 01>] lair .7. Dany Bappach mac Cachan Wop. Badan cry 115 fot Wumayy yy can yy 7. Lugayo Allachach, ocur Daype Dopnn-map, renachap Luygoeach Allachajch, ocur Wenzur. Do rl Chonape mic Wer; Buachalla d0;b. Do bepayd cyy cats 00 Bozayn 7. cach Samajpe, ip and po mapbad Luzayd Allatach, ocur cach Samna, a y-dopchajp Daypy Dopnyy-manp, ust if nem Gozan po moyZread ya cata pin uyle.
“Tee UAenzur jap pin v0 chuyydzd yochpayd, co Cond Cercachach. Do ben ré carha lai, 4 00 benz cach ov’ Bozan mort 1 Capy Nemyd 4 9-2jb Lyatan, 7 moydjd fon Aengur, ocur mapbchap Uenzur and.
“Farad papam, cocad mop jep Chono Ceréachach ocur Woosh Nuasad, ocur byyp1}d Wosh Nuadad deych cata for Choyd .. cach Bnopnad}, ocup cach Sey5] Worajd, ocur cach
XVI1 INTRODUCTION.
Dabpan, ocur cach Sampaydy, ocur cach Bpejne, ocur cach Suamayd, ocup cach Ucha Luan, ocup cach Woz} Crores, If 4nd d0 mapbad Fyacha Raeda mac Feyolimjo Rechzmasp; ocur cath UApayl, ocup cach Uspych.
* Conad jap rip do poyndead Bypy yeip. Chond Cercachach ocur Bozan mop, ocur fa hy 4 coycepych yy opuym fon a 04 Cluayn b-Jpaypo, ocup Cluajn Wac Nop; ocur o Ach Clyach AWedprajd, co h-Ach Clach Duyblyyd}. Ocur badan fonr 1 poyyd yn co tucad cath Wuyz Lena jrjp Chond ocur Wozh Nuadad, co n-dopcajp Wozh Nuadac ann la Conn, ocur an WMWuymyech.”
“ Eoghan Mor went after that to assume the kingship of Mumhain [Munster] accompanied by his foster-father, that is, Dairé Barrach, son of Cathaeir Mér. There were three kings over Mumhain at that time, namely, Lughaidh Allathach and Dairé Dornn-mhér [of the great fists], grandfather of Lughaidh Allathach, and Aengus. These were of the race of Conairé, the son of Mesbuachalla. They gave Eoghan three battles, namely, the battle of Samair, in which Lughaidh Alla- thach was killed ; and the battle of Samhain, in which Dairé Dornn- mhor fell; for it was Eoghan gained those battles all.
«« Aengus went then to beg troops from Conn of the Hundred Battles. He brought six Caths [battalions] with him, and gave battle to Eoghan Mor at Carn Nemidh in Aeibh Liathain when Aengus was overthrown, and Aenghus was killed there.
“A great war grew after this between Conn of the Hundred Battles and Mogh Nuadhat; and Mogh Nuadhat broke ten battles upon Conn, namely, the battle of Brosnadh, and the battle of Seigh Mosad, and the battle of Gabhran, and the battle of Sampad, and the battle of Greine, and the battle of Suamadh, and the battle of Ath [uain [Athlone], and the battle of Magh Croichi, where Fiacha Raeda, son of Feidlimidh Rechtmhar was killed, and the battle of Asal, and the battle of Uisnech.
“So that after that Eire was divided between Conn of the Hundred Battles and Eoghan Mor; and their boundary was the ridge upon which Cluain Iraird [Clonard), and Cluain Mac Nois [Clonmacnois]
INTRODUCTION. XVll
stand ; and from Ath Cliath Meraidhe [on the Bay of Galway] to Ath Cliath Duibhlinne [Dublin]. And they adhered to that division until the battle of Magh Lena was fought between Conn and Mogh Nu- adhat, in which Mogh Nuadhat fell by Conn, and there was a slaughter of the Munstermen.”
In the Pedigrees of Eber (Book of Leinster, fol. 222,) it is recorded that “ba py Wus Ned. Ocup Wus Nuadaz aquo let Wosa Nuadar 1 comlajé ocur Cond Cerchataé co topchayp 1 Mass Lena.
“ Bosan Tajoleé aynm ayle [do] amayl po repybramapn 1 Cocmane Womepo yz ve mz Spare.” |
“ Mogh Neid was king [of Mumhain, or Munster]. And Mogh Nuadhat, from whom Mogh’s Half is named, in co-reign with Conn Cet-chathach [Conn of the hundred battles] until he was slain at Magli Lena
“ Eoghan Taidhlech was another name for him, as we have already written in the Courtship of Momera daughter of the king of Spain.”
Again, in the Annals of Ulster we find the two following entries :— Ro panpad Sinya 1 ydeda on Ae Clyae co alajly excep Chony Ceréatach ocur Mos Nuasar, cui nomen erat Gozan Taydlec,. aquo Gozahaéca nominatur.”
“ Erinn was divided in two parts from the one Ath Cliath to the other [from Dublin to the Bay of Galway] between Conn of the hundred battles and Mogh Nuadhat, cui nomen erat Eoghan Taidhlech, aquo [the } Eoghanachts nominatur.”
“ Cony Cecéatach occidit Mos Nuadat hy Was Lena.”
“Conn Cet-chatach slew Mogh Nuadhat in Magh Lena.”
These last two articles are taken from the early part of the Annals of Ulster, where the chronology is not set down. There appears to have been a space of about fourteen years between the two events.
Another early version of the story of Eoghan Mér remarkably il- lustrates the correctness of his history as given in the present tract ; and accordingly, though somewhat long for this place, it appears de- sirable to make room for it in full. It is taken from an ancient vellum manuscript (about A.D. 1500) in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin: Class. H. 3. 18.; page 567; and it is here printed with such
accentuations and aspirations only as appear in the original. B
xvii
INTRODUCTION.
Bozan mac Mota Neyo, ceytn h-anmanna po teér .1. Gozan Wsn, ocur Gozan Fytpeccac, ocur Gozan Tayzdlec, ocur ‘Wos Nuadar, 074 n-debarpe yy fle ip ty fuppundut :—
Cejtne b-anmanns Zan bron, Do badan fon Gozan mon, Gozan f¢fdpeccaé Fal Zane, Bozan Taydslec, Wos Nuabac.
Bozay & ajynm o Carer] Fee .J. ed Fey .]. Fey mayt, ap 4 eo J. eu, bona Zenzespr uepo Zen]pacy .Gozan.
Bozan on}, bona Zenjpacjo a taytmec.
Jr ve ry ace
Gozsyacr do pad Fu cyte topad na m-bennacc cucrac "e1T Sineny.parp apt a Zapic.ocur ap 4 fezle epyu, acur ap a cerap-
Bajy don yuna a pabadan.
Goszanacc dere .J. bon acz, .7. jee maze 06 Fp Sipenn do
Faas an Fopca. fenab Gipeny.
Gozanace .1. 6c GoZay .1. 1¢e Copan Fer
No Gozan yecr .1. necc Boraty J. pect clany .1. glavy
Gozaiy no pecr neozanacca.
Jr de rin tna po D’ayym 06 Bozan Wop .7. mon @ Sr cae, ocuy 4.clann ocup 4.cynel yn Sya7d. Bozayn Taydleé do pad pup .J. fecr vo Cojd Bozan mort |
n-Grpayn ror. ceyzlyse.
Jr re ba pj -Grpaype:ty can pyo .7..Gben
Won mac Wydya. -Fuayp cya, Cosa BitsdusZad mon poo Spay
don) TO}TC TID.
> The derivations of these words, so improperly spelled above, are very incorrectly copied in the MS. from which: this extract is made. They are taken from Cormac’s Glossary, pre- served in the leaban bDuyse Lecan, (A.D.'1391, see post, p. xvii), from which Duald Mac Firbis makes a more
correct copy of this entry as follows : **Cosen, .J eu Spec do] bonur no bona no bonum. Ben jmoriio djy 07 Ar Se- neriy. Sener baucem .senepacyo. Cusen, d]9, bona Zeneparyjo. [Eygen, i.e. Eu, greecé (dyn [erc]) for bonus, or bona, or bonum; Gen, indeed, ‘is: fromthe word Genesis, and. genesis is
INTRODUCTION. x1x
Eoghan, son of Mogh Neid, had four names, viz., Eoghan Mor and: Eoghan Fidhfeccach, and Eoghan Taidhlech, and Mogh Nuadhat, of: which the poet said in the explanation :—
Four names without sorrow, There were upon Eoghan Mor, Eoghan Fidhfeccach, generous and hospitable, Eoghan Taidhlech, Mogh Nuadhat.
Eoghan? was his name from his progenitors: that is, eo [good] gein [progeny ], that is, good progeny; for eo, that is, ew, bona genteis vero genirati Eoghan.
Eoghan, [that is Eugen] ; bono geniratio is its analysis. It is from this they [his descendants] are called Eoghanachts [Eugenians] in virtue of the benedictions which the men of Erinn bestowed upon him for his hospitality and generosity towards them, and having saved them from the famine in which they were.
[Or,] Eoghanact is derived from this circumstance, viz., Bon-acht, good protection, [acht being the same asicht, which in Gaedhlig signifies relief or protection, ] because it was a good act of relief or protection for him to have saved the men of Erinn from starvation. Eoghanact, that is, Eoghan’s protection to the men of Erinn.
Or, Eoghan necht: that is, Necht Eoghain: that is, Necht signifies children [or descendants]: that is, the seven Eoghanachts are the chil- dren of Eoghan.
Tt was on that account, therefore, that he had the name of Eoghan Mor [or, Eugene the Great], that is, because he is great above all others; as are his children and. race after him.
The reason why he was called Eoghan Taidhlech was this: namely, from Eoghan having gone to Spain on ono occasion on a visit. He who was king of Spain at that time was Eber Mor, son of Midhna. Eoghan was received with great distinction in Spain on that occasion.
Generatio. Eugen, then, is bona ge- take of translating the Greek adverb neratio |.”—Dubalcac Mac Fipbir15, in eu (well) by the Latin adjective bonus M.S., H. 2. 15.:p. 163, Lib. Trin. Coll. (good), and corrects it by the gloss in Dublin. Mac Firbis observes the mis- the margin; €v .]. 50 mayt, well.
xx INTRODUCTION.
Do bo, inden ajpeda 43 1n pis o y-senturha jn can FD -]- Bepa sen Shin 4 b-ajnm. Ocurp cuc py Zpad esmarry vo Gozan pia do Cuajd a n-Grpayn, ap o« uppeela;b. Taz cha GoZy 1p wSev jap Ty ocur pug sj. clany c-paynerpayl 05.7. mac amps 7. Olyll Oluym, ocur oar jnsen .1. Scojtnyary ocur Caymll a n-anmanna.
Do tFed 1p 1o aympip pip Ship, bpadan bujlyd, bprec-Satsc bdo c-Sput ya y-val a Pappcar 50 Spué Tybyp, ocur cyzed 5 Tibip so Spué y-Gbyp 1 v-Srpayn.
Jr atplajo do boy qn bpadan rin dcur clacc olla zip aylle, co. cel caca data tpjc- Fo ppt cpa jp bpadan ry la b-Sben. Crd ww sporti rip Gozain a n-Grpayn, ocur do benad yn claéc olla ryn de, ocur tucad do HZ] Ship yp olan ryn.
Do pysneds, cpa, lair qo psn bpac caydlec, cajtnemaé 0 Gozan don clacc rin po boy for ty m-bpadan. Ocur 1p bpac ry 17é po boy fo Vozan jy can cajnic 4 n-Gyynn Conn cedcatac 4 115] v-Gpneny yy tan fyy. Ro bo caydlec cajeénetnac qo veallpad boy fon Gozan sy bpac ryy, conjo de yn plod. Zyul Boson Tayolec de.
GBozan fpofeccac do pad ep. Ny.b-onnrath 4 id fn. Baoan TH] oanajd la. h-Gozan, ocur Fydez .ajypm caé ae ojb. Boy, cpa, Bossy ac cup, ocur ac feccad, ocur Ac F135] 19d Feds la cae; conjd de rin apbepan Gozan Fydezac de .1. peccad qnd feda 13% chun. WNo FyZpec .7. o £151 1nd feds cedna.
Mod Nuadar cyd oja ca. Wy h-annpam « yori. Darpe Bappac mac Cacharp Wap type por al Wod Nuavac «7. Gozay Aon mac Wosa Ney. |
Do pysved cumdaé Duy Aylljnone fecc any la Dayne m-Bap- Pac mac Cachajr.
Ro boy, tra, modes amps 4 n-@ipynn jo can py .p. Nuadea pal-faova mac Uenzura, mic Fip da cpyé, a cpye Cuajlgne.
© See note, post p. 168. See Circuit of Ireland, page 37, note
4 Dun 2ylline was situated near old 67, published by the Irish Archeolo- Kilcullen, in the County of Kildare. gical Society.
INTRODUCTION. XXl
_ The king had an excellent daughter unwedded at this time, Bera the. danghter of Eber was her.name. And she became deeply enamoured of Eoghan, even before he had gone to Spain, for hisrenown. Eoghan married the lady. afterwards, and she bore him distinguished children, namely, an illustrious son, that is, Oilill Oluim, and two daughters, namely, Scoithniamh [the beautiful Flower] and Caemhell [the mass of comeliness] were their names.
There used to,come at that time of Eber, a beautiful speckled- coloured salmon, from the River of Creation in Paradise to the River Tiber; and it used to go from the Tiber ta the River Eber® [or Eber's river] in Spain.
This was the condition of that salmon—with a coat of most beautiful wool of all colours growing upon him. This salmon was caught. by. Eber during the time of Eoghan’s visit in Spain, and that coat of wool was taken off him, and the wool was given to Eber's danghter.
There was made, now, by the lady a splendid, shining cloak for. Eoghan from this wool which had been on the salmon; and it was that cloak that Eoghan had, upon him when he returned to Erinn. Conn of the hundred battles was monarch of Erinn at that time. Splendid and shining was the appearance of Eoghan on that occasion from that cloak, and hence it was that the name Eoghan Taidhlech [the splendid] adhered to him.
Why he was called Eoghan Fidhfeccach, it is not difficult to tell. Eoghan had three Duns [mansions], and Fideg was the name of each of them. Eoghan was setting, and bending, and weaving the trees around each of them ; and it was on that account he was called Eoghan: Fidegach [or, the tree bender], that is, bending the tree in setting it. Or Figfech, that is, from the same bending of the wood.
Mogh Nuadhat whence derived. It is.not difficult to tell. Dairé. Barrach, son of Cathair Mor [king of Leinster] it was that fostered Mogh Nuadhat, that is, Eoghan Mor the son of Mogh Neid.
The fortification of the Dun of Aillinn,4 was undertaken by Dairé Barrach, son of Cathair, dn a certain occasion.
There was, now, a distinguished labourer in Erinn at that time: namely, Nuadha the long-heeled, son of Aenghus, son of Fer-da- chrich, of the territory of Cuailgne. He possessed the strength of an:
Xxil
Nene ceyd ann, pat caezaye yo thelet. Tucad co Dayne m-Baptptac tp mod 7H do cum- vac Dayne Ayllynne. Jn cay bavap irty clus 134 tocaylx, do pala yan fin cloé mop 0616 Ir 19 clujoh, ocur foppesrnyd 19 -mod « cozbayl. macpads 1p Duyayd; ocur Go- Zan etuptpu, ap qn clayde na
pata'lZ fecayy 1p modals a3
loca 1p fedma. Oo yoann 1p mod fof 1D macptays qn cloe do cup arr tn clays. Ror eycys 1) Macpayd 1) HT HD acc Bozan a senat. Do cuad, tna, Go- 340 If 10 clujdS ocur do 105 4 51 laym qm an cloyé, ocur por coRajb na aenan qn cloé, ocur do cuypt apt uzllnn dejpoepntass 19 Duyy {3 conar ¢il-ann 6 ppp Aleé. Jr ann apbepz typ Drays FP 1D mod: Jr faep do mH0d anus 4 Nuada, op jy Dpays. Cond ve yy fo yl Aos Nuadac de, ocur jp wad pro b-ajomnisead. pany an lye yn.
Do baday.
INTRODUCIION.
hundred men, and ‘eat as much as fifty. This labourer was brought’ to Dairé Barrach to fortify the Dan of Aillinn. When they were in the trench digging it, they met’ a large stone in the trench, which the labourer failed to raise. The youths of the Dun, and Eoghan among them, were upon the en- circling mound of the Rath looking at the labourer failing in his effort. The labourer requested the youths to move the stone out of the trench. They all refused but Eoghan alone. Eoghan then went into the trench, and clasped his two arms around the stone ; and he raised the stone by himself and placed it upon the southern angle of the Dun; and it remains there from that time hither. Then the Druid [who was present] said to the labourer : Noble is your labourer this day, O Nuadha, said the Druid. And it was from that circumstance that the name Mogh® Nuadhat attached. to him, and so it was from it he was named, according to this account.
That the following version of the present tract should be highly co- loured in point of style is only a matter to be expected, when we know that in the more advanced literary ages of Erinn—from the beginning of
e The word Mogh means literally a
slave, or servant; but in the present case the: parties appear to have been
neither slaves nor bound servants, but merely free labourers.
INTRODUCTION. XXill
the sixth to the thirteenth century,—the precise historical facts found in the more-ancient chronicles and traditions were seized upon and recast in a. more poetic and romantic style. both in verse and prese, (and both ex- ayggerated, but particularly prose), by the . professors and: poets of our National Schools, as anative literature for their pupils, and for the people at large. The power and flexibility of the Gaedhilg language were eminently fitted fer.the sportiveness of a luxuriant imagination, which though sometimes carried to pedantic extravagance, .was not ill. calcu- lated to excite and promote a spirit of bravery and daring ina people whose military ardour was becoming visibly modified under the ‘mild influence of a fervid and engrossing Christianity.
The strict adherence of the translation to the original, required by the Council of the Celtic Society, has left the translator little or no power over its style, and may consequently give the reader an unfavor- able idea of the style of the original, as well as of the Editor's ability to translate it. But as one of the objects of the Society in the publication of this tract is to furnish a fair and correct specimen of the Gaedhilg language, for the use of students, it is hoped that the unavoidable ruggedness of the translation in its literal adherence, as far as possible, to the construction of the original, will be found more pro- fitable to the reader, than a smoother but less close rendering would be found pleasing.
The short Account of Eoghan Mér’s romantic voyage into Spain, and his espousal of the king of Spain’s daughter, which is printed in this volume after the Battle of Magh Lena, is preserved in the Leabhar Buidhe Lecan (Yellow Book of Lecan),—now H. 2. 16,—column 341, in the library of Trinity College, Dublin. The volume was trans- cribed, or compiled, in the year 1391, by Gilla Isa Mac Firbis, a member of the learned family of the Mac Firbis’s of Lecan in the County of Sligo. The compostion of this tract is certainly much older than the date of the Bouk in which it is preserved, and it will be seen that a more copious history of Eoghan Mor was in existence at the time of its compilation, or rather abstraction. The difference between this version of Eoghan’s vuyage to and from Spain, and that given in the Battle of Magh Lena, may be well accounted for by the licence of romance and poetry.
XXIV INTRODUCTION.
That Eoghan Mor wedded a Spanish princess there is every reason to believe, since the fact is mentioned in all our ancient genealogical and historical books; but as to the manner in which the alliance was brought about, we must leave the reader to choose between the two versions of it here presented to him.
The well known presence of Spanish peculiarities in the physiognumy and temperament of the Milesians of the South of Erinn, even down to our own day, may perhaps be traced to this alliance, and the number of Spaniards who in consequence accompanied Eoghan into Erinn; and remained such a length of time in the country.
EUGENE CURRY.
CAT WMUSG tEéAna.
CAT MUSE LeEANY.
JOWTUS éloynne Oaspyne, azar clojyne Oeipzene, azar clanne Liyz5j06 myc Jia thie Dnedzajyn, azar hjleads Wurhay ap Geana: Niop bo pyapad eatonpa v’ap cata Cnacha, 57 do bavan ctr] pjosa eapaontaca opps, eadon, Woks Ned, mac Oeipziine, azar Conarpe, mac Moxa Latha, azar Wajcnjads mac Lryz5joc. WZar dob @ céd A5bap 4 5-coZa]S aZayp 4 5-cori- fuscad le céyle, eadon, mac MUITINIOC, M]ASAC, Md] p-mMeanmNnac po buy 43 Woz Ned, edon, Woy Nuadad, azar Bosan mop Ajnm ojle 86: Arar ap ujme « derpzao, Wos Nuadad yyy, up- 145 dunpadasb Wuran po ojl @, eadon Nuada deans mac Oaypyne. Azar do clacjSead pat pjosdsa ap Was Fexthyy Lap, aot fo buj f£éyn, azar Oeapgoampa opacy, pe h-asayds na h-ojbne 054 h-opdagad, azar Gozan an a baspne baojpy, 4 5-coyth- joeact 4 ojde any. Azar do badan ynonnban OFA Aft Fac upllynn d0’n paye a5 clacjdead; azar capla cloc mépn-adbal a m-bel na h-ojbpe na’ feadadap dO’ ApduZaAdS Na d’upntdzbayl, azar canzaoap luce na h-oybpe uyle oa h-jonnrujde, azar njon tuyl- leavap ljon « cégbala d0 na tpéan-feapasb na cjmeeall. Tapla Boson, a3 ajpaZad ayn feadma ryy, Cuca, azar may do Conyaspic CAG a5 tTHesZjon « cdZbala, plo yadarcasp Fern a 84 Last Zo h-ajormjn ujmpe, azar cuz furpimesd feadma Fo Fjopt-appaccac EYpINe, lonnar Supt Cusp apt a Zlayy Zo lan-yeapcrap {3 azar 07a
® An Urradh, i.e. a native land- >» Magh Feimhin was the ancient owner or gentleman. Brehon Laws. name of a plain comprising that por.
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA.
As to the Clann Dairine, and the Clann Deirgthine, and the Clann Luighdheach mac Itha mac Breogain, and the other warriors of Mumha {Munster] also. There was no subordination among them after the battle of Cnucha, for they were ruled by three disunited kings, viz., Mogh Neid, the son of Deirgthine; and Conaire, the son of Mogh Lamha; and Maicniadh, the son of Lughdhaidh. And the first cause of their war and opposition against each other was this, namely: a beloved, estimable, high-spirited son that Mogh Neid had, namely, Mogh Nuadhad— and Eoghan Mor [the great] was another name of his. Andthe reason why he was called Mogh Nuadhad [Nuadha’s slave] was this: It was an Urradh,® of the Urradh’s of Mumha, that fostered him, viz., Nuadha Dearg, the son of Dairine. And he (Nuadha) raised a kingly Rath on Magh Feimhin,® and he himself, and Dearg- damhsa the Druid, were at [in the presence of] the work directing it; and Eoghan, following his childish play, was there along with his fosterfather. And there were nine slaves at each angle of the Rath raising it. And they met a very large stone in the cutting of the work, which they were not able to raise or take up. And all the workmen came to it, but a sufficient number of the strong men to raise it could not fit around it. Eoghan on perceiving their labor came to them; and, when he saw them abandon their efforts to raise the stone, he closed his two arms roughly around it, and bending a truly powerful effort upon it, he, with main strength, placed it upon his knee, and from
tion of the present County of Tippe- Lismér. See Leabhar na g-Ceart, p. rary which belongs to the diocese of 19, note b.
4 Cat Wusse Leana.
Zlajn ap a Sualayyy, Zuye paguyb ap rap ymjolac yo b-oybpe j Up usapal ay mos td az Nuada ap caé. Byayd an c-ayom rp 411 Jo bnad, ap Oeapzoarpa Opaoy, eadon, Woz Nuadad ;s jounar 70 ptabaoay 54 apy aco ap, eaton, Gosay mon asur Woz Nuasad. Aap do bj ’ya adban nis Zan Freapabpa, az Hdp1A5 45 144216 Luray, yd Fo o-caynic aymyip cata Cyiaéa. 30 b-pacay® & tdtaTft, eadon, Sjoda jnzean Flaynn myc Fyacpac, 5 poptaip Wuryan, arplyyz, eadon peace m-ba LlonNAa, -Seapize o'gacryy "pan ofdée 8, 50 lonn-bol5azb lacc- HAs um o Z-capicpab, youvar Zo pHyarpadaoip merc mjod-aojp] ap na Yynycib leamlacca do fazbadaosp na h-535-ba py 4 y-jplyb For 4 y-extpjS]b ya calipayn. Wap ad Conyastic yap py, peace m-ba dibs, ouaybrjoca, dat-Fpanna tna y-deaZaj5 py, azar ups ctyovcse joa o-culuyb, agar adapicasb yapnayse oppias AZsy do compuyjcrjod pyr na céd buayb, Zup leazrad azar Zuyt lan-rhap brad uyle yao. Ro pynip Sjooa « h-arplyng oon anonys Att n-E]p1Ze 83, aZapr do Zab fayccjor an 13 folmpe, azar Jd- beapt an pjozan an Laoyd :—
Aplin; Jo Conyapicor apnésp, 4 Whos Néyd an Cpota Caojti ; peact m-ba flonna, £4% Zan fFeall, o Pay o n-41pio-theadssn Grpeany.
AyllyZtean leam jad do céyy, map Sat pyeacta fof faop-fleyb, Bo prorZuyjb Zlopnjse se, It 3° y-adaricasb japnayzse.
Bem Fac b6 Sjob, coluyb clacr, corn m-bynn pe téadajb meann-cpor ; do ljonrad Sipe Zan anas, do lace jf 00 lonn-capasd.
¢ Jar Mhumha, i.e., West Munster. tended in length from Loch Lein, This ancient division of Munster ex- (Killarney Lake, ) at the western boun-
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 5
his knee to his shoulder, and left it on the outer mound of the work. «‘ This is a noble slave that Nuadha has,” said they. ‘“‘ That name shall be upon him for ever,” said Deargdamhsa the Druid, that is, Mogh Nuadhad ; so that they had two names for him, namely, Eoghan Mor and Mogh Nuadhad. And he had been magnified by the nobles of Mumha as the undisputed future king, until the time of the battle of Cnucha had come. And his mother, Sioda, the daughter of Ilann,4 son of Fiachra, the king of Iar Mhumha,° saw a vision, namely, She saw in the night seven white cows with red ears, with milkful liquor-bags at their haunches, so that month-old bovs might float upon the pools of new milk which these young cows left in the hollows and in the furrows of the earth. And she saw after that seven black, distressed, discolored cows following the others, with fiery eyes in their foreheads, and iron horns upon them ; and they fought with the first cows and prostrated and killed them all. Sioda told her dream to the king on his rising, and the king was seized with dread of it, and the queen spoke this lay :—
A dream which I saw last night, O Mogh Neid of the beautiful form ; Seven white cows—a fact, without deception,— Sprung up in the very centre of Eire.
Beautiful to me appeared they from afar, Like the color of snow upon a noble mountain ; With eyes of crystal besides, And with horns of iron.
The lowing of each beautifully clad cow of them, As sweet as the strings of angular harps ; They filled Eire without delay,
With milk and with liquor-produce.
dary of Luachair Dheadhaidh, west. Keating on the sub-division of Mun-
ward to the sea; and in breadthfrom _ ster.
Gleann O’Ruachtaidh or Kenmare, d This Flann is set down as king of
northwards to the River Shannon. See Ur-Mhumha, (or Ormond,) in another place in this tract.
6 Cat Wuyjze Léeana.
UAd-connapnc reace m-ba oyle, vaba, donca, deatayse, 4 1-d1418 4a m-bd b-fonn « b-fad 64 plaojse 50 por leaspan.
Sem 54¢ b6 Suybe Sjob, do SiypZpeEAS maipb ar a m-bj, ZO porZuyb ceynntjse be, If 5° 0-adapicazb japnayzde.
Ari rip m'arrlyys 4 Fin 4 Whos Ned an épota sl, BIO ole, HIS mayé t13 Sunn Se, ar] T1n 40 arrlinge.
WA h-aytle ya laos py cugads Oeapnzoatpa, easton, opaoy Whoza Neyo, cuca do bneyt bnejée ya h-asplynze, azar do b-1yn- 1pead 86 Zan fuypeac j, azar adabaype an opacz: Tyucpayd ann, ap re, peace m-blyadna blatrpupa buan-contaca, Zo y-jomad TopujS Jota, azar 4po-meara, bleacca, azap muptopuyds, Zo Nac d-tTjobpad son neac ceannar 04 céyle yonnta. Wap cjoc- F4]d peace m-blyadna dona, oajSbre, djoumanza na $1415 PI, 50 Nac d-cjobpayd an T-atajp mipt don Hac, nb an mHAataIp don [H5In, Nd an capa 84 céjle jonnts. Ap anyriy d0 cumads azar do ceaptaszead corajple Caojn caspdearnayl a5 Wos Neyo, man FUsip FIO ve Faipojne Ty. WZar ape yj d0 h-oppajZead ajze, ANS 4347 4po-leapoasp. azar cjZte colla, cajlce calthan, azar cTeasoasyy] cpeabap-SangZne, do Comdlatasad an ceany na céd almppe do tcaippngip Oeapgdarnpa dpiacy 86]b, jonnar Zur Ljonpad do byad azar do buan-copad ule pad; dip nj Fabad Wor Neyo vj ojle Jona cjor pjos acc b148 ule, nd Zo y-deacadan ya peace m-blyadys otras ap. UZap canzadap ya peace y-opoye- blyadna papriy, eadon, oajsbpe, azar cezpice bid ’pan céd blya- Say ojob; cunynpad azar ceannaseace “ray blyadajy canayroe. Uét aoy.yj, ceaya, do lujd cpom-Fopca mop onpa ayyresr-uyle,
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 7
I saw seven other cows, Black, dark, smokey ; After the white cows, afar, Goring them ’till they laid them prostrate.
The bellowing of every black cow of them Would awake the dead from out their death ; With fiery eyes besides,
And with horns of iron.
This is my vision, O spouse, O Mogh Neid of the fair form ; Whether evil, whether good, comes to us of it, This is the vision.
After that lay Deargdamhsa, that is, Mogh Neid’s Druid, was sum- moned before them to give the interpretation of the vision; and it was told to him without delay, and the Druid said—“ There will come,” said he, “ seven blossomful, rich, fruitful years, with abundance of produce of corn and fine fruits, milk and sea produce, so that no one will acknow- ledge the superiority of another in these years. And then will come seven miserable, poor, powerless years after them, when the father will not give a bit to the son, nor the mother to the daughter, nor the one friend to the other inthem.” Then a kind and friendly counsel was held by Mogh Neid when he had received the interpretation of that vision. And what he decided upon was, to have chests and great vessels, and strong cellars excavated underground, and secure firm houses built and jointed against the first period which Deargdamhsa the Druid prophe- sied for them; and they filled them with food and imperishable pro- duce. For Mogh Neid accepted not anything in payment of his kingly rents, but food all, until the seven fruitful years had passed. And the seven bad years came then, viz., poverty and scarcity of food in the first year of them; bargaining and purchasing in the second year. But one ting now, a great and heavy famine, alighted upon them all then, so that lands and houses, territories and tribes among them were
8 Cat Wuse Léana.
zup foliujgead cjopta, azar tpeaba; pata, azar ajcmeada aca. Wzar Zep ba ceany an cejdm py anny Fae cipt 4 y-Syyqon, po bud md ’pan Wurayy & Upap canzZadape majte 04 €5]Z5 MWuryay yle muy am pyy 4 y-a0jn Jonad, eatson, Clanna Ocagays, azar Clanns Oarpnyne, azar Clanna Oerpizierne; agar oo badapt ule a5 éazcaoine na h-apd-Zopcta py a BW Fpadsyurry Whosa Neyo. UzZar vj pasbe Conaspe mac Woda Lara, nd Wacnjsd mac Liayx50e ap an latayp pin. User adabajpe Wos Nelo pé majzjb Wurhan Zo m-beapad By armpit pyy jad do Cjonnyn Ha F-comads Oyapippad oppia o Fazal uata. Wap do faorpad Zo lap no Labanta ryn, S17 do badan mopan djob a y-2;Z]0n. Usar TuZadap. cuyp azar lana vo Whos Néjo, Zo yeycealzac, ump GAS yj 04 y-jappfzad oppta do corhall. Azar canzadap leat ap leat ap na cup azar ap no planayb rip 8’ Gayle. Sloynn na comte af al leac o'fasayl uaqnn, ap na majte. Up paoro Ad, att Woz Ned, eadon, Conajpe mac Woks Latna, azar Wajc- NAS mac La]ZSj0E d'jonnapbad 4 Wurhajy amac, azar an pjse vo cabarpic dom thac-ra, eadon, ov Goszay thdp. Oo Séancap TID AD] Nne ap proran. Wer aca yj Ceana, do cayteads ay thajtear t1n Whoga Ned née mayejb Wutian yd Fo 0-cayyic ro- simp ony. User do Sjcnyprjoo Conajpe azar Waycnjads a Wurhayy amac, azar panyzadayt Fo h-ajpm « paybe Cony céd- Catzae, 50 Tearpays. Rjogtap Woz Nuadad a5 maeyb Wuriyan ann fernyn 5's sdedyy Fey, Sip adabarpc yas byad atom pis ait, pé lon a atan o'apyse. War cuz ay c-atayp a beaynace 56, TP 4y Nise, azar tuZadan Fi Wurhay uyle pluaz beannaéc 66, azar do badan Zo patman pyapamayl asa fneazpa. Azar So e1]H meanma hop a Z-clajyn Oespzceyye don oayl py; azar do Zab Oeapzoarnya opac] a3 abrpolad Gosajy 50 mon, azar az cornpmaoysjory & ual azar a apo-pata, azar do pYNHe an Laod :—
Cosan mon, Fa mon a pac, cory-aplod pe Conn céd Cataé ;
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. g
emptied.¢ And though this distress was strong in every district in Eire, it was greater in Mumha. And the nobles of the two provin- ces of Mumha came at this time to one place, viz., the Clann Dea- dhaidh, and the Clann Dairine, and the Clann Deirgthine, and they were all bemoaning this dreadful famine in the presence of Mogh Neid. But _ Conaire, the son of Mogh Lamha, and Maicniadh, the son of Luigh-
dheach were not present there. And Mogh Neid said to the nobles of Mumha that he would save them from that season in return for the gifts which he would ask from them. And they all consented to - these words, for many of them were in distress. And they gave en- gagements and securities to Mogh Neid, guilelessly, for the fulfilment of every thing that he would ask of them. And they agreed, at both sides, upon giving these engagements and securities to each other. “‘ Name the gifts that you desire to obtain from us,” said the nobles. “ These are they,” said Mogh Neid, viz., “that you banish Conaire the son of Mogh Lamha, and Maicniadh the son of Lughaidh, out of Mumha; and that you give the sovereignty to my son, that is, to Eoghan Mor.” “That shall be done by us,” said they. But one thing is ccrtain now, that the wealth of Mogh Neid was spent by the nobles of Mumha until the better times arrived; and Conaire and Maicniadh were banished out of Mumha, and they went to where Conn of the hundred battles was, to Teamhair [Tara]. Mogh Nuadhad was then- proclaimed king by the nobles of Mumha against his own will, for he said that he would not have the style of king, in his father’s lifetime at least. And the father gave him his blessing along with the sovereignty; and the men of Mumha all gave him a host of blessings, and they continued prosperously and obediently to respond to him. And the spirits of the Clann Deirgthine were much elevated by this occurrence. And Deargdamhsa the Druid began to praise Eoghan greatly, and to boast of his nobility and his high qualities, and made this poem :—
Eoghan Mor, great his qualities, As noble as Conn of the hundred battles ;
® Were emptied, i.e. made waste and desolate.
10
Cat Wuyse Leana.
an D147 TID Fa caorm 4 5-cla, pann-pad Sipe eacoppa.
Do Seanpanuyd Gosan do Conn, ap ba cor-and « 3-cormlonn, ba la bad Gosayn, eaccpays, pre pedlad an p1t-pleaérayb.
Jng10n Floynn, bean Whoga Ney, do Connapic aplins 540 bers, peacc m-ba fronna, buan « m-blas, od PAlcriy 4 meaddon Wurpay.
Ap] cahbr] cadbar dy, If 40 odée na h-arplynze, 50 m-blyz¢{de 6 no buayb, pat pean Sipneann 4 y-son udzp.
Ar] bneye uy ay opacy 51, do thao] ay na h-arplynse, peace m-blyadya pona pas n-glé azar peace m-blyadna dona oazdbne.
Ljontan leé learcpa lana,
_ 50 b-F757 776, poplana, 50 nac beytdir Zan curd cdyp, *ran opoc-bladsayy djomdyp.
Ro dojpit oppa ay Zonta Sryyn, ba mat 0 Bosayn an ospcyll, HO y-tdjp cac a céyle, pescnsy Speann a1Zréyle.
O’d connarfic cac, Fé’. Cyan Zan, by46 1p Yonn *Zun Lace Gosan, DAOPAID JAdEEeTN, Fespipoe « m0d, vo Bosan an 4 n-anacol.
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. ll
These two men of fair renown Divided Eire between them.‘
Eoghar excelled Conn, . For though they were equal in valor, Eoghan’s, the traveller's, food was more abundantly Distributed to the peaceful tribes.
Flann’s daughter, the wife of Mogh Neid, Saw a vision, without falsehood ; Seven white cows, perpetual shall be their fame, She saw in the middle of Mumha.
This was the vision which appeared to her In the night of the dream : That there would be milked from the cows Enough for [all] the men of Eire at one time.
The interpretation which the Druid put on it, For the generous woman of the vision, was, “That there would come seven years of prosperity and bright happiness, And seven years of misery and poverty.”
They then filled brimful vessels, With their apertures closely filled up ; That they should not be without competent food, In the years of dreadful evils.
The crushing famine poured upon them, Happy for Eoghan were his conserved stores, When people did eat each other, Throughout all horrified Eire.
When all the people saw, both far and near, Food and ale with the champion Eoghan ; They bound themselves, (it bettered their condition, ) Unto Eoghan, for their preservation.
* Divided Eire between them. This as the circumstance did not occur for must have been spoken propheticslly, many years after.
12 Cat Wusze Leana.
Oe aca ad pean-focal rears, , ao-cualadan tip Sipeann ; "AT AIT]OS Cac Zan dedlad 50 d-tj an bat, az bonb Gosayn. Gosan. Jomtupa Chonaype tic Mhosa lata, azar Whayensd rc Lys- Sjoc, do badan Fein azar majte a muyyyncipe 4 b-fanpads Chujnn a 0-Teampals, azar tuZ Conn coynnmead Cpjoe m-Dneas azar Wyse Sa muyncyp. Ar{ rio swap asap aympyp do h-oy~napnbad Jomchayd apm Seans, mac Dyyaqn tic Fyonnchada, « b-Ullcayb, azar cajnic rjdein 50 Cearnays, azar fuarp paylce Cantanynac 6 Chonn; azar d0 cojnntnead 4 rhuyycip aye Tuatayb Ceabea. AzZap do cd pjseas cj cjdte pda, oppeasba, do ya h-6541b jonn- apbraca pip aca, azar cuzadayt a 3 -cor-lujde ’a céyle um Fiz Azay um Capadpad d0 Coral do Chony a n-a%ay5 Whota Neyo. Tapla ctyj b-jnFeana aylle, aontutna 435 Cony ’mun am yyn, eadon, Waojn, Sadb, azar Saprajdo 4 y-anwannya, azar cuzadape DA THY pjoss jonnapnberaca ryy, reapic azar pjon-snad $6;b. To- majp Conajpe pyon 4 pus a 1-dexlb Shapayde fal-suypme. Dasa p Warcnjads Sadb fospadsac. AWsap canuyp Jomeas apm-deanz Waory macanca. War do pynne ya pjoza rio TatAlse Pulpse 04 poctuyy Ha jtjos-ban pin. Wodbajpc Sadb le Wajcnjad Zo b-paojcad leyp d0 Seoyy [yd d’ appdeoqn] a h-atapt, azar 50 y-Zeabad leanannacc azar lan-fuypse uada. Uoubaypc Waoyy azar Sapayd yac seaboaory puspse dn dyar TID ojle ace do Gead « Y-atapn. Ro 1-jnnpead do Chonn na céthpayce pin, azar cuzapoan Sapajd a 5-cé@add171 do Chonaspe, azar Waoyy d0 Jomchays arpuy-Seanz, azar 00 @yms15 Sadb azar Waycnisd resp, le méd « meanman, so poccayy Jorpe 8’ 1-jonnruse. Od cualays Wos Neyo ayn ondsp dp, azar an thuypy adbal fuapadan ya h-ajtpnjosa Jonnapnbéaca ry & b-focaip Chuyny 4 0-Ceathpass, cuz 04 bnezeip nace a-cpeld- peads do Chonn, azur, 04 d-cjopad de, 50 HN-djonZHAds aje-p\jos yo © Breagh, or Magh Breagha, the monuments of the lower Boyne were
ancient name ofa plain inthe eastof inthis plain. See Zeabhar nag-Ceart, Meath. The ancient mounds and (Celtic Society, 1847.) p. 11, note z.
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 13
From that arose the true old saying, Which was heard by all the men of Eire: “ Every one is a tributary without grace, Till the world’s end, unto fierce Eoghan.”
As regards Conaire the son of Mogh Lamha, and Maicniadh the son of Iuighdheach, they themselves, and the nobles of their adherents, continued to sojourn with Conn at Teamhair; and Conn gave the free quarterage of the territory of Breagh® and of Midhe [Meath] to their people. This was the time and period at which Imchaidh of the Red Arms, son of Brian, son of Finnchadh was banished out of Uladh [Ulster]. And he came to Teamhair and received a gracious welcome from Conn, and his people were quartered upon the territories of Teabhtha." And three noble houses were prepared for these three exiled warriors, and they pledged thcir mutual vows to each other to maintain peace and amity with Conn against Mogh Neid. Conn happened to have three beautiful unbetrothed daughters at this time, viz.. Maoin, Sadhbh and Saraid were their names, and these three banished princes conceived affection and lasting love for them. Conaire bent the points of his eyes on the face of the blue-eyed Saraid; Maic- niadh loved the lovely Sadhbh; and Iomchadh of the Red Arms was enamoured of the innocent Maoin. And these princes paid frequent visits of courtship to those royal ladies. Sadhbh said to Maicniadh that she would espouse him with (or without) the consent of her father, and accept favoriteship and full courtship from him. Maoin and Saraid said that they would not accept courtship from the other two without the consent of their father. Conn was informed of these conversations, and he immediately gave Saraid to Conaire, and Maoin to Iomchadh of the Red Arms. But Sadhbh and Maicniadh, in the pride of thein spirit, refused to be espoused until a competent fortune should reach them. When Mogh Neid heard of the great honor and the large happiness which the deposed banished princes received from Conn at Teamhair, he gave his word that he would not submit to Conn,! and that if he
h Teabhtha, called Teffia by modern t That he would not submit to Conn, writers, the ancient name ofaterritory i.e. that he would not acknowledge in Westmeath. See ZLeabhar na g- him as supreme monarch of all Eire. Ceart, p. 11, note x.
14 Cat Wuyze Léana.
yonnapbtac Se, cpé Sol a 5-cajpdear 4 narad. O'd écualajs Conn rin do éypt teacca ap Ceann Whosa Neyo 8’ tabasne 8’4 TOS NO O' FSA cata asp. Adiabajpr Wos Nad Zo pacad Fo h-amal a n-oajl cata. Cjod cpa, aéc do tjondlad a5 Woz Neyo majte $4 661515 Wurman Fo na moip-fluagzasb, do freapdal cata vo Chony. Do cup Cony, ymoppo, prop [50 Connaccasb 50 Conall Cnuacnsa 50 4 ode, a5ar] Zo Doll mac Winnya Fo ya Fhyannasb, azar d0 Cusp Flor Zo D4 pjs’ Ulas, eadon 50 Caral mac Opnyayyn, azar Zo b-Gocayds Coba, azar do cuyp' Daone Zo Cryornhtann Cal-bujdse, agar 50 Lavépayd Laysean, azar do tyondyt Fey FIT Teabtéa azar Tuata Teampac. Azar cajnjco Conall AZAP cupajse na Cruacya, azar Soll mac Wéopna go ns Fann- 416, azar Cryomtann Cal-bujde azar rhajte Lajzean ler ; azar nj Canzadoan Ulleays any an olcar leo Jomeayd ajpm-dSeanz do ConZbayl do Chonyn. Ay anyryy cajnjc Cony Fo ya Cdthtjoysl 50 pean Whas Léeana Wye Oat, do’ jonnanbad Whosa Neo a
j Fianna, genitive Feinne. This was the name given to the regular standing armies of the ancient monarchs and provincial kings of Eire. Fionn MacCumhail was the most distinguish- ed commander of these troops of which our old records make mention, and next to him was Goll MacMorna.
k Breasal the son of Briun. This Breasal was of the Dal Fiatach race of Ulidia. He was the son of Brian, son of Fionnchaidh, son of Ogaman, son of Fiatach Finn, a quo Dal Fiatach. They were of the Eremonean line, and kings of Dal-Fiatach, and are represented in the present time by the O’Duinnsleibhe, or Donlevy family, who descend from Breasal’s brother Iomchaidh, who is mentioned at page 13.
1 Eochaidh Cobha. So called from his having been fostered in Magh Co-
bha, in the now County of Down. He was of the Rudrician race, de- scending from the celebrated champion Conall Cearnach. He was king of Dal-Araidhe, and is represented now by the family of Mac Aenghusa, or Magenis, &. See Miscellany of the Celtic Society, p. 165, note 4.
™Crimhthanr of the yellow hair, i.e. the king of Leinster. See preface p. iv.
® Magh Lena Mic Datho, i.e., Lena mac Datho'’s Plain. The following account of the origin of this name is taken from the ancient Topographical tract called djnnreancur, as preserved in the book of Leacan in the Royal Irish Academy :—
Mas lena canar ps bh-apnmnyseas. Ni hanoram. Léna mac Werpovoa ar é Ta gale mucc Wc Dato, for fuarp a noany bajnb a nompten Dladma. Fon
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 15
could he would make him a deposed king and an exile for having entered into friendship with his enemies. When Conn heard this he sent a courier for Mogh Neid to bring him to his court, or to challenge him to battle. Mogh Neid said that he would readily go to a meeting of battle. Even so it was now, Mogh Neid assembled the nobles of ‘the two provinces of Mumha with their great hosts to give battle to Conn. Conn, then, sent into Connacht to Conall of Cruachain, his tutor, and to Goll the son of Morna, with his Fianns;j and he sent to the two kings of Uladh, viz, to Casal [ Breasal|* son of Briun, and to Eochaidh Cobha;! and he sent messengers to Crimhthann of the yellow hair,™ and the warriors of Laighean [Leinster]; and he assembled himself the men of Teabhtha, and the tribes of Teamhair [Tara]. And Conall and the champions of Cruachain, and Goll the son of Morna, with his Fianns, and Crimhthann of the yellow hair, accompanied by the nobles of Laighin [Leinster] came. But the Ulltachs [ Ulster- men} did not come because they thought ill of Conn having enter- tained Iomchadh of the Red Arms. - Then Conn marched with his assembled forces to the old Magh Leana Mic Datho [Plain of Leana the son of Datho]" with the intention of driving Mogh Neid out of
Fopbarpic le co cend .uyy. m-bladan co wbadan na] nopolajs] D4 forpimayd fajlly pot a yriuyb. Lovap Ulayd acur Fitt Olyeszmacc do fer Wic Dato. Do decur oO maAtasp chujs} to mya, Wic Dato do chujyns] na muycy do cobajpt «A e1N15 3 An badan cuje cojcyd Cnenn amUN FelT, acur TANZAIO caeca tofic coZAalo] dja heir. acur 97 a 54d uayo. Sesrcea Famyac a y-Zuric feospt a5 a DATAS, CEATILACADS DAI DJA cUTNPCAcad acur efy Cry Honmalp ina capil, conar fia mele Conall Ceapnnac cé]n bar aca compojno. WepZeadpa acur Werproda vA HAC Wc Dato. Le Werpoda po yale an muc. Oa cuad janum Léna mac Werpooa lé a muyc, for oub-clair [ode], Zan] ne na h-polacad usd. Con- cul a fayl a m-b}, coy cuapicasb an muc an Clair TANT CAN ApjuUsas 00, costa mic, co naclajorym dono, Az ruyde con-
floct Bpajnne a Clajoqm [1 mujc] cor bo manb. Acur deachajs Follrcayoy, mucajse BWic Dato, co puz ayn mucc Firm reir. Cop la rene Lena ann. Unvoe Waz Lena dyicycup.
‘*Magh Leana, why so named? Itis not difficult for me to tell. Leana was the son of Mesroda who reared Mac Datho’s pig, which he found in Daire Bainbh, (the slips grove) in the eastern partsof Bladhma (Sliabh Bloom). It grew with him till the end of seven years, until there were nine inches of accumulated fat upon her snout. The Ulaidh (Ultonians) and the men of Olnegmacht (the Connacians) went to Mac Datho’s feast. Messengers went from his mother to him, (Mesroda) i.e. from Datho’s wife asking to get the pig, to help to preserve her honor, (for
16 Cat Wujze Leana. Wurmsay amac. Wyar canZadap 04 cdjZead Wuriyay 50 Waz Tpurzain 4 Z-cnjé [Up] Whuran, na y-aZajd; azar map puap- aban pReala « céyle, do eppzeadap ceagzlac pnjs Sipneany um Aral ton mac an Fhéenneada, azar canzZadan pompa d’yapypeaqd veabta apt teazlac Whosa Neyo; azar canzZadan mate Wurhan [azar canzadap ceaslac Whogza Najd] um Oheazays y-ojompac NA Y-AFa]S map an Z-ce@adna, azar capla Sa Céyle jac « 5- Cpuyyy-Whaz « b-Feapayb Ceall. Azar do coriparcrjod ya teaslas rin 50 calécurp pé pojle. Wer aon nj ceana, do cpyyp}od teaslac Chuiny ap teaglac Whoga Nad ’pay jomaspnz ry, 547 do tue Deasayld djompac py, azar 00 Com@acjspjod a 5-cor- Zap; azar do jormpss Aral mon poptne « b-EnjenjysZ va Conajpe cédyna, 00 CorptnacjSjor) ay Zyjorha rqy ler an pos; azar bud mat le Cony an cuynpzled do theabrayy ap Whujrnyneacasb, azar adabaspe Ayal mac an Fhejnneada ay c-ajtjors po rjor:— Oupipan ap 5-cuaspe Copzartt cayn, : do Suyy Oheasayd Seypz Sjompays, vo leazad lyon ’pa lens lérp, TOCA CasppTeac 04 5-cajTpéym.
Oo Zonas, po Zonrum yeac, do cujprjom ap PlojZ FS reac, po Cnn ceazZlac [cjze] Chuyyn, Opt thacpnays Whusze Tualuyys.
the pig was reared. Leana, the son of Mesroda, now went to (or upon) the
hospitality) for the five provinces of Eire had come to the feast; and she
offered him fifty choice hogs in lieu of her, and he did not accept her offer. There were sixty strippers (milch cows the second year after calving, and whose milk is believed to be the best) in enclosed pasture feeding her. It required sixty oxen to remove her, and her belly alone was the burden of nine men, and which Conall Cearnach eat whilst he was distributing her. Mes- geadhra and Mesroda were the two sons of Mac Datho. It was by Mesroda
Black Trench, one night shortly previ- ous to her being conveyed to his grand- father. He fell asleep where he was, and the pig rooted the trench over him, without his feeling it, till he was smothered. He started, however, turn- ing against her (before he was quite dead, ) and the point of his sword came into contact with the pig and killed her. And Follscadha, Mac Datho’s swine-herd, went and carried the pig to the feast. And he raised the grave of
17
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA.
Mumha. And the two provinces of Mumha marched to Magh Trusgar,° in [Ur] Mumha [Ormond] against them. On hearing of each other, the household troops of the king of Erinn arose, led by Asal? the Great, son of the champion, and went forward to seek a battle with the household troops of Mogh Neid. The nobles of Mumha, and the household troops of Mogh Neid, led by Deaghadh the proud, came also against them; and they met each other in Magh Cruinn? in Fearaibh Ceall. These household troops stoutly fought each other; but one thing is certain, Conn’s household prevailed over Mogh Neid’s household troops in that conflict, and Deaghadh the proud fell by them; and they exulted in their victory; and Asal the Great turned back in the same path to boast of that deed to the king. Conn was pleased with that skirmish being gained over the men of Mumha; and Asal, the son of the Champion, pronounced the following words :—
Our noble victorious march was the cause of woe, To the proud Red Deaghadh. Thirty charioteers of their battle array, Were laid low by us on the clear slope.
We were wounded—we wounded them, We dealt slaughter to their hosts on all sides; Conn’s household prevailed, Over the young men of the plain of Tualaing.
Leana there. Unde Magh Leana dici- tur.”
Magh Leana, now Kilbride, a parish comprising the town of Tullamore, in the King’s County. See Annals of the Four Masters, p. 564, note. © Magh Trusgair, i.e. the Fungous Plain.
P Asal was the son of Dordomblais the marauding champion. Slighe Asail, the road which bore his name,
CELTIC SOCIETY, VI.
leading to Tara, was discovered by him on the night of the birth of Conn of the Hundred Battles, Sce Petrie’s Anti- quitzes of Tara. His son Feargus was king of Midhe contemporaneously with Cormac, the monarch, grandson of Conn. H. 2, 16; col. 889, MSS. T.C.D. .
4 Magh Cruinn, i.e. the Round Plain. Feraibh Ceall, now the Barony of Fercal, in the King’s County.
2
18 Cat Mujte Léeana.
Oo Cujpt-plom thear Zo calma, Tf 4D macpayd min calma, r 40 B-Cpujnn-Whaz fuaspe manryy, do Cuadmuystine cuapc Corzuyp. Duppan.
Ap ayvriy do ppacc Cony Jo na Cdsrtjondl cata d'jonnpassys fean Wuhan, azar pane Fo Was Syiayl a g-cnje cuaspzerpe Sle, wp o n-abantap Was Tualayyz an canro; azur do cuyp- eabap ceacra usta dO F65Zna cata apn feapalbh Wurhan "pan MAajo]y ap ya mapac. Ro eypjys Woks Nuadad go lactzaspeac Hr 0a labantazb priv, 00 tabaypic cata do Chonn, azar da d-cjorad Se Fey JompPuspyoe Sy jonsazl, yoca léjzread « atarp Najo mate Wuryan 06 6, yd Zo d-cuzad cat bo Chonyn. Agur do bj Oeangzoarpa opacy az coypmears an cacalp rp fort na tpén-feapab, azar 435 mif~ajpoine 50 mop $676, azar ba pabad do TNS|C a D-TEAZATS YO Zupt COpySpjoc cat gjocda fuyleac a p-upcomasp Chuyyn. Jonnrujgzear Conn cuca 50 Was Sal, 50 o-capila a Z-ceann a Céjle Zo céjmdjocpa jad. Dup feapad cat-jonsayl calma Coptneancman pur ns cupadasb, sup fosp- BeanZad ip, Zur lednad lacie, azar Jun myonujZead mdyp- THES, aZap Zupe cjoppbads catrpjleada don cuyypzles rin. Aer at4 nj, Ceana, capla Doll mac Wipna azar Woz Neyo mac Dejpztewye vo cum a céyle ’pan Cat py, azar do ponpad cat peapnds, gpaoc-ajsrejl, up bo byypoe beapyac bpuaé-péeabta Alm azar aypo-pHele vo y-ajnread ryy. AZap d0 b’é cpjoé a Z-conmpaje Zup tue Wos Neyo mac DerpiZcesye do beymjonynuyb mapbeaca thie Wopya "pan mays py. UAZayp do cjompuys Wos Nuadsad & muynncip oi mapbéa Whoda Ned, 5p yj an clap: nd ap tyme do Cuajd ajze a atajp d0 manbad, acc apt Held MeanmMan aap ap Cpuap cpaojSe, azar cuz pyyat ap long do 141716 Wuran. Oo connupe py% Chonnacc, easton Conall
Magh Cruinn. See note 4 supra.
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 19
We fought the battle bravely, Against great and gallant youths ; In the pleasant Round Plain," in that way, Where we went on a victorious march.
Then Conn marched with his battle assemblage against the men of Mamhain, and reached Magh Siuil (the plain of Siuil) in the northern territory of Eile,* which is now called Magh Tualaing; and they sent heralds forward with a challenge of battle to the men of Mumha on the morning of the morrow. Mogh Nuadhad gladly arose at these words to give battle to Conn; and though he were himself willing to refrain from the conflict, his father and the nobles of Mumba would not permit him until he gave battle to Conn. Deargdamhsa the Druid dissuaded the brave men from that battle, and prognosticated great evils to them of it; but it was as warning the dead to warn them, until they drew up in a furious bloody phalanx opposite Conn. Conn advanced to them to Magh Siuil, until they came into ardent contact with each other. A powerful gallant battle-contest was fought by the champions, until men were reddened, warriors maimed, great shields shattered; and brave com- batants mutilated from that encounter. But one thing is certain— Goll the son of Morna, and Mogh Neid the son of Deirgthine, hap- pened to encounter each other in that battle, and they made a manly, dreadfully-furious combat; the arms and noble shields of these high chiefs were broken, gapped and border-shattered ; and the end of their conflict was, that Mogh Neid the son of Deirg- thine fell by the mortal blows of Morna’s son in that place. Mogh Nuadhad collected his people after the killing of Mogh Neidh— for it was not weakness or timidity the killing of his father brought upon him, but greatness of spirit, and hardness of heart; and he raised his shield in the rear of the nobles of Mumha; on perceiving
* Eile.—Ely O’Carroll, now the ba- King’s County. See Leabar na g- ronies of Clonlisk and Ballybritinthe Ceart, p. 8, note!.
50 Cat Wuyse Léana.
Chuacna rio, cane na Cpompuatan cupad tnép ayn Cat so h-Gdzan, jomposip pis opptjon Wuran, eadson Flany mac Fracpac pur, azar congburp an 3-cpaorpr1s pe Conall so o-tu- Zarcape alad anbayl ayp. Anayp Conall a 5-corajp cpd an alajd rip, 4350p imtjzear Wor Nuadsad so h-anpaccac annryn, zap do Guays Conajpe mac Woks lara azar Wayenpad mac Luyzdjoc « leanruyyn an madma azar na laoénuyse, azar puzpad a n-de]pzZeipc Sle an Gisan, azar do cuyprjod speym anbayl Al}t ann, AZsp d0 Fonad Gisan fey “pan cumafs py, ozZer PUsypad & mujyntipe ap & an yneant 4 n-eanznama.
Joméura GoZay, parnye poytne don péqm ry 50 Slayr Fjonn- fuapa & b-Feymyy-thas, azar 00 cuip pe Oeanzoarmpa dpaoy 50 Was Spal ap Z-cila Zo Cony do’ jappayd cajpvoe pe corhasple Alf) S354P map panic ay opacy Fo lonspope Chujny, do yanp ap. Chonn « lé1z}on 86 feant do Clacjdeads vo Whos Neyo; AZap fuarppe an cead pyy 6 Chony, azar do cuasd Sr cyony cupp Whosa Ned, azar do Zab az cuypyy uyme £4’ p b-jmpead v’éaotualajn; arp, azar « oubaype sup bo cualajng cata Choynn ap majtyb Wurhan ap iy maz pip. Donad ajne yy do lean Was Tualajns Se, azar do pynne Oeanzoampa opaocy feanc Falpr1y; fpoobuys 00 Whosz Nerd, anni, azar v0 h-adynayceads ann & CONS AIT a54P Cons eappiad, azar cona edead, azar DO Can AN opac] an laocyd azar ny OD’ fuanar j.
Feapnt Whoga Nejd an Whas Tualaynz, Zona puybne pe ya sualaynn, Zona lujypny fa luat « y-zoll, Zones catbapnp Zona cloysyjri.
t Cruachain. The royal residence in passing over him.
of the ancient kings of Connacht, ’ Eile. This was probably in Eile situated near Carrick-on-Shannon, in ui Fhoghartaigh (Eliogarty) in the the County Roscommon. county of Tipperary.
u Litter of death. That is, that he ~ Glais Fionnfhuara, i.e, the cooling fell down as dead, and to be trampled stream. on as a litter by the combatants
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 91
which, Conall of Cruachann,' king of Connacht, came in his crouched rush of a champion through the battle to Eoghan 7 and Flann the son of Fiachra, king of East Mumha, turned upon him; and couched his spear against Conall, whom he wounded dreadfully. Conall remained in the litter of death" of that wound; and Mogh Nuadhad bravely pushed forward there; and Conall the son of Mogh Lamha, and Maicniadh the son of Lughaidh, went to follow up that defeat of the warriors; and they overtook Eoghan in the south of Kile,” and put him into a fearful danger there. Eoghan himself was wounded in that conflict; but his people carried him off out of it by their valour.
As regards Eoghan, he pressed forward in that career till he reached Glaisi Fionnfhuare” in the plain of Feimhin; and then sent Deargdamhsa the Druid back to the Magh Siuil to Conn to request ‘time for counsel from him; the Druid on reaching Conn’s camp, begged of Conn to allow him to raise a grave for Mogh Neid; having received permission from Conn, he went over the body of Mogh Neid, and began to bewail the insupportable force that had been ex- erted against him; and said that Conn’s battalions were Tualaing or mighty over the nobles of Mumha upon that plain, and it is from that word that the name Magh Tualaing or the plain of might has at- tached to it. Deargdamhsa the Druid made a capacious grave of sods for Mogh Neid there; and he was buried in it with his arms and with his clothes, and with his armour; and the Druid chaunted the poem [and I have not found it.*)
Mogh Neid lies in a grave upon Magh Tualaing, With his spears resting by his shoulder, With his club [once] so active in action, With his helmet, with his sword.
x And I have not found it. This Manuscript Collection of the Royal was a memorandum by the scribe, but Irish Academy, No. 220. the poem is inserted here from the
22
Cat Wuyse Léana.
Noe an an arp po epnjt an fean, ceann bunad Zaojdseal zie zlan, ACT 43 copnaty y-14% ba oual 86, atHIN 00 Bocas Wuris.
Aap do badan ’p ay jomsuyn, caob pe caob 17 an jonguyl, malt an c-upcan capla 6 Flann, 50 m-bj cormtpom cpé Chonall.
Do cuayd Wos Ned ’pan cat cayn, do CorHnaty anmsa Bdsayn, pana a sabe pre pact rearic,
DATHNNS TOS NA TYZ-feapc.
Feanc.
Jap rip do papip an c-e1Zear carpe cnj la azar cedpa y-ofbée we Bdtan pe ciynead cormajple, azar cuz Conn rin 83. Raynyc an opacy 0 azallaym Sisary anyryy. Wp anyryy do tjondyl Gdzan majte Wurman azar puz leyp zo Sleany Lana « Luacayjn Peatayd na de15-FIT TID; azar 00 Zluayp Conn Zona catab 50 Sleany Lapa no leanrnuyn; azar do Cuapncayspjobd Feapann Cho- narpie 0% Was Léeana azar bo Cpeacrac d'updp @ 5 Sljz5 Oala Fo h-Ojléan Sle, azar 6 Ojléan Syle 50 h-Ojlean m-Bryc; azar dDhabpayy 50 Cyar-coyll; azar do cjompayzeadan cpeaca
Y Eochaidh Mumho. An ancient king of Munster, from whom the pro- vince is said to have got its name of Mumha, genitive Mumhan.
3 Gleann Lara, i.e. the Mare’s Glenn ; in a copy of this tract made for Doctor John O’Fergus of Dublin by Michael O’Longan, this place is noted to be near Killarney.—MS. Collection No. 3-31, R. I A.
® Juachair Dheadhaidh. This an- cient district, which received its name from Deaghaidh mac Sin of the Ernean line, was co-extensive with the ba-
ronies of Clanmorris, Irachticonor, [Oireacht Ui Chonchobhair], Triugh- an-Aicme, and Magonihy [Magh 6 g-Chonchinn] in the County of Kerry. This district was comprized in West Munster which, anciently (at the be- ginning of the Christian era) formed Curai Mac Dairi’s Province, and ex. tended from a line drawn between Li- merick and Cork, westward, to the Atlantic, whilst Eochaidh Abrad- Ruadh’s Province of East Munster, ex- tended from the same line to the river Barrow, eastwards.—See Keating in
A
23
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA.
The man’s death was not cheaply obtained, The head of the pure original stock of the Gaels, But in defence of his rightful ancestorial lands, The equal of Eochaidh Mumho.’
As they were in the mortal strife, Side by side in the manly combat, Goodly was the cast which reached from Flann And passed clearly through and through Conall.
Mogh Neid went into the battle, To preserve the life of Eoghan ; Long shall he be bewailed with aching love— The kingly man in his royal grave.
The poet then asked three days and three nights from Conn for Eoghan, to decide on counsel; and Conn ‘having given him that time ; the Druid returned to converse with Eoghan who then assembled the nobles of Mumha, and led these good men to Gleann Lara,*® in Luachair Deaghaidh.* Conn with his battalions set out towards Gleann Lara in pursuit of them; and they searched Conaire, the son of Mogh Lamha’s® [former] territory at Magh Leana ;° and plundered it for the greater part, from Slighe Dalat to Oilean Eile*® and thence to Oilean m-Bric ;f and from Gabhran® to Cnamh-Choill.2 They collected
Subdivisions of Munster.
b Conaire the son of Magh Lamha already mentioned.
* Magh Lena. See page 14, note™ supra.
4 Sligh Dala, i,e. Dala’s Road. This was the great road or way, which led from East Munster, or Ormond, to Tara in ancient times, and was so called from its having been discovered by Dala, the chief of East Munster, or by Setna the Druid, on the night of the birth of Conn of the hundred battles. See Book of Lecan, fol. 239. The Castle of Bealach Mor, in the Queen’s County, marks the position
of this ancient road.—See Annals of the Four Masters, page 104, note 4.
® Oilean Eile, the island of Eile. This was probably the present town- land of Island, in the parish of Cul- leneraine, barony of Clonlisk, in the King’s Countye
¢ Oilean m-Bric. This should be Oilean Ui Bhric, or O’Bric’s Island. It was the most southern point of the County of Waterford.
§ Gabhrann, now Gowran in the County of Kilkenny, and anciently the eastern boundary of Munster.
bh Cnamhchoill, now anglicized Cleg- hill, a townland in the parish of Kil-
a * oe
Luy3dj0C, 6 6
ar Wuyse Léeaya.
6 Chnarh-coyll Zo Luacasp;
- = Slab Caoqn; azar 6 Shlyab Caoyn So
. aes =
aap dO TIOMPU[Zeadapt & m-bpuyd azar a . ) cuz Conall Cpuacns azar Clanna WMonna
- Lian an tip azar cap Jon Whumay, eadon, 6
e
ger’: x
azar 6 Loe Len Zo payne bud Sear, azar
wat eanala jomda led Zo h-aipm « paybe Conn a N5or vO E]MENO13 Cony rZeala 7% 9) jonajd a
» . at
wx edléasb, e48on 00 Chonape azar d0 Whayc-
_mnsdantran a beyt 4 m-Bond Laojde, a 5-Comap ~ wn aly) MhayzZapca thonz-puad; azar Slyab Cru- = na, Zap Loc Léyy azar an tiujp d0’1 caob ojle Se,
- at
~~") ppeadpedaory yoy bud lya jonas jad fey ploctuyn 54 ran aes apt 401) tlj315- Joméura Whosa Nuadad do cuala
gta mile and a half to the ve Se town of Tipperary.— = og the Four Masters, p. 1578,
. : ¢ Viadh, the son of Lughaidh, a wad mentioned. _qwuachair, ‘This was anciently wailed Luachair Dheadhaidh, i.e., re adhaidh’s Rushy district, from pendhaidh the son of Sin (pronounced sheen) of the Ernan or Rudrician Race, ancestor of Conaire the son of Mcgh Lamha, mentioned in the present tract. This Rushy territory extended from the bounds of the present County of J.imerick to the Lake of Killarney in Kerry, and a considerable way into the present County of Cork. In Kerry it comprehended at least the present baronies of Triocha-an-Aicme (Tri- ghanacmy) and Magh O’ g-Conchinn (Magonihy) Of this latter tract the O’Connells, of the Conarian race, were High Chiefs. The other Chiefs of
the Luachair were O’ijunadhaidh (or Downey), O’Donoghue, and O’Carroll, in Kerry—and O'Callaghan, O*Keeffe, and Mac Auliffe, in theCounty of Cork. See Keating in the Subdivisions of Munster,’ O’'Huidhrin’s Topographical Poem, &c.
k Sliabh Eibhlinne. A range of mountains extending from near Ros- crea to the north-eastern boundary of the County of Limerick. The Devil’s Bit, or Bernan Eile, lies on the south side of this range.
1 Sliabh Caoin, now Sliabh Riach, or Riabhach, the southern boundary of the County of Limerick. Mac Niadh’s principality was, therefore, co-extensive with the present County of Limerick.
™ Clann Morna. That is, Goll-mac- Morna and his clann.
" Jar-Mhuma, or West Munster. This was one of the five parts into which Munster was divided, shortly
25
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA.
the plunder of Maicniad’s' people, from Cnamh-Choill to Luachair) and from Sliabh Ejibhlinne* to Sliabh Caoin;! and from Sliabh Caoin to the sea southwards, and carried off their captives and their herds of cows with them. Conall of Cruachain and the Clann Morna™ carried a heavy cloud of fire over the whole of that ‘country, and over lar Mhumha,? viz., from Luachair to Druing;° and from Loch Lein?” to the sea southwards; and they carried off preys and spoils to where Conn was staying with his champions. Conn asked tidings of Eoghan from his guides, Conaire and Maicniadh, who said that he was in Bord- Laoidhe? at Comair-na-Sealga,’ i.e., with the red-haired Mangarta,* and Sliabh Cruadhat on one side of him, and Loch Lein"® and the sea on the other side of him; and that no party more numerous than themselves could reach them through any path. As regards Mogh Nuadhad: when he heard of Conn’s battalions on all sides around
after the division between Curoi Mac Dairi, and Eochaidh Abbradhruadh mentioned at page 22, note *. It ex- tended, according to Breasal O’Trea- saigh, quoted by Keating, from Lu- achair Dheadhaidh at Killarney to the Atlantic westwards, and from the River Ruachtach, which falls into the Bay of Kenmare, to the Shannon northwards; and comprised the an- cient districts of Corca Duibhne, now Corcaguinny, and Ibh Rathach, now Iveragh. This whole district, together with the present barony of Magonihy, was anciently comprised in Corca Duibhne, i.e., the territory or descen- dants of Corc Duibhne, the son of Cairrbe Musg, son of Conaire, son of Mogh Lamha, and of Saraid the daughter of Conn of the hundred battles. Dun Ciarain (Dunkeron) Nuidin (Nideen) were comprehended in the ancient Corco Duibhne, there- fore the present barony of Dunkeron
was its southern limit. This exten- sive territory of West Munster was the ancient inheritance of the O'Shea- gha (O’Shea) of Ibh Rathach, and O’Failbhe (O’Falvey) of Corco Duibh- ne (Corcogniny. )
° Druing. A conspicuous hill in the north of the barony of Ibh Rath- ach (Iveragh).—See Leabhar na g- Ceart, p. 85, n. w.
P Loch Lein. Killarney.
9 Bord Laotdhe, i.e., the border of Laoidhe or Lee.
¥ Comar na Sealga, i.e., the valley (or confluence of hills) of the hunt- ings.
* Mangarta. The well known moun- tain Mangarten, near the Lake of. Killarney in Kerry.
t Sliabh Cruadha, i.e., the hard or steely mountain.
« Loch Lein.
Now the Lake of
Killarney Lake.
26 Cat Mujse Léana.
cata Chun 04 546 caojb Jona tymcjoll, a oabapc pe maytyb Murhan, ctjondl azar cjompasad d0 Séanyariy 00 FAC Apid azar a y-djtujm do tabaypic pe Dub-Jleann, dip, yj captannad CAoTH cajpoearajl aca Conajpne azar Wajcnjad pe Wuyrneacasb Anjos, ap pe, azar 4 oabarpc an laoyd :—
Tjompassyo bap o-cjondl ceann, cabpayd bupt y-dpuym pe Leat-Dleann, do Lonrad cata Chuyny cayn, 50 Dleann Lapa jonan leanrhasn.
Ny b-upura rjol Gybip, d’JONHTOISIS Mo 4 y-ayrnnsyd76, ACT FO d-c4jp_ 8616 Zan dolad, tjondl azar cjompusas.
Jomtura Chujyn, 00 Cozaip azar do Caojn-comaypls ayze £ejn 54n dol pan m-bealac m-bdsba buy orp, & Fen azar Gzan, ace zabal pimps Fo péjm-ojpeac a mullac na Wanzancays. Usap do Conycadap ap pip uata ealbsa azar éyde azar pyle jomds a y-DSleann Laojdse, azar Laoépasd Wurhan ap y-anruyy tpé eazla 6 Gdsan, S171 D0 CeadajZ Gdsan feqy 66)6 anruyy az Conajpne azar 45 Waycyjad 6 nac pabsadan lon cata 00 Chonn. Janriy po Z14llpad uyle 00 Chonn. War vo jompoydrjoo yap ule annrin, 4547 D0 Cuadast bud Sear 50 Cann m-Buyse, azar do Cuad FAC Ao aca ple & d-co1PZIb aZur pre « d-cupapayb Fe 1p4 d-cymejoll, azar do Fan Cony Zona cupadsasb cotmleanaripna 4 3-Cany m-Bujde. Od cualass Woz Nuadad nyeardaopnjs
¥ Dubh-ghleana, the Black valley. stone heap, or Cairn of Buidhe, or Baoi.
w Leath-ghleann, the half-valley.
x Gleann Lara, the Mare’s valley. one of our copies makes this Leim Lara, near Killarney,
Y Carn Buidhe, i.e. the monumental
In an unfinished copy of this tract, made in the year 1780 by John Collins, a very intelligent native and resident of the barony of Carbery in the county of Cork, this name is invariably
27
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA.
him, he ordered the nobles of Mumha to assemble and cullect from all points, and to turn their backs upon Dubh-Ghleann ;" for, said he, it is not gracious, kind, or amicable feelings that Conaire and Maicniadh, entertain for the men of Mumbha this day. And he spoke the poem-—
Collect your proud assembly, Turn your backs upon Leath-Ghleann,” The battalions of Conn the brave have pressed, To Gleann Lara* in pursuit of us.
The race of ibhear cannot easily, Be attacked in their rugged fastnesses, If they can, without obstruction, But assemble and collect.
Conn determined and prudently decided with himself not to enter the dangerous pass which lay between himself and Eoghan, but to press forward directly to the top of the Mangarta; from which place they saw flocks and herds and much cattle in Gleann- Laoidhe, and the warriors of Mumha standing back from Eoghan through fear. For Eoghan himself advised them to remain with Conaire and with Maicniadh, since they were not sufficient in num- bers to give battle to Conn. After this they submitted to Conn, and all turning to the west, marched southward to Carn Buidhe‘; and every one of them then went away upon his own errand and business in all directions; and Conn remained with his warlike fol- lowers at Carn Buidhe.’ When Mogh Nuadhad learned the fewness
written Carrig-Buidhe, the Rock of Buidhe, or the Yellow Rock. In other copies it is written Carn Baoi. There is a townland of Carrig-boy in the pa- rish of Kilmocomhogue, and barony of Bantry in the County of Cork, and it is probable that this was the place that Collins had in view. so that from the variety of names under which we
find the place mentioned, it is rather difficult to settle its identity. There is a curious tale told in our most ancient manuscripts, which will fur- nish us with the true form of the name, if not with the exact spot :— Conaire, the son of Mogh Lamha, who holds a conspicuous place in this tract, had, by Saraid, Conn’s daughter,
28 Cat Wuyse Lana.
Chuyyn azar neathdajnzne an jonajd 4 m-baoy, « dabaype pe a rhuynyncip erpse do tabarpe amarr longzpurpe ap an Laoésrasd 6 pac pabadan lion cata 4 n-a5a15 Chuynn 50 na rhdp-focpaype. Do tyondylpjoo Clanyna Deypnztetne 30 deas-tapalds azar do Jonnroyzeavan Conn & F-céaddipt, azar pangzadan pdmpa a B-cémpozer Chany m-Buyde, azar po Zappjod fey azar for- aypesd4 Chuynn 04 céyle, agar 00 bud jonznad le Cony clorr- DEACT At) Corpuacasd fin ple FpAllac ya fopape leat amuss don lonzpone 1p an maydoiy, azar 0 eipgzeadan Clanna Wopna, . azar Conall zona cupadasb, azar canzadan na 5-catazb cdyp- jet! 4 N-asa]H VSzayyn azar & « y-uatad focasse; azar d0 cuypi- ead Zled amnar earcaspoeatiarl CATOTIA 04 FAG lert, azar tus Bossa 04 ujod nac b-fuaspe cortpom cérhluynyn, eadon an rluss ule 4 n-a5ajd son dune; Sip d0 TustTPjodD UpTHdp a thulNHTI pe ule, azar njopt 14d les ceycead do séanary, Ada 00 fannrass @ Fée]n do Sjozarle; azar do lé1z £4 Catayb Chuyny Zo oyan cyyv- jornac & Fen, ADAP d0 Fab az yappays Chujnn zo veas-tapayd 6171 do bud deytin1n deapbea leyp 4 cuycym pT Od d-calppead aon buzlle 54 fal Se. UZar do Fab az plaojse ya pluas Fo pnéym- Sjocpa Fo mad parhalea pre puccad pytjorh-lujngze oa h-anzcasp- 1816 cupoal an cupad a 5-cat a bjodbayds azar 4 yaad. War Dj cortiayl Zo mad pHEpezore 6 leabpasb nd 6 edlcasb, ap cuyc pre h-Gégan ip an jongsayl rin; Zo o-capla Doll mac Wopnya pyp-
a son who was called Cairbre Musc, and a daughter who was named Dubh- fhinn, or the biack-haired, fair-skinned lady. Cairbre obtained considerable power in the West of Munster, and had by his sister Duibh-fhinn, two sons, Core and Cormac. His reign became so remarkably disastrous, that his people held a meeting, and questioncd him why the land had become unpro- ductive in the course of his govern-
ment. He acknowledged his guilt, and the consequent manifestation of the Deity’s displeasure. The people im- mediately called out to have the inces- tuous offspring delivered into their hands, that they might burn them and cast their ashes into the stream. You may do so to Cormac, said Dinioch the Druid, but give Corc to me, and I will carry him out of Erinn. This request was granted him, and he
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 99
of Conn’s people and the insecurity of his position, he ordered his people to arise and surprise the heroes in their camp, as they were not in numbers sufficient to battle against Conn’s great assembled force. The Clann Deirgthine® collected readily, and advanced upon Conn immediately ; and on arriving in the vicinity of Carn Buidhe, they and Conn’s watchers shouted to each other. Conn wondered at hearing that contention with the watch party outside the camp in the morning; and the Clann Morna, and Conall [of Cruachain] with his champions, arose and came out in arranged battallions against Eoghan and his small party; a furious unfriendly combat was fought between them on both sides. Eoghan perceived that he had not received fair combat, for the entire host was against one man, the greater part of his people had fallen; still he did not think it hono- rable to retreat, but being anxious for revenge, he then threw himself upon Conn’s battallions, vehemently and eagerly, and began to search for Conn with eagerness; for he was positively certain that he should fall by him, could he but lay one glance of his eye upon him. He continued to hew down the hosts with great avidity, so that the rushing of the hero upon the ranks of his foes was like the bursting of a great ship from her anchors; and it is not probable that it would be credited from books or from historians, the numbers that fell by Eoghan in that conflict, until he was met by Goll the son of Merna. These warriors
took the child with him out upon the sea to Inis-Baoi (the island of Baoi), accompanied by his old wife, whose ame was Baoi, to whose protection the Druid committed the child. This
old woman had a cow which was.
called Bo Baoi, or Baoi’s Cow, and for a whole year the boy was every morning washed on the cow’s back, with such ceremonies as the Druid and his old wife deemed proper and effec- tual for their purpose. At the end of the year the cow suddenly leaped off the island into the sea, and was turned into a rock called after her Bo Baoi.
The child in the mean time being cleansed from the stain and disgrace of his birth, was carried on shore by the Diuid, and presented to his grandmo- ther Saraid who, under the Druid’s ad- vice, received him kindly. He grew to be a powerful prince, and was the an- cestor of all the noble families of the ancient Corco Duibhne—the O’Con- nells, O’Falveys, O’Sheas, O’Moine- hans, &c., and of all the Muscraigians of Munster.—Leabhar na h-Uidhre, fol. 43. R.LA.
2 Clann Dergthine, See preface.
30 Cat Wuyse Leana.
Azar 00 Corhpaycpjod ay 04 Cat-rmjlead pn Fo yyadbca yasrdea- tayl, oft D0 bud cpéacca Zan dfnad a 1-dEAapNZ-natndeanar, AZ4f¢ vj Capnic FpAdazl ap a b-pala; azar d0 puamnaySpjod « TOTHs jona 5-ceannayb arhayl cajdlead péalcany oydée pedyz, azar 00 ljonadapt a n-o¢ra d4 n-analayb ariayl bolza sabonn a5 BMr-Pejoead. Dupt Cpéaccnasspjod an 04 cat-rjlead pyy a céle 50 mop. War do bj éyZean mip ap Sdsayn muy ampoyy, easton, tluas Chuynn 50 b-uyle, azar upthop rhayte Wuran uyle, um Chonajpe mac Wosa latha, azar um Waycyjsds mac Luyshoe JOns ada. UAyZar do bj éyZ;0n bud més ona qr1n app, eadon, Doll mac Wopya 54 tuanzayn; azar yj poyb Sdsan acc uatad 54 Sead-thuyyntyypt mun am Ty, azar ayn Cuyd yap mapbad Sjob do badapt apt na Z-cpéacrynasad, jonnar sup luys jomapicass ya h-jopgayle ap Gozan, asap Zup léyZrjod cac « b-feybm cata FAlTs FO Nac parbe d0 Conznariy ajze aéc uarple 4 fola, azar Cfluap 4 Close, ADAP MEAD 4 ThEANMAN, AFAT lO HEAD « Feadma, asap feabar o fulayns. Uap « oabpad Fo mad doscpeyoce le Tocayse do mjleada1b go d-cuycpead ple céad apt tuyc le h-Cdzayn JOnA aonapt 4 z-cat na Clojéce Bappayse. Do bj, umoppo, leannan lan-spadac, lan-cutnaccad 05 Bosan ’pan osptyop try, eadon, Gavaoyn Jnnr) BSpeazparse, azar do foyllpysead Sy Gizan vo belt 7p an eyFZeay Ty, Azar cajnic 04 fupicace azar bepyp lee @ d’asrSedy 4% JHNHTINHe, azar Fagbuip an 5-cloyzé -Bapipase aga cuapizayy 4 n-dezlb oujne 45 Soll azar a5 clannasb Wopya, azar a3 plyoec Fepslymid peaccmasp; azar do nn TP] OaoqNe d0 Na clocayb azar d0 YA carpp1516 cortflear- DA & D-Timejoll Bosayy 04 jomcojméad. FDonad d’n m-banpads
There is a huge mass of limestone of this kind standing in the townland of
® Cloch Barraighe, now Cloch Bor- rogh, a remarkable stone in the town-
land of Gortolinny North, parish of Kenmare, and barony of Glanarought, south side of the river near the town of Kenmare—Note by J. O’Donovan.
Ballysheen, near Six-mile-bridge in the County of Clare. Its form is that of a low broad hay-stack, and it is raised from the surface by three round pebble
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. | 31
fought bravely and inimicallv; for their red enmities were as unclosed wounds; no weeds had grown upon their animosity ; and their eyes blazed in their heads like the sparkling of the stars on a frosty night, and their breasts heaved like the bellows of a smith blowing a heat. These two warriors desperately wounded each other, and there was a great inequality upon Eoghan at this time, for the whole of Conn’s army, and the greater part of all the men of Mumhain, un- der Conaire, the son of Mogh Lamha, and Macniadh, the son of Lug- haid, were opposed to him, and there was a still greater inequality upon him, namely, Goll, the son of Morna, striking him. Eoghan numbering but a few brave men at this time; such of them as had not been slain being dreadfully wounded, the great preponderance of the contest fell upon him, and all his foes wreaked their battle fury upon him, who had no other assistance than the nobleness of his blood, the hardiness of his heart, the height of his spirit, and his excessive bravery and power of endurance. It was said at the time that many warriors were incredulous that the number which fell by Eoghan alone could have fallen by an hundred [champions] in the Battle of Cloch Barraighe.* Eoghan, now, had, in that district, a much beloved, and very powerful, [fairy] mistress viz., Eadaoin of Inis Greagraighe,> to whom it was revealed, that he was in this distress, and she came to his relief, and carried him away despite ‘his own inclination, and left the Cloch Barraighe in the shape of a man to be struck at by Goll and the Clann Morna, and the descendants of Feidhlimidh Reachtmahar. She also transformed into men the stones and the smooth rocks all around Eoghan to guard him, and from the wearing which that stone gave to the arms of
stones very judiciously placed, on which it rests. It is called by the peasantry Cloch na m-Borradh, and is believed traditionally to have been placed there by Finn Mac Cumhall’s warriors to serve them as a whetstone for their military weapons.
> Inis Greagraidhe or Gregary Island,
now Great Beare Island in Beare Haven, Bantry Bay, County of Cork. This island probably took the name of Beare or Beara, from Eoghan’s wife Beara, daughter of the king of Spain. See copy of this tract in No. 234, p. 231, MSS. Collection, Royal Irish Academy.
32 Cat MWujze Léana.
FI cuzadap ya cloca apt apmuyb Shull do lean an Cloé Banp- ayde 81 Sfoyn 4 leyé, apt Cuan Cyn Wana.
Cjod cpa acr, plo pus Gadasaosyn Bdsan azar apt arp $4 thuynn- citt le jonas lonzayb 50 nac prajbe curhacca Chuynn oppa; azar canjc Bazan azar beazan pocpajde bed Zonca lerp an ojdée ry Afi, d azthded;n Badaoyne, azar cuz amar longpuypic ape rune Chuynn, azar do tuye leyp Gdlanz aspm-deanz [mac 3 laysean da b-fuyl Copp Golayng] azar peacc caoza 04 rhuynncyp marlle enip. Do leanpad an pluas ule Gosan anvryn, azar beryp Sjorma jnZean Choppluypznis fayp, eadon badb azar bann-FajpRyoeac do muzyyep Dhuyll rc Wipa; azar ap ath- layd plo buy, 4 3-captbad ploy) an c-pluas azar j 43 maozSjorh madms oppa. UAnarp Sisan pys azar mapbay o'upican plese 1 4347 d0 tut Pi pan abaynn, Zonad uate aca Sjore d'aynm ujtipe. Usar pajtear Gisan eaclars fuyynpjony vo bj 4 lay na callse do leatraosb an ata sup far ann, 50Nd6 wade 4a Ae Fuyynryony 6 yyy a lest. WzZar leanayd ay pluas ryan Gosan, azar cuz Bdszan amar ejle onpa azar manbuyp Cusppjn Ceann- foluir mac ys Chonnacr, azar tp] caoza 04 muynncip maylle MT, F0nad be d0 lean Com Cujppjn. Tuy @dsan amar oyle opps «4 o-Tpear-Choyll, agar manbar mopan Sjob, Zonad uada aca Tpear-Choill 6 rin « leye. UWgap céjd 04 eac azar canbad ya callyse 6 We Frvinvrjony fon Sjorma 50 b-We yop 5a Loe, azar bryipcean cuyyn; capbayo na cazllyse ANY, Fonad usdss aca Leal ata Sean-cujngze ron Danb-Abaynn join 64 loc. Azar vo bavan pluas Chuynn agar clanna Wopya az cuanzayy na Clojée Bapparze azar na 5-cloé o-cuynizte do badan lar nya ’pan
© Cor Eolaing, i.e. Eolaing’s round hill.
4 Siomha the daughter of Corrluirg.- neach, or Crane-legs.
© Badhbh. to witches, and to the Scald, or Roys- ton crow.
¢ Siomha. This river is the Sumha,
This is a name given’
now the Sough or Sowagh. It has its source in Loch Crot, not far from the source of the Bandon, and is one of the ~ tributaries of the river Islin (Abhainn Eibhlinne.)—Note by J. O’Donovan. © Ath Fuinnsionn, (Ashford) now Ahnafunshin, in the townland and pa- rish of Dromdaleasgue, in the East
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 33
Goll it is ever since called Cloch Barraighe on the beach of Ceann Mara [Kenmare ],
However, now, Eadaoin carried Eoghan and those of his people who survived, in her ships beyond the reach of Conn. Eoghan and a few followers returned again that night, despite Eadoin, and made a camp attack upon Conn’s people; and there fell by him Eolang of the Red Arms [the son of the king of Laighin, from whom Cor Eolang® is named] and with him seven times fifty of his people.
The entire host then pursued Eoghan, and Siomha,‘ the daughter of Corr Luirgneach, a Badhbh® [witch] anda heroine of Goll the son of Morna’s people, overtook him, in a chariot before the host fol- lowing up the retreat upon them. Eoghan waited, and killed her by a cast of a spear, and she fell into the river, which from her has the name of Siomha;'.and Eoghan thrust an horse switch which the hag had in her hand, into the earth at one side of the ford, and it grew there, and from it Ath Fninnsionn® is named from that time. The hosts followed Eoghan westwards, and he made another sudden attack upon them, and killed Cuirrin Ceannsholais, the son of the king of Connacht, and three times fifty of his people, and from him Com Cuirrin® is named. Eoghan made another attack upon them in Treas Choilli and killed many of them; and from that circumstance Treas Choill is so named ever since. The two steeds and the chariot of the hag were carried from Ath Fuinnsionn on the river Siomha to Ath-idir-dha-loch ;* and the yoke of the hag’s chariot was broken there; from which circumstance Beal-atha-sean- chinnge! upon Garbh-abhainn-idir-dha-loch™ is so called. Conn’s hosts and the Clann Morna continued to strike the Cloch Barraighe, and the other fixed stones that were near it on the strand, until they
division of the barony of Carbrey, 1 Beal-Atha-Sean-chuinge. The
county of Cork. It is on the river Mouth of the ford of the old yoke.
Siomha, andis shewn on the Ordnance This place must have been on the
Map, sheet 119.—John O'Donovan. Garbh-Abhainn, or Rough River, of h Com Cuirrin, Cuirrin’s valley, or which see the following note.
hollow hill-side. ™Garbh-Abhainn-idir-dha-Loch. The 'Tyeas Choill, i.e., Battle-wood. Rough River between the two lakes. k Ath-idir-dha-loch, theford between This river, now called the Abhainn
the two lakes. Gharbh, or Owengarriff, flows through CELTIC SOCIETY, VI. 3
34 Cot Wujse Léana.
cTpacr, Zun brypeadap 4 y-ajpm, azar an cuyd nan brypeadan do maoladap, 6 tuanzary na cloyce. Waar 4 dibarpc Cony pa aynnryy: Seacnasd ban d-cuapngzajn a 654, apt fe, SI ar carppgze ceann-sapiba aca jon ban n-asajd, azar do Cuajds Bozan: uayb. Do rZujpeadap pluass Chujnn 04 n-oypleaé an can piv, azar ad Conncadap na lonz ap jomdomayn an 41%e1n, «Zar Bdsan zona mHupnyeypt jonncta. Oo jompols Conn Zona muynneip so Cann. 1-Buyde an ode ry, azup 0 plojnn 04 661Ze05 Wurman oon Chonaipe azar Whajcnad, azar cajnie fein 30 Teampays, azar vo bj Sipe Zan ympearay ase Enf pe nao] m-blyadan, an
read do bj Bosan ’pan Garpayn. Jomiira feapn Wiathan: vo Spdayseadan 4 b-fopaspeabsa do copt ple h-a5a15 Gosajn, 6 Ut Colbasa anjan jo cps Sean-loca
Pol, 45a7 6 On na m-Banc
the parish of Inchigeelagh, alias Iveleary, in the barony of West Muskerry, County of Cork, and is shown on the Ordnance Map, sheet 80. Note by John O’Donovan.
© Ath Colbha. The ford of Colbha. This place must have been in, or near Bantry Bay, and is intended here to denote the most western point of Munster.
° Traigh-Sean-Locha, the strand of the Old Lake. This was probably the bay of Waterford. the eastern boundary of the coast of Munster.
P Dun-na-m-Barc, the fort of the barques or ships, the oldest historical locality in Ireland. It is stated in the Book of Leinster, fol. 3; and in the Book of Lecan, fol. 272, merely, that this Dun was situated in Corco Duibhne. The exact situation of Dun- na-m-Barc has been a long time a dif- ficulty with Irish writers. Mr.Windele in his valuable Itinerary of the County of Cork, fixes, absolutely, on Dun-na-
& tTualt 50 Tras Rearhayp bud
m-Barc, near the town of Bantry, as the veritable landing place of Cesar. The reference to it in our text, how- ever, contradicts this assertion, as Traigh-Remhar, or the gross strand, which is here made the southern or opposite point of the line of coast from Wun-na-m-Bare in the north, is exactly in front of Dun-na-m-Bare near the town of Bantry. And as all our ancient authorities concur in placing Cesar’s landing place in Corco Duibhne, and as Corca Duibhne never extended to Bantry, or south of the Kenmare river, we must look for it within that territory. From the refe- rence to it in our text we must believe it to have been situated at the northern extremity of the west coast of Kerry. And this opinion is fully borne out by another copy of the ‘‘ Battle of Magh Lena,” preserved in MS. No. ], p. 48 of Hodyes’ and, Smith’s Collection, R.I.A., which states that Conn placed his guards on the coast of Munster,
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 35 broke their weapons; and those that they did not break they wore by striking at the stone; and Conn said then to them: Cease your striking, men, for they are rugged-headed rocks that are opposed to you, and Eoghan has escaped! Conn’s host then ceased striking ; and perceived the ships on the depths of the ocean, and Eoghan and his people in them. Conn, with his men, returned to Carn Buidhe that night; and he divided the two provinces of Mumha between Conaire and Macniadh; and he himself came to Teamhair; and had Erinn without contest during nine years while Eoghan was in Spain.
The men of Muha ordered their watches against Eoghan, all the way from Ath Colbha" in the west to Traigh-sean-locha® eastward ; and from Dun-na-m-Barc? in the north to Traigh Reamhar® south-
from Cumar-na-iri-n-Uisge (the Bay atthetime. This tract is preserved
of Waterford) to the Shannon. This is assuming that the left bank of the Shannon extended to the northern point of the Kerry coast, but at the same time it points out distinctly the situation of Dun-na-m-Barc. But this does not decide that the northern Dun- na-m-Bare, which must have been si- tuated about the ancient Jorrus Tuais- ceirt (northern Iorrus, more recently named Gall-Iorrus after the Danes, and Smerwick by the Danes them- selves) was the Dun which took its name from Cesar’s landing there. In- deed the Editor is acquainted with no authority to shew that it was. The only authority that he has met with to point directly to the place is the fol. lowing, taken from an imperfect copy of the Leabhar Gabhala, or Book of Conquests, in the handwriting of the weil known Torga O’Maelchonaire, or Mulconroy, poet and historian to the Earls of Desmond at the beginning of the fifteenth century, and who must have been well acquainted with the historical localities of West Munster
in MS. E. 3. 5. T.C.D., and in giving the account of Cesar’s landing, at page 64, it says:—‘‘Cetpaca la pya n-d]- linn tra, do puaccacart, luct tedpta m-Dapic, doppala do Duy na m-Dapic a y-Jonpur odenrcpe Copco Dujbne”— ‘* Forty days before the Deluge they arrived, the company of three Barques, and came into Dun-na-m-Barc in the Southern Iorrus of Corca Duibhne.” The situation of this Southern Ior- rbus can be discovered from the fol- lowing extract from the account of the landing of the Milesians on the same coast :-—** Anoresy fio memaydo J pama to bay arm If co topcarp dan AIP ian co yepbayle TI aToce aft cid co fucad a Copp jrechuc jan oitpur nercipe Conca Oujbye.” “Then the oar which was in Ir’s hand broke, and he fell backwards, and dicd on the night following, and his body was car- ried to Scelic, to the westward of the Southern Iorrus of Corco Duibhne."— Book of Leinster, fol. 6, p. b. col. b. According to this ancient and un- doubted authority, the present Bay of
’ Ballinaskellig was the ancient South-.
36 Cat Wuyse Léana.
dear, azar a b-pleads azar a b-fuypeada do tabaypz Cuca Zo Capn m-Duyde.
Joméépa Wotsa Nuadsad yonirtean puny real ojle. Raynyc porthe Zo h-Jniy Gneaznasse ar an n-Zabad yy, can ep a b-puaspe dole azar ouacbar, azar do bj 4 5-cdtaontals Badasaojne an o1dce PIN; aap 00 cdpFead & Cneada azar a cpéacta ayce 50 h-ondpac, azar 00 badan naoz n-ojdce ’pan jnnP] 50 n-dea- Cad a Bir 4567 4 mejpcye Sjob. Ar anvriy 00 Fab Gdsan lath fon jmceact o’pazbayl no b-jonry. Up paSan a fad sun tpyallarr a Bdsayy, ap Savdaoyn, dp, muna m-beytea acc aon ojdée "pan your) ro nj beyzes acc aon blyadan 4 b-feazmarr Gineann ap jonnanbad, azar 6 Tao] Hao n-ofdce jnnte bein nao] m-blyaina « b-feagmup Gineann, azar pacap ap eaccpra n-1mee]n Zo h-Gappajn, azar cuppeaopa corde conajpe umad ap Tp, 4567 beapad Zo h-jomlan 50 h-Gippyy apip ca, Zonads an rip do pynne Gosan azar Gavaoyy an looysd.
UN Gavdaojn fFlonyn folc-buyde, TmITIO Suny ol an farppse, a o-torac na h-occmuyse,
pe cd] Na Zaojte Fapse. !
ern Iorrus of Corea Duibhne; and if O’Mulconry’s account be corrcct, Dun na-m-Bare, Cesar’s pretended landing place, wasin it; and thus this long, difficult, and disputed question is set at rest.
4 Traiyh Remhar, i.e., the gross, thick, or fat strand, so called from the headland, or peak, of Beinn Remhar, the Gross Benn, or abrupt pinnacled cliff which overhangs it. See preced- ing note.
® A Path Protection, or Way Safe- guard, was a charm, but of its pre- cise pagan character we can form no opinion. We have, however, among our ancient records some specimens of Way-Safeguards of the Early Irish
Christian times, some in Latin and others in Gaelic. Those in the native language are generally in verse, such as that composed by Colum Cille, when crossing the mountain north- ward, from Tara, after having refused to abide by the monarch Dermot’s de- cision respecting the Cathach, or Book of Battles. This poem was published with an English translation in the Mis- cellany of the Irish Archeological So- ciety. There is another ancient and important poem of this nature in the Editor’s collection, written by an old abbot of Clonmacnoise, on Saint Ciaran’s Latin Safeguard for the vota~ ries of that once celebrated Establish , ment. It isa long composition, be-
3”
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA.
wards: and they ordered their feasts and banquets to be brought to Carn Buidhe.
The history of Mogh Nuadhad is told here for another while. He reached Inis Greagraighe from that great danger after all the evils and . horrors he had experienced, and enjoyed on that night the society of Eadaoin, by whom his scars and wounds were carefully dressed; and they remained during nine nights in the island, until their fatigue and lassitude had departed. Eoghan then proposed to go, and leave the island. “Alas for the length of time you have tarried !” said Eadaoin, “for, if you had remained but one night in this island, you would have been but one year deprived of Erinn, in exile; but as you have been nine nights here, you shall be nine years deprived of Erinn; and you will go on a distant expedition, to Spain, and I will send a Path" Pro- tection along with you, which shall bring you back again safely to Erinn;”
and it was thereupon that Eoghan and Eadaoin made this poem :— O, fair Eadaoin, with the yellow hair, It is time for us to go forth upon the sea, In the beginning of the eighth month, With the favourable rough wind.
ginning ‘‘ Pacep Cojms) Cyaan,” ‘‘The Safety Pater of Ciaran,” and was written during the earlier Danish invasions of Ireland.
The following is a Latin Coimghi, or Path Safe-guard, preserved in an anci- ent vellum manuscript, in Trinity Col- lege, Dublin, Class, B. 3. 17, page 672.
‘¢ Angelus Domini dictavit hoc Gre- gorio Pape pro vice celebrationis hor- arum omnium ;
‘*Gloria tibi Deus Pater, Amen. Gloria tibi Jesu. Gloria tibi Spiritus Sancte, Amen.
** Adoro Deum Patrem qui fecit co- lum et terram. Adoro Deum Filium qui liberavit per crucem. Adoro Deum Spiritum Sanctum qui nos custodit per gratiam. Credo et Pater.”
Cuarpie Comms] 19 1051 Info anuar, 10 If Oya don ainsel. In cy Zebur, yo ma Zebtapt oc dul | cend réta no jh.
TECTA, N] COMpajc FTCoNZAIN THT 50 T] IN MAIZIN cedna.
‘©The encircling Safeguard of the Angel is this above, which God vouch- safed to the Angel. The person who repeats it, or for whom it is repeated, when setting out on aroad, or on a journey,—no opposing injury shall encounter him until he returns to the same place.”
There are other specimens of these charms preserved along with the latter.
A curious instance of a way-pro- pitiatory charm is preserved in the ‘* Battle of Magh Rath,” published by the Irish Archzological Society, page 74, where the Queen of the Saxons says that she had placed a grain of gold ‘‘ under the tip of her son’s shoul- der-blade.” to propitiate his way and his time, when setting out on his ad- ventures.
38 Cat Wuyze Léana.
D4n reap na beatasd azuyyne, 6 Conn 7 6 0 Epyatayb cpnoma, 4 n-Zled na clojce Banpuyse, muna m-beyt Badaoyn 1p « longa. Co’n tupar 4 0-cé]SISye, a n-GBarpayy va [long] preacac, noca n-falcre an Gynery, 50 ceany naoy m-blyadan ry-bpeatac. 30 y-Jomposdjom Zud taytjde, & bean uallac na h-eazcaoyn, cut lyon coymde conajpe, ap an Bacrpsa fo a Gadasaoyy. A. Oala Whosa Nuadsad, jmonpo, do cuypeartaip 4 lonza ape EaiptinZe azar do Zluarr poytne Fo ceann naoy d-cpat 50 pyace cuan an btjonac no b-Garpatne. Wyre ba pysZ apn pancap ya h-Gar- pane an can PID, Zibeap mop mac Wyodna, azar do bj jnSean aluynn & Y-aontuma a15e mun am PT], eadon, Béapa inzean yb, azar apprnjd eolays Zupn bo do ryazb ajlle » h-asmpype FET j. UZar Fs muypnese mot ondpac ojleamayy na h-yZ ne rip Gybyp, spp do bor caoza bean jons banycpacz, azar d0 bjod leatad a 54 bonn don Ceandarmayl £5 4 copalb; azar #4 laramuyl an bayle jona m-bjods, o eappadsasb bneac-vataca a banncpacca. Up app carla arpe pj5 ya b-Gappajne an can ryy, Aft Fad AONTOMA & [HSIN F2]1N3 aZaP do appt Dadpdya opacy do tabajpe Cujze, azar Oo yanpe aype Flor oO FAsayl 43 cya an feap le b-paojdpead a jnzean. Do feadanra ry 50 maj, apt an Dao], o7ft af 6 Garpayn Fen 00 Cuayd cynél an Fp 435 4 tmH-by- AOL, 454P cTloceays fe a yoét don Garpayy, azar epptzZead h-jnszeanra orp 50 rut n-Gybyp, azar do seabayd 7] bpadan ball-coptcpra d'ajZneadozb [Wapal Romain pan pj pobean rin, azar clacc cajzleac 6 eapp jo b-apd-Zoylijoe ap; azar beanad rip] a eaptpad de, [azar déanad prj leyne lararall va céjle Se.] Do cuayds Beapa ay ojdce prin féely 50 pput -21byp AZ4y EUAlpi ay c-e]Zne Sposa ayy map dabaypt ay opaoy prya,
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 39
Not a man of us would have surviyed, After Conn and his weighty warriors, In the battle of the Cloch Barruidhe, Were it not for Eadaoin and her ships.
You shall not see this Erinn, Till the end of nine full years, Because of your voyage, Into Spain of the spreading ships, Until we shall return to thy society, O, high-minded dame, mourn not ; Send with us a Path Protection, Upon this expedition, O Eadaoin !
As regards Mogh Nuadhad, now. He put his ships to sea, and sailed onwards till the end of nine days, when he reached the tem- pestuous shores of Spain. The king of the west of Spain at that time, Ejibhear the Great, the son of Miodhna, had a beautiful unwedded daughter, named Beara; and the learned reckon her as one of the most beautiful of her time. Affectionate, high, and honorable was the rearing which that daughter uf Eibhear had re- ceived; for she was constantly attended by fifty women, her sandals were of exquisitely wrought gold; and her presence always shone with the brilliancy of the many colonred vestments of her attendant maidens. The thoughts of the king of Spain were at this time chiefly centred in his own daughter’s unwedded state; and he ordered Dadrona, the Druid, to be brought to his presence; and requested _ him to procure knowledge for him of the man whom his daughter
should espouse. “I know that right well,” said the Druid; ‘for it was out of Spain itself that the race of the man whose spouse she shall be, went; and he shall arrive this night in Spain; let your daughter go eastwards to the River Eibhear,’ and she will find a crimson-spotted salmon, one of the salmon of the Red Sea in that kingly river, covered with a lustrous coat from his tail to his head, let her strip off his ves- ture, and make it into a brilliant shirt for her husband.” Beara went to the River Eibhear, and found the Golden Salmon, as the Druid
*The River Iberus, now the Ebro, and falls into the Mediterranean in ‘Yyises in the mountains of Asturia, Catalonia.
40 Cat Wuyse Léana.
AZAT 00 bean a claéc copcpa de, azar do pNHe PT] Lene tays- ' leac Se £4 Cimaip Bdsazy. Taynic Sdsan ay ojdce py FEIN go ceas Erbin, azar parleigir conn azar cin pombe, azar map , do Cualass Dadpdna opaoy py adabape po ann. Ad clujnjm fuaym cuzyye le cjp, polad an Faip, probad do njz, an pigre cap Farnnge v-5larr, Zeabayds 4 sneyp Sine pe « arr. Bozan @ ¢éejn, bud mode a buayd, Beypy5 peym, cap Gipyon var, Bann cop an c-plac, or linyb lua, ca bur bean 06 Mos Nuadad nua. An cpasre c-rjor, cpa; Gybyp vay, TUIZIM Sy cas, 5d Clujynym 4 fuaym.
Ap anyryy 0 eyp]F Ay Optaoy 4 y-atajS Gssajn azar do feap pajlce 50 mocajp muyynzjopnda FP, 43547 do pucc ler d jonn- poise nis va bh-Garpajne @ azar 00 buj an pjos 50 fropbraoyl- eac plojipe, azap 00 cujpead @ fey azar o mHhunycyp 4 0-cjZt1b Alperzoa, azar do Eptearolas, azar do gpytedlad so h-ondprac 14d 50 ceann tpj la azar cedpa y-ofdce; azar cuZad 50 h-@y- beap 14d Japp], A5ap 00 FAEPNA]S a O-TOITR adap 4 O-cupiar djob. Do ynip Gosan 06 man 00 h-jonnanbad @ Fen azar o mune 4 h-Gipioy. Up annpyy v0 FyabajZead a5 jos ya h-Garpayne 50 h-ondpac jad, azar cus copnyrpead yantarp ya: b-Garpayjne d0 muynycip Sozajyn, azar 00 ConZajth Bssan jona- focaip Féeqy. WAWzZar do badan aymreap jmcpan ap an Spdasad TID. UZap do bj GoZan 45 puipge pe h-tZ1n on p15 ay fead TID$ 4354p adabpadan muyynneip Gdsayy yac b-pacadan pyar bean bud alle jonas j, azar nace Zeaboaoip man ajtmeala aca & y-ponnapbad « bh-Sipynvn, djamad bean vo’ Bdsan 7. Ap anvryy DO COMMINAD AONAC adap Apid-ojpeaccar oF Gibean, azar cay- Zavap ya h-Garpaynys uzle 00 Cormmopad ay sonass rip, timeyjoll | & YN-A1ponjs 5 aap 00 cdjpZeads macpayS azar 55ba15 ya cpijce’ ujle um Frace Wileapaé mac Sybip; azar cugad a m-bayn- tTpact azar 4 m-banyoala um Beans uaral, plépeapac, ppsean
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 4]
had told her; and she stript him of his crimson coat, and made it into a lustrous shirt, which she kept for Eoghan. Eoghan came that same night to Eibhear’s palace, the waves and the shores having bade him welcome; and when Dadrona, the Druid, heard of it he spoke thus upon the occasion :—
I hear the wave clamour from the shore, The sound is an omen,—the harbinger of a king, This king who comes across the green sea, Shall by his valour take Erinn to himself.
Eoghan is the man, great shall be his triumph, He shall hold sway over noble Erinn, A chief of chiefs is the scion who comes over the waters ; You shall be the wife of Mogh Nuadhad the strong. This strand below is Eibhear’s cold strand, I understand the shore when I hear its sound.
The Druid arose to meet Eoghan and bade him a kind and ‘friendly welcome, and took him with him to visit the king of Spain, who was very glad at his coming, and he and his people were placed in magnificent apartments, and were assiduously and honorably at- tended, and entertained for three days and three nights. They were then again introduced to Eibhear, who questioned them as to the objects of their adventures, and Eoghan related to him how he and his people had been driven out of Erinn. The king of Spain then received them honorably; and he gave the free quarterage of the west of Spain to Eoghan’s people, and retained Eoghan with himself. They continued for a long time in this way, during which Eoghan courted the king’s daughter; and Eoghan’s people said that they had never seen a more beautiful woman, and that they would not regret their banishment from Erinn if she should become Eoghan’s wife. At this time a great fair and assembly was con- vened by Ejibhear, and all the Spaniards came to hold that fair around their noble king. The princes and warriors of the whole country were marshalled around Fraoch Mileasach the son of Eibhear; and their women and female assemblages were arranged around the noble and accomplished Beara, the king’s daughter. All the
42 Cat Wujze Léana.
an 1s. Uap vo badan pluas an sonass az feytjory oezlbe Bszajy, azar a oabpadap yac fpacadan appar neac bud aylle jonas Bssan, no bean bud dSeyre jona Béeana; azar Jun boipcjor 5616 corpaonrisad née apojle. Wr annriy cuzads Oaspdya opraocy d’jonnrojze Gybyp, azar adabaype ep: Sins aZer erenarys o Bosan cpéad 56 Zan m Zona O'jappald map myaoy Azar EISETM4OIDIP 40 Oftao] ppp OBizan. Udeappa pjoc a Adbap ape Bdzan, ojpt vjopt jad ya mare loom m’éana fa thNAo], azar ror do bud eazal loom mear jonnapbtaz vo bese opam ’pan épicre ; nj ojle for, ny tuZar pedo nayo maojye « h-Sipyny Yom, vo béanpuynn 0'@15716 na do ollamnayb: [Z]$e05 ar] jonruyy Yom sean ayn pws, aZap aca mo fal pe caypoear o’fasazl ways ; O54¢ D0] jad 04 n-obad o JNFean 00 Tabaypic Sam. Taynic an dptac] Jo h-Gybean lesp an aytjors ry. Up pneaZns flaca ryy, ol Gybean, azar abaipre le m’pn51n pujde ap Layry Sexe SVdzayn, azar déanad reir leip anocc. Téyo an opacy ler on azcjors T1n 30 Déapa, azar do cuajds Deana Zo h-éarzays pan tuplar TID, 4347 « dibaypc pe na b-jyn {lc dol ap ceany na lésnead do Mond pj oBdzayn. Ted ay Jonle anorin azar cuz an léyve 50 h-Gdsan, azar do Fab upme ap uaccrap a &]dea5 j , 50 payby & tajZlead azar 4 Caltneat ap fread ayn sonass uyle. Jonas de pI) do lean Gigan cajdleac Se. Faoydjd an oar rin ne Géyle an ode Pyy, Azar EA halt pean azar polad 5576. Upe mop Te m-blyadan ap an opdaZad py 0 Gosan, 50 h-aopbiyy “pan Gorpay, 50 puz Deana cpyap do cloyny caojth-dealboa 85, eadon, mac adar oar josean. O7lyll ajnm an myc, azar Ca- oymeall azar Scojtnpam « p-anmanna na y-jnsean, arial 1rbeane ay rile :— béapa jnsean Gybyip all,
macarp OU Oluym,
7a 4 h-nZean bud SéynNe,
Caojmeall azar Szojtnerre.
* O:lill. This was Oilill Oluim, having been bitten off by a fairy lady, ie., Qilill the bare of ear—his ear Aine the daughter of Eogabhail of
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 43
‘hosts of the fair admired Eoghan’s form; and said that they had never seen a man more beautiful than Eoghan, or a woman more charming than Beara; and that they ought to espouse each other. Then Dadrona, the Druid, was summoned before the king, who said to him: “Go and inquire of Eoghan why he has not asked my daughter for his wife ;” and the Druid asked that question of Eoghan. “I will tell you the cause,” said Eoghan, “because I would not deem it honorable or becoming me to be refused a wife; and, besides, I was afraid that I would be esteemed an exile in this country. Moreover, I have neither property nor wealth with me out of Erinn, that I could bestow upon learned men and poets: however, I love the king’s daughter, and [ hope for his friendship, which I could not expect had he re- fused to give me his daughter.” The Druid returned to Ejibhear with that message. ‘That is the answer of a king,” said Eibhear ; “and tell my daughter to sit at Eoghan’s right hand, and that she shall espouse him this night.” The Druid went with the message to Beara, who quickly complied with that order, and desired her hand- maid to bring the shirt which she had made for Eoghan. The hand- maid brought the shirt to Eoghan, who put it on above his armour, aud its brilliancy and radiance were seen all over the fair; and thence he continued to be called Eoghan the Brilliant. The happy pair lay together that night, with the best of signs and omens attending them. Six years nearly did Eoghan spend happily in this manner, in Spain, until Beara bore him three beautiful children, a son and two daughters. Oilillt was the son’s name, and Caoimheall and Scoithniamh were the names of the daughters, as the poet said :—
Beara, the daughter of Great E:ibhear, Was the mother of Oilill Olum; And her two daughters, the purest, Caoimheall and Scoithniamh.
Cnoc Aine (Knockany) in the County from whom descended the Dal-Cassians of Limerick, whom he violated. His had to wife the daughter of the cele- two chief sons, Eoghan Mor andCormac brated Oisin (Ossian), son of Finn, Cas, were respectively the ancestors of son of Cumhall (Finn Mac Cool) the great families of South, and North from which parentage, probably, the Munster, or Thomond. Cormac Cas, Dal-Cassians inherited their bravery.
44 Coat Wuyse Léana.
Wert aca yj, ceana, 00 sab yonroylle azar e;myolcar VSSsan £4 beyt « b-peadmarp Gipeand, azar do Zab Lary Fop an Gar- pay of¢azbayl. Od cualass Sibeap ryy, 00 Zab 035 cotharn- leagad a Clearbna azar apead pio 145: Da mad nj rosluarrre an Spe ryy 4 oeqpydry « Bdsasy, an pé, dob’ upura lone 515 azar Anas ya bh-Garpayye vo cup leacps 54 h-jonnpasse, azar A TEATHAS ABA « Zeappad $4 h-aye, azar protada do tabaypc ujmpe azar « h-joméean 4 leanrasyn an long, azar o pujsyasad apt ullyon na a-Garpajne. Nyon 5ab Gosan Cuysze Fo mat ay c-uppuysyoll rn, azar njon byyn ley &, azar 6 pro aypyZ Sybeap TID spead pro pays: Waread, an pé, beyp mo rhacra, eadon Fpacc Wyleapac lear, azar fice céad do mjleadajb na h-Gar- pajpe map son yyy, 50 d-cabpayo « b’peydm azar o b-fulang leat a 0-aZ4a]5 00 Nathad. Ro tajtin an c-upfuyzyoll py le h-Gosan azar le na h-Gypeannéayb, azar ba majz led « meanma de. o b-ullthujsead cpa, lonza azar Laopdeanza don Laccpayd r1p leat ap leat, azar 00 Bhéapa go na bannepacz, ofp yjop fro Gizan «a pazgbayl ops e1¢ If 1p Garpary. Cjod cpa acz, pro tjonslyjod a rhuynntjop Zo h-Bdsan azar Zo Face Wyleapac. Ap anvryy do epys ayn pluas yaymoeamayl ynearhcapntannac rip dO Cul NO Z-cuan azar ya 5-cala-ponc, 50 haipm a pabadan a N-ANep1ajZ]b azar a lonza qyimteacca fost a Z-ceanyn; AzFap do Cuppleadap amac 4 b-pyaroa uatthapia, jonzantaca, azar a lonza dibs, ouasbrjoca, dat-jomba, azar a pRadade pleanna, rlyr- CeAITS, POCUIPI-Theana ; AZar 4 LaocpSeanza fusyste, ejopsapoa, — ay & leaptayb azar ap « ldgzazb leatna, lan-mjne, azar or h-ajgZleannasb jombojrine, eocasp blajte ya y-ojpeap; azor 6 Cyarpalb cyayy-peySe, cérfFarprjonz4, caojt-Sealbda, cynd- leatna cuan. Uzar pro pujSjsead fon Zac luyyns luat-jmteac- cals Sjob TI, THeata pede, po-Zapoa, do pararp layy-rhine,? paw leabap-cujmpjocs ; azar d0 plonrad jomparm cubays, Cdtpaon- Tabac, Cobras, Cabap-cyus, latrman, leyorpjoe lan-atlam, op- ear-beas, jmteacc-buan, « n-a54ajd prot azar poob-angead ; sup bo h-jomand uajbpead, uall-tyeanmnac, fpeazanta ceannya, tulbopba, tneatan-meadpaca, na o-conn, 435 a5allinad ya razao
THE BATI'LK OF MAGH LEANA. 45
But, one thing now: Eoghan was seized with melancholy and lassi- tude for being absent from Erinn, and he proposed to leave Spain. Eibhear, on hearing of this, began to counsel his son-in-law, and said: “Tf that Erinn of which you speak, O Eoghan, were a thing easily moved, we would deem it easier to send the soldiers and warriors of Spain with you thither to cut it from its foundation, and lay it on wheels and carry it after our ships, and place it at one angle of Spain.” Eoghan did not receive this speech with satisfaction, and it was not sweet to hin; and Eibhear perceiving that, said: “ Well, take my son Fraoch Mileasach, and twenty hundred of the warriors of Spain along with him, who may give you their strength and their sup- port against your enemies.” This speech pleased Eoghan and the men of Erinn and cheered their spirits. There were now ships and Laoidheangs forthwith" prepared for these warriors of both patties, and for Beara and her attendant women; for, Eoghan did not consent to leave her after him in Spain. However, now, their people flocked to Eoghan and to Fraoch Mileasach; then, that vin- dictive, unmerciful, host, went forward to the harbours and ports where their vessels and their sailing ships awaited them; and they launched their terrible wonderful monsters; their black, dangerous, many-coloured ships; their smooth, proper-sided, steady, powerful Scuds; and their cunningly stitched Laoidheongs, from their beds and from their capacious fully smooth places, out of the deep, clear- winding, creeks of the coast; and from the calm, quiet, wide, well- shaped, broad-headed harbours; and there were placed upon every swift-going ship of them, free and accurately arranged tiers of fully- smoothed, long-bladed oars; and they made a harmonious, united, co- operating, thick-framed, springing, eager, ready, unhesitating, constant- going, rowing, against currents and wild tempests ; so that lond, haughty, proud-minded were the responses of the stout, fierce-fronted, sportive- topped billows, in conversing with the Scuds, and beautiful prows. The dark, impetuous, proud, ardent waters, became as white-streaked, fierce-rolling, languid-fatigued Leibhionna’ upon which to cast the
u Laoidheangs being stitched were is found to mean a stage, platform, or probably canoes covered with hides. deck in all ancient Irish manuscripts. VY Lethbhionna.—The word Leibheann |
46 Cat Wujte Léana.
AFar No PElar-tcopac. Dun ba lesbionnya ppeac-seala, pput- bopba, fnjor-cuyppyoca, ya dsobap-linnce dana, djompaca, djosajpe, 45 opabpagzad na m-bpadan rlyyp-seal, rlearpayy-cyus, PHar-djpjoc, & meas na puad-ealcan pdd-djosujnyne, pyan- cabparse [dona puad-byolzadazb.] Azar ap pouabad ayn psjo- bad pin Zo pRot-uplany [6 clracapusb] azar 6 ymlyb cpjoe ; azar 0 ForRadayb pat, azar 6 Cyayy-pneyse calads; co nad b-pacadan nj don Cpuynne Fo coymjomalac ys 5-compozar, ace mad TONHA apioa, uallaca, apnbtjonaca na bh-asbéeipr], azar an cuan Zanb, GAIPEACTAC Aft CHT AFZaf AP coptpujze; azar péjm po tapas, TIO rheapt NA plo Zaojée, aZ ploccajn; azar puybneasa poda, fleacciapa, pesman-jodlannacs 43 [erpse] can Cpyjorlacayb corp- aydble na z-cjreal; azar an muspt bonb-baoglac, banp-ceatac, OF cotaZad o bpijge lé luat-jompanm ya learcan can an lean; Ho o-capila an thuypt Zo coppac, clypoe, cyot-bpaonac, pe b-jorm- bualad conn azar tpéan-saojte. Tapla méad meanman na b-fojpeann b-fdsnamac TIN, ape Z-cpyotnazad ya lonZ lan-lac- than tan an lean, 50 o-capla an Faot Zo dear, azar Fo dj yoe DO NA deaz-feapiajb Jona [yn-deasald]; azar po erptZeadanpan FO feappoa, fopcamal Epp na feadmannasb rn, azar d0 ceanzlaoap ns h-omnads pjgne, po nuada, d0 na puad-bopoayb, pede po Sjosujnije, 50 cabays, Zan laze, Zan lednad, san 154d, Fay pdj-teanned; azar do Zabadan na f¢opye lonna, lan-éargafoe py, lara um na leabap-lionczasb, san doyceall, Fay deapimad, dca Sibyl 50 h-Uccuajm. Azar do cuadan ya lon5e luat-jmteaéraca, leabap-Sjoszutnne, cap Lary-feadman- nab na lace, azar cape fugnoccasb flyuc-Soxye, Fjopn-Fubanaca no FANNIE; azar cap Colbadayb CATA, Copptaca, cjot-bopba, na Z-cuayn; azar cart flepbejb pput-apoa, pjop-mdpe no pal; azer caps Cladojb coma, cupipjoca na d-ctpeatan crony, azar tart Crrealasb combopica, cpac-bpaonaca na 5-calas, azar tap connayb rocla plor-cjagsa, ppeat-bapp-seala na ppotan; azar capt pput-pobancayb fuacoa, epaccyjaca, flyuc-forzadaca na fuap-faippngse. Do o-capla an muyp Zo coppac ya mall-tyas
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 47
white-flanked, slippery-thick, straight-swimming salmon, among the dark-prowling, foamy-tracked herds [of sea monsters] from off the brown oars; and upon that fleet sweeping with sharp rapidity, from the sides and borders of the terrritories, and from the shelter of the lauds; and from the calm quiet of the shores, they could see no- thing of the globe on their border near them, but the high, proud, tempestuous waves of the abyss, and the rough roaring shore, shaking and quivering ; and the very quick, swift, motion of the great wind coming upon them; and long, swelling, gross-springing, great billows, rising over the swelling sides of the [sea] vallies; and the savage, danger- ous, shower-crested sea, maintaining its strength against the rapid course of the vessels over the expanse, until at last it became exhausted, subdued, dripping, and misty, from the conflict of the waves and the fierce winds. The labouring crews derived increased spirits from the bounding of the swift ships over the wide expanse ; and the wind hap- pening to come from the rere, directly fair for the brave men, they arose manfully and vigorously, with their work, and lashed the tough new masts to the brown, smooth, ample, commodious bulwarks, without weakness, without spraining ; without stitching, without overstraining. These ardent, expert, crews, put their hands to the long linens [sails] without shrinking, without mistake, from Eibil™ to Achtuaim ;* and the swift-going, long. capacious, ships passed from the hand-force of the warriors and over the deep, wet, murmuring, pools of the sea; and past the winding, bending, fierce-showery points of the harbours ; and over the high-torrented, ever-great mountains of the brine; and over the heavy listless walls of the great waves; and past the dark, mis- ty-dripping hollows of the shores; and past the saucy thick-flanked, spreading white-crested currents of the streams, and over the spring- tide, contentious, furious, wet, overwhelming torrents of the cold ocean. Until the sea became rocking, like a soft, fragrant, proud-bearing plain, swelling and heaving, to the force of the anger and fury of the cold
winds : the upper elements quickly perceived the anger and fury of the . . ~ Eibtl. The Editor. has never be- breast or front of the sails, it must fore met this word ; but from its being signify the clew. placed in opposition to Acht-uatm [pro- * Uchtuaim, properly Ucht-fhuaim, perly Ucht-fhuaim], which means the the breast or front hem of the sail.
48 Cat Wuyse Léana.
‘ thjod-lan, theap-uallac, a5 ac azar 45 eppde ple fests azar pie fuapnad na fuap-Faojte, 05% foppac. Dup tupzeadapn Fo h-é1Srjot ya h-ajpopeanna feats, azar Fuaraopd ya fasnpse an b-par azar op b-fonbaypc. Wany ary, capla yoip an da teany TI), eadon, mulpt azar mopt-Zao0t, az cortuanzajy a céyle aZ4p 45 codanpnad pe caobasb cpéan-lonz, azar pe cyanpadsayb comdanzne, azar fle pzadadayb poyar-ajdble. Sup bo léyb- Jonna cyot-ajnbzjonaca, Zpuaym-flyuca, Zpuazanaca, 54zbey0¢- MOA, BUAPAccaca ay fFaspptze O14 y-e1p3 aDar Zprforagzad ya Zaoite azalliayse, Fnjorh-Sojlge ape a1Zeb agar ape porn-551 71716 An a15e1) 6 joccap jo h-uaccan; Zup bo cpyotnaszte, lorda, leabapt-pzaojlce, luat-myonaszce, loynz-brypce, buajdpead azar bpat-fnojse ya n-Fa0t azar ya y-Zpedsany-tony ap ya luac-bap- cab; 50 nap £45476 an apnbeyne acaran, clan Zan cpyotnasad, Ns Talpoe Fan cpotlizad, na pean; Zan poj-bpjpeads, ya casppze Fay teanynad, yo bord Zan baoglagads, na leabsa Zan mionasasd, na lyecin3 3an leazad, na cranny Zan cpyotnasads, na plac san rojom, na redl Zan paobad, na lace san lednads, na 5635 Fan eazlasad, na majte Zan mudasads, acc mod lujynne azar luam- Alplieact "ya lacépayse bavapt az zpearoal Bylear azar Zypreat- lajse na h-apo-sacjte. C155 cpa, acc 36 Cayteapoalpn an Fact & Zoql, azar nac b-fuazp a0/b na ondip on brayppse, 0 qHt]s proympe Zo baot, banp-torall 50 h-jonad yornuaccrapac 4 b-anca; AZo bud pajtjoe an muypt da monsap azar da meadaip-Feapan; BZup pZujpresdap ya paob-tonna oa pyabal yd Zo d-cajnic meanma Jona majt]b, uZar ponaspze jonas pluagasb, azar latan Jona laocayb, azar céadZad jonas 5-cuptadsasb. Sup péeoladan pompa Fon Nem T1In Fan cactam Fan Toppimears, Fo panzadayt cuay clutap-mjn Cealza, azar zo calad jnonr] Dpeazpajse. War canic Gavaojyn 4 n-asajd Bisayy aynvryy, azar do fea fazlze FO MIOCAIP mMulyyceapdsa ENT, aZop d0 jonp pZeala Cyngann 56; azar do yNTT 56 50 pabadan mayjte Wurman « yn-aon t15 4 3-Capty m-Bujde. Azar ba byyy le h-Bdsan an c-azalltipad TIp Gadaojye ,azar do beantadast an Laoyd rjopana :—
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 49
sea growing and increasing. Woe, indeed, was it to have stood between
those two powers, the sea and the great wind, when mutually attack-
ing each other, and contending at the sides of strong ships and stout-- built vessels, and beautiful Scuds ; so that the sea was as showery-tem-
pestuous, growling, wet, fierce, loud, clamorous, dangerous, stages after
them, whilst the excitement of the murmuring, dark-deeded wind con-
tinued on the face and on the sluices of the ocean from its bottom to
its sarface. And tremulous, listless, long-disjointing quick-shattering,
ship-breaking was the effect of the disturbance, and treacherous the
shivering of the winds and the rolling billows upon the swift barks; for
the tempest did not leave them a plank unshaken ; nor a hatch unstarted,
nor a rope unsnapped, nor a nail unstrained, nor a bulwark undangered, nor a bed unshattered ; nor a lifting’ uncast down; nor a mast unshiver-
ed ; nor a yard untwisted ; nor a sail untorn ; nor a warrior unhurt; nor a soldier uuterrified ; nor a noble unstunned ; excepting the ardour and
sailorship of the brave men who attended so the attacks and howlings of the fierce wind. However, now, when the wind had exhausted its valour, and had not received reverence nor honor from the sea, it went forward, stupid and crest-fallen, to the uppermost regions of its residence; and the sea was fatigued from its roaring and drunken murmurings ; and the wild billows ceased their motions; so that spirit returned to the nobles, and strength to the hosts, and acttvity to the warriors ; and perception to the champions. And they sailed onwards in that order without delay or accident, until they reached the sheltered smooth harbour of Cealga,* and the shore of the island of Greagraidhe. Then Eadaoin came to meet Eoghan, and bade him a sweet and affectionate welcome; and told him the story of Erinn; that the nobles of Mumhain were in one house at Carn Buidhe at that time; and the conversation of Eadaoin was sweet to Eoghan; and they spoke the following poem :—
¥ Lifting. ‘‘ Lifting, the higher Rolfi, p.94. Upsal. 1664.
part of the stem of a vessel, marked
by the seat of the king or admiral,
whence commands and orders were
given to the rest of the fleet.”—-Vera-
lius nots in Historiam Gothrici et CELTIC SOCIETY, VI.
* The harbour of Cealga. This har- bour is stated in all the other copies, except that of Maguire, to be situated on the south side of the island of Greagraighe,
4
50
Cat Wujgze Leave.
Maye rin 4 Sadaojy uallac, ZA O-c4 ON Cuncan cat-buadac, an marta 4 buad ya m-ban, IT o-joNT] « pabamayp.
A)aiwyS ay fFyEcyoll eaZasp, do h-mbeaptao] a 0-4] p10-leabayd, If MATHS on Oreanan Sry, a 3-clujncj an Tyompan céan-bj np. Ap dapZad pata do pjZ, AN pean 04 O-TANZAIL « O-T]p, AZop meapajd 50 bpad m-biyn, dd ploynn apd-fFlata an Sipynv.
Conajpe azar Wajcysd don thoys, mejc Wosa Lara ip Luysd73, acajo 4 5-Capy m-Buydse m-byl,
an Pjo5p45 uyle y-aon cy3.
Qinis 4 d-cjpt, déana calma, £45416 do longa falia, vo Zeaba 4 y- An 773 ulle, 1051N418 Wurman wdp-sloyye.
® The noble Grianan. The meaning of the word Grianan has been much discussed by modern English scholars, who have written imaginary accounts of Sun and Fire worship among the ancient Irish. The Grianan, i.e. sunny place, was too good to be de- voted to any other purpose than a place of worship of the Sun. Some- times it was the ‘‘Round Tower.” The passage here, however, shews suf- ‘ficiently that it was a place of resort for lovers, where the softening influ- ‘ence of the sun was rendered more
charming by the enchanting strains of the Tympan or Harp. The Editer has ample authority, from authentic sources, to shew that the Grianan was nothing more than a place for enjeying the light and warmth of the sun ia a chamber—a balcony.—-See ‘‘ Bréc- renns Feast,” or a separate edifice. See Cathreim Chongail- Chlairingnigh. This, with a host of other words, will be amply illustrated in the fortheoming Irish Dictionary.
b Timpan. The word Timpan, which is ordinarily understood to mean
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 51
Logh. That is well, O high-minded Eadaoin ! Who ownest the battle-victorious bark, O glory of women, dost thou still survive, In this Island where we were once before ?
Ead. (Yes) ;—the adorned chess-board exists, On which we played on the noble couch: The pleasant Grianan® also remains Where the sweet-stringed Timpan? was heard.
It is a revival of prosperity to a king,— The luck which attended upon your landing And ’till the end of time shall live Two sovereign divisions of Erinn.
Conaire and Macniadh of the plain, The sons of Mogh Lamha and Lughaidh, Are now at the pleasant Carn Buidhe, — - The princes all, in one house.
Go forward and land, behave gallantly, Leave al] your ships deserted ; You shall find in one house all The princes of great, noble Mumbhain.
a Tympan or dram, is generally found - itt Ie MSS. to be used for the word Cruit, a harp. The Harp and Tim- pan were, however, different in ancient times. An old lrish Glossary says that the Timpan was made of the willow or sally trée and bronze. The following passage will shew what an ancient Geelic translator of the Old Testament believed the Timpan to be. ‘“‘ Na fipt Son DATA let dO Whoyre ocur 1m Apdy. Ocur dipfleche ya mbay jm Wuipte .1. Wuype Zen Amypayny .|. yup do Woyre Irie, ocur fj oc fennm Timpain.”
‘‘The men at one side of Moses and around Aaron. And the assembly of the women around Mary [Miriam] the daughter of Amram, i.e., the sister of Moses was she, and she playing a Tim- pan.”—Leabhar Breac, fol. 49, b.b. ‘¢ And Miriam the prophetess, the sis- ter of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand ; and all the women went out af- ter her with timbrels and with dances.” —Exodus, chap. 15, ver. 20. There can be but little doubt that the Tim- pan in our text is intended to méas some description of harp.
52 Cat Wuyse Leana.
Na manb acc 5ab a -Z alla, pj b-fuyl cétparple ap cyallda, vo Zeaba, « flajé lig 50 1-075, Zac yj bur mayt le h-Gadaoyn. A)aye.
Ap maze ay polad a o-canzayp 4 o-cjp 4 Gdzain, ap Gadaoyn, dip af a0] m-blyadya Zur anus a cao] « b-feazmajp Srpeann, AFSp atajo h-earcapayd aB caytead do Cpijce an compad fqn, AZO eps anorp 04 n-jonnpaszeas, azar buaSedptan lompa a b-fopaspesda, azar 4 b-fuspeacpar, Zo nac b-fpagzayo pabad ya PATHTAS pothad. Ap anny do cuss Gosan 4 o-cjp_ a y-opléan Badaolye azar & rhuynyntype ujle map aon pyr; Azar do lé15- eadap 4 b-fopmnada pe feapann ns ETDD-TNNT], 4547 cuz Gav- aojt cojpeac 4 Fléjde d’a FeACalN do na Flatayb. Janriy cuzad Wasap maojtheac, mac pys voespaipe Speany ev azallaym GosFajn agar do nad pip: G5 50 Cany-m-Buyse, 50 b-aypum & b-fuslyo Wuyrnnys, a54r vir $06 Zo d-canzara 4 yn Srpyny don oulpa Zona b-fuyl do’ allrpupacalb am focap. Do pyace Wakan pore 50 Capy m-Buydse, azar do badan majte Wurhan Pole 4 n-A0n 715 Gla ann ry; 4547 vj b-fuarpe pdeln 4 n-Jonado ACLS NO ujpesSyll jad; azar yj TuZadap 04 y-ujS ya o's nape @5 ODaP Papnyc apt air dD JoONHPAatFIo Gosay ume ry. Ro Fear- ZaZead Bogan 50 h-anbgorays leip rip. Racadopa da n-azall- Alm apt Deapzoamya opacy. War vo sZluaip poytne Zo péym- eamarl, 50 panic Capy m-Buyde, man a pabadan an pjospays, Azar 00 bj 4% ejpoeace le mujpy, azar le meadan-compad ya mop-fluays; azar do bj 4% appasd « lejzean o’azallaym na n-uaral rin; azar ny] b-fuayp freazpa bud lon lerp, azar 6 nad fuasp, do labaip Zo feangac fuapapoeac ya. Ro Laban Wajcyad mac Lusbeaé pp @ Z-cjonyn stad yan ry, azap do EAE TAO PZeala Fo ditneapac Se. Azar do yoni an opracy 86 Cogan do teace 4 o-cjp 4 y-Sypyyn, azar Zo y-oabaype pa pay bpajZoe azar eyderpieada do beyt aca ’na upcosparp, 0d Zo D-TjucKad oO jonnrays|o a bpuysyne jona m-beytvir, "na bonb- puatan. UZar a oubpadap-pan Zo mad majt led Gotan sona
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 53
Slay them not, but take their hostages, There is no counsel more wise than this, You shall receive, O prince, honor and reverence, And whatever is pleasing to Eadaoin.
Good are the omens which attend on your landing, O Eoghan, said Eadaoin ; for nine years to this day are you absent from Erinn; and your foes have continued to spend® your country during that time; go now and attack them; and 1 will confound their watches and their attendants, so that they shall not receive warning nor notice of your approach. Then Eoghan went ashore on Eadaoin’s island, and his people all along with him; and they spread themselves over the lands of the fair isle; and Eadaoin brought the first of her banquet to the nobles to taste. Then Maghair Maoimheach, the son of the king of the south of Erinn, was called to speak with Eoghan, who said to him: “Go to Carn Buidhe, where the men of Mumhain are, and tell them that I have come to Erinn on this occasion, and the number of foreigners that accompany me.’ Maghair went forward to Cam Buidhe; and the nobles of Mumhain were all before him in one drinking house there; and he did not find them in a place where he could deliver his message, or converse with them ; and they neither no- ticed or observed him; whereupon he returned to Eoghan. Eoghan became unappeaseably enraged at this. ‘I will go to speak to them,” said Deargdamhsa, the Druid; and he set forward expeditiously till he came to Carn Buidhe where the princes were; and he listened to the hilarity and the mirthful conversation of the great host, and sought to be permitted to speak to the nobles, but he received no satisfactory answers; and therefore he spoke angrily and threateningly to them. Macniadh, son of Lughaidh, spoke to him in some time after, and eagerly asked news of him ; and was told by the Druid that Eoghan had come ashore in Erinn; and that he charged them to have hostages and pledges ready for him, or that he would come in a furious rout to attack the court in which they would be. They answered that they would be glad to get Eoghan and his foreigners into their hands to slaughter
© Have continued to spend. Thatis, of his country and spend them. had continued to draw in the revenues
54
Coté Wuyse Leana.
allinupacasb do fazayl pe ya y-oypleac. Warpead do Seanra qm- Ceace aft an c-e1Zea7, azar ya bjod jysean Chujny Céar-catass 10n bun Z-cujpmeeac apn Cronyn foypze Gosayyn; azar jobenc an
laos.
Labpayd nese ’¢ an capn cajn, & 656 Fil Pp on m-bpuysyn, cabpayds greazyia nac fat Fann, ap Botan cajdleac caojb-peanz.
Adéanpa por & Dheypz Séynn, apt mac Luyzdj0é Zo lay-réqn, An ljon canzadarp ale,
NOCA pojpP1d do pj5TT7e.
Sapayd bean Chonarpe caoyn, jZean Chuyyyn, an cpota caojt, epptzeads uazb na bjod arrorz,
NA deAanHcayt uppipe FonZoyl.
Calms Conaype na p-eac, I Wajcnpas mac Luyzbeac, zor Dajpe na d-th] 5-cat, asap Wayne mac Duyppiteac. Fraoe Wileapac mac & byp1, 113 94 b-Garpajne nd eypyd, este 50 m-br fz 17 50 m-blas,
Aft NAG B-curpleany ryjor plabypad.
LabBnas.
Raye an opaqy, Deanzoampa, v'azallajm Gosajn any rip, ABST NO [OMIT Payee Ys pjosa15 ujle yous Fladyaipe. Ar any- T1V d0 e115 Sisan Zona allipupacasb Fo feangzac, azar do Zluajpeadap pomp ona Z-cipeyb cdpyZte Zo Cann m-Buyse, nd 50 pabadap um an teasc a pabadap ay pjospais rp. Do
nape leyZrjod aon dune da mazc]b amaé d Fup Zyallpad ujyle do.
Botan, azaf 50 o-cuzZpad ujle a larha jona layti, eadon, Co- pare, azar Wayenjad, azar Flann mac Fyacpac pjZ oppejorp
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 55
them. “Well, then,” said the Druid, “I shall go away, and let not the daughter of Oown of the hundred battles be in your ale-house at the coming of Eoghan's anger ;” and the Druid spoke this lay :
Let sothe one speak, in this fair Carn O you warriors who are in the court, Givé an auswet,—the cause is not trifling, To Eoghan the brilliant of noble stature.
I sdy uhto you, O stainless Dearg, ‘Said the son of Laghaidh with good intent, In the numbers that they come hither Fhey shall not go back again.
Satdid, the wife of comely Conaire, The daughter of Conn of the beautiful form, Let her depart from among you, let her not be in the house, That she may not be slaughtered.
Brave is Conaire of the stééds, And Macnaidh the son of Lughaidh, And Daire of the three battles; And Maine the son of Duirtheach.
Fraoch Mileasach the son of Eibhear, The King of Spain, has arisen ; A man of might and renown. A man whom chains do not depress.
The Druid, Deargdamhsa, reached back to speak to Eoghan, then, and repeated in his presence the words of all the princes. Eoghan then ardse, with his foreigners ; and moved forward in well ordered battallions to Carn Buidhe, until they surrounded the house in which thesd princes were ; orfe of whonr was net permitted to go forth until théy Kad all stibmitted to Eoghan; and had placed their hands in his hand, that is, Conaire, Macnaidh, and Flann the son of Fiachra,
56 Cat Wuyse Leana. Wumay. Azar cugpad bpassve azar epdjpieasa o' Bdtan, azar vo bj 4 b-flead azar 4 b-fuypeas ap a opdasad an ofdce TID. Azar do e[pZeadape Fo meanmyac mip-apZeancac ape ya maprac, AZAT do tjondjlpjod a y-oypteaccar um ayn Ajpo-pjs, eadon, um Bdsayn; azar 00 bavap ule 6 ajEjoe Fo pj5 054 pyapagad. Ary annriy do Zoip Cogan Wagan mac nj5 deyreipe Sypeany cuze, azar avabaype pyr: Guys vay 4 Whagaip, ap pe, Zo b-arpm & b-fuyl Fyaca Bajceata mac Cacaorpe mop, azar yoni 65 an d-tTjaccajnne « y-Aipynn don cupt po; azar nnip $6 for Zuptad & Conn céad-éaé do raph a atayp 4 3-cat Whuyze h-Aza. Wer BIO Aca & EOP ajFe FEIN; AZop ap & cuz fontopmac anma aye FeID; Aap cjZeadrjderyn lynne 44 Sjozayle ry ap Chonn don oul ro. Uzar cumniZead a anbgalca Fo coytéjonyn do Chonn, Azer cabpad pocpayde lajean Zo leyp lerp don dulpa. Waar Adabape an laojd :-— A Whasarp &1145 bud dear, Ho cpjoe Layzean ya lace lear, Pays pre Fyaca, foram y-gZle, TAIHIC PUNY mo Pécpaoé. Aon ay t-pocpayoe fil any, Frace Wileapac ya n-zeap-lann, If FICe c&ad Fo -arpime, do fluas adbal na h-Garpayne. Alejo Crusca, Znjor Zan Serr azar Cathay 34n éyrlerr ; AD piZe beangajd 00 Chonn, oa b-Fonnayd caé 4 Corblonn. 4 Fiacha Baiceadha, king of Laigh- in or Leinster.
THAnn,” ‘* the explanation of names.” “Flaca Dajciba mac Catalpt malts
e It was he who gave him the [cause of the] nickname. The following ac- count of the origin of the name Fiacha Baicidha, or Fiacha the lame, is from a tract preserved in several of our old manuscripts, entitled “%n Coin an-
Cyd dJA Hedebpads nj h-anorom. Da tanla cat Mhuysy h-Asa ecipt Chacam THAT. ocur Chony mac Fedld Recr- MATL. Do compass Flaca mac Catan ocur Ol BabBna do Cuatab Terppae IF MCAT. Bonar Ojlyll Fraca, sun tere
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 57
the king of East Mumhain. . They gave hostages and pledges to Eoghan ; and their feast and banquet were at his command that night. On the next morning they arose with high spirits and mind, and collected their assembly around Eoghan the chief king, to whom all, from vassal to king, did homage. Then Eoghan called unto him Maghar, the son of the king of the South of Erinn, and said to him: “Go from me, O Maghar, to Fiacha Baiceadha,‘ the son of Cathaoir Mor, and tell him of our coming into Erinn en’ this occasion ; and further tell him that it was Conn of the hundred battles that slew his father in the battle of Magh Agha; which, however, he well knows, and it was he that gave himself the nickname®; and let him come with us to avenge all that upon Conn, and let him remember all his enmities towards Conn; and let him: bring all the forces of Laighin with him on this occasion.” And he spoke ‘this lay : ; O Maghar, go thou to the south,
To the country of Laighin where heroes dwell,
Say unto Fiachaidh of the noble marches,
That I and my forces have come here.
Great is the force that is here, Fraoch Mileasach of the sharp lances, And twenty hundreds to be counted, Of the powerful hosts of Spain.
They shall destroy Cruachainf—no prohibited deed, And Eamhain® without neglect, The sovereignty they shall wrest from Conn, When all shall see their valour. —
Oilill
lujteé 4 ColfT, co mH-baj bacac de. Conjd de pio baj Fyaca Dayciba farf.” H. 3. 18. p. 568. Library T.C.D.
‘¢ Fiacha Baicidha the son of Catha- eir Mor, why socalled? It is not dif- ficult for me to tell. When the battle of Magh Agha [A.D. 122] took place between Cathaeir Mor and Conn son of Fedhlimidh Rechtmhar; Fiacha, son of Cathaeir, and Oilill of Gabhra
[near Tara] met in the battle. wounded Fiacha, and severed the sinew of his leg, so that he continued lame, and from that circumstance he was called Fiacha Baicidha Lor, the lame. ]”
f Cruachain. The name of the hill on which the royal palace of Con- nacht stood.
© Kamhain, latinized Emania by mo- dern Irish writers, was the name of
58 Cat Wuyse Ldana. Tuycp18 Conall lony o& Lamm,
veas-thac AUonsura jomlayn,
Map do poynir Zyjor cps Zayl,
Jonir 50 Flop 4 Whasaip. 2%).
Do Jluair Wagan poyhe wp oy cveaécaypeace pry spar, azar do Zoip Bogan Deangaarmra opaoj da ponnpasgis, azar obabaype wp: S113 wsim Zo Bnesral mac Bryayy azar Jo h-Gocad Coba, 54 nig Ulas, agar qonip 556 supab 6 Fesd- lym15 Reaccrnap do mand « h-ajepie, azar Zupab & Goon requ bo cup F Baop-djor DGp-FOsNaee 10d ; azar do PZan Teararys CONS TUNFZST PMA; azar cejdyo ap ya l-adbapnasb yyy do Cong naty lyyne 4 y-atazd Chuny. Rayyyc an opacy pophe pep 40 ceactajpeact r1n od azallaym Ulads. Do condlavap # thaynycyys ujle 50 b-Gdzayn any rip, Zo pajbe nacy Z-cata 4 ty-40n bajle. Azar do tyoyndilpjoo larsyy go leqp, [asap canzadan so b-aE Leatay ror Beapba.] Uap canzadap Ulleayb wyle 50 Fyony- éapyn pa fopajpte ap Slyab Fuayd, ov’ atéeun, adap s jonnanbad
the ancient palace of the kings of Uladh, or Ulster, situated abotit two miles to the east of Ard Maeha, or Armagh.—See Leabhar na g-Ceart, p. 22, note *.
h Conall the farious, i.e., Coriall, son of Aenghus Feirt, king of Connacht.
i Wrested Temhair, Yc. from them. This must be a mistake, since it was from the Leinster-men Conn wrested Tombair, by the fall of Cathacir Mor in the battle of Magh Agha.
k Ath Leathan on the Bearrbha, i.e., Broadford on the river Barrow.
1 Fionn-charn na foraire, i.e., the white carn of watcliing, on Shabh Feaid. Stiabh Fuaid, ic. Fuad’s mountain, a mountain near Newtown Hamileén in thé County of Armagh. See Annals of the Fouw Masters p. 26, note *.
The following passage froin the Coytt Atnatn, see page 56, note °, will shew the use of this white heap of stones: Cormme Connloningess was the distin- guished son of the celebrated king of Ulster, Conor Mac Nessa, who died in & fit of anger on the day of the cruci- fixion of our Saviour, on learning from his Druid that the Son of God was unjustly put to death by the Jews.
“*Hypad 49 canfign vo nat He Copmac’ Conqtoynszear .1. Prancaped oa portarped Att Sab Fuad. ty 45 49 Canny 11% ba 1145 & & commed a Comsid FEIT Tr-dvo BIT Na ceTefle Cojs]d ejle & comcodsd CORAIO Eny Concobsan ocur FTA copsyo Ulas. Ocur bac nj4b A COIs CO[Zed TH cj Copimac Connlojyzear 45 an Cann ucat. If ve ba Nad 1 Capon Cope mac,”
. “The reason why Cormac Conn-
THE BAITLE OF MAGH LEANA. 59 Conall® the furious shall fall by his arm,
The noble son of accomplished Aonghas ;
As you have performed deeds of valour,
Tell this m truth, O Maghar.”
Maghar went forth with that message; and Eeghan called Dearg- dambsa. the Druid unto. him, and said to him: “ Go from me to Breasal, the son of Briun, and to Eochaidh Cobha, the two kings of Uladh, and tell them that. Feidhlimidh Reachtmhar slew their fathers, and that it was Conn himself that placed them under slavish tribute and hard service ; and that he wrested Teamhair and its appurtenances from them ;! and, for these reasons let them come to assist us against Conn.” The Druid went with that message to address the men of Uladh. All Eoghan’s own people gathered round him then, until nine battalions assembled there around him. The men of Laighin assembled and marched to Ath Leathan* upon the Bearbha [Bartow]. And the men of Uladh all marched to Fienk-charn-na-foraire,' on Sliath Fuaid, to depose and
lenges was called thea Champion of the Carn, that is, the White Carn of watching on Sliabh Fuaid [was this.) At that Carn he was a champion guasding his own province. the other four provinces were leagued in war against Conor and the province. of Ulster. And he, Cormac Conn- loingeas, was the Champior of the five provinces at this Carn. Hence Cor- mac was the Champion of the Carn.” H. 3. 18, p. 594. MS. T.C.D.
The following passage from the Tain BoCuailgne,also, although not noticing the Carn, alludes to its existence and use: in giving an account of Cuchul- anus’ deeds on the day upon which he firet received the arms of a knight at Emania, after which he proceeded to the border of the ancient Uladh or Ulster at the Boyne near Drogheda :—
“4 Aebenc Cuculainy Fit 1 afta,
Because -
WyoaiZ bpoc fon Fy Necpap cps ol Fé. Ced let on, ol jn catia. Céy1 Ad JHdAaTTH 10 trse, on Cuculaynn. Tecaye sypuvye co flab fuayc. Fottpeccac Conall Cefn NAC ANd. Do Conall, ona, do pala tm veZayl jt) Cojcyd Allaryy, Foble yo bys caé tatszajle bo Ulcajb « laa hr rlet FUATE FR] TPHAdud NeIC do CifTad co Nalpcecul no do Compoc Fy fet, comp bad AndTin condTrca Fur, an nA tejred nec docum nCmya cen piatugud.” —Leabhar na h-Uidhre, fol. 78, a. b. ‘** Cuchulainn said to the charioteer : put pressure on the horses now. In what direction? said the charioteer. As far forward [from Emania] as the road reaches, said-:Cuchulainn. They came then to Sliabh Fuait, where they met Conall. Cernach. It was to Conall, now, it happened to pro- tect the province (of Uladh} that day; for one of the champions of Uladh used to take his day in turn
60 Cat Wuyte Leana.
Chuny. Cod cpa, acc d’jompoydrjod Fp Sypeann ayle apy Zlonmo ’cajo Connaccaly nama. Do bh-ynvreads vo Chony an ComeIpFe TI) 4Bsp do FaZalb Teamayp cona cunpHap; azar caynjc Conall agar Connaccass tna Cémbazl; azar caynie Soll mac Wonya cona Frayyayb oa ponnpayzy. Asap vo h-tyypead do Whos Nuadad Conn v’Fazbayl na Tearpac Zona cuppzup, aay Zona tuatalb apt ceyeead pé cad. Ap Ffon try ape Wos Nuadat, yonad bunayd pis Sipeann Teamap, azar 6 v0 lean- fan mip spt Fpaplacd 54 65jZe05 Wurhan, leangaora ejrjon 4 5-cd1Zea5 Chonnacr d0’n cuppa. Azar do gluajpeadan pdmpa Zan fFuypeac 50 Was 04 Sor 4 y-deypReapt dealbna; azar cuz- pac caob pé Laysnib 4 &-coszead féyy O14 Y-e17; AZar canzZadape pomps ap ya mhapac so Sean at mon, EMIT 4 pajSrean WE Luan [anjod] azar do badan an ofdCe PIN 4 y-ojpitean an ata, AZAp 00 pypaccadap apt ys Mapae 50 Duyb azar cap opoybéal, azar do Zabrad lonzponc 43 Loc Bé an ojdce pry. Azar cay- ZAdAT Apt NA mApad 4 o-Técap Caopac Weydbe, azar a Wag y-Aoy Ic Allgubs ay opuad. WAzar vob’ ayl le h-Gdsayy Jay ANAS anyriy acc Cruaca do épteacad, azar Was n-Woy o’ap- HAY; Nd 50 0-cus Conajpe azar Waycyjad jomporoad fap, ope APlac acéuynz]5, d0 conzbayl 4 5-cleathnara azar 4 5-captaopad do Chonn, nd Fo F-cujpeasd ceactajpeacc um Ceapic azar um Cotpoyyn cpijce Cuyze. Do fFrappais Sisayn cpéad any Compoynn.
upon Sliabh Fuait, to protect any little doubt that the White Watch
one who came with a poem, or to fight with a man; so that it was there he would meet them, in order that none should go to Emania without being perceived, &c.”
Other copies of the Tain call this place at na fopame, the ford of watchings, and add that the champion who kept watch was bound to give combat to any hostile parties who approached Emania, and there can be
Carn was on the hill of old.
m Magh da Dhos. The plain of the two bushes or trees.
™ Dealbhna. Now the barony of Delvin in the County of Westmeath.
° Ath Luain, i.e., the ford of the Luan, or Loin, now Athlone on the River Shannon. The name of this ford was changed from Ath Mor, or great ford, to Ath Luain, after the Tain Bo Cuailgne, probably about one
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 6l
banish Conn. In the mean time, all the men of Erinn revolted against him, excepting the men of Connacht, and Conn being informed of this revolt, abandoned Teamhair and its appurtenances ; and Conall and the men of Connacht came and joined him, and Goll, the son of Morna, with his Fianns came also to him. Mogh Nuadhad was informed of Conn having left Teamhair, and its appurtenances, and its tribes, flying from the revolters ; “ That is true,” said Mogh Nuadhad, “ Teamhair is the original seat of the kings of Erinn; and as he (once) followed me across the two provinces of Mumhain, I shall now follow him into the province of Connacht.” They then set forward without delay to Magh- da-dhos™ in the south of Dealbhna;" and having confided their own pro- vince, in their absence, to the keeping of the men of Laighin, they marched forward on the next day, to old Ath-Mor [the great ford] which is called Ath Luain® at this day, on the East side of which ford they halted that night. On the next day they reached the Dubh,” and passed over the Droibheal?; and they pitched their camp at Loch Bot that night; and came on the next day to Tochar-Caorach-Mhebhe® and into Magh Aoit mhic Allghubha an Druadh [Aoi the son of Allghubha the Druid’s plain]; and Eoghan was desirous not to remain there, but to plunder Cruachain, and ravage Magh Aoi, until Conaire and Mac- niadh detained him by their persuasions, in maintenance of their own alliance and relationship with Conn, until he had first sent him (Conn) a message, with terms of adjustment and an even division of territory.
hundred and fifty years previous to the Battle of Magh Lena. The Donn Cuailionn, or brown bull of Cuailgne in Louth, for the possession of which Meave, Queen of Connacht, made war on Ulster, and which, after a contest
of ten years, she succeeded in carry- - ing off to her own country, had no .-:
sooner arrived there than he made bat- tle with the Finn-bheannach, or white-
horned bull of Connacht, which he.
overthrew, and taking him on his horns, ran off towards this ford, shat- tering and shivering him to pieces. Wherever any part of the Finn-bhean-
nach felJ, the place took the name of that part of the beast; and his luan or loin having dropped at Ath-Mor, the ford thence was called Ath Luain, or the ford of the loin.
P Dubh. The black river.
@ Droibheal. The difficult pass.
* Loch Bo. The Cows’ Lake.
® Tochar-Carrach-mhebhe. The Causeway -of (queen) Meave’s sheep.
* Magh Aot. So named from Aoi the son of Allghuba the Druid. The palace of Cruachain was situated in this plain. See ZLeabhar na g-Ceart, page 104, note '.
G2 Cat Wuyze Léana.
Ny mayt cat Zan [Corpayd] o arpopis, bap yaoran, azar carpz- teat leat Sipneany uaycr] don Cuppa 00 Chonn azar leyzead ad lartbp an leat po Zabarp cpé jomeornam, o' Sippy. Do Zojpt- ead, japan, Deapnzoampa opaoj] 50 b-Cosan, azar adiibpad tp dul do CaypnZr{y Hs corpponna ry 00 Chony. WZar do Zab- adapt 43 jor azallaym atajS annrin eacopipa foyy. Jomtura Chuypn. Do chuayd fo azar Conall azar Doll mac Wore, Fons laoécayb, 50 lésp-tjondylze ay la rin ap bnuac Tobarp TullpHe, azar fuapadape FOP NA focpaldse Tin, Azar 00 cony- cAdATt NA B-conaydse ap Cyocayb uatayb yao. Uap fuapadan LOT 4 Y-AIPO]TL AZar 4 y-1mMTeacta, azar 4 F-comajple, 6 Cho- narpe azar 6 Whajcnad; Sip canZadap ceacca uate Fo h-aypm & pajbe Conn azar Conall, azar d0 jnnreadap pReala ay c-pldzs ZO O[yINHeEAsAc 0676, eadon, nac seabosaosp Zan leat Sipean o' Fazal 6 Chon, nd cat capa ceany. Ba Zeynm adbal ajze- ance pe h-uaplb muynycjpe Chuynn rin, azar 6 do cuala Conn Fey 4n COMMAS FI DO Chom a Ceany azap do CozayHN cpann 4 épaoipoe 6 4 bh-uplayn 50 4 h-jonnpma, jonnar Zup, ab & 4 cpd Cpwa]d, yeympeac, d0 Zabarrasp pre a Feal-Séava]b; azar do 61115 30 b-obann annriyn, azar 00 Guayd foqy azar Conall azar Soll azar Beazan do mayzé]b « mujnnzpe, an foo £6 leyt o Z-caoppnjor corpaple ; azar do bj az pasa pya epearoal é151n vo tabarpc ap Bdszan Zo ya allsupcayb, nd Fo pacad Sipe wstasb Zan arpa don dul ory, azar FO mad ajepijosa ule yap; O]ft d0 Jonntujseadoan Ulleasz ule, azar Layne 30 lerp-cyon- dlce foro. Do Labaip Conall Cpusdna an can py azar apead adabapc : Do Séanmaojone ume PIN artyatl O06 Znjomaod pe Zac docarpal ojle, eason, & y-djocup 4 5-ceane cata azar Céri- lujnn. War do poypad ay lLaoid :-— e
Cémaiple Sainy «4 Chonayll, TUZAS Apid-theala opasyn, pz Cogan mép-feangs, flaje fal, leat Sipeann ap apn y-uplazrip.
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 63
Eoghan enquired what the divisien should be. Battle without an offer of terms is not good, Q chief king, said they, and let the half of Erinn be offered by you on this occasion to Conn, and let him leave to you the half of Erinn which you have acquired by con- quest. Deargdamhsa, the Druid, was then summoned before Eoghan, and told to go and propose that division to Conn; and then they con- tinued to converse among themselves, To return to Conn: himself and Conall, and Goll, the sen of Morna, and his warriors, marched in full muster that day to the brink of Tobar Tuillsge" and they received an ac- count of those forces, and saw them occupying the hills at some distance from them, and they obtained a knowledge of their march, their history, and their objects from Conaire and Macniadh, fer secret messengers came from them to Conn and te Conall, who quickly informed them of the intentions of the army, not to take leas than the half of Erinn from Conn, or battle for it. This was an awful stunning to the minds of the nobles of Conn’s people; and Coun himself, on hearing the intelli- gence, bowed his head, and gnawed the tree of his spear from its heel to its mounting, and until his white teeth were checked by its hard venomed socket. He arose suddenly, then, and went with Conall and Goll, and a faw of the noblés of his people, to a separate spot, into gjoge cenncil; and he pressed them to give some opposition to Eoghan and hia fersigners, or that Erinn would, without doubt, pass away from them on that oceasion; and that they should all be deposed kings, for shat all the men of Uladh, and the men of Laighin, fully congregated, had turned upon them. Conall of Cruachain then spoke, and said: We shall act in this difficulty in the same wanner ag we do in every gther difficulty, namely, drive them ont by the right of battle and oon- hat; and they made this lay :
- Cann. O Conall, give us thy counsel, | _ A great disaster has been brought upon us, Eoghan, the slender-firigered king of Fail,” has taken — ‘Fhe half of Erinn out of our hands. |
= Feher Tuillsce, the nqgme ofa well nals of the Pour Masters, p. 793, note ip the village of Tulsk in the harqny ™. and coynty of Roscommon.—See An- v Fal. Erinn.
64 Cat Wujse Léana.
Depa av yj 00 Sp] pre cde, conzab do ¢Zjat apt D0 75at, cabasp, 4 tap, Hac ciyp Laz, cat apt m0]s 00 Whos Nuadav.
Ron cpéyZrjoo Ulayd na y-eac, if Lajsn na luat-cneac, Zonac b-fuylmjo pe £4t y-Zluynn, act mip] ip ca «& Chonurll.
J v-angam pe cjonsl ceann, & Whic MWoipynsa ya mip-leann, 50 b-fjonnayd cacé bap y-adble, Fionnam cpéad vo Cérpaytile. Cértnayptle.
Azar ap] corayple ap apn b-ands aca an can ry, eadon, Was - y-2o] do’ pazbal azar do’ folthasad Fo bh-aclary upunipy]3, azar a m-banytpacca azar 4 m-bs-cajnce do Cup o y-dpobéalayb, azar & n-ojtpeabayb ualgzneaca 54 p-djSean, azar 44 y-jomCoymead ; azar sluapacc 5516 Fe1n 50 FoIPo[Nead fFeydm-lazoip, an beagsan pluays po badan, Layty pe mop-fluas Whoza Nuadav. Azar do Sluajpeadapt pompa Fo yearhcasnnteac layriy) pe mop-fluazy Who- ZA Nuadad Zo panzadayt 50 coll Ganb-puyp azar 00 Sabadap lonzporic any. War pio ba ceapaccac Cony apn a sbyticjondl AN TAN d0 Connajpic 43 Zabajl longpuypnt jad, azar plo aytyon oa Feadyacasb tyye Faca dere, Nd Zaca ctpyajp, do Séanariy apt pud na ¢jodbayse [ ap 50 mad apdbriSe pé a y-earcaspd;b jad, 4 b-pajcrn Ap an Spoasad ry. Uzar cuzZad uprhdp 4 y-appapse um Ay cine 454 pajbe Conn f£é1n; azar adabaype Conn ann pin: Cyonyasr acd an Coyll uayb anor a 650, ap pe. Aca pj ya doysip DONY-]11Ad, deanzs-lappac uyle, ap paorory. Leanpayd ay c-ayom TID 01 FO bpst ap Sptacy Chuyny, eadon, Coll puad. Ap ann- TID cAn}c Deapzoarpa dptaoy O'yonnra]5}S Charny pp ya cori- tajb po papopeamalp pdpainyn, eadon, pe let Speany do LaIPZTI1N 00 Corpazs 86. ° Niop Labayp Cony aon focal na adayd ; azar aoabaspic Conall pip preazpa d0 tabaine ap ollam Gosayn.
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LBANA. 65
Conal. Do thou as thou dost to others, Keep thy shield upon thy shade, O mighty pillar give A battle upon the plain to Mogh Nuadhad.
Conn. The men of Uladh of the steeds have abandoned us, And the men of Laighin of rapid plunders, So that there are now for the just cause, But myself and you, O Conall.
Shall we wait for a powerful gathering, O son of Morna of the rich cloaks ? Until the foe shall see your greatness, I ask what is your counsel ?
The counsel upon which they decided at that time was, to abandon and evacuate Magh Aoi quickly and courageously ; and to send their women and their herds into their difficult passes, and lonely deserts, for their protection and safety, and to go forth themselves, compactly and stoutly, in the small number that they were, in a line close to the great host of Mogh Nuadhad. And they moved on silently, close to Mogh Nuadhad’s great army, till they reached Coill Garbhruis [ Rough Wood] ; and they pitched their encampment there; and Conn grumbled at the smallness of his muster when he saw them taking up their encampment; and commanded his divisions to make a fire for every two or three of them throughout the wood, [that” they might appear the more formidable to their enemies, to see them in that order. And the greater number of their chiefs were brought to the fire at which Conn himself was, who said: How does the wood ap- pear to.you now, my men? It is all one brown sheet of red flame, said they. That name of Coill Ruadh [Brown Wood] shall cling to it for ever, said Conn’s Druid. It was then that Deargdamhsa, the Druid, came to Conn with the proposals which we have already mentioned, to offer him the half of Erinn as terms. Conn spoke not a word against him; but Conall requested him to give Eoghan’s chief
~ There are four leaves torn outof from No. 220, p. 155. the original here, but they are supplied CELTIC SOCIETY, VI. 5
‘
66 Cat Wuyse Léana.
Tuz Conn « luée céthajple da azallajty ume, eabon, Conall azar Doll, azar rip na Cruséna, agar majl Wuysze b-Woy, azar mate Wide, azar bndsadasb Breasa, azar Ett Wee, azar Ooba, a5or Fit Chnddba, azar rp Cheapna, azar rin Sabpayy, azar Fit Chleyxys agar rin Cazllejon, gin Anas, Fyn Freathann, rip Whalonn, tip Beatpa, ¢yp Teabsta, Zip. Toncan, laoye Luym- p13, Clanns Témojp, azar typ Chomaip 1m Theampass. UWyar po badapt atajd 1mCan 4 B-copnye corparple um na cortayb yn, AZAp 00 fanadap apt leyz Sipeany vo lejZeayn uata d0 Gdsan a n-v6car & allrhupaszs 0a fagbayl, azar Jo n-erpedssojp $5 ja SeaZayd py, map do Fuyspepoir 4 allrpupass & WZar po cbrpasp- Yeas aco anny cjonnar do pornnejse Sipe. Do feadanra a
x Odhbha. The identity of this place is not clearly ascertained. It was the hill of sepulture of Odhbha, the wife of Eremon the Milesian Chief, and was situated near Navan in Meath. See Annals of the Four Masters, page 30, note ®; and p. 544, note =.
¥ Cnodhbha, now Knowth, near Slane in the County of Meath, where there is an ancient sepulchral mound of large dimensions.
* Cearna. Cearna was the name of a hill in the County of Meath, and, according to the Dinnseanchus, was a place of noble sepulture both in Pagan and Christian times. It lay in a, straight line between Slane in Meath, and Lusk in the County of Dublin. The name is now, probably, preserved in the townlands of Carnes East and West, parish of Duleek, barony of Upper Duleek, County of Meath.
® Gabhra. This was the scene of the celebrated Battle of Gabhra, in which Oscar, the son of Oisin and grandson of Finn Mac Cumhal, the Fingal of
Mac Pherson, was slain. It was situ- ated near the hill of Skreen, and Tara in the County of Meath. See Annals of the Four Masters, page 120, note ».
> Cleiteach. This was the name of one of the royal palaces of the kings of Tara, and was situated on the north side of the river Boyne, near the bridge of Slane, and in the immediate vicinity of Brugh-na-Boinne, on an eminence called Ucht Cleitegh, or the eminence of Cleitech. It was here Cormac mac Art died. It is said in the Dinnseanchus to have derived ite name from Cleiteach, a Tuath de Da- naan Druid, who built the first house there and was buried in the eminence. See Death of Muirchertach Mac Earca, monarch of Ireland. H. 2. 16. T.C.D.
© Tailltin,now Teltown in the county of Meath. It was an ancient artificial hill raised over an ancient queen of the Firbolgs whose name was Taillte. See Annals of the Four Masters, p. 22, note °.
4 Aradh. This should be, the men
67
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA.
poet an answer. Conn summoned his counsellors about him to speak to him, namely, Conall, and Goll, and the men of Cruachain, and the heroes of Magh Aoi, and the nobles of Midhe, and the Farmers of Breagh, and the men of Aithe (or Aiche) and the men of Odhbha,* and the men of Cnodhbha,’ and the men of Cearna,® and the men of Gabhra,* and the men of Cleiteach,® and the men of Tailltin,® and the men of Aradh,‘ and the men of Freamhairin,® and the men of Malainn,* the men of Beathra,* the men of Teabhtha, [Teffia] the men of Tortan," the champions of Luibneach,i the Clanna Tomairj, and the men of the Comar of Teamhair* [or Tara]. And they were a very long time in the special council upon these terms ; and they decided on letting the half of Erinn pass from them to Eoghan, in the hope that his foreigners would leave him, and that they would then rise against him. Both parties then
of Ard, that is, of Ard-Ciannachta, from which the barony of Ferard in the present County of Louth is named. This district, at a period three genera- tions after the battle of Magh Leana, received the name of Ard Ciannachta from some of the descendants of Cian, the son of Oilioll Olium having settled there after the battle of Crionna.
© Freamhainn, now Fremin, a lofty hill over the western shore of Loch Uair (Lough Owel) in the county of Westmeath. It was anciently a royal residence of the kings of Tara. Annals of the Four Masters, page 89, note .
t Malann, genitive of maladh, the brow of a hill or cliff. Not known.
® Bethra. The ancient name of a territory in Westmeath, now known as YDelvin, and so called from Lughaidh Delbaeth, a famous druid of the Dalcassian race, who settled there, and who was the ancestor of the Mac Coghlan’s of Dublin. See Annals of the Four Masters, p. 486, note =,
h Tortan.—Magh Tortan and Uibh Tertain were the names of an an- cient territory and tribe in Meath, near Adbraccan. The Bile Tortan, or ancient Tree of Tortan, stood in this plain, and was blown down in the reign of the sons of Aedh Slaine, about the middle of the seventh century. This tree was one of the three won- derful trees of Erinn, and had stood from the time of the Milesian conquest, more than a thousand years.—Leabhar na g-Ceart, p. 151, note>; and Dinn- seanchus.
i Luibneach, The situation of this place is not known. See Leabhar na g-Ceart, p. 10, note %.
J Clanna Tomair. These would be Danes, but we have no account of their settlement in Meath so early as this. See Leabhar na g-Ceart, Introduction, p 37.
k Comar of Teamhair. That is, the meeting of the waters at Tara. This must have been the meeting of the Blackwater and the Boyne to the north
68 Cat Wuyze Léana.
Poynn Cd ap Conall, eadon 6 Ach Clrac Weadspayse Zo h-We Clyst Dujb-Lynne. [A v’sonzays, Bosan mop ryy.] Azar po Badan 43 ceanzal no cémponna an oydce fin eatopnpa; azar 00 bj eazla anbayl ap na catasb rn poztbe 4 Céqjle an o5Ee 1H leip. Cona slap an jomoman apm na h-abann byZe do Bf eacopipto. Wrap do eypseanan let ap lee Fo moe ap ya mapiac, AZ4P d0 ceanzlaoap 4 3-compolnn azar 4 Z-cdthorads Zo céjm- teann. [Azar po cdzpao clad cdmponna dybljonalb on At Clat so céjle, azar Gian Ryada « aynm.] Agar map do pane led 4 5-cata do Cbpisad, D0 Jormpold Bszan Fo na fluag A54Pr 50 nA Allupays cum ya Wuran. Azar cuzad Fyony mac Curiayll 50 h-Gozan azar @ «4 J-ceann 4 naoz m-blyadan, Sit 1p 4 m-blyadasy jonnapbda Gosazn 00 puzad. Fyonn, aripayl
adbenz an rile :—
of Tara.
1 Ath Cliath Mearaidhe. That is, the ford of hurdles of Meadhraidhe, now Clarin Bridge, County of Galway. Annals of the Four Masters, p. 2009, note ”.
™ This passage is from No. 126, p. 245. R.LA.
» Eisgir Riada. This is a continu- ous line of gravel hills, extending from Dublin to Clarin brdge in the county of Galway. See Annals of the Four Masters, page 104, note *.
The word Eisgir, or Eiscir, is not properly explained in any of our Irish Lexicons: The Rev. Doctor O’Brien has ‘* Eisgir and Eiscir, a ridge of high mountains.” Edward O'Reilly has ‘s Eiscir, a ridge of mountains.” ‘The following extracts will shew that the ex- planations given above are inaccurate, and that the word Eiscir meant either a natural or supernatural elevation of
land of moderate elevation, either as a bar or ford in a river, or as a causeway over bogs, swamps, &c., and it is in the latter sense it is to be taken in our text.
“Lujo Patpajc jApum hy crych Con- DACT, FOP. PHAM 04 &y, TAN THAD. Ocur If 40 fo Fuan Pacptajc In Fenta;r J. conucbad Jn calam ruse fo Parpiayc If 1nd ac. Ocur fazabayo Jnd eolays beor Ino Crew TIN; 71 90 chojd Ir pore Fo chevoip.”— Tripartite Life of St. Pa- trick.
‘‘ Patrick went then into the country of Connacht, over Snamh da En across the Shannon. It was there Patrick discovered the bar, viz. the land was elevated up under Patrick in the ford. And the guides still find that Escir ; and Patrick reached the bank imme- diately.” —
The following is from a very ancient etymological and explanatory Glossary in the Library of Trinity College,
69
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA.
held a council as to how Erinn should be divided. I know its pro- per division, said Conall, namely, from Ath Cliath Meadhraidhe! to Ath Cliath Duibhlinne [Dublin]. Eoghan Mor consented to this ; and they spent the night confirming that division between them ; and those battalions were dreadfully afraid of each other that night ; so that Glaise an Iomomhan is the name of the little river which lay between them. In the morning they arose and ratified their mutual division and their mutual peace firmly. [And they™ raised a mound of division on either side, from one Ath Cliath to the other, and Eisgir Riada® is its name]. And when they had ordered their battalions Eoghan returned with his forces and his foreigners into Mumhain. And Finn mac Cumhaill was brought to Eoghan, and he was then in the ninth year of his age, and a royal champion at that time, for it was in the year of Eoghan’s ban-
»
ishment Finn was born, as the poet says: ‘
Dublin: Class H. 2. 16.—
** Chremt .7. Cit oc Cire, apt nj bj apo cen fan occa. No Cyrepp «1. 01 501m lam Ace 17 Oya bo pyBNe Jn cToOcbayl ry0. Cin (x) Bec, manur inceppre- TATUTL
‘‘ Riscir, i.e. Cir (a hill) at (or with) Eisc (a slope or trench) because there is no high place without a slope at (or with] it. Or Eiscir, i.e., it is not the works of hands, but it was God that made that elevation. Ciris (xs) Greek, manus interpretatur.”
In this case Eis, or es, is equivalent to the negative non.
Here we have the obvious meaning, and supposed derivation of the word Eiscir, but the additional word Riada requires some notice. It has been be- lieved that Eiscir Riada meant the Kiscir of the Riagha, or execution mounds mentioned in our text, as being situated in Magh Lena, and which were on it or close to it. But if this were the meaning the sign of
the genitive plural should come be- tween the two words and they should be written Hiscirna Riagh, as Ard na Riagh in the county Sligo. But this place is never written Hiscir Riagha, but invariably Eiscir Riada, and Riad does not mean execution or scourging. Riada or Riata always signifies riding on horseback or in a chariot. Cap- bat cetan fiyad always means a chariot with four horses. This Eiscir, then, which by way of distinction was an- ciently called Slighe Mor, or the Great Road or High Way, had the addition of Riada made to it because of its adaptation to and adoption as a riding or chariot-driving way from the West of Erinn to Tara and the eastern coast, and is said, in the Dinnseanchus to have been first discovered, or used as a roadway, by Nar the son of Aengus of Umhall, in Mayo, on the birth night of Conn of the Hundred Battles, and over which he travelled to Tara to honor that auspicious event.
70 Cot Wuyse Léana.
Up any do puzad Fyn, blyadazn jonnapbets Bosayn, & 5-ceanyn 4 nao] m-blyadan m-byl, do Bj an 115 “ns 1S PerDId.
Asap cuZ Cogan p15 FhernniZeacc o leyte féyn [d’ Sipynv] 56 Ap ns fupajleary do Fyacays Bayjceata mac Cactaorp mdips FATT.
Do bj Sipe apn ayn porn yy aca pe pé Caz m-blyaban 63, Map On] PTeap. Gupad j ry ay peppead porn cugzad pop Gypyny, eadon, porn cloynye Ceapmna; azar popnn Cloynne MH) l)5;5 azar poynn Cheapmnsa Finn azar Shobaypce; azar poppy cloynne Usoyne Wom; azar pony ya F-cdjZeabac; azar ay poyy reo Godan rhs azar Chujny céead-cataZ. Do pinuayyn Gdsan 415¢ FID Anny Zupab 4 n-06)5 allrhupac o4 Fazbayl cuz ap Chony an cdrnpnojnn do faced 86; azar cuz 64 bpeycyp da m-bejt CdSe « 5-cormplajcear pé Conn, nac lezp¢e08 « allipu- P4135 wade. Uap plo Caseadan atajs 04 p-aympip a 35-cotb- flajtear atrial apbeane an ¢yle :—
C5135 blyadyna 085 « desTt mHé, Bosan 1p Conn a 5-coythpne, Zur tuye Bosan yan ep pean, an ledthan pa Zean Zaipyzess.
Joméars no n-allinupac taznic pe h-Gdsayn. Ro Zab udsipazlle Top Jad, aZap dob al led uptpyall Zo b-Garpayy ap asp 5 Bitayn. Asap bao; Vosan az pappayd Adbap atcurpe « Cothopays at Chony. Up] pyy waz d0 cuayd Woz Nuadsad ap mop-cuaspc 4 lejte paln O' BypuUHH, Ho 50 panic Zo b-Aé Chat Dujb-Lyyve. AZap do 6uajd do feacam puypie ya long, azar ba ms d0 longza7b tANIc apt Cujo Chuynn don Cuan na apt 4 cuydpjory. Azar pro Zab cyst adbal- min Sisan uyme pyp, azar adabape nae panpad AT an Z-cdrmnojyyn do pjnnesd pyre pur, acc muna b-pasad COMNONY eac, aZar apm, sFap spdead, aZap cupcupita mana AZT mop taojde. Wap do Cup ceacca do yappals ya Cérti-
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 71
‘It was the time that Finn was born, The year of Eoghan’s banishment ; At the end of his ninth prosperous year, The king was a royal champion.
And Eoghan bestowed upon him the royal championship of his own half of Erinn at the request of Fiachaidh Baiceadha the son of Cathaoir Mor.
Erinn remained thus divided between them during the term of fifteen years, as it is told; and that was the sixth division that had been made of Erinn, viz, the division of the sons of Cearmna, and the division of the sons of Mileadh; and the division of Cearmna Finn and Sobhairce ; and the division of the children of Iugoine Mor; and the quinque- partite division, and the division by Eoghan Mor and Conn of the hundred battles. Eoghan thought within himself then that it was the hopes of the foreigners leaving him that induced Conn to yield him the co-division; and he pledged his word that if he were for ever in the co-sovereignty with Conn he would not let his foreigners depart. And they spent part of their time in the co-sovereignty, or as the poet has said :
Fifteen years I do say, Were Eoghan and Conn in co-reign, Until Eoghan fell, who refused no man, The lion of sharp valour.
As regards the foreigners who came over with Eoghan, they were seized with great impatience, and were desirous to return to Spain, and Eoghan sought a cause for breaking his truce with Conn. It was at this time that Mogh Nuadhad went upon the great circuit of his own half of Erinn, until he reached Ath Cliath Duibhlinne ;° and having gone there to see the port of the ships; he found that more vessels came to Conn’s part of the harbour than to his. Eoghan was conse- quently stung with great envy ; and he said that he would not abide by the co-division that had been already made, unless he got an equal division of the horses and arms, and armour; and of the profits of the
° Duibhlinn, Dublin.
72 Cat Wuyse Léana.
ponns rn ap Chony. Udibaype Conn naé 5-cujppead apm, 0d eapptads, no &dead Fa Céthpoj nn cyjce Caojdce. Azar man do cuslajs Gisan ryy, 00 cup a Fit a H-aspioe Zan fuyneac, AZ4P D0 jompoyd poytpe d0’n Whurayy oopnjdipy, aZep do jvI+T 04 allrpupcasb man do Fuasp 4dban corfuacad pe Cony. Arar qo bud mayt pe Fnacée cona cupadayb, clojpoeacr an upiassyll rio. Ap any ry plo cjondjleas mate Wurhayn 45 Wok Naadan, azar laccnayd Lajsean, azar an fice céad Garpayneac cat- Apmac vo bj a5 Face Wilearac mac ys Garpaine, jonnar Zo pabe nao] 5-cata Jn aon Jonad ase [4.4 n-oun Cobtas3 pI 4 payscen Brass anoip.] Azar sluaspear poyrpe vo Sol capt TSplatny cdrmponna ap Chonn, azar do copnary Speany ujle 53 rein. Asap canzadap so Was Win an ojdée yy, azZap do Zabadan porad azar lonzponc ann an ojdée r1y; Azar do Cust T1]Od A415 Zac Aon purble o4 prayby aca ap leat Chujny. Azar panzaoan ar rip 50 Bris 0a Shean-thaz, (UZap pangzadap ar TID apne thanaé 50 Raye cpuagaiy cpéanipag, agur do badap An ojdce TID ann; Zap panzadan ap pin 70 Bnugs 04 Ceyriy & p-Byjle.] Uzer an pry 50 Dnum Tupppsaip 4 9-ojpteape Choylle na 5-Cnann; azar plo feacadan uata an Fyraoc-rpas ropnpeyd vo bj fon 4 y-a5ajd. D4 h-apnm an maz od an Gdsan. Maz Léeana pho, an paorom. D4 caob be pid a d-céyd cpje ap 3-corponnsa pe Conn ap re. Don caobra « b-fup anosp apt cac. Mareas an an Sisan, déanam tajpyp oon caob bud cuayd, azar Zabam lonzpone ap leat Chuynn, do Sol tan ceapc companna cuca. Ur any ry panic Gosan ceann, caypoealac, cappteae, capdleac, Zo capppteac cpéan, calma, pore Fo lap culca Whvse leaban-Zlan Léana, pe neane polad azar pe poclacc pluass, azar ple forpibe reads. Op 0615, sdabpnadap luce apne earya ABUT 415019 pp, Zur bo dayl 50 porptb pe peaccmad, azar Zupe Bo
P This is from No. |. R.J.A. Brugh- * Bri da Shean Mhagh, i.e., the righ, now Bruree in the county of hill of the two old plains, Limerick. * Coill na g-Crann, i.e., the wood of
4 This is from No. 126. 10. R.LA. the [great] trees. This place is now
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA. 73
sea and great tides; and he sent a message demanding this co-division from Conn. Conn answered that he never would place arms nor clothes, nor armour under the same rule of division as territory ; and Eoghan on hearing this threw up his truce without delay, turned back to Mumbhain again, and told his foreigners how he had received cause of quarrel from Conn: and Fraoch and his warriors were well pleased to hear that speech. Then were the nobles of Mumhain assembled by Mogh Nuadhad, and the warriors of Laighin, and the twenty hundred battle armed Spaniards that Fraoch Mileasach the son of the King of Spain had ; so that he had nine battalions on the one spot, viz. at Dun Cobhthaigh, now called Brughrigh.* And he marched forward, to pass over the division boundary upon Conn, and to contend for all Erinn for himself. On that night they came to Magh Min, and halted and encamped there; and they set the front of every one of their tents against Conn’s half; [and they went from that the next day to Rath Truaghain of Trean-Mhagh; and remained that night there; and they went from that to Brigh-da-Teimhair in Eile’;] and they reached from that to Brigh-da-Shean-Mhagh' ; and thence to Druim Turrsgair, in the east of Coill na g-Crann*; whence they beheld the heathy plain which lay in front of them: What is the name of that plain ? said Eoghan. That, said they, is Magh Leana. At which side of it does the boundary of our division with Conn pass? said he. At this side here, now, said they. If so, replied Eoghan, let us pass over it to the north side, and encamp in Conn’s half, to intrude, in violation of the right of division upon them. It was then that the firm adventurergxy Eoghan Taidhleach marched eagerly, bravely, and valiantly forward to the centre of the hill of the extensive noble Magh Leana, with all good omens, a willing army, and a prosperous march. For it is certain that the calcu- lations of the moon and of nature said that it was a lucky conjuncture with a seventh,t and that it counted a foot in advance towards an eighth;
called Kilmore [Coill mhor] or Great t A lucky conjuncture with a seventh. Wood, and is situated in the parish This is the most precise reference to of Killoughy, barony of Ballyboy and the cross, or prohibited days of the King’s County. See Annals of the year that the Editor has ever met; Four Masters, p. 173, note *. and it clearly enough points out the
74 Cat WWuyse Léana.
cos Ajpre pre h-occripad, azar Zup bo cpeyry [64155 d6a5 pe] conac, azar pe cdripeper] 56, cyyHead yerpe For Hazripd]b ay can ry. Wee aca nj ceana, v0 cezlead flop apa b-pazd1b ann TID; 4347 do paobad foladS apt 4 péan-feapasb; azar do cptu- ASearcaltt conac an a Z-céadfzadayb; azar d0 theapaysearcare uabap « n-alzeanra ; aZap d0 rheadpapseadarpe peas azar Efor- Sjomar no flata; azar do tinnearyajsd pace ya pjosparse don puatan pip. Dup bo cnerp] pe cjomapzay do na pluasa]b don cupar TIN, azar Zurt bd naorhada dveanzs ojosbalac do na deas- feapasb; azar Supt Cormtpace cealtyasne do na cupadayb, ceany AZAT TOICIM Ys TOTHs PIN, 00 TulT]M apt H-ualp azap aye p-acapo oppa. Uzapr do Zabad lonzponc Lan-Zapoa, leatan-thulpyeac, lacé-jomda, 43 na leabap-bujdn]b; azar porad ppeac-lionmarp O35 Nd ocaydyb, an lan Whuyse leabap-Euléajs leans. Wzar qo c6zbad led pubajll anda, joldataca an Apd-njFZ ap cyoc Cb tHNe]S 5 aZa7 dO h-Spdayseads acapayn los Fraoccoa, pospa- Hac, FO Ha Feadsalb; azar buydye focla, polarass fo fearza- naib; azar do cd5bad led reyn pdjene zaca pro cleata, azar fleatbajn Zace plac-caolasz, azar mine Zaca moip-feasa, azar Djosaln Baca dead-fearaa; azar tuZadap eppieadsa cnoma, cuyll-
month of the year in which this ex- pedition of the Munstermen was under- taken, since there is no month in the year that has the seventh, eighth and fifteenth as cross or unlucky days but May. It is to be inferred from the text then that Eoghan, under the ad- vice of his diviners, had set out on his march on the seventh, continued it on the eighth, and probably worked at his encampment on the fifteenth ; and this was the cause of the disas- trous results of the expedition. The Cross days of the year were :— January, 1, 2, 4, 5, 15, 17, 19. February, 10, 18,
March, 2, ...., 9.
April, 5, 7.
May, 7, 8, 15.
June, 4, 15.
July, 10, 20.
August, 19, 20.
September, 6, 7.
October, (one day) ....
November, 5, 19.
December 7, 8 (?).
This list is found in Irish in an old Irish Medical Manuscript, No. 65 of the Hodges and Smith Collection, in the Royal Irish Academy. It is an unpaged paper book of the close of the sixteenth or beginning of the
76 Cat Wurse Léana.
teaca, do Feadsalb azar do adbapayb, do clejzjb azar do Caojl- Ejodp1418, do Sjoyn azar do Seas-felpH, Fo b-ajt y-aontadac y-aon bajle. Uzar d0 paytead led a pZaclajyn anda, focobrayse ; azar 4 d-tjzte tajlce tneabap-Saprgzne ; azar a b-foypzneada Aylle, eapanta ; azar a m-bposa ppeat-aylle, polar-slana, puateanca. Azar do h-dpoayseaS aca anvryy, pparoe azar ppaojn-flyzce, feaotn azar pdd puatayyt, Zo po Sjpreac, 04 pijosazb azar da pd. Saopn]b. Dup cuyppjoo a pleasa ya preatayb, azar « 5-car- Alpin apo 3-colbadasb; azar a lujpeaca apa leaban-ealéayn- Bb; azar lar-apm Bae lace an 4 leabayd, azar do h-Spoayzead ace are b-ajéle ry, 4 mayp azar 4 mapigasds, a 3-coip azar a %B ceannayszeacc; 4 b-feytrbe azar o b-fupacpayrp, o b-peara asap & b-fulacca, 4 3-cjayl agar a 3-codayl-cizte; azar puza- DAN af an o]d¢ée PI Zo folar cpac ejpze do lo an na mapac. Ur anvpy do eypZeadap pjosZpajds meana Wasncyye, azar cupads calma, cdjtteanna Clyac, azar plays cornarpaca Clj- odna, aap 515-pjospajs na bh-Garpayne; azar canzadap Zo poball cpéan, tupnn]Zte « dv-r]Zeapya, do eipceace pe bpyatpayb fojpojonaca, Fipynvneaca o b-flata. War do sabrad jo feye- meac, fupacap, 454 azallaym, azar apead po pasdrjod: Ur lan-fada lynne, « Gigsasyn, aca ceannar Ceampac a5 Tustal Teaccian, azar Spdasas Ulad an Sipyon, azar pip. pobla az Fepdslm Reacciap, azar ondip 6 €4é do Chataosp thon azar Zac cd] Zeads Fo cojtcjonyn a5 Cony; azar Conall mac Aonsura FEINT AF SpoaZad maojp ap Whuymneacayb; azar foppan a3 pluagayb Sjonnes gop Sait; azar larsn1s 45 caspojol 50 Tearh- 1a1d, aZar cancural az bneagsasb pon blabma, azar maoip Wyse fon Wajrrean azur doespzeapc Sypeany a5 fosnaty Fo ceany u Mairtine of Munster. The Mair- Book of Lismore, folio 172. b. a, that tine were a tribe of the Firbolgs, Emly [Imliuch Ibhair] was the centre located chiefly in the County of Tip- of Mairtine. perary around Emly; but there were ’ Cliach.—A territory lying around
some of them in Thomond, and others Cnoc Aine (Knockany) in the County in Offaley, &c. It is stated in the of Limerick. ~
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA&. 17 and wattles, of thatch and good sedge tu the one appointed place ; and they erected their lofty sheltering sheds; and their fine compact dwelling houses; their beautiful, well-littered buildings; their beautiful purely- lighted, distinguished lines of courts. Then they ordered streets and cross ways, paths and marching roads, full and straight for their kings, and for their great men ; and they placed their spears in ranges, and their _ combat-arms upon their posts, and their armour upon their long racks; and the hand weapon of each hero upon his bed. They afterwards ordered, their enclosures and markets; their regulations and their com- merce; their superintendence and their preparations; their feasts and their cookings ; their music and their sleeping places.
They rested that night till the bright hour of rising of the following day; then arose the active kings of the Martine ;" and the valiant power- ful champions of Cliach’ ; and the contentious host of Cliodhna” ; and the young princes of Spain; and they came to the strong, firm pavilion of their lord, to hear the wise truthful words of their Sovereign. They began cautiously and reservedly to address him and said: “ We think it long enough, O Eoghan, that Tuatha] Teachtmhar has the sovereignty of Teamhair [Tara]; and the men of Uladh [Ulster] have the ordering of Erinn; and that Feidhlim Reachtmhar has the Island of Fodhla* ; and Cathaoir Mor has honour from every one; and that Conn has all the provinces in general] ; and that Conall the son of Aenghus Feirt orders his stewards upon themen of Mumhain[ Munster]; and the harassings of the hosts of the Sionainn [Shannon] upon the Siuir; and the men of Laighin [ Leinster] journeying to Teamhair. (Tara) ; and the men of Breagha [ Bregia] insulting Bladhma’ ; and the stewards of Midhe [Meath] on
Maistean* ; and the south of Erinn doing stern service to its north. It
~ Cliodhna. The hosts of Cliodhna were the men of (the County of) Cork.
® Fodhla, one of the ancient names for Erinn, derived from a queen of the Tuath de Danann race.
¥ Bladhma, or as it is more com- monly called Sliabh Bladhma, now Slieve Bloom in the King’s County, forming the uttermost southern boun-
dary of the country of the Ui Neill, or Hy Niall: so that when the men of Breagh, or Meath, were insulting Bladhma, they were aggressively crossing the border into Leth Mogha, . or Mogh Nuadhat’s Half.
5 Maistean. The celebrated Mullach Maistean in the County of Kildare.
78 Cat Ausgze Leana.
dA TUaiPReanc: Juptab ane pyy ap mits lone Sipe d faery pe ap n-aip azar pe ap n-dpdagad Fein Fearos, azar imlyb Balsa az ap y-allipupcayb, azar cjor mos ap Whodsaipy azar opdasad Gdsayy an Garvan, 6 capla azarnn fein Fearoa Fear caspoll Tearpad pe ap d-caatasb, azar Lacc-azallipa Usd ap anpatacc, ap cup Chuynn 04 edi azar Chonayll oa céadpass, azar Usd df n-uayll,
O do éualajs Bdsan measaip Corpnata a50 Catalb, azar meadaipt jonnpaysteac azo ual agar eiptze Gyrpeac az 4 all- rhupicayb, adubajnc nya: Do Séancan azajnne &yth, ban é1p]oOr, cj buajlce muypyneaca mop-dojtpne ap an mas pa, Jonnar Fo 4b] Face Wilearac mac Sy bip az fonpan oa b-pajteqb an Eppeadayb Ejocthapa Fedlym Resécmasp. Jonna Zo tip-byayzd a tnesp1 op Thujllpze, azar o Cjor an Chnuaéayn, azar Tearparp apt & topaynn, azar Talley an a tjodlacad, azar cjor leyte ‘Chuynn ap 546 conarp apt 4 Comporyy, tonnar Zo mad adban meanman oa ban maycjbr] eye 4B muy 04 mapab azar Fad mMop-cjpedd eyle a y-Sipyny 04 ey. Ay any rip do h-Spoduyseas ACH TAD TH] DUNT Teanya 06 C6ZbAayl, azar cn] map apda ojp- eACalp D'SpddZads, azar cp] catpaca cérSajnzne dbo Copasad. Do roclad azar do ropasnyead, do deanpyalzead azar do balys- njdeads, do ppagZlab azar 00 pb]bead ; do cumad azar do ceap- ta]Feas, dO PHAo[Seads, azar do slearinaszead; do dealbad AZ4P 00 d4]NZH] [Adpe1N acaran, Fup bo coéGFad yerpc pe yarth- djb, azar Supt bo dealugZad pate pe h-acmeadayb na cp] year- céjde yerrinneaca narmyearpla rin, azar bo ba pZapad cpice pe cyyeadayb « b-faycriy an an opndagad py 84 d-cdzbaql a5 a cpéan-feapazb apt lan Wujse Leana.
® And this tribute of slavery on Mudh- dorn, i.e., upon Ulster, represented here by the territory of Mourne.
> Buatle here means a palisade for defence.
° Dun, Mur, Cathair. A Dun, pro- nounced Doon, is an elevated circular
enclosing wall or bank within which a dwelling-house was erected. A Dun required to be surrounded by a wet fosse or trench, to distinguish it from the Rath which had not a trench. Mur means simply a circular wall, bank, or mound of earth; but it does
79
THE BATTLE OF MAGH LEANA.
is therefore that we think it time to see Eire at our own convenience and at our ordering henceforth, and the borders of Elga [Ireland] in the possession of our foreigners; and the tribute of servitude upon ‘Modharn®; and Eoghan’s ordering upon Eamhain [ Emania]; since we have ourselves, at length, a man to lead us to Teamhair [Tara] with our tribes; and a champion fit by valour to accost Uladh [ Ulster] ; and to put Conn off his rights; and Conall off his concerts, and the men of Uladh off their haughtiness.”
When Eoghan perceived the desire of his troops for contest; and the desire of his nobles for attack ; and the ready uprising of his foreigners, he said to them: “ There shall be made by us now three high-inounded deep-trenched Buailes» upon this plain, so that Fraoch Mileasach, the son of Eibhear, shall be making harassing incursions from their greens upon the furious tribes of Feidhlim Reachtmhar: so that his power <