This category covers poetry composed between c. 600–c. 1200, that is, in the Old and Middle Irish periods.

Finn Cycle

[A Mór Maigne Moigi Siúil], verse beg. ‘A Mór Maigne Moigi Siúil’

» In English: “O Mór of Moyne in Mag Síuil” » Ascribed author(s): Id:Urard mac Coise » Language(s): Middle Irish » Form: verse » Categories: Early Irish poetry, Finn Cycle, Text entries » Type: early Irish lyrics

[Dinnshenchas of Almu I], verse beg. ‘Almu Lagen, les na Fían’ , part of or cited in: Acallam na senórach, Fotha catha Cnucha, Dinnshenchas Érenn A

» In English: “Almu of the Leinstermen, a fort of the fiana” » Language(s): Middle Irish » Form: verse » Categories: Early Irish poetry, Dinnshenchas Érenn, Finn Cycle, Text entries » Type: dinnshenchas » Keywords: conception
Short description:

Dinnshenchas poem on Almu (the Hill of Allen, Co. Kildare), which recounts the tale of the conception of Finn mac Cumaill.

[Dinnshenchas of Almu II], verse beg. ‘Almu robo cháem dia cois’ , part of or cited in: Dinnshenchas Érenn C

» In English: “Almu, she was fair to the foot” » Form: verse » Stanzas: 4 st. » Categories: Early Irish poetry, Dinnshenchas Érenn, Finn Cycle, Text entries » Type: Subject:dinnshenchas
Short description:

Dinnshenchas poem on Almu (the Hill of Allen, Co. Kildare).

[Dinnshenchas of Áth Líac Find I], verse beg. ‘Áth Liac Find, cid dia tá?’ , part of or cited in: Dinnshenchas Érenn A, Dinnshenchas Érenn C

» Author(s): Id:Máel Muru Othna » Ascribed author(s): Id:Máel Muru Othna » Language(s): Middle Irish » Form: verse » Categories: Early Irish poetry, Dinnshenchas Érenn, Finn Cycle, Text entries » Type: Subject:dinnshenchas
Short description:

Tract on the dinnshenchas of Áth Líac Find, a ford of the Shannon.

[Banshenchas]

» In English: “Lore of women” » Language(s): Middle Irish » Form: prose, verse » Categories: Mythological Cycle, Cycles of the Kings, Ulster Cycle, Early Irish poetry, Irish legendary history, Finn Cycle, Text entries
Short description:

The title Banshenchas refers to two versions composed in the late Middle Irish period:

Follow the links for further references.

...other poems in the Finn Cycle

Ulster Cycle

[A chloch thall for elaid úair], verse beg. ‘A chloch thall for elaid úair’

» In English: “O stone yonder upon the cold tomb” » Ascribed author(s): Id:Cináed úa hArtacáin » Language(s): Middle Irish » Form: verse » Categories: Ulster Cycle, Early Irish poetry, Text entries
Short description:

Poem on a stone at Monasterboice, Co. Louth.

[Dinnshenchas of Achall], verse beg. ‘Achall ar aicce Temair’ , part of or cited in: Dinnshenchas Érenn A, Dinnshenchas Érenn C

» In English: “Skryne opposite Tara” » Ascribed author(s): Id:Cináed úa hArtacáin » Language(s): Middle Irish » Form: verse, prose » Categories: Ulster Cycle, Early Irish poetry, Dinnshenchas Érenn, Text entries » Type: dinnshenchas » Keywords: revenge
Short description:

Dinnshenchas poem mostly on Achall, i.e. the Hill of Skreen, Co. Meath, with prose on Duma nEirc and Duma nAichle. Both the poem and the prose text offer the story according to which Achall died of grief for her brother Erc, who was killed in vengeance for Cú Chulainn’s death, and was buried in the mound that would bear her name.

[Amrae Chon Roí], verse beg. ‘Ní hada dom anmuin / apairt ro-m-nét’ , part of or cited in: Independent, Aided Chon Roí

» In English: “Not meet for my soul is the deed that has quelled me” » Language(s): Old Irish » Form: verse » Categories: Ulster Cycle, Early Irish poetry, Text entries

[Dinnshenchas of Ard Macha], verse beg. ‘In mag imríadat ar n-eich’ , part of or cited in: Dinnshenchas Érenn C, Dinnshenchas Érenn B

» Language(s): Middle Irish » Form: verse, prose » Stanzas: 27 st. » Categories: Ulster Cycle, Early Irish poetry, Dinnshenchas Érenn, Text entries » Type: dinnshenchas
Short description:

Tract on the dinnshenchas of Ard Macha.

[Atchíu fer find firfes cles], verse beg. ‘Atchíu fer find firfes cles’ , part of or cited in: Introduction to the Táin bó Cúailnge

» In English: “I see a fair man who will perform weapon-feats” » Ascribed author(s): Id:Fedelm ... Connacht prophetess » Language(s): Middle Irish » Form: verse » Stanzas: 10 st. » Categories: Early Irish poetry, Táin bó Cúailnge, Text entries
Short description:

Poem attributed to Fedelm, a poetess (banfhili) and seeress from Connacht, in the first two recensions of the Táin bó Cúailnge. In this poem, she prophesies the coming of Cú Chulainn and his heroic deeds.

...other poems in the Ulster Cycle

Dinnshenchas Érenn

[Dinnshenchas of Achall], verse beg. ‘Achall ar aicce Temair’ , part of or cited in: Dinnshenchas Érenn A, Dinnshenchas Érenn C

» In English: “Skryne opposite Tara” » Ascribed author(s): Id:Cináed úa hArtacáin » Language(s): Middle Irish » Form: verse, prose » Categories: Ulster Cycle, Early Irish poetry, Dinnshenchas Érenn, Text entries » Type: dinnshenchas » Keywords: revenge
Short description:

Dinnshenchas poem mostly on Achall, i.e. the Hill of Skreen, Co. Meath, with prose on Duma nEirc and Duma nAichle. Both the poem and the prose text offer the story according to which Achall died of grief for her brother Erc, who was killed in vengeance for Cú Chulainn’s death, and was buried in the mound that would bear her name.

[Dinnshenchas of Ailech I], verse beg. ‘Decid Ailech n-Imchill n-úaib’ , part of or cited in: Dinnshenchas Érenn A

» Language(s): Middle Irish » Form: verse » Stanzas: 28 st. » Categories: Mythological Cycle, Early Irish poetry, Dinnshenchas Érenn, Text entries » Type: dinnshenchas
Short description:

Poem on the dinnshenchas of Ailech.

[Dinnshenchas of Ailech II], verse beg. ‘Cía triallaid nech aisneis senchais Ailig eltaig’ , part of or cited in: Independent, Dinnshenchas Érenn C

» Ascribed author(s): Id:Flann Mainistrech » Language(s): Middle Irish » Form: verse » Stanzas: 35 st. » Categories: Mythological Cycle, Early Irish poetry, Dinnshenchas Érenn, Text entries » Type: Subject:dinnshenchas
Short description:

Dinnshenchas of Ailech.

[Dinnshenchas of Ailech III], verse beg. ‘Ailech Frigrenn, faithche na ríg rígda in domain’ , part of or cited in: Dinnshenchas Érenn C, Dinnshenchas Érenn B

» Language(s): Middle Irish » Form: verse » Categories: Mythological Cycle, Early Irish poetry, Dinnshenchas Érenn, Text entries » Type: dinnshenchas
Short description:

Dinnshenchas of Ailech

[Dinnshenchas of Ailén Cobthaig], verse beg. ‘A Fedelm, a fholt-buide’ , part of or cited in: Dinnshenchas Érenn C supplement

» Language(s): Middle Irish » Form: prose, verse » Stanzas: 14 st. » Categories: Early Irish poetry, Dinnshenchas Érenn, Text entries » Type: dinnshenchas
Short description:

Text on the dinnshenchas of Ailén Cobthaig

...other poems in the Dinnshenchas Érenn

Leinster poems

Lyrics

[A Bé Find in rega lim], verse beg. ‘A Bé Find in rega lim’ , part of or cited in: Tochmarc Étaíne

» In English: “Fair lady, will you go with me?” » Language(s): Late Old Irish » Form: verse » Stanzas: 7 st. » Categories: Early Irish poetry, Text entries » Type: early Irish lyrics
Short description:

Early Irish syllabic poem (7 qq) in which the speaker encourages Bé Find to join him in the delightful Otherworld. It is preserved in the third part of Tochmarc Étaíne, where the poem is attributed to Midir as he woos Étaín, addressing her as Bé Find.

[A bennáin a búiredáin], verse beg. ‘A bennáin a búiredáin’ , part of or cited in: Buile Shuibne

» In English: “Antlered one, belling one” » Language(s): Late Middle Irish » Form: verse » Categories: Early Irish poetry, Text entries » Type: early Irish lyrics

[A Choimdiu baíd], verse beg. ‘A Choimdiu baíd’

» In English: “Beloved Lord” » Author(s): Id:Ua Brolcháin (Máel Ísu) » Language(s): Middle Irish » Form: verse » Categories: Early Irish poetry, Text entries » Type: early Irish lyrics

[A Choimdiu nom-choimét], verse beg. ‘A Choimdiu, nom-choimét’

» In English: “Lord, guard me” » Author(s): Id:Ua Brolcháin (Máel Ísu) » Language(s): Middle Irish » Form: verse » Categories: Early Irish poetry, Text entries » Type: early Irish lyrics

[A Dé dúlig, atat-teoch], verse beg. ‘A Dé dúlig, atat-teoch’

» In English: “O God the creator, I implore you” » Author(s): Id:Airbertach mac Cosse Dobráin » Language(s): Middle Irish » Form: verse » Stanzas: 50 st. » Categories: Early Irish poetry, Text entries » Type: early Irish lyrics, Subject:Irish prayers and hymns » Keywords: Psalms
Short description:

Poem on the psalms and other religious matters.

... other early Irish lyrics

Category:Early Irish poetry

Category:Early Irish poetry

Category

Finn Cycle

Ulster Cycle

Dinnshenchas Érenn

Leinster poems

Lyrics

See also

Contents

Pages in category ‘Early Irish poetry’

A

B

C

D