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

Finn Cycle

[Dinnshenchas of Almu I], verse beg. ‘Almu Lagen, les na Fían’

» 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:

[[Metrical Banshenchas

|a metrical version composed by Gilla Mo Dutu Úa Caiside in 1147]] and

[[Prose Banshenchas

|a longer version in prose]].

Follow the links for further references.

[Bec innocht lúth mo dá lúa], verse beg. ‘Bec innocht lúth mo dá lúa’

» Ascribed author(s): Id:Caílte mac Rónáin » Language(s): Middle Irish » Form: verse » Stanzas: 4 st. » Categories: Early Irish poetry, Finn Cycle, Text entries
Short description:

Poem of four stanzas, attributed to Caílte. It uses a special, learned vocabulary known as bérla na filed.

...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: Subject: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 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

[Caíni amra laisin m-Bran], verse beg. ‘Caíni amra laisin m-Bran’ , part of or cited in: Immram Brain

» In English: “Bran deems it a wondrous pleasure” » Language(s): Old Irish » Form: verse » Categories: Early Irish poetry, Text entries » Type: early Irish lyrics

[Cotail becán becán bec], verse beg. ‘Cotail becán becán bec’ , part of or cited in: Duanaire Finn

» Language(s): Late Middle Irish, Early Modern Irish » Form: verse » Stanzas: 15 st. » Categories: Early Irish poetry, Duanaire Finn, Finn Cycle, Text entries » Type: early Irish lyrics

[Cros Chríst tarsin n-gnúisse], verse beg. ‘Cros Chríst tarsin n-gnúisse’

» Author(s): Id:Mugrón ... abbot of Iona » Language(s): Middle Irish » Form: verse » Categories: Early Irish poetry, Text entries » Type: early Irish lyrics, Subject:Irish lyrical verse

[Deus meus adiuva me], verse beg. ‘Deus meus adiuva me’

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

Early Irish poem attributed to Máel Ísu Ua Brolcháin

... 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

E