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Dinnshenchas of Benn Codail
verse beg. Senchas Codail cuimnig dam

  • Middle Irish
  • prose, verse
  • Early Irish poetry, Dinnshenchas Érenn, dinnshenchas
Text on the dinnshenchas of Benn Codail
First words (verse)
  • Senchas Codail cuimnig dam
Context(s)The (textual) context(s) to which the present text belongs or in which it is cited in part or in whole.
Summary
Ériu, from whom Inis Érenn is named, is reared by Codal, her fosterfather (aite), on what is to become Benn Codail. Codal’s vigour in nurturing her not only causes the maiden to grow, but also the earth beneath them to swell and rise up. Because of the wind and the scorching sun, Ériu notices that the hill is attaining a fair height. She tells Codal and if she had not done so, the mountain would have stood over all of Ireland. On the day when Ériu’s successor (comarba) or the king of Tara tastes Codal’s food (associated with game, fish or venison in the prose version), he/Ériu will gain strength.
Manuscripts
Dinnshenchas Érenn B
Edinburgh, National Library of Scotland, Adv. MS 72.1.16 [s. xvex]
Dinnshenchas Érenn C
R =
Rennes, Bibliothèque de Rennes Métropole, MS 598 ff. 90-125 [s. xiii/xiv (?)]
B =
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 P 12 (536) = Book of Ballymote (Leabhar Bhaile an Mhóta) [1384 x 1406]
Lc =
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 P 2 = Book of Lecan (Leabhar Leacain) [s. xvin]
M =
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS D ii 1 (1225) = Leabhar Uí Mhaine (The Book of Uí Maine) [1394]
S =
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS D ii 2 (1222) [s. xvi (?)]
S3 =
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS B iii 1 (742) [s. xvii]
H =
Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1322 (H 3. 3) [s. xvi]
Language
  • Middle Irish
Form
prose, verse (primary)
verse (secondary)
Contains poems
‘Codhal Coirrchicheach go n-aibh’ » A quatrain in the Edinburgh prose version.
Length
Number of stanzas: 7
Textual relationships
Cf. Dinnshenchas of Codal, which tells a different story about Codal corr-chíchach, from whom the hill takes its name. Here he is presented as a contemporary of the Dagda and his son Áed.

Classification

Early Irish poetryEarly Irish poetry
...
Dinnshenchas Érenn
Dinnshenchas Érenn
id. 6712

The Dinnshenchas Érenn is a compilation of literary compositions, in prose or verse, on lore surrounding the prominent places of Ireland. These texts usually offer origin legends which purport to explain how a well-known place in Ireland, such as a certain hill, plain or lake, received its present or former name. The genesis of this collection is usually dated to the late Middle Irish period (11th and 12th centuries).

dinnshenchasIrish narrative literature, onomastic lore and learning, topographical literature
dinnshenchas
id. 32607

Subjects

ÉriuÉriu
Entry reserved for but not yet available from the subject index.
See more CodalCodal
Entry reserved for but not yet available from the subject index.
See more
Benn CodailBenn Codail
Entry reserved for but not yet available from the subject index.
See more

Sources

Primary sources Text editions and/or modern translations – in whole or in part – along with publications containing additions and corrections, if known. Diplomatic editions, facsimiles and digital image reproductions of the manuscripts are not always listed here but may be found in entries for the relevant manuscripts. For historical purposes, early editions, transcriptions and translations are not excluded, even if their reliability does not meet modern standards.

[ed.] [tr.] Gwynn, E. J., The metrical dindsenchas, 5 vols, vol. 4, Todd Lecture Series, 11, Dublin: Hodges, Figgis, 1924.
CELT – edition: <link> CELT – translation: <link> Internet Archive – vol. 4: <link>  : View in Mirador
184–187 [id. 44. ‘Benn Codail’] Verse. direct link direct link direct link
[ed.] [tr.] Stokes, Whitley, “The prose tales in the Rennes dindshenchas”, Revue Celtique 16 (1895): 31–83, 135–167, 269–312, 468.
TLH – edition (III, 31-83): <link> TLH – translation (III): <link> TLH – edition (IV, pp. 135-167): <link> TLH – translation (IV): <link> Celtic Digital Initiative – PDF: <link> Internet Archive: <link> Internet Archive: <link>
60–61 [id. 109. ‘Benn Codail’] Prose. direct link
[ed.] [tr.] Stokes, Whitley, “The Edinburgh dinnshenchas”, Folk-Lore 4 (1893): 471–497.
TLH – edition: <link> TLH – translation: <link> Internet Archive: <link>
490 [id. 72. ‘Benn Codail’]

Secondary sources (select)

Gwynn, E. J., The metrical dindsenchas, 5 vols, vol. 4, Todd Lecture Series, 11, Dublin: Hodges, Figgis, 1924.
CELT – edition: <link> CELT – translation: <link> Internet Archive – vol. 4: <link>  : View in Mirador
425 [id. 44. ‘Benn Codail’] direct link
web page identifiers
Contributors
C. A., Dennis Groenewegen
Page created
October 2012, last updated: January 2024
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