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Dinnshenchas of Druim Criaich
verse beg. Druim Criaich, céte cét cuan

  • Middle Irish
  • verse, prose
  • Early Irish poetry, Dinnshenchas Érenn, Ulster Cycle

Poem and prose text on the dinnshenchas of Druim Criaich (Drumcree, Co. Westmeath), which is here said to have been known as Druim Cró and Druim n-úar nAirthir. In the Book of Leinster, the poem is attributed to Cuán ua Lothcháin (d. 1024). The poem falls into two sections. The story of the first is that of the quarrel between Eochu Feidlech, high-king of Ireland, and his three sons known as the three Findemna. On the night before the battle of Druim Criaich, in which the brothers are killed, their sister Clothru sleeps with each one of them in order to produce royal offspring. She later gives birth to Lugaid Riab nDerg, high-king of Ireland.

First words (verse)
  • Druim Criaich, céte cét cuan
Context(s)The (textual) context(s) to which the present text belongs or in which it is cited in part or in whole.
Author
Ascribed to: Cúán úa LothcháinCúán úa Lothcháin
(d. 1024)
Cuán ua Lothcháin
Early Irish poet.
See more
The poem is ascribed to Cuán ua Lothcháin in the Book of Leinster.
Manuscripts
Language
  • Middle Irish
Form
verse, prose (primary)
Length
Number of stanzas: 54

Classification

Early Irish poetryEarly Irish poetry
...
Dinnshenchas Érenn
Dinnshenchas Érenn
id. 6712
Ulster Cycle
Ulster Cycle
id. 1797

...

Subjects

Eochaid FeidlechEochaid Feidlech
Eochu Feidlech
in Irish legendary history, high-king of Ireland, descendant of Labraid Lorc and father of multiple daughters and sons, including Medb ruler of Connacht, Clothru and the triplets known as the three Findemna.
See more Clothru [daughter of Eochaid Feidlech]Clothru ... daughter of Eochaid Feidlech
(time-frame ass. with Ulster Cycle)
No short description available
See more The three FindemnaThe three Findemna
Findemna
(time-frame ass. with Ulster Cycle)
In Irish legendary history, three triplet sons of Eochu Feidlech, who  slept with their sister Clothru on the night before the battle of Druim Criaich.
See more Lugaid Ríab nDergLugaid Ríab nDerg (Reóderg)
(time-frame ass. with Ulster Cycle)
legendary high-king of Ireland; said to have been born out of an incestuous relationship between the three Findemna (sons of Eochaid Feidlech) and their sister Clothru
See more Máel Sechnaill mac DomnaillMáel Sechnaill mac Domnaill
(d. 1022)
Máel Sechnaill II
King of Mide and high-king of Ireland from the Clann Cholmáin branch of the Uí Néill.
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Druim Criaich
Druim Criaich ... Drumcree
County Westmeath
See more

Sources

Primary sources

[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>
42–59 [id. 13. ‘Druim Criaich’] Poem. 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>
148–150 [id. 140. ‘Druim Criaich’] Prose. direct link

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>
384–388 [id. 13. ‘Druim Criaich’] Notes. direct link
web page identifiers
Contributors
C. A., Dennis Groenewegen, Patrick Brown
Page created
June 2011, last updated: September 2023
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