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verse beg. Éistea frim, a Baíthín búain

  • Late Middle Irish
  • verse
An Irish prophecy in verse (66 stt in two of the earliest versions), attributed to Colum Cille and addressed to his successor, Baíthín.
First words (verse)
  • Éistea frim, a Baíthín búain
Speaker/Addressee
Speaker: Colum Cille
Colum Cille
(fl. 6th century)
founder and abbot of Iona, Kells (Cenandas) and Derry (Daire).
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Addressee: Baíthéne mac Brénainn
Baíthéne mac Brénainn
(d. 598)
Second abbot of Iona, in succession to Colum Cille.
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Author
Ascribed to: Colum Cille
Colum Cille
(fl. 6th century)
founder and abbot of Iona, Kells (Cenandas) and Derry (Daire).
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Manuscripts
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Laud Misc. 615 = Saltair Choluim Chille [s. xvi1]
pp. 82.8–85.inf
rubric: ‘Colum Cille cecinit’
beg. ‘Eistea frim a Baithín buain’
66 stt.
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 514 [s. xvi]
ff. 4v.1–5r.24
rubric: ‘Coluim Cille cecinit’
beg. ‘Eistea frim a Baithin buain’
66 stt.

One quatrain quoted in Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib, with an attribution to Colum Cille. The LL copy begins In longes sain Locho Ri.

Later copies
Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1354 (H 4. 13) [s. xviiiin]
f. 210
beg. ‘Eisd riom a Bhaoithin bhadhaig’
21 stt.
Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1289 (H 1. 15) = The Psalter of Tara [1745]
p. 958 ff
Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1284 (H 1. 10) [1747]
f. 157 ff
Language
  • Late Middle Irish
  • Late Middle Irish?
Form
verse (primary)
Length
Number of stanzas: 66 stt.
Textual relationships
Related: Longas Inbir DomnannLongas Inbir DomnannIrish poem (27 qq) attributed to Colum Cille, which prophesies the arrival of a large fleet of foreign invaders at Inber Domnann (Malahide Bay, north Co. Dublin) before Judgment Day.

Classification

Subjects

prophecies
prophecies
id. 47094

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.] Carey, John, “Colum Cille’s warning to Baíthín”, in: John Carey, Emma Nic Cárthaigh, and Caitríona Ó Dochartaigh (eds), The end and beyond: medieval Irish eschatology, vol. 2, 17.2, Aberystwyth: Celtic Studies Publications, 2014. 697–704.
An edition, with English translation, of the final 20 quatrains, based on the Laud and Rawlinson versions of the poem.
[ed.] [tr.] OʼCurry, Eugene, Lectures on the manuscript materials of ancient Irish history, delivered at the Catholic University of Ireland during the sessions of 1855 and 1856, Dublin, 1861.
Internet Archive: <link>, <link> Internet Archive – Originally from Google Books: <link>, <link>, <link> Internet Archive – multiple copies: <link>
625 (appendix 136); 400

The text of the first stanza is given in the appendix (here beg. Eist riom a Bhaoithin bhuain), with an English translation on p. 400. The quatrain quoted in the Cogadh is also given in the appendix (beg. In loinges sain locha Ri).

[ed.] [tr.] OʼKearney, Nicholas, The prophecies of Ss. Columbkille, Maeltamlacht, Ultan, Seadhna, Coireall, Bearcan, Malachy, &c. : together with the prophetic collectanea, or gleanings of several writers who have preserved portions of the now lost prophecies of our saints, with literal translation and notes, Dublin, London: John O'Daly, John Russell Smith, 1856.  

O’Kearney’s source materials for the texts he provides are not clear. On pp. 16-17, he tries to assure the reader “that the original Irish accompanying the translation has been copied from old vellum manuscripts, and that no pains or expense has been spared to procure copies wherever they were known to have extant. To this may be added the care and trouble taken to collate the transcripts made with an old paper copy of most of those rophecies which belonged to a student, named O'Hagan, of St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, who, at his decease, some years ago, bequeathed it to the Library of that Institution, where it now lies, and can be inspected by the curious. Hence, it is hoped that the antiquity of the language will be found a sufficient proof of their originality, and the purity of the metre, of their perfect correctness.” The paper manuscript referred to is not known today.

HathiTrust: <link>
32–61 [‘Coluim-Cille cecinit. Éisdse a Bhoithin go buan’] O'Kearney’s sources are unclear.

Secondary sources (select)

OʼCurry, Eugene, Lectures on the manuscript materials of ancient Irish history, delivered at the Catholic University of Ireland during the sessions of 1855 and 1856, Dublin, 1861.
Internet Archive: <link>, <link> Internet Archive – Originally from Google Books: <link>, <link>, <link> Internet Archive – multiple copies: <link>
400–406; 625 (App. 136)
web page identifiers
Contributors
Dennis Groenewegen
Page created
December 2022, last updated: June 2023
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