Texts

Oidheadh Chonlaoich (mic Con gCulainn) ‘The violent death of Conlaoch (son of Cú Chulainn)’

Early Modern Irish
prose
Ulster Cycle

Early modern prose version of the story known in earlier versions as Aided óenfir Aífe.

Manuscripts

Manuscripts include:

Edinburgh, National Library of Scotland, Adv. MS 72.1.38 [s. xvii]

Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 M 44 (349) [s. xviii]

pp. 118–142

Seven manuscripts deriving from an mid-18th century original, including:

Maynooth, Russell Library, MS R 70

Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 N 14 (489) [s. xviii]

Language

Early Modern Irish

Form

prose (primary)

Textual relationships

Related: Aided óenfir AífeAided óenfir AífeShort tale about the only son of Cú Chulainn and Aífe, and the boy’s death at the hands of his father. This entry covers two versions: (1) AOA I = a late Old Irish text preserved in the Yellow Book of Lecan, which is the best known version, and (2) AOA II = a younger, much abridged version in TCD 1336, which serves to introduce the topic of legal accountability and compensation (corpdíre).

Classification

Ulster Cycle
Ulster Cycle

id. 1797

Subjects

Cú Chulainn

Cú Chulainn

Young Ulster hero and chief character of Táin bó Cuailnge and other tales of the Ulster Cycle; son of Súaltam or Lug and Deichtire (sister to Conchobor); husband of Emer (ingen Forgaill)

See more Scáthach

Scáthach

(time-frame ass. with Ulster Cycle, Conchobar mac Nessa)

A warrior woman and instructor of warriors in the Ulster Cycle, notably responsible for training the hero Cú Chulainn.

See more Aífe ingen Airdgeme

Aífe ingen Airdgeme

(time-frame ass. with Ulster Cycle)

Character in the Ulster Cycle of Irish literature, notably the tragic tale Aided óenfir Aífe. When the Ulster hero Cú Chulainn stays in Alba to receive training-in-arms from Scáthach (her mother or sister), Aífe has an affair with him and later gives birth to his only son. In the Yellow Book of Lecan version, Aífe is called a daughter of one Ardgeimm.

See more ConnlaConnla

Entry reserved for but not yet available from the subject index.

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.] Walsh, Paul [ed.], “Oidheadh Chonlaoich mic Con gCulainn”, in: Cuallacht Chuilm Cille (ed.), Éigse suadh is seanchaidh, Dublin: Gill, 1909. 13–28 (edition), 59–71 (notes).

Tionscnaimh.fng.ie – Edited text from pp. 13-28: <link>

From three Maynooth manuscripts, chief of which is Maynooth MS O'Renehan 70.