Manuscripts

Genealogical tract on the Laigin (ff. 64r-70v) and Osraige genealogies (ff. 70v–71v)

f. 64r(115)a.1–f. 70v(128)b
[Tract on the Laigin ] Heading/rubric: ‘Incipiunt pauca de nominibus Laginensium ⁊ de regibus ⁊ originibus ⁊ de genelogiis ⁊ (di)uisionibus[?] eorumIncipit: ‘Can ⁊ cid h-ua roetatar Lagin ainmnigud. Ni ansae.’
Large tract containing genealogies of the Laigin and related matter.
f. 64r(115)a.3–f. 64v(116)c.i
[Tract on the Laigin ] (section)Incipit: ‘Can ⁊ cid h-ua roetatar Lagin ainmnigud. Ni ansae.’
First section of the tract, on the origin and early rulers of the Laigin, which may be seen as consisting of four items each of which contains a brief note in prose and a poem (so-called ‘Leinster poems’): (a) It starts off with the traditional etymology of Laigin (from láigen ‘spear’) as a way of introducing notes on Labraid Loingsech and his direct ancestors, together with the early poem beg. Móen óen a ba noed (5qq, f.64ra); (b) shifts focus to the line of kings from Núadu Necht with the poem beg. Nuadu Necht ni damair anflaith (52qq), here ascribed to in rígfhile Find Rossa Ruaid (f.64ra-c); (c) to that from Énna Cennselach with the poem beg. Énna Labraid / luad cáich (53qq), ascribed to Ladcenn mc Barcida primfile hErenn (prose on f.64rc.i, poem on f. 64va-b). (d) A new section is suggested by the heading De regibus Lagenorum et de ordinibus eorum nunc incipit at the bottom of f. 64vb, followed on f. 64vc by a brief note in prose and the poem beg. Nidu dir dermait dala cach rig romdae (22qq), again attributed to primfile cetna Laidcenn mc Bairceda.
f. 64v(116)c.i–f. 65r(117)g.i
[Tract on the Laigin ] (section)Incipit: ‘Minigud senchassa Lagen tuath Gabair ⁊ Des Gabair iar suidiu’
Introductory prose passage (f. 64v.i) and then across seven columns on f. 65r, a series of pedigrees under different subheadings: Gen. .h. Ceinselaig (f. 65ra), Gen. .h. mBarrche (f. 65ra-rb), Gen. .h. Failgi (f. 65rb), Gen. .h. nEnechglais (f. 65rb), Gen. .h. Muiredaig (f. 65rc), Gen .h. Faelain (f. 65rc-rd), G. .h. nDunchada (f. 65rd), G. Sil Chormaicc (f. 65rd-re), Gen. Osrithe (f. 65re-rg and bottom margin).
f. 65v(118)a.1–f. 65v(118)b.m
[Tract on the Laigin ] (section)Incipit: ‘Labraid Loingsech Moen m. Ailella Aine’
No heading. Prose story of Labraid Loingsech and other pre-Christian kings of Leinster, interspersed with many alliterative verse items extracted from the so-called ‘Leinster poems’, especially those that contain no rhyme: (a) two lines beg. Labraid Longsech Móen and cited from Énna Labraid luad cáich (st.20) above (ut supra, again attributed to Laidcenn mc Bairceda); (b) a single line beg. Coic cet bliadnae buadach rim, attributed to Orthanach (Orthanach loquitur), perhaps from a version of the poem beg. Rohort in rigrad 'moa ríg (Laigin I in MD vol. 2 - cf. ‘cóic cét bliadna bith-glaine’); (c) poem beg. Dind Rig ruad tuaim tenbad (4qq), attributed to Ferchertne (Ferchertne dixit); (d) opening lines from Ní celt céis céol, attributed to Find m. Rossa; (e) two lines from Nuada Necht, beg. Domnais giallu Gaill; (f) poem beg. Lug sceith scal finn (2st.); (g) Cethri meic la Setna Sithbacc, attributed to Senchán (ut Senchán dixit); (h) opening line from Mál ad-rualaid iathu marb; (i) line beg. Cethri meic Airt Mis Telmann; (k) Eochu Ferngen ascr. to Find File (ut Find Fili fatur); (l) Baeth buide banan dron, attributed to the same poet (Find Fili de filiis Ailb m. Augein Aurgnaid cecinit); (m) Find Taulcha, attributed to Senchán Torpéist and said to be taken from Cocangab Mór (‘The great compilation’) (ro deimnig Senchán Torpéist isin Chocangaib Máir dicens). On f. 65vb.4 the prose begins to devote a section to the three sons of Rus Ruad (Ailill, Cairpre Nia Fer and Find Fili) and their lineages, beg. Tri mc iarum la Rus Ruad. It includes further verse extracts: (n) Tri meic Ruaid, ascr. to Senchán (ut Senchán dixit); (o) line beg. Can tri macco Ruaid din rind, from a poem ascr. to Orthanach (ut Orthanach dixit).
f. 65v(118)b.m–f. 66r(119)a.m
[Tract on the Laigin ] (section)Incipit: ‘It he inso cethri meic Con Corb’
There is no heading or explicit visual break from the preceding prose. After the statement that Find File is ancestor to Cú Chorb (hUa do in Chu Chorb), the focus of the prose shifts to Cú Corb and the lineages descending from his four sons (Nia Corb, Mess Corb, Cormac and Cairpre). Includes a number of verse items: (a) line beg. Nia Corb Corbmac introduced with the words Is dona cethrib bráithrib-sin ro chachain in file; (b) beg. Derb dal Cuirb coairt, attr. to Luccraid moccu Riadda (unde Luccraid moccu Riadda dixit); and (c) Tri meic Con Corb caín bunad (Et alibi dictum est).
f. 66r(119)a–f. 66v(120)b
Genealogies of the descendants of Cú Chorb (a-c): Dál Cairpre Arad, Dáil Cormaic and Dál Messin Corb. The layout of the pages follows the usual space-saving pattern by which columns can subdivided into new columns to accommodate multiple vertically arranged pedigrees and in which this pattern can be repeated again when necessary. In the first column, with its subcolumns, this is further complicated by two other strategies: some of the headings are linked to their pedigrees through the use of special signs such as ⋮ and ◎, and some additional information is added in the margins. Headings: (a1) De genelogia Dail Cairpri Arad (f. 66ra); (a2) De g[e]nelogia .D. Cairpri Arad, retro haec genel. recitatur (f. 66ra); (a3) Gen. .h. Lomthuile (f. 66a.i); (b1) Gen. .D. Cormaic .h. Labrada; (b2) De Gen. .h. nOchrae; (b3) G. .h. mBuide; (b4) Item .h. Mael hUidir; (b5) Item .h. Buide (f. 66rb.6); (b6) Item [.h.] Ma[el] hU[idir] (right margin); (b7) De gen. .h. Libren; (b8) Gen. .h. Cuircc; (b9) Item .h. Labrada; (c1) De gen. Dail Messen Corb (f. 66va); (c2) Forsluinte Dail Messin Corb; (c3) Gen. .h. Garrchon; (c4) Forshluinti .h. Nair.
f. 66v(120)b.46–f. 67r(121)a.37
[Tract on the Laigin ] (section)Incipit: ‘De peritia ⁊ de genelogis Dal Niad Cuirp incipit’
Genealogies of the descendants of Cú Chorb (d): Dál Niad Cuirp (1). Includes on f. 67ra, two verse extracts: (a) a quatrain beg. Fiachu, Daire, Crimthann, Rus and (b) another beg. Mac Locc, Fergus, Cetach cruaid.
f. 67r(121)a.38–f. 68v(124)a.21
[Tract on the Laigin ] (section)Heading/rubric: ‘Miniugud senchasa mac n-airegda Cathair’
Genealogies of the descendants of Cú Chorb (d): Dál Niad Cuirp (2). Pedigrees under various headings: (a) Gen .h. mBairche (f. 67ra.38-67vb), incl. line beg. Longais maro Muiredach, extracted from Laidcenn's poem Nidu dír dermait (ut Laidcenn dixit ... ut supra); (b) Gen. .h. Crimthain (f. 67vb), incl. verse beg. Nibu craeb crinfeda (11 lines); (c) Gen. hua Failge, incl. verse Ind rath hi comair in dairfheda (7 lines), ascr. to Berchán (De quibus Berchan cecinit ic Raith Imgain); (d) .h. Failge Iarmotha (f. 68ra.32); (e) Gen. clainne Colgcan (f. 68rb); (f) G. .h. Colcan o Thig Cainen; (g) G. clainne Rotaide; (h) G. clainne Colg i Liphi; (i) G. .h. Riacain; (k) G. .h. Timmine; and (l) De peritia ⁊ genelogia .h. nEnechglais.
f. 68v(124)a.22–f. 68v(124)b
[Tract on the Laigin ] (section)Heading/rubric: ‘De peritia Sil Fiachach ba hAiccid’Incipit: ‘In Cathaer Mar tra ata mc do-ruirmisem coeca bliadan’
Genealogies of the descendants of Cú Chorb (d): Dál Niad Cuirp (3), focusing on Fíacha ba hAiccid son of Cathaír Mór. Interspersed with verse extracts: (a) line beg. Aittreb Cathair coeca bliadan, attr. to Laidcenn (ut Laidcenn affirmat ... ut supra, although the origin of the reference is unknown); (b1) Cathair coem Conn comfebaib (1q), attr. to Lugair Lánfile (ut Lugair Lanfile dixit) as are (b2) Doss daile dal Temra (1q) (Lugair dixit) and (b3) Osar erchlois orddan an (2 lines, ut idem ait); (c) 2 lines beg. Sruith in sósar sainemail, attr. to Cathaír Mór (ut dixit Cathaír); (d1) lines beg. Coeca fichet filed, attr. to to Lugair (Item Lugair) as are (d2) 2 lines beg. An grian grissach (Inde Lugair) and (d3) lines beg. Mára galgata (3st, ut idem ait); (e) Mara mairb (3st), anonymous (alius dixit); (f) 2 lines beg. In cath h-i Cnamrus ní chelam; (g1) 2 lines beg. Lamair lergga, attr. to Lugair (De quibus Lugair dixit) as are (g2) 2 lines beg. Linais Nia nithach sab (item idem ait). The final section is headed Gen .h. Maine (68vb.44-55). Because of a lacuna, the text breaks off at the end of the page, but not before it has referred to the story of Rónán and his son Máel Fothartaig. The page concludes with a quatrain beg. Is mor gnim / do mc aithich guin mc rig, a version of which is attributed to Rónán in the tale Fingal Rónáin. See David Greene, Fingal Rónáin and other stories (1955): p.11 and see p.12 (Appendix A) for an edition of this part in the MS.
chasm: lacuna in the manuscripts
f. 69r(125)a.1–f. 69r(125)a
[Tract on the Laigin ] (section)Incipit: ‘Aed. Ernine. Cilline.’
Laigin genealogies (continued). The first genealogical section is acephalous and to judge by the corresponding if shorter section in LL 318a, seems to belong to the Uí Théig. Headings: (a) De regibus .h. Cellaig (f. 69ra.16); (b) Item .h. Theig, incl. verse beg. In tan congair Finsnechta (1q); (c) Clann Oengusa inso; and (d) Clann Cholmain.
f. 69r(125)a.i–f. 69v(126)b.12
[Tract on the Laigin ] (section)Heading/rubric: Do phrimforslointib Lagen inso .i. da phrimforsloinniud Fothairtt ⁊ Laichsi sed de peritia ⁊ de genelogiis Fothart prius dicemusIncipit: Eochaid didiu Fuath nAirt a quo Fothairt nominantur ⁊ progeniti sunt
Genealogical section on the Fothairt, the first of the prím-forslointe of Leinster to be treated in detail. Incl. two retoirics of substantial length: (a) beg. Huait a mc .h. Moguirni and (b) beg. A Eochaid Airtt Fuath ara falnather iath aneoil (poeta dixit, marg.).
f. 69v(126)b.13–f. 70v(128)a.i
[Tract on the Laigin ] (section)Heading/rubric: ‘De peritia ⁊ genelogia Loichsi’Incipit: ‘Lugaid Loigsech Cennmar m. Conaill Cernaich di Ultaib’
Prose account of Lugaid Loígsech followed by genealogies of the Loíchse (ff. 69vb.i-70va), the second of the prím-forslointe of Leinster to be treated in detail. Pedigrees appear under various headings: (a) Gen. Loichse Raimne (70ra.26ff, heading in marg.); (b) De gen. Loichse Cuile ⁊ Reta; (c) Gen. Benntraige (f. 70ra-70va.4), incl. a version of the tract edited by Dobbs as ‘On the settlement of the Fotharta and the Laigsi’ (ZCP 16); (d) Genelogia Clainne Finain (f. 70va.4ff); (e) Nunc .h. Meic Liacc; (f) Nunc Dal Carpri Ditha; (g) [Do for]sl- Dal [Cairpri] nunc no [Ta]craige (heading in marg.); (h) Nunc .h. Diabulbaine; (i) Nunc Glasrige, incl. verse beg. Co fes cor leth iar Luachair (1q), attr. to the mother of Dega mac Cairpri (Hinc mathair Dega m. Cairpri cecinit).
f. 70v(128)a.i–f. 70v(128)b
[Tract on the Laigin ] Heading/rubric: ‘Duil laechsluinte Lagen in so sis acht on is diamair’Incipit: ‘Na tri Fothaid .i. tri m. Maicnia m. Lugdach’
Further genealogies of the Laigin. Incl. section headed Genelach Find m. hUmaill, incl. verse items: (a) beg. Na trí Fothaid (7 lines only), attr. to Find File mac Rosa (as-bert Find File m. Rosa); (b) 1 line beg. Secht rig do Laignib na lerg, for which see f. 48r(83); (c) 1 line beg. Coic rig trichat do Laignib (de quibus hoc carmen dictum est), for which see f. 48r(83); (d) beg. Se rig da fhichet co ngail (1q).
f. 70v(128)b.25–f. 71v(130)b.13
Heading/rubric: ‘Genelach Dail Birn .i. Osairge’Incipit: ‘Osairge tra Sil m.Bressail Bricc mc Fiachach Fabricc mc Ailella Glais ut in genelogiis Laginensium supra scripsimus’
Genealogies of the Osairge/Osraige. Pedigrees occur under different headings: (a) Hui Dega Tamnaig inso; (b) Hui Ossain (f. 71ra); (c) Clann Dubthaig inso sis; (d) Gen. .h. nEircc; (e) Gen. .h. Raithnen (f. 71rb); (f) Clann Taidc inso (f. 71va); (g) Clann hUargusa; (h) Clann Dungaile; (i) Clann Sechnasaich; (k) Gen. Sil Daimini; (l) Clann Conglaiss; (m) Clann Eladaich; (n) Clann Sraphan; (o) Gen. .h. mBarche m. Niad Coirb; (p) Gen. .h. Fairchellain inso (f. 71vb). No verse items are cited.