Rónán, Eithne and Máel Fothartaig

Ll. 1–6: introduction about Rónán, Eithne and Máel Fothartaig.

Rónán and his new wife

Ll. 7–26. Rónán and his second wife.

The queen sends her handmaiden

Ll 27–55. The queen sends her handmaiden.

Máel Fothartaig in Scotland

Ll. 56–88. To evade his father’s wife, Máel Fothartaig visits Scotland but when Rónán gets into trouble for his absence, he returns to Ireland. First, he passes through Eochaid’s court at Dún Sobairche, where he is told that Eochaid’s daughter is intended for him. He asks Congal for assistance and Congal arranges a meeting the next day at Bae Aífi. [...]

Source:221/The cows of Aífe

Ll. 88-. On his way to ‘The cows of Aífe’ (Bae Aífi), Congal meets the king’s wife and vehemently reproaches her for her actions.

–––

When Rónán comes home, his wife tells him that MF has sexually approached and assaulted her and that she has evidence to support it, which is then demonstrated in the well-known verse-capping scene that follows.

–––

On the king's command, Áedan mac Fiachnai Lára runs spears through MF and Congal as well as the jester. MF is alive long enough to set the record straight but all three die eventually.

Repercussions

–––

For three consecutive days, Rónán remains with his son’s body.

162

Donn plots to take revenge on Eochaid and decapitates him and his family. [Donn returns with the severed heads.]

Rónán and Eochaid’s daughter

Ll. 167 ff. Back to Rónán, who chants four quatrains of said poem and exchanges quatrains with his wife. Donn returns with the severed heads of Eochaid and his family, and Eochaid’s daughter commits suicide.

Rónán’s poem Ro gab Eochaid oenléni

After Donn’s return, Rónán utters 12 qq, in which he recaps elements of the preceding story.

Revenge on Áedan and Rónán

Máel Fothartaig’s sons hunt down Áedan and it is Áed who kills him with a spear. Rónán, who was previously thrown on his back by the Leinstermen, utters two other quatrains and dies.