Acallam na senórach ll. 1–57. Prologue

Short description

‘Prologue’ to the Acallam na senórach, ed. Whitley Stokes, ‘Acallamh na senórach’ in Irische Texte mit Wörterbuch... (1900): lines 1–57, cf. Myles Dillon, Stories from the Acallam (1970); tr. Dooley and Roe (1999): 3-4.

Following a series of battles, the Fían, i.e. the fían of Finn mac Cumaill, has been destroyed and its few remaining survivors are dispersed across Ireland. A small remnant from this bygone age survives into the time of St Patrick’s advent in Ireland: aged, weakened and sorrowful, Finn’s son Oisín and Finn’s nephew Caílte still wander about, each with a band of followers. One day, having travelled to the area of Louth, they seek hospitality for the night and find a welcome and lavish reception in the home of Lady Cáma, who used to be Finn’s guardian. Oisín and Caílte part ways. While Oisín goes to visit his mother Blaí at Síd Ochta Cleitig (a síd-mound), Caílte journeys southwards to Ráith Droma Deirc (Ford of the Red Ridge), the site of Finn’s residence.

Following Dooley and Roe (1999), this section of the Acallam may be treated as a prologue in that it occurs before Caílte’s (first) meeting with St Patrick.

Incipit

Ar tabhuirtt chatha Chomuir ⁊ chatha Gabra ⁊ chatha Ollurbha, ⁊ ar n-díthugud na Féindi ...

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Items

Caílte is here called a son of Crundchú mac Rónáin (Cáilti mac Crundchon, mhic Rónáin).

Oisín son of Finn mac Cumaill and Blaí ingen Deirg Díanscothaig

Oisín mac Finn; Blaí ingen Deirg Díanscothaig; Finn mac Cumaill;

Cámha: Finn’s former guardian, ban-fhlaith.

Blaí daughter of Derg Díanscothach (Bla inghen Déirc Dhianscothaig)

Finn mac Cumaill; Oscar mac Oisín; Mac Lugach: referred or alluded to but playing no active part.

Moríath ingen ríg mhara Grég, daughter of the king of the Sea of the Greeks, gave the drinking horn Angalach to Finn mac Cumaill, who in turn donated it to Cáma.

Bec the Exile (Loingsech) mac Airist

Síd Ochta Cleitig; Ráith Droma Deirc (Finn’s residence)

Verse beg. Is toirrsech indíu Cámha (1 q.)

Verse beg. Is toirrsech indíu Cámha (9 qq.)

In Rawlinson B 487 (f. 12v), the quatrain beg. ‘Is toirrsech indíu Cámha’ has been extended with eight further quatrains. This expanded version does not appear to have been edited or translated.

Oisín and Caílte part ways. While Oisín goes to visit his mother Blaí at Síd Ochta Cleitig (a síd-mound), Caílte journeys southwards to Ráith Droma Deirc (Ford of the Red Ridge), the site of Finn’s residence. Caílte’s itinerary leads him past Indber mBic Loingsig, now Mellifont abbey, Lind Fheic (the Pool of Fiacc) on the Boyne and across the plain of Brega.

Agents

Caílte mac RónáinCaílte mac Rónáin
Caílte mac Crundchon meic Rónáin
(time-frame ass. with Finn Cycle)
or Caílte mac Crundchon meic Rónáin, kinsman of Finn mac Cumaill and a prominent member of his fían; accomplished warrior and hunter; one of the protagonists of Acallam na senórach
See more Oisín mac FinnOisín mac Finn
Oisín
(time-frame ass. with Finn Cycle, Finn mac Cumaill, Saint Patrick, Cormac mac Airt)
A fían-warrior, son of Finn, in the Finn Cycle of medieval Irish literature
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Places

Síd Ochta CleitigSíd Ochta Cleitig

No description available

See more Mellifont Abbey

Mainistir (Mór) Drochit Átha ... Mellifont Abbey

County Louth

See more Lind FheicLind Fheic

No description available

See more River BoyneRiver Boyne

No description available

See more BregaBrega

No description available