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Díarmait rules with heavy hand, employing stewards (both mair and rechtaireda) and soldiers billetting on local resources. One time in Connacht, he travels in the company of stewards (mair) and baccláim, with a herald/crier (callaire) preceding him. The herald proclaims the king’s arrival when the king pays someone a visit for hospitality (oígidecht, i.e. of the guesting variety). He demands that the gate (dorus) of one’s dwelling should be demolished so that the king could enter with his spear held crosswise. No one dares to raise objections and the herald would be demonically possessed as he presses his instructions.

Agents

Díarmait mac CerbaillDíarmait mac Cerbaill
(supp. d. 565)
In Irish historical tradition, high-king of Ireland, son of Fergus Cerrbél.
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Lexical items

Ir. cáinIrish cáin
Search eDILIr. smachtIrish smacht
Search eDILIr. rechtIrish recht
Search eDILIr. oígidechtIrish oígidecht
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However, the king finds resistance when he comes to the house of Áed Guaire in the land of Uí Maine Connacht. Áed Guaire, angered at the king’s demand, slays the herald (called gilla in gái ‘servant/lad of the spear’). Áed flees to the Múscraige, secures the protection (commairge) of his maternal cousin, Bishop Senach, who in turn places him in the protection of the saint Ruadán of Lorrha, whose sisters (Cóel and Ruadnait) had fostered Senach as a child. Ruadán, in turn, transfers him to the Britons, but Díarmait’s influence is such that Áed is not safe with the Britons or in Alba. Ruadán receives him once again, concealing him under ground at Poll Ruadáin.

Agents

Díarmait mac CerbaillDíarmait mac Cerbaill
(supp. d. 565)
In Irish historical tradition, high-king of Ireland, son of Fergus Cerrbél.
See more Áed GúaireÁed Gúaire
(supp. fl. 6th century)
Áed Guaire
(time-frame ass. with Díarmait mac Cerbaill, Ruadán of Lorrha)
A king or chieftain of Uí Máine in tales about Rúadán of Lorrha and Díarmait mac Cerbaill, who is said to have slain Áed in spite of the saint’s protection.
See more Senach mac CairillSenach mac Cairill
saint described as ‘bishop’ among the Múscraige. Feastday unknown unless he is the saint of the same name commemorated together with Gobnait of Duhallow on 11 February.
See more Ruadán of LorrhaRuadán of Lorrha
(d. 584)
Ruadán mac Fergusa Birn
(time-frame ass. with Díarmait mac Cerbaill)
Ruadán mac Fergusa Birn, patron saint of Lothra (Lorrha, Co. North Tipperary)
See more Cóel [sister to Ruadán of Lorrha]Cóel ... sister to Ruadán of Lorrha

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

See more Ruadnait [sister to Ruadán of Lorrha]Ruadnait ... sister to Ruadán of Lorrha

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

Lexical items

Ir. commairceIrish commairce
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When Díarmait learns of this, he sends a charioteer (anonymous) to drag Áed from his hiding place, but the use of his eyes is lost to him as soon as he goes underground. Díarmait confronts Ruadán, who truthfully tells him that he does not know Áed’s whereabouts unless he is beneath the king. Díarmait only later realises that Áed was, in fact, hiding beneath his feet and sends a certain Donnán to drag him off. Donnán fails, having lost the strength of his arms when he tried to dig the earth. Both the charioteer and Donnán submit to Ruadán, join his monastery and later become venerated as saints at Poll Ruadáin. Finally, Díarmait arrives in person and drags Áed off to Tara. Here Áed awaits execution by hanging.

Subjects

charioteers⟨people by activity⟩, ⟨people by occupation⟩
charioteers

id. 25992

Keywords

sanctuarysanctuary
...

Agents

Díarmait mac CerbaillDíarmait mac Cerbaill
(supp. d. 565)
In Irish historical tradition, high-king of Ireland, son of Fergus Cerrbél.
See more Áed GúaireÁed Gúaire
(supp. fl. 6th century)
Áed Guaire
(time-frame ass. with Díarmait mac Cerbaill, Ruadán of Lorrha)
A king or chieftain of Uí Máine in tales about Rúadán of Lorrha and Díarmait mac Cerbaill, who is said to have slain Áed in spite of the saint’s protection.
See more Donnán [in service of Díarmait mac Cerbaill]Donnán ... in service of Díarmait mac Cerbaill

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