Ruadán (of Lorrha) and Brénainn of Birr go to Tara in order to have Áed Guaire released. Díarmait refuses, saying that the Church has no right to provide protection (sarugud) when the offender has breached royal law (recht). The saints chant psalms of malediction (salmu escaine) and sound bells against the king. That night, twelve royal sons who have been given in fosterage to the king die instantly in Tara. Their guardians beg the saints to bring the youths back to life. The churchmen pray and the youths are restored to life.
Agents
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)
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Brénainn of BirrBrénainn of Birr
(d. 565/73)
Brendan mac Nemainn, patron saint of Birr
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Díarmait mac CerbaillDíarmait mac Cerbaill
(supp. d. 565)
In Irish historical tradition, high-king of Ireland, son of Fergus Cerrbél.
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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.
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Places
Temair
Temair ... Tara
County Meath
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Lexical items
Ir. sarugudIrish sarugud
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Ir. salmu escaineIrish salmu escaine
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For a whole year, the saints [Ruadán of Lorrha and Brénainn of Birr] heap curses (escaini) on the king and work many miracles, but Díarmait does not give up: for every act of supernatural power (firt) he returns another. One time, however, as the saints and the king fast against one another (this is implicit in the text of Egerton 1782), the clerics reward the house steward (ferthigis) with Heaven if he can make the king believe that they have broken their fast.
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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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)
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Brénainn of BirrBrénainn of Birr
(d. 565/73)
Brendan mac Nemainn, patron saint of Birr
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Lexical items
Ir. ferthigisIrish ferthigis
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That night, the king has a dream in which he sees a tall tree standing in Tara. Fifty foreigners (gall) led by two of them attempt to chop down the tree but at every attempt, the tree is renewed. However, the tree falls as soon as he is removed from it. Díarmait, having awoken at the sound of the crash, interprets the dream as telling him that the clergy are bringing about his downfall, with the tree representing the king himself.
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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Places
Temair
Temair ... Tara
County Meath
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The following morning, Díarmait goes to confront the saints and vent his anger. Díarmait and Ruadán exchange a series of imprecations. Díarmait wishes that Ruadán’s diocese is the first to fall, that Ruadán will suffer a blemish (resulting in the bursting of one of the saint’s eyes), that Ruadán’s bodily relics will be scattered, etc. Ruadán, in turn, utters curses to the effect that Díarmait’s reign will be cut short, his body dismembered and even that Tara will cease to be a residential site for future kings. As Díarmait notices the ridge-beam (cleith) of the house, Ruadán hints at its role in the king’s death.
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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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)
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Brénainn of BirrBrénainn of Birr
(d. 565/73)
Brendan mac Nemainn, patron saint of Birr
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Díarmait releases Áed and makes peace with the saints. He recites a brief poem, beg. ‘Mairg thochrus fri cléirchib cell’, about the tragic conclusion of his conflict with the clerics, notably the fall of Tara. He continues (in prose) reproaching the clerics for the misery they have contributed to the future of Ireland and wishing that secular lords will oppress the churches with their visits.
The poem is considerably longer in RIA MS D ii 1 (22 qq) and also occurs in the second recension. The anecdote about the king fasting against the saints is recalled with some additional details in the conclusion of this text (see further on).
Agents
Díarmait mac CerbaillDíarmait mac Cerbaill
(supp. d. 565)
In Irish historical tradition, high-king of Ireland, son of Fergus Cerrbél.
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)
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Brénainn of BirrBrénainn of Birr
(d. 565/73)
Brendan mac Nemainn, patron saint of Birr
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Included
Beg. Mairg thochrus fri cléirchib cell



RIA MS D ii 1: 22 qq.



Before Ruadán, Brénainn and Áed return to Poll Ruain, they see 30 splendid horses coming towards them from the sea. They donate the horses, which prove to excel in speed, to Díarmait, but the horses assume their original shapes and return to the sea.
Subjects
magic horsesmagic animals
magic horses
id. 27005
Agents
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
Brénainn of BirrBrénainn of Birr
(d. 565/73)
Brendan mac Nemainn, patron saint of Birr
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.
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Places
Poll RuainPoll Ruain

No description available

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Source:Aided Diarmata meic Cerbaill I/08 (Áed Guaire and his release)
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