§§ 36–38

On Bres’ inhospitality and unkingly rule, and Ogma’s plight [cf. § 25]

When Bres held the kingship, the Túatha Dé were dissatisfied with his meagre hospitality in terms of the provision of food and drink and entertainment:

ar níbtar béoluide a scénai úatha ‘for their knives were not greased by him’ and níptar cormaide a n-anáulai ‘their breaths did not smell of ale’, and
his household (teglach) never saw the performance of their entertainers (poets, bards, satirists, harpers, pipers, horn-blowers, jugglers and fools), nor did they see any contests between those skilled in the arts (ségonn) or men of martial skill.

The one exception was Ogma son of Étaín, who had to carry firewood, a bundle every day, from the islands of Innsi Mod [islands of Clew Bay, Co. Mayo], in order to supply those at Bres’s fortress. Since he was famished, he used to arrive with only a third of the bundle, the rest of it having been swept off by the sea.

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Agents

Bres mac ElathanBres mac Elathan
No short description available
See more Túatha Dé DanannTúatha Dé (Danann)
Tuatha Dé Danann;Túatha Dé
A common Irish designation for a group of supernatural or magical figures in Irish history, broadly equivalent to the áes síde. In the pseudo-historical tradition represented by Lebor gabála Érenn and other texts, they are presented and arguably, to some extent euhemerised as the pre-Christian people that conquered Ireland from the Fir Bolg and were later overcome by the sons of Míl (the Gaels).
See more Ogma mac ÉtnaeOgma mac Étnae

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

Places

Innsi ModInnsi Mod

No description available

Lexical items