Irish feccaIrish Fidfhecach
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5. Éogan’s fourth epithet —
On Éogan's fourth epithet, Fidfhecach, ed. and tr. Eugene O'Curry, Cath Mhuighe Léana or The Battle of Magh Leana, together with Tochmarc Moméra or the Courtship of Moméra (1855).
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The last episode of the story relates how Éogan constructs new courts on his recently obtained lands, first by cutting down trees and digging up the ground. In order that his workers also use their feet in addition to their hands, he orders that handles (fecca) are attached to the trees. For this invention, the druid bestows on him the (fourth and) last of his epithets, Fidfhecach (translated by O'Curry as ‘of the return-trees’), and he foretells that all three courts — each of which will be known as Fidhfheccai — will be built in this way and serve as the seats from which he will rule half of Ireland.
The last episode of the story relates how Éogan constructs new courts on his recently obtained lands, first by cutting down trees and digging up the ground. In order that his workers also use their feet in addition to their hands, he orders that handles (fecca) are attached to the trees. For this invention, the druid bestows on him the (fourth and) last of his epithets, Fidfhecach (translated by O'Curry as ‘of the return-trees’), and he foretells that all three courts — each of which will be known as Fidhfheccai — will be built in this way and serve as the seats from which he will rule half of Ireland.
Regarding fecca: O'Curry (1855: 166-167) suggests that “the word Feac signifies now in Munster the spade-tree (handle) alone; and the treadle or return, which is generally a distinct piece, is called Eric. But in Meath and the eastern part of Leinster, they call the whole spade a fac (feac.)”
Subjects
Fidfhecach
Agents
Mug Núadat ... alias Éogan Taídlech <strong>Mug Núadat (al. Éogan Taídlech)</strong> <br>(<i>time-frame ass. with</i> Conn Cétchathach) <br>legendary king of Munster; father of Ailill Ólomm and grandfather of Éogan Mór; ancestor of the Éoganacht. His main rival in the sources is Conn Cétchathach, with whom he comes to an arrangement: to divide Ireland into a northern half (<i>Leth Cuinn</i>) and a southern half (<i>Leth Moga</i>).
Lexical items
Ir. fecca
Ir. Fidfhecach
Ir. Fidfhecach
