Textual classifications • CODECS: Online Database and e-Resources for Celtic Studies

Old Irish praise poem in honour of a religious man, whom manuscript tradition identifies as the saint Mo Ling. This praise is delivered in the form of analogies with both natural and man-made things. In several manuscript versions, the poem is introduced by a prose anecdote which explains that the Devil had appeared to Mo Ling disguised as Christ but was unsuccessful in his attempts to deceive the saint. Mo Ling challenged the Devil and forced him into uttering this poem in his honour.

Isam aithrech febda fecht

verse

9 st.

beg. Isam aithrech, febda fecht

Óengus céile DéÓengus céile Dé

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

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First of two devotional Middle Irish poems (9 stanzas) that were added to the Saltair na rann in the Rawl. B 502 manuscript.

M'oenurán dam isin sliabh

verse

11 st.;17 st.

beg. M’óenurán dam isin slíabh

Colum Cille

Colum Cille

(fl. 6th century)

founder and abbot of Iona, Kells (Cenandas) and Derry (Daire).

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Maire máthair in maic bic

verse

7 st.;8 st.

beg. Maire máthair in maic bic

Short Old Irish poem (7 qq + 1 possibly interpolated) on the Virgin Mary, preserved only in a 17th-century manuscript (NLI MS G 50).

Mithig dam-sa tairerad

verse

10 st.

beg. Mithig dam-sa tairerad / do thriall o thoraib teglaig

Colum Cille

Colum Cille

(fl. 6th century)

founder and abbot of Iona, Kells (Cenandas) and Derry (Daire).

See more (ascr.)Céle Dabhail mac ScannailCéle Dabhail mac Scannail

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Religious Irish poem (10 qq) on pilgrimage. In MSS of the Annals of the Four Masters, under the year 926, it is attributed to Céle Dabhail, abbot of Bangor, who is said have composed it before going on pilgrimage to Rome. The copy in Laud Misc. 615, a collection of poetry associated with Colum Cille, comes with an attribution to that saint.

Ní car Brigit

verse

beg. Ní car Brigit búadach bith

Broccán clóen

Broccán clóen

(d. 650)

No short description available

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Ní-m thá saegid for Día ndron

verse

58 st.

beg. Ní-m thá saegid for Día ndron

The second of two Middle Irish devotional poems that are found after the core of Saltair na rann in Rawl. B 502.

Aided Diarmata meic Cerbaill I, Independent

Olc bith aromthá

verse

beg. Olc bith aromthá

Becc mac Dé

Becc mac Dé

(d. 550s)

legendary seer, best known from literary sources as an Irish prophet associated with Díarmait mac Cerbaill

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A verse prophecy attributed to the seer Becc mac Dé on evil things to come

Pátraicc Macha mártai Gaídil

verse

13 st.

beg. Pátraicc Macha mártai Gaídil

Middle Irish poem (13 st.) in praise of St Patrick.

Ro thinnscanad in tAmra

verse

1 st.

beg. Ro thinnscanad in tAmra

Máel Suthain [poet]Máel Suthain ... poet

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An Irish quatrain attributed to Máel Suthain, which is cited in the prose preface to the Amra Choluim Chille as supporting evidence for the composition of the Amra having been begun in Áth Féine Ollarba and completed in Tech Lomráin.

Ropadh maith lem corm-lind mór

verse

5 st.

beg. Ropadh maith lem / corm-lind mór do Rígh na rígh

Brigit of Kildare

Brigit of Kildare

(c. 439/452–c. 524/526)

patron saint of Kildare, whose cult spread both within and outside of Ireland.

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Middle Irish poem (5 qq) attributed to St Brigit of Kildare.

Saltair na rann

verse

1,947 st.

Middle Irish verse composition giving accounts of biblical history, from the time of Creation to the resurrection of Christ. It is divided into 150 cantos of varying lengths, ranging from just 3 quatrains to as many as 138.

Saltair na rann

Saltair na rann/1 Mo rí-se rí nime náir

verse

84 st.

beg. Mo rí-se rí nime náir

The opening poem or canto (84qq) in the Middle Irish series of poems known as Saltair na rann. It deals with the universe and its creation, drawing on biblical narrative as well as other sources.

Scíath Dé do nim umam

verse

26 st.

beg. Scíath Dé do nim umam

Colum Cille

Colum Cille

(fl. 6th century)

founder and abbot of Iona, Kells (Cenandas) and Derry (Daire).

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A lorica (lúirech) attributed to Colum Cille.

Scuchais in fer cerdda ar cáe

verse

6 st.

beg. Scuchais in fer cerdda ar cáe

Poem (6qq) on Cairid mac Findcháem, an ancestor of the Conmaicne Cúile Tolad and Síl Caritha, who was blessed by St Patrick. The earliest manuscript version, which is in Rawlinson B 502, adds two additional quatrains, which are, however, metrically distinct from the first 6 qq of the poem.

Simon Madian is Matha

verse

2 st.;1 st.

beg. Simon, Madian is Matha

A single quatrain in the Liber hymnorum (TCD MS 1441, f. 31vb), which lists names of the twelve apostles. A note in at least one version of the Commentary to Félire Óengusso (31 July) gives the same quatrain but adds another quatrain with names of prominent Irish saints corresponding in part to other lists of the ‘twelve apostles of Ireland’.

Trea ropo maith in ben

verse

4 st.

beg. Trea ropo maith in ben

Brief Irish poem (4 qq) on Trea or Créde, daughter of Rónán king of Leinster, and the strange conception of her son Baethín, patron saint of Ennisboyne.

Uch, a Dé

verse

6 st.

beg. Uch, a Dé

Middle Irish religious poem (6 qq)

Uga Corbmaic meic Cuilendáin

verse

29 st.

beg. In rogh so, a Rí na run

Cormac mac Cuilennáin

Cormac mac Cuilennáin

(d. 908)

bishop and king of Munster

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Early Irish religious poem (29qq) attributed to Cormac mac Cuilennáin. What appears to be a full copy of text is attested in a single manuscript, while fragments of it also turn up as citations elsewhere.

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