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

Middle Irish dialogue poem (18qq) with prose epilogue in the Book of Leinster. The poem is presented as a contentious dialogue between an old woman (callech) of Leinster and a servant (gilla) of the king of Munster (Cerball mac Muirecáin), in which the latter insists on his entitlement to meals and hospitality. The prose epilogue goes on to explain the reasons for the quarrel.

A ben bennacht fort - ná ráid

verse

beg. A ben bennacht fort – ná ráid

Daniél úa Líathaiti

Daniél úa Líathaiti

(ob. 863)

Abbot of Lismore and Cork. An Irish poem beg. A ben bennacht fort - ná ráid is ascribed to him.

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Buile Shuibne

A bennáin a búiredáin

verse

beg. A bennáin a búiredáin

A chlann Chóelbad meic Cruind crúaid

verse

21 st.

beg. A chlann Chóelbad meic Cruind crúaid

Middle Irish poem (21qq) on the kings of Dál nAraide.

A chloch thall for elaid úair

verse

beg. A chloch thall for elaid úair

Cináed úa hArtacáin

Cináed úa hArtacáin

(d. 975)

Middle Irish poet.

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Poem on a stone at Monasterboice, Co. Louth.

A chóemu cláir Chuinn choímfhinn

verse

25 st.

beg. A chóemu cláir Chuinn choímfhinn

Eochaid úa Flainn

Eochaid úa Flainn

(fl. c.936–1004, if he is Eochaid úa Flannucáin)

A medieval Irish poet to whom a number of Middle Irish poems, most of them in the Lebor gabála Érenn, have been attributed. His identification with Eochaid úa Flannucáin, a poet and historian who was guestmaster at Armagh, has gained favour over the years. In order not to pre-judge the matter, the two are distinguished in the present catalogue.

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Middle Irish poem (25 qq) attributed to Eochaid úa Flainn concerning the first settlements of Ireland by Cessair and Partholón. The poem as we have it was incorporated in the Lebor gabála Érenn and is common to all major recensions.

A Choimdiu baíd

verse

beg. A Choimdiu baíd

Ua Brolcháin (Máel Ísu)

Ua Brolcháin (Máel Ísu)

(d. (c.) 1086)

No short description available

A Choimdiu nom-choimét

verse

beg. A Choimdiu, nom-choimét

Ua Brolcháin (Máel Ísu)

Ua Brolcháin (Máel Ísu)

(d. (c.) 1086)

No short description available

A Chrínóc cubaid do cheól

verse

11 st.

beg. A Chrínóc, cubaid do cheól

Ua Brolcháin (Máel Ísu)

Ua Brolcháin (Máel Ísu)

(d. (c.) 1086)

No short description available

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Middle Irish lyrical poem addressed to a certain Crínóc (‘dear old little thing’, a hypocoristic form of crín). Crínóc is lovingly described as an old, judicious woman, who had lain with the speaker as well as other men yet who is without sin. James Carney was the first to suggest that she personifies an old psalm-book that the speaker had turned to since the age of seven, i.e. when he first received his religious education.

A Dé dúlig, atat-teoch

verse

50 st.

beg. A Dé dúlig, atat-teoch

Airbertach mac Cosse Dobráin

Airbertach mac Cosse Dobráin

(d. 1016)

Irish poet; fer légind of Ros Ailithir (Rosscarbery, Co. Cork)

Poem on the psalms and other religious matters.

A dhuine nach creit íar cóir

verse

86 st.

beg. A dhuine nach creit íar cóir

Úa Cúanáin (Echtgus)

Úa Cúanáin (Echtgus)

(d. 1161?)

Author of a Middle Irish metrical treatise on the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. According to a rubric in the Brussels copy of the poem, he was of the community of Roscrea. It has been suggested, e.g. by Aidan Breen, that he is the same person as Ísác Úa Cúanáin, first known bishop of Roscrea, whose obit is recorded in AFM under the year 1161.

Úa Cúanáin (Echtgus)

Úa Cúanáin (Echtgus)

(d. 1161?)

Author of a Middle Irish metrical treatise on the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. According to a rubric in the Brussels copy of the poem, he was of the community of Roscrea. It has been suggested, e.g. by Aidan Breen, that he is the same person as Ísác Úa Cúanáin, first known bishop of Roscrea, whose obit is recorded in AFM under the year 1161.

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Late Middle Irish metrical treatise (86 qq) on the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, attributed to Echtgus Ua Cúanáin of Roscrea.

A écsiu Fáil fégam sein

verse

9 st.

beg. A écsiu Fáil fégam sein

A poem of nine quatrains giving the fifteen names of the river Boyne

A Emain idnach óebind

verse

46 st.

beg. A Emain idnach óebind

Eochaid úa Flainn

Eochaid úa Flainn

(fl. c.936–1004, if he is Eochaid úa Flannucáin)

A medieval Irish poet to whom a number of Middle Irish poems, most of them in the Lebor gabála Érenn, have been attributed. His identification with Eochaid úa Flannucáin, a poet and historian who was guestmaster at Armagh, has gained favour over the years. In order not to pre-judge the matter, the two are distinguished in the present catalogue.

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Middle Irish poem which is concerned with the origins of Emain Macha and is attested as a poem incorporated in recensions of Lebor gabála Érenn. While the Book of Leinster version seems to break off after 16 qq, the longer version which occurs in other recensions (46 qq) has a final quatrain which attributes the poem to Eochaid úa Flainn.

A fhir iadas in tech

verse

beg. A fhir iadas in tech

Cúán úa Lothcháin

Cúán úa Lothcháin

(d. 1024)

Early Irish poet.

Poem in which the speaker Húa Locháin (l. 2), i.e. Cúán úa Lothcháin, seeks access to Tara by professing to know the lucky and unlucky things of a king.

A fhir ná suid ar in síd

verse

49 st.

beg. A fhir, ná suid ar in síd

Middle Irish poem (49 qq) on the Ua Conchobair kings of Connacht.

A fhir thall triallus

verse

30 st.

beg. A fhir thall tríallus in scél

Fíngen mac Flainn

Fíngen mac Flainn

(fl. 9th century (?))

early Irish poet to whom is ascribed a threat of satire (a tréfhocal fócrai, beg. A mo Choimdiu nél) to the Fir Arddae; said to be a pupil to one Dubdhartach.

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Middle Irish poem (30qq) attributed to Fíngen mac Flainn, in the form of a series of questions and interlined answers concerning Irish history and pseudo-history.

A fhir théit i Mag Medba

verse

34 st.

beg. A fhir théit i Mag Medba

Middle Irish poem (34qq) on the Christian kings of Connacht based at Crúachan, from Amalgaid mac Fíachrai (supp. fl. 5th century) to Toirdelbach Ua Conchobair (d. 1156).

A gillu gairm n-ilgrada

verse

beg. A gillu gairm n-ilgrada

Flann Mainistrech

Flann Mainistrech

(d. 1056)

Middle Irish poet ass. with Monasterboice (Mainistir Buite)

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Middle Irish poem attributed to Flann Mainistrech on the names belonging to a certain ‘people of a burdensome company’ (muinter na tromdáma), who are once described as a wicked or accursed people (munter mallacta).

Annals of the Four Masters

A h-aon noí ccét cethre deich

verse

1 st.

beg. A h-aon noí ccét cethre deich

Mugrón [unidentified]

Mugrón (one or multiple unidentified authors)

The name Mugrón occurs in a number of textual attributions where the identity of the intended author cannot be ascertained. The references may be to Mugrón, abbot of Iona, to Mugrón of Tuam, or someone else entirely.

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A single quatrain cited in the Annals of the Four Masters (s.a. 941), on the obit of Muirchertach mac Néill, and there attributed to a certain Mugrón.

A maccáin ná cí

verse

beg. A maccáin ná cí

Ailill Ólomm

Ailill Ólomm

(time-frame ass. with Irish legendary history)

king of Munster; reputed ancestor of the Éoganacht and Dál Cais; a prominent figure in various king-tales, such as those revolving around the Battle of Mag Mucrama.

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A Maire mín maithingen

verse

beg. A Maire mín, maith-ingen

Colum Cille

Colum Cille

(fl. 6th century)

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

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Middle Irish litany (16 qq) attributed to Colum Cille

A Mhuircheartaigh mhic Néill náir

verse