Texts
Tract on the Laigin
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The catalogue entry for this text has not been published as yet. Until then, a selection of data is made available below.
Manuscript witnesses
Text
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 P 2
Closely related version
MS
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 P 2
rubric: Miniugad senchusa Laigin and so sis incipit: Ailill Aine meic Laegairi Luirc meic Ugaine Moir meic Eachach Buadaig Transcribed from this manuscript in NLI MS G 44.
f. 84(93)ra
Text
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 P 12
Closely related version
MS
Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1339
Genealogical tract for the ruling families of Leinster. Individual poems cited in this text are given separately below. The divisions suggested by Johan Corthals, ‘The rhymeless ‘Leinster poems’: diplomatic texts’, Celtica 24 (2003) are adopted here.
p. 311a–
Text
Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1339
Contains the shortest version
MS
Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1339
incl. Nidu dír dermait, Móen óen Prefatory matter: aetiological note on the Laigin, beg. Can as roetattar Lagin ainmnigud? (ed. 1327). Incl. ‘rhymeless Leinster poem’ beg. Móen óen (p. 311a, l. 19ff), and a citation from the ‘rhyming Leinster poem’ beg. Nidu dír do dermat; regnal list from Labraid Longsech to Nad Buidb (ed. 1328).
in section: p. 311a–
MS
Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1339
incipit: Gabais iarum Labraid Longsech ríge nh-Erenn incl. Ní celt ceis, Lug scéith, Mál ad-rualaid, Eochu Ferngen, Baeth buide, Trí meic Ruaid, Find Taulcha A. history of the Laigin from Labraid Loingsech to Cú Chorb (ed. 1328–1332). Incl. rhymeless Leinster poems beg. Ni ceilt ceis ceol de chruitt Chraptini (p. 311b, ll. 4–8); Lug scéith (p. 311b, ll. 15–19); Mál ad-rualaid (p. 311b, 33–38); Eochu Ferngen (p. 311b, ll. 39–48); Baeth buide (p. 311b, ll. 53–58); Find Taulcha, fragment (p. 311c, ll. 7–12); Trí meic Ruaid (p. 311c, ll. 34–37).
in section: p. 311b–
MS
Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1339
incl. Nidu dír dermait B. primary lineages: (1) Dál Cairpri Arad, headed GENELACH DAL CORPRI ARAD (ed. 1332); (2) Dál Cormaic Loisc (ed. 1332–1336); (3) Dál Messin Corb, headed DE GENELACH DAIL MESSI CORBB (ed. 1336–1339); (4) Dál Niad Cuirp, headed DE GENELACH DÁIL NIA CORBB (ed. 1339–1353), incl. quatrain beg. Longais mauru Murithach ... attributed to Laidcenn, a version quoted from Nidu dír dermait, one of the so-called rhyming ‘Leinster poems’.
in section: p. 312a
MS
Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1339
incl. Coeca fichet filed, Án grian, Mára galgata, Már drecuin C. Expansion: story and descent of Cathaír Már and his son Fíachu ba Aiccid of Dál Niad Cuirp (ed. 1353–1367); primary subordinate lineages: Loíchsi (ed. 1367–1369). Incl. ‘rhymeless Leinster poems’ Coeca fichet filed (p. 315b, ll 8–10); Án grian (p. 315c, ll. 2–4); Mára galgata (p. 315c, ll. 11–18); Már drecuin (p. 316b, ll. 62–64).
in section: p. 315b–
MS
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502/2 (ff. 19-89)
Genealogies of the descendants of Cú Chorb (a-c): Dál Cairpre Arad, Dáil Cormaic and Dál Messin Corb. The layout of the pages follows the usual space-saving pattern by which columns can subdivided into new columns to accommodate multiple vertically arranged pedigrees and in which this pattern can be repeated again when necessary. In the first column, with its subcolumns, this is further complicated by two other strategies: some of the headings are linked to their pedigrees through the use of special signs such as ⋮ and ◎, and some additional information is added in the margins. Headings: (a1) De genelogia Dail Cairpri Arad (f. 66ra); (a2) De g[e]nelogia .D. Cairpri Arad, retro haec genel. recitatur (f. 66ra); (a3) Gen. .h. Lomthuile (f. 66a.i); (b1) Gen. .D. Cormaic .h. Labrada; (b2) De Gen. .h. nOchrae; (b3) G. .h. mBuide; (b4) Item .h. Mael hUidir; (b5) Item .h. Buide (f. 66rb.6); (b6) Item [.h.] Ma[el] hU[idir] (right margin); (b7) De gen. .h. Libren; (b8) Gen. .h. Cuircc; (b9) Item .h. Labrada; (c1) De gen. Dail Messen Corb (f. 66va); (c2) Forsluinte Dail Messin Corb; (c3) Gen. .h. Garrchon; (c4) Forshluinti .h. Nair.
f. 66r(119)a–
MS
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502/2 (ff. 19-89)
rubric: Incipiunt pauca de nominibus Laginensium ⁊ de regibus ⁊ originibus ⁊ de genelogiis ⁊ (di)uisionibus[?] eorum incipit: Can ⁊ cid h-ua roetatar Lagin ainmnigud. Ni ansae. Large tract containing genealogies of the Laigin and related matter.
f. 64r(115)a.1–
MS
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502/2 (ff. 19-89)
rubric: De peritia ⁊ genelogia Loichsi incipit: Lugaid Loigsech Cennmar m. Conaill Cernaich di Ultaib incl. Co fes cor leth iar Luachair, On the settlement of the Fotharta and the Laigsi Prose account of Lugaid Loígsech followed by genealogies of the Loíchse (ff. 69vb.i-70va), the second of the prím-forslointe of Leinster to be treated in detail. Pedigrees appear under various headings: (a) Gen. Loichse Raimne (70ra.26ff, heading in marg.); (b) De gen. Loichse Cuile ⁊ Reta; (c) Gen. Benntraige (f. 70ra-70va.4), incl. a version of the tract edited by Dobbs as ‘On the settlement of the Fotharta and the Laigsi’ (ZCP 16); (d) Genelogia Clainne Finain (f. 70va.4ff); (e) Nunc .h. Meic Liacc; (f) Nunc Dal Carpri Ditha; (g) [Do for]sl- Dal [Cairpri] nunc no [Ta]craige (heading in marg.); (h) Nunc .h. Diabulbaine; (i) Nunc Glasrige, incl. verse beg. Co fes cor leth iar Luachair (1q), attr. to the mother of Dega mac Cairpri (Hinc mathair Dega m. Cairpri cecinit).
in section: f. 69v(126)b.13–
MS
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502/2 (ff. 19-89)
incipit: De peritia ⁊ de genelogis Dal Niad Cuirp incipit incl. Fiachu Dáire Crimthann Rus, Mac Locc Fergus Cétach cruaid Genealogies of the descendants of Cú Chorb (d): Dál Niad Cuirp (1). Includes on f. 67ra, two verse extracts: (a) a quatrain beg. Fiachu, Daire, Crimthann, Rus and (b) another beg. Mac Locc, Fergus, Cetach cruaid.
in section: f. 66v(120)b.46–
MS
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502/2 (ff. 19-89)
incipit: Can ⁊ cid h-ua roetatar Lagin ainmnigud. Ni ansae. incl. Nidu dír dermait, Énna Labraid luad cáich, Nuadu Necht ní dámair anflaith, Móen óen First section of the tract, on the origin and early rulers of the Laigin, which may be seen as consisting of four items each of which contains a brief note in prose and a poem (so-called ‘Leinster poems’): (a) It starts off with the traditional etymology of Laigin (from láigen ‘spear’) as a way of introducing notes on Labraid Loingsech and his direct ancestors, together with the early poem beg. Móen óen a ba noed (5qq, f.64ra); (b) shifts focus to the line of kings from Núadu Necht with the poem beg. Nuadu Necht ni damair anflaith (52qq), here ascribed to in rígfhile Find Rossa Ruaid (f.64ra-c); (c) to that from Énna Cennselach with the poem beg. Énna Labraid / luad cáich (53qq), ascribed to Ladcenn mc Barcida primfile hErenn (prose on f.64rc.i, poem on f. 64va-b). (d) A new section is suggested by the heading De regibus Lagenorum et de ordinibus eorum nunc incipit at the bottom of f. 64vb, followed on f. 64vc by a brief note in prose and the poem beg. Nidu dir dermait dala cach rig romdae (22qq), again attributed to primfile cetna Laidcenn mc Bairceda.
in section: f. 64r(115)a.3–
MS
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502/2 (ff. 19-89)
rubric: Duil laechsluinte Lagen in so sis acht on is diamair incipit: Na tri Fothaid .i. tri m. Maicnia m. Lugdach incl. Na trí Fothaid, Cóic ríg tríchat do Laignib, Secht ríg do Laignib na lerg, Sé ríg dá fhichet co n-gail Further genealogies of the Laigin. Incl. section headed Genelach Find m. hUmaill, incl. verse items: (a) beg. Na trí Fothaid (7 lines only), attr. to Find File mac Rosa (as-bert Find File m. Rosa); (b) 1 line beg. Secht rig do Laignib na lerg, for which see f. 48r(83); (c) 1 line beg. Coic rig trichat do Laignib (de quibus hoc carmen dictum est), for which see f. 48r(83); (d) beg. Se rig da fhichet co ngail (1q).
in section: f. 70v(128)a.i–
MS
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502/2 (ff. 19-89)
rubric: Miniugud senchasa mac n-airegda Cathair incl. Nidu dír dermait, Níbu cráeb crínfeda, Ind ráth h-i comair in dairfheda Genealogies of the descendants of Cú Chorb (d): Dál Niad Cuirp (2). Pedigrees under various headings: (a) Gen .h. mBairche (f. 67ra.38-67vb), incl. line beg. Longais maro Muiredach, extracted from Laidcenn's poem Nidu dír dermait (ut Laidcenn dixit ... ut supra); (b) Gen. .h. Crimthain (f. 67vb), incl. verse beg. Nibu craeb crinfeda (11 lines); (c) Gen. hua Failge, incl. verse Ind rath hi comair in dairfheda (7 lines), ascr. to Berchán (De quibus Berchan cecinit ic Raith Imgain); (d) .h. Failge Iarmotha (f. 68ra.32); (e) Gen. clainne Colgcan (f. 68rb); (f) G. .h. Colcan o Thig Cainen; (g) G. clainne Rotaide; (h) G. clainne Colg i Liphi; (i) G. .h. Riacain; (k) G. .h. Timmine; and (l) De peritia ⁊ genelogia .h. nEnechglais.
in section: f. 67r(121)a.38–
MS
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502/2 (ff. 19-89)
incipit: Minigud senchassa Lagen tuath Gabair ⁊ Des Gabair iar suidiu Introductory prose passage (f. 64v.i) and then across seven columns on f. 65r, a series of pedigrees under different subheadings: Gen. .h. Ceinselaig (f. 65ra), Gen. .h. mBarrche (f. 65ra-rb), Gen. .h. Failgi (f. 65rb), Gen. .h. nEnechglais (f. 65rb), Gen. .h. Muiredaig (f. 65rc), Gen .h. Faelain (f. 65rc-rd), G. .h. nDunchada (f. 65rd), G. Sil Chormaicc (f. 65rd-re), Gen. Osrithe (f. 65re-rg and bottom margin).
f. 64v(116)c.i–
MS
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502/2 (ff. 19-89)
rubric: De peritia Sil Fiachach ba hAiccid incipit: In Cathaer Mar tra ata mc do-ruirmisem coeca bliadan incl. Cathair coem, Doss dáile, Coeca fichet filed, Án grian, Mára galgata, Mára mairb, Lámair lergga, Línais Nia, Aittreb Cathair coeca bliada, Ósar erchlois orddan án, Sruith in sósar sainemail, In cath h-i Cnámrus ní chélam, Is mór gním do mac aithig guin maic ríg Genealogies of the descendants of Cú Chorb (d): Dál Niad Cuirp (3), focusing on Fíacha ba hAiccid son of Cathaír Mór. Interspersed with verse extracts: (a) line beg. Aittreb Cathair coeca bliadan, attr. to Laidcenn (ut Laidcenn affirmat ... ut supra, although the origin of the reference is unknown); (b1) Cathair coem Conn comfebaib (1q), attr. to Lugair Lánfile (ut Lugair Lanfile dixit) as are (b2) Doss daile dal Temra (1q) (Lugair dixit) and (b3) Osar erchlois orddan an (2 lines, ut idem ait); (c) 2 lines beg. Sruith in sósar sainemail, attr. to Cathaír Mór (ut dixit Cathaír); (d1) lines beg. Coeca fichet filed, attr. to to Lugair (Item Lugair) as are (d2) 2 lines beg. An grian grissach (Inde Lugair) and (d3) lines beg. Mára galgata (3st, ut idem ait); (e) Mara mairb (3st), anonymous (alius dixit); (f) 2 lines beg. In cath h-i Cnamrus ní chelam; (g1) 2 lines beg. Lamair lergga, attr. to Lugair (De quibus Lugair dixit) as are (g2) 2 lines beg. Linais Nia nithach sab (item idem ait).
The final section is headed Gen .h. Maine (68vb.44-55). Because of a lacuna, the text breaks off at the end of the page, but not before it has referred to the story of Rónán and his son Máel Fothartaig. The page concludes with a quatrain beg. Is mor gnim / do mc aithich guin mc rig, a version of which is attributed to Rónán in the tale Fingal Rónáin. See David Greene, Fingal Rónáin and other stories (1955): p.11 and see p.12 (Appendix A) for an edition of this part in the MS.
in section: f. 68v(124)a.22–
MS
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502/2 (ff. 19-89)
incipit: Labraid Loingsech Moen m. Ailella Aine incl. Dind Ríg, rúad Túaim Tenbath, Énna Labraid luad cáich, Nuadu Necht ní dámair anflaith, Ní celt ceis, Lug scéith, Mál ad-rualaid, Eochu Ferngen, Baeth buide, Trí meic Ruaid, Find Taulcha, Dinnshenchas of Laigin I, Cethri meic la Sétna Sithbacc, Cethri meic Airt Mis Telmann, Can tri macco Ruaid din rind No heading. Prose story of Labraid Loingsech and other pre-Christian kings of Leinster, interspersed with many alliterative verse items extracted from the so-called ‘Leinster poems’, especially those that contain no rhyme: (a) two lines beg. Labraid Longsech Móen and cited from Énna Labraid luad cáich (st.20) above (ut supra, again attributed to Laidcenn mc Bairceda); (b) a single line beg. Coic cet bliadnae buadach rim, attributed to Orthanach (Orthanach loquitur), perhaps from a version of the poem beg. Rohort in rigrad 'moa ríg (Laigin I in MD vol. 2 - cf. ‘cóic cét bliadna bith-glaine’); (c) poem beg. Dind Rig ruad tuaim tenbad (4qq), attributed to Ferchertne (Ferchertne dixit); (d) opening lines from Ní celt céis céol, attributed to Find m. Rossa; (e) two lines from Nuada Necht, beg. Domnais giallu Gaill; (f) poem beg. Lug sceith scal finn (2st.); (g) Cethri meic la Setna Sithbacc, attributed to Senchán (ut Senchán dixit); (h) opening line from Mál ad-rualaid iathu marb; (i) line beg. Cethri meic Airt Mis Telmann; (k) Eochu Ferngen ascr. to Find File (ut Find Fili fatur); (l) Baeth buide banan dron, attributed to the same poet (Find Fili de filiis Ailb m. Augein Aurgnaid cecinit); (m) Find Taulcha, attributed to Senchán Torpéist and said to be taken from Cocangab Mór (‘The great compilation’) (ro deimnig Senchán Torpéist isin Chocangaib Máir dicens).
On f. 65vb.4 the prose begins to devote a section to the three sons of Rus Ruad (Ailill, Cairpre Nia Fer and Find Fili) and their lineages, beg. Tri mc iarum la Rus Ruad. It includes further verse extracts: (n) Tri meic Ruaid, ascr. to Senchán (ut Senchán dixit); (o) line beg. Can tri macco Ruaid din rind, from a poem ascr. to Orthanach (ut Orthanach dixit).
in section: f. 65v(118)a.1–
MS
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502/2 (ff. 19-89)
incipit: Aed. Ernine. Cilline. incl. In tan congair Fínsnechta Laigin genealogies (continued). The first genealogical section is acephalous and to judge by the corresponding if shorter section in LL 318a, seems to belong to the Uí Théig. Headings: (a) De regibus .h. Cellaig (f. 69ra.16); (b) Item .h. Theig, incl. verse beg. In tan congair Finsnechta (1q); (c) Clann Oengusa inso; and (d) Clann Cholmain.
in section: f. 69r(125)a.1–
MS
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502/2 (ff. 19-89)
incipit: It he inso cethri meic Con Corb incl. Derb dal Cuirb coairt, Trí meic Con Corb caín bunad, Nia Corbb Corbmacc Cairpre There is no heading or explicit visual break from the preceding prose. After the statement that Find File is ancestor to Cú Chorb (hUa do in Chu Chorb), the focus of the prose shifts to Cú Corb and the lineages descending from his four sons (Nia Corb, Mess Corb, Cormac and Cairpre). Includes a number of verse items: (a) line beg. Nia Corb Corbmac introduced with the words Is dona cethrib bráithrib-sin ro chachain in file; (b) beg. Derb dal Cuirb coairt, attr. to Luccraid moccu Riadda (unde Luccraid moccu Riadda dixit); and (c) Tri meic Con Corb caín bunad (Et alibi dictum est).
in section: f. 65v(118)b.m–
MS
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502/2 (ff. 19-89)
rubric: Do phrimforslointib Lagen inso .i. da phrimforsloinniud Fothairtt ⁊ Laichsi sed de peritia ⁊ de genelogiis Fothart prius dicemus incipit: Eochaid didiu Fuath nAirt a quo Fothairt nominantur ⁊ progeniti sunt incl. Huait a meic huí Moguirni, A Eochaid Airtt Fuath ara falnather, Genealogical tract on the Fothairt Genealogical section on the Fothairt, the first of the prím-forslointe of Leinster to be treated in detail. Incl. two retoirics of substantial length: (a) beg. Huait a mc .h. Moguirni and (b) beg. A Eochaid Airtt Fuath ara falnather iath aneoil (poeta dixit, marg.).
in section: f. 69r(125)a.i–
Sources
Primary sources Text editions and/or modern translations – in whole or in part – along with publications containing additions and corrections, if known. Diplomatic editions, facsimiles and digital image reproductions of the manuscripts are not always listed here but may be found in entries for the relevant manuscripts. For historical purposes, early editions, transcriptions and translations are not excluded, even if their reliability does not meet modern standards.
[ed.] OʼBrien, M. A. [ed.], Corpus genealogiarum Hiberniae, Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1962.
comments: Reprinted in 1976 and 2005, with an introduction by J. V. Kelleher.
CELT – pp. 1–332 (Rawl. B 502): <link>
1–100 Rawl. B 502. The gap in this MS (p. 75) corresponds to pp. 1356–1367 of LL.
[ed.] OʼSullivan, Anne [ed.], The Book of Leinster, formerly Lebar na Núachongbála, vol. 6, Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1983. xv + pp. 1327-1708.
CELT – pp. 1327–1595 (excl. pp. 1596–1708): <link>
1327–1369 LL
Atkinson, Robert [ed.], The Book of Leinster sometime called the Book of Glendalough: a collection of pieces (prose and verse) in the Irish language, compiled, in part, about the middle of the twelfth century, Dublin: Royal Irish Academy, 1880.
LL supplement, ff. 375–410
[ed.] Meyer, Kuno [ed. and tr.], Über die älteste irische Dichtung II. Rhythmische alliterierende reimlose Strophen, Berlin, 1914.
Celtic Digital Initiative – PDF: <link>
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