(navigation image)
Search: Advanced Search
Anonymous User (login or join us)
See other formats

Full text of "Betha Colmáin Maic Lúach'ain; life of Colman, son of Lúachan"












Printed by PONSONBY & GIBBS, University Press, Dublin. 






NOTES . . 108 

GLOSSARY . . . . . . . ... 122 



CORRIGENDA ...... 135 


THE following Life of a little-known Irish saint of the seventh 
century is now printed and translated for the first time from the 
only manuscript copy in which, so far as I know, it has come down 
to us. This copy forms part of the Irish MS. in the possession of 
the Town Library of Rennes, in Brittany, which has been so fully 
described by G. Dottin in the Revue Celtique, vol. xv., p. 79 ff. 1 
It is a vellum quarto written in a fine bold hand of perhaps the 
fourteenth or fifteenth century, 3 and bound up with two other Irish 
manuscripts of different origin. 3 

Our Life occupies fifteen folios now numbered 75-89. The 
pages are divided into two columns of thirty-eight lines each. There 
are no marginal notes to show when and where this copy was made. 
The Life itself ends at the bottom of fo. 89& 4 with a large FINIT, but 
the scribe has added the following entry in the next column : 

1 This MS. was first noticed by Todd in the Proceedings of the Royal Irish 
Academy, Irish MSS. Series, vol. i., pp, 80 ff. Of our Life he says: I am not 
aware of the existence of any copy of this Life in Ireland. Colgan does not appear 
to have had it in his possession. He makes no mention of it, and has made up a 
short Life, compiled hy himself, from the various notices of St. Colman macLuachain, 
and of his half-brother, who was also named Colman. Acta, SS. 30 Mart., p. 792. 

2 As we have as yet no investigations into the history of Irish palaeography, it 
is impossible to be more exact. 

3 Nothing is known of the earlier history of the MS. except that in the eighteenth 
century it belonged to the Chevalier de Ilobien (1698-1756), whose whole collection 
of books and MSS. was confiscated after the emigration of his son during the 

4 I have woiked from an excellent photograph of the MS. made by L. Collet of 
Rennes for the late Whitley Stokes, who bequeathed it to me, together with his 
whole collection of photographs from Irish MSS. It was only after I had put down 
JBetha Colmdin as the subject of one of my Todd Lectures that I learnt from the 
Rev. Charles Plummer that he, too, had been planning an edition. He generously 
gave precedence to me, and allowed me to compare my transcript with his, and to 
make use of his indexes of names and places. For all his kindness I desire to record 
my thanks here. 


Bobatar tra taissi Golmdin meic Ltuachdin ina serin eter a 
muindttr 6 r6 Domnaill meic Murchada meic Airmedaig meic Conaill 
Guthbind co tainigc Turges 7 Gaill glassa a n\\Erinn. Bofolged tra 
doridissi rfasna geuutib utt o re an Turges sin co Qaith Toirdelbaig 
meic Buaidri ui Conchubair for-Ertnn. Murchad immorro 1 ui (szc) 
MaelsecMainn, iss e ba ri Midi an tan tuargabod a talmain an serin 7 
cetnB,. Iss e immorro ba hairchindec/& Lainde ann .i. Gilla-Cm 
mac Gilla Patraic. Iss e imworro ba sacart Laindi ann .i. Tuathal 
mac Gilla-Cholaim. Iss 6 immorro ba sser ann .i. Gilla-Cm lia 
Mochaw 7 iss e dorigne serin im na taisib cetna. FINIT. 

Now the relics of Colman son of Luachan were in their shrine 
among his community from the time of Domnall (t763) son of 
Murchad (1715) [son of Diarmait f 689] son of Airmedach son of 
Conall Guthbinn [f 635] until Turges [f 845] and the Norse (Gaill 
glassa) 6 came into Ireland. However, from the time of that Turges 
to the reign of Tordelbach [1121-1156] son of Buaidri ua 
Conchobair over Ireland it 4 was hidden again from those gentiles. 
Now Murchad ua Maelsechlainn was king of Meath at the time 
when the same shrine was lifted out of the earth. He who was 
erenagh of Lann then was Gillacrist son of Gillapatrick. He who 
was priest of Lann then was Tuathal son of Gillacoluim. He who 
was goldsmith then was Gillacrist ua Mochain, and he it is who 
made a (new) shrine around those same relics. 

This statement is confirmed by an entry in the Annals of Ulster, 
A.D. 1122, 6 as follows : 

Serin Cholmdm mic Luaclidin d foghbhdil i n-ailaidh Lainne 
ferchubat i talmhain dia ceia.n in braith, 

the .shrine of Colman son of Luachan was found in the burial- 
place of Lann, a man s cubit 6 in the earth, on Spy-Wednesday 
(March 22nd). 

1 -g. MS. 2 scrtnw ms. 3 This designation of the Norse occurs 

also in in Cog. Gaedhel re Gallaibh, p. 68, 1. 13 : can cath, can cliathaig do Gallaib 
glasa 7 do gentib gorma gus mara. 

4 i.e. the shrine. 5 Copied by the Four Masters. 

6 Wrongly rendered a man s grave [deep] by Mac Carthy, who quotes 
&gt;ropriately, but misinterprets, the following injunction from the Book of Armagh, 
c : cubitus de terra super corpus fiat. 


It is not unlikely that this discovery was the immediate cause of 
the composition of our Life. That it was written at Lann 1 is clear 
from the repeated use of words like sund ( 26), ifus ( 74) in 
referring to the place, as well as from the detailed knowledge of the 
topography of West Meath (e.g. 17, 19) ; and, so far as 1 am able 
to judge, the language of the prose may well be that of the first half of 
the twelfth century. As appears from the phrase on this week-day 
in the present year* (2), the biography was intended to be read 
aloud on the saint :&gt; day (June 17th). 

The historian of early Irish Christianity will never cease to 
regret that, with some few well-known exceptions, the acts of the 
founders of Irish monasteries have come down to us only in 
compilations made long after the period in which they flourished. 
It was not until the eleventh and twelfth centuries that the majority 
of the Lives of Irish saints which have been preserved were 
written down. By that time not only had the personality of the 
saint become almost legendary, but the whole constitution and 
character of the Church had altered. The noble and daring spirit of 
inquiry and research which characterized the Golden Age of Irish 
Christianity had largely given way to ignorance and credulity, 
while the decay of classical and biblical learning is noticeable on 
every hand. It is the spirit of a ruder and grosser age that is 
reflected in the religious literature of Ireland of the twelfth and 
thirteenth centuries, as one may see who compares the vision of 
Tundale with that of Fursa, or the religious poetry of that age with 
that of an earlier one. Legendary fiction, often based upon pagan 
superstitions, abounds, so that in reading the poorer specimens of 
Irish hagiography of this period we are often reminded of the words 
applied by St. Bernard to the contemporary Irish : Christian! 
nomine, re pagani. 

But if it was no longer in the power of the writer to present the 
reader with a true account of the life of the saint and his times, 
neither was it his object to do so. He wrote entirely in the interest 
of the monastery which claimed the saint as its founder, or of the 
church whose patron he was ; he endeavoured to exalt and glorify 

1 Called more fully Lann mac Luachain (cf. p. 28, 1. 22), or perhaps better 
Lann meic Luachain. 


him above all other saints, to substantiate his claims to tithes and 
tribute over as wide an area as possible, and to explain the virtues 
of his relics which the church possessed, and on which its reputation 

These various objects were best attained by representing the 
saint as a thaumaturge of the first order ; and thus the chief task of 
the hagiographer, after having given some account of the origin and 
parentage of the saint, consisted in heaping miracle upon miracle. 
That the writers themselves set this object definitely before them, 
many passages in the Lives tend to show. Thus our author in 
entering upon his task reveals his purpose as a biographer as follows 
( 3) : Here is told something of his genealogy according to the 
flesh, and of his wonders and miracles 1 from the time that he was 
born until he went to heaven ; and at the conclusion ( 103) he 
sums up his work by presenting the reader with a full list of all the 
miracles narrated by him. 

All this has lately been set forth so fully and so well by Charles 
Plummer in the introduction to his Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae 
(Oxonii, 1910), and, in its more general aspects, by Delehaye in his 
Lfyendes hagiographiqws, 2 that I need not further dwell on it 

Our author does not mention the sources from which he has 
drawn the material for his narrative. The only work referred to is 
the Felire of Oengus ( 2), which, however, he misquotes. Occa 
sionally he speaks of conflicting accounts regarding certain events 
(iar foirinn aili, p. 56, 27, iar fairind, p. 96, 21). That he made 
use of older records is clear from the language, which, notwith 
standing its general Middle-Irish character, occasionally shows Old- 
Irish forms, to some of which I have drawn attention in the notes. 
The frequent use of the form immurgu in various spellings, 3 as well 
as other orthographical peculiarities, 4 may be due to such earlier 

1 It is interesting to note the use of the two Latin loan- words for miracle in 
this passage (also on p. 16, 1. 1), the earlier fiurt (from virtus = apcr-f)) by the side of 
the later mtrbail (from mirabile). 

2 Translated into English by Mrs. V. M. Crawford (Westminster Library, 1909). 

3 imarco p. 38, 19, imargo 80, 25, imwrgco 82, 5. 

4 e.g. daul (p. 42, 28), which occurs also frequently in the ninth-century text 


documents. The poems which are interspersed are mostly late, 
but the first (p. 10 ff.) may belong to the Old-Irish period. 1 The 
curious account of the inauguration of the King of Tara ( 70) 
seems also to be taken from an older source, as it contains 
the Old-Irish infinitive do buith (p. 72, 19). 

There are few references to Colman mac Luachain in Irish 
literature. He is not mentioned by Oengus in his Calendar, though 
our biographer tries to smuggle him in ( 2). 2 The date of his 
festival is June 17th, under which day he is commemorated both by 
Gorman and in the Martyrology of Donegal (p. 172). His name 
is also found among the numerous Colmans in the list of homonyms 
of Irish saints called Comainmnigud Noeb nErenn (e.g., Book of 
Lecan, fo. 56 a = p. 115, c ".. 4). 

His pedigree seems early to have become uncertain ; for we find 
no less than four varying accounts. Two of them are given below, 
8 and 4. They agree only up to his great-grandfather Maine, 
who is made either a son of King Fergus Cerrbel (f 513) 3 or of 
Diarmait Derg (f 565 or 572), wrongly called by our author son of 
Colman M6r, while he was his father. 4 As Colman is throughout 
connected with the clann Cholmdin Moir, 5 and may indeed have 

just published by Gwynn and Purton (The Monastery of Tallaght, Proc. E.I. A., 
xxix), e.g. 24, 51, 62 ; cf. also for coulee, 62. 

1 It contains the reduplicated future gignither (p. 10, 26) by the side of the 
later geinfe (p. 14, 11), and dualaig (p. 12, 14) still counts as three syllables. 

2 The reference in Felire Oingmso, under March 30th, cited in 2, is to Colman 
of Linn Uachaille. Cf. Gorman, p. 64, and Mart. Don., p. 90. It is curious that 
Stokes should have fallen into the same error as the author of the Life. He prints 
6 Laind ; but he should have followed the reading of R 1 , which here, as so often, is 
better than the other MSS., and printed 6 Lind. Thus it happens that in his 
Index of Persons Colman Linde Uachaille is omitted, while Colman mac Luachain 
is entered twice (p. 409). 

3 So do Rawl. B. 502, p. 90/, LL. 347*, LB. 13&lt;?. LL. 347* makes Maine a 
son of Conall Cremthainne. This we may dismiss as altogether improbable ; for it 
would put Column s birth in the beginning of the sixth century. The Martyrology 
of Donegal (p. 172) stands alone in claiming Colman as a descendant of Rudraige : 
do chlannaib Rudraige do ,i. do sliocht Maoilchroich mic Rudraige. 

4 This mistake was no doubt occasioned by the circumstance that Colman Mdr 
died several years before his father. 

5 In 4 he is called * the only patron saint of the race of Colman Mdr. 


been named after this famous ancestor, I would on the whole 
agree with our biographer in considering the following pedigree as 
the genealogia vera (s. 4) : 


Niall N6igiallach f4/05 
Conall Cremthainiie 
Fergus Cerrbel t 513 
Diarmait Derg f 565 or 572 
Colman Mor t 555 or 558 

Maine Suibne 1 600 or 604 

H I 

Aed Find Leda 1 Conall Guthbinn f 635 

Forannan Luachan Airmedach 

Maelumai Colman Diarmait 1 689 

Murchad t715 
Domnall t 763 

Colman was thus born towards the end of the sixth century, 
and it may be reasonably assumed that he died, like his cousin, 
Diarmait, King of Meath, some time in the last quarter of the 

If we were to credit our biographer, Colman s life must have 
extended over four centuries at least. For in the course of the 
narrative he is brought into contact on the one hand with 
Cruimthir Cassan ( 78), a contemporary of Patrick s, 2 and on the 
other with King Domnall mac Murchada, who died in 763 ( 73 ff.). 
And even if we dismiss these and other statements as absurd, it is 
still a vain endeavour to reconcile the chronology of the Life as a 
whole, and many of the events and incidents narrated, with Irish 
history. The truth is that the account given of the life of our 

1 Called Aed Lond in LL. 347*, Laeda in Rawl. B. 502, p. 90/. A confusion 
seems to have arisen between him and his brother Aed Find ; for in 43 Foranndn 
is made the son of Laeda Find, while in 45 and 69 he is rightly called the son 
of Aed Find. Throughout the narrative the sons of Forannkn are called the 
brdthre of Colman s grandfather, i.e., the descendants of his grandfather s 

2 See Tripartite Life, ed. Stokes, p. 74, 28. 


saint is vitiated throughout by certain tendencies and practices. 
It will be well to consider these under special heads. 

I. There is discernible an endeavour to claim friendship and 
alliance with the most celebrated saints of ancient Ireland, not 
only for the purpose of enhancing the importance of the subject 
of the memoir, and shedding additional lustre upon him, but 
also in order to reap the advantages resulting to his community 
from a connexion with other important foundations. Thus 
Colman is made to study with Finnen of Clonard, the " tutor 
of the saints of Ireland" ( 79), who died in 549, and with Bishop 
Etche"n (f ca. 580), who is also said to have baptized him and 
ordained him 1 together with Colman Elo (f611) and Colman 
Comraire. He is made the friend of Colum Cille (|598), and is 
said to have been present at the Convention of Drum Get. The 
account of his intercourse with Mochuta of Eahen (f 637), whom 
he acknowledges as his only earthly head cenn talmanda ( 85), 
may rest on a better foundation ; and so may his connexion with 
Lommanof Tech Lommain, who died ca. 660 3 ( 10, 42) ; but the 
statements that Maed6c of Ferns (f 626) prostrated himself before 
him 3 ( 72), and that Samthann (f 739) and Fidmuine ua Siianaig 
(f757) were his friends are obviously pious frauds, while it is 
highly improbable that Fursa (t 640) visited his grave three years 
after his death. Other well-known saints with whom alliance is 

1 According to the notes in Pel. 2 , p. 72, Coluia Cille applied to bishop Etchen 
to be made a bishop, but was refused. 

2 Lomman s pedigree is given thus in Rawl. B. 502, p. 89/: 

Niall N6igiallach t 405 

Conall Gulban 


Lathem Fedliriiid 

Ceisper Colum Cille t 598 


Lomman Locha [Uair] 

3 The union made between Colman and Maedoc is mentioned twice, but in a 
different context ( 42 and 72). 


claimed for Colman are Mochua of Tech Mochua 1 ( 35), bishop 
Conchraid of Cluain Dam ( 53), Colman Elo (f 611), and Colman 
Comraire. When Colman refuses the advances of Ciaran of 
Clonmacnois (85), we may conclude that his own communities 
and those of Ciaran were at feud at the time when the Life was 
written ; and a similar inference may be drawn from the statement 
that Colman cursed Arnain mac Eogain, Ultan (probably the well- 
known bishop of Ardbrackan), and Mac Liac 2 ( 59). 

II. In order that the grants of land and service made at various 
times to the monastery, or the exemption from dues may as it were 
receive their title-deeds, our author claims for services rendered and 
miracles performed by the saint the patronage of as many kings and 
queens as possible. Thus Colman is made to live under five succes 
sive kings of West Meath, from Conall Guthbinn (f 635) to Domnall 
mac Murchada (|763). The latter through his blessing becomes 
monarch of Ireland, for which, like his ancestor Conall Guthbinn, 
he makes the saint a present of seventeen steadings ( 73), while he 
is also said to have bestowed Drong Faechnig upon him ( 79). 
Land or service are further claimed from Tir Colmdin because 
Colman was born there ( 10) ; from the Ui Manchain and Ui 
Mailumae, the descendants of his paternal uncle, Anfossaid ( 36) ; 
from the Ui Lechet, the descendants of another uncle Lechet ( 37) ; 
from the Meic Airechtaig, the descendants of his third uncle, 
Cummine (ib.) ; from the Ui Dubain Caille and the Ui Dubain 
Maige ( 39), who were in Fid Dorcha before he came to Lann, 
and are therefore called the fine griain or family of the soil of 
Lann, which is exempt from dues to their king and chiefs (ib.) ; 
from the Clanna Forannain, the descendants ( 43) of his grand- 
uncle Aed Find, whose chiefs have to be buried at Lann (45). 
From the tribe of Fartullagh taxes and tithes are claimed, as set 
forth in a poem on p. 51 ; a ewe-lamb is Colman s due from every 
flock of all Ireland ( 51) ; a cow from every spoil, and a horse and 
dress from every hosting ( 60) from the kings of West Meath ; 

1 See his Life in Plummer s Vitae II, p. 184 ff. He is wrongly called 
mac Nemainn in our Life. 

2 Perhaps identical with filius Lyach, cuius monasterium est prope fretum 
Ymleach, mentioned in Plummer, op. cit. //, p. 58. 


likewise a horse and dress and a seat by their side from the kings of 
Ui Thigernain (, 62). Because one of his pupils, the daughter of 
a chief of the Ui Thigernain, is buried in the church of the Qi Muca, 
Colman claims it * from ground to sky, and demands a bushel of 
every kind of corn from it at Lent ( 63). From the tribe of 
Offaly a scruple from every adult and a sheep from every steading 
are due to Colman, besides the king s horse and dress every third 
year ( 87), and a similar tax from the people of the Bretach ( 92). 

III. The tendency to rival all other saints of Ireland in thau- 
maturgy is apparent in the number and nature of the miracles 
ascribed to Colman, from the primum miraculum of his painless 
birth (10) to the end (108), where our hagiographer applauds his 
own performance in these words : Now it is evident from these stories 
about Colman son of Luachan that God thinks no cleric more 
wonderful than him. Most of these miracles are modelled upon 
those of the Old and New Testaments, as when his birth is cele 
brated by angels ( 10), or when he crosses a lake dryshod, as Moses 
did the Bed Sea ( 64) ; or upon those ascribed to the three greatest 
Irish saints, Patrick f 55, 58), Brigit ( 58), and Colum Cille 
( 56). 

IV. Confusion of persons of the same name. This, it is well 
known, 1 is one of the most common sources of error in Irish 
historical tradition, while it plays an even greater part in romance. 
It is not unlikely that some of the stories here told of Colman mac 
Luachain are taken from the Lives of his more famous namesakes, 
Colman Elo or Golman Comraire, or some other Colman. In 44, 
in giving the pedigree of King Domnall mac Aeda, our author 
wrongly introduces Congal Cennmagair (705-710), apparently by 
a confusion of his father, Fergus Fanait, with Fergus Cennfota. 
In 85 he confuses Mochua of Tech Mochua with Mochua mac 

V. It is a frequent practice with many of the later hagiographists 
to carry the altered conditions of their own time into a narrative 
dealing with an earlier age in which they did not exist. Among 
anachronisms of this kind the following are the most common : 

1 See e.g. Plummer, I.e., p. xc. 2 Cf. ib., p. xxi., note 1. 


incidents implying the stricter observance of Sunday on the model of 
the Jewish Sabbath, which was not introduced into Ireland before 
the ninth century j 1 instances of excessive asceticism, or the grosser 
forms of the cult of relics, both unknown during the early period 
of the Irish Church ; references to the later-increased number of 
canonical hours; statements implying the change in the Irish 
Church from a monastic to an episcopal constitution ; 2 lastly, 
emphasizing the connexion with Rome, 3 more particularly by inter 
polating pilgrimages to Rome and visits to the Pope, 4 though, as 
Plummer has pointed out, the only Popes mentioned in the Lives 
are Celestine and Gregory the Great. By a fortunate chance we are 
in a position to see this Romanizing tendency at work in the case of 
our saint. In 76 we are told of a pilgrimage to Rome made by the 
three Colmans after the deatb of Gregory (f 604). Now in the well- 
known Stowe MS., D. iv. 2, fo. 55 a2, there is a different account of 
this visit to Rome in what may be an extract from another lost Life 
of our saint. Here Gregory is said to have been alive at the time, 
and Colman applies to him for ordination. As, however, according 
to tradition, Colman was ordained by Bishop Etchen, the Pope is 
made to refuse the request, and refers Colman to the bishop. I print 
the piece in extenso : 

Espucc Etchean cecinit dona tri Colmanaibh an tan tanccatar 
o Roim dochum esccoip Etchean do thabairt gradh forthaibh, ar co 
Roim dochotar co Grigoir do thabairt gradh forru, conadh ann isbert 
Grighoir: Ni damh rocedaighedh, arse, acht don dornsalach .i. 
do espucc Etchen. Conid he in adhaigh re tiachtain doibh 
rofoillsighedh do espucc Etchean hi fis i 5 teacht 7 isbert so : 

Inmhain trlar taed ann co Cluain Foda fond, 
furighther a n-am, m fuilngther a nglond. 
Na Calmain cin checht, bidh anbail a nert, 
gebaidh mor do nirt, doig is doib rodlecht. 

1 See R. Priebsch in Otia Merseiana I, p. 129, S. 
See Plummer, I.e., p. cxiii, note 1. 

3 Ib., p. cxxiii. 

4 It would be interesting to establish at what period precisely tbe ancient 
designation of the Pope as abbot of Rome (abb Roma) fell into disuse. 


Bidh ennert a nert oniu co ti brath, 
tic innem na tuath do chindedh for each. 
Temair m bi a xnbron do ghor no do chlan, 
cidh duiligh in dal, madh buidhigh in triar. 
In tUlltach mor maith is caime nan bi f h, 
gnuis fora teth [sic] , narageib dath 1 n6 cith. 
Ge"baig 2 ilar ceall ri coiccrichaibh ones, 
is e" in romac righ, is din fri gach treass. 
In Conallach cas, mairg doregha ris, 
is e in i-eonaid fos, is e" in fregraidh fis 
Is comror c&t run a chridhi sech each, 
a arus cin fuath is cadhus co brath. 
Mo dalta-sa fein do claind Cholmain moir, 
mo chean dream da din, is 6 cend ar sloigh. 
(fo. 55bl) Is retlu co rath, is [s] orcha ar in mbith, 
is si in gribh cin brath doiin rath na rith. 
Doching for each n-aen mac Luacain na lenn, 
nir techt Eriu oil is feile na is fearr. 
Cidh lethard a ngradh bat comuaisli a nim, 
nl fuil dibh nach fail 3 hn bladh nach urn digh. 
Is mochean in damh anair is aniar, 
am imdhaigh* cin bron, bidh inmhain in triar. 

In. m. FINIT. 

Bishop Etchen sang this of the three Colmans when they came 
to him from Rome that he might ordain them. For they had gone 
to Gregory to Rome that he might ordain them. So then Gregory 
said : " Not to me has it been permitted," said he, " but to the 
Dirty-fist " 5 (viz., to bishop Etchen). And in the night before their 
arrival their coming was revealed to bishop Etchen in a vision, and 
he said this : " Beloved the three, &c. 6 " 

Owing to these and other tendencies and practices, as well as for 

1 leg. cath 2 leg. gebaid 3 leg. fial 4 leg. imdhaidh 

5 A nickname for bishop Etchen. In the prose piece called BaiU Jiricctne, 
which is modelled upon Baile in Scdil, the saints of Ireland are all mentioned by 
similar nicknames. 

6 For a translation of this poem see below, p. 33. 


the reasons mentioned above, our author gives us but little trust 
worthy information about the life and work of Colman mac Luachain. 
All we can gather with some measure of probability is that he was 
born towards the end of the sixth century, 1 either not far from 
Portloman on Loch Owel ( 10), or at Less in Daire, where his 
father had settled ( 8). On his father s side he came from the 
royal race of Conall Cremthainne 2 ( 3), while his mother was 
descended from Echaid Mugmedon ( 5), their common ancestor 
being King Niall of the Nine Hostages. His three brothers became 
priests like himself (8), and his ftrarsisters nuns (9). At one 
time in his boyhood he seems to have herded cows (13). When 
he was about thirty years old 3 ( 20) he went to study with Mochuta 
at Lismore. This must have been after A.D. 630, when Mochuta 
abandoned Eahen for Lismore. 4 He was then a deacon ( 26). 
Mochuta appointed him dispenser of food to his colony of lepers, 
whence he got his nickname Ldmglan the Pure-handed ( 20). 
He was then ordained, and founded first Cell Bee 6 ( 29), and then 
-Lann his chief foundation, 6 probably before the year 636 (cf. 27). 
In addition he is said to have founded the following churches : 
Cell Uird in Fermoy ( 26) ; a church at Le"na in Ui Forannain 
( 43) ; another near Dun L6ime ind Eich, where Colman s Cave is 
named after him ( 45) ; others at Less Dochuinn ( 46), and at 
Uachtor Comarthain Ui Thigernain (61). He died on the 17th 
July, probably some time in the third or last quarter of the seventh 
century, and was buried at Lann. 

1 His grandfather s cousin Conall Guthbinn, King of Meath, died in 635, and 
his own cousin, Diarmait, in 689. 

3 In a poem on p. 48, 1. 20, he is addressed a meic Luachain ... do chlaind 
ConaiJl Chremthainne. 

3 The Life states (^ IB) that he first read with Bishop Etchen of Clonfad, who 
is also said to have baptized and ordained him ($ 29). But Etchen died about 580. 

4 It is possible that Colman was also at Rahen with Mochuta (cf . 18). But 19 
is very obscure, and the chronology of 26 is quite impossible. 

6 In 1 12 he is made to found this church in the third year of his life, a 
circumstance forgotten by the compiler in 29. 

6 The only abbot of Lann mentioned in the Annals is Maelbrigte mac Fedacain, 
who died A.D. 929 (F. M.). 


But while our biographer gives us so little trustworthy informa 
tion about the saint himself, he has still compiled a work of abiding 
historical interest and value. For, in narrating his miracles, he 
conveys to us a large amount of indirect historical informa 
tion. Indeed, what with its wealth of varied and. picturesque 
incidents taken from the life and customs of the people, its many 
instances of religious practices and information on ecclesiastical 
matters generally, its topographical details, 1 and its folklore, it 
will always count, next to the Tripartite Life and the biographies 
of Colum Cille, as the richest and fullest among the Lives of Irish 
saints that have come down to us. 

I have to thank my friend Professor 0. J. Bergin for kindly 
reading a proof of my translation, and for several important 
corrections and suggestions. 


1 1 draw the attention of topographers to the large number of place-names, 
especially of Weatmeath, very few of which I have heen ahle to identify from 
Hogan s Onomaslicon. 




1. Uiriliter agite 7 confortetur cor uestrum omnes qui speratis 
in Domino. An spiral noem, in spirat as uasle each spiral, in spiral 
TO in[s]orchfp- in eclais ccchttirdac petarlseici 7 nufiadnasi 6 rath 
ecrue 7 fatsine, isse an spirat-sein is augtar na herlabra-sa tria gin an 
51 igfatha D0tt$dm*f c lasse, dicens: Uiriliter agile 7 cet. Isse an 
~Dauid sin dorigne .iii. 1. salm do ruolad I)e, ar ronordnostr Dia co 
inba ri 7 co mba faith, ut dicitur : Unxit Samuel Dauid in regera 7 
profelain 7 cet., 7 an salm ana fuil an fersa-sin .i. uiriliter agile, is 
e an deehmad salra .xx. a lebar ua salm he 7 isse is tosach do: In to 

10 Domine speraui 7 a persoin an popuil do labair se andsin 7 ata an 
fersa-sin arna rad 6 tri hugdaraib. An ce7-augdar dib .i. Maoisi mac 
Ainrae, oir udubairt Maoisi hi ac guidi clainde Israel ind-agaid 1 
Madian 7 Amalech .i na cinedach dobi i n-agaid claindi Israel. 
Andara haugdur .i. lesus films Nun, oir adubairt lesus mac Nun an 

15 fersa cetna .i. uiriliter agite ac tu&echt an popuil Israeldas do 
cheiraniugud srotha lordanis dochum chathaigthi i n-agaid na cine 
dach darab coinainm Cananei. An Ires ugdar .i. Dauid ri, oir adubairt 
Dffuzd hi .i. uiriliter agite 7 cet., i. ac guidi a muiudtiri im chalma* 
do denam i n-agaid na Felistinech, 7 is imchubaid a rad co spirat, 

20 amail adubairt Dia fein rena nasmaib cathugad do denum i n-agaid 
na [njdrochspirat, 7 ata an rad-sin comchoitchenn dona feraib 7 dona 
mnaib, oir atat nioran dona da3inib sanntaiges cathugud do denum 7 
riasiu thindscnait a cathwywrf tuitit and. Ocus atat drong ele tind- 
senas cathugud 7 riasiu crichnaigit he treicit a cathugud. 7 ata drong 

25 ele dom cathugud neimger can arm 7 is ar an adbar-sin adubairt an 
salm uiriliter. 

1 agaig MS. a chalTwa MS. 


1. Viriliter agite, et confortetur cor vestrum, omnes qui speratis in 
Domino. 1 The Holy Spirit, the Spirit that is nobler than any spirit/ 
the Spirit that has illumined the churches both of the Old. and New 
Testament with the grace of wisdom and prophecy, that is the Spirit 
which is the author of this utterance through the mouth of the royal 
prophet David son of Jesse, dicens : Viriliter agite, &c. This is that 
David who made one hundred and fifty psalms in praise of God; for 
God had ordained that he should be both king and prophet, ut dicitur: 
Unxit Samuel David in regem et prophetamf &c. And the psalm in 
which that occurs, viz. Viriliter agite, is the thirtieth psalm in the 
book of psalms, the beginning of which is In te Domine, speravi. And 
in it he spoke in the person of the people. And that verse has been 
uttered by three authors. The first author of them was Moses, 
son of Amra ; for Moses said it as he was praying the Children of 
Israel (to fight) against the Midianites and Amalek, 4 viz., the tribes 
that were opposed to the Children of Israel. The second author was 
Joshua, son of Nun ; for he spoke the same verse, viz. Viriliter agite, 
as he was leading the people of Israel to pass the river Jordan to fight 
Against the tribes called Canaanites. 5 The third author was King 
David ; for David spoke it, viz., Viriliter agite, &c., as he was praying 
his people to act bravely against the Philistines. And it is fitting that 
the saying should be referred to the (Holy) Spirit, 6 as God Himself 
told the saints to fight against the evil spirits. And that saying 
applies both to men and women ; for there are many people eager to 
fight, and before they begin to fight they succumb. 7 And there 
are other people who begin to fight, and before they finish they leave 
off. And there are other people who fight feebly, without weapons ; 
and it is for this reason the psalm says * Viriliter. 

1 Ps. xxx. 25. 2 Cf. Trip. Life, p. 2, 6. 

A reference to 1 Reg. xvi. 13 and to Num. xxxi. 3. 
4 Deut. xxxi. 6. 5 Josh. i. 18. 

Literally, to say it to the Spirit. 
" Literally, they fall in it. 


2. Sochaidi tra do noemaib 7 do firenaib hi petarlaic 7 hi nu- 
fiadnaisi rocathaigsit co ferdse 7 co sonairt ar Dia, amail rocathnig co 
ferda 7 co sonairt an senoir uassal diata lith 7 forathmet ind-ecmaing 
na ree-sea, id est, Colmanus films Luachaini. Is ann immurgu cele- 
5 brait na Cristaidi lith 7 forathmet indi Colmain maw Luachain in 
cindecim c&lne ifril 1 arpi laitlu miss grene, isin laithi-sea indnfu araoi 
lathe sechtmaine isin bliadain frecnairc-si. Caland iuil didiu .i. in 
adhaig iar fe[i]l cross 7 is de isberar an dos oir uas crichat^ 7 an 
grlan an uastuath^ isin Pelire. No comad aidchi samna .i. Cronan 

10 7 comad he an mac ele Luachain an Cronan hlsin. Atat immurgu 
a taisi hi fos colleic isna talmandaib co n-onoir 7 co (fo. 7551) 
n-ermitin 7 cid mor indm a hanoir, bid moo illo brathse, intan doait- 
nebatt amaii grein in-neim i n-6entaid naom 7 noemog an domain, i 
n-6entaid uasalathar 7 fatha, i n-6entaid apstal 7 martiri, i n-oentaid 

is deacht[a] 7 daBnachta mai- c De, is 6ent?4 is uitislem cech n-6entaid .i. 
i n-6entaid na nsemtrinoiti uasle ulechuinachtaig[e] .i. Atha?&gt; 7 
7 Spirat Noem. Ailmitt trocaire na trmoiti ul6 7 rl. 

3. Indista r andso ni dia genely collaidi 7 dia fertaib 7 dia 
mirbuilib o rogener co ndechatW dochum neime. 

20 Colman di^*w m. Luachain m. Ledee m. Maine m. Fergusse m. 
Conaill CremtAatnni m. Neill Noigiallaig m. Eclidach Mugmedoin m. 
Muredaig Tirig m. FiachacA Srobthme m. Cairpri Lifechair m. Cormaic 
Ulfatai m. Airt Oenfir m. Cuind Chetchathaig 7 genelach eoitchenn 
claindi Cuind Cetc[h]athaig 6 sin amach co JiAdam. 

25 4. Sic geneloia uera, id est, Colman m. Luachain m. Leda m. 
Maine m. D[i]armata Deirg m. Colmain Moir Mide .i. na rig 7 
mac sin Dlarmata m. Cerbaill m. Conaill Chremthamne m. Ne[i]ll 
Noigiallaig 7 is e so oenerlam rogein do chlaind Colmain 6 sin ille, 
amail is follus sin 6 epscop Etchen post ina laid 7 dlignidh 2 -som 

1 iul- MS. 3 dlidhidh M8. 


2. Now, many of the saints and of the righteous of the Old and 
New Testament have fought manfully and stoutly for God, as did the 
noble senior whose feast and commemoration is at the period of this 
season, viz., Colmanus filius Luachaini. It is on the"fifteenth of the 
calends of July, 1 according to the day of the solar month, on this day 
of the week in the present year, that the Christians celebrate the 
feast and commemoration of Colman son of Luachan. The calends of 
July, viz., on the night after the feast of the Cross, whence in the 
Felire 2 he is called * the bush of gold over borders, and the splendjid sun 
over tribes. Or it may be Halloween, viz. Cronan, and that. Cronan 
may be another son of Luachan. 3 His relics, however, are still here 
upon earth with honour and veneration ; and though his honour is 
great to-day, it will be greater on the day of Judgment when his soul 
will shine like the sun in heaven in the unity of the saints and holy 
virgins of the world, in the unity of patriarchs and prophets, in the 
unity of apostles and martyrs, in the unity of the Godhead and Manhood 
of the Son of God, in the unity which is nobler than any unity, the 
unity of the noble, almighty, Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy 
Ghost. We all beseech the mercy of the Trinity, &c. 

3. Here is told something of his genealogy according to the flesh 
and of his wonders and miracles from the time that he was born until 
he went to Heaven. Colman, then, was son of Luachan, son of Leda, 
son of Maine, son of Fergus, son of Conall Cremthainne, son of Niall 
of the Nine Hostages, son of Echaid Mugmedon, son of Muredach 
Tirech, son of Fiachu Srobthine, son of Cairbre Lifechar, son of 
Oormac Longbeard, son of Art the Solitary, son of Conn of the Hundred 
Battles, and thenceforward the common pedigree of the race of Conn 
of the Hundred Battles up to Adam. 

4. Sic genedlogia vera, i.e. Colman son of Luachan, son of Leda, son 
of Maine, son of Diarmait the Red, son of Colman the Great of Mcath 
(viz. of the Kings), who was a son of Diarmait son of Cerball, son of 
Conall Cremthainne, son of Niull of the Nine Hostages. And he is 

1 i.e. the 17th June. 

2 i.e. the Felire of Oengus. See Stokes edition under June 17th. However, 
the reference there is not to Colman, hut to Moling Ltiachra. 

3 The Felire Oengusso mentions both Colman and Cronan under November 1st, 
but in the notes the former is said to be either the son of Dimma or of Findchad; 
and the latter a descendant of Conn from Tuuim Grene. 


screpul caithrig do chlaind Colmain 7 ech each rig, in secht \&gt;\\sdain 
sin uli. 

Colman didiu colomu mainech ic fulang na firm^wti, am ail 
isbert Colum Cille ic fulaing tedmand isin saBgal amail lob irisech. 
5 No daw0 is imord feda fil and .i. Colman quasi comlan, ar ni fil 
erb&lt;?rn (fo. 75 b 2) de nach mathwsa ann-som eter corp 7 anmain. 
No dano Colmanus quasi columna manus .i. uirtutum, no manus ad 
columnia, id est uirtus demicans contra columnia, id est, oprobria 

10 5. ISse immurgu slonnad a mathar, id est, Lasaair ingen Caich 
Rolach m. Brocan m. Dainil m. Daire m. Guill (diatat Hi Grutll Corca 
Raidhi) m. Coluim m. Elella m. Baain m. Raidi (diatat Corco Ilaide) 
m. Dathi m. Fiachrach m. Maine m. Briain 1 m. Echdach Mugmedoin. 

6. Lasar didiu, ideo autem Lasar dicibatur .i. ar lasamna a henig, 
15 no ar na lasra noema rogenetar uade, uel propter pulcritudinem faciei 
suae, uel propter placitum imponentis ambo nominati sunt, no ar aille 
a haigt[h]i, no do re[i]r tole Dia 2 fein. 

7. Epscop Etchen dawo, isse dorigne curu a mathar fria athair 
iccon croiss 5 T[h]ig Lommain slar 7 is andsin dodechaid rath fatsine 
20 for epscop Etchen, co n-epert an rann-sa ic taircetul indi Colmain : 

1 Genfid ua|_i]t-siu, a Lasair Ian, mac dia tibrat laeich luathchain, 
tuir claindi Colman cen chrad Colman Laindi mac Liiachain. 

8. Battar dawo tri brathir ic Luachan .i. Anfosaid mac Led a .i. 

anfisid na dia[d]achtse lie, n5 is ar a utmaille, 7 Lechit mac Leda .i. 

25 amail lie im gaindi a chet no a thol, no is cet each tosach, ut dicitur 

1 leg. Briuin. 2 legr Do. 


the only patron saint who has hitherto sprung from the race of 
Colman, as is evident from the song of Bishop Etchen hereafter. 1 
And he is entitled to a scruple every seventh year from every adult of 
the descendants of Colman, and to a horse from every king. 

Colman, however, a precious column 2 upholding the firmament, as 
Colum Cille said, 3 enduring plagues in this life like faithful Job. 
Or, again, there is a letter-change in his name, viz., Colman quasi 
comlan (perfect), for there is no lack of any goodness in him both 
in body and soul. Or again, Colmanus quasi columna manus, id 
est, virtutum, or manus ad calumnias, id est, virtus demicans contra 
calumnias, id est. opprobria scelerum. 

5. This now is the pedigree of his mother, namely, Lassar daughter 
of Caech Rolach, son of Broccan, son of Daniel, son of Daire, son of 
Goll (from whom are the Hui Guill of Corco Raide), son of Colum, 
son of Ailill, son of Baan, son of Raide (from whom are the Corco 
Raide), son of Dathi, son of Fiachra, son of Maine, son of Brion,* son 
of Echaid Mugmed6n. 

6. Lassar now, idea autem Lassar* dicebatur, viz. for the brilliancy 
of her liberality, or for the holy flames that sprang from her, vel 
propter pulchritudinem faciei suae, vel propter placitum imponentis ambo 
nominati sunt, or for the beauty of her face, or according to the will 
of God Himself. 

7. Bishop Etchen, 6 however, betrothed her mother to her father at 
the cross to the west of Tech Lommain ; and it is there the grace of 
prophecy came ever Bishop Etchen, so that he spoke this quatrain, 
prophesying Colman : 

There will be born of thee, perfect Lassar, a son to whom laymen 
will pay ready tribute, the pillar of the Children of Colman without 
hurt Colman of Lann, son of Luachan. 

8. Now Luachan had three brothers, viz., Anfossaid son of Leda, 
viz. he was ignorant (anfisid] of godliness, or he was so called for 
his unsteadiness, 7 and Lechit son of Leda, viz., his cet or his will was 

1 See below, 11. 

- Here follow various etymological interpretations of the name Colman. 

3 See below, 51. 4 The original has Brian. See Eriu iv, p. 68. 

5 fassar means flame. 

fi He died, according to the Annals of Ulster, either in 578 or 584. 

7 an-fosfsaid means unstable. 


cetfer; Lec[h]et didiu .i. les tosach, ar isse ba sinem dib; 7 Cumseine 
mac Leda .i. com-mainib aici wobith dogres. 

Gabsatt daw&gt; ferann fo leth (fo. 7601) co firindech na fir-sin. 
Gabais cetus Anfosaid Cluain Gamnae 7 is uaid rogenetar Hui 

6 Maenachan 7 Hui Moelumse .i. luchtt Chluana sin lat iinmallo, 
ncht is la Hui Msenachan in chell cenae 7 leth na cluanae leis. 
Gab&lt;m dawo Lec[h]et Rath Lechet hi Cnanarus. G&bau Cumaine 
didiu senraith Chuannae .i. Raith Chuanna M6r immurgu la Cuanua 1 
fein rocumdaig^d hi sin. Gabais Luachan Less an Daire hi cind 2 

10 Atha Daire 7 arrubairt 3 bith in du-sin 7 a setig immalle friss, 
7 rotuisim-sein secht n-ingena do-sum .i. Brogel 7 BuidnecA 7 
Mongdub 7 Luache 7 Luachet 7 Lessar 7 Trede .i. a sindser hisein. 
llotusmid dawo .iiii. maic do, id est, Cronan 7 Ernain 7 Midna .i. 
medicina doctus est, ar ba liaigh 4 cuirp 7 anma he. Robatsed tra in 

is eland-sin 6 sacartaib crabdechaib .i. sacairt ule lat na m/c-sin, uel 
quasi medius in ordine nascendi inter filios alios. 7 dorada fa laim 
epscoip hi ciund mis 7 ruct[h]a hi ciund 6 secht mbliadfofl co 
hanmc[h]airdib 7 rolegsat hi 6 salma 7 a n-imna 7 an-ord n-ecalsa 
ule leou. Rocoimeta tra co trebar 7 co genmnaid 5 sin immach co 

20 cend cethri. mblladna dec cen nach n-ellned cuirp nd anma 7 
roaidbairset fein i n-6giu don Cliomdid 6 sein imach. 

9. Dochuadar tra larsin fo hErind hi tirib cianaib 7 rogabsatt 
cellae 7 reclesse indtib. Gabaiss cetus Cronan 7 Ernain oeurecles hi 
Sleib Bladma ho Rus Findglaisiu slar 7 ni corbat coin ni do wo coin 

2 ni indti 7 celd ibrach alaind hi. Gab&lt;m imtnurgu Midna hi Raith Moir 
Maigi descVt hi Ciarraigi 7 Luachrse. G&baw immurgu Treide 7 Brogel 
7 Buidnech hi Gill Cluana Gamna. Trede immurgu .i. ona trednaib 
menci asberar di. Brogel didiu .i. breo taitnemach no brii geal aici. 
Buidnech didiu .i. buaid enich fuirri, no bdid la each nech hi, no arna 

so buidhnib imdse trosscit aici asbert[h]i di an t-ainm-sea. Gab didiu 

1 chuanna MS. 2 cliind MS. 3 asrubairt MS. 4 liaidh MS. 5 chiuud MS. 
6 leg. a ciarraidi MS. 


like a flagstone (lia) for hardness. Or cet means every beginning, 
ut dicitur l cet-fer ; Lechet then, viz., a profitable beginning, for lie 
was the eldest of them. And Cummaine son of Leda, viz. he always 
had treasures (mdine) in his possession. 

Now those men rightfully took up land apart. First, Anfossaid 
took Clongowny, and from him sprang the Hui Maenachan and the 
Hui Maelumae, that 113 to say, they are altogether the people of 
Clongowny, but the church and half the meadow land belong to 
the Hui Maenachan in particular. Next, Lechet took Raith Lechet 
in Cnamros. Cummaine, however, took the old Raith Chuanna, i.e. 
R-aith Chuanna M6r, which had been built by Cuanna himself. 
Luachan took Less in Daire at the head of Ath Daire, and he dwelt 
there, and his wife with him. She bore him seven daughters, viz., 
Brogel and Buiduech and Mongdub and Luache and Luachet and 
Lessar and Trede, who was the eldest. There were born to him 
also four sons, viz., Cronan and Ernan and Midna, i.e. medicind doctus 
est for he was a physician of the body and of the soul ; veil quasi 
medius in or dine nascendi inter filios alias. 1 Those children were 
baptised by pious priests; and those sons were all priests. And 
at the end of a month they were confirmed ; and at the end of seven 
years they were taken to spiritual directors, and with them they 
read their psalms and hymns and all the order of the Church. They 
were preserved in prudence and chastity to the end of fourteen 
years, without any sullying of body and soul, and thenceforward 
they offered themselves in virginity 3 to the Lord. 

9. Thereupon they went throughout Ireland into distant lands 
and took churches and cells in them. First, Cronan and Ernan 
took a single cell in Slieve Bloom to the west of Ross Finnglaisse, 
and wolves or birds do not pollute it ; and it is a beautiful church 
made of yew. Midna, however, set up in Rathmore of the Southern 
Plain in Kerry. Trede and Brogel and Buidnech set up in the 
church of Clongowny. Trede, however, is so called from her frequent 
fastings (tredan}. Brogel, i.e. { a brilliant flame (breo taitnemach], 
or she had a white belly (bru gel}. Buidnech, however, i.e., hers 
was the palm of liberality (bbaid enig\ or everyone was fond of her ; 
or this name was given to her on account of the numerous multi 
tudes (luidne} that fasted with her. Mongdub set up in Craeb TJllanri . 

1 This sentence is out of place in the original. 

2 Or, if we read a n-6gi, offered their virginity. 


Mongdub i cCraeb Ullann .i. dub a folt, no dubach hi cen mangad 
gaire, acht a menma a nDla dogres. Luache immurgu 7 Luachet hi 
Gill Luache hi crich La3ichsi. Luache didiu .i. solus hi, ar dicitur 
loch .i. solus 7 loch dorcha. Luachet .i. set solus na firindi. Lesar 
simmurgu .i. ar is les cuirp 7 anmma3, no leges, 7 hita cell ale di i 
nDelbna Ethra3 imMidhi fein .i. Lessar iminwgu hi cill i crich Hua 1 
Ceindsealaig. Lochet didiu .i. la bl[o]edmadmand crand .i. bid dorcha 
in c[h]onair la blaedaig na crann ic maidm. 

10. O doralse immurgu Colman mac Luachan i mbroinn a ma thar, 

10 ni rabse cess na galar na guin na tregat na tort[h]romad na amnerti 
fuirri frisin re-sin amail is bes do mnaib torchaib. Primuni miraculum 
.i. a brith cen guin, cen tregaitt, cen idain. Ind aidchi immurgu 
rucad Colman mac Luachain i tir Colman (fo. 76 b 1) o T[h~]igh Loman 
fot[h]iiaid, doruacht epscop Etchen in aidchi-sin co Tech Lomain. 

15 llosfuc immurgu Lomman larnabarach dochum batsti co hepseop 
Etc[h]en 7 robatsed hi Tir na Copan .i. eopan usci tucad tar cend an 
\naic 7 tucad Tir inn a Copan do epscop Etchen illog a batsi 7 tucad 
Tir Colmain do Cholman mac Luachain ar a brith ann. Rofastad da.no 
epscop Etc[h]en in aidchi-sin hi Tig Lommain 7 o tliainicc iarmergi 7 

20 6 atrachtatar na cleirig di .i. Lomman 7 epscop Etchen, rochualadar 
nu ceola adamra imda immon cill c&cha lethe 7 ni clos accu reme nf 
bad amra nsch bad binniu, id est, angil nime ic faoilti fri Colman mac 
Luachain, amail doronsat angil neme ceolu imda adamra immon 
mBethil cecha lethe aidchi gene Crist. Dotet tra fochetoir rath fatsine 

25 for epscop Etchen, co n-epairt in laid-so sis : 

11. Amra gein gignitA^r, 

Colman caidh cumachtach, 

comairci clann Neill : 
bid nla 2 nertaib noemc[h]lerech, 
30 bid caindel ard adanta, 

bet rlglaig dia reir. 

hui MS. - niad MS. 


She had black hair ; or she was melancholy (dutach) without the 
deceit (mangad) of laughter, but her mind fixed on God always. 
Luache and Luachet in Cell Luache in the land of Leix. Luache, 
now, viz. she was bright ; for loch means * bright as well as dark/ 
Luachet, viz. bright road (set) of righteousness. Lessar, however, 
viz. for it is profit (less) or cure (leges) of body and soul. And she 
has another church in Delbna Ethnae (Delvin) in Meath itself. 
Lessar however (lies buried) in a church in the land of the Hui 
Ceinselaig. Loehet, now, i.e. with the loud bursting forth of trees, 
viz. the road is dark with the din of the trees as they burst forth. 

10. From the time that Colman son of Luachan was in his mother s 
womb there was neither weariness nor sickness nor wound nor ache nor 
heaviness nor weakness upon her during that time, as is customary 
with pregnant women. Primum miraculum, viz., that he was born 
without wound, without ache, without a pang. On the night, 
however, when Colman son of Luachan was born in the land of 
Colman northward of Tech Lommain, that night bishop Etchen came 
to Tech Lommain. Then on the morrow Lomman took him to bishop 
Etchen to be baptised ; and he was baptised in Tir na Cupan,viz. a cup 
(copdn) of water was put over the head of the boy ; and in payment of 
his baptism, Tir na Copan was given to bishop Etchen, and Tir 
Colmain was given to Colman son of Luachan for his having been 
born on it. That night bishop Etchen stayed in Tech Lommain ; and 
when matins had come and the clerics rose up for it that is to say, 
Lomman and bishop Etchen they heard many marvellous kinds of 
music around the church on every side ; and nothing more marvellous 
and more melodious had ever been heard by them before viz., angels 
of Heaven making welcome to Colman son of Luachan, as on the 
night of the birth of Christ angels made many marvellous kinds of 
music around Bethlehem on every side. Then forthwith the grace of 
prophecy came upon bishop Etchen, so that he spoke the following 

A wonderful birth will be born, 

Colman holy and mighty, 

safeguard of the children of Niall. 

He will be a champion with the strength of holy clerics, 

he will be a lofty kindled candle, 

kings will be obedient to him. 


Bid crabdech, bid caeinsuarech, 
bid cendais, bid conderclech, 

bid credal caid caid, 
bid lia logmar lainderda, 
5 Ian do grad na trmoiti 

eier feoil is cnaim. 

Bid uasal, bid inisel, 
bid coicc 1 indraic ilmartra, 

bid mor as each mud, 

10 bid claideb tromm tendtidi, 

bid sclath diten dltbogla 
fri diabul ndser ndub. 

Nocha bia cair collaidbi 

d ocht n-airc[h]ib na ndualacA 
15 (fo. 76 b 2) hi tegdais a c[h]uirp : 

bid h6 in t-ennac senmeninnach 
eter corp is noemanmain 
cen nach n-adbar n-uilc. 

Bid maith la each cotaigi 
Colman ar a c[h]rabdigi, 

bid sai hi fathaib fis : 
malartbaid na morri gu, 
millfid tuatha is tigernu 

dia ndernat olc fris. 

25 * Dobera each manchame 

a chlain[n]e is a choraperta 

do re[i]r dligid 2 do : 
is lemm legbas lebranu 
caeha screptra scelmoire 

re taeb saitrach so, 

1 bid coicc .i. do c[h]lamraid Machutta co cenn secht mblia^ ic roinu doib 
- dlidid MS 


He will be pious, he will be benignant, k*ftcfl *t - 

he will be gentle, he will be merciful, 
he will be faithful, holy, holy. 
He will be a precious, shining stone, 
full of the love of the Trinity, 
both flesh and bone. 

; He will be lofty, he will be lowly, 
he will be a faithful cook 1 of many martyrdoms, 
he will be great beyond all measure. 
He will be a heavy, fiery sword, 
he will be an indestructible shield of shelter 
against the base black Devil. 

There will be no carnal blemish 
of the eight chief sins 
in the house of his body. - 
He will be the innocent single-minded one, 
both in body and in holy soul, 
without any substance of evil. 

All who keep the covenant will deem him good,. 
Colman, for his piety, 
a master in the cause of knowledge. 
He will confound the great kings, 
he will destroy tribes and lords, 
if they do evil to him. 

* Every one will serve 
his clan and his race 
according to right. 
With me he will read books 
of every storied scripture 
together with the psalter. 

1 he will be a cook, viz., distributing food to Mochuta s lepers to the end of 
seven years. (Gloss.) 


Gebazd so secht primrelgi 1 
fo riaglaib dia Romanchaib 

co i) a fagbat pein : 
cethraeha ar cet comlana 

5 ar secht [in]bliadnaib buanad[b~|lib 

bid a remes n glaechda, 
ni ba saegal sneid. 

* Ticfa fein 2 ar prlmFiada 
hi richt lobair landeroil 
10 dia thoroma sein : 

ni geinfe asa hathLs]ilti 
etir orbaib Elgin si, 
ni bera bru banscaile 

nech bus amra gein. Amra gein. 

15 12. Ba mote tra grad 7 sere an meic la muintir a mathar 7 a athar 
an taircetul-so dorigne in t-epscop uasal do. Roailed larum an mac 
co crabdhech 7 co ini sel 7 nocluintis sailm 7 clascetul 7 guth cluicc 
cacha tratha 7 cocetal aifrind each domnaig each airm i mbid-som, co 
ticdis na daine dia larfaigid: cuich in senadh tana[i]c sund iroir? 

20 (fo. 77 a 1) 6 notegtis immurgu isin tech i mbid-som, andar leo batir 
lube boladmarse noscaeiltea isin tech ule 7 ni bith ni and acht esim 7 a 
choimetaidi fodesin. Ocus orba slana tra .iii. bliadna de-sim, gabais 
inad fo leth, id est, Cell Bee o Lis in Daire sairtuaid .i. a c[h]ell- 
som a cein roba bee he, conid aire isberar Cell Becc fria 7 dognlt[h]ea 

1 Secht primreilgi .i. a tri dibh a n-Uidh [sic ] Foranan .i. Les Dochuind 7 Lene 
7 Carrac Leme in Eich 7 Ceall Uird i Mumain 7 Cell Bheacc 7 Uachtar Comart[h]a 
a nllibh Tigernain 7 Lainn m&lt;?tc Luachain, no comad iat secht cealla asberad .i. 
cella a triar [sic] brathar 7 a secht sethar, ar is eisimh i cend sin immaleith eter 
maccu 7 ingenu. 

- Ticfa fein 7 cetera .i. Crist fein tana[i]c i richt claeimh .i. a Croiss Claman, 
conidh air asberar Cross Claman fria ho lioin ille. 

These glosses as well as $12 to the end of the page are written in a different 
and interior hand. 


1 He will take up seven chief cemeteries 1 
under rules of the Romans, 
so that they 2 shall not find torture. 
Full one hundred and forty-seven 
of vast lasting years 
will be his royal heroic course, 
twill be no slight life-time. 

* Our chief Lord Himself will come 3 
in the shape of a full-wretched leper 
to attend on him. 
There will not be born after him 
among the heirs of Ireland s isle 
no woman s womb will bring forth 
a more famous birth. 

12. From this prophecy which the noble bishop made of him the 
love and affection for the boy with the people of his mother and 
father were all the greater. Then the boy was brought up piously 
and humbly ; and wherever he used to be they would hear psalms 
and choral song, and the sound of a bell at every canonical hour, and 
the singing of mass every Sunday, so that people would come to ask : 
* What was the assembly that came here last night ? But when 
they came into the house where he was it seemed to them that 
fragrant herbs had been scattered all over the house, and yet there 
was nothing save himself and those who were watching him. And 
when he had completed three years he set up at a place by himself, 
viz., Cell Bee (Kilbeg), north-east of Less in Daire, even his own 
church so long as he was little, whence it is called Little Church 
(Cell Bee). And many wonders and miracles were performed iu it 

1 Seven chief cemeteries, viz., three of them in Hui Forannain, viz., Less Do- 
chuind and Lene and Carrac Leime-ind-Eich ; Cell Uird in Munster ; Cell Bee 
and Uachtar Comartha in Hui Thigernain ; and Lann Meic Luachain. Or this 
may be the seven churches alluded to, viz., the churches of his three brothers and 
of his seven sisters, for he is the head of them all, both sons and daughters. (Gloss.) 

- i.e. those buried there. 

3 Viz., Christ Himself came in the shape of a leper, namelv, at Cross Clauian, 
so that for that reason it has been culled Cros Claman ever since. (Gloss.) 


fertae imdse 7 mirbaile fair-som indti 7 ni theged ettV hi comatreib 
na.ch hi cumasce doeine n-imdse nd dsescarsluaig nd mac mallachta 

13. Feachtas dawo dochuaid Colmanla tain mbo conicci an niBros- 
Snaig 6 C[h]ill Bice siartuaid 7 otconnairc scath an duine isin usci 

dochuaid som sis ind 7 is amlaid tarfas do he amail clieo solusta 7 
tancatar chuici-som anmanna amlahraa in usci, co fersat .iii. gi aifne 
ina fiadnaisi ic faoilti fris, amail bid ed asbertais : Mochen duit, a 
C[h]olman, a t[h]igerna ind usci-sa 7 in tire, is duit fogenam-ne co 
10 brath J . lloboi tra Colman fo usci laa 7 adaig 7 tainic tirim as amail 
roboi Pol apstal fo usci. Robatar dawo na tustidi in eret-sin oc tur 
an nmc 7 batar torsig co frith ina chodlud isin usci. 6 rosiacht tra 
in mathair cliuici ciis coe foeilti ina fiadnaisi 7 isbert so : 

14. Mo mac, inniain he ind inbaid atcm, 
15 mo re-sea ar do re, dar th esi ni bm. 

Hop tosci m ec fein oldas hec mo laeig, 
rombia cert is cain triana nert in nseim. 

1 Bendacht De ar in sruth nar brethnaig do has, 
rotla silh wr^ suas dot innium, dot fas. 

20 Nlrleg Dia tonn bais dar do bel it broind, 

atlochar dom Rig, rotgab Crist fo choiin. 

(fo. 77 a 2) An mac [baid] roboi noi misaib im ain 
y mor n-uar isin mBrosna^ bain. 1 

* Rotarrgired 2 duit bat cobair do c[h]ach 
25 co mbla tuath nacA tre[ijth fot sceith ar do scath. 

1 An lind for thuil tu seek each liiid bid lat, 
teet lemm athaig biuc 3 m athair is mo mac. Mo mac. 

i ; 

.i. lam airgit indiu apud nouos Scotos. - .i. epscop Etchen. 3 buic MS. 


for him. And he would never go into the habitation or society of 
many people or the vulgar, or of sons of malediction. 

13. Once upon a time Colman went with a drove of cows as 
far as the Brosna north-west from Cell Bee. And when he saw the 
shadow of a man in the water, he went down into it. And it seemed 
to him like shining mist ; and the dumb creatures of the water came 
to him and performed three races before him in welcoming him, as 
though they said : "Welcome to thee, Colman, lord of this water and 
of the land ! we shall serve thee till Doom. Then Colman was a 
day and a night under water, and came dry out of it, as the apostle 
Paul was under water. 1 During that time the parents were seeking 
the boy, and were full of anxiety until he was found asleep in the 
water. Now when his mother came to him she wept tears of joy in 
his presence and said this : 

14. .My son, beloved is he when I see him : 

my life-time for thine, after thee I shall not live. 

May my own death come sooner than the death of my darling, 

I shall have rights and tribute through the power of the 

holy one. 
God s blessing upon the river that has not determined thy 


it has cast thee up ... that thou mayst prosper and grow. 
God did not permit a wave of death to go across thy lip into 

thy body : 
I give thanks to my King Christ has taken thee under 


The fond boy who was nine months in my womb 
has endured many hours in the bright Brosna. 2 
It has been prophesied of thee thou shalt be a help to all, 
so that a tribe that is not weak shall be under thy shield in 

thy protection. 
The pool under which thou hast slept (?), beyond every pool 

it shall be thine ; 
come with me a short while, my father and my son ! 

1 A reminiscence of 2 Cor. xi. 25. 

2 Lam airgit ( ( Hand of silver ) to-day apud novos Scottos 



Tfiinic iarum Colman asin usci inuis dochum a t[h]ustide 7 gabais 
co Cild Bice iar sodain. llomorad ainm. De 7 Colmain triit-sin. 

15. Araile seel forathtttitilar sund. Gabais didi^(, bronngalar tra 
athair a mathar Colmain .i. Caoch Rolach 7 asbert fria ingin : 

5 . Tabair in mac chucum .i. Colman 7 tabair a lam for mo broind. 
Tucad amlaid-sin 7 ba sliin foclietoir. 7 romorad ainm De 7 Colmain 
triasin firt-sein. 

16. Arale dawo seel iomihmmtar simd .i. asbert Ca3ch llolach fria 
ingin : Tabair an mac chucum .i. Colman, co tarta a hanfiil fom rose, 

10 ar ni leir dam 111. Tucad chuici an mac .i. Colman 7 tuc a anal fo 
rose 7 ba slan focctoir 7 romorad ainm De 7 Colmain triasin firt-sin. 

17. Araile seel dawo forathmentar sund .i. Mongdub ingen Luachain 
gabffts a Cr^eib Ullan 7 ba hi ba coicc indti ie Colman 7 noticed each 
donmaig coLaind do etsecbt fri hoifrinn 7 celebrad abrathar. 7 noticed 

15 each laoi co Icth conaire innuas do denum a leginn 7 noteced Colman 
suas coreegi sein do denum accechta-di 7 rocumsat adrad and, conid 
de asbert Adrad ingene Luachain i Craebiuch Laindi fris sen. 

18; Kucad immurgu larsin hi cind secht [m]blia&lt;7wa co ha[n]mcha- 
rait crabdig, id est, co hepscop Etchen 7 ro (fo. 77 H) leg na salma 7 

20 na himnu 7 in ord n-ecalsa ule ace. Tictis tra angil co menic do 
acallaim Colmain coricci in rigles i mbi d. 7 roa[i]rig a oitti rath mor 
fair-som sech na daltuda archena. 7 rogab format na daltada ale 
fris-sium, 7 roa[i]rig a oitti esiden 7 isbert an t-oitti fris-sium : A 
meic maith, imt[h]ig eolus ale do denum do legind fechtsa 7 ber 

25 bennacht. Lauid iarum Colman dochum Mochuta co Bathen do 
denam a leginn &gt;ais. 

19. Araile seel for&ihmentar sund .i. roedprad do Cholman mac 
Luachain in redes ar ciil na hibraighi 1 ar son na hibrfl^ye fein rucad 
uad tna fornert .i. ota in ibraig conici in croiss 7 in srait fil frisin 
30 crois indnis 7 Erechtach .i. erchindech Lainne 7 Ua hAengusa 
erchinnech Cilli Uird icca criohad 7 sech[t] traigid fichet inti do 
muindtir Lainne i n-erc[h]omair in meic ecalsa norachad dia oilithre 
conicci sarugud do Mochuta 7 do Cholman 7 do noemaib na himirci .i. 

1 hibraidhi MS. 


Then Colman came up out of the water towards his parents and 
thereupon went to Cell Bee. Thereby God s name and Colman s 
were magnified. 

15. Another 1 story is recorded here. An abdominal disease seized 
his mother s father, even Caech Kolach, and he said to his daughter : 
* Bring the boy Colman to me and put his hand over my belly. It 
was so put, and forthwith he was cured. And God s name and 
Colman s were magnified by that miracle. 

16. Again, another story is recorded here. Caech Rolach said to 
his daughter : Bring the boy Colman to me that he may breathe upon 
my eye, for I can see nothing clearly. The boy Colman was brought 
to him and breathed upon his eye ; and it became sound forthwith, 
and God s name and Colman s were magnified by that miracle. 

17. Again, another story is recorded here. Mongdub, Luachan s 
daughter, set up in Craeb Ullan and she was cook there with Colman. 
And she would come every Sunday to Lann to hear her brother say 
mass and celebrate. And every day she would come half the way 
from above to do her reading; and Colman would come up so far to 
give her a lesson, and there they worshipped. Hence that spot is 
called Adrad Ingine Luachain (The Worship of Luachan s Daughter) 
in Croebech Lainne. 

18. Thereupon at the end of seven years he was taken to a pious 
confessor, even to bishop Etchen, and with him he read the psalms 
and the hymns and the whole order of the Church. Then angels 
would often come as far as the cell in which he was to converse 
with Colman. And his tutor noticed great grace upon him beyond 
the other pupils. And envy seized the other pupils against him ; 
and his tutor noticed that, and said to him : My good son, depart 
now in another direction to do thy reading, and take a blessing. 
So Colman went to Mochuta to Rahen to read with him. 

19. Another story is recorded here. The cell behind the yew-wood 
was given to Colman son of Luachan in lieu of the yew-wood itself 
which had been taken from him by force (viz. from the yew-wood as far 
as the cross and the road which is below the cross : and Erechtach, the 
erenagh of Lann, and Ua hOengusa, the erenagh of Cell Uird, measured 
it out, and there are twenty- seven feet in it), to the monks of Lann 
in expectation of the son of the Church that would go on his pilgrimage 

1 Literally, a certain. 


morfesar ar secht fichtib ar secht cetaib mina comailter amlaid sin ; 
Ua Ferehair 7 Ua Aedacain 7 TJa Dercain 7 na cele De uile ina 
rathaiges-sin co brath 7 muindter Liss Moir uile. Mochuta cecinit 
.1. ar a laim do gabail do Blathmac o Rathen : 

1 Cethri fichit se fir dec lin clainne Blathmeic, m brecc, 
ocus coic cett dec fa do romarb Mochuta i n-aenlo. 

Rola in doman bac ar bac da mac dec fil ic Blathmac, 
da mac de[a]c la each mac, is annsu a rim fria rathmac. 

Kola athir[r]uch athbac d ec meic each hui do Blathmac, 
10 is tualaing in Ri dusrat na rab tathmet o Blathmac. 1 

20. tainicc \mmurgu do-som co haes secht [mjbliadwa dec, luid 
dochum Mochuta Lis Moir hi crich Muman for deoradecht asa athardse 
fein. Nech tra ar timchill each aidchi noroinned do clamrad 
Mochuta 7 ba gnath drong dib co fodord 7 fo bron raindi. Dogni 

15 Colman dawo rainn aidchi d5ib amail each. Ba sathig Aano lat uile 7 
batar buidhig cen fodord ind aidchi-sin. larfaigit larum larnabarach in 
chlamrad do Mochutae : Maith ale, ci a roroind ar proind dunn irrair ? 
* Colman mac Luachain, ar an clerech. * Denad each aidchi dun 
raind an Colman cetna, ar lat-som. * Ar ni frith sinne uile commbui- 

20 dech riam cosirair. l Maith aile, a Cholmain, ar Mochuta, dena 
sut ! Ac, ar Colman. * Atagar anti nach ba buidech do gait neime 
form. Geibim-si form, ar Mochutae, * nem duit fein aire 7 dot 
manchaib sund co brath 7 corab hi a n-elit[h]re Less Mor 7 an dan 
cetna doib sund. 7 ni bia sonus far in raind, mani taircther d5ib-som 

1 .i. Glasan tia Sfianaig robenad forru .i. Glaaan Mochuta hesein ar tus. 


until the outrage to Mochuta and to Colman and to the saints of the 
wandering, viz. seven hundred seven score seven. 1 Unless it be thus 
fulfilled, TJa Ferchair and TJa Aedacain and TJa Dercain and all the 
Culdees to guarantee it till Doom, as well as all the monks of Lismore. 
Mochuta cecinit, as he was heing expelled by Blathmac out of 
Kathen : 

Ninety- six men, 

the number of Blathmac s offspring, no falsehood, 

and twice fifteen hundred 

Mochuta killed in one day. 

The world has been cast into confusion 
by the twelve sons that Blathmac had, 
twelve sons with each son 
to count them is hard for a son of grace. 

Again the world has been cast into confusion 
by the death of a son of every grandson of Blathmac 1 s, 
the King who gave them is capable (of bringing it about) 
that no memory of Blathmac may be left. 3 

20. When he had arrived at the age of seventeen years, he went 
into exile from his native land to Mochuta of Lismore m the territory 
of Munster. Now every night some one in turn used to distribute 
food to Mochuta s lepers ; and it was usual for some of these to 
grumble and to grieve at the distribution. Then Colman makes the 
nightly distribution to them like everybody else. Now that night 
they were all satiated, and were satisfied without grumbling. So on 
the morrow the lepers ask of Mochuta : Well, now, who distributed 
our meal to us last night ? * Colman son of Luachan, said the cleric. 
4 Let that same Colman distribute to us every night, said they, for 
till last night we have never all of us been equally satisfied. Well, 
now, Colman, said Mochuta, * do that ! * No, said Colman, * I fear 
that he who may not be satisfied will deprive me of heaven. I 
take it upon myself, said Mochuta, that thou shalt have heaven 
for it, and thy monks here till Doom, and that Lismore may count 

1 This sentence seems defective in the original. 

3 Viz. The glassdn (the name of a bell) of the Hui Suanaig was struck against 
them, viz. it was the glassdn of Mochuta at first (gloss). 


hi no mane leictA&lt;?r. Naiscid Colman for Mochuta sin uile do 7 
nighid a lama larum 7 dogni rainn doib. 7 inde 1 dicitur Colman 
Lamglan de-sn 6 sin himach. Roindid tra Colman doib co cend 
secht mbll&dna 7 legaid an scriptwr cechtarda ann in n-eret-soin. 

5 21. (fo. 78 a 1) Fecht and dawo gebid treblait mor Colman mac 
Luachain fri .xxx. laithe 7 batr bronaig de sein an manaig 7 tictis 
dia thoroma each laithe cosin Ibraig Colmain meic Luachain .i. recles 
Colman hi Lis Mor hesein 7 laid Mochuta fein leo araile lathe ann 
dia fis 7 is a forbae .xxx. laithe esein 7 ba slan esim larnabarach 
1 o fochetoir, conid and asbert Mochutta na runda? : 

22. * Colman Lamglan, lor a gile, 

lam fri caire, 2 grad De neime. 

Sere na manach, mlan don chlamraid y 

cen [n]ach n-erbaid ina anmain. 
is Anim lommnan d fis is d ecna r 

cend cen ocla, tend dom frecra. 

Banchoic balla mo bid blasta, 

fer fial fosta, gruud glan gasta. 

Lam an Choimded uastu atchim, 
?o leis mo laindia 3 chess chinn. 4 

Comrainn coitchenn fiad na huile 

ar grad iiime dan an duine. 5 

Dia de5in trecis soidnge ar dodaing, 

ris ni scaraim cein beo i ccoluinn. C. 

2& 23. Tt riraid larum Oolman mac Luachain 7 linaid rath he o mullach 
co lar. 6 roslacht-som immurgo ses .xxx. timairgid celebrad de Mochuta 
7 iabert in olerech na deonebad uad he cein beth hi coluind acht co 
hinad eonii acus i n-oentir fris fein im-Mumain armedon 7 isbert 
Col man na ticfed a haentir cein co mbad cet lais-[s]ium. Derbait 

30 larum malle a n-oentaid andsin. 

unde MS. - .i. dubalc[h]i 3 kind dia, with punctum delens over the first d. 
4 .i. galar 5 .i. Colmain 


as their exile, and that they shall have the same office here. And 
there will be no luck upon the distribution unless it be offered to 
them or unless it be left (to them)/ Colman binds all that upon 
Mochuta for himself, and so he washes his hands and makes the 
distribution to them. Et inde dicitur Colman the Pure -handed from 
that out. Then to the end of seven years Colman distributes to 
them, and during that time he reads both Scriptures there. 

21. Once now a great sickness befals Colman son of Luachan for 
thirty days ; and the monks were sorrowful thereat ; and to attend 
on him they would come every day to the Ibrach of Colman son of 
Luachan, viz. Column s cell in Lismore. On a certain day Mochuta 
himself went with them to visit him ; and it was then the end of 
thirty days, and forthwith on the morrow he was cured. So then 
Mochuta spoke the quatrains : 

22. Pure-handed Colman, great hi s whiteness, 

hand against sins, love of God of Heaven. 

Darling of the monks, desire of the lepers, 

without any bane in his soul. 

Soul full of knowledge and wisdom, 

head without obstinacy, strong to serve 1 me. 

Pure strong-limbed cook of my tasty ft od, 

hospitable, steadfast man, bright, generous cheek. 

The Lord s hand I beseech over them, 

with him 

A common division in the presence of all 
for the love of Heaven that is the gift of the man. 
Of his own will he has forsaken comfort for trouble, 
from him I depart not while I am in the body. 

23. So Colman son of Luachan escapes (death) and grace fills him 
from top to bottom. However, when he had reached the age of 
thirty years he bids farewell to Mochuta. And the cleric said he 
would not give him leave to go from him so long as he was in the 
body save to a place near by in the same district with himself in the 
middle of Munster. And Colman said he would not go out of the 
land unless he had leave from him. So then they confirm their 
union together. 

1 Literally, answer. 


24. Foididh larum Mochuta e-sim co Dungal mac Mselfothbil .i. 
ri Fer Maigi 7 ba cara sein do Mochuta 7 dia chlamraid co n-almsanaib 
mencib biid 7 etaig doib 7 dob^r Mochuta coicait manach dia muindtir 
fein leis co Dungal. rosiachtatar tra hi ciana o Lis Mor siar, 
6 atcondaircatar buidin moir cuca na n-agid 7 fer marb acu for fuat 
7 slat fein ic golgaire moir. Comraicit larum Colman 7 an buiden 1 ut 
imalle 7 mrfaigid 2 Colman dib : Cuich an marb-sa fil occaib ? J 
Dungal mac Maeilfothbil, ar siat-som. Is cuici-sein ronfoided-ne 3 , 
ol Colman mac Luachain, 7 is mellad dun a hec co facbad tir occund 

10 7 legid for lar he bice conasfacamar. Doronad amlaid. * Diamad beo 
tra Dungal, ol an buiden, fogebt[h]a-sa sin uile 7 cid duit-siu, a 
noemC[_h]olmain, n&ch cuinche for an Comdid a thathbeogud ? ar 
doni Dia fort ni na.ch lugda innas sin 7 fogenum-ne duit co brath 
7 fogena-som fein 7 a c[h]lann co brath [duit]. Conid and isbert 

is Colman in da rann-sa : 

25. A Dungail oicc feramail, it mac flatha fir, 

olc don lueht-sa* am lenamain do breith-si as do t[h]ir. 
A marban ut [t]ra ale, ^rig, tasce ille, 
bT-siu beo mar taam-ne, tiagam sist malle. 

20 La sodain tra fochetoir atracht Dungal 7 atfet a uile fisse tall doib. 
Komorad tra gl5ir 7 anoir Colmain meic Luachain triasin firt-sin fon 
Mumain uile. Dobert larum Dungal do Cholman in coicnit bo dia 
fognam 7 a roga baile na t[h]uaith 7 a manchine co brath. 

26. Dogmther larum la Colman mac Luachain Cell Uird isin 

35 baile-sin (fo. 78 b 1) .i. hi Feraib Maigi 7 is aire isberar Cell Fird fria, 

ar is inti tosech tuarcgabad an t-ord tuc Molaisi leis o Roim, ar roforaith 

e-sium ma gabail ind uird-sin acht co trtrsed. lloboi \mmurgu annsin 

Colman co fertaib imda 7 mirbuilib cor ba slan .xl. blia^wa de eter 

Mumain 7 sund ria ndulado siar .i. secht [mjblia^wa decdlb side sund 

30 7 a secht ilLis Mor 7 osin imach i Cill Uird 7 ic troscad fo Mumain 

1 buidin MS. 2 iarfaidid MS. 3 ronfoididne MS. Corrected into 

ronfoidsidne by a later hand. 4 .i. clamrad 


24. Then Mochuta sends him to Dungal, son of Maelfothbil, King 
of Fermoy, who was a friend to Mochuta and to his lepers with 
frequent alms of food and garment to them. And Mochuta sends 
fifty monks of his own people with him to Dungal. Now when 
they had gone far west of Lismore they saw a great band coming 
towards them, and with them a dead man upon a bier, and they them 
selves making great lament. Then Colman and that band meet, and 
Colman asks of them : "Who is that dead man with you ? Dungal, 
son of Maelfothbil, say they. Tis to him we have been sent, says 
Colman son of Luachan, and his death is a disappointment to us, as 
he was to let us have land. And set him down for a little while 
that we may see him. So it was done. Now if Dungal were alive, 
said the company, thou wouldst have got all that. And what ails 
thee, holy Colman, that thou dost not ask the Lord to resuscitate 
him? For God does a greater miracle for thee than that. And we 
shall serve thee till Doom, and he himself and his offspring will serve 
thee till Doom. So then Colman spoke these two quatrains : 

25. Dungal young and manly, thou art a son of the true prince, 

it is ill for these folk 1 that follow me to carry thee out of 
thy land. 

corpse yonder, arise, come hither! 

be thou alive as we are, let us walk together awhile! 
Then at that Dungal arose forthwith and related to them all his 
visions beyond. Now through that miracle the glory and honour of 
Colman son of Luachan was magnified throughout all Munster. Then 
Dungal gave to Colman one hundred and fifty cows to serve him, 
and his choice of a place in the land of his tribe and service to his 
monastery till Doom. 

26. So at that place Cell Uird is built by Colman son of Luachan, 
viz. in Fermoy, And it is called Cell Uird because in it the order 
which Molaise had brought with him from Rome was first set up, 
for he had urged him to adopt that order in case he should return. 
Now Colman was there with many wonders and miracles until he 
had completed forty years both in Munster and here before he went 
westward, viz. seventeen years here, and seven in Lismore, and 

Viz. the lepers (gloss). 


7 for Cnuc Brenaind. Ba deochain tra in eret-sin Colman inac Luachain 
.i. grad manaig immurgu rogab ar tus 7 asein na grada ecalsa). 

27. Araile seel dawo foraihrnentar .i. in bliadain ria n-ec Mochuta 
tainic chuici Motura .i. mac rig Corca Bascind .i. xxx. ammus lais do 

5 fognwm don Choimdid 1 ic Lis Mor. Rotesct[h]a a foilt 7 robt wta 
come ina cendaib la Mochutu 7 baUr bliadain laiss. Tainic angel 2 
dochum Mochuta i cind bliadna 7 isbert fris : * Nl duit-siu tra ro 
cetaigid na manaig ut, acht inad is mo irriefittfr a less. Cait dawo 
e-sein? ar Mochutu. * Munfaid Dia doib he, ar an t-angel 2 7 

10 tabair-siu clocc doib cin tengaid and 7 ait illerae 3 acu he, is and bias 
a n-esergi 7 a 4 fognam co brath . Ciid tra Mochutu 7 atfet doib-soin 
in scel-sin 7 ciit siwm fein co serb 7 doberar clocc doib cen tengaid 
and 7 troscit rempu aidchi cacha cille 7 batar secht bliadna timc[h]ill 
Erend on mud-sin 7 nT labair a cloc frisin re-sin. Hi cind secht 

15 [m]bliarfw iarum iar ngabail Laindi, is ann rolabair accu a clocc ic 
tiachtain dochum Lainne ic Adrad Motura. Tecait iarum co Colman 
7 slaiwdid in fid lais (fo. 78#2) 7 doniat tochar rnor 5 Laind co Tech 
Laisrend tar Moiri Lainne 7 nascit for Colman nem doib fein sund 7 
dia cinel co brath, conid lat-sin filet isin ulaid fata ar cul eclaise 

20 Colmain meic Luachain 7 conid desin ata Bern an Moturu ic Laind 7 
bernan Mochutu he iar fir 7 mind cotaig isin bale he 7 icaid galra 7 
tedmand imda for daeinib 7 cethraib .i. dmnech ass 7 a beim impu fo 

28. Araile seel iorafhrnentar sund .i. secht meic Mennan meic 
25 Maenan meic Feradaig meic Cais o fuilit Dal Cais 7 do muindtir 
Motura doib. Tfmcatar na meic-sin dfa luain casca moire do faigde 
co banairchinnig Lainne 7 isbert si ni bai biad no lind erlam aici. 
Ergit-sim immach 7 siatt dimdaig. Isbertatar fria-si : Rob dimdach 
each dam dit fadechtsa. Diit is dia, a chlerchiu, ar sisi, * tabraid 

1 choimded MS. 2 angil MS. 3 Between 1 and ? an a seems to be 

inserted above the line. 4 i MS. 


thenceforward in Cell Uird, and fasting throughout Munster and 
upon Cnoc Brenaind. During that time Colman son of Luachan was 
a deacon, viz. he first took the order of a monk, and after that the 
orders of the Church. 

27. Again, another story is recorded. A year before Mochuta s 
death Motura, son of the King of Corco Baiscinn, came to him with 
thirty household- warriors to serve the Lord at Lismore. Their hair 
was cut and tonsures were shorn on their heads by Mochuta, and they 
remained one year with him. At the end of the year an angel came 
to Mochuta and said to him : * Those monks have not been permitted 
to thee, but to a place where they are needed more. Where is 
that? asked Mochuta. God will show it to them, said the angel ; 
and do thou give them a tongue-less bell, and wherever it will speak, 
there their resurrection shall be and their service till Doom. Then 
Mochuta weeps and tells them those tidings ; and they weep them 
selves bitterly. And they are given a tongue- less bell, and they fast 
one night at every church to which they come. And in that wise 
they wandered round Ireland for seven years, and during all that time 
their bell never spoke. Then at the end of seven years when they 
had reached Lann, their bell spoke at the spot called * "Worship of 
Motura as they were coming to Lann. So they come to Colman, 
cut down the wood, and make the great causeway from Lann to 
Tech Laisrenn across the bog of Lann. And they bind it upon Colman 
that they themselves and their race are to go to Heaven from here 
till Doom. And it is they who are in the long tomb at the back of 
the church of Colman son of Luachan. And hence is the gapped bell 
of Motura at Lann, and it is really the gapped bell of Mochuta. It 
is a relic of covenant 1 in the place, and it cures many diseases and 
plagues on men and cattle, viz. by their washing from it, and by its 
being struck three times around them. 

28. Another story is recorded here. There were among Motura s 
people seven sons of Mennan son of Moenau, son of Feradach, son of 
Cass, from whom are the Dal Caiss. Now one Easter Monday those 
sons came to beg of the wife of the erenagh of Lann, and she said that 
she had neither food nor drink ready. They go out dissatisfied, 
saying to her : Henceforth may every company be dissatisfied with 

1 i.e. on -which covenants were sworn. 


ecc isin escuine ar Dia rib. Doberam, ar siat-som, * .i. dia tuct[h]ar 
proind morfesir i comainm in laithi-sa dun dogres cacha bliadna do 
lind 7 do bind. * DobertAar on, ar sisi. Conid osin ille dlegar do 
banairchinnig Lainne fe[i~]l mac Mennan do denum each luain case .i. 
6 proind secht do lind 7 do bi ud do c[h]lerchib Laindi 7 loim ar son 
lenna ann, mina raib lind fein. 

29. Tainic 1 reime larum i crich Midlie do thoroma a charutt 7 a 
aitte .i. epscop Etchen 7 o rosiacht immurgu co Cill Big 7 fegaoidh 
inadh cille ar bru tsrotha ar gaire eiscc 7 usci and .i. i eind Atha Daire. 

10 Claoiditt larum na (fo. 79 a 1) manaoigh 2 mur mor timc[h]ell na 
cille-sin 7 bat saothraoigh 7 bat scittha*^ latt asa aithle. Tainic 
aingel and ai[d]ci sin go Colman 7 asbert frie : l Cid mor do tsaothar, 
a C[h]olmain, ni sund bett do manaoig nacA do eiseirge fein/ Ciis 
iarum Colman co serbh 7 asbeart : * Cia pudhur fil sund etir ? 

15 Asbert Uictuir aingel 3 dosum : Oen caw cett sund doc[h]um nime 7 
oen caw cett immurgu doc[hjum n-ifrinn asin bale notbert[h]ar-su 
imaracA. 7 Nascid Colman sin for Uictuir angel 7 atbert Uictuir : 
Ticf e oiss cucutt imarach, a C[h]olmain, do imchur do lebhor 7 berat 
eolus remut a Fidh Dorcha siar imarach 7 cumfat* reilicc duit annsin 

20 7 slaidfett a cranda. Doronadh trath amhlaidh-sin larnamarach, 
conid mr slaide na reilgi asbert an t-angel : Itta sund, a chleirigh, 
inad lainde do maccaib Luachain. * Bid he-sin a ainm co brath, ar 
Colman, * .i. Lann mac Luachain. Conid and asbert an t-angel inn so 
dia comdidnad a thorse Colmain meic Luachain : 

25 30. Colman Lainde flatha fine, 

noco plantar fora n-iatur ur a c[h]ille. 

Mor a saothur riana manchaib, 

muindter nime bit ca chart[h]ain. 

Here begins the same inferior hand as in 12 above. 2 na na manaoigh MS. 
3 aingil MS. 4 qumfat MS. 


thee ! ,0 clerics, said she, for God s sake give 

me death rather than this curse! 1 * We will give it, said they, 
if on every Easter Monday each year a meal of drink and food for 
seven people he given to us always. * It shall he given/ said she. 
So that thenceforward on every Easter Monday the wife of the 
erenagh of Lann has to prepare the feast of the sons of Mennan, 
even a meal of drink and food for seven for the clerics of Lann, and 
milk instead of ale, if there he no ale. 

29. Then he proceeded into the territory of Meath to visit his 
friend and tutor bishop Etchen. And when he had reached Cell Bee 
he sees the site for a ehurch upon the brink of the river, for the 
convenience of fish and water there, viz. at the head of Daire s Ford. 
So the monks make* a large wall around that church, and they were 
weary and tired after it. That night an angel came to Colman and 
said to him : Though thy toil is great, Colman, tis not here thy 
monks shall be, nor thy own resurrection. Then Colman wept bitterly 
and said : * What harm is there here at all ? Said the angel Victor 
to him : Here one single person only goes to Heaven without per 
mission, but from the place whither thou wilt be taken to-morrow 
one person without permission goes to Hell. Colman binds that 
upon the angel Victor, who said : To-morrow deer will come to thee 
to carry thy books, and will guide thee westward to Fid Dorcha, and 
they will make a cemetery for thee there and cut down the trees of 
the wood. Thus it was done on the morrow, and when the cemetery 
had been made 3 the angel said : c There, cleric, is the site of a house 
(?0n/i) for the sons of Luachan. That shall be its name till Doom, 
said Colman, even Lann of the Children of Luachan. So then 
the angel said as follows, to comfort Colman son of Luachan in his 
sadness : 

30. Colman of Lann of the chief of a tribe, 

they shall not be tormented upon whom the soil of his church 

Great his toil before his monks, 
the household of Heaven love him. 

1 The original is obscure, but this seems to be the meaning. 

2 Literally, dig. 3 Literally, cut down. 


~Ni fil aige na c[h]orp c[h]omgeal 
nar lin idle griidh in Choimded. 1 

Oen caw cetta nmith 2 da muiimtir, 
dochum pene, nf ris tnilltir. 

5 An drecht eisium nach coir creidim, 

nad roich cretair na corp eid/r. 

Buidne d an glib ar a rogradh 

bit ic amran caithche im Colman. Colman Lainne. 

31. Slaidit Tar urn na manaoig in fid archena. Luid immurgu 
10 Colman co epscop Etc[h]en co tisad chuice do cose[c]rad a relge lais. 

Tainic aralaid epscop Etchen 7 asbert fri (fo. 79 a 2) Colman uasalgrad 
saccairt do eritin laiLsJ-stwm isin c[h]argus ar cind 7 foemaid Colman 
uadh. Lotar tra andsen cuci-sum da Colman ele .i. Colman Eala 7 
Colman Comraire, co tiastis i n-oenfecht do eritin grad co epscop 
15 Etchen. Rofoillsighed dawo do epscop Etchen a mbith for conair cuce 
.i. ceol angel accla atclos do an laithi-sin, conid [d]e asbert epscop 
Ettchen : 

32. Do Christ atlochar-sa, atciu slogh n-angel 

cucum dom t[h]oramha, is amra an c[h]aingen. 

20 Nomaidlet ilceola na flat[h]a nime, 

rolethsat arc[h]angel tar firu bile. 

Biaid relec d arc[h]anglib im c[h]luain co clothur, 3 
do din ma degmainc[h]e, do Christ atlochur. 

33. I n-oenfect rosechat Tarum na tri Colmain co Cluain Fota 7 
25 feraidh 4 epscop Etchen failti moir friu. Donit^r Tarum .iii. dabcha 

fottraic[th]i daib a n-oenfect ar na dig$ed neck dib i n-athinlatt araile, 
id est .i. dabach ibair co circlaib ibair 7 dabach darach co circlaib 
sailech 7 dabach darach co circlaib ibair. Ergit tra na tri Colmain a 
n-oenfect chucu. 5 Teid Colman Ela isin dabaig ibair co circlaib ibair. 
30 Teit immurgu Colman mac Luachain isin dabaig darach co circlaib 
ibair. Teit immurgu Colman Comraire isin dabaig darach co circlaib 
sailech. Is and asbert epscop Etchen : Is amlaid sin tra bett far 
grada i talmain, a c[h]olamhna inmaine, id est : bid epscop co n-onoir 

1 coimdid MS. ~ maiitA (?) inserted between cetta and da muinntir. 

3 clothaib MS. 4 feraoidh MS. 5 ttuis inserted by a later hand after chucu. 


There is not a limb in his all-white body 
which love of the Lord has not filled completely. 

One only without permission good for his monks ! 

shall go to the torment of Hell no addition will be made. 

That is the portion whose faith is not right, 
who do not attain to holiness in their body at all. 

Hosts of angels for great love of him 
are for ever chanting around Colnian. 

31. Then the monks cut down the rest of the wood. Colman 
however went to bishop Etchen that he might come to him to 
consecrate his cemetery. So bishop Etchen came and told Colman 
that he was to receive the noble order of priesthood by him in the 
following Lent, and Colman accepts it from him. Then there came to 
him two other Colmans, even Colman Elo and Colman Comraire, that 
they might go to receive orders from bishop Etchen at the same time. 
It had been revealed to bishop Etchen that they were on the road 
towards him, for on that day he had heard angelic music. So then 
bishop Etchen said : 

32. To Christ I give thanks. I see a host of angels 

coming to attend on me, tis a marvellous thing. 

Manifold melodies of the Kingdom of Heaven reach me, 
archangels have spread over blessed men. 

There shall be a cemetery for archangels in my famous 

to preserve my good service to Christ I give thanks. 

33. Then the three Colmans reach Clonfad at the same time and 
bishop Etchen welcomes them. Then three vats for bathing are made 
for them altogether lest any of them should go into water used by 
another ; namely, a vat of yew with hoops of yew, and a vat of oak 
with hoops of willow, and a vat of oak with hoops of yew. Then at 
the same time the three Colmans go to the vats. Colman Elo goes 
into the vat of yew with hoops of yew. Next, Colman son of Luachan 
goes into the vat of oak with hoops of yew. Lastly, Colman Comraire 
goes into the vat of oak with hoops of willow. Then said bishop 
Etchen : &lt; Like that shall be your orders on earth, ye beloved pillars : 


epscuip inntl fil isin dabaig ibair co circlaib ibair ; bid sacart immurgu 
co n-onoir espuic inti fil isin dabaig darach co circlaib ibair; bid 
deochain immurgu co cadhus sacairt inti fil isin dabaig darach co 
circlaib sailech. larnabarach tra rofurmethe grada forru-sum 1 fan 
6 mas-sin 7 rofastait and oidchi 2 sin i Cluain Fota, conid de asbert 
epscop Etc[hjen in duchand-sa dia formolad na Colman : 

34. * Inmuin triar taet and co Cluain Fota fond, 3 
da f uirgtfor dar amm nl f ulawgtha glond. 

(fo. 79M) Na* Colma[i]n can cacht, is anfail a nert, 
10 gabsat cennacht moir, ar is doib rodlecht. 

Bid oennert a nert ondiu co ti brath, 
tic indem na tuath da cinniud for each. 

Temair ni bfa i mbron do gar na do c[h]ian, 
cid duilig a dal, mat buidhigh an triar. 

15 An tUl[t Jach mor maith is ailliu for bith 

is gnuis hi fil rath, mstraeth cath na cith. 

Gabais ilar cell im chocricha cnes, 

is he an romac rig, is dion ar each tress. 

An ConailletfA cass, mairgc dotuchre friss, 
20 iss e in frecraid fis, is ecnaid each fis. 6 

As comrar cet run a c[h]ridhi sech each, 
a arus cen fuath bidh cadus co brath. 

Mo daltan-sa fein do Chluain Colmain Moir, 
mocfhjin drem dan din, "ba he cenn ar sloigh. 

25 As relta co rath onid sorcha in bith, 

inmain brig cen brath, rusli n rath na rith. 

1 forrumsum MS. 2 aoici MS. 3 fand MS. 

4 Here the original hand begins again and continues to the end. 

5 .i. Colman Comraire 7 de C[h]onaille Murt[h]emne esin. 


he that is in the vat of yew with hoops of yew sha 1 ! be a bishop with 
the honours of a bishop ; he that is in the vat of oak with hoops of 
yew shall he a priest with the honours of a bishop ; he that is in the 
vat of oak with hoops of willow shall be a deacon with the dignity of 
a priest. Then on the morrow orders were conferred upon them in 
that wise. And that night they remain in Clonfad. Thence bishop 
Etchen spoke this poem in praise of the Colmans. 

34. Beloved the three who come hither to Clonfad of glebes, 
if there is delay beyond the proper time the work cannot 

be done. 1 

The Colmans without stint, their strength is vast, 
they have assumed great power, for to them it is due. 
Their strength will be union from this day till Doom, 
from their excelling all others comes prosperity of the tribes. 

Tara shall not be in grief in near or distant time, 

though hard be its fate, if the three are satisfied. 

The great good Ulsterman who is fairest in the world, 

his is a face in which grace dwells ; nor battle nor distress 

shall subdue him. 

He has taken many churches about the neighbouring land ; 
he is the great son of a king, a protection against every 


The curly one from Conaille, woe to him who opposes him ! 
he is the learned counsellor, 2 he is skilled in every knowledge. 3 
He is a shrine 4 of a hundred mysteries, his heart is beyond all, 
his abode without dread shall be honoured till Doom. 
My own dear foster-son from Cluain Colmain Moir, 
happy those to whom lie is a protection, he is the head of 

our host. 
He is a star with grace whence the world is bright, 

beloved strength without guile, grace has rilled him in his 

1 Literally, endured. 2 Literally, answerer. 

. 3 viz. Colman Comraire, who is of the Conaille of Murthemne (Gloss). 
4 Irish comrar : a play upon his byname Comraire. 



Cid lethard a ngrad 1 bat eomuaisle ar neim, 
ni fil dib nach fial im biad is im digb. 

Rocbind for each aen mac Luachain na lenn, 
ni techt Eriu oil is feliu na is fearr. 

5 As mochean an dam inn air is amar, 

im imdaidh 2 cen bron, is inmain in triar. Inmain. 

35. DorSnsat Tarum a n-aentaid ann-sin .i. natri Colmain 7 epscop 
Ete[h]en 7 Mochua mac Nemaind in-nem 7 a talmain 7 lotar mrsin dia 
cellaib dilsib 7 a n-oenfecbt rogabsat na trl Colmain gradha 7 Mochua. 
10 Conid aenc[h]ell osin ille Land 7 Cluain Fota 7 Tech Mocbua .i. 3 
mrthar cille Lann 7 medon cille Cluain Fotta 7 aerthar cille Tech 
Mochua. Tancatar tra ruanaig imda co Colman mac Luachain 7 
slechtsat do 7 aidbret manchine a clann 7 a cinel co brath do. 

36. [A]raile seel forathmentar sund. Luid Colman (fo. 79^2) 
15 mac Luachain do chungi[d] fagh[d]i feraind co hAnfosaid mac Leda 

7 ni tard do acht gaire uime. Bid sothecA fonamait 7 gaire fer 
t inaid co brath, ar Colman, 7 is dam-sa fogenus t ferann 7 do 
chomarba co brath. Ocus atbert Colman beus maidm for each ina 
bia uech uaithe co brath, mina raib cac[h] duine for barr a cluaisi 
20 deisi .i. hi cinaid an fonamait dorone im Colman, is uime rofacaib 
Colman doib so. 7 is uaid so rogenetar Hi Manchao 7 Hui Maelumas 
7 lucht na Cluana sin latt malle. 

37. Rochuin[d]igh dawofagh[d]e for Lechet7is uada-so rogenetar 
Hui Leccett ic Lainn 7 isbert st^e : Ni fuil dom ferann acht inat 

25 oentighi. Ni bia acat co brath acht oentech oniu 4 himach, 7 ar 
Colman, 7 bidh dam-sa foghena do thir 7 do chomarba. Rochuin- 
d]igh didm fagh[d]i for Chumine mac Ledha 7 is uaid-sin rogenetar 
Meic Airechtaigh .i. airchindig 5 Lainde lad-sein 7 is ed isbert sein : 
* Mo thir uile duit, a mec inmain, ar ni fil comarba acam fein. * Biaid 

1 grad;i MS. - imdaigh MS. 3 7 MS. 4 oniud MS. 5 ah m cide MS. 


Though their ranks are unequal, they shall be equally high 

in Heaven, 
there is not one of them that is not generous as to food and 


The son of Luachan of the cloaks has excelled everyone, 
great Erin possesses none who is more generous or better. 

Welcome the company from west and from east 

in my chamber without sorrow beloved are the three ! 

35. So then they made their union in Heaven and on earth, even 
the three Colmans and bishop Etchen and Mochua son of Nemann, and 
thereupon they went to their own churches. And the three Colmans 
had taken orders at the same time as Mochua. So that thenceforth 
Lann and Clonfad and Tech Mochua are one church, that is, Lann is 
the west of the church, and the centre of the church is Clonfad and 
the east of the church is Tech Mochua. Then many monks carne to 
Colman son of Luachan and prostrated themselves before him; and 
they offer him the service of their clans and kindred till Doom. 

36. Another story is recorded here. Colman son of Luachan went 
to beg land of Aufossaid son of Leda, who gave him nothing, but 
laughed at him. Thy successors till Doom shall be vessels of 
mockeiy and laughter, said Colman, and thy land and heritage shall 
serve me till Doom. And Colman said further that every host in 
which any of his descendants should be would be defeated till Doom, 1 
unless every man were on the top of his right ear, 2 even in punish 
ment for the mockery he had made of Column, tis therefore Colrnan 
left this to them. And from him 3 the Hui Manchain and the Hui 
Maelumae are descended, and they are all of them folk of Cluain. 

37. Again he begged of Lechet (from whom the Hui Lechet at Lann 
are descended) who said : * Thou shalt have naught of my land save 
the site of one house. * From this day onwards till Doom thou shalt 
not possess more than one house, said Colman, and thy land and 
heritage shall serve me. Then he begged of Cummine son of Leda (from 
whom the Sons of Airechtach are descended, who are the erenaghs 
of Lann) who said: My whole land is thine, my beloved son, for I 

1 This should be the meaning. Head perhaps maidmfor cack cath i mbtact, &c., 
and of. p. 44. 1. 13. 2 The meaning of this idiom is unknown to me. 

3 i.e. from Anfosusid. 



comforba acat-sa di^ w, ar Colman, . 7 is e bus comforba dam-sa co 
brath. Roraidhsit vmmurgu na manaigh : Is cuanna 7 is brigach an 
lanamain .i. Cumaine mac Leda 7 Bri gh ingen Chomgaill ingen rig 
Delbna Moire. Dia mbeith mac accu, toich do ciamad Chuanna lie. 
5 * Is amlaid bias, ar Colman. Conrancatar {arum an lanamain an 
aidche-sin 7 ro compred larum mac de 7 rucad an mac a cind noi mis 
7 rucad dia baisW co Colman mac Luachain. 7 doratad Ciianda fair 7 
rogab etui baidhi an cleirech uime 7 atbert : Tabair an mac inn-ucht 
mo chochaill buic collec, dom- (fo. 8001) -anicc etal baidhi imme. 
10 Tucad amlaid 7 rogab an mac bee Ian a lam do cfhjochull an c[h]lerig, 
conid unn isbert Colman : Is ferr an fer bec-sa oldaiti na fir tuc era 
form-sa immo feranti. Conid ann atbert : 

38. Fearr fer andat fir, ait learn 111 dia feil, 
do Christ beirim buidhi an duine nongeib. 

15 Nomgeb is notgeab, bi aid ar fine fot, 

inmain aighe siitt, indiu is aigi occ. 

Bendacbt for an mbroind rocomper for lar, 
mo bennacht ort fein not 1 nfa an cein mar. 

Biaid cendacht mo c[h]ell is mo t[h]ire teinn 
2o im deg&lt;wW cot c[h]laind cen mebat/, cin meing. 

Anfossaid dur dian ocus Lec[h]et lonn 
bet got fognam sund, bid erlom do glond. 

Nocha faigbe bas gurbat senoir crfn, 
raga ar nem iar tain, bidh he sin do dil. 

25 Cen dith ar do c[h]laind an cein beo-sa ar neim, 

bid leo an c[h]ell cein mair, ferr fear andat fir. Ferr. 

FennachtM* tra Colman mac Luachain Cuanna fon cuma-sin. Is 
fo si d tra scairt[h]i, &gt; ar na manaig re Colman. * Bid cend sida dogres 
in gen-se 7 fer a inftid dia eis, ar Colman. 

30 39. Da aicme \m.murgu robatar hi Fidh Dorcha ar cind Colmain 
maic Luachain, id est Hi Dubdtn Caille 7 Hui Dubam Maige. 


have no heir myself. * Thou shalt have an heir, said Colman, * and 
he shall be heir to me till Doom. However, the monks said : Hand 
some (cuanna} and strong (brigacK) is the couple, even Cumaine son of 
Leda and Brig daughter of Corngall, King of Delbna M6r. If they had 
a son, it were meet that he should be named Cuanna. * Thus it shall 
be, said Colman. Then that night the couple became one and a son 
was conceived, and at the end of nine months he was born and taken 
to Colman son of Luachan to be baptized. And he was named Cuanna, 
and a fit of fondness seized the cleric for the boy, and he said : Just 
put the boy into the bosom of my soft cowl, a fit of fondness for him 
has seized me. He was put there, and the little boy took hold of 
the cleric s cowl with both his hands, and then Colman said : This 
little man is better than the men who refused to give land to me. 
So then he said : 

38. Better the man than the men, I am glad at the reason for it, 

to Christ I give thanks for the man who takes hold of us. 

He holds ine and I shall hold him, he will be the foundation 

of our family, 

then will he be a beloved chief, this day it is a young stranger. 1 
A blessing on the womb that conceived him on earth, 
my blessing on thee thyself shall follow thee for a great while. 
The headship of my churches and of my broad land 
shall be with thy offspring after me, without deceit or fraud. 
Dour violent Anfossaid and fierce Lechet 
shall serve tKee here, thy work shall be in readiness. 

Thou shalt not die till thou art a withered old man, 
then thou shult go to Heaven, that will be thy fate. 

Without destruction on thy offspring so long as I shall be in 

theirs shall be the church for a great while better the man 

than the men. 

So in that wise Colman son of Luachan blessed Cuanna. * Tis in 
peace now you part, said the monks to Colman. This child shall 
ever be a prince of peace, and his successor after him/ saith Colman. 

39. There were two tribes in Fid Dorcha before Colman son of 
Luachan came there, viz. the Hui Dubain of the Wood and the Hui 

1 A play on the words dige ( pillar, chief ) and 6iyi ( guest ). 


Tancatar malle dochum Colmain 7 doronsat a mancliine do eter has 7 
bethaid 7 a ferann ar bithdflsi co brath, conid siatt is fine Griein ac 
Laind osin alle. 7 dobert an ri do-som a saere doib co brath uaith fein 
7 6 each rig na diaid co brath. ar cis rig 7 flatha. Is siatt-so baileda 
5 Hu (fo. 80tf2) n Duban .i. Lessna Fingaile cona dib lessaib beca 7 Less 
Duban ar cul Less Gruccam 7 Less Droignein 5 Liss Gruccaw ille 7 
Rua Mor Corracan 7 Cluain Dam 7 Tulach Lin tall o C[h]ill Gac (?) 
ille anuass 7 Teach Conan .i. Conan mac Fiachraidh meic Duban meic 
Ailella 6 filet cenel Ailella i Feraib Tulaig 7 Raith Criti 7 Uaith 

10 Inraith 7 Raithm an \Jsci 7 llaith an Midg 7 Crseb Ullan 7 Raith 
Spclan cona nmine dercan 7 GortTn Grogm 7 Tir na Leici allanuas de 7 
Tech meic Conba 7 Raith CairecA 7 Less na Con allanair de 7 Cluain 
Mocil 7 Loch Corr 7 Tir Baethan 7 Tulach Ruad 7 a ndilsi uile do 
Cholman mac Luachain 7 don Choimdid 1 co brath 5 rig 7 6 c[h]iss na 

is flatha 7 na tuaithe arc[h]eanae. 

40. [Ajraile seel fordthmentar sund .i. certt amra3 roboi do 
muindtir Tigi Conan hie Laind .i. Annlaraid a ainm-sew, co ndernae 
srian co n-or 7 co n-airget do rig Hua 2 Failgi 7 berid buddess di a reic. 
Is ann imarco 3 dcralae mac Coisemnaig ac a crochad ar a c[h]ind 7 ba 

20 hingnad la hAnmaraid e-sein. Isb^r^ immuryu Annlaraid frisan rig : 
Brathair dara-sa sutt 7 na cro3ht^ar he 1 Doragha duit-siu da 
bai dec dia chind an tsrein na an ciinidb, ar an ri. Is e mo rogas 
an cimid, ar an cerd. Tecuid malle indeass .i. an cerd 7 Mac 
Coisemnaig. Dob^tV Mac Coisemnaig log a srein don-c[h]erd Tarna 

25 chuingid do fair .i. Rath Spelain cona muine dergan do ar son an da 
bo dec utt tarcas d5 do chind a srein, uair ba fei r leis ana marbad 
fein a tabairt do Annlaraid. Dobeir immurgu (fo. 80il) Annlaraid 
do Di a 7 -do C[h]olman co brath. 

41. [Ajraile seel forafhrnentar sund .i. Anniarraid cerd do 
30 muinntir Tigi Conan. Tarb roboi aici 7 nocha. ferr leis beith ar buaib 

na ar graigib 4 Ma3lsechlainn, conid de sin atberthea Grogm friss. 
Araile laa immurgu tanicc Grogin 5 -purl Indsi na Cairrgi dia thigh, co 
tarla for sechran hi ngurt m^ c do C[h]oisemnach he. Tanicc 

choinxled AIS. 2 liui MS. 3 sic MS. 4 graidib MS. 


Dubain of the Plain. They both together came to Colman and granted 
him service both in death and life, and their land to be his own for 
ever. And from that time onward they have been the family of 
Griun in Lann. And the king granted him their freedom till Doom 
from himself and from every king after him till Doom, as regards tax 
to king and chief. These are the places of the Hui Dubain, viz. 
Less na Fingaile with its two small lisses, and Less Duban behind 
Less Grucain, and Less Droignein from Less Grucain hither ward, and 
Rua Mor Corracan, and Cluain Dam, and Tulach Lin down from Cell 
Choca(?) hitherward, and Tech Conan, viz. Conan son of Fiachra, son 
of Duban, son of Ailill, from whom are the kindred of Ailill in 
Fartullagh, and Raith Criti, and Kaith Inraith, and Rathin in Uisce, 
and Raith in Midg, and Craeb Ullan, and Raith Spelan with its oak- 
bushes, and Gortin Grogin, and Tir na Leice above it, and Tech meic 
Conba, and Raith Cairech, and Less na Con to the east of it, and Cluain 
Maeil, and Loch Corr, and Tir Baethan. and Tulach Ruad, and all 
these to be the property of Colman son of Luachan and of the Lord 
till Doom, (free) from king and from tax of chief and of tribe. 

40. Another story is recorded here. There was at Lann a famous 
goldsmith of the community of Tech Conan ; Anniaraid was his name. 
He had made a bridle with gold and with silver for the king of Otfaly, 
and carries it southward to sell it. There, however, on his arrival, 
it chanced that Mac Coisemnaig was being hanged, which seemed a 
strange thing to Anniaraid. However, Anniaraid said to the king : 
That yonder is a brother of mine ; let him not be hanged ! Thou 
shalt have twelve cows for the bridle, or the criminal, said the king. 
My choice is the criminal, said the goldsmith. Together they come 
from the south, even the goldsmith and Mac Coisemnaig. After having 
been asked for it, Mac Coisemnaig gives the price of his bridle to the 
goldsmith, viz., Rath Spelan, with its brake of acorns, for the twelve 
cows which had been offered to him for his bridle ; for he preferred 
giving it to Anniaraid to being killed himself. Anniaraid, however,, 
gives it to God and to Colman till Doom, 

41. Another story is recorded here about Anniaraid, the goldsmith 
of the monastery of Tech Conan. He had a bull who liked as well 
to cover the mares (graig^) of Maelsechlainn as cows, whence he was 
called Grogin. Now on a certain day as Grogin was coming frorr 
Port Innsi na Cairrge homewards, he went astray in the field of 


Mae Coisemnaig do c[h]uartugud a gart 7 fiiair Grogm 
indtib 7 ruacuid he, co rominaig 1 a chalpthre. 2 Indisid Anniaraid 
esein do Maelsechlainn. Is si imargo breth rucc Ma?lsechlainn, an 
ferand ar m-inaig a chalptha 3 do t[h]abairfc do Anniarraid na ic 
5 Grogin. Conid de isberar Gortln Grogln fris osin alle. Doratt 
immurgu Anniarraid esirfe do Dia 7 do Cholman co brath. TTr na 
Leici immwpil t rf Midhi doratt do Cholman esiden ar na dcmnre roboi 
uc a tihaigi do indarba csti, uair romillsitt mor istlr. Tech Conan 
imnurgn .i. tecli n-abad Colmain meic Luachain esiden 7 nl dlig 4 norh 
10 ni de acht comarba Colman. Uair ata ordu Colraain isin vtiaid a 
ndorus an tigi n-abad 7 biid timt[h]irecht angel ann each aidchi 
luoin. Hath Cridi immurgu on mud c[h]etnae 7 Achad an Pubaill 5n 
mud c[h]ettna, uair pupa// Colmain roboi ann 7 it sseire sin uile d 
c[h]is rig 7 flatha 7 tuaithe archense. 

15 42. Doronad tra tempall iarum dermftr la Colman mac Luachain 
ac Laind 7 tinoled tinchur fleidhi moire lais dia bennachad a t[h]em- 
puil d epscopaib uaislib. Dorouud iarum in flcad (fo. 80^2) 7 tinolta 
cuici nonm imdae da gach leth 7 tuct[h]a trl epscuip cuici fri 
bennachad an tempuil .i. epscop Couch raid 7 epscop Etchen 7 Colman 

20 Ealoe an.tres epscop. Doruachtt dawo an aidchi-sin Fursa) crabdech co 
Laind 7 rotoimled Tarum an fled fon cunioe-sin 7 dorotisat uile derbad 
a n-acntad larnabarach fri FUI-PSB 7 robennachsat ule an tempw/ 7 i\n 
roilecc archcana, conid annsin asbert Colman mac Luachain: c Mo 
manaig ar do chomairgi, a Fvrsre ! ar Colman. Gebim, ar Fursa?, 
dia torsett chucam am relecc. Rososett on, ar Colman, ( ar bltiid 
relecc acat-sa im reloice-sea arrnedon sund ac Laind. Biid dao, 
ar Fursa), * 7 bid uilithri dot manchaib-siu indti amail each releic 
acurn-sa. Mo manaig ar do chomairci d\no, a epscuip Etchen! 
ar Colman mac Luachain. Gebim-si iatt, ar epscop Etchen, dia 

3 torsett chucum. Rososet sow, ar Colman, ar blaid relecc a fus 
acatt. Bid dawo, ar epscop EtchC-n, bid ailithri dot manchaib-siu 
indti amail bis a Cluain Fotta. Mo manaig dawo ar bar comairci-si, 
a C[h]olmain Eala 7 a C[h]olmain Comraire ! ar Colman 


roruinaid MS. 2 calptae MS. 3 calpta MS. * dlid MS 


Mac Coisemnuig. However, Mac Coisemnaig came to make the 
round of his fields, and found Grogin in them, and chases him so that 
he broke his legs. Anniaraid reports this to Maelsechlainn. Now 
this was the judgment which Maelsechlainn gave, that the land on 
which the bull had broken his legs should be given to Anniaraid in 
payment for Grogin. Whence from that time forth it has been called 
the Little Field of Grogin. Anniaraid, however, gave it to God and 
to Colman till Doom. As regards the Ti r na Leice, the King of 
Heath gave it to Colman for driving out the demons who had been 
visiting it, for they had destroyed much in the land. Tech Conan, 
however, is the abbot s house of Colman mac Luachain, and no one is 
entitled to anything from it except Colman s coarb. For Colman s 
thumb is in the tomb in front of the abbot s house, and on every 
Sunday night there is a service of angels there. In the same way, 
however, Kath Cridiand Achad an Phubaill, for Colman s tent (pulall] 
was there, and they are all exempt from tax of king and chief and 
tribe as well. 

42. Then a great church was built at Lann by Colman son of 
Luaehan, and the, makings of a great feast were collected by him 
to have his church blessed by noble bishops. So the feast was made, 
and many holy men were gathered to it to bless the church, even 
bishop Conchraid and bishop Etchen, and Colman Elo was the third 
bishop. On that night Fursa the Pious also came to Lann, and so in 
that wise the feast was consumed ; and on the morrow they all 
confirmed their union with Fursa, and they all blessed the church 
and the cemetery ;is well. Then Colman son of Luaehan said : My 
monks under thy safeguard, Fursa ! says Colman. I accept it, says 
Fursa, if they will come to me in my cemetery. They shall so come, 
said Colman, * for them shalt have a cemetery in the midst of my own 
cemetery here at Lann. So let it be, said Fursa, and it shall 
count as a pilgrimage to thy monks who are buried there like any 
cemetery of mine. My monks under thy protection also, bishop 
Etchen ! says Colman son of Luaehan. * I accept them, says bishop 
Etchen, if they will come to me. They sh all come, says Colman, 
1 for thou shalt have a cemetery here. So let it be, says bishop 
Etchen ; it shall count as a pilgrimage to thy monks buried there 
as though it were Clonfad. My monks under your safeguard also, 
Colman Elo and Colman Comraire ! says Colman son of Luaehan. * We 


Luachain. Gabmait-ne on,* ar siat-san, * dia torset cucaind imain. 
Rowsoset son, ar Colman, ar bidh lib-siu trian mo relgi-si. 
Rorandsat Tarum an releic i tri fon cuma-sin .i. an trian imon ulaid 
Furs# la Fursae fein 7 an trian iman ulaid epscuip Etchen la epscop 

6 Etchen fein. Osin amach immurgu lasna tri Colmanu cona naemaib 
aentad 7 cataig archeanaB .i. Lopaman 7 Samthann 7 na tri disertaig 
7 Ua Suanaig 7 Mochuta 7 Maedocc 7 naeim Erenn do neoch roboi a 
nDruimm Ceatse, (fo. 811) conid cell chottaig tra amlaid-sin do 
manchaib Colmain meic Luachain a c[h]ell fein 7 nem doib indti. 

10 Bennachais larum Fursa3 an cill larnabarach ule archense. 

43. Tancatar dawo chuici-sira brathair 1 a senathar .i. clanna 

Forandan meic Laeda Find meic Mane 7 aidbrait a manchine co brath 

do 7 doberatt bale dia ferann diles do ina screpw soscelse .i. Lena 

esi[d]ein. 7 donltA^r cell ann la Colman mac Luachain 7 noerbered 

15 bith co menic innti-sen eter a manchu tair. 

44. Araile fecht da/to luid Colman mac Luachain co Lena a nllib 
Forannfm dt&gt; thoroma a manach 7 a c[h]ille 7 is annsin doralae ri 
Erenn i nDun Leime ind Eich 7 delg co n-acais ina chois, co nderna 
tart ar feith inti. 7 isse an ri hi sin .i. Domnall mac Aeda. meic 

20 Ainmirech meic Congail Chindmagair meic Setna meic Fergusa 
meic Conaill Gulban meic Neill NoigTallaig. Boi sein didiu a 
n-amlabrae bliadain isin dun-sin 7 ui chungaidis lege hErenn ni do. 
Otcuas do immurgu Colman mac Luachain do bith ana c[h]ill fein ic 
Lena, tiagar on rig for a chend 7 atfaet an ri riss : * Do \&gt;veth fein 

25 duit 7 slanaig mo choss, ar is tuail[n]ge tu 7 doni Dia fort ni is 
dolge andas sin. Dogni larum Colman ernaigt[li]i fria chois 7 
isbert : * Tabair do chois for an cloich-sea 7 is cett don delg fil it 
chois-siu daul indti. Dor5nad tra amlaid-sin 7 ba slan focnet5ir 
an clioss. 

45. Se rig tra di b-so rogab Temrdr?"^ di aid a ndfaid cen nech do sll 
Cholmain Moir 7 Diarmata meic Cerbaill hi Tvmraiff ind oirett-sin .i. 

1 brathUm- MS. 


accept it, say they, if only they will come to us. * They shall come, 
says Colman, for one-third of my own cemetery shall be your* So 
in that wise they divided the cemetery in three, viz., the third around 
Fursa s tomb to belong to Fursa himself, and the third around bishop 
Etchen s tomb to belong to bishop Etchen himself. The rest of it, 
however, to belong to the three Colmans with the other holy men 
who had made union and covenant with them, even Lomman and 
Samthann and the three Hermits and Ua Suanaig and Mochuta and 
Maedoc and all the holy men of Ireland who had been at Drumcet, 
so that thus the church of Colman son of Luachan is a church of 
covenant to his monks, and Heaven (is assured) to them in it. Then 
on the morrow Fursa also blessed the whole church. 

43. Then also came to him, the brothers of his grandfather, viz. 
the children of Forannan son of Leda Find son of Maine, and they 
offer their services to him till Doom, and they give him a steading of 
their own land as a gospel-tax, even Lena. And a church is built 
there by Colman son of Luachan, and he often used to spend some 
time in it among his monks in the east. 

44. Again, at a certain time when Colman son of Luachan went to 
Lena in Hui Forannain to look after his monks and his church, then 
the king of Ireland chanced to be at Dun Leirae ind Eich, with a 
festering thorn in his foot, so that .... a sinew in it. And that 
king was Domnall son of Aed, . son of Ainmire, son of Congal 
Cennmagair, son of Setna, son of Fergus, son of Conal Gulban, son of 
Niall of the Nine Hostages. Then for a year he was in that fort 
suffering from speechlessness, 1 nor could the physicians of Ireland 
help him. Now when he heard that Colman son of Luachan was in 
his own church at Lena, the king sends for him, and says to him : 
Thine own award to thee ! and heal my foot, for thou art able to do 
so, and God performs a more difficult miracle than that for thee. So 
Colman prays over the foot, and he says : * Put thy foot upon this 
stone, and the thorn which is in thy foot has permission to go into 
it. Thus then it was done, and forthwith the foot was healed. 

45. Now six kings of this race had held Tara one after another 
without any one of the race of Colman Mor and Diarmait son of 

1 So in the original. But a n-amlabrnc should evidently be amended into 
illobrai, in sickness. 


Ainrnere mac Setna 7 a da mac .i. Aed 7 a da mac sein .i. Maelcaba 7 
Domnall (fo. 8 la 2) da mac Maeilchaba. Is annsin dorat Domnall 
Dun Leime ind Eich do Cholman 7 doni Colman cill andsin 7 relec 7 
nobid indti co menic 7 roboi tri cargais ann-Uaim Cholmain isin 

5 carraicc ar ciil an duine 7 a agaid for Boinn immach 7 na secht mbale 
dec batar ca foguwm ac Domnall 7 ic each rig ele reime 7 da seabac 
selga batar aci ; 7 a saoire co brath do brathrib a senathar .i. clanna 
Forannan 7 Aedae Find 7 Mane 7 Colman mac Luachain mac Leda 
meic Maine eisium 7 asbert Colman immurgu : * Cid be ri ti tar an 

10 saoire-se co brath, a cett oiret-sin dia crich 7 dia ferann fein do 
ea&baid fair. 1 7 isbert Colman beus : * A chett comlin-sin immurgu do 
esbatd 6 rig Temrach antan chuinighfes ciss no bes form-sum 7 maidm 
fair an cath ule i mbiad nech dib-so, mad ar eicin berar latt Idmach. Is 
and asbert Colman : * Cid be ergabus en dib sutt, a brith co rig Temrack 

15 7 tabrad aein secht mbae are, mane fagba ar log bus lugha 7 lecid ass 
he de mullach a chind 7 nl gebtAar ris co cend secht mblla^n 7 m 
benfaidhter de an cend-sin co brath 7 biaid aidchi n-armaigh. 7 dorat 
sseire co brath dia rauindtir et^r na cella afus cona muindtir 7 na cella 
a nlJib Forannan co lucht a fognama tair .i. secht mbale dec 7 na tri 

20 cella fil indtib do Cholman. 7 dlegar osin ille hi (sic) flaithe Ua 
Forannan 7 a fir bale co Laind dia n-adlacad. 7 sfat osin amach isna 
cellaib tair 7 maoir o Laind isna cellaib tair .i. Hui Braonan 7 Hui 
Maolbethnrf do muindtir Laindi iad-sein immalle .i. do goibnib Laindi 
lad o T[h]ulaig Louan. Is leo (fo. 8U1) so tra trian ettaig na marb 

25 tair 7 trian rachaill tair ar chomet dligid ecalsa doib. 

46. [A] raile seel dawo f orzfamentar sund .i. laithiu boi Colman ana 


Cerball having been in Tara during that time, viz. Ainmire son of 
Setna and his two sons, even Aed and his two sons, viz. Maelcaba 
and Domnall, and the two sons of Maelcaba. Then Domnall gave 
Dun Leime ind Eich to Colman (and Colman builds a church there 
and a cemetery, and he used often to be there, and he spent three 
lents in Column s Cave on the rock behind the fortress, his face 
towards the Boyne) and the seventeen steadings which had served 
Domnall and every other king before him, and two hunting-hawks 
that he had ; and their freedom till Doom from the brothers of his 
grandfather, viz. the Children of Forannan and of Aed Find and Maine 
(and Colman himself was a son of Luachan, son of Leda, son of Maine), 
and Colman said : * Whichever king transgress this freedom till 
Doom, lie shall lose one hundred times as much of his own territory 
and of his land. And Colman said further: * The King of Tara shall 
lose one hundred times as much when he shall ask tax or custom from 
them; and every battle in which any of them may be shall be 
broken upon him, if they 1 are carried off by force. Then Colman 
said : Whoever seizes one of those, he shall be taken 2 to the King 
of Tara, who shall give seven cows for him unless he obtain him 
for a less price, and he lets (him) out from the top of his head, a 
and he shall not be opposed to the end of seven years and that 
head shall not be struck off him till Doom, and he shall be a 
night of slaughter. And he gave freedom till Doom to his people, 
both to the churches here with their people and to the churches in 
Hui Forannan with their folk of service in the east, viz. seventeen 
steadings, and (he gave) the three churches that are in them to 
Colman. And ever since that time the chiefs of the Hui Forannan 
and the men of their steadings are bound to be buried at Lann. And 
thenceforth they are in the churches in the east, and stewards from 
Lann in the churches of the east, viz. the Hui Braenan and the Hui 
Maelbethad of the people of Lann, i.e. they are of the smiths of Lann 
from Tulach Lonain. For guarding the privileges of the church 
they are entitled to one third of the clothes of the dead in the east, 
and to one third of the winding-sheet. 

46. Again, another story is recorded here. One day on a summer 

1 i.e. any of Colman s /arnica who are compelled to go on a hosting for the king. 

2 Or, perhaps, it shall be referred. 3 The meaning of this and of the 
whole end of the sentence is obscure to me. 


c[h]ill ac Leiss Dochuinn matan tsamraid trath terti elusset tra bse 
an bale dochum na Ia3g 7 na iaoig na rith chucu-som 7 5tchonnairc 
Colman sin, saidhidh-sium a raacbachaill isin cloich eturra 7 smacht- 
ais form 7 feimditt na laoigh imdecht asan niaigin-sin 7 feimditt na 

5 bai imt[h]echt chuca-som don leth aile. Tastait iarum imraalle fon 
cuma-sin co hetrad 7 coneracht each. 7 aid a hinatt isin cloich beus 7 
is aim ata an chloch hisin etir Chuillind Moir 7 Chuillind ]Jicc hi 
medhon. 7 romorad dawo ainm De 7 Cholrnain triasin tirt-sin. Conid 
de sin asbm* an bachall bis eter na bu 7 na Ia3gu ria osin ille 7 

10 macbachali a ainra riasin firt-sin, ar bith na laim 1 na macaBim. Is 
si-sin mind dlegar do bith a nUib Forannan isna cellaib. 

47. [A] raile fecht dawo tanicc chuici rf Per Tulach .i. Onchu mac 
Saran 7 slechtais do 7 cuinchis ascaid for Colman mac Luachain, id 
est, comad he Colman tidlaiced sacarbaic do ia techt dochum na 
15 todochaide 7 faoniaid Colman do-som sin .i. na bad marb he co mbeith- 
som fria hudaclit a bais. 7 isbert Onchu : * Cid duit, a c[h]leirig, cen 
claind do chuinchid dam-sa co fognat duit fein co brath? Conid 
ann isbert Colman : 

Biaid mac amra acat-sa, a Onchu cen gaindi, 

bid dalta, bid degmanach he 2 do Cholraan lamglan Lainde. 

48. [A]raile fecht luid Colman mac Luachain co Dun na Caircci 
hi Midi. Is (fo. 81^2) ann dorala3 Onchu mac Saran marb 
sechtmain reime a n-Indsi na Caircci. Lauid Colman chuici 7 
isbert fris : Rogellsam-ne em ale na raght[h]a-sa bass comad mesiu 
25 doberad sacarbaic duit. 7 doirtid Colman tri tonna asan findfaidech na 
chenn. Is cet duit ergi a suan bais a n-aois bar .xxx., ar at senoir 
cetus anoisin, conid andsin doronsat an imaeallaim-so sis : 

49. [C.] [A] Onchu, toc&lt;3^ do chend eter ocaib na hErenn, 

fatta3 do suan, na bi a 3 sprue, sechtmain lonilaii fo 

t asnbrut, 

1 n;i liiim na laim MS. - to be omitted. 3 = i. 


morning at the hour of tierce when Colraan was in his church at Less 
i)ochuinn, the cows of the steadings escaped towards the calves, and 
che calves were running towards them ; and when Colman saw that, 
lie plants his staff on a stone between them and rebuked them ; and 
the calves cannot move out of that place, nor can the cows go towards 
them from the other side. In that way then they remain until mid 
day, when all arose. And its site is still on the stone. And that 
stone is midway between Cuillenn M6r and Cuillenn Bee. And again 
God s name and Colman s were magnified through that miracle. Hence 
from that time onwards it is called the staff that is between the cows 
and the calves, and staff of the boys had been its name before that 
miracle, for being in the hand of the boys. It is a relic which 
should be in Hui Forannan in the churches. 

47. At a certain time the King of Fartullagh came to him, even 
Onchu son of Saran, and prostrated himself before him and asked a 
boon of Colman son of Luachan, viz. that Colman might give him the 
Host before he went towards futurity, and Colman grants him that, 
viz. that he should not die without his being present at his death. 
And Onchu said : cleric, why dost thou not ask for children for 
me that they may serve thee till Doom ? Then Colman said : 

* Thou shalt have a famous son, Onchu without stint ; he will 
be a fosterling, he will be good monk to pure-handed Colman of 

48. At a certain time Colman son of Luachan went to Dun na 
Cairrge in Meath. Then Onchu son of Saran had died a week before 
in Inis na Cairrge. Colman went to him and said to him : Surely 
we had pledged that thou shouldst not die until I had given thee the 
Host. And Colman pours three waves out of the Findfaidech 1 upon 
his head. * Thou art at liberty to arise out of the sleep of death as 
thou wast at the age of thirty years ; for now thou art an old man/ 
So then they made the following colloquy : 

49; C. Onchu, lift thy head among the warriors of Erin ; long 
has been thy sleep, be not dejected ! a full week hast thou been under 
thy one cloak/ 2 

1 The name of a bell. See 61. 

- i.e. the shroud. Cf . rogab Eochaid denleni iar mbeith illeind loborde, 
RC. xiii, p. 391. 


[0.] Tasci cucam, geb mo laira, a nieic lainnerda 

currottimnor, 1 gimn cen acht, mor don ingnad 

at conn arc. 
5 [C.] Abair rim an ret-sa ar tus, tacair lat ni dot 


nan exit menman roba no an scarad cuirp is anma ? 
[0.] Ruccad m anaim uaim i cein seek ifernn 2 n-uath- 

mar n-acbe[i]l 
10 dochum richid 3 an Kfg rain fil cin die[h]lith, cen 


Airm a fil slfinti ocus aid ocus failti can imsnim, 
ceol can chumsanad,* cen chol, bctha cen bass, cen 


15 Aoiti cen sentaid 5 do gress, solsi, sutbaine, sobes, 

frecnarcus Rig secbt neirae aongen Maire ingene. 

[C.] Cid dotuc anall for cul ? indis dun ni dot imt[h]us, 
mesa 6 in tir-si na an tir tall, a meic Saran, a sser- 

20 [0.] * A meic Luachain, lathar ngle, do chlaind Conaill 


issed romlec-se dom t[h]aig dot anoir s ind Airmedaig. 
[C.] * Airmedach Subne mar ta meic Colmain meic Diar- 


25 dosrat an Coimdiu, caoin clu, co fil fon loch, a Onchu. 


Cid dobere dam am reir, a Onchii cruthglan comfeil, 
an ba manc[h]ine min mhas, in ba feith, no in 

f erannas ? 

(fo. 821) [0.] Mo manchine is duit rodett eter bethaid ocus ecc, 
30 screpul f6ss is cuairt is c,ain duit, a C[h]olmain 

meic Luachain. 

[C.] * Ca mett na canae coeme eter seotu is ardmceine, 
abbair rind, fath cen on, cona rab ar imreson. 

1 cwrrotinuior duit MS. - iferaim MS. 3 rigtig MS. 

4 cumsad MS. 5 sen taig MS. 


0. Come to me, take my hand, thou brilliant son of Luaehan, 
that I may confide to thee, a deed without stint, much of the marvels 
that I have seen/ 

C. First tell me this say something of thy adventures was it 
exit of mind, or severance of body and soul? 

0. * My soul was taken from me afar past dreadful terrible hell 
towards the heaven of the glorious King who is without concealment, 
without decay. 

Where there is health and peace and joy without grief, music 
without cessation, without sin, life without death, without peril. 

Youth without age ever, radiant light, immortality, virtuousness, 
the presence of the King of the seven heavens, the one Son of the 
maiden Mary. 

C. What has brought thee back hither ? tell us something of 
thy adventures ! worse is this land than the land beyond, son of 
Saran, thou of noble race. 

0. * Son of Luaehan, of brilliant disposition, of the race of Conali 
Cremthainne, this is why I have been allowed to return to my house : 
in honour of thee and of Airmedach. 

C. Airmedach, Suibne likewise, the sons of Colman son of 
Diarmait, the Lord fair fame has put them under the lake, Onchu ! 

What wilt thou give me in obedience to me, pure-shaped, 
generous Onchu ? Shall it be gentle fail- service ? lihall it be bog or 

0. To thee my service has been granted both in life and death, 
tax besides and toll and tribute to thee, Colman son of Luaehan ! 7 

C. What is the amount of the fair tribute, both of wealth and 
noble treasures? tell us cause without blemish lest it become a 
matter of strife. 



[0.] * Secht mbargen each duine dair, screpol cech eich, 

cech oclsDig, 
cet ech eech dalta min modh, muinci, srian is 

5 Tiucme (?) cacA tene[d] tailc trC-[i]n i n-acus, 1 a n-etw- 


dinit cacha mna maithe manetarset anflaithe. 
Dechniflfl ftala cech Gen bias cen faitches, cen domaoin, 
lenn cech rfgiaig, monar ngle, blae 1m cecha caillige-. 

10 Caor iaraind 3 cech gabann, gairm grinn, c[e]in bes atreb 

hi [n]Erinu, 
heck cech slFasta duit re taeb em in (?) secht bliadna 

Duit-siu, a C[h]olmain, an cech tan bse, muca, eich, 
15 oigitr (?), 

daim is cairig immalle, capaill, cairr ocus ere. 
Do riar duit, a c[h]leirig caid, a degmic lamglain 

.co risat do re[i]r riagla do Laind cecha aenbliadna. 

20 [C.] * Bendacht duine, bendacht De, robet ort ule malle, 

fort chlaind, fort c[h]iniud cen cess nac/justarla an- 

bennacht fort c[h]eill is fort c[h]lu, bennacht fort fein, 

a Onchu. A. 
[0.] Bennachfet-sa* in indsi, a fir, a C[h]olmain caid, a 


ar ni cian 6 tir in treb co rab taiiisi a atreb. 
[C.] Sonus lomma is lenna lir, buaid comairle im cech 

30 buaid coraperta, clii co mbail, buaid creiche adiu, 

buaid sluagaid. 
Tri Ian ma chluic d* usci liar 5 do ch^r esti a n-agaid 

innreth t innse 6 tairis sin m dronfat Gaill is Gaedil. 

. -caillideMs. a leg. iaira. 4 leg. Bennach-sa. 

5 fuai MS. 6 ennse MS. 


0. * Seven loaves from every serf, a scruple for each horse, for 
each young calf, a hundred horses from each fosterling a gentle 
condition a necklace, bridle and spancel. 

* . . . . from every stout strong hearth both near and afar ; a 
suckling from every gentle-woman unless false chiefs intervene. 

Tithes from the profit of each one that shall be without anxiety, 
without poverty ; a cloak from every royal warrior, a brilliant act 
a linen shirt from every old woman. 

1 A lump of iron from every smith, a pleasant call, so long as 
there shall be a dwelling in Erin ; a horse for every thigh to thee 
besides at the end (?) of seven fair-blossoming years. 

To thee, Colman, at every time cows, swine, steeds, oxen and 
sheep together, horses, carts and [their] load. 

4 Thy own will to thee, holy cleric, pure-handed excellent son of 
Luachan, that they may come according to rule to Lann every single 

C. The blessing of man, the blessing of God, may they be upon 
thee altogether, upon thy children, upon thy race without sorrow, 
may calamity never come to them, a blessing upon thy sense and 
thy fame, a blessing upon thyself, Onchu. 

0. * Bless thou the hill, man, holy Colman, cleric ; for the 
dwelling is not far from thy land, so that its abode may be stable. 

C. Luck of milk and of plenteous ale, triumph of counsel in 
every affair, triumph of conception fame with prosperity, triumph 
of raid hence, triumph of hosting. 

* Three fills of my bell of cold water to be cast out of it against 
hosts neither Norseman nor Gael will invade thy hill against that. 



[0.] * Dechmad na hindsi cen ail s- a almsa bid is etaig, 
re toeb each ciuid feb is coir berar duit co Lainn 


[C.] Cein bethir indti dom re[i]r i n-acus, x a n-et&lt;?rcein, 
5 ni bia terca bid nach du at alew ard, a Onchii. A. 

Claim Onc[h]on cubaid conilau ocusmacneMselodran, 
(fo. 82#2) ni bera demon dib neck cen corop 3 6g no aithrigech, 
mo ehrabud tenn as each du do snadad lemui, a 

Onchu. A. 

10 50. Bendachais larum Colmaii an feraun in Dunena Carrge iniuich 
larsin. Is annsin rocuinnicbsit 3 lucht na Cairgci topur firusci do 
facbail acu. Saidid larum Colman a bachaill isin lena na Carrcci 
7 boccrtiW imrnacuuirt hi 7 isbert : * Is cet don inat-sa topur anira3 
co brath and. Briichtais focnetoir sruaim usci annsin, conid Tipra 

15 Colmain a ainm osin ille 7 icaid gallr* 7 tedmann imda fri troscud aici. 
An carragc-sa tra, port rig Fer Tulach hi dogrus co tanic ingen nieic 
Corichubair .i. ben Conch ubair hui Ma3lsec)ilainn, co rue an ri ar eicin 
hi 7 an rigan 6 rig Fer Tulach .i. Cuc[h]aille niac Dublaide esidein, 
co rosaraiged uimpi .i. a athrigad no a dilsiugad do rigain Midi .i. isi- 

20 sin cetben dib rue hi 7 each ar a slicht-sin osin alle 7 ni diles hi o rig 
Fer Tulach 7 d%/d Colman a dechmtfd-sin on mud c[h]etna cid cia 
bes inti, uair is e robennach hi. 7 is la Colman mac Luachain dechmad 
an duine amuig 4 a Pwrt na hindsi, uair is e doratt ti dia bachaill nu 

timt[h]ill ac a bennacha^ 7 sonus lommae 7 lenda 7 cech bid 

25 arc[hjenae sund dogres 7 buaid comperta 7 buaid creach 7 buaid 
sluagaid odiu co brath 7 dechmad trethan 7 uaran fon mud 
c[h]etnje, uair^is e robennach latt ule 7 is la Mominocc dechmad indsi 
Loclia Maigi Uath, uair is e robendach hi 7 is la Hii Tegtechan bith 
for in cle[i]th dala 7 an t-escra ana laim 7 is la Hib Domnwan 

so culc[h]omet rig Fer Tulach .i. lucht in bale iart[h]araig iatt. 

51. (fo. 82Z1) [A]raile laithiu tra b6i Colman isin Carraig-sin co 
tancatar rigraid an tire chuici do etsechtt fria hoifrenn 7 celebrad 

1 i facus MS. 2 leg. oor p. 3 rocuiwnnichsit MS. 4 amuidjns. 


0. The tithes of the hill without reproach, and its alms of food 
and raiment, besides every chattel as is just, which is brought to thee 
to full-great Lann. 

C. So long as people in it are obedient to me both near and afar, 
there shall not be scarcity of food anywhere in thy noble hill island, 

1 The righteous perfect Children of Onchu and the descendants of 
Maelodran, the Devil shall not carry off one of them while they are 
perfect or repentant. My severe piety over every spot for a protection 
with me, Onchu. 

50. So then Colman blessed the land of Dun na Cairrge. There 
upon the people of Carrie asked him to leave a well of fresh water 
with them. So Colman plants his staff in the meadow of Carrie and 
twirls it about, and he said : * This spot is permitted to have in it a 
famous well till Doom. Forthwith a stream of water sprang forth 
there, so that henceforth its name has been Col man s Well, and it 
heals many diseases and pestilences if one fast near it. This rock 
was ever a place of the kings of Fartullagh until the daughter of 
Conchubar s son came, viz., the wife of Conchubar ua Maelsechlainn, 
whom the king carried off by force, as well as the queen of the king 
of Fartullagh, viz., CuChaile son of Dublaide, so that it was out 
raged, that is to say, its king was dethroned and the place forfeited 
to the queen of Meath ; for she is the first woman that took it, and 
all the rest following her thence onward, and it is not subject to the 
king of Fartullagh. And Colman is entitled to tithes from it in the 
same way whoever be in it, for tis he who blessed it. And Colman 
is entitled to the tithes of the fortress outside Port na hlnse, for tis 
he who traced a circle with his staff around it as he was blessing 
it. And there is luck of milk and ale and every other food there 
ever, and triumph of conception and triumph of raid and triumph of 
hosting henceforward till Doom. And tithes of sea and of wells 
in the same way, for tis he blessed them all. And Mominoc is 
entitled to tithes from Inis Locha Maige Uath, for he has blessed 
it, and it belongs to the [chief of the] Hui Tegtechan to be upon the 
hurdle of assembly, with the cup in their hand, and to the Hui 
Domrian to guard the King of Fartullagh, viz., they are folk of the 
western steading. 

51. Now on a certain day Colman was in Carrie when the kings 
of the country came to him to hear him saying mass and celebrate. 


acgi-sium. Tecatt ule timc[h]ell relgi lar n-afrinn co cualattar egem 
ac na curchaib na fiadnaisi. La sodhain tra fegaitt uli 7 atchiatt na 
conn cucu na rith. ACholmain, ar do chumachta?, ar an rigun, 
* tesaircc dam-sa mo churcha 7 rotbia-su uanmolt * dib cccha bliadna. 
5 Smachtais iaruni Oolman forna faolchonu 7 tastaitt isin magin-sin. 
Romorad dawo a ainm De 7 Colmain triasin ftrt-sm, conid ann asbert 
an rigan fri Colman : * Geb arait dam-sa fechtsa im na curcha dia 
comgi ar na conu alltae. Is de sin asbert Colman : Geb-siu an rand- 
sa impu matan 7 fescar 7 mstomlett na conu alltoe latt 2 co bruth. 3 

10 * " Mo c[h]aoirig robet ar seilb an oenfir! 

for seilb Colmain meic Luachain curbat ua[g]sla"[i]n mo 


Cach nech tra gebus sin ima c[h]urchu, m millfett co[i]n allta 
latt, conid de sin dlighes Colman uanmolt cech albvS a nEirinn ar a 

15 comett ar conaib allta. 

52. [A]raile fecht didiu dognied mordal Droma3 Ceta la rigaib 
Eirenn im C[h]olum Cille. Ranicc larum each 4 inti as each 
aird. Is latt immurgu triar dedenach 5 ranic lar each inti, na tii 
Colmain mora Midhi 7 ba dorcha in adaig 6 antan rosiachtadur 7 ni 

20 raibi adbar tened no boithe acu de sin. Ruccad larum a fis-sin co 
Colum Cille 7 roferad faoilti friu fiadha 7 rolaad gairm escaire for 
naomaib hErenn, id est, crann do each tenid 7 7 slat 7 sop cacha boithe 
dona tr\ Colmana morse Midhi. Tucad larum doib-siMm sin fon curna- 
sin. Rofiarfaigsit 8 didiu naoim hErenn larnabarach do C[h]olum 

25 Cille: Cindus clem^ lat-som (fo. 82i2) na tri Colmana dia rowfagde 
dew hir[e]ir? Conid ann isbert Colum Cille : Cid mor sunn a[n]diu 
oirecht naom hErenn, gellaim-si fia[d] Dia nach lugha oirecht na tri 
Colman utt for neim oldas an t-oirecht-sa 7 gellaim fia[d] an Trinoit, 
dia tsethsad neam anuas for clar an talman, co tocebdais na tri Colmain 

30 ut co ndernannaib he suas doridhisiu ina sosad aicenta. Becc tra do 
sein la each naom a n&lt;?rt fein a naemaib hErenn ar mett na testa-sin 
tuc Colum Cille forru-som. R-ochuinichset larum naoim hErenn 
cotach for na tri Colmdnu 7 faomait-siz^m an cottach-sin do denum 

1 uaonmolt MS. 2 iaatt MS. 3 brach MS. 4 naomh added in 

margin by a later hand. 5 degenach M?. G agctid MS. " tened MS. 

8 rofiarfaidsit MS. 


After mass they all make the round of the cemetery when they heard 
a cry near the sheep close by them. At that all look and see wolves 
running towards them. Colman, by thy power, says the queen, 
* save my sheep for me, and thou shalthave a ewe-lamb of them every 
year.* Then Colman rebuked the wolves, and they stand still in that 
spot. So God s name and Colman s were magnified through that 
miracle. And the queen said to Colman : Sing a prayer to me now 
for the protection of the sheep against wolves. Then Colman said : 
Sing this quatrain around them morning and night, and the wolves 
shall not devour them till Doom. 

" My sheep, may they be in the possession of the one man ! in the 
possession of Colman son of Luachan, so that my sheep may be whole 
and sound." 

Now whoever will sing that around his sheep, wolves will not 
destroy them ; wherefore Colman is entitled to a ewe-lamb of every 
flock in Ireland for preserving them from wolves. 

52. Then on a certain occasion the great gathering of Druim Cet 
was held by the Kings of Ireland around Colum Cille. Then every 
one came to it from every direction. However, the last three who 
reached it after everyone else were the three great Colmans of Meath, 
and dark was the night when they arrived. And hence there was no 
material for fire or for a hut for them. Then that news was brought 
to Colum Cille, and a welcome was sent to them from him, and a call 
was made on the holy men of Ireland, even (to supply) a log from 
each fire and a rod and a wisp from each hut for the three great 
Colmans of Meath. In that wise then those things were brought to 
them. Then on the morrow the saints of Ireland asked of Colum 
Cille : What manner of leri&lt;_ are the three Colmans for whom thou 
hast solicited us last night ? Then said Colum Cille : Though this 
is a great gathering of Ireland s saints here to-day, I declare before 
God that the gathering of those three Colmans in heaven will not. be 
less than this gathering; and I declare before the Trinity, if the 
heavens were to fall down upon the surface of the earth, that those 
three Colmans would raise them up again with their hands to their 
natural station. Then every one of the saints of Ireland thought little 
of his own strength in comparison with that testimony which Colum 
Cille had given of them. Hence the saints of Ireland besought the 
three Colmans for a covenant ; and they consented to make that 


friii 7 &&amp;lt;m\ther an cotach larsin hi fiadnaisi Coluim Chille, co fil dsin 
alle cotach a manacli-som fri naoraaib hEirenn .i. do neoch dib tarraid 
an mordail Droraa Ceta cettus. 

53. [I]n fecht immurgu tainic Colman mac Luachain co Laincl, 
6 is ann roboi Conchraid epscop hi Tfr an Disirt ara chind. Otchiiala 

larum guth cluicc Colmain meic Luachain tanicc chuici 7 isbert fris : 
1 Mochean duit, a Cholmain, is duif fogena an fid-sa co brath .i. Fid 
Dorchae 7 fogenam-ne co brath. Doronad tra amlaid-sin 7 robai 
Conchraid larsin ac Colman mar each ndeisc?jal acci. A rale fecht 
10 and faomaid umaloitt do denum do Cholman 7 da manchaib archena 
.i. bith ac a manchaib 7 aci buddein ac a ndamaib 7 roboi re Fotta acu 
.i. hi Cluain Dam 7 is de-sin aderar Cluain Dam osin alle ria. 

54. Araile fecht ann immurgii gatffr dam dib 6 Chonchraid. Luitth 
Conchraid ina lurgc 7 a chlocc ina laim 7 cech huair not[h]eged dia 

15 lurgc nobenad a chlogc aigci 7 doronsatar amlaid-sin co rangcatar 
Caill Cellan hi Feraib Tulach 7 is ann sin robattur (fo. 8301) na 
merligh ac fennad a doim ar a chind 7 cuincbis Conchraid forru he 
7 doberatt na merlig d5 he 7 atbert an clerech f riss : Is cett duit 
ergi. Ro erig an dam focetoir. Otconncatar na meirlig sin fobrait 

20 slechtain do. Ac, ar Conchraid, slechtaid dom aitin .i. do 
C[h]olman. Slechtaid larsin do Cholman 7 doberatt a manchine do 
co brath. Isbert Colman fri Conchraid : l Geb inatt ale hi fecht sa. 
* Cuin[d]ig dano inat tighi dam-sa for Conall, co ndernar cill ann 7 
fogenam-ne duit ann co brath. Doronad amlaid-sin 7 doratt Conall 

25 inatt tighi do Cholman mac Luachain, conid de isberar Tech Colmain 
i n-uachtur Fer Tulach. Bennachatt malle an cill-sin 7 saoratt ar 
ciss flatha hi. 7 faccbaidh Colman Conchraidh inti fria laim, conid la 
Colman hi osin alle. 7 iar foirinn ai/i dawo comad la Colmdn notisad 
hille Conchraid 7 nach ar a chind roboi hi (sic) abus ettr he 7 comad iar 

30 ndul adm nogabad Tir an Disirt. 7 isbert Colmdn : Ni cett lind do 


covenant with them. And thereupon in the presence of Colum Cille 
the covenant is m;ide, so that thenceforward there is a covenant of 
their monks witli the saints of Ireland, viz. with all those who had 
come to the great gathering of J)ruim Get. 

53. However when Colman son of Luachan came to Lann, bishop 
Conchraid was there in Tir an Disirt before him. Then when lie 
heard the sound of Colman s bell he came towards him 1 and said to 
him : * Welcome to thee, Colman ! This wood shall serve thee till 
Doom, even Fid Dorcha, and we shall serve thee till Doom. Thus 
then it was done, and thereupon Conchraid stayed with Colman like 
any other disciple. On a certain occasion he agrees to do homage to 
Colman and his monks, viz. his monks and he himself to be with 2 their 
oxen. And he was a long time with them in Cluain Dam, and hence 
it has been called Cluain Dam (Meadow of Oxen) ever since. 

54. Now on one occasion one of those oxen is stolen from 
Conchraid. He went upon its track with his bell in his hand, and each 
time he went off its track his bell sounded, 3 and so they continued 
until they reached Caill Cellan in Fartullagh. And there he came 
upon the thieves skinning his ox. And Conchraid demanded it of 
them and the thieves gave it to him. And the cleric said to it : * It 
is permitted to thee to rise. Forthwith the ox rose up. When the 
thieves saw that they are going to prostrate themselves before him. 
1 No, said Conchraid, * prostrate yourselves before my beloved "tutor, 
even Colman. To Colman then they prostrate themselves and give 
their services till Doom. Said Colman to Conchraid : Now choose 
another place ! Then ask the site of a house for me of Conall so 
that I may build a church there, and we shall serve thee in it till 
Doom. Thus it was ^one, and Conall gave the site of a house to 
Colman son of Luachan, whence Colman s House in Upper Fartullagh 
is so named. That church they bless together ; and they free it from the 
chieftain s tax. And Colman leaves Conchraid in it as his substitute, so 
that it has belonged to Colman from that time onward. According to 
others Conchraid came thither with Colman and was not already there 
before him ; and it was after going thence that he set up in Tir in 
Disirt. And Colman said : "We do not permit thee to be there, 

1 Or, perhaps, towards it. 2 i.e. to take charge of. 

3 Literal!) , used to strike. 


beith ann-sin, a Chonchraid, conid ann sin rochuinidh inatt forConall 
7 atberatt arale in clogc roboi hi laim Conchraidh arlurgc a daim, isse 
fil a Cluain Mescan hi nlllltaib. 7 issed dogairt/for de beus clocc na 
damraide Cholmain. 

5 55. Fecht dawo tanice rechtaire Conaill meic Suibne co Luachaii 
do chuinchi[d] biatta fair 7 ni raba ac Luachan acht aonchrlathar 
grain eorna 7 atbert : Ni fil acaindi a cuinc[h]id fair. Issed 
immurgu roraid an rechtaire co cuirfidiss Tatt ule hi muir no a ten, 
mane fagbadis .iii. cet bargen cruthnechta cona tarsann imme 7 lomma. 

10 7 isbert Colman : Is cett duit an talam dot slucud 7 rosluic an 
talam fochetoir an reclitaire ac dol dia chosaitt dochum a t[hligerna 
co filett ic pralugud 1 na cenn osin alle 7 gabaid ar teched* 
otchonnairc sin 7 gabaid an slog ule 7 asbert : Mairg (fo. 832) do 
thoimelado biadh, a Cholmain, 7 ni sinne thomelas. 7 bahatach n-uilc 

15 ac each dia chele dib fria re fotta iarsin, conid aided Chonmind 3 [d]ot 
brith, amail rosluicc talam La3gaire ar amre[i]r Pattraicc. 

56. Isbert irnmurgu a mathair fri Colman : A meic maith, con- 
gain leind, ar ataam a ndocumal mor. Luid Colman don muilenn 7 a 
bolgc fair, amail rogab Colum Cille an blog 4 fair don c[h]loich fil isiu 

20 pronntighi n-I .i. MaBlblutha a ainm-sein 7 sonus for each mbi ud hiss 
fuirre. B6i dawo arbar Conaill fon muilenn ar a chiund 7 cruthnecht 
eside. 5 Asbert Colman a scor reme, ar roboi sodethbir ad 7 m derna 
an rechtaire fair. Tabafr-siu ind larum, ar an cleirech, 7 doberam- 
ne don leth ale 7 rondfiW Dia dfum. Doronsat amlaid-sin 7 dorat 

25 Colman a la[i]mh ind-agaid an rnuilmd 7 soais reime ar tuathbel, conid 
Muilenn Cerr 5sin alle he co brath. 7 cloemchoidh Dia na harbandac, 
conid cruthnecht la Colman 7 eorna lasin rechtaire. llomorad dawo 
ainm De 7 Colmain triusin firt 

57. Antan dawo dorlacht Colman on ath gusan rauilenu buddes 

pdugud MS. ~ tetlied MS. 3 ag omd MS. * leg. bolg. 5 iside no e(side) MS. 


Conchraid, so that it was then lie a^ked a site of Conall. And some 
say that the bell which was in Conchraid s hand as he tracked his ox 
is that which is in Cluain Mescan in Ulster. And it is still called the 
bell of Colman s oxen. 

55. Again, upon a certain time the steward of Conall son of 
Suibne came to Luachan to demand victuals of him. And Luachan 
had but one sieve of barley-seed ; and he said: We have not got what 
you demand of him. liut the steward said that they would all be put 
into the sea or fire unless they found three hundred wheaten cakes 
with their condiment of butter and milk. And Colman said : * It is 
permitted to thee to be swallowed up by the earth ! And forthwith 
the earth swallowed the steward as he went towards his lord to stir 
him up against Colman, so that ever since hounds 1 have been . . . ing 
on his head. And when he saw that he began to flee, 2 and [dread] 
seized all the people ; and they said : Woe to him who shall consume 
thy food, Colman ; and tis not we who shall consume it. And for a 
long time afterwards it was a form of cursing 3 one another among 
them, viz. May the death of Cu Mend carry thee off! as the earth 
swallowed Loegaire when he was disobedient to Patrick. 

56. However, his mother said to Colman : My good son, help us, 
for we are in a great plight. Colman went to the mill with his sack 
upon him, as Coluni Cille took the sack upon him to the stone which 
is in the refectory at lona* (Maelblatha is its name, and there is luck 
upon every food that is upon it). Now on his arrival there was 
Conall s corn under the mill and it was wheat. Colman ordered it to 
cease, for he was in great haste (?) ; but the steward would not do it at 
his bidding. Then put it in, said the cleric, and we will put (ours 
in) on this side, and God will divide for us. They did thus, and 
Colman put his hand against the mill and turned it lefthandwise, so 
that thenceforward it has been Mullingar (Wry Mill). And God 
exchanged the corn so that Colman had wheat and the steward barley. 
So God s name and Colman s were magnified through the miracle. 

57. Now when Colman came from the ford to the mill southward 

1 Or perhaps wolves. 

2 Here the original is evidently defective. It is not clear to whom he refers. 

3 Literally, a prayer of evil. 

4 See Liber Hymnorum 2 , i., p. 62 ; but the stone is there called Blathnat. 


doruacht cuigci Crist fein a richtt claim do fromad a t[h]r5eaire 7 
cuinc[h]is mam ar Dia fair. Bee ar Dia ar Colman, an coibes 
sin 7 dobir do mam raor assin teig. Mam ele dam ar Dia! ar an 
clam. Dobir-siwra do 7 dognftt tra fon cuma-sin a g[c]ein robi a bee 
5 isan bulge 7 dobir Colman bendacht la arbar don lobar. Tic Colman 
fiada larsin. Congraid an clam eisim for ciilu 7 dobir in arbar uile 
do 7 a bendaclit lais, amail tanigc Crist co Martan dia faghfdje ima 
brat 7 dorat Martan do a leth 7 a leth ele imme fein 7 dia cuinched 1 
uile dosbera[d] Martnn do. 

10 58. Luid-sittin reme dia thig 7 lecis a bolgc ar lar. * A meic 
inmain/ ol a mathair, is becc an bolgc-sa 7 is mor an forcongra 
7 is doilig ri do biathad x de. Dena-sa in (fo. 83M) fuine immain, 
ar esium, 7 dobera J)fa ni isin bolgc, amail atbert Brigitt fri mnaoi 
an dru^ajd 7 ni raibi aici-siu aoht ma r d] torad co leth innamd 7 dobered 

15 Brigitt leth toraid cecka huare asin chnlud corbo Ian nle an ruse 
imme. Is amlaid sin tucc Dia sonus for beccan bid. Rofonta ianim 
.iii. cet bairgen assin bulge 7 ba Ian beus. Caidhi an t-annlonn 
buddechtsa ? ol a mathair. Ar ni fil lem-sa acht bleghan aonbo. 2 
Dobera Dia bal 3 fair-sin, ar esium, 7 maisttr-siu he nama. 

20 Dorocad amlaid 7 tainicc anloww tri cet bargen de. Caidhi dano 
bfeclitsa, ol an mathair, * loimm dingmala rig leu-sein? Benna- 
chais Tarum an mblatlirt?^ 7 ticc eisti grutli mor la cech mbairgein. 
Bendachais dawo an medg larum 7 doni ceo lorama de. 4 Caidhi dano 
buddechtsa eacli fora mbert^ar an biad-sa don rig? ar ni fil acaindi 

25 he cettus. Cocualadar larum an n-oss allaid a Tnlaig ind Oiss. 
Roba chett down oss don i so, ol Colraan, * cid he nonbera. Tigc 
tra an oss cona elet 7 laighitt ina fladnaisi 7 doberar fen form larum 
7 an biad fair co Dun Bri anal[l]a, amail tancatar na da anmanna 
allrtiW do imarchur cuirp Patraic dia chill antan roba raarb he. 

30 Amail atconncatar na sluaigh* anni sin, beratt fis co Conall 7 
isberatt : Xa hallta arna beratt do choin-siu na do eich hitatt ac 

1 cuincid M- aonl.oi MS. 3 ^l Ms . 


Christ Himself came to him in the shape of a leper to test his 
mercifulness, and asked a handful of him for God s sake. * That 
much were little for God s sake, saidColman; and he gives him a 
large handful out of the sack. Another handful to me for God s 
sake 1 says the leper. He gives it him, and thus they continue while 
there was anything in the sack, and Colman bestows a blessing with 
the meal upon the leper. Thereupon Colman went from him. The 
leper calls him back, and gives him all the meal and his blessing with 
him, as Christ came to Martin to ask him for his mantle, and Martin 
gave Him half of it, and the other half about himself, and had He 
asked for the whole, Martin Mould have given it to Him. 

58. He went onward to his house and set the sack upon the floor. 
My dear son, says his mother, * that sack is small and the behest is 
great; and it is hard to feed a king therefrom. Only begin to bake, 
says he, * and God will put something into the sack ; as Brigit said 
to the druid s wife 1 when she had but the making of one churning 
and a half, and Brigit brought half the making of her churning 
every time out of the store-house until the whole hamper was full 
of butter. Thus did God bless a little food. Then three-hundred 
cakes were baked from the sack, and it was still full. Where is the 
condiment now ? says his mother, for I have nought but the 
milking of one cow. God will increase it, says he, * and do thou 
only churn it. So it was done; and there came condiment for three 
hundred cakes out of it. "Where now, says the mother, is a drink 
worthy of a king with those things ? So he blessed the buttermilk, 
and out of it came a mass of curds for every cake. He likewise 
blessed the whey and it becomes milk. Where now is a horse 
upon which this food may be carried to the king? for we have 
not got one. Then they heard a stag in Tulach ind Oiss. It is 
permitted to the stag which makes this noise, says Colman, 
1 to carry it. So the stag came with its hind, and they lie 
down before them, and then a cart is put upon them and the food 
upon that, (and it is carried) to Dun Bri, as the two wild animals 
came to convey Patrick s body to the church when he had died. 2 
When the hosts saw that, they report it to Conall, saying : The wild 

1 See Stokes, Lives of Saints from the Book ot Lismore, p. 187. 
- See ibid., p. 167. 


fognum do Cholman din ndeoin fein. Gabais larum Conall 7 
fdbiw 4 daul for teched. 1 Lenaitt 2 iarum an dias don c[h]olc^ 
7 lenaid an colcaid do lar 7 siabartar a baill imme 7 tuitid in dim dia 
lethlmlgc, amail rotuit Clrenraith Temrach ar amre[i]r Patraicc inti. 
Ar is a n-aimsir Leegaire meic Neill rotuit an rfdth 7 a n-aimsir 
Patra[i]gc 7 ni hi breth na glaisne do mill hi. 

59. (fo. 83i2) Doruacht mruin Colman chuici 7 isbert : Biad 
lem-sa duit sunn, a Chonaill. Misi dobera biathad duit-siu ol 
Conall, * fechtsa co brath 7 ni tusa dobera dam-sa na fer t inaid. 

10 Slechtais iarum Conall do Cholman 7 atbert f ris : Do riar fein duit, 
a Cholmain, 7 cabair me dondichumang-sa. * Abair fein, ol Colman, 
1 an riar hi sin/ ( A ndun-sa tra duit ar Conall, * cona nmilenn 7 an 
sruth-so tliiss, conad i Muilenn Dee 7 a carad eisc laiss. Rofoillsiged 
tra do Amain mac Eogain sein 7 do Ulltan 7 do Mac Liacc 7 doratsat 

15 ceo mor atuaid 7 anair do c[h]leith an tire fair. Atbert Colman mac 
Luachain Iarum : * Arnan 7 Ulltan 7 Mac Liagc dob^r dam-sa an ceo- 
sa ar ulc rium 7 bid doib-sium a olc. Bid moin 7 mothar a fer- 
anna-soin s co brath 7 bid fass a cella 7 bid latt a sinnaich a sacairt 
assin amach 7 bid iatt a clerig a coin allta 7 bid 4 fir lama dergi ina 

20 suidedaib apad 7 bid do c[h]ellaib elib greim a manach co brath. Ni 
reil dam-sa radarc abfechtsa, ar Colman, acht da bale nama .i. 
Bordgal 7 Lemchaill. * Bit sein acat-sa, ar Conall, 7 tog fein .x. uii. 
bale leo sein isin tuaith-siu a filim-si 7 sir hi J .i. i nUib Tigernain. 
Is andsin rochuinig Conall for Cholman mac Luachain inad duine do 

25 bendachad do-som lar mbrt M a duine uad, co n-ebert Colman : Tet 
lim Iarum 7 bendach/arf dun bus ferr duit-siu. Tiagatt malle ro 
Ruba Conaill ar ulc fria hArnan 7 fri hUlltan beus .i. cumad echrais 
con 7 gilla an duine a cell-som co brath. 

60. Dobir tra Colman mac Luachain ti da bachaill timchell an 
30 ruba-sein 7 facbatrf Colman buaid creiche an[n] 7 buaid sluaigtrf 7 

MS. 2 i.e. lenaid 3 f u;mnwanasom MS. * leg. bit, as in 1. 19. 


animal s which neither thy hounds nor thy horses can overtake are 
serving Colman of their own will. Then [fear] 1 seized Conall, and 
he attempted to flee. Then the point of the sword cleaves to the 
quilt, and the quilt cleaves to the floor, and his limhs become distorted, 
and the fortress falls .... . 2 as the Sloping Fort of Tara fell when 
Patrick met with disobedience in it. For it is in the time of 
Loegaire son of Niall that the fort fell, and in the time of Patrick, 
and it was not the judgment of the woad that destroyed it. 3 

59. Then Colman came to him and said : * Here I have food for 
thee, Conall. * Tis I that will give food to thee till Doom, said 
Conall, and neither thou nor thy successor shall give it to me. 7 
Then Conall prostrated himself to Colman and said to him : Thy 
own will to thee, Colman, and help me out of this strait ! Say 
thyself, said Colman, what it is to be. This fort to thee, said 
Conull, with its mill and the river below. So that is Muilenn 
Dee and its fish- weir with it. Then that was made known 
to Arnan son of Eogan and to Ultan and to Mac Liag; and they 
caused a great mist from the north and east to hide the land from him. 
Then Colman son of Luachan said : Arnan and Ultan and Mac Liag 
cause this mist to spite me ; but its evil will fall upon them. Their 
lands will be bog and wilderness till Doom and their churches will be 
waste ; and henceforth foxes shall be their priests, and their clerics 
shall he wolves, and red-handed men shall be in their abbots seats, 
and sway over their monks shall belong to other churches till Doom. 
My sight is not clear now, said Colman ; (I see) but two places, 
Bordgal and Lemchaill. They shall be thine, said Conall, and 
choose thyself seventeen steadings with them in this tribe in which 
I am, and search it, 4 viz., in Hui Thigernain. Tis then Conall asked 
of Colman son of Luachan to bless the site of a fortress for him after 
his fortress had been taken from him ; and Colman said : * Come with 
me then and I will bless a better fortress for thee. Together they 
go V&gt; Kuba Conaill to spite Arnan and Ultan, so that their church might 
be a passage for the hounds and attendants of the fortress for ever. 

60. Then Colman son of Luachan makes a circle with his staff 
around that brake, and leaves as a blessing on it triumph of raid and 

1 A word like uamun is omitted. " dia lethbulgc is obscure to me. 

3 See O Grady, Silva Gadelica ii., p. 288, and Dindsenchas, 1, 35 (Rev. Celt, 
xii., p. 288). * Probably corrupt. 


buaid comairle ann co brath. Asbert immurgu Conall (fo. 841) fri 
Colman mac Luachain : * Is maith sin, a c[h]leirig, 7 bo cecha gabala 
duit-si dib-sin 7 ech 7 erriud cecha sluaigtdh 1 7 declimad cech bid 
dogres sund lais duit. Sonus bid dawo anu-som, ar Colman. 
5 61. Teitt larum slar a ntlib Tigernain co hTJachtur Comart[h]a 7 
doni cill annsein 7 fold an oidchi-sin 7 doni uffrind indti Tarnabarach 
7 ui rabi clogc aicci fri beim eitsechta a affrinn, conid andsin rotelged 
do-soui do neim an findfaidech Colmain meic Luachain, co fil ait a 
beoil isin c[h]loich foss ann. Kobenad larum an cloc-sin acu. An 
10 t-usce immurgu tuccad do-sotn asan sruth, rodoirt Colman he asin 
clugc ar lar na cille himmuich, conid tiprae firusci osin hille hi. 7 
romorad ainm De 7 Colmain triasan firt-sin 7 is saer an chelP-sin ar 
ciss rig osin alle. 

62. Togaid 3 larmu Tlr Fraech 7 Tir Mor 7 Bale U Dungalan 7 

15 U Lotracban 7 Bale U Fothatan 7 Duma Bolgc 7 Bale U Dlnian 7 Less 

na Findaw 7 Indsi Conchada cona Cnuc Domnallan 7 rathanna ele cona 

secht dec leo-som. Dobert Conall d5-som a saire do brathturib a 

senathar co brath re ta3b-sin amail doratt Domuall mac Aeda meic 

Ainmirech reme so. Luid iarum Colman co Cill Bic co foilti moir 

20 7 biad lais iterum 7 ni dlegar do Uib Gusan no d Oib Tigernan biathad 

rig Midi sin croind-si acht a Kuba Conaill nama 7 ni dlegar beus 

coindmed do denum asin c[h]roind-si forru acht i ngnesttf a Kuba 

Conaill immach 7 isat lia a mbaile sa3ra oldatt a mbaledhae daara 7 ni 

dlegar a mairt gemre[i]d no a mbiad corgais do c[h]aithem a n-inad ele 

25 acht a Kuba Conaill 7 dligid U Gusan cain a deorad 7 lethc[h]ain 

urrad 6 rig Midhi. Dligid immurgu comarba Colmain ^(fo. 8402) each 

7 erriud cech rig gebus rigi U Tigernan 4 dogres 7 bith for a lethlaini. 

A meth no a trucha, muna tarda do. 

63. [AJraile dawo fecht tanicc Ethgen mac Tigernan meic Aeda 

30 Slaugi meic Diarmata meic Cerbaill meic Fergusa meic Conaill 

Gremthainne meic Neill Noiiriallaio; cbuici 7 dobert a manchine do co 

1 si edh MS. - cill MS. 3 togcaid MS. i 7 add. MS. 


of hosting and of counsel till Doom. Conall, however, said to Colman : 
That is good, cleric ; and thou shalt have a cow from every capture, 
and a horse and a dress from every hosting, and with it tithes of 
every food here always. Luck of food here also ! saith Colman. 

61. Then he goes westward into the land of Ui Thigernain to 
Uachtor Comartha, and there builds a church, and sleeps that night, 
and on the morrow celebrates mass in it. And he had no bell with 
him to sound (the summons for) hearing his mass, so that then the 
Finnfaidech of Colman mac Luachain was sent down to him from 
heaven, and the mark of its rim is still there in the stone. So the 
bell was struck by them. The water, however, which was brought to 
him out of the river Colman spilt from the bell upon the ground of 
the church without, so that thenceforth it has been a spring of fresh 
water. And God s name and Colman s were magnified by that miracle. 
And that church has been exempt from the king s taxes from that 
time till now. 

62. Then he chooses Tir Fraich and Tir M6r and Baile Ua Dun- 
galen and Ua Lothrachan and Baile Ua Fothatan and Duma Bolg and 
Baile Ua Diman and Less na Findan and Inis Conchada with Cnoc 
Domnallan, and other raths up to seventeen with them. Conall 
granted him their freedom from the brothers of his grandfather till 
Doom, as Domnall son of Aed, son of Ainmire had done before. Then 
Colman went to Cell Bee, where he had again great welcome and food. 
And neither the Ui Gusan nor the Ui Thigernan are obliged to provision 
the King of Meath in Cro-inis, but only in Ruba Conaill ; nor yet 
should troops be billeted upon them in Cro-inis, except what . . . 
out from Ruba Conaill. And their free steadings are more numerous 
than their unfree steadings. And their winter-beef or their lenten 
food should not be consumed in any other place than Ruba Conaill. 
And the chief of the Ui Gusan is entitled to the tax of the strangers 
in the tribe, and half the tax of tribesmen from the King of Meath. 
The coarb of Colman, however, is entitled to a horse and dress from 
every king who takes the kingship of Ui Thigernain always, and to a 
seat by his side. Unless he give that to him he shall decay or die 

63. Now at a certain time Ethgen son of Tigernan, son of Aed 
Slane, son of Diurmait, son of Cerball, son of Fergus, son of Conall 
Cremthainne, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, came to him and 



brath 7 a ingen chuici do leigiud lais .i. Ronat in gen Wngcin. 7 isi fil 
hi cill U Muca tis 7 la Colman hi sein o griun co nem 7 a cendaiAl 
degree 7 miach cech arba eisti isin cargus enw ff cecha bliadna. 7 tlobert 
immurgu Colmdn do-sem bale cech meic dia maccaib ar manchine co 
5 brath. 7 isbert Colman : Anti di b so impobas oram-sae, ni biu uaid 
nech a rigi a tudithe co brath 7 iifrind is gardius soegail do. Isbert 
Colmdn beus : If I raib uaid acht cairem 1 7 cirmaire no nech bed 
fiu lad. 

64. [A]raile fecht dawo luid rechtaire Ua nAirmedaig 2 .i. Maelodrain 
10 mac Faillein esiein 7 slechtais do Cholman mac Luachain 7 dobered 
almsana imda bid 7 etaig do 7 ba hole la Conall sin 7 ro cumrig 
Mselodrac triitt-sin. rochuala immurgu Colman mac Luachain sin. 
luid tri nru dec dia chuinchid. 7 o ranicc Port na hlndsi, asbert 
Conall na&lt;?A bertha ethar chuigci etir iniach 7 isbert Colman : Comtren 
is an Coimdiu for us0 7 for talmain 7 mad tol lais ar mbadud-ne is cet 
linne a c[h]et -som. 7 bennachais Colman an loch 7 buaili* reme he 
cona bachaill 7 andarleo ba ceo solusta he 7 lotar cosaib tirma inund 
.i. amail dochuaid Maoisi mac Amrae tria Muir Ruaid 7 a p[h]opul 
ana diaid. 

20 65. atciias immurgu do Chonall annisin, asbert fria muindtir : 
( Cid be uaib erges na Colman athrigf rti ^t/^r asa feranii 7 ni faigbe 
(fo. 84M) aninatt-sin co brath. 6 rosiacht Colman immurgu astech, 
roerig Flann mac Onchon meic Saran .iii. fir dec ale, acht nama dalta 
Flaind, ni erracht side rempu ettr. Conid and asbert Colman meth 

25 for dalta Ua Flaind. mane bett fo screpul 6ir do-aide each dalta ar 
chena. 7 ispert immurgu Colman na ronda-sa sis : 

Fland mac Onchon dam-sa is cara, 
bias an buga as ni raga. 

cam-em MS. - nahairmedaig MS. 


granted him service till Doom ; and he brought his daughter to read 
with him, even Ronat daughter of Ethgen. It is she who lies buried 
in the church of Ui Muca below, and it belongs to Colman from 
ground to sky, and his is the headship always. And every year a 
bushel of every kind of corn from it at lent in the spring. And in 
consideration of [this] service Colman gave him a steading for every 
one of his sons till Doom. And Colman said : Any one of them who 
shall turn on me, he shall have no issue to be kings of his tribe till 
Doom, and hell and shortness of life to him ! Colman said further : 

* May none spring from him but shoe-makers and comb-makers, or 
people of that kind ! 

64. At a certain time again the steward of the Ui Airmedaig, 
Haelodran son of Faillen, went and prostrated himself to Colman son 
of Luachan ; and he would bring him many alms of food and dress. 
And Conall was angry thereat and put Maelodran in fetters for it. 
However, when Colraan heard that, he went with thirteen men to seek 
him. And when he had come to Port na hlnse, Conall said that no 
boat should be brought out to him. And Colman said : * The Lord 
is equally powerful upon water and land, and if He wills that we be 
drowned, His will is our will.* And Colman blessed the lake and 
struck it before him with his staff. And it seemed to them that it 
was shining mist, and they went across with dry feet as Moses the son 
of Amram went through the Red Sea with his people behind him. 

65. However, when Conall was told this he said to his people : 

* Whoever of you rises before Colman will be expelled 1 out of the 
land, nor shall he get that place* till Doom. 7 But when Colman 
came into the house Flann son of Onchu, son of Saran, rose up with 
thirteen other men, all except only Flann s foster-son who did not 
rise up before them 3 at all. Then Colman pronounced [sentence of] 
decay upon the foster-sons of Flann s descendants, unless every foster- 
son would pay him his scruple of gold. And Colman spoke the 
following quatrains : 

Flann son of Onchu is my friend, 
the flavour of the hyacinth shall never go out of him. 

Literally &lt; unkinged, dethroned. M.e. the kingship. 

3 before Colman and his company. 


Lann na ferann nach farm fuidhell, 
na caw Conall air ni cuirenn. 

An 1m d feraib atracht remonn 
bett hi ferann ua[d] iar Conall. 

Tri fir deac trial[l]ais tromsnim, 

grain ce[i]tt chomla[i]n fair fan com 1 in. 

Buaid na fagla ort tria chaiti, 
ni bia ruici 1 no egc aigci. 

M taet raindi breth mo raind-si, 
10 ecc fom c[_h]oim-si duit, a Flainn-si. Fland. 

66. Bendachflts he amlaid-sin 7 isbert : * Fer lept[h]a rig uait co 
brath ondfu immach. Rochuinig larum Colman mac Luaehain 
Mselodran a geimel do 7 feimdhidh 6 Chonall, Isbert immurgu 
Colmaii : * An bale i mbeo-sa im larmergi indnocht, is ann bias 

15 Mselodran. Nf ba briathar c[h]leirig sein, ar Conall. Bruid 
iarum Maelodran a slabradha an aidchi-sin 7 eldid co Laind. Tanicc 
immurgu Conall larnabdrach na dfaid co Laind 7 atpert : * Tabair 
dam mo chimid, a Cholmdin! t Ragaid duit aire cetus, ar Colman, 
rfgi hErend duit fein 7 dot chiniud co brath. 1 * Ni glic sin, ar 

20 Conall. Cia ele gebus rigi hErenn acht mo chined-si ? Ragaid 
nem duit fein/ ar Colmdn, * 7 nem d fir t inaid co brath/ * Ac, ar 
Conall, * saeilim nem cena. Tabair dam-sa 7 d fir mo chineoil nem, 
ar an cimid, 7 is ceatt (fo. 84^2) learn mo marbad. Mad ferr lat 
elud ass sldn, ar Colmdn, * ragha 7 ni chumgabat renna ni duit/ 

25 Ac, ar Maelodran. Tabair do c[h~]enn fom choim, ar Colmdn. 
tuc-som amlaid 7 rofaillsigit do iarum uile fochraici nemi 7 


* Lann of the lands, no feeble remnant, 
what Conall utters does not disturb it. 

The number of men who rose up before us 

shall reign 1 of his descendants 2 in the land after Conall. 

Thirteen men who dared heavy trouble, 

the terror of a full hundred upon him with that number. 8 

Triumph of the spoil upon thee through . . . 
neither shame nor death shall be his. 

The judgment of my verse does not come against us, 
thou shalt die under my cloak, Flann. 

66. Thus he blessed him and said : A king s bed-fellow* shall 
spring from thee from to-day till Doom. Then Colman demanded 
Maelodran to be released for him, but did not obtain it from Conall. 
However, Colman said : Wherever I shall be at nocturns to-night, 
there Maelodran will be. That is not the word of a cleric, sai 
Conall. That night Maelodran breaks his chains and escapes to 
Lann. However, on the morrow Conall came after him to Lann and 
said : Give me my prisoner, Colman ! Thou shalt have instead of 
him the Kingship of Ireland for thyself and for thy offspring^ till 
Doom, said Colman. That is not sensible, said Conall. * Who 
else shall hold the Kingship of Ireland but my offspring ? Thou 
shalt have heaven for thyself, said Colman, and heaven to thy 
successors till Doom. * No, said Conall, I am looking forward to 
heaven as it is. Grant heaven to me and to each representative of 
my descendants, 5 said the prisoner, and I submit to being killed. 
If thou prefer to escape safe, said Colman, thou shalt go, and 
spears will not be able to do aught to thee. No, said Maelodran. 
Put thy head under my cloak ! said Colman. And he put it there, 

1 Literally, be. a Literally, from him. 

3 i.e. Flann and the thirteen shall strike terror into the enemy as if they were 
a hundred. 

* To share the same hed with the king was a great honour. So Stevenson 
makes a servant say in Catriona: I think Prestongrange is gane gyte. He ll 
have James More in bed with him next. 

3 Literally, * to the man of my race. 


atconnairc Colman mac Luachain ar a chind tall ic faoilti fris, conid 
de ispert Maelodran : 

67. Atclilu-sa ar an cuimrechtaig, gmm is amrai lib, 
in Colman fil acaib-si ar mo chind-sa ar nim. 

Mocholmocc an t-ordnit[h]i co n-imatt a raith, 
mmt[h]a a decbmad d iudisin neck cloni do maith. 

As uasal a c[b]umacbta, forragart mor salm 
fri bindarba plag^-tedmaun, iri tatbbeoud marb. 

A chrabud 3 , a umaloitt cia radim nach sel, 
is Ian d orttan, amra sin, 6 t[b]alam co nem. 

Dia taethstid iiem for an lar co na dlrp (?) a run, 
nfemCliolinan na sosad for cul. 

Diama[d] lem uile an bitb ce cona rigi inniu, 
nosrirftnd ar imcliisin ina flatba atc[h]i u. A. 

15 68. Romarbad Tarum Ma3lodran a ndorus relgci Colman meic 
Luacbain, conid be cetna marb roadnacbt ac Laind. Rofergcaidbi 
\mmurgu Colman hi cinaid a saraight[h]i 7 dorat a agaid suass cecb 
di recb fri muindtir neime 7 atpert far cein moir co toirsi 7 co n-allus 
de : Diamad cbett la mac na hingeine, is cet lem-sa in inis ut asa 

20 tancais dom sarugud do dol for. locb co brath. A eicb immurgu 7 a 
t^arpait buada, is cett doibsiw talam dia slucud cecb airm hi filett. 7 
doronad amlaid-sin foc[b]etoir. 

69. Luid \mmurgu Conall larnabarach do marbad Colmain meic 
Luacbain a cinaid a muindtiri. Rofoillsiged tra sin do Cbolman 7 
25 atf ett f ria muindtir 3 : 4 Saer-sa ar latt-sin, * sinne fair, ar at tuailgne 
tii sin do denam. Senaid larum Colmdn an ser 7 tigc c^o. 
(fo. 8501) Senaid larum Colman an ser 7 tigc ceo* ann larsin 
do nim 7 doluid an ri for merugud o Loch Aindind co Tech Natfraeicb i 
mBreghapb]. Andarleis is do Laind tanigc 7 andarl^o dano ba h6 

1 plad MS. 2 cradbwrf MS. 3 mnindter MS. 4 Repeated in MS. 


and then all the rewards of heaven were revealed to him, and he saw 
Colraan son of Luachan awaiting him yonder and bidding him welcome. 
Hence Maelodran said : 

67. I see, said the fettered one a thing most wonderful to 
you this Colman, who is (here) with you, awaiting me in Heaven. 

Mocholmoc 1 the dignified with all his bounty, 
I cannot tell a tithe of all the good he does. 

Noble is his power, he has prescribed many psalms 

for ousting plagues of pestilences, for resuscitating the dead. 

His piety, his humility, though I speak of it at all times 
all that is between earth and heaven is full of dignity marvellous 

If heaven should fall upon earth so that not . . . its mystery, 
holy Colman would lift it back into its station. 

If this whole world were mine with its kingship this day, 
I should barter it for beholding the Kingdom I see. 

68. Then Maelodran was killed in front of the cemetery of Colman 
son of Luachan, so that he is the first dead person buried at Lann. 
Colman, however, grew angry on account of having been outraged, and 
he lifted his face straight towards the heavenly host, and after a 
long time he said sadly and perspiring : If the Son of the Maiden 
were to allow it, yonder island out of which thou hast come to out 
rage me has leave to sink down into the lake till Doom. Its horses, 
however, and its victorious chariots the earth has leave to swallow 
them up wherever they are. And thus it happened forthwith. 

69. On the morrow, however, Conall went in order to slay Colman 
son of Luachan in revenge for his people. Now that was revealed to 
Colman, and he tells it to his people. * Save us from him, said they, 
* for thou art able to do that. So Colman blessed the air ; and 
thereupon a mist came from heaven, and the king went wandering 
astray from Loch Ennell Lo Tech Nadfraich in Bregia. 2 It seemed to 
him that he had come to Lann, and it further seemed to them 3 that 

1 A pet form of the name Colmkn. 2 See the Annals of Ulster, A.D. 634. 
4 i.e. to him and his companions. 


Loch Aindind an Boann i mBregha[ib]. Tfmgattwr immurgu meic Aeda 
Slane an aidehi-sin cugci .i. Blathmac 7 Diarinait 7 Ceraach Sotal a 
thri meic-sein. Bias immurgu dib-sein rogab rigi Temrach .i. 
Blathmac/7 DIarraaitt 7 rogabsat tech air 7 rOmarbsat ar a niuindtiri 

5 isin tich 7 eluid fein im-murbatf/* na Bonne 7 a ndaba/^ tucad he 7 
b61 dabchaeie na bel-si aniias 7 rosraoined Tatt amach larsin, co fiiair 
MselumsD mac Forannfiin raeic Aeda Find meic Mane, id est, manach 
Colmain meic Luachain h6 7 mac bruthar a seanathar 7 marb&lt;m he 
ac Lis Dochuind a cinaidh 1 saraigt[h]i Colmuin imon cimidh .i. 

10 Mselodran, conid ann asbert Conall : Cach ri gebus Temrat^ am 
diaidh-si dom dlgrt7-si fort .i. rop tu elegaD rig Temra) co brath. 2 

70. Tainigc larum Maeluma co Colman 7 tasgc an Bceoil less, feib 
doronad uile an sgt ?. Asbert immurgu Colman fris-sim : Buaid 
n-echta 7 aithesa for for th inaid 7 cen a marbad ind 7 ni muirfidtor 

15 nech ele uait a ndigail Conaill co brfith 7 gurab e fer t inaidh goires 
gairm rig Temrach co briith .i. a menmse fri hErinn 6sin amacli 7 
menmse hErenn friss, acht go rogairt/^r gairm rig de (.i. rigi 7 
airechus hErenn duit, an . l Uod^-gc (?) ort-sa, ol an ri .i. ac tabairt 
urchair do, an tugcais Conall Gutlibind let? Ocus is amlaid dlegar 

20 sin : an ri do buth 3 a mbim Cart[h]i na nGiall tuass 7 an fer do Hib 
Forannan ar &n lie si s 7 echlasgc ana laim gan imiadad amail conicfa 
(fo. 85#2) ar an orchur, acht na digc din lie immach). A meath no 
a trucha an riggoinfes nech uait, mane tartta a each 7 a erred do ind. 
Do c[h]et comlin-sa do esbaid 6 rig Temrach an tan cuinicfiss ciss no 

25 b^s fort-sa 7 maidm fair in cath ule a mbi a nech uait, mad arO gin 
notb^ra Ids. 

1 cbinaidh MS. - brach MS. 3 The scribe lias inserted an i between b and 


Loch Ennell was the Boyne in Bregia. However, that night the sons 
of Aed Slane came to him, even Blathmac and Diarmait and Cernach 
Sotal, his three sons. Two of them, however, had seized the kingship 
of Tara, namely Blathraac and Diarmait. And they stormed the house 
in which he was and wrought a slaughter of his people in the house. 
He himself escapes to the shore of the Boyne. He was put into a vat T 
and the mouth of another vat was put ori the top of it, and thereupon 
they were dragged out so that Maelumae son of Forannan, son of Aed 
Find, son of Maine, a tenant 1 of Colman s son of Luachan and the son 
of his grandfather s brother found him and killed him at Liss Dochuinn 
in revenge for the outrage upon Colman regarding the prisoner 
Maelodran. It is then Conall said : May every king who holds Tara 
after me avenge me upon thee, i.e. mayest thou be one of the two 
spears (?) of the King of Tara till Doom ! 

70. Then Maelumae came to Colman with the report of the story 
us it had all happened. Colman, however, said to him : Triumph 
of deeds of war and of victory upon thy successor without his bein&lt;; 
killed in them, 2 nor shall any of thy descendants ever be slain in 
revenge for Conall, and it shall be a successor of thine who proclaims 
the King of Tara till Doom, so that his mind shall henceforth be 
upon Ireland and Ireland s mind upon him, if only the king be pro 
claimed by him (viz. 3 * The kingship and headship of Ireland to 
thee, king ! ... upon thee, saith the King as he makes a cast 
at him, hast thou brought Conall Guthbinn with thee ? And thus 
it should be done, the king to be at the foot of the Pillar-stone of the 
Hostages above, and the man of the Hui Forannan upon the flag-stone 
below, an open hdrsewhip in his hand so as to save himself as best he 
can from the cast, provided that he do not step forth from the flag 
stone). The king who shall slay a descendant of thine shall decay 
or die an early death, unless his steed and his dress be given to him 
for it. A hundred times as many men as thou hast the king of Tarsi 
shall lose when he shall demand tax or custom from thee, and he shall 
be routed in every battle in which one of thy descendants may be if 
he carries him forcibly with him. 

1 a monk. 2 Or, perhaps, for them. 

3 What now follows is a description of the ceremony of inaugurating the king 
of Ireland. 


71. [A]raile fecht dawo luid Colman mac Luachain do imt[h]echt 
Toiden Moling Luachair 7 ro imt[h]ig hi 7 luid reme as sein co Ferna 
Mor Moidogc. Antan iarum Tosi&cht an proindtech, is ann roboi an 
fert[h]igis marb isin proindtig ar a ciund .i. Crob Criad a ainm-sein. 

5 Rochunicsett dano desgipuil Colmdin meic Luachain assa[i]gc 1 doib 7 
isbertatar: Ataclerech uasal sa proindtigh, ar lat-sora, 7 den tar 
assaigc fair. Indistir tra sin do M6i[d]6gc 7 isb*r M6i[d~]6gc tria ocla 
raoir: Masa clerech anti fil ann, duscid fein do an fert[h]igis 7 
dogena a asaicc. Roslachtt an fis-sin co Colradn mac Lfiacliain 7 ba 

10 nr laiss ammus amlaid fair 7 isbert : * Ma tol le Mac na hlngine 
mo saera[d]-sa don ammus-sa donicfa. Is annsin dano boi an mac 
begc i sprouc ina fiadnaisi an c[h]uirp 7 larfaigis 7 Colman de : Cia 
dochairt fil fort-sae, a maic bice? *A domna fil ocam, ar esium, 
.i. mo athair marb am fiadnaisi. Is cett tra do-som ergi diar 

15 n-6ssaigc-ne 7 is cuma dawo cid Dochartach t ainm-si fein co brath. 

72. Atfett iarum [a]ni-sin do Moi[d]6gc 7 tigc fein cona ule 
mancha$ la[is] co n-ecla fair 7 co foilti moir dochum Colmain meic 
Luachain 7 slechtaitt a cindu do a cinaid a saraigt[h]i .i. a imdergt[h]a. 
7 ciid M6i[d]6gc 7 a manaig malle ind-sein 7 doniatt a n-sentaid 7 a 

20 cata.ch aneim 7 a talmain .i. (fo. 85il) Colmdn 7 Moi[d]6gc. 7 asbert 3 
M6i[d]ogc larnabarach : &lt; Maith aile, a C[h]olmain meic Luachain, 
antf tucc Dia duit seManne tsett lat fein, ni beram-ne t athiw* ort. 
DonltA^r tra amlaid-sin 7 dob^r Colman do hi fus in dan cena cetna, 
conid latt sin Hui Dochartaig ic Laind .i. Hi Cruib Criad latt ic 

25 Moi[d]ogc .i. a slonnud tess .i. tri randa dorigne don lind .i. bunad 
7 tanaisi 7 larlind 7 caw ni dib-sin dia comiadus 7 tri randa dou aran 
leo-sin .i. cruthnecht 7 eornae 7 corcse 7 ce ni dib-sin dia comadus, 
conid aire-sin isbert Colman fri Dochartach an dii rann-sin sis : 

Fer tri fune, f er tri sco, ifernn dubach dorchae do, 
is buidecA Hi na n-uile do c[h]a0A cona [ajonfuine. 

As amlaid roclechtus-sa roind coitchenn am t[h]igh, 
biad inann cech aanduine dena dunn, a fir. Fer. 

1 kssegc MS. with vel a above e. * iarfaidia MS. 3 dobert MS. 


71. Again, on a certain occasion, ColmaiT son of Luachan went to 
perambul ate the Toidiu of Moling of Luachair. And he did perambulate 
it, and thence proceeded to Great Ferns of Maedoc. Now when he came 
to the refectory he found on his arrival the steward dead in the refectory. 
Crob Criad was his name. Then the disciples of Colman son of Luachan 
asked for a foot-washing and said : There is a noble cleric in the 
refectory ; let his feet be washed ! * Now that is told to Maedoc, who 
said in great wrath : If he who is here is a cleric, do ye yourselves resus 
citate the steward for him, and he shall wash his feet. The news of 
that reached Colman son of Luachan, who was ashamed that lie should 
be attacked like this, and he said : If it please the Son of the Virgin 
to save me from this attack, he shall come to us. Now a little boy was in 
grief by the side of the corpse, and Colman asked him : What trouble 
(dochairt) is on thee, little boy? I have good cause for it, said he, 
1 for my father is dead here before me. He has leave to rise to wash 
our feet ; and I care not if thine own name henceforth be Dochartach. 

72. Now Maedoc is told of that, and he comes himself with all 
his monks in fear and great joy towards Colman son of Luachan, 
and they prostrate themselves before him so that their heads touch 
the ground, an account of the outrage done to him, viz. that he 
should have been made to blush. Ajid Maedoc and his monks with 
him weep for it, and they make their union and their covenant in 
heaven and on earth, even Colman and Maedoc. And on the morrow 
Maedoc said: * "Well now, Colman son of Luachan, he whom God 
has given to thee rather than to us shall go with thee ; we shall not 
deprive thee of thy triumph. Thus then it is done ; and Colman 
gives him the same office here, so that these are the Ui Dochartaig 
at Lann, vix. they are the descendants of Crob Criad with Maedoc, 
viz, that is their surname in the south. He made three divisions of the 
drink, viz. a first, a second, and an after-drink, without any of them 
being fit for them, and three divisions of the bread, viz. wheat and 
barley and oats, though none of them was fit for them. It is 
therefore Colman spoke these two quatrains to Dochartach : 

Man of three bakings, man of three brewings, gloomy dark hell to 
him : the King of the universe is grateful to each one with his one 

Tis thus I have practised a common division in my house : the 
same food for every one make thou for us, my man. 


73. [Ajraile fechtt dano rofiarfa^r Murchad raac Airmedaig 1 meic 
Conaill Guthbind dia anmcharaitt .i. do chrumthir 2 Casaw Domnaig 
Moir : Cia rdott beres n gi Temrach 7 hErenn 6 cblaind Colmain 
Moir meic Di armatta indosin, a e[h]lerig ? ar se. Cid on, a mate/ 

5 ar an cruimtAtr ce faa, nach fetw-sa. Nat fetur-sa immurgu, ar 
Murchad .i. an gein bes ullidu escaine Colmain meic Luachain hi 
lenmaw elainni Conaill Guthbind ni biatthi rfgi Temrach. * An fil a 
tuict[h]i dunne cobair desin,^ a c[h]leirig ? ar Murchad. Ata co 
demin, ar CruimtAtr Casan, .i. dia nderna sib sid fri Colmdn mac 

10 Luachain. * Caidhi an sid hi-sin ? ar Murchad. * A liar fein do 
Cholman, ar CruimtAr, Tanicc iarum Murchad co Colmdn 7 
slechtaidh do 7 trosgci[d] lais teora laithe 7 .iii. aidchi 7 bennachaidh A 
Colman he 7 a mac .i. Domnall mac Murchada meic Diarmata meic 
Airmedaigh meic C[h]onaill Guthbind meic Suibne meic Colmain 

15 Moir meic Diarmatta Deirg meic Fergusa Cerbeoil meic Cremtfottt* 
meic Neill Noigiallaig. 7 conid triasin mbennachtain-sin Colmdin 
rogab Domnall rigi Temrach. (fo. 85i2) 7 dobert seiw \mmurgu do 
Cholman fulled criichi 7 feroinn 7 seeire co brath 4 diamuindtir et/rna 
cell[a] hi fus cona muindtir 7 a cella a nUib Forannan cona rnuinfltir 

20 .i. secht [m]bale .x. 7 na tii cella fil indtib a sseire co brath do 

74. ISsiatt so bailedha tugc Domnall ifus do Cholman .i. Ros 
Dullemi 7 Ard Cain 7 Kat[h]in na Brechmaigi 7 Les an Pobw Z 7 
Eaith Drogcan 7 Dun Senchacla 7 Ard Nessan 7 Les Conm 7 Eaithm 

25 na Gabann cona Ard Mucada leis 7 Less Glindi 7 Raith Donnchrtrfa 
7 Ard Mor 7 Lethc[h]luain 7 Ross Omna 7 Less na hTJama ic Cluain 
Gilli Finain 7 Less na Moga cona Tulaig an Oiss 7 Kathm in Pupu[i]ll 
ria andi u 7 Bale Asidta 7 a saeiri sin co brath .i. secht mbale .x. sin, 
amail tugc Conall Guthbind secht inbale .x. do-som. Ferann immurgu 

30 brathar a athar-som .i. Ratli Leacett 7 Cluain Gamna 7 Senraith Leis 
an Daire, Conall Guthbind fein tugc iatt-sein do Cholman. 

75. [A]raile fechtt dawo tanicc Colmdn mac Luachain 7 Maeltule 
1 ardmedhaig MS. 2 crumtir MS. 3 bennachaigh MS. 4 hrach MS. 


73. On a certain occasion Murchad son of Airmedach, son of 
Conall Guthbinn, asked his soulfriend Cassan the priest of Domnach 
Mor : What is it that deprives the offspring of Colon an the Great 
son of Diarmait of the Kingship of" Tara and of Ireland, cleric ? 
saith he. * How is it, son,* said the same priest, that thou dost 
not know it ? * However, I do not know it, said Murchad. So long 
as the curse of Colman son of Luachan clings to the race of Conall 
Guthbinn, they shall not be in the Kingship of Tara. Is there 
a help in store for us out of this, cleric ? said Murchad. There 
is indeed, said Cassan the priest, if thou make peace with Colman 
son of Luachan. What would that peace be ? said Murchad. To 
do Colman s will, said the priest. So Murchad came to Colman and 
prostrates himself before him, and at his behest fasts three days and 
three nights. And Colman blesses him and his son, even Domnall 
son of Murchad, son of Diarmait, son of Airmedach, son of Conall 
Guthbinn, son of Suibne, son of Colman the Great, son of Diarmait 
the Bed, son of Fergus Wry-mouth, son of Crimthann, son of Niall 
of the Nine Hostages. And through that blessing of Colman s 
Domnall obtained the Kingship of Tara. And he gave to Colman 
increase of territory and land and freedom till Doom to his monks, 
both for the churches here with their monks and for his churches in 
Ui Forannain with their monks, i.e. seventeen steadings and the three 
churches that are in them to be ever free for Colman. 

74. These are the steadings which Domnall gave to Colman here, 
viz. Ros Dullenn and Ard Cain and Raithin na Brechmaige and Les 
an Phobuil and Baith Drocan and Dun Senchada and Ard Nessan and 
Les Conin and Raithin na Gabann with Ard Mucada and Les Glinne 
and Raith Donnchada and Ard Mor and Lethchluain and Ros Omna 
and Les na Huama at Cluain Gilla Finain and Les na Moga with 
Tulach an Oiss and Raithin an Phupaill is its name to-day and Baile 
Asidta and these to be free till Doom. Seventeen steadings they 
are, just as Conall Guthbinn gave him seventeen steadings. However, 
the land of his father s brother, viz. Raith Lechet and Cluain Gamna 
and Senraith Lis an Daire, these Conall Guthbinn himself gave to 

75. Again, on a certain occasion Colman son of Luachan and 


7 Ua Suanaig o C[h]luain Iraird. Gabaid adaig forra ic llaith Co- 
semnaig 7 ni roleigcitt indti co mattain. Tfdnigc immurgu ben 
Cosemnaig cucu iarnabarach 7 messair lomma aici, conid de iabert : 
Ni raga tar mesair co brath loim fir na ratha-sa. Asberatt na 
5 cleirig an laeid-sea. Ua Suanaig dixit .i. Fidmuine a ainm batside : 

* Fagcbaim ar Fidmuine find, miscid do re[i]r Big na rinn 
for Coisemnach, comal nglan, cona secht brathnj# . , .* 

Maeltuile dixit an rand-so tiss : 
Ni ro-atrebatt an rath a chomarbai 2 co ti brath, 

10 artrop [*itf] na sruithe sean, a Christ caid, rocomoltar. 

[Colman dixit :] 

Mo mallacht-sa co ti brath for Cosemnach cona rath, 

for a ehla&gt;Mf, clu adcanar, ce[i]n bes neam ocu% talam. 

La Colmdn osin alle fognam an bale-sin, ar is fass 6 c[h]on arb&lt;n7&gt; 
is fein hi mawa tarttatt a re[i]r do Cholman do ^hriich 7 manchine co 

76. (fo. 8601) [A]raile fecht da/w lottar na tri Colmain Midhi do 
indsaigi[d] Romae Letha. Dolottar tra sluag diairme leo ar febus na 
cuidechtae. rangcatar tra co Sllab nElpa atcess doib annsin mur 
20 na Romse. Conid ann isb*rt[atar] an duchann-so sis : 

Colmdn Ela : * Atlaigmitt do Rig na rend isi sutt Rom, an rochell, 

doronsam rogha cennaig mad indiu inarnerwaig. 
Colman Comraire : Is becc saethar donti tigc, f ogeb trocaire treimit, 
is cennsa do Christ cin chrad nem do t[h]abairt ar 
25 beccan. 

Mac Luachain : * Fogebatt cendsa ga tigh lucht larthair an dom 
ain dil, 

dia n-arberat bith cen ceilgc, cen braitt, cen gaitt, 

cen gnathfe[i]rgc. 

30 Colman Ela : Gen fingail, cen dimus dron, cen craes, cen saint, 

cen etrad, 

cen torsi, cen tsnim, cen moitt, acht tairisim sin 


1 brathw. MB. - comarbaib MS 


Maeltuile and Ua Suanaig came from Clonard. Night overtakes 
them at Raith Cosemnaig and they are not let in till morning. Then 
on the morrow Cosemnach s wife came to them with a jug of milk, 
whence is tlie saying The draught of milk of the owner of this 
fortress shall never exceed the measure of a jug. The clerics utter 
the following lay. Ua Suanaig said (Fidmuine was his baptismal 
name) : 

By the will of the King of stars, said blessed Fidmuine, Heave 
hatred upon Coiseinnach a bright union with his seven brothers. 

Maeltuile spoke this quatrain below : 

May his successors never dwell in this fortress till Doom ! . . . 
holy Christ, may it be fulfilled ! 

[Colman said :] 

My curse till Doom upon Coiseinnach with his fortress, upon his 
offspring a report that goes forth in song 1 so long as heaven and 
earth exist. 

Henceforth the service of that steading belongs to Colman, for it 
is empty of its own inheritors unless they do Column s will in serving 
his monastery. 

76. Again, on a certain occasion the three Colman s of Meath set 
out to go to Rome of Latium. Then an innumerable host came with 
them on account of the excellence of the company. Now when thev 
had come to the Alps the wall of Rome appeared to them there. So 
then they spoke the following poem : 

Colman Elo : We give thanks to the King of stars ; yonder is 
Rome, the great church ; we have made a choice bargain, if it is 
to-day . . . 

Colman Comraire : * Small is the toil to him who comes, he obtains 
mercy through it; tis mercy in Christ without torture to grant 
Heaven for a small matter. 

Mac Luachain : The people of the west of the loved world shall 
obtain mercy in His house, if they spend their lives without guile, 
without spoil, without theft, without constant wrath/ 

Colman Elo : Without parricide, without harsh overbearing, with 
out gluttony, without greed, without lust, without sadness, without 
trouble, without desire, but firmly rooted in the Trinity. 

1 Literally, that is sung again. 


Colman Ela : Moitti fochraic cech duine ar an talmain donnbuide, 
is ferrdi a hanoir cen ail trosgctoZ for lecaib Peattair. 

MaeLuachain : * Ni rag-sa o Roim as nach mud co ndernar trichait 


5 ar nem dam f ein, fath cen cneit, is do each aen biass 

im religc. 

Colman Ela : * Uir Pettair is Poil lar sin ocus uir lept[h]a Grigair, 
berthair sin co deimin lind ina herib co hEirind. 

.Mac Luachain : Doruach[t]amar slan ille cen tedm, cen egc acn- 
10 duine, 

moc[h]en fechtsa in t-egc cen on, . is do Christ a 

altugud. At. 

77. Doronsatt iarum fon cummae-sin 7 dor5nsatt co fuaratar cadus 
mor 7 anoir ic Roim na tri Colmain 7 dorattad andsin forru an teist 

15 moir tugc Colum Cille fechtt n-aill for na tri Colmanu isin mordail 
Droma Ceata. 7 robatar .xl. 14a 7 aidchi na tri Colmain sin Ruaim 
lar sin 7 rotinolsatt leo uir lept[h]a Petatr 7 uir leptLh]a cech apstctil 
ele 7 cech ardnasim fii isin Roim dochum hErend. Tancatar Iarum 
dochum hErenn doridhisi co port Duiblin[n]e. larnabdrach irnmurgu 

20 luid Colman Ela 7 Colman Comraire co Lathrach mBriuin. Luid 
immurgu Colman mac Luachain co Glais Naeiden do chobligi 1 for 
lepthaid 2 Mobi Clarenaig. rosiachtt \mmurgu Colman mac Luachain 
hi pronntech Mobi, luid chuigci in (fo. 86a2) fert[h]igis, id est 
Cromm Deroil, 7 ferais fasilti friss* 7 isbert ann so siss. Ni tucsatt 

25 imargo na manaig aichue for Colman mac Luachain 7 tug-soni, ut 
dixit : 

78 : * Hochin gustanig na tech an t-6gc uasal ailithrech, 
Colman Lainne, glan a li, cenn cunga Colww Cille. 

IB anbail a nert ar neim, is cleirech gatdtt cleirig, 
so bid caid, bid comdid 4 caidchi an c[h]eall a mbia senaidche. 

Iss e sea an ires Colman coir do chlainn Colmain Midhi moir, 
cuincsett a n-aenta armt[h]a naoim hfirenn a nDruimm 


1 coblidhi MS. - leppa MS. a frtus MS. * leg. comtig. 


Colman Comraire : The greater is the reward of everyone upon 
the dun yellow earth ; his blameless honour is all the better for fasting 
upon the flag-stones of Peter s tomb. 

Moc Luachain : * I shall not depart from Rome on any condition 
until I perform thirty fasts, that I may obtain Heaven for myself 
cause without a groan and for everyone who shall be in my 

Colman Elo : After that the soil of Peter s and Paul s tombs and 
the soil of Gregory s grave shall be carried by us verily in loads to 

Mac Luachain : We have come hither safely without pestilence, 
without the death of a single man; welcome now death without 
blemish, to Christ our thanks for it are due. 

77. In that wise then they acted so that the three Colin ans found 
great respect and honour at Rome. And there the great testimony 
was pronounced of them which Colum Cille had pronounced on a 
certain occasion of the three Colman s at the great gathering of 
Drum Cet. 1 And thereupon the three Colmans were forty days and 
nights in Rome. And they collected the soil of Peter s tomb and of 
the tomb of every other apostle and of every great saint that is in 
Rome, and took it with them to Ireland. So they came back to 
Ireland to the port of Dublin. On the morrow, however, Colman 
Elo and Colman Comraire went to Lathrach Briuin. . Colman son of 
Luachan, however, went to Glasnevin to sleep upon the tomb of Mobi 
the Board-faced. Now when Colman son of Luachan had come into 
Mobi s refectory, the steward came to him, even Crom Deroil and bade 
him welcome and spoke as follows. (However, the monks did not 
recognize Colman son of Luachan, but he did, ut dixit:} 

78. * Hail to him into whose house he has come, the noble young 
pilgrim, Colman of Lann of pure splendour, the head of Colum 
Cille s yoke. 

His strength is vast in Heaven, a cleric he is with whom are 
clerics ; the church in which he will be a single night will be holy, 
will be frequented ever. 

He is one of the three just Colmans f the race of great Colman 
of Meath ; all the saints of Ireland at Drum Cet besought their union. 

1 See above, 52. 



Faifid a lepaid Mobi, gebaid patir lind fo thri, 

i nGlais Naeiden, nertad nglic, mochin donti gustainigc. 

Mo. c. 
79. Laigid iarum Colman mac Luachain an 1 aidchi-sin for lepaid 

5 Mobi Clarenig 2 . Bennach^m imwrgco Colman mac Luachain an cill 
uile Tarnabarach 7 facgbfles buaidh n-erlabra don fert[h]igis 7 cen 
daim fa dimda uad co brath 3 . Tigc iarum Colman mac Luachain 
assein co Lathrach Briuin dochum na Colman [n-]ele 7 luidsitt as sein 
dochum Finden, ar ba haitti doib-sim e-seiw, co cenn tri mbll&dan 

10 iccori croiss 5n tempw/ fotuaid. Lottar dawo asein co Miliuc 7 luid 
assein Colman mac Luachain co Droind Fseichnigh 7 foillsighUw* do 
timthirecht n-angel inti. Cuncid-sim Droind Iarum cusan rig .i. 
Domnall man Murchada ba ri annsein 7 dobert do hi saeire co brath 
Droind cona ferann 7 bennachais Colman hi 7 fagcbtm Bsetan Breat- 

15 naeh fria laim indti .i. Uidrin e-sein 7 deochain ar gi-adaib 7 sacart 
ar uaisle 7 ar clu 7 iss e an sechtmad descipal lauid leisim co Roim 
Letha he .i. Uidrin mac Arama7 meic Dubain meic Fiachrach meic 
Oilella, 6 filett Cenel Oilella hi Feraib Tulach 7 iss 6 an sechtmad ele 
dochiiaid lesini hi Roim he beus 7 is e fil hi Cill Uidrin hi cind Ruis 

20 Omna tair isin machaire, conid and isbert Colman ann so : 

80. Baettan Breatan, bel co mbr^^Aaib, rop se"n sochair, 
bid im c[h]ill-si cona ruthin Her lochaib. 

Dronn ard Faichnig cona ferann sona saidbir 
(fo. 86il) la mac Luachain rombia inbaid bess Ian d aingclib. 

25 j)f a (Jf a didin ar chreich n-echtrann, ar bass duine, 

rob din ar millti each daire impi uile. 

Biaid uaini iudti deochain dermar cen sug n-aisgci, 
mo riagloir caid, is tenn tugcsi, mo c[h]enn battsi. 


so 81. Anaid tra Colman a nDroinw fri .xl. aidchi 7 bennachatW h{ 7 
tigc a sein co Daire Aidnew ar teith^rf congaire an dsesscwrsluaigh* 7 
doni secht n-aifrinn ann fa bun oaendarach, conid Dair Cdmain a 
ainm osin hille beus. Lottar tra chugci-sium faolchoin an daire 7 
ligsitt a chuarana 7 siatt co n-erblaib abbelaib accu 6 mud na con 

1 an iJi M* * clarene MS. 3 brioh MB. 4 sliiaith MS. 


He will sleep on Mobi s tomb ; he will recite a prayer for us 
three times in Glasnevin a skilful strengthening , hail to him to 
whom he has come ! 

79. That night, then, Colman son of Luachan lies upon the tomb 
of Mobi the Board-faced. On the morrow, however, Colman blessed 
the whole church and left the palm of speeeh to the steward, and that 
no company should ever part from him dissatisfied. Then Colman son 
of Luachan goes thence to Lathrach Briuin to the other Colmans, and 
from there they went to Finnen, for he was their tutor (and stayed 
with him) to the end of three years at the cross to the north of the 
church. Again they went from there to Miliuc. And Colman son of 
Luachan went thence to Drong Faechnig, where a service of angels is 
revealed to him. Then he asks Drong from the king. Domnall son 
of Murchad was king there, and he gave him Drong with its land in 
freedom till Doom. And Colman blessed it and left Baetan the Briton 
as his substitute in it. That was TJidrin, a deacon in rank and a priest 
for dignity and reputation. And he was one of the seven disciples 
who went with him to Rome, viz. Uidrin son of Aramail, son of Duban, 
son of Fiachra, son of Ailill, from whom the race of Ailill in Fartullagh 
are descended. And he was one of the seven who had gone with him 
to Rome, and he lies buried in Cell TTidrin at the head of Ross Omna 
eastward in the plain. So then Colman said as follows : 

80. * Baetan of the Britons, a mouth that utters judgments, may it 
be luck of profit! he shall be in my church with its brilliance 
between lakes. 

High Drong Faechnig with its prosperous, rich land with 
Luachan s son a time will be when it shall be full of angels. 

May God protect it from raid of foreigners, from the death of 
man I may each oakwood around it be a shelter against destruction ! 

* In it there will be from me a noble deacon without a particle 
of blame, my holy censor, a solid understanding my head of 

81. Now Colman stays forty nights in Drong and blesses it and 
comes thence to Daire Aidnen fleeing from the shouts of the rabble, 
and he performs seven masses there under the trunk of a single oak, 
so that its name has been Colman s Oak ever since. Then the wolves 
of the oak-wood went towards him and licked his shoes, wagging their 
tails after the manner of faithful dogs (i.e. of domestic dogs) and lay 



tairisi .1. na con tighi 7 no-laightis ana fiadnaisi. 7 isbert friu: Bid 
sund dogres 7 in lla dobertAar mo ainm-si a n-etarguidhi cugcaib, is 
cett d[u]ib can dergad for nech in laithi-sin. 

82. Luid-sim iarum .i. Colman mac Luachain co Tech Colmain .i. co 
5 Conchraid 7 arrub^rt bith ann fri .xl. aidchi an c[h]argais fo glere 
lesaigt[h]i bid 7 cormae, conid frisin re-sin dlegaitt comarba Colmain 
bith ac Tig Colmain .i. bredHan aniss 7 anuass d6 7 coirim inti in erett- 
sin. Luaidh Colman as sin co Laind meic Luachain 7 here morsesir lais 
do uir Romae 7 na n-apstal arc[h]ena. Doni tra Lassar a mathair-sim an 

10 aidchi sin araile gaitt iriBech do imdugud mon tech in C[h]oimded .i. 
Ian a bulchre do ur Romae do brYA dochum a bratharfinwe .i. Ua nGuill 
7 hu Dimma .i. ,co Tech Lomman. Rofoillsiged 1 sin fochettoir do 
Cholman 7 isbert : Ni ge ^tar nem fort ind-sin, a c[h]aille^, ar is ar 
maith dusgni, acht ni ba tarba an uir-sin d6ib, acht sunn nama. 

15 Tabair nem doib sunn, ar isi. { Ac, ar Colman, * ar ni maith lim-sa 
a manaig do beim ar Lomman, acht mar bitt ba3 m6else odhra3 i 
mbuaile .i. hi tiachtain hille cettus 7 nem doib-sin sunn. Kochi 
iarum Lasar (fo. 86i2) caoi ser\) co nderaib fala3 7 roscaeiled iar sin 
uir Roma 7 uir na da apstal dec in cech aird i religc Lainniu, coiiid 
20 adnacal a n-uir R.oma 2 da each aan adnaictA^r inti osin hille. 

83. [A]raile sgcel dawo forathmentar sunn .i. caemc[h]lod bachall 
doronsatt ic Roim Colman Eala 7 Colman mac Luachain 7 doratt 
Colman Eala dethfir eturra .i. etiud do cochall gimangurm im a 
bachaill fein .i. co mbeith a rath fein a coimettecht a bachla, co fil 
25 brat osin hille irnpi. Is doilig in t-er[r]ed sin do iarraid dogres di, 
ar Colman mac Luachain. * Cid doilig, ar Colman Ela, dober-sa 
16g aire .i. nem donti dogena secht mbroit di amz7 caithfes iatt, 7 
inde 3 dicitur bachlach cochlach di-si. 

84. [A]raile fe&lt;?Att dano robatar a manaigh ac buain cruth[nechta] 

so ic Croiss na Trwma ro airig-sim bron forro .i. an laa rogniatt aenach 

Taillten. Dorone-sim immurgu ernaigthi co tangcatar angil cwgci-sim 

fo c[h]ettoir do neim .i. iccon cloich impoid itir croiss 5 Adrad Motwru 

J iofoilH MS. 2 romiuaMS. z unde MS. 


down before him. And he said to them: Be ye here ever, and on the 
day when my name is brought to you for intercession, that day you 
are permitted not to kill anyone. 

82. Then Colman son of Luachan went to Tech Colmain to 
Conchraid and there spent the forty nights of Lent with carefully 
chosen food and ale (whence the successors of Colman should be at 
Tech Colmain at that period) ; having there a roll of bread buttered 
below as well as on the top, and ale all that time. Thence Colman 
went to Lann Mic Luachain with the load of seven men of the soil 
of Rome and of the tombs of the apostles. Now that night Lassar, 
his mother, commits a pious theft to magnify . . . around the house 
of the Lord, viz. she takes the full of her bag of the soil of Rome to 
the kindred of her brothers, even to the Ui Guill and TJi Dimma to 
Tech Lommain. That was at once revealed to Colman, and he said : 
Thou shalt not be deprived of Heaven for this, woman, for thou dost 
it with good intention ; but that soil will be no use to them, but here 
only. &lt; Grant Heaven to them here ! said she. No, said Colman ; 
* for I do not like to deprive Lomman of his monks, except as hornless 
dun cattle in a fold are wont to be, viz. let them come hither first 
and Heaven to them here. Then Lassar weeps bitterly with tears of 
blood, and the soil of Rome and of the twelve apostles was thereupon 
scattered in every direction in the cemetery of Lann, so that it is a 
burial in the soil of Rome for each one who has been buried there from 
that onward. 

83. Again, a certain story is recorded here. Colman Elo and 
Colman son of Luachan made an exchange of staffs at Rome, and 
Colman Elo made a distinction between them, viz., a covering of a 
hood with dark-blue lashes around his own staff, so that his own. 
grace might accompany his staff. Hence a cloak has been around it 
ver since. It is troublesome to seek that dress for it always, said 
Colman son of Luachan. Though it be troublesome, said Colman 
Elo, I shall give a reward for it even Heaven to him who shall 
make seven cloaks for it as they shall be needed. Whence it is called 

the hooded staff. 

84. Again, on a certain occasion when his monks were reaping 
wheat at Cross na Truma, he noticed that they were sad, for it was 
the day on which the fair of Teltown is being held. Then he prayed 
so that forthwith angels came to him from Heaven. At the turning- 


suass .i. is ann rob6i Colman. 7 rognisitt .in. grafne oenaich d6, conid 
de sin ata aenach Laindi osin alle. 7 forfagcaib Colman mac Luachain 
cid be brisfor ann da ria na bethaid fo Loch Annind co ticfa slan ass 

5 85. [Ajraile iechtt dano luid Ciaran Cluana co Colman mac Lua 
chain do chuncid aenta 7 cennachta fair. 7 rofaillsiged sin do-sum 7 
nirbo cett lais. Doratt Colman i\\\murgu saithe demna hi richt foiche 
doib ic Crois na Trwmma co foreimetar imt[h]echt secAa sin acht a 
n-aigt[h]i fri lar. Is clerech ar latt, anti gus tegcum. Iss 6 dob^ r 

10 dunn so. Tiagwr uann cugci 7 cuinter cabair dunn fair. Doronad ainlaid 
7 dochuir na focha fo talmain. Is de sin ata Cross na Tminma fuirri. 
Rom6rad dawo (fo. &7a 1 } ainmD6 7 Colmain triasin fzrt-sin. Targcaid 
tra Ciaran sentaid do Cholman 7 obbaid 1 Colman hi 7 is bert : * Nocha 
bia 2 cenn talmanda acam-sa acht Mochutta nama (.i. a oittiu esiein) n6 

15 acara muindtir am diaidh. 

86. [A]raile fechtt dawo tucc Cinaeth mac Oengusa rf Hua Foilgi 
sere do mnaei rig Temrach 7 tanigc ? na comddil co Guirtin Tire 
Bandala hi Fid Dorcha 7 hi 3 druth namd immalle friss. Luidh si 7 a 
liinailt namaa I6e. Doratt larum na fir coraitt ett^r na da ech. 

20 Doratt Cinseth a ech for grcts Colmain meic Luachain 7 doratt a druth 
for greis Oengusa meic an Ogc. Tangatar larum na merlig 7 rucsat 
each an druad 7 andar l^oa ba taman ferna each Cina3th[a]. Eomorad 
dawo ainm D6 7 Colmain trit an fYrt-sin. Ro hindisid tra do rig 
Midhi a ben do dul hi comdail rig Ua Foilgci co Goirtm Tire Bandala 

25 hi Fid Dorcha. Tanigc immuryu ri Midhi ina diaid lar sin dia marbad 
corigci an goirtin-ein j rogab each lam a ee"le dia muindtir a timchell 
an goirtin 7 atconnairc Cinaeth mac Conchubair sein 7 ba gabad mor 
laiss 7 isbert Cinaeth : Ar comairci Colmain meic Luachain dunn riasin 
ngabad-ea 7 dia n-ainci sinn air bemaeitt fo ehis do co brath. Konaisced 4 

30 sin for Cinae[th] 7 roerig Cinaetli foc[h]ettoir 7 ros6ad h^ 7 a druth 
hirricht da dam allaid. RosSed immurgu an rigin 7 a hinilt a richt 

obdeid MS. 2 biad MS. 3 = a. 4 ronaiscid MS. 


stone between (sic) the cross from Adrad "Motura above, that is 
where Colman was. And the angels ran three races for him, so that 
thenceforward it has been called the Fair of Lann. And Colman son 
of Luachan left that whoever has a limb broken there, if he go alive 
under Loch Anninn he will at once come out safe and sound. 

85. Again, on a certain occasion Ciaran of Clonmacnois went to 
Colman son of Luachan to ask union and headship 1 of him. And that 
was revealed to him and he did not wish it. However, Colman sent 
a swarm of demons in the shape of wasps at Cross na Truma, so that 
they could not pass it except with their faces on the ground. l It is 
a cleric to whom we go. Tis he who does this to us. Let one of us 
to him and ask him to help us. Thus it was done and he sends 
the wasps under ground. Hence Cross na Truma is so called. Again 
God s name and Colman s were magnified through that miracle. 
Then Ciaran offers union to Colman, who refuses it and said : I 
shall acknowledge no earthly head save Mochuta only (viz. he was his 
foster-father), nor shall my people after me. 

86. Again at a certain time Cinaed son of Oengus, King of Offaly, 
fell in love with the wife of the King of Tara and came to meet her 
to Goirtin of Ti r Bandala in Fid Dorcha, and no one but his jester 
with him. She came accompanied only by her handmaid. Then 
the men coupled the two horses. Cinaed put his horse under the 
protection of Colman son of Luachan, while the jester put his under 
the protection of Qengus mac in Oc. Then came thieves and 
took the horse of the jester, 2 while Cinaed s horse seemed to them 
the trunk of an alder. The name of God and of Colman were again 
magnified by that miracle. Now the King of Meath was told that 
his wife had gone to a tryst with the King 1 e Offaly to Goirtin of 
Ti r Bandala in Fid Dorcha. Thereupon then the King of Meath 
came after her to that field in order to kill her. Arid his people 
seized each other bv the hand round about the field. And Cinaed 
son of Oengus saw that and thought it a great danger and said : * We 
put ourselves in the safeguard of Colman son of Luachan against this 
danger, and if he save us we shall be under tribute to him till Doom. 

1 i.e. that Colman should acknowledge him as his head. 

2 In the original there is here the common confusion between the words tlr*t&gt; 
jester and drui druid. 


da n-ag allaid 7 tangcatar iar sin slan amach 6na s!6gaib 7 mr- 
eumaingsit coin na renna ni doib 7 rom6rad ainm De 7 Colmain trit 
an fzH-sin. 

87. Tainigc immurgu Cinaeth Tar sin co Laind 7 a each lais do 
6 Cholman mac Luachain 7 dognlatt caratrad annsein 7 fagbaeW Colman 
buaidh each acu 7 buaid lasch 7 buaidh cleirech 7 cruth a mban 
im c[b]seime for feraib Oa Foilgci co (fo. 8702) brath 7 cruth a rig 
uastu 7 grain rig coigcid for fer a inaitt dogres 7 na bad begc la 
hingin rig liErenn feis lais 7 cosgcwr remi dogres mad for eoch 

10 gerr bes allo chathae. Rociwd immurgn cuairt do-soin uaid fein .i. 
6 Chinae[th] 7 5 c[h]ach ina diaid co brath .i. screbull cecha cathrig 
na f h]fr 7 cura each fir bale 7 a heach 7 a errad an rig fein in 
cac. .. bliadain co brath 7 rofagaib Colman troscud umpi seo mani 
tartha chena hi .i. a meath no a thrucha an rig nach tibrae hi, ut 

15 dicitur : 

88. Searc tugc ben rig Taillten trell do rig fta Failgci fortenn, 
d fir iuaitt rocaein Rossa do Chinseth mac Aengossa. 

Tigc an Cinaoth-sin andess risin cettsercus comdes, 

se s a druth, ba dind dirmma, d agcallaim na hairdiigna. 

20 La is adaig 1 doib sund mar aen an ri s a rigan roc[h]a3m, 
ic basis doib ann, ic buaphud fo inc[h]lid i n-inuathud. 2 

Ergidh ri Midhi na modh a ndiaidh a mna co solom, 
cor fadsattar, comoll ndil, mon rig ocus mon rigain. 

Nassgcaitt a comairci cair ar Colman Lainne linmair 
25 ac facsin cetherdne an rig mon gort i ndernnsat mignim. 

Dorigne Colman calma ferta imda adamra, 

docuir an ri[gj s a drai [njdil a richtt da dam ogc allaid. 

1 aguid MS. 2 i nua thad MS. 


That was bound upon Cinaed, who forthwith arose, and he and his 
jester were turned into the shape of two stags. The queen, however, 
and her handmaid were turned into the shape of two fawns. And 
thereupon they escaped safely from the hosts, and neither hounds 
nor spears could do aught to them. And God s name and Colman s 
were magnified by that miracle. 

87. Cinaed afterwards came to Lann bringing his horse with him 
for Colman son of Luachan. And there they made a covenant, and 
Colman leaves to the men of Offaly till Doom triumph of horses and 
of warriors and of clerics, and beauty of their women together with 
handsomeness of their men, and beauty of their kings exceeding 
theirs, and that every successor of his should be dreaded like the 
king of a province, and the daughter of the King of Ireland should 
not deem it a small thing to sleep with him, and that defeat should 
always precede him if he rode upon a gelding on the day of battle. 
However, a tribute was fixed for him 1 from Cinaed and each one 
after him till Doom, viz., a scruple for every adult in his land and a 
sheep from every owner of a steading, and the horse and dress of the 
king himself every third year till Doom. And Colman ordained that 
this tribute should be fasted for unless it were given without that, viz., 
that the king who did not give it should decay or die early, ut dicitur : 

88. The wife of Teltown s king upon a time bestowed her love 
upon the stalwart King of Offaly, the stately successor of Ross, 
Cinaed son of Oengus. 

That Cinaed comes from the south to his fair love, he and his 
jester twas a noble cavalcade to hold converse with the high-queen. 

A day and a night they spent together, the king and the beautiful 
queen : there stealthily and all alone they gave themselves up to lust 
and . . . 

The King of Meath of ... sets out swiftly after his wife until 
they surrounded the king and the queen. 

When they behold the troops of the king around the field in 
which they had misbehaved, they bind their safeguard upon Colman 
of populous Lann. 

Colman the bold performed a great marvellous miracle : he put 
the king and his beloved jester in the shape of two young stags. 

1 i.e. for Colman. 


Dorigne ferta aile, nirb aille da mirbaile, 

an rigan s a cumal cain a richt da n-agaid allaid. 

An da each tuscat leo andes an ri s a rigdruth rigdes 
rolasett f&sech ri sliab ar anord, ara ri-aniiad. 

5 Kolasett each an dru[i]th duind for greie in a3sa imthruimm, 
rolasett each an rig rain for fir comairci ColmaiD. 

Rugcsat eachtraind each an dru[i]th don c[h]omairci uilc 

rofagcsat each rig Berba i richt tamain tromferna. 

1 Terno do c[h]omairci an naeim each rig Lifi lethanchae[i]m, 
hathle an eich rugscatnamaitt, d oendreim doib is d aenc[h]araid. 

(fo. 87^1) Anci[d] Colman latt uile ettr ech ocus duine 
on trab doboi ga celgad can agh no can iradergcad. 

An t-ech roainciss feine ar naimdib tenda in tsleibe, 1 
15 tair dom druimm, a Cholmain cain, ar in ech is fiu cnmail. 

Dofagcaib Colman cubaid da rab ar eoch ngiurr glunmir 
na gebt[h]a tresa dangni ri rig fial tla finnFailgci. 

Dofagcaib doib co hatta[i]n cruth a mban for a maccaib, 
grain rig coicid ar cur air ar rig Ua Falgi fortreain. 

20 Rogell Cinaeth each ni ndes, rogell cain, rogell cairdes, 
rogellad do-som lar fir n&ch biad can erred airdrig. 

Bobennach-som ule an tir it^r mna is maccu mo liw 

i ce[i]n noleitis cb mbaidh do re[i]r Colmain meic Luachain. 

Fuaratar gabad igair 2 minbad Colman dia n-anacal 
26 i comrad im dail serci 3 i comdail a cettserci. Sere. 

89. [AJraile sgcel torathmentar sun&lt;L Ri Temrach .i. Domnall 
mac Donnchada meic Murchada tugc ingin 4 rig Ua Pailgci 7 rogell 

1 tsleibi MS. 2 leg- i ngarf 3 scerci MS. 4 ingen MS. 


He performed another miracle, none of his miracles -was finer 
he changed the queen and her fair bondmaid into the shape of two 

The two horses which they had brought with them from the 
south, the king and his right clever royal jester, they let them both 
loose up the mountain in disorder, in their wild career. 

They put the horse of the dusky jester under the protection of the 
j 1 they put the horse of the noble king in the 

true safeguard 2 of Colman. 

Through the evil, insecure safeguard, foreigners seized the. 
jester s horse ; they left the horse of Barrow s king, thinking it was 
the trunk of a heavy alder-tree. 

Through the safeguard of the saint the horse of the king of the 
broad and fair Liffey escaped ; the enemies took the track of the 
(other) horse : they were of one company and of one yoke. 

Colman saves them all, both horse and man, from the . . . which 
was ensnaring them, without strife or without disgrace. 

"The horse which thou thyself hast saved from stout foes of 
the mountain, come, gentle Colman, behind my back, upon the 
horse which is worth the price of a bondmaid." 

Righteous Colman left it that if he were upon a muzzled gelding, 
no hard combats should be won against the generous king of fair 

He left it to them . . . that the beauty of their women should be 
upon their sons, that the terror of a king of the province after a 
slaughter should be upon the King of mighty Offaly. 

Cinaed promised everything that was proper : he promised 
tribute ; he promised friendship ; to him it was truly promised that 
he should not be without the dress of a high -king. 

He blessed the whole land, both women and sons in their numbers, 
so long as they should be obedient to Colman son of Luachan. 

They would have found danger shortly, if Colman had not come 
to their rescue, as they were talking together of love at the meeting 
of their first love. 

89. A certain story is recorded here. The King of Tara, even Domnall 
son of Donnchad. son of Murchad, married the daughter of the King of 

1 i.e. the pagan gods. 2 Literally, " in the truth of the safeguard." 


tochra mor dl .i. .mi. fichit bo .i. da fichit 1 dib fochettoir 7 da fiol.it 
ar cairdi co belltaine ar cind, Rochuinigh wrum an ben a tochra 
i n-age a gellta 7 ni frith dl acht ferann ar son a bo. Rogab si an 
ferann diamad a comfogcus dia hanmcharaitt nobeith .i. do Cholman 
5 mac Luachain, conid ann sin tugad_dl Grille na hlngine 6 r[h]ind 
Atha an Daire co hulaid espuic Aeda hi Feraib Tulach. Dobeir 
tra an ben he ule do Chblman co brath. Dobeir immurgu Colman 
manach dia muindtir ind .i. Uidrin mac Aramail, conid de ata 
Cell Udn n hi Caeille na hlngine 7 Less na Con tiiass ann 7 Cell Uidrin 
10 ti ss. 

90. [AJraile fechtt and rugc led Ruoin ri Laigen sesrig 
Mocholmogc .i. 6 C[h]luain Iraird ar egcin 7 trosgcis Mocholmogc 
impu fair 7 fodlaidh lar sin baill an maic mallachta fo n^maib hErenn 
acht a c[h]umal fir nama. Asbert 2 immurgu an ri : Ci a da tngc 

5 Moc[h]olfw6 C mo (fo. S7b2) c[h]omol-sa ? ar se, ac fonamat imrae. 
rochuala tra Mocholwoc sin isbert sein: Tiagam-ne co Colman mac 
Luachain co Laind co rodingbadmn an ball utt. 7 Doronad tra amlaid 
sin 7 dogmatt oentaid ic Laind Mocholwoc 7 Colman mac Luachain 
7 clod da clogc .i. Pindfaidech cvchtar de diaraile. Asbert immurgu 
20 Colman : &lt; An ball fil am c[h]omair-si, iss e t*isech rosia taisselba^ 
chugut-sa, ar iss e dedenach roarmed. 

91. Tainigc larum Aed Roin for creich im Midhi co Carnn Fiach- 
ach. Tanigc immurgu ri Midhi .i. Conall Guthbind mattan moch 
iarnabarach co Colman 7 atfett do an sgcel-sin 7 ba begc sliiaig do 

25 Choiiall 7_ba sochaidi do Aed Roin. Asbert immurgu Colman fri 
Conall: Erg-siu cuca 7 beir mo bachaill-sea lat do mergci remat 7 
dober-sa taidbsi hi catlr fort 7 doragha duit ceo dar a rosgcaib n6 
a llama do gabd^, ar Colman. &lt; Is ferr lind, ar Conall, a llama do 
gabdz/. Iss ann sin do cengail each fer do muindtir Conaill loman 
dfa brut do gimanaib bruit na bachla co rabi cochall fa cenn dib 7 
inde 3 dicitur bachall cochlach^ ria-si .i. do naidm a comairci fuirri 
7 for Colman mac Luachain. Ocus iss e an lin amus doib-sim an lin 
lomaw fil for brot na bachla cochlaige. 4 Doronad tra amlaid sin 7 

2 is (end of line ) asbert MS 
unde MS. 4 cochlai(H MS. 


Offaly and promised her a great bride-price, viz., four score cows, 
two score at once, and two score not later than the next May-day. 
So at the time for which it had been promised, the woman demanded 
her bride-price ; and nothing was found for her but land instead of 
her cows. She agreed to take the land if it were near her soul-friend, 
even Colman son of Luachan. So then Caille na hlngine was given 
to her from the head of Ath in Daire to the tomb of bishop Aed in 
Fartullagh. Then the woman gives it all to Colman for ever. Colman, 
however, puts a monk of his community into it, even CTidrin, son of 
Aramail. Hence are Cell Uidrin in Caille na hlngine and Less na 
Con above there and Cell Uidrin below. 

90. At a certain time Aed Roin, King of Leinster, forcibly seized 
a plough-team of Mocholmoc s from Clonard ; and Mocholmoc fasted 
against him for it, and then distributed the limbs of that son of a curse 
among the saints of Ireland, all accept only his membrum virile. 
However, the king said, mocking him : To whom has Mocholmoc 
given my membrum virile? said he. Now, when Mocholmoc heard 
that, he said : Let us go to Lann to Colman son of Luachan, that he 
may keep that limb from us. Thus it was done ; and at Lann Mocholmoc 
and Colman son of Luachan make a union and an exchange of their 
two bells, which were both called Findfaidech. However, Colman 
said : The limb which is in my charge will come first to be exhibited 
to thee, for it was the last to be numbered. 

91. Then upon a raid into Meath Aed Roin came as far as Cam 
Fiachach. Early on the morrow, however, Conall Guthbinn, the 
King of Meath, came to Colman and told him that news. And Conall 
had but a small host and Aed Roin had a multitude. Then Colman 
said to Conall : Do thou march against them and carry my staff 
with thee in front as a battle-standard, and I shall make it appear 
as if thou hast three battalions ; and either a mist shall come over 
their eyes or their hands shall be held for thee, said Colman. 
* I prefer, said Conall, that their hands be held. Then every man 
of ConalPs people tied a string of his cloak to the lashes of the cloak 
of the staff, so that it was a hood over head (whence it is called * hooded 
staff ), in order to pledge their safeguard upon it and upon Colman 
son of Luachan. And the number of their mercenaries was the number 
of the lashes which are upon the cloak of the hooded staff. Thus, 
then, it was done ; and at Faithche Mecnan Aed Dub was slain and 


romarbad Aed Dub 7 ar a muindtiri ic Faithehi 1 mete Mecnan 7 
rugcsat meic tire a ball ferda co dorus an tempuill co Colman 7 isbert 
Colman ria : * B0r co Finnen no co Mocholmogc 7 co nsemaib hErenn 
h dia taisbenad. Romorad dawo ainra D6 7 Colmain trit an firt sin. 

5 92. Tugc immurgu Moc[h]obwoc larsin do Cholman mac Luachain 
rig!6ss a Cluain Iraird. Tainigc tra larsin Conall co Colman mac 
Luachain dia reir 7 robaist ra6rcuairt na Bretcha d6 6 sin alle, ar is 
latt roboi ana farrad ann a fi an a saert[h]a ar each cath na (fo. 8801) 
Bretcha co brath .i. screball each cathrigh 7 cura cech firbale 7 ech 
10 each tosich an each sechtmad bliadain co brath. 

93. [A]raile fecht dano robatar noairi for muir 7 murthaidhi an 
mara aca togairm 7 siat-som ar saebchoire. roaitcheatar ainin 
Colmain meic Luachain ternatar slan i tir 7 is amlaid sin each sen 
guidhfes Colman fri tendta dogeba cobair imsldn 6 Dia. 

15 94. [A]raile fechtt dawo luid fer a cath 7 tograim fair 7 feimdid- 
sim imt[h]echt fri sciss. dorat-som \mmurgu sele Colmain meic 
Luachain ima c[h]osaib 2 feimditt eich 7 daeine ni d6, conid ann isbert 
Colman : 

Sele Colmain meic Luachain mo c[h]nama cen meth, 
20 romsnaidi a comarci corigci ar each leth. 

Doriachtt cnigci naemCholman ina chruth glan gle, 
na traight[h]igh notograimtis n6diuscartiss de. 

Colman mac Luachain im leth re ndul ar creich cridhi cruaidh, 
da tegmad dam dul ar leth co na b^ra nech mo buaidh. 

25 Rom6rad dawo ainm D 7 Colmain trit sin 7 gach duine gebw so 7 
fo ngebUar nocha cuiriither h6 7 ticfa slan dia t[h]igh 7 dligW Colman 
screpall de. 

95. [AJraile fechtt dano luid fer for slu&iged i ndiaid cadch 7 nf 
rucc form. Doralatar immurgu a namaitt do 7 each aen dib te"ged dia 

1 faithti MS. 

2 7 M inserted by a later hand before/eiwrfiM. 


his people slaughtered. And wolves carried his membrum virile to 
the porch of the church of Colman, who said to them : * Carry 
it to be exhibited to Finnen or to Mocholmoc and to the saints of 
Ireland. Again, God s name and Colman s were magnified by that 

92. Now, Mocholmoc gave a cell in Clonard to Colman son of 
Luachan. Thereupon, Conall came in obedience to Colman son of 
Luachan, and offered him the great tribute of the people of Bretach 
henceforward (for it is they who were in his company as his pro 
tecting fian in every battle of the Bretach till doom), viz., a scruple 
from each adult and a sheep from each steading, and a horse from 
each captain in every seventh year till doom. 

93. Again, once upon a time boatmen were upon the sea, and 
mariners of the sea were calling to them, and they in a whirlpool. 1 
When they had called upon Colman son of Luachan, they escaped 
safe to land. And in the same way will everyone who shall pray 
to Colman in difficulties get complete help from God. 

94. Again, once upon a time a man went out of battle, and was 
pursued and could not walk from weariness. But when he had put 
spittle of Colman son of Luachan about his legs, neither horses nor 
men could do aught to him. Whence it is said : 2 

The spittle of Colman son of Luachan about my bones without 
decay ; may its protection save me on all sides ! 

1 To him came holy Colman in his pure bright shape ; the foot- 
soldiers who were in pursuit were driven off thereby. 

1 May Colman son of Luachan be by my side before my going on a 
harsh-hearted raid ! if it should happen to me to go aside, 3 may no one 
carry off my glory ! 

Again God s name and Colman s were magnified thereby ; and 
everyone who shall sing this as well as he on behalf of whom it is 
sung shall not be overthrown and shall come safe to his house ; and 
he owes Colman a scruple for it. 

95. Again, on a certain occasion a man went a-hosting after the 
rest and could not overtake them. However, his enemies came upon 
him ; and each one who came to seize him or to slay him, when he had 

1 Or, maelstrom. 2 The Irish has * whence Colman said. 

3 i.e. to be separated from the army. 


gm m n6 dia marbad 6 roataig-sim Colman mac Luachain riu andar 
I6o ba banscal h6 7 naeidhi for a muin. Romorad ainrn D6 7 Colmain 
triasin frt-sin. 

96. Tainigc tra faindi do Cholman mac Luachain 7 orba cindti 
5 forba a bethad do tangcatar cugci a male eclaise 7 a manaig 7 rochisit 

caoi eerb ina fiadnaisi 7 rochuincsett fair cetugud doib fuaslucud an 
talman for a taisib n sera a 7 a mbith i serin cumdachta eturru amail 
each ardnaem 7 each n-ardapstal (fo. 8802) arc[h]ena fo Erinn. 
Kodeonaig tra Colman sin coma[d] comdldnad 1 torsi doib-sium 7 
10 comad chadus ar each nguasacht acside 7 nemaicsidi h. 

97. An tan \mmurgu rocomlain[i]g sim .in. bliarfwa i talmainy is ann- 
sin dorala Fursa crsibdech for cuairt sechnon Erenn o c[h]ill co cill. 
doriacht immurgu co hAth an Daire, is annsin roben aistr* Lainne 
a clogc. Dimmbuaid n-aist^rechta for fer t inaid ! ar Fursa. * Ni 

ib lamam-ne ni is mesa do rad frit. Rosuid Fursa larum ic Croiss Fursa 
ic descin uada an muilind cirr sair. IB ann isbert in rann : 

i Da chomurtha suaichinti ac Lainn sech each ruaim rachaill : 
muilenn cerr fri combletharf ocus brat im a bachaill. 

Tainigc cucu fochetoir gegaire coitchenn bo Laindi 7 feraid foilti friu 
20 7 dobir fiss don chill gusan airc[h]indech .i. co Guana muc Cumaine. 

98. lar fairind tra dawo comad h6 t6sech n6adhrad. Fursa .i. maer 
na bachla cochlaige 2 7 ni faeilti dorone friss nach fria muindtir, conid 
de sin rofagaib Fursa do-som ifernn 7 do fir a inaitt 7 dimbuaid 
n-erlabra 7 athaisgc 7 sodethbriugud co brath, ar is sodethbiiugud 

25 doroine fri Fursa 7 ni fiss tugc don chill amail tugc an t-ugaire, 
Tiagaitt immurgu muinnter Laindi eter sacart 3 7 airc[h]indech ar cend 
Fursa 7 dob^ran sacart secht n-[an]ala De for a muin 4 7. facbaid 
Fursa d6 nem 7 ana 7 saegflZ 7 secht mbriathra atberad do chomall. 
Dobeir larum an t-airchindech secht n-anala De for a muin corigci an lie 

30 i ndorus a tighi aparf. Tainige larum an banairc[h]indech 7 messar 
lenna 7 messar lomma le corigci an lie. Facbaid Fursa sonuss lomma 
7 lenna co brath sund 7 ni b*rt[h]ar doblad tariss so cid mor dog^na. 

1 coindignad MS. - cochlaidhi MS. 3 sacaird MS. 

4 rhuin, the dot and the n-stroke added later. 


called upon Colman son of Luachan against them, thought that lie was 
a woman with a babe upon her back. God s name and Column s were 
magnified through that miracle. 

96. Now weakness came to Colman son of Luachan, and when the 
end of his life was appointed for him, his clerics and his monks came 
to him and wept bitterly in his presence, and begged him to allow them 
to open the earth on his holy relics, that they might be kept among 
them in an adorned shrine like (the relics of) every other great saint 
and chief apostle throughout Ireland. Then Colman granted that, 
so that it might be a comfort of grief to them, and that his relics 
might be a halidom against every visible and invisible danger. 

97. However, when he had rested 1 three years in the earth, then 
Furs,a the Devout happened to go upon a round throughout Ireland 
from church to church. Now when he came to Ath in Daire, the 
bellringer of Lann was striking its bell. * Disgrace of bell-ringing 
upon thy successor ! said Fursa. * We dare not say anything worse 
to thee. Then Fursa sat down at Cross Fursa, looking at the wry 
mill (Mullingar) eastward. Tis then he spoke the quatrain : 

* Two conspicuous tokens has Lann beyond every shrouded 
cemetery : a wry mill for grinding, and a cloak around its staff. 

Forthwith there came to them the common cowherd of Lann, 
and bids them welcome, and carries the news (of their arrival) to 
the erenagh Cuanu son of Cummaine. 

98. Now according to some the first to address Fursa was the 
steward of the cowled staff ; and he did not bid him or his people 
welcome, so that therefore Fursa left hell to him and to his successor, 
and disgrace of speech and response and hustling, till Doom, for he had 
hustled Fursa ; nor had he taken the news to the church as the cowherd 
had done. However, the community of Lann, both priest and erenagh, 
go out to meet Fursa ; and the erenagh brings seven breaths of God 2 
upon his back, and Fursa leaves him heaven, and wealth, and long life, 
and that seven words which he might say be fulfilled. Then the erenagh 
brings the seven breaths of God upon his back as far as the flagstone 
in front of the abbot s house. Then his wife came with a measure of 
ale and a measure of milk as far as the flagstone. Fursa leaves luck 
of milk and of ale till Doom here, and no ill repute is carried bevond it, 

1 Literally fulfilled. - Obscure tome. 3 viz. the flagstone. 



Facbaid Fursa don airchindech neam 7 ana 7 ssegal 7 na bertAar a erbnri 
bid acht co ro (fo. 88 Jl) gabad pa^r fri Lie Fursa fri Fursa 7 comad 
br^A each ires briathar atberad 7 c&ch nf forbt[h]i nochuincfed fo 
secht .i. secbt troisgcid ic ulaid Fursa ar an Coimdid 1 a n-anmum 
5 Fursa co tibred Bia d6. RofrithailwJ tra co maitb an aidhchi-sin 
Fursa, conid ann asbert Fursa : 

99. Is cett lem 2 don aegaire cia nobeth sund co sona, 

cia fogaba morc[h]ennsa lassin Duilem lar ndola. 

Is de taett ar tarcud-ne co Laind na Colmdn credal, 
ait hi fagbaim ermitin is m6 mas imar dlegar. 

Tainigc maith an tsamaid-sa dom toisgc cucu buddechtsa, 
bi aid do re[i]r mo chrabuid-sea, for a cet-sain mo c[h]et- 

sa. Is c. 

Bendachaio tra Fursa an cill larnabarach. Tegcaitt immurgu na 
ismanaig co Fursa 7 aitchitt an Comdid 3 ris comad h6 noberad a 
talmain taissi Colmain meic Luachain. 7 domttar amlaid uile. Indis 
fechtsa duinn, a Fursa ! ar na manaig uile : 

Do macne mm muindterach ar t uib t larmuib tendmaidrne, 
do rig is do rigrada, do gmmrada gerrma[i~|t-ne. 
20 A congala coscaraig ar tseb t iardaigi tarsem, 

rongradis rotoradsimar, rotbaidsimar rotbaidfem. 
Bidgaid iarum an ri as asa c[h]odlud 7 ba mebwr lais an laid 7 
mebraigid 5 an rigan uada-som hi 7 an sluag arc[h]ena uaithe-sim. 

100. Ba he so tra clerech ba ferr enech a nErinn. Follus on in, 
25 ar tainigc-sim cidiarna etsecht do forail a t[h]ighi oiged for Airechtach 

mac Muiredaig 7 dorigne anlaid-so cuigi 7 fri sen .ir isin c[h]ill isbert 
Colman hi. 

Fir tiinna cein bett abus denatt idna, iss ed a Hess, 
creitett athair conigc 6 nem, ar iss e focren cacA ceas." 

30 (fo. 88^2) 

Crommatt cind f on eclais n-uiU mad ail doib rath spira[i]tt glain. 
adrat do Christ credlach cross erett bett aboss ga tigh. 

coimded MS. lem cett MS. with marks of transposition. 3 comded MS. 
* tairsi MS. corrected fron tairifli. 6 mebraidhidh MS. 6 corigc MS. 


however much there will be. To the erenagh Fursa leaves heaven and 
wealth and long life, and that his food should never be reproached, 
provided he would recite a prayer to Fursa at Fursa s flagstone, and 
that one of every three words he might say should have the authority 
of a judgment, and that God should grant him every perfection 
which he might ask for seven times, viz. (by performing) seven 
fastings upon God in Fursa s name at Fursa s tomb. Now Fursa 
was waited upon well that night ; so then he said : 

99. * I permit the cowherd to live here happily, to obtain great 
mercy with the Creator after death. 

Hence our offering comes to Lann of the pious Colmans, where 
I find reverence greater than is due. 

Good has come to this congregation from my journey to them 
at this time ; they will be obedient to my rule of devotion ; my own 
permission is added to theirs. 

Then on the morrow Fursa blessed the church. However, the 
monks come to Fursa and beseech him in the name of the Lord that He 
might take the remains of Colman son of Luachan out of the earth. 
And thus it is all done. Now tell us, Fursa, said all the monks : l 

Thy gentle courteous sons, &c. 

Then the king starts out of his sleep and remembered the song, 
and the queen learnt it from him and remembered it, and the rest of 
the people from her. 

100. Now he was the most generous cleric in Ireland. That 
is evident, for even after his death he came to commend his guest 
house to Airechtach son of Muiredach, and made the following song 
for him ; and to an old man in the church Colman said it. 

* Let the men of the commandments practise purity while they 
are here below that is profitable for them. Let them believe in the 
Father who rules Heaven, for tis He who rewards every affliction. 

Let them bow their heads under the gr^at Church, if they wish 
for the grace of the Holy Spirit ; let them worship holy Christ of the 
crosses while they are here below in their house 

1 What now follows is quite obscure, nor can I make any satisfactory sense 
of the poem. Something has evidently heen omitted. The transcriber has 
probably run two different stories together. 


Tennatt corp fri crabud 1 nglan do re[i]r samad sochla sean, 
co risatt ti r n-angel find, is ferr lim a ndul for nera. 

jSTempm ar bith c[h]e an domali dub, bid oirb oman Do do neim, 
ferr cert an genii sa glain ria techt an terus-sa, a fir. Fir. 

5 Coir are re digail De, mairgc romidhair bid fa t[h]nuth. 
na ris ifernn [n-]uathrnar n-ard, inula gol gargc ar a bru. 

Brisiud ar sin, iss 6 a fir, deich timna De do neim nar, 
gnim co n-iris, nertad n-6g, techtad na trog is na tren. 4 

Timna ele, uaisle grad, dlegar do c[h]ach cid dusgm, 
10 aoine, ornaigt[h]i co fath, timgoire trath conotli. 

Tabairt bid do bochtaib De, tlath do nochtaib, begc is go, 
bith con orad acge a elf, meraid sin co nomad no. 

Afrenn is celebrad gle, m fedalrad fand co li, 

dlegar ria tocht do chorp Crist t^rmud gen tristt co ba thri. 

15 Abair dam fri hAirechtach, dena maith ar bochtaib De, 
ar is aigci ata each maith iccon ftaith, ic mac mo De. 

M6r an crech tech n-aeiged 2 Crist arna meth, 

mad ainm tigi Crist na cloth, is inann is Crist cen tecA. 

Na ceil dam-sa in firindi ! da cele-sae tarast^r, 
?o na tabrad a druim fria Rig, na ria an tir atagastar. 

Tech n-aiged na mbocht fo bail ria tocht a ngnuis De do neim, 
ni ferr gres ar crabud 3 glan dia rab lat dogres, a fir. Fir. 

101. [Ajraile seel foTtiftimentar sund .i. Becrachan, 6 manach do 

manchaib Colmain he 7 iss e an sechtmad 6 fer luid leis do Eoim beus 

25 7 iss e fil hi Gill Becrachan fri laim Colmain meic Luachain f is saer 

hi ar chiss rig 7 flatha (fo. 89al). Tugcsat \mmurgu muindter Laindi 

1 cradbttd MS. ~ aeided MS. 3 cradbwrf MS. 

4 tren MS. 5 brecrachan MS. 6 un. MS. 


1 Let their bodies embrace pure devotion in accordance with famous 
ancient councils, that they may reach the land of blessed angels 
I would prefer their going to Heaven. 

1 The.black world is nothing on this earth have ye the fear of 
God from Heaven ! better is the law of pure chastity before going on 
this journey, my man. 

It is right to beware of God s vengeance; woe to him who has 
resolved to be under wrath ! Do not go to horrible deep Hell, many 
are the fierce wails in its lap. 

* Next (beware) of breaking that is the truth of it the Ten 
Commandments of God from holy Heaven ; deeds with faith, 
perfect strength the possession of the wretched and the strong. 

Another commandment of the highest rank, which behoves every 
one whatever else he do: fasting, praying with reason, supplication 
at each Hour . , . 

Giving food to God s poor, a garment to the naked it is never 
false ; his being without cold in the body, that will endure nine times 

1 It behoves to offer Sacrifice and glorious Mass, no feeble con 
stancy with splendour, before going to receive Christ s body, a ... 
without a curse three times. 

Say to Airechtach on my behalf that he do good to God s poor, for 
he possesses every good from the Prince, from the Son of my God. 

Great is the harm that Christ s guest-house should be neglected ; 
if it is called Christ s house of fame, it is as though Christ were 

1 Conceal not truth, 1 beseech thee! if thou do, ... Let him 
not turn his back upon his King, let him not buy the land which he 
has dreaded. 1 

* May the guest-house of the poor prosper before (his) going into the 
presence of God from Heaven there is no better practice in pure 
devotion, if that be ever with thee, man ! 

101. A certain story is recorded here. Becrachan was one of 
Column s monks ; and he was another of the seven men that went with 
him to Rome ; and he it is who is buried in Cell Hecrachan under the 
protection of Column son of Luachan. And that church is free from the 
tax of king and chief. However, the monks of Lann gave it to 

1 i.e. Hell. 


d tl Scoil hi for a man chine co brath. Ni dlegar dano do Feraib Tulach 
cethemn timchill rig Midhi forru acht a gille each an tan bias isin 
Croindsi ar son na cethernne timchill 7 m dlegar dib dol a cath illo 
catha acht imon .rig 7 deoraid 7 amais. 

I 102. [Ajraile seel dawo foT&thmentar sund. Fecht ann fsemait na 
tii Colmain m5ra Midhi trian sloig do dingmail do rig Temrach acht 
co mbeth diare[i]r .i. da cath do denum do feraib Midi dib 7 tri catha 
do feraib hErenn dib 7 an tres cath dib-sin .i. do na tri Colmdwat 
Midhi, conid ann isbert in rand : 

10 Cach olc do muir is do t[h]ir tigc fri Temraig tothachi min, 
comlann ris ac Rig neime na tri Colmain caenMidi. 

103. Follus tra asna scelaib-so Colmain meic Luachain nach fil 
clerech is amru ac Dia oldas-[s]om. Ar cia clerech ele 9 nErinn 
ro-imthig an loch cen eathar acht eisium? 

15 Cia clerech dano ar rosslnigc talam a n-senfecht an uile diarmidhi 
et^r daeine 7 echu 7 r-onu feib rosluict[h]ea da breithir-sim a ssnar? 

Cia clerech dano rotathbeoaig tri marbu fo c[h]osmailes Crist acht 
eisium fein ? 

Cia clerech dawo is cell chottaig dia manchaib fein acht a c[h]eall- 
20 som nama ? 

Cia clerech dawo dia ndernnsatt na hallta umaloitt dia ndeoin fein 
acht do-som ? 

Cia clerech dawo da fil muilenn cerr do c[h]urnachta a mirbuile 
acht eissium ? 

25 Cia clerech dawo gus tangadar muindter ifrinn fo forcongra hi richt 
foiche acht cuicci-sim ? 

Cia clerech dawo cus tangadar muindter neime fo forcongra 
co ndernnsat grafne n-6enaigh (fo. 89a2) do ana fiadlmaissi co 
himmlan ? 

30 Cia clerech cus tainigc Crist fein hi richt claim ic Crois daman 
acht chuigci-sim uama ? 

Cia clerech dawo dorigne cruthnechtt don eorna achfc eisium a 
aenar nama ? 


Ua Scoil in consideration for his service to the monastery till 
Doom. The King of Meath is not entitled to demand a troop from 
Fartullagh to accompany him on his round, except a lad for 
Ids horses, when he is in Cro-inis for the purpose of (collecting) 
the troop to accompany him ; and they are not obliged to join a 
battalion on a day of battle, except with the king, and strangers and 

102. Again, another story is recorded here. Once upon a time the 
three great Colmans of Meath agree to ward off one third of the host 
from the King of Tara, provided that he were obedient to them, viz. 
that two battalions should be formed by the men of Meath, and three 
battalions by the men of Ireland, and one of the three battalions by 
them, viz. by the three Colmans of Meath, whence is the quatrain : 

4 Every evil on sea or on land that comes against Tara of fair 
possessions, by the grace of the King of Heaven, the three Colmans 
of fair Meath are able to cope with it. 

103. Now it is evident from these stories about Colman son of 
Luachan that God thinks no cleric more wonderful than him. For 
what other cleric in Ireland has gone on a lake without a boat but 

Again, what cleric is there for whom the earth swallowed at once 
all those countless numbers, both men and horses and hounds, as they 
were swallowed at his word alone? 

Again, what cleric resuscitated three dead people in imitation of 
Christ save he ? 

Again, what cleric is there whose church is a church of covenant 
for his own monks except his ? 

Again, what cleric is there to whom the wild animals rendered 
obeisance of their own free will except to him ? 

Again, what other cleric is there for whom by his miraculous 
power a mill was turned awry but he ? 

Again, what cleric is there to whom the people of Hell came at 
his bidding in the shape of wasps but he ? 

What cleric again is there to whom the people of Heaven came 
at his bidding, and in his presence ran races perfectly as at a fair ? 

What cleric again is there to whom Christ came in the shape of a 
leper at Cross Claman except he only ? 

Wh. t cleric again made wheat out of barley but he only ? 


Cla clerech dorigne ceo lomma do englais raidg acht eiseam a aenar 

Cia clerech daw&gt; robaid indsi cona dseinib fo loch acht eisim ana 
aenar beoss ? 

5 Cia clerech dawo dorigne ferta 7 mirbaili riana geinemain acht e-sim 
a senar ? 

Cia clerech gusa tangadar angil a n-aidchi a gene co ceolaib 
.ersgaigthecha 1 acht cuci-sim? 

Cia clerech dawo dia ndernad taire[h]etal ratha De ria feis a mathar 
10 f ria athair acht do-som ? 

Cia clerech dawo rochotail fon sruth 5n tiath coraile cen fliuchad 
a ettaig acht e-sim ? 

104. Hue usque signa fiant 7 c. .i, nf coimsidh nech dechmad an 
neich dorigne-sim do aisneis acht mane tisad a aingel comaidechta n6 

16 spiratt a anma fein ana churp doridhisi dia falsiugud. Ar issi-so 
teisd dobir CruimtA&lt;9r Cassan Domnaig M5ir 7 Maeltuile mac Nochuire 7 
Colum Ciile ac a molad .i. cia dofaetsad nem for talmain dogena Dia 
are-sim a athnuadugud doridisi sa sonairti c6tna. Ar ba fer glan 
idbartach toltanach e-sium don Choimdid 2 na ndula &mail Abel mac 

20 Adaim ; primfdid fri tairc[h]etal todochaidi amail Issahfas macNamais ; 
cend irsi 7 creitim larthair an betha &mail Abram mac Tan*a; prim- 
toisiuch togaidi an popuil iraesaig tria muir na baisti 7 na der[g]- 
martra zmail Moisi mac Amrae tre Muir Jtuaid ; salmc[h]etlaid cennais 
duthrachtach fri c&ntam tsalm amail Dauid mac tasse; (fo. 89^1) fer 

25 fulaing fochaidhi 7 treablaitti ar an Coimdid 3 na ndula sunail lop tochai- 
dech ; istu[d]loc toghaidhi do ecna D6 7 dia aircheto/ snn.aU Pol apstal ; 
comarba oigi 7 genais na eclaisi tianuortigh[th]i amail Eoin mbrun[n]- 
dalta ; primliaig* cuirp 7 anmae each iraesaig amail Lucass suibisce/taid^. 

105. Ba hi-so riago/ a chrabuid 6 .i. tri renna dognid don aidchi 
3-3 7 cethri huaire cacha raindi. Dognid-som immurgu 6 Irl c^t slechtain 

isan c[h]etna raind 7 no 7 canad na tri .1. isin rainn tanaisti. No 7 hetar- 
scarad dawo a m^nmain ona talmandaib cusna nemdaib i teoir isin 
tres raind. Dognidimmw/ytt .1111. celebart[h]a each Idi 7 no 7 chanad .1. 
salm iier cech celebrad 7 no baisted 7 no pritchad 7 no 7 chanad 
55 ernaigt[h]i imda ele archena. 

1 deragaidtecAa MS. 3 choimded MS. 3 coimded MS. 4 primliaid MS. 

5 cradbwirf MS. 6 .g. MS. 7 na MS 


What cleric made cream out of whey-water but again he alone ? 

What cleric swamped an island with its inhabitants under a lake 
but again he alone ? 

What cleric again performed wonders and miracles before his birth 
but he alone ? 

What cleric is there to whom angels came on the eve of his birth 
with exquisite music except to him ? 

Again what cleric is there of whom a prophecy of the grace of 
God was made before his mother slept with his father, except of him? 

Again what cleric slept under a river from one hour to the same 
hour next day without wetting his garment but he ? 

104. Hue usque signa fiant, &c. No one can relate a tithe of 
what he did unless his guardian-angel should come or the spirit of 
his own soul should come back again into his body to make it known. 
For this is the testimony which Cassan the Priest of Domnach Mor 
and Maeltuile son of Nochuire and Colum Cille bore as they were 
praising him : if the heavens should fall upon the earth, God would 
for his sake renew them again in their same strength. For he was a 
man pure, sacrificing, acceptable to the Lord of Creation like Abel 
son of Adam ; a chief prophet to foretell the future like Isaiah son of 
Amoz ; the head of the faith and belief of the western world like 
Abraham son of Terah ; the chosen leader of the faithful people 
through the sea of baptism and of red martyrdom like Moses son of 
Amram through the Red Sea ; a gentle devout psalmist to sing his 
psalms like David son of Jesse ; a man suffering afflictions and 
tribulations for the sake of the Lord of Creation like Job the afflicted ; 
a choice treasury of the wisdom of God and of His love like Paul 
the Apostle ; a virginal and chaste coarb of the persecuted Church 
like John the bosom-fosterling ; a foremost physician of the body 
and soul of every faithful one like Luke the evangelist. 

105. This was his devotional rule : he used to make three divisions 
of the night, four hours in each division. In the first division he 
would perform three hundred genuflections, and in the second he 
would recite the psalms. Again, in the third division he would 
remove his mind in meditation from earthly things, dwelling on 
heavenly things. Every day, however, he would celebrate mass and 
recite fifty psalms between each celebration, and he would baptize 
and preach and recite many other prayers besides. 


106. thainigc immurgu cusna dedenchu 2 do-som, ar ni raba 
full na feoix fair, ar roforbanastar a betliaid triasna haeintib cianastib 
7 triasna frith airib aidchidib, iss ed sin immurgu indisitt na senchusa 
naema nach do galar sainruthach etir atbath, acht aingil an Choimded 
tancatar dia t[h]ogairm i forba a bethad, dicentes : bone Colmane, 
festina ad nos .i. ar cia b6-siu isna talmandaib atchiam-ne tu ama7 
catharda 2 diless hi neim. Conid amlaid sin immurgu roforbanastor a 
bethaid etir na himacallma anglecda 7 na cumsanta diada. Iss ed 
immurgu indisitt na scribenda diada conid e-sim fein bus brethem for 
10 a manchflii 7 for a raanchesaib illo bratha 7 ni bert[h]ar nech dib 
uada a n-ifrinn acht aen do chett 7 cid he sin bid dru[th] no dibergach 
no mac mallachta. 

- degenr.hu MS. 3 catwrarda MB. 



106. Now when his end was approaching for there was neither 
blood nor flesh on him, for he had consumed his life in long fasts 
and nightly watches the holy ancient writings relate that lie did not 
die of a special disease at all, hut angels of the Lord came to summon 
him at the end of his life, saying : bone Colmane^festina ad nos ! that 
is to say, * for though thou art on earth, we behold* thee as a rightful 
citizen in heaven. Tis thus then he ended his life, among angelic 
conversations and divine repose. This, however, is what the divine 
writings say : that on the day of Judgment he will be a judge over 
his monks and nuns, and none of them shall be carried into hell 
except one out of a hundred, and even so he shall be a jester 1 or a 
marauder or a son of malediction. 

1 Perhaps leg. drui wizard. 


( 108 ) 


P. 2, 1. 2. An spirat noem &c. See the same sentence in the Life of Adamn-m 
edited by R. I. Best in Anecdota from Irish MSS. ii, p. 10. 

ib. 1. 3. nufiadmssc. This is the 0. Ir. form, which in Mid. Ir. becomes 

ib. 1. 6. ar ronordncstar &c., literally : for God ordained him (0. Ir. ranordnestar] 
so that he was king and prophet. As to Mid. Ir. ron- for 0. Ir. ran-, see 
Strachan, Erin, i, 157. 

ib. 1. 8. anafuil. Mid. Ir. for 0. Ir. ifil. 

ib. an fersa sin. fersa is Mid. Ir. for 0. Ir. fers. As appears from the use of 
hi in 11. 12 and 18, the word was feminine, probably on the analogy of rann f. 

ib. 1. 10. a persoin = i pertain. Cf. AVb. 14^26: is i persin Crist dagniu-sa 

ib. aid an fersa sin arna rdd, literally, that verse is after being spoken. 

ib. 1. 19. a rdd co spirat. On second thoughts I would now translate that it 
should be said of the spirit, and not of the body. 

ib. 1. 21. aid an rdd sin comchoitchenn &c. The meaning is that viriliter, 
which might seem to apply to men only, also applies to women. 

ib. 1. 22. atdt mordn dona dtcinib. The use of the plural verb M ith a collective 
noun is common, but not obligatory. 

ib. 1. 23. riasiu thinscnait. Here and in 1. 24 riasiu is followed by the indicative, 
while in 0. Ir. it demands the subjunctive with ro. See Thurn. 883. 

P. 4, 1. 2. rocathaigsit. Here and elsewhere the scribe no longer distinguishes 
between the conjunct ending -set, and the absolute -sit, which has taken its place. 

ib. 1. 3. diatd Uth &c. The same phrase occurs in Anecdota ii, p. 11. 

ib. 1. 4. Luachaini. Notice the graphic expression of lenited n in Irish 
Latinity, as in Furannaini, AU. 550. 

ib. 1. 12. cid mor indiu a anoir &c. This sentence again is also found in the 
Life of Adamnan, Anecd. ii, p. 19. 

ib. 1. 15. oentu is uaislem cech n-6entaid. Here the superl. uaislem has taken 
the place of the coinpar. uaislin. The superl. is used correctly in p. S, 1.1 (sinem). 

ib. 1. 19. rogener = royenair. Cf. giner,foruer, CZ. viii, 308, 12. 

ib. 1. 20. After m. Maine the scribe has omitted in. Diarmata Deirg. Cf. 1. 26. 

ib. 1. 25. geneloia, Irish Latin for genealogia. 

ib. 1. 26. m. Colmdin M6ir Mide. He was a son, not the father, of 
Diarmait Derg, though he died ten years before him. 

NOTES 109 

ib. 1. 29. According to LL 350 bishop Etchen (or EtcMan) was a son of 
Maine eccs mac Fergusa Laebdeirg. His church was in Cluain Fota Baetain Aba, 
i.e. Clonfad in bar. Farbill. Ib. 35303. Tech Dochua maic Nemain is mentioned 
as his church. He died about 580. 

P. 6, 1. 1. screpulcaithrcch. A tax of a scruple on adults (caithrech, from caither 
the hair of puberty ) is mentioned again on p. 94, 1. 9. 

ib. 1.3. It is curious that among all these etymological speculations the true 
origin of the name Colmdn (a diminutive pet form of Columb, borrowed from Lat. 
colitmba) should not be mentioned. 

ib. 1. 4. lob Irisech. Another standing epithet for Job isfocfcaidech, as below, 
p. 104, 1. 26, and Anecd. ii, p. 10. 

ib. 1. 10. The feminine name Lassar should not be taken as indicating any 
reference to sun- or fire-worship, as Plummer ( Vitae Sanct. Hib., p. cxxxvi) supposes, 
but rather in the metaphorical sense of flame of hospitality, liberality. breo is 
also used in proper names in that sense. 

ib. 1. 1 1. H(u)i Gnill. They are mentioned as Lassar s brdtharfine in 82. . 

P. 8, 1. 4. Hiii Mdenachdiii. They are mentioned in Eawl. B. 502, p. 121, 
122/, and 125. Hui Mdilumai, ib. p. 122/. 

ib. 1. 13. .1111. muic, i.e. the three mentioned and Colman. 

ib. Midna. The older form is Midgna (mac Midgnai LL 31 5a, 35lrf, mac 
Midgnu ib.) = W. Myddno, where -gno represents Gaul. *-gnovos. Cf. Ir. 
Beogna = W. Beuno, Clothgna = W. Clydno, Fergna (Virgnous, Adamn.) 
= "W. Gwrno. The g has been lost before n as in domnas for dowgnas. 

ib. 1. 17. i ciunn. This old dative occurs also on pp. 58, 1. 19; 74, 1. 4. 
As the list on pp. 127 and 128 in O Malley s Language of the Annals of Ulster 
shows, it was replaced by cinn in the eleventh century. 

ib. 1. 21. roaidbairset fein i n-6giu. Here roaidbairset is Mid. Ir. for 0. Ir. 
adropartar, and fein is the Mid. Ir. form of 0. Ir. fessine, feissin, or feisne* 
For i n-6giu read a n-6gi and translate as in note 2 on p. 9. Cf. ro idpair an 
ingen a oigi do Dia, Lism. L. 4176. 

ib. 1. 22. hi tirib cianaib, Mid. Ir. for 0. Ir. i tire ciana. 

ib. 1. 23. reclence. This word, the origin of which is still obscure, has often been 
translated by abbey church. But the true meaning seems to be enclosure, close, 
cell. In the preface to the hymn Altus Prosator (Book of Hymns) and in the 
Life of St. Martin (RC. ii, p. 322) it renders &lt; cellula. A (circular?) redes of 27 
feet in dimension is mentioned below in 19. In Trip., p. 473, 1. 31, it clearly 
means the close of a church. The word seems a masculine u-stem. It is referred 
to by e sein on p. 22, 1. 8. See the Glossary. 

ib. 1. 24. ni corbat coin ni do &c. More literally wolves do not defile anything 
of it, nor birds anything in it. 

P. 10, 1. 17. Tir inna Copun. Notice the 0. Ir. form of the gen. pi. of the 
article. The word copdn is more likely to be the rnasc. form of the fern, copoc a 
burr, burdock than the word meaning cup. 

110 NOTES 

1. 22. m bad amra. Here, as on p. 14, 1. 14, amra stands for amru. 

ib. 1. 26. The metrical system of this poem is 2 x 7 3 + 5 1 , except in the first 
half of the first stanza, where it is 2 x 6 3 , and in the second half of the last two 
stanzas, where it is 3 x 7 :i . 

ih. gignither. This is sg. 3 rel. of the 0. Ir. reduplicated future of gainithir, 
while on p. 6, 1. 21 and p. 14, 1. 11 we have the Mid. Ir. /-future genfid. 

ib. 1. 29. ma, used as a monosyllable like Ua p. 12, 1. 4. 

P. 12, 1. 8. coic, not necessarily ; cook. In Plummer s Titae Sanct. Rib. ii, 
p. 382, it is used equivalent with cettarius. There is a poem, by Maelisu ua Brolchain 
(t A.D. 1086) on the eight chief sins, beginning : Ocht n-cerich na ndualach, in the 
Book of Lismore, fo. 62bl and in H. 3. 18. Notice that dudlaig (*du-dlaig) is 
tere still used as a trisyllable. 

ib. 1. 19. cotaigi. Bergin suggests that cotaige may be formed from cotach as 
f.ennaige from cennach. 

ib. 1. 22. ft, the Mid. Ir. form of 0. Ir. su i (+su-vida). 

ib. 1. 30. saltrach. This word, like so many other nouns ending in -air in the 
nom., has passed in Mid. Ir. into the guttural declension. See Strachan. 
Contributions to the History of Middle Irish Declcnsiw, p. 32. 

ib. so he, the afore-mentioned, as on p. 14, 1. 1. 

F. 14, 1. 2. dia E6mdnchaib for his Romans ? But dia might be miswritten 
ior di or de. Cf . the Mid. Ir. forms fria for fri, trio, for tri, which are modelled 
upon ria. 

ib. 1. 4. comldna. The plural must be taken with the whole phrase eethracha 
ar cet. Cf. caeca for cet comldna t Lism. L. 4113. 

ib. 1. 11. athilti (sic leg.) stands by metathesis for ath-aithli. See Glossary. 

ib. 1. 16. an tairchetal so. I was first inclined to alter this into on tairchetul no, 
But Bergin points out to me that we have here an early example of a common 
Mod. Ir. idiom, as e.g. ni trumide an loch an laeha. 

ib. 1. 19. ir6ir, spelt irrair on p. 20, 1. 17. 

ib. 1. 20. 6 notegtis, more literally, when they would come. 

ib. batir. Notice the 0. Ir. form for the later batar. 

ib. 1. 22. fodesin, one of the 0. Ir. forms (fadeissin) of the 3. sg. m. 

ib. 1, 22. 6rba sldna. Notice the sing, of the copula with a piur. subject. So 
in ba sdthig tat, p. 20, 1. 16. 

sldna as often = lana. Cf. p. 24, 1. 28. 

ib. 1. 24. a cein roba t 0. Ir. din (cene) romba. 

P. 16, 1. 1. fair-som. Her.e we have the Mid. Ir. confusion of the prep, for 
with air. In 0. Ir. it would be airi som. 

ib. 1. 4. conicci, as on p. 18, 1. 29 and 1. 33 for 0. Ir. corricci, which we have on 
p. 18, 1. 16 (coregci) and 1. 21. 

ib. 6. tarfds. The mark of length belongs rightly to the first a. 

ib. 1. 10. Rob6i tra Colmdnfo usci, &c. So Mac Da Cherdda slept under water. 
See Eriu v, p. 21. 

NOTES 111 

ib. 1. 14. The metre of this poem is lethrannaigecht mor (5 1 -f o 1 ). See my 
Metrical Primer, 20. 

ib. 1. 15. ni btu. The consuetudinal present with the negative is used in a 
future sense. Cf. nocha biu-sa im bethaid de, Fel. 2 p. 54. Compare also 
Vendryes Sur ^absence cFadverbe temporel avec la negation, EC. 28, p. 10. 
ib. 1. 16. tosci, compar. of tdisech, 0. Ir. tdisigiu. 
ib. 1. 18. ar in sruth. Here ar has taken the place of 0. Ir.for. 
ib. 1. 23. As to the later name (apud novos Scottos) Ldm airgit for the 
Brosna see the Index of Places s.v. 

ib. 1. 25. ar do scdth. We have to distinguish two different phrases, (1) for 
sc&th and (2) for scdth. Both have become ar scdth in Mid. Irish. Here we have 
to do with the latter. Cf . bft for scaith (leg. scdth, rhyming with each) do sceith, 
LL 148*18. 

ib. 1. 26. for thuil tii, perhaps corrupt forforfuil tu. 
P. 18, 1. 1. tustide, the Mid. Ir. form of 0. Ir. tustid. 
ib. 1. 2. Jtomorad ainrn De &c. A common phrase in the Lives of Saints. 
See e.g. Fel.* p. 46, 5 ; Trip. 10, 22. 

ib. 1. 5. tabair a lam, either for tabair a Idim or for 0. Ir. tabarr a lam let his 
hand be put. Cf. tabar a rfar d6, Trip. 472, 8. 
1, 8. arale dano seel. Notice the position of the particle. 

1. 9. tabair an mac. Here again tabair may stand for an 0. Ir. tabarr (imperat. 

1. 10. fo rose = fo a rose. 
1. 15. arnias, perhaps from the south. 

1. 17. asbert. This should probably be emended into asberthar. But cf. conid 
de sin asb^tr an bachall, p. 46, 1. 9. 

1. 25. lauid. This spelling recurs on p. 82, 1. 16. 
1. 27. roedprad, Mid. Ir. for 0. Ir. adroprad. 

ib. 1. 28. ar son na hlbraige fiin. The Ibrach was Colman s cell (reclis) at 
Kahen. See 21. 

ib. 1. 30. ant s, perhaps * to the south of. 

ib. 1. 31. do muintir Lainne &c. After the parenthesis .i. 6td inti the thread 
of the sentence is again taken up ; it would be clearer if .i. were inserted before 
do tn. Lainne, which evidently refers back to do Ckolmdn in 1. 27. 

ib. 1. 33. do noemaib na himirce, i.e. those who accompanied Mochuta on his 
expulsion from Rahen. As to the expulsion of Mochuta see Fe"l. 2 pp. 95 and 97, 
and cf. the Brussels MS. 5100 : 

Mochuda cona chlamraid 
d ionnarba a Rath am roghlain. 

P. 20, 1. 2. Ua Ferchair, i.e. the chief of the Ui Ferchair. 
ib. 1. 3. muinter Lias JSfoir. At Lismore Mochuta finally settled and died. 
ib. 1. 4. Blathmoc. As the rhymes with rathmac 1. 8 and athbac 1. 9 show, the 
first syllable is short, so that blath seems to stand for blad renown. So in the 

112 NOTES 

Martyrology of Gorman, Dec. 11, Blaithmec rhymes with taithtnet At the same 
time Walafrid Strubo in his poem on the martyrs of lona renders this name by 

ib. 1. 5. In the first stanza the metre of the first couplet is debide guilbnech, 
that of the second ordinary debide. The second stanza is composed in debide imrind ; 
the last stanza is again a mixture of debide guilbnech and ordinary debide. 

As the use of dec and ua as monosyllables shows, the poem cannot be earlier 
than the second half of the tenth century. 

ib. 1. 21. anti nach ba, Mid. Ir. for 0. Ir. inti nod bo. 

ib. do gait neime form. Here/orm has taken the place of 0. Ir. atrium. 

ib. 1. 23. corab hi a n-elithre. Of. bid ailithri dot manchaib-siu indti 40, 27. 

ib. n. .i. fflasdn ua Suanaig, more likely ui Suanaig i.e. of Fidmuine. 

P. 22. 1. 6. an manaig. Here for once the 0. Ir. nom. pi. masc. of the article 

ib. 1. 11. The metre of this poem is rannaigecht bee bee (4 2 + 4 3 ). See my 
Metr. Primer, no. 19. 

ib. 1. 12. grdd De, i.e. beloved of God. 

ib. 1. 15. lommndn, by dissimilation from lom-ldn. 

ib. 1. 19. uastu, Mid. Ir. for 0. Ir. osib (Wb.). 

ib. 1. 20. This line is hopelessly corrupt. 

ib. 1. 21. fiad na huile. fiad (W. gwydd) governs the dat. in 0. Ir. 

ib. 1. 24. cein beo, literally, while I may be, as cein beth in 1. 27 while he 
might be. 

ib. 1. 26. timairgid (= timgairid) celebrad asks leave rather than bids 

F. 24, 1. 13. luffda, bud spelling for lugu or lug*. 

ib. 1. 1 6. The metre of this poem is cro eummaise eler chasbairdni ocus 
lethrannraigecht (7 3 + 5 l ). See Metr. Primer, no. 62. In the first verse of the 
second stanza tra ale, if correct, takes the place of a trisyllable. 

ib. 1.18. tasce = tasci, p. 48, 1. 1. This seems originally the third sg. of the 
pies, s-subj. of do-scuchim. 

ib. 1. 19. tdam-ne, trisyllabic. 

ib. 1. 26. an t-ord tuc Molaisi leis 6 Roim. Plummer ( Vitae Sanct. Hib. 
p. xlvi n. 3) conjectures that this refers to the adoption of the Roman Easter of 
which Molaisse of Leighlin was a well-known partisan. 1 It is, however, questionable, 
as Plummer himself suggests (vol. ii, p. 381, s.v. celebrare), whether by ord is riot 
simply meant the or do celebrandi, such as e.g. Ailbe is said to have sent for to Rome 
(ut novum ordinem celebrandi a Roma deducerent). 

ib. ar roforaith e-sium should have been translated for he helped him. 

1 But Plummer s translation of acht co torsed (for which he reads toracht] 
by as soon as ever it arrived cannot be upheld. 

NOTES 113 

P. 26, 1. 10. ilkrce probably miswritten for illabera, the e-future of labraim, 
the 1. pers of which occurs in Harl. 5280, fo. 52b (nochar laber). cipe laibcrus 
Aisl. M. 117, 40. In 0. Ir. labrur formed an /-future. 

ib. 1. 17. slaindid, miswritten for slaidit. 

ib. 1. 25. in. Feradaig. No Feradach is mentioned among the twelve sons of 
Cass enumerated in Rawl. B. 502, 152 and 152* = LL 322. 

P. 28, 1. 6. mina raib lind fein. An early example of the use of fein in the 
sense of even so common in the modern language. 

1. 8. fegaoidh. This curious spelling recurs in claoiditt 1. 10, manaoigh ib., 
saothraoigh 1. 11 &c. 

ib. 1. 15. oen each che[i~\t (sic leg.) sund dochum nime &c. should have been 
rendered Here one out of every hundred goes to Heaven and one out of every 
hundred to Hell. Cf- oen do c[h]et esti i n-iftm, Fel. Oing. 2 p. 204. 

ib. 1. 25. The metre of this poem is rannaigecht bee bee, as above p. 22, 1. 10. 
In the second half of the first stanza we have the expansion known as corrdn 
(three verses instead of two). See Thurneysen, Ir. Verslehren, p. 132. 

P. 30, 1. 1. nijil dige, transl. there is not a joint. 

ib. 1. 3. oen each cetta, transl. one out of each hundred. The gen. sg. ceta 
instead of ceit is used no doubt to meet the exigencies of the metre which requires 
a disyllabic at the end of each verse. 

ib. 1. 13. The three Colmdin moir Midi are also mentioned together in the 
notes on Fel. 6ing. z p. 137, where for Colman of the coffer read Colman of 
Comraire * (Conry in bar. Eathconrath, West Meath). 

ib. 1. 18. The metre of this poem is de freslige ar dechnaid (6 3 + 5 2 ) ; see Metr. 
Primer, no. 63. 

ib. 1. 21. arcangel, miswritten for archanyil. 

ib. 1. 29. The ttuis which a later hand has inserted is meant either for tuisech 
or i ttus and refers to teit Colman ( as the first, or irst, Colman goes ). 

P. 32, 1. 7. The metre of this poem is lethiannaigecht mor (5 l + 5 1 ), as above,, 
p. 16,1. 14. 

ib. 1. 8. The copy in D. 4. 2, fo. 55a2 reads: furighth^r a n-am. ni fuilngthor 
a nglond. 

ib. 1. 12. cinniudfor each. Here again for has taken the place of 0. Ir. air. 

ib. 1. 15. an tUltach, i.e. Colman Elo. 

ib. is dilliufor bith. D has : is caime nan bith, who is more beloved than the 

ib. 1. 17. D has: gebaig (recte gebaid] ilar ceall he will take many churches. 

ib. 1. 19. mairg doregha ris D. 

ib. 1. 21. Translate perhaps His heart is a shrine of a hundred mysteries- 
beyond all others. 

1 In his edition of the Annals of Ulster, A.D. 1122, note 1, and again in the 
Index, p. 83, MacCarthy has confused Colman Comraire with our Colman. 


114 NOTES 

ib. 1. 23. Here the reading of D do claind Cholmain mbir is preferable. 

ib. 1. 25. Here D has preserved the 0. Ir. form retain, ib. 1. 24. dan = 0. Ir. 

ib. dnid sorcha in bith. Cf. Ml. 51&lt;?2 : air cech ceneliu ciuil h6nid techtae 
molad Dae. 

ib. 1. 26. D. reads is si in grlbh tin brath he is the griffin without guile. 

P. 34, 1. 4. The reading of D nir techt is preferable. 

ib. 1. 11. The three churches are here enumerated according to their geo 
graphical situation. 

ib. 1. 21. uaid. This earlier form (also in 1. 27) alternates with the later uada 
(1. 23). 

ib. 1. 24. ni fuil dom ferann, literally, there is not of my land (ferunn), or 
perhaps I have no land. 

P. 36,1. 11. oldditi. This older form (oldds pp. 54, 1. 28; 102, 1. 13) alter 
nates with the later andds (p. 42, 1. 26), andd (p. 36, 1. 13). 

ib. no, fir tuc era. As to the construction of the sing, verb in a relative clause 
referring to a plural noun which is the subject of the clause, see the rule formu 
lated by Atkinson in the Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 3 ser., vol. i. 
p. 430. 

ib. 1. 13. The metre of the poem is again lethrannaigecht m6r. In the second 
couplet of the first stanza there is elision between the two verses (buidi an}. 
See Metr. Primer, 24. 

ib. 1. 17. Here Idr is used like W. llawr for the earth. 

P. 38, 1. 3. Rua is perhaps miswritten for Rnba, 

ib. Caca = Coca ? 

ib. 1. 8. mac Fiachraidh. He is called Fiachra mac Ailella in 79, where mac 
is used for ua, as often. 

ib. 1. 26. and and a. 

P. 40, 1. 8. romilsitt. See note on p. 4, 1. 2. 

ib. 1. 11. an tigi n-abad. The transported n of the norn. and ace. sg. here 
follows the gen. sg. 

ib. each aidchi. Perhaps rather cacha aidehi. The MS. has ca. 

ib. 1. 21. rotoimled for 0. Ir. dornimled. 

ib. 1. 32. amail bis a Cluain Fotta, literally as it is wont to be in Clonfad. 

P. 42, 1. 1. imdin = amain ; spelt immditt, p. 60, 12. 

ib. 1. 2. ronsoset. The MS. has roset with so inserted between ro and set. The 
stroke was probably meant not for w, but as a suspension stroke, so that we should 
read rososet. 

ib. 1. 7. Ua Siianaip, i.e. Fidmuine, the anchorite of Rahen, as the Mar- 
tyrology of Donegal, p. 130, calls him. 

ib. 1. 11. brdthair a senathar, i.e. the descendants of his grandfather s (Leda s) 
brother. Cf. p. 44, 1.7; p. 64, 1. 17. They are called his brdtharjine in , p. 84, 
1. 11. 

NOTES 115 

ib. 1. 13. ina screputt soscelae, i.e. as a tax for the preaching of the Gospel. Of. 
na hlmlecha a (= i) screbull a toduscthe, Arch, iii, p. 226. 

ib. 1. 25. mo chots, recte mo choiss. 

ib. doni Liafort. Here again for has taken the place of 0. Ir. air. 

ib. 1. 28. daul. With this spelling compare lauid, p. 46, 1. 93. 

ib. 1. 30. se rig tra dib-so, i.e. six kings of the race of Niall of the Nine 

P. 44, 1. 1. The six kings mentioned are Ainmire mac Setnai (566-569 or 576), 
Aed mac Ainmirech (592-598), Maelcoba mac Aeda (612-615), Domnall mac Aeda 
(628-642), Cellach (643-658), and ConallC6el (643-654), so that instead of the first 
a dd mac in 1. 1 we. should read a mac, and in 1. 2, before da mac we should insert 

ib. 1. 8. Aedae, miswritten for Ledae. 

ib. 1. 20. dlegar for 0. Ir. dlegair* hiflaithe = aflaithe. 

P. 46, 1. 1. matan tsamraid. Here Is is written as often in later MSS. for s. 

ib. 1. 9. asbeir. Of. the note on p. 18, 1. 17. 

ib. 1. 10. na Idim na macdeim, the sing. Idim as in German, in der Hand der 

ib. 1. 19. The metre of this quatrain is different in the two couplets. "We should 
probably emend a Onchu cen nach gaindi. The metre would then be Ae freslige 
(7 3 + 7 2 ) throughout. See Metr. Primer, no. 41. 

ib. p. 26. a n-aois bar trichat. Here, as Bergin ingeniously suggests, bar is 
probably miscopied for *. ar = bliadna ar, that the meaning would be at the 
age of thirty-one years. 

ib. 1. 28. The metre of this poem is ordinary debide. 

P. 48, 1. 1. tasci. See note on p. 24, 1. 18. 

ib. 1. 6. Notice the alliteration between rim (0. Ir.frim) and ret. 

ib. 1. 7. nan, contracted for no an (0. Ir. in). 

ib. 1. 10. richid rhymes with dichlith. In his edition of the Felire Stokes 
wrongly prints riched throughout. 

ib. 1. 32. abbair &c. This verse is defective. Read perhaps frinni for rind. 

P. 60, 1. 25. indsi. As the reference is to Inis na Cairrce, .inis should have 
been rendered island both here and in the following stanzas. 

1. 34. dr6nfat. This contracted enclitic form is also found occasionally in prose, 
e.g. huair nach dronaim, Cain Ad. 6. 

P. 62, 1. 13. mat-sa. The lenited d of inad has become unlenited before .v, 
as it has before I in inat tigi, p. 56, 22. Hence a form inat arose by the side of 
inad. Similarly we find imat by the side of imad (0. Ir. imbed). 

ib. 1. 21. dechtnad. As the word is fern., I ought to have printed dechmatd. 

ib. 1. 27. MominoCy perhaps identical with Momenoc Glinne Faidli i nUib 
Grarrchon, who, the notes to| Ffil. Oing. a p. 54 eay, is the same as Enan filius 
Gemmain i rRus M6r i nUib Dega i nUib Cenns"elaig. 

ib. 1. 29. ana Idim should have been rendered in his hand. 


116 NOTES 

P. 54, 1. 10. This quatrain is composed in rannaigecht chetharchubaid garit 
recomarcach. See Metr. Primer, no. 3 (). Notice the rhyme between Luachdii. 
and iiag ldin. 

ih. 1. 16. The convention of Drum Get was held A.D. 575. 

ib. 1. 28. oldds. See note on p. 36, 1. 11. 

P. 58, 1. 12. m sinne thomelas. See note on p. 36, 1. 11. 

ib. 1. 17. As blog is here miswritten for bolg, so in Fel. Oing., March 30, boty 
is confused by several MSS. with blog. 

P. 60, 1. 14. innamd. This may be only asciibal error for namd, which occurs 
1. 19. 

ib. 1. 15. culud. Perhaps miswritten for culior culid, dat. of cule storehouse.* 
Similarly in Anecd. i, 8 asin chuilich is probably miswritten for asin chuilid. 
cule is fern, as the verse a ben na cuile, nd ceis ! Laud 615, p. 87 shows. 

1. 23. doni ceo lomma de. doni is here used impersonally as so often, e.g., Trip. 
10, 21 : doronai cdic oibli dib, where Stokes renders he made instead of there 
were made. 

P. 62, 1. 13. conad i Muilinn Dee. As muilenn is masc. one would hare 
expected conad e. 

ib. 1. 14. Arndn mac Eogain, probably the same as Erndn 6 Thig Ultain, 
mentioned in Mart. Taml. 

ib. Ultan, probably the well-known bishop of Ardbracken. 

ib. Mac JLiac, possibly either the bishop of Liathdruim of that name or Mac 
Liac of Daire ; both mentioned in the Martyrology of Gorman. 

ib. 1. 22. Bordgal. This interesting place-name is not in Hogan s Onomasticon. 
It is evidently the Gaulish Burdigala, and may have been originally the name of 
a settlement of monks from Gaul. Bordgal occurs also as the name of a parish in 
county Kilkenny. See Carrigan, Hist, and Antiq. of the Diocese of Ossory ii, 
p. 58. 

P. 64. 1. 8. in Findfdidech. This is the name of bells of several saints, e.g. of 
Colman s of Clonard (below, p. 92, 1. 19) and of Patrick s (Trip. p. 267 n. 3). 

ib. 1. 17. do brathturib (sic MS.), read do brdthraib and translate from the 
kindred of his grandfather s brothers. On p. 84, 1. 11, the expression used is 

ib. 1. 18. rdthanna, a late plural of faith, as rathanna from raith a raft/ 
See CCath. Index. 

ib. cona secht dec, perhaps miswritten for co a s. d. 

ib. 1. 23. isat. Cf. isat lana do boide 7 do thr6caire, Pass, and Horn. 1. 5870. 

ib. 1. 28. a meth no a thrucha. This phrase recurs on p. 72, 1. 21, and on p. 88, 
1. 14. 

ib. 1. 29. Tigerndn mac Aeda Sldngi. Laud 610, fo. 7832, after enumerating 
seven sons of Aed Slane, says : dicunt autem alii octauum fuisse .i. Tigernan, a 
quo Hui Tigernain Hide. 

P. 66, 1. 3. cargus erraig. The Lenten Fast is so called to distinguish it from 

NOTES 117 

mm-chorgus and gem-chorgus. Cf. the quatrain in Fel. 2 p. 42, text and translation 
of which should be emended as follows : 

Cargus Eli isin gemrad, 1km fri each seri is coir ann, 
corgus Isu i n-erraoh adhal, corgus Moysi is tsamrad tall. 

Elijah s Lent in the winter, abstinence from every food is proper then ; Jesu s 
Lent in glorious springtime, Moses Lent in summer of yore. 

ib. 1. 6. ifrind, better i/ern, as in p. 74, 1. 29, 

ib. 1. 27. This poem is composed in the metre called rannaigecht bee bee 
(4* + 4&gt;). 

P. 68, 1. 1. fuidhell, perhaps leg.fuigell sentence, judgment. 

ib. 1. 8. ruicci no egc. I am not sure that the reading ec death is right. 
After all Flann had to die some day. It is true, in Fel., 2 p. 74 nicon toga bds is 
glossed by i/ern, which may be the meaning of ec here. But there is a word ec 
(with short e) which occurs e.g. in Fel., 2 p. 4, 1. 16 (= LL 1490) : cen on is cen ec, 
where Stokes renders * sin. As it there goes together with on blemish, fault, so 
it does here with ruicce shame. 

ib. 1. 11. fer leptha rig. Cf. qui (Tigernacus) pro venusti vultus specie et 
Dei gratia in eo rutilante in tantum dilectus est, ut (rex Britannorum) eum in lecto 
suo dormirepermitteret, Plummer, Vitae Sanct. Hib. ii. 263, 3. Other instances 
of the custom are cited ib. i, p. civ, note 6. 

ib. 1. 15. an bale i mbeo-sa, more literally, wherever I may be. 

P. 70, 1. 2. The metre of this poem is cro cummaisc eter chassbairdni ~ leth- 
rannaigecht (7 s + 5 l ). But in the last three stanzas T occurs instead of 7 3 . 

ib. i* amrai, probably = 0. Ir. as amru. 

ib. 1. 5. imatt. See the note on p. 52, 1. 13. 

ib. 1. 14. nosrirfind. In the verb renim in Mid. Ir. the reduplicated future has 
been contaminated with the /-future. See Strachan s note on rirfes (SR. 1073), 
Verbal System, p. 18. So also nitrirjithe, Anecd. i. 5, 2. 

ib. 1. 17. i cinaid on account of. 

ib. 1. 18. cech dfrech, Mid Ir. for 0. Ir. cech diriuch. 

ib. 1. asa tdncais, a Mid. Ir. contamination of the 0. Ir. reduplicated preterite 
with the s-preterite. 

P. 72, 1. 3. air, instead of 0. Ir./air. 

ib. .1. 10. elegce. My rendering one of the two spears is grammatically 
possible, but I do not consider it certain. 

ib. 1. 13. muirfidter. As to/for bf see Thurn. Handb. 135. 

ib. 1. 17. uodergc, if correctly expanded, is quite unintelligible to me. Perhaps 
it is miswritten for ttodesta. 

ib. 1. 19 do buth. Here the original MS. from which this passage is taken 
evidently had the 0. Ir. form do buith. 

ib. 1. 25. notbera = nodbera. 

P. 74, 1. 1. do imthecht Toiden Moling. As to Moling s water-course (toidiu, 
from to-ved- to lead ) at Mullins and the pilgrimages made to it, see Plummer, 
Vit. Sanct. Hib. Ixxxii. 

118 NOTES 

ib. 1. 4. Crob Criad, a nickname meaning Hand of Clay. 

ib. 1. 29. The metre of tbe first line is rannaigecht dialtach (7 1 + 7 1 ), that 
of the second, debide ; that of the second quatrain is cro cummaisc tier chasbairdne 
7 leth-rannaigeckt (7 3 + 5 1 ). 

P. 76, 1. 1 3. The pedigree here given of Doornail mac Murchada, King of Ireland, 
tallies with that given in Bawl. B 512, p. 143rf and in the Annals. 

Niall Noigfallach f405 
Conall Cremthainne 
Fergus Cerrbel t513 
Diarmait Derg f565 or 572 
Colman M6r f556 or 558 
Suibne t600 or 604 
Conall Guthbinn f635 
Diarmait f689 
Murchad t715 
Domnall t763 

ib. 1. 32. Maeltuk, i.e. Maeltule mac Nochaire of Disert Maele Tuile, mentioned 
in Gorman s Martyrology, July 30th. 

P. 78, 1. 6. Jit na rinn = JW na renn, 1. 21. In Fel. Oing. 2 p. 224 Christ is 
so called (Ri na renn, mac Muire). 

ib. 1. 21. The metre of this poem is debide, except in the first half of the third 

P. 80, 1. 5. is do each den has to be read s do each aen. 

ib. 1. 21. for lepaid (sic leg.) Mob*. Mobi is a pet form of the name Berchan. 
See Fel. Oing. 1 p. 224, 1. 

ib. 1. 24. Cromm Derail, a nickname meaning the puny Crooked one. 

ib. 1. 27. The metre is again debide, except in the first half of the third and 
fourth stanzas. 

ib. 1. 28. cenn cunga Coluim Chilk, translate the head of C. C. s yoke. Cf. 
dam reisc fo chinn ehuinge Crist, Archiv. iii, p. 306, 7. 

ib. 1. 32. armthd = iarmothd. See Glossary. 

P. 82, 1. 9. Finden, i.e. Finnian of Clonard. 

ib. 1. 14. Bdetdn Bretnach or Uidrin mac Aramaill This may be Udrin of 
Druim Dresa mentioned in Gorman s Martyrology, Feb. 18th. The epithet 
Bretnach does not necessarily imply that he was a Briton. 

ib. 1. 21. The metre of this poem is Snedbairdne. See Metr. Primer, no. 34. 

P. 84, 1. 7. 00mm = coirm spelt with svarabhakti. 

NOTES 119 

ib. 1. 10. do imdugud &c. is obscure to me. 

ib. 1. 16. mar bit b&lt;e moelee &c., evidently a proverbial saying the meaning of 
which here I cannot explain. 

ib. 1. 30. rogniatt = dogniatt, as rognisitt p. 86, 1 = dogniset. 

ib. 1. 32. iccon cloich impoid. As to the use made of such turning-stones, 
see Plummer s Vitae Sanct. Hib. I, p. clvii. 

P. 86, 1. 1. Something has evidently been omitted after suass. 

ib. 1. 14. oittiu, translate tutor rather than foster-father. 

ib. 1. 17. rig Temrach. In the poem (p. 89, 1. 16) he is called king of Teltown. 

ib. 1. 21. Oengus mac ind Oc, a well-known pagan deity. Rhys, Celtic 
Heathendom, p. 145, translates the name Oengus son of the (two) Young Ones, 
taking ind as the dual article. 

ib. 27. Cinccthmac Conchubair. Whether mac C. is miswritten for mac Oengusa 
(cf. 1. 16 and p. 88, 1. 17) or whether mac is here used for ua, as often, I cannot 
decide, as the name of this king does not occur in the Annals or Genealogies. 

P. 88, 1. 2. trit an firt sin. Here and p. 94, 4, the form trit an is due to 
analogy of trit through it. Cf. trit sin, p. 94, 25. On p. 96, 1. 3 we have 
triasinfirt sin. 

ib. 1. 16. This poem is composed in debide. In the last stanza the second verse 
contains 8 instead of 7 syllables. 

ib. 1. 26. ferta imda adamra should have been rendered many marvellous 

ib. 1. 27. drdi, leg. drtith as in ). 19 and p. 90, 1. 3, 5 &c. 

P. 90, 1. 1. dorigne. Thurneysen, Handb. 677, prints dorignius &c. with a 
long . But rhyme in 0. Ir. poetry shows that we have to do with short t. Thu& 
we have the rhymes rofigli : dorigni SR. 1080 ; dorinne : Conglinne, Fel. 2 208 ; 
dorignis : ignis, Fel. Epil. 502, tibri : doringni, LL. 44(21, doinroighne : coimdhe, 
CZ. 8, 221, &c. In the fourteenth century I find dorine rhyming with line. 

ib. ferta aile should have been rendered other miracles. 

ib. 1. 8. ri Berba, a frequent bardic epithet of the kings of Offaly, through 
whose territory the Barrow flows. 

1. 9. ri Lifi, another epithet for the kings of Offaly, though the Liffey merely 
skirts their territory. But Life may here be used for Mag Lifi as often. 

1. 12. on tsrdb. For this emendation see the Glossary. 

1. 13. feme. This form instead of the usual fein seems only to occur in poetry, 
e.g. ni dlig feine eneclann, Arch, iii, p. 223. atteoch tusa feine, a Ri greine 
gairge! 23 N.10, p. 92. nech da fiadachad feine, Fen. p. 17 n. 6. ratfia-su 
feine, LL 297*45. 

1. 17. co haltain, literally till time again, (at h-tain] seems to mean for 

ib. 1.20. do-som. The vowel of do, as of other monosyllables ending in a vowel, 
remains short in inlaut. Hence it is sometimes written dossom. See Thurn. 
Handb. 42. Compare me and messe, tu and tusa &c. So also ise, seisen, eisen, 
as rhymes show, e.g. O Gr. Cat. p. 488 ; sisi : disi, Fel. clxix. 

120 NOTES 

ib. 1. 24. fiiaratar. In Irish, as in Greek, Latin and German, the apodosis of 
a conditional sentence of irreality may for emphasis be put in tl&gt;e indicative. 

ib. 1. 26. Domnall in. Donnchada HI. Mwchada. This should be Domnall mac 

P. 92, 1. 1. tochra, the verb-noun of do-crenim, as fochra (made inio fochrica 
by contamination with creicc] is oifocrenim. See Zupitza, CZ. i, p. 467. 

ib. 1. 3. i n-dge a gellta. Cf. i cinn an aighe, Aisl. Tund. i, 2. 

ib. 1. 7. robaist, evidently miswritten, but I can offer no plausible emendation. 
The sense should probably be as I have translated. 

ib. 1. 12. Mocholmoc, a pet form of the name Colman. 

ib. 1. 27. doraga dtnt ceo dar a roscaib, &c. CI. doragha duit Eire d ficbail no 
do lam do thabairt i laim Finn, SG. i, p. 132, 33. 

P. 94, 1. 3. rta, probably miswritten for riti, which is translated. 

ib. 1. 19. The first two stanzas of this poem are composed in cr&lt; &gt; ctimmaisc etir 
shasbairdni ~ lethrannaigecht (7 3 + 5 1 ), though the first verse ends in a disyllable ; 
the last stanea is in rannaigecht dialtach (7 1 + 7 1 ). 

P. 96, 1. 11. rocomlaing, miswritten for rocomldnaig . 

ib. 1. 14. Dimbuaid, &c, Cf. Aimiris ar fir th inaid ! ar Colum Cille. Fel. 2 
p. 198. 

ib. 1, 17. The metre of this quatrain is uefreslige (7 3 + 7 2 ). 

ib. 1. 25. ugaire, the 0. Ir. form for later cegaire 1. 19, p. 98, 7. See Thnrn. 
Handb., p. 122. 

ib. 1. 30. Read a[n~\ tight apad which is translated. 

ib. 1. 32. Instead of nl bert\h~]ar read nl bentar and for the idiom compare ni 
ben ecndaeh he does not blaspheme ; nd benaid amiris for Dia imm imtnut a 
mirboll Lism. 49al. 

P. 98, 1. 7. This poem is composed in uefreslige. 

ib. 1. 8. dola, a euphemism for death. 

ib, 1. 18. The metre of the first stanza of this poem is cassbairdne (7 a + 7 3 ). 
The second stanza is in defreslige, but the corrupt tarsem yields no rhyme. The 
purport of the poem is a curse pronounced by Fursa, or more likely by Colman, 
against some king who had offended him. 

ib. 1. 21. rongradis, corruptly for roncrddis ( thou hast tormented us. 

ib. 1. 25. Airechtath mac Muiredaig, evidently the erenagh of Lann mentioned 
above in 19 and 37. 

ib. 1. 28. The metre of this poem is rannaigecht dialtach. 

ib. 1. 31. cromtnat cind. The form of the nom. pi. has taken the place of the 
ace. cinnu as in baill, p. 92, 13. 

ib. 1. 32. *ga tigh, perhaps leg. ga thigh * in his (Christ s) house. 
P. 100, 1. 3. oirb, a Mid. Ir. form for 0. Ir.foirib. 

ib. 1. 8. gnitn co n-iris. Cf. iris co tignim, the first precept of the Abgitir 
Crabuid ascribed to Colman mocu Beognae. See CZ. iii, p. 447. 

ib. 1. 10. conotli, probably for conn tU. Cf. co trocha thlt, LL 133a6. The 

NOTES 121 

meaning of tli, though it is of frequent occurrence in chevilles (see e.g. the Index 
to SR), has not been made out. O Clery glosses it by tlacht. In Fianaigecht, 
p. 40, 2 I have ventured to render it by comfort. 

ib. 1. 11. tlath, probably miswritten for tlacht, which is translated. 

ib. 1. 12. orad, is, I think, written for uarad to show the rhyme with nomad. 
So Oingus uses sdbis (su-abais) to rhyme with Phardnis, Epil. 502. The meaning 
is : his (the poor man s) being (by your charity) without cold in his body. 

ib. 1. 14. termud, perhaps miswritten for termun protection. Cf. nfrbu 
thermun, LL. 194a59. 

ib. 1. 25. fri Idim Colmdin. Cf. da fil red Idim? who is your surety? 
Anecd. ii. 10. an airiogh robhuifri Idimh righ Saxan who was the deputy of the 
King of England ? Hugh Roe 50. 

P. 102, 1. 1. ff U Scoil, i.e, to the chief of the Ui Scoil. Plummer, Vilae 
Sanct. Sib., p. cxv, n. 10, has strangely misinterpreted this paragraph by reading 
du scoil and translating as a school. 

ib. 1. 10. This quatrain is composed in a mixture of rannaigecht dialtach and 

P. 104, 1. 3. ana denar, Mid. Ir. for 0. Ir. a oenur. 

ib. 1. 13. Sue tisque signafiant. Cf. biatna ferta conicci so indiu, Trip. 60, 
21 ; 256, 7. 

ib. 1. 18. ar baferglan &c. Cf . fer e cu lan[ed]partaib toghaidhi don Choimdid 
amail Aibel mac n Adaim, Lism. L. 4494. 

ib. 1. 28. suibisceltaide. Cf. the mod. spelling suibhsgeal. 

( 122 


The numbers refer to the pages and liueb. 

abbel (= ad-belj flattering. 82, 34. 
acais venom, rancour. 42, 18. rotgab 

acais m6r, CZ. in. 227, 2. 
accecht m. a lesson, gen. accechta 18, 

ad-berim (aidbrim) / offer, pres. ind 

pi. 3 aidbret 34, 13. aidbrait 42, 12. 

perf. roaidbairset 8, 21. 
ad-oanim I sing again. clu adcanar 78, 

aes imthromm m. lit. importunate folk, 

a name for the pagan deities or fairies. 

90, 5. 

age m. a joint. 30,1. period. 92,3. 
aidbrim, see ad-berim. 
ain womb. 16, 22. 
aisc f. blame, reproach, gen. aisce 82, 


aistire m. a bell-ringer. 96, 13. 
aistirecht f . bell-ringing. 96, 14. 
albin a small flock of sheep. 54, 14. 

ailbin, Laws in, 90, 9. 
am-nerte f. weakness. 10, 10. aimh- 

nerte cuirp, EC. 25, 388. 
amran a zinging, chanting. 30. 8. 
ana m. wealth. 96, 28. 98, 1. ace. 

pi. inna anu, Ml. 57a3. 
an-faitches m. negligence. 50, 21. 

ar imbed na n-anfaithches, RC. 20, 55. 
an-flsid ignorant. 6, 24. 
anoisin, see indosin. 
an-ord m. disorder. 90, 4. ni hanord 

LL. 196*3. 1714. 
an-riad an evil course, a wild career. 

90, 4. fri anriad, SR. 878. 
arait ( = ordit) f. a prayer. 54, 7. 
armtha 80, 32 = iarmitha, iarmotha 

afterwards, betides, cid iarmilha deud 

gl. etiam in posterum, Ml. 58016. 

lethmiach iarmotha, Laws v, 82, 24. 

See Laws Gloss, and add : iarmobi 

triur rv, 378, 12. 

ath-bac m. (Germ, widerhaken) a barbed 

hook ; a second or renewed shackle or 

hindrance. 20, 9. gen. eco aitbbaicc, 

Rl. B. 502, 115*33. 
ath-inlatt water for washing which has 

been used. 30, 26. 
athilte - ath-aithle : asa athilti after 

him. 14,11. See Contribb. s.v. ath- 

ath-le (-le, verb, noun of lenim) a track. 

90, 11. 
attach n. a prayer, a. n-uilc a curse 58, 

12. gen. tresi du attaig, LB. 260a47. 

dat. otte diar n-attug im chobair doib, 

Anecd. i, 41. diadeg-attoch,RC. 20 r 


attan (= ath-than) f. lit. time ogam, 
future, ace. sg. co hattain 90, 17. 

Cf . ath-matain morrow. 

bac m. a shackle, hindrance, bac ar bac, 

20, 7. 

bal increase, ace. bal 60, 19. 
ban-airchinnech f. a female erenagh. 

96, 30. 
batside baptismal. ainm b. 78 r 


bidgaim / start (intr.). 98, 22. 
bil blessed, ace. pi. bile 30, 21. 
blae a shirt, b. lin 50, 9. 
bloedach f. din. 10, 8. 
blded-maidm n. a loud bursting forth. 

10, 7. 

boccaixn I twirl. 52,13. 
brathar-fine f. a brother s family. 

84, 11. 
brathre a brother s kindred. 64, 

bronn-galar n. a disease of the abdomen. 

18, 3. 
buaphud? 88,21. Cf. Contribb. s.v. 




bnga n. hyacinth, gag. bias an buga 
66, 28. See Contribb. s.v. and add : 
bugha .i. luibh ghorm ghlas, BB. 
261 m.s. guirme a suil fri mbugha 
ban-, Ferra. 68a. 

bulchre a bay? 84, 11. 

cain-suarech benignant. 12, 1. 
cairem m. a shoemaker, currier. 66, 7. 

See Contribb. and Laws Glossary. 
cair a fault, blemish, sin. 12, 13. ace. 

pi. caire .i. dubalcni 22, 12. 
cairde n. respite, ar c. 92, 2. 
caite f . ? 68, 7. is maith a chlann can 

chaiti (where Stokes renders ques 
tion ), EC. xxiv 182, 1. ar Midir 

co mdr-chaite, LL. 212a53. 
caithrech m. an adult. 6, 1. 88, 11. 

94, 9. 

oarait, see cdrait. 
casal f . a chasuble, gen. sg. na caisle, 

Trip. 58, 22. 
ceimniugud (with gen.) a passing (over, 

through}. 2, 16. 
cele De a Culdee. 20, 2. 
cell chottaig f . a church of covenant. 102, 


eel lomma cream. 104, 1. 
cerr wry. muilenn cerr 102, 23. 
cess weariness, affliction. 10, 10. 98, 

cethern f. a band of foot- soldiers, gen. 

cetherdne 88, 25. 102, 3. c. thimchill 

a body-guard. 102, 2. 3. 
cianasta 106, 2, leg. cian-aesta long, 

lasting ? 

einedach a tribe. 2, 16. 
cirmaire m. a comb-maker. 66, 7. See 

Contribb. and add : Triads 117. co 

n-arm caembuide cirmaire, Ir. T. iii. 

104, 27. 
clam-rad f. a company of lepers, dat. 

clamra[i]d 20, 13. clamraid 22, 13. 

24, 2. 

cliath dala a hurdle of meeting? 52, 29. 
cloch imp6id f. a turning -stone. 84, 32. 
clothar/amu. 30, 22. 

cochlach cowled, hooded. 92, 31. 33. 

96, 22. 

comblethad a grinding. 96, 18. 
com-buidech equally satisfied. 20, 19. 
com-choitchenn common. 2, 21 
comforba 36, 1 = com-orba. 
cosirair till last night. 20, 20. 
con-gaire a shouting, crying. 82, 31. 
copan a cup. c. usci. 10, 16. 
cdrait f. a yoke. 86, 19. carait 9, 10. 

glas i caraid eter gach ndis dib, Anecd. 

ii, 78. 
cotaige one who keeps a covenant. 12, 19. 

See note on the passage. 
crabdige f. piety, devotion. 12, 20. 
credlacb. holy. Crist c. 98, 32. 
cu tige f. a domestic dog. 84, 1. 
culad? storehouse, dat. culud 60, 

carnal fir membrum virile. 90, 14. 

comol, ih. 15. 
cummaim 1 shape, make, rocumsat 

adrad 18, 16. 
cura f . a sheep. 88, 12. 94, 9. 

dednaim / consent, give., leave, fat. pret. 

sg. 3 de6nabad 22, 27. 
deoradecht f . exile. 20, 12. 
dethfir difference, distinction. 84, 23. 
di-chumang a difficulty, strait. 62, 8. 
diit?26, 29. 
dinit 1 f . a lamb. 50, 7. dimin. dinetan, 

Trip. 142, 14. 

dinnech a washing. 26, 22. 
do-acraim I charge, tell, imper. sg, 2. 

tacairlat! 48, 5. 
do-aircim I offer, prepare, pass. pres. 

subj. -taircther 20, 24. pret. tarcas 

38, 26. v.n. tarcud. 98, 9. 
do-aitnim I shine, fut. pi. 3 doait- 

nebat 4, 12. 

do-blad ill repute. 96, 32. 
docomal a difficulty. 58, 15. 
do-imgairim / ask. timairgid (sic) 

celebrad (de) asks leave (of). 22. 26. 

v. n. timgaire 100, 10. 
dola a going ; metaph. death. 98, 8. 

1 Originally the oblique case of dinu. See Windisch, Worterb. s.v. 



do-main f . poverty. 50, 8. 
drecht m. a portion. 30, 5. 
dnchaxm a song. ace. duchann 32,6. 
78, 19. 

echrais a passage. 62, 27. See Cath 

Cath. Index. 
ecmaing a period. 4, 3. i nd-ecmaing 

na ree si, Anecd. ii, p. 11. i n-ecmong 

na ree sea, Lism. L. 4630. 
egc, see note on p. 68, 3. 
elet f . a hind. dat. elet 60, 27. 
Elg-inisf. Ireland. 14, 12. 
englas midg f . whey-water, dsg. englais 

104, 1. n. pi. englasa inar lilacbaib, 

Hib. Min. 66, 14. 
edlus m. direction. 18, 24. guidance 

28, 19. 

erbaid bane. 22, 14. 
er-bern a gap, lack. 6, 6. 
er-chomal a spancel. 60, 4. gen. sg. 

oc snim irchomail fo Grip, YBL. 130. 

n. pL urchomla credumse fon echaib, 

Ir. T. ii 2 , 191, 59. 

er-labra f. a saying, utterance. 2, 4. 
erlam m. patron. 4, 28. 
escaire a summons, gairm e. 54, 21. 

Laws Gloss, 
esce. eisci .i. gdasacht bais, H. 3. 18, 

605rf. .a esce cenrig, Br. D. D. 102. 

esce do thabairt do Hiiib Caissein iin 

Donnchad, ATI. 1019. esce do thabairt 

do macaib mic Aeda, ib. 1115. 
escra m. a cup, scoop, an t-e. 52, 

escuine a curse. 28, 1. escaine 76, 6. 

ar escuni, LL. 360 m. 
c tar -guide f. intercession, i n-etar- 

guidi 84, 2. 

etal baide a fit of fondness. 36, 8. 9. 
etiud a dress, clothing. 84, 23. 
etrad (*etar-trath) cf. afternoon. 46, 6. 

See Aisl. M. Index s. v. 
exit 48, 7. 

faigde (fo-guide) f. a begging. 26, 26. 

34, 15. 23, 27. 34, 23. 27. 60, 7. 
fedalrad n. constancy. 100, 13. 

feith f. a marsh. 48,27. O Dav. 514. 

Laws, co feith nEchaille, Rawl. B. 

502, 12 la. gen. sg. ind usci no na 

feithi, Conn. s.v. droehet. 
fersa f. a verse. 2, 8. 11, 15. 
fian f. a roving warrior- band. 92, 8. 
fid m. a letter of the alphabet. 6, 5. 
flnd-faidech sweet-sounding, the name of 

a bell. 64, 8. 90, 19. 
fine griain f . family of the soil. 38, 2. 
flr-usce n. fresh-water. 52,11. 
fo-guidim I solicit, -fagde 54, 25. 
fo-crenim I reward, focren 98, 29. 
foich a wasp. Thes. ii. 43. gen. pi. 

foiche 86, 7. 102, 26. ace. pi. 

focha ib. 11. 
for-ath-moiniur I commemorate, record. 

pass. prea. sg. forathmentar 18, 3. 

8, 12 &c. v.n. forathmet 4, 3. 5. 
for-banaim J end. roforbanastar 106, 

2. 7. 

for-congra a bidding. 102, 25. 27. 
fo-riuth I help. perf. sg. 3. ro foraith 

24, 36. 

frecnarcns m. presence. 48, 16. 
frecraid m. answerer, counsellor. 32, 20. 
fuat m. a bier. dat. fuat 24, 5. for 

ffiat, Trip. 220, 22. Lism. L. 3546. 

pi. dor6nsat fuaid, Cog. 210, 33. 
foiled addition, increase. 76, 18. 

gainde f. hardness, harshness. 6, 25. 
gainiur lam born. perf. rogein 4, 28. 

rogener = rogenair 4, 19. rogenetar 

6, 15. 8, 4. 34, 21. 23, 27. 34, 21. 

fut. gignither 10, 26. genfid 6, 21. 

-geinfe 14, 11. 

gaire f. nearness, convenience. 28, 9. 
gasta generous. 22, 18. 
genmnaid chaste. 8, 19. 
genelach n. a pedigree. 4, 23. 
gerr : ech gerr a gelding. 88, 9. 90, 16. 

a lair gerr! Ir. i, iii, 69, 10. gerr f. 

Ath Leime na girre, F.M. 1489. 
gerraim / shorten . gerrmait- n e 9 8 , 1 9 . 
giman a small lash, patch. 91, 30. 

giomb a lock of hair; a faak, O R. 

giman-gorm 84, 23. 



glaisen 1 f. woad. Lism. L. Index, gen. 

glaisne 62, 3. dat. ism glaisin, 

binds. 1, 35. lomrad glassen- 

guirt na rigna, Laud 610, 97al. 
glassan the name of a bell, p. 20, n. 1. 
glomar a muzzle, gen. ar eoch ngiurr 

glumuir, 90, 15. 6 fiurglomair, Hib. 

Min. 70, 21. Ugadart mO gilla 

glomar, Aisl. M. 80, 9. 126, 27. 
golgaire f. lamentation, wailing. 24, 6. 

g. in luin 23 N 10, 91. 
greis protection. 86, 20. 21. 90, 5. 
gres practice, g. ar crabud glan 100, 22. 
grian soil. gen. fine griein the family 

of the soil, glebal family 38, 2. Cf. 

is leo grian aa cille, El. 502, 118430. 

fintiu griain, Laws iv, 172, 3. dorat 

fond 7 grian d6ib, CZ. 8, 308. dat. 

6 griun co nem 66, 2. 
gruth curds. 60, 22. gilithir g., Liana. 

L. 4075. 

ibracb made of yew. celli. 8, 25. f. the 

name of Colman s cell. 18, 28. 29. 22, 7. 
idbartacb. offering up a sacrifice. 104,19. 
imain = amain only. 42, 1. iminain 

60, 12. 

imdugud? 84, 10. 
imm-ord m. a re-arrangement, change. 

i. feda 6. 
im-solm intr. / turn. fut. sg. 3 rel. 

impobas 66, 5. 
in-chlid a concealing, fo i. stealthily 

88, 21. 
indem wealth, prosperity. 32, 12. dat. 

dot innium 16, 19. 
ih-dluith unsafe, insecure. 90, 7. 
indosin now. 76, 4. anoisin 46, 27. 
iu-isel lowly, humble. 12, 7. 14, 17. 
innama only. 60, 14. 
in-sorchaigim / illumine. 2, 3. 
in-uatbad n. singleness, i n-inuathud 

88, 21. 

irisech faithful, gait i. 84, 10. 
irdir last night. 14, 19. irrair 20, 17. 
istud-loc tn. a treasure-house. 104, 26. 

See Ir. T. iii, p. 280. 

lainnerda shining, brilliant. 48, 1. a 

loinderda (Mary) ! Eriu i, 122. 
lann f . a house, gen. lainne 28, 22. 
lar earth. 36, 17. iter nem 7 lar, Fel. 3 , 

p. 6. 

lasamna f. brilliancy. 6, 15. 
le*na a meadow. 52, 12. 
letb-bolc m. ? tuitid in dun dia leth- 

bulgc 62, 3. 
loch .i. solus 10, 4. 
loch .i. dorcha 10, 4. 
lomlan quite full. 46, 29. lommnan 

22, 15. 
luatb.-cb.ain f. ready tribute. 6, 21. 

mac-bachall f. staff of boys. 46, 3. 10. 
mainech precious. 6, 3. 
maistrim I churn. 60,19. 
malartaim 1 confound, malartbaid 12, 

mam m. or n. a handful. 60, 2. 3. 

mam don gran, Lism. L. 4323. 
manchine f. service rendered to a monas 
tery. 78, 14. 

mangad deceit, m.-gaire 10, 1. 
martir m. a martyr, gpl. martiri 4, 14. 
mathius m. goodness. 6, 6. 
mebraigim I remember. 98, 22. 
mergge a battle-standard. 91, 26. 
messar f. a measure. 96, 31. messair 

78, 3. ace. mesair 78, 4. da mesair 

deac, Fel. 2 202. 
mind eotaig n. a relic on which 

covenants are sworn. 26, 21. 
miscid hatred. 78, 6. 
mod m. manner. 6 mud after the 

manner 82, 34. as nacb mud on any 

condition 80, 3. 
molt* desire. 78, 31. 
mothar a wilderness. 62, 17. 
muince m. torque, necklace. 50, 3. 
muinterach kindly, kind. 98, 18. 
mnrthaide m. a seaman, mariner. 94, 11. 

nem-ger not sharp or keen. 2, 25. 
noaire m. a boatman. 94, 11. 

The nom. glassin also occurs, gurmu na gasa ylassin (: dil), LL, 33446. 



nu-fiadnisse n. the New Testament 
2, 3. 4, 1. 

oela f . obstinacy. 22/16. 
een-menmnach single-minded. 12, 16. 
digit- ? 50, 15. 
oirb upon you. 100, 3. 
6vi& from which is. 32,25. Ml. 512. 
ordnim I ordain, perf. sg. S.roord- 
nestar 2, 6. 

petarlaic f. the Old Testament. 2, 3. 

4, 1. 
port m. a place. 52,16. gen. dochom 

poirt, LU. 121a2. Wi. 
prdugad ? 58, 10. 
pudur m. harm. 28,24. 
pupall a tent. 40, 13. ace. pi. pupli, 

LU. 70447. 

rachall a shroud, gen. trian rachaill 
44, 25. rfiam rachaiU 96, 17. 

rathaiges m. guarantor ship. 20, 3. 

rath-mac m. a son of grace. 20, 8. 

rede s m. an enclosure, close, cell. 8, 23. 
18, 27. 22, 7. rigless 18, 21. 94, 6. 
Trip. 470, 30, 31. asa recles extra 
cettulam, RC. ii, 392. dub-r. nigra 
cellula, Preface to Altus Prosator. 
Colum ina duibhregles, FM. A.D. 592. 
gen. reclesa, CZ. iii, 45. do denam 
do reclessa, Lism. L. 2681. do chum- 
tach reclesa, ib. 2585. dat. dia 
recleus, El. B. 512, 33i. ace. pi. 
reclesae 8, 23. 

relecc f. a cemetery. 40, 26, 30. roilece 
40, 23. dat. religc 80, 6. 84, 19. 
ace. releic 40, 27. 42, 3. gen. relgi 
42, 2. 54, 1. 

riagldir m. censor. 82, 28. 

rlg-des very clever. 90, 3. 

rig-laech m. a royal warrior, gen. 
riglaig 50, . npl. riglaig 10, 31. 
ra"nic m6r r6t in rfglach (a woman), 
LL. 197058 ciarbu riglach Ifath, 
Trip. 210, 20. 

riglaechda royally heroic. 14, 6. 

ro-chell f. a great church. 78, 20. 

ruacaim I chase. 40, 2. 

ruba (v.n. of ro-benim) n. a brake, 

clearing 62, 30. 
ruse a hamper. 60, 16. 
ruthen f. brilliance, dat. ruthin 82, 


sacarbaic the Host. 46, 14. 25. Wi. 

aacarfaic, SG. ii, 459, 23. 
saeb-choire a maelstrom, whirlpool. 94, 

12. BB. 45U32. Wi. 
saidbir wealth, cona s., 82, 23. 
scel-mdr great-storied. 12, 29. 
scd a brewing, brew. 74, 29. sco .i. 

linn, O Dav. 1489. Hence sceaire 

m. a brewer. Corra. 9 s.v. cerbsire; 

Lism. Lives, Index. O Dav. 39. 
sebac aelga m. a hunting hawk. 44, 6. 
sele (W. haliw) n. spittle. 94, 16. 19. 

E.G. 9, 16. ib. 12, 328 16. saile 


sen old. superl. sinem 8, 1. 
sen-raith f . an old fort. 8, 8. 
sesreeh f. a plough-team, ace. sg. sesrig 

92, 11. 

silliud T 16, 19. 
slaide a cutting down. 28, 21. 
sneid minute, small, slight, insignificant. 


so-dethbir urgency, hurry. 58, 20. 
sodethbriugud hurry, hustling. 96, 24. 
soidnge f. comfort. 22, 23. 
sop m. a wisp. 54. 22. Wi. 
sproo (= bron, with protbetic s) dejection. 

dat. i sprue 46, 29. 
srab m. an attack, force, violence ? dat. 

on tsrab 90, 12. rosni in sr&b sen- 

grennach, LL. 211*14. fri srabh (.i. 

forlan) ndomain bad fethmech, Eriu 

iii, p. 96 (sic MS. A 1 ), ace. pi. bniiB 

srabu sil Cuind, El. B. 602, llfc. 
srait street, road. 18, 29. 
suaichinte conspicuous. 96, 17. 
sug juice a particle, cen a. n-aiace 


tarsann condiment. 58, 7. ace, pi. 

torsnu, Aisl. M. 99, 7. 
tart? 42, 19. 



t&Bcicome I 24, 18. 48, 1. pi. 2 taiscid-si 

Lism. L. 4418 = teccaid-si B. 
tathmet n. memory. 20, 10. taithmet 

tempall a church. 40, 15. 22. 94, 


tenure. 58, 6. 

tenga f. the tongue of a bell. 26, 10. 12- 
tenn,aim / strain, tighten. 100, 1. oc 

tennad a e"taig, RC. 13, 102, 131. 

tendmaid-ne 98, 18. 
tenta a difficulty, strait. fri tendta, 

94, 14. tenta catha, Fianaig. 60, 

tedir f. meditation. 104, 32. Arch. 

iii, 306. RC. 15, 259. LL. 80445. 
termud 100, 14. See note, 
terns m. a journey. 100, 4. turas, 

ti a circle. 62, 29. dorat ti dia 

bachaill atarra, Lism. L. 4109. 
timchell ar timchill in turn. 20, 13. 

Cf. do choirnet gach lai timcheall, 

Lism. L. 2848 ; iar n-urd timchill, 

ib. 4163. 
timnaim I commend, assign, confide. 

pres. subj. sg. 1 co rotiranor 48, 3. 
tiachur m. implement*, ingredients. 

t. fleide 40, 16. a thincur eter 

choilcthe 7 brothracha, LTJ. 5648. 

tinchor, "Wi. 

tiucme ? t. each tened 50, 5. 
tlath 100, 11 miswritten for tlacht? 
til delight 1 comfort ? 100, 10. Patraic, 

ni triamain a tli, LL. 16447. batailc 

tli do laechaib 35422. 

tochra (v.n. of do-crenim)n. bride-price. 

92, 1. 2. 
tochraim (fri) I oppose, fight (against). 

dotuchre 32, W. 
todochaide/tttortfy. 46, 15. 
tortrommad m. heaviness, drowsiness. 

10, 10. Wi. 
tothacht possession, validity. 102, 10. 

BB. 19414. iar ddthucht, Misc. Arch. 

Soc. 132. SG. 138, 44. totbocht, Wi. 
traigthech m. a foot- soldier. 94, 22. 
trebar prudent, wise. 8, 19. 
treblait 1 sickness. 22, 5. trebhlaid 

m6r, TFr. 8, 3. 
tregat f. ache. 10, 10. ace. tregait 

ib. 12. 

treith weak. 16, 25. LL. 157a37. 
trell a while. 88, 16. trell eile, 

LB. 273437. 

triath sea. gen. trethan 52, 26. Wi. 
trindit f. Trinity. 4, 16. 17. 12, 5. 
tri through, trit an firtsin 88, 2. 9, 44. 

treimit 78, 22. 
trist a curse. 100, 14. 
tuathbel, ar t. lefthandwise. 58, 23. 
tmlimlsleep. 16,26. 
tuir a pillar; chief. 6, 22. 
tusecht f. a leading. 2, 15. 

uan-molt m. a ewe-lamb. 54, 4. 14. 
uaran a well. 52, 26. 
uas above, tiastu 22, 19. 88, 8. 
ugaire m. a herdsman. 96, 25 = aegaire 

bo 96, 19. 
ullide great, long. an g[c]ein bes 

ullidu 76, 6. 

1 Both syllables are short. 

( 128 ) 


The numbers refer to the paragraphs. 

Abel mac Adaira, 104. 

Abram mac Tarra Abraham son of Terah, 


Adam, 3, 104. 
Aed Find, see Leda. 
Aed mac Ainmirech, 44, 45, 62. 
Aed Koin or Aed Dub, King of 

Leinster (Offaly) t604. 90, 91. 
Aed Sl ane (Slange) f598-604. 63, 69. 
Ailill (Elell) mac Baain, 5. 
Ailill a quo Cinel.Ailella 39, 79. 
Ainmire mac Congail Cendmagair, 44- 

Ainmere mac Setna, 45. 
Airechtach (Erechtach) mac Muiredaig, 

erenagh of Lann, 19, 37, 100. 
Airmedach mac Colmdin, 49. 
Airmedach (Caech) mac Conaill 

Guthbind, 73. 

Araas Amoz (father of Isaiah); 104. 
Amrae Amram (father of Moses), 1, 


Anfossaid mac Leda, 8, 36, 38. 
Anniaraid, a smith, 40, 41. 
Aramail mac Dubain, 79. 
Arnan mac Eogain, 59. 
Art Oenfer mac Cuinn Che tchathaig, 


Baan mac Raidi, 5. 

Baetan Bretnach (= Uidrin?), 79. 

Becrachan, a monk of, 101. 

Blathmacc mac Aeda Slaine, joint king 

of Ireland, t665 or 668. 19, 69. 
Brig ingen Comgaill, wife of Cummine, 


Bright St. Bridget, 58. 
Brion mac Echdach Mugmedoin, 5. 

Brocan mac Dainel, 5. 
Brogel ingen Luachain, 8, 9. 
Buidnech ingen Luachain, 8, 9. 

Caech Rolach mac Brocain, 5, 15, 16. 
Cairpre Lifechair mac Cormaic Ulfatai, 


Cass , ancestor of Dal Caiss, 28. 
Cassan cruimthir, of Domnach M6r, 73, 


Cerball mac Fergusa, 63. 
Cernach Sotal mac Diarmata (Riiaid) 

t664 or 667. 69. 
Ciaran of Clonmacnois f549. C. Cluana, 

Cinaeth mac Oengusa, King of Offaly 

(wrongly called mac Conchobuir, 

p. 86, 27), 86, 87, 88. 
Coisemnach, 41, 75, see Mac Coisem- 


Colman of Clonard, see Mocholmoc. 
Colman Comraire, 31, 33, 42, 76, 77. 
Colman Ela, 31, 33, 42, 76, 77, 83. f611. 
Colman mac Luachain, passim. 
Colmain, na trf, i.e., the three preceding 

saints, 76, 77. 
Colman Mor mac Diarmato Deirg, f555 

or 558 or 563. 45, 49. 
Colum Cille, f597. 52, 56, 77, 78, 104. 
Colum mac Ailello, 5. 
Comgall, king of Delbna Mor, 37. 
Conall Cremthainne mac Neill Ndigiall- 

aig, 3, 49, 63. 
Conall Gulban mac Neill Noigiallaig, 

Conall Guthbind mac Suibni, king of 

Meath, f635. 54, 55, 58, 59, 62, 65, 

66, 70, 91, 92. 



Conan mac Fiachra, 39. 
Conchraid epscop, 42, 53, 54, 82. 
Conchubar ua Mailsechlainn, 50. 
Conchubar ancestor of Cinaeth ot 

Offaly, 86. 

Congal Cendmagair mac Setnai, 44. 
Conn Cetchathach, 3. 
Cormac Ulfata mac Airt Oinfir, 3. 
Cremthann = Conail Cremthainne, q.v. 
Crist Christ, 10, 14, 32, 38, 57, 76. 
Crob Criad, steward of Ferns, 71. 
Cromm Der6il, steward of Glasnevin, 


Cronan mac Luachain, 2, 8, 9. 
Cruimther Cassan, see Cassan. 
Cfianu (Cuanna) macCummaine,erenagh 

of Lann, 8, 37, 38, 97. 
CuChaille mac Dublaide, chief of Far- 

tullagh, 50. 
CQ Mend, 55. 
Cummaine (Cummine) mac Leda, 8, 37. 

Dainel mac Dairi, 5. 

Daire mac Guill, 5. 

Dathi mac Fiachrach, 5. 

Duid mac lasse David son of Jesse, 

Diarmait mac Aeda Sl&ne f665 or 668. 


Diavmait (Dian) mac Airmedaig f689. 
Diarmait (Derg) mac Cerbaill, king of 

Ireland, 544(5)-565 or 572. 63. 
Disertaig, na tri, 42. 
Dochartach, 71, 72. 
Domnall mac Aeda, king of Ireland, 

f642. 44, 45, 62. 
Domnall mac Donnchada, meic Mur- 

chada, king of Ireland, = Domnall 

m. Murcbada, 743-763. 73, 74, 79, 

89, Introd. 

Duban mac Ailella, 39, 79. 
Dublaide, father of Cti Chaille, 50. 
Dungal mac Mailefothbil, king of 

Fermoy, 24, 25. 

Eochaid Muigmeddn, 3. 
Eogan, father of Arnan, 59. 


Eoin brunndalta John the Evangelist, 


Erechtach, see Airechtach. 
Ernan mac Luachain, 8, 9. 
Etchen epscop, 1 578 or 584. 4, 7, 10 

18,29, 31, 33,35/42. 
Ethgen mac Tigernain, 63. 

Faillen, father of Maelodran, 64. 

Feradach. mac Caiss, 28. 

Fergus Cerbel (Cerball) mac Conaill 

Chremthainne, 3, 63. 
Fergus mac Conaill Guiban, 44. 
Fiacha Srobthine mac Cairpri Lifechair, 

Fiachra mac Dubain, 39 ; cabled mac 

Ailella, 79. 

Fiachra mac Maini, 5. 
Fidmuine, baptismal name of Ua 

Suanaig, q.v., 75. 
Find mac Maine, 69. 
Finden of Clonard, t 549. 79, 91. 
Flann mac Onchon, 65. 
Forannan mac Leda Find, 43. 
Forannan mac Find, 69. 
Fursa craibdech f 648 or 661. 42, 97, 


Gilla Coluim, Introd. 

Gilla Crist ua Mochain, a craftsman, 

Gilla Crist mac Gillai Patraic, erenagh 

of Lann, Introd. 
Gilla Patraic, Introd. 
Goll mac Coluim, 5. 
Grigair Gregory, 76. 
Grogin, name of a bull, 41. 

lasse Je&se, father of David, 1. 
lesus mac Nun Joshua son of Nun, 1. 
lob Job, 4, 104. 

Issahias mac Namais Isaiah son ofAmoz 

Ldegaire mac Neill Ndigiallaig, 55, 



Lasaar ingen Caleb Rolach, 5, 6, 7, 


Lechet mac Leda, 8, 37, 38. 
Leda (Find) mac Maini, 3, 43, 45 (sic 

leg. for Aed). 

Lessar ingen Luachain, 8, 9. 
Lomman, 10, 42. 
Liiachan mac Ledae, 3, 45. 
Luache ingen Luachain, 8, 9. 
Luachet ingen Luachain, 8, 9. 
Lucas Luke, 104. 

Mac Coisemnaig, 40, 75. 

Mac Conchubuir, Introd. 

Mac Liac, 59. 

M*ed6c, 42, 71, 72. 

Mfcelcaba mac Aeda f614. 45. 

Maelfotbbil, 24. 

Maelodran, 49. 

Maelodran mac Faillein, steward of Ui 

Airmedaig, 64, 66, 68, 69. 
Maelsechlainn, 41, see Ui Maelseclilainn. 
Maeltule mac Nochuire, 76, 104. 
Maelumae mac Forannain, 69, 70. 
Maenan mac Feradaig, 28. 
Maine mac Briuin, 5. 
Maine mac Diarmato Deirg, 3 (mac 

Fergusa, perperam), 45. 
Maire the Virgin Mary, 49. 
Martan St. M&lt;trtin, 57. 
Mennan mac Maenan, 28. 
Mid[gjna mac Luachain, 8, 9. 
Mobi Clarenech f545, 77, 78, 79. 
Mochan, see Ui Mochain. 
Mocholmoc = Colman mac Luachain 

Mocbolm6c = Colman of Clonard, f654 . 

90, 91, 92. 

Mochua mac Nemainn, 35. 
Mochutu(Mocbuta, Mochutta, Machutta) 

of Rahen and Lismore, f637. 18, 19, 

20, 21, 22, 23,.24, 27, 42, 85. 
M6id6c, see Ma*ed6c. 
M6ise (Maoisi) mac Amrae Moses son of 

Amram, 1, 64, 104. 
Moling Luachra f697. 71. 
Mominoc, 50. 
Mongdub ingen Luachain, 8, 9, 17. 

Motura, son of the king of Corco 

Bascind, 27, 28. 

Muiredacb, father of Airechtach, 100. 
Murchad mac Diarmata, 73. 
Murcbad ua Mailsecblainn, king of 

Meath, fH53, Introd. 
Muredacb Tirech mac Fiachach 
^Srobtbine, 3. 

Nemann, father of Mochua, 35. 

Niall Noigiallacb mac Ecbdacb Muig- 

medoin, f405. 3, 11, 44, 63. 
Ndchuire, father of Maeltuile, 104. 

Oengus, father of Cinaed, 86, 87, 


Oengus mac ind Oc, 86. 
Oncbu mac Sarain, chief of Fartullagh, 

47, 48, 65. 

Patraic, 55, 58. 
Petar St. Peter, 76, 77. 
Pol apstal the apostle Paul, 13, 76, 

Raide mac Dathi, 5. 
Ronat ingen Etligein, 63. 
Ross Failge, ancestor of Ui Failgi. 
Ruaidri Ua Conchobair, king of 
Connacht, }.1118, Introd. 

Samtbann, t739. 42. 
Samuel, 1. 

Saran, father of Oncbu, 47, 48, 65. 
Setna mac Ferguso, 44. 
Suibne mac Colmain (Moir), f600 or 
604. 49. 

Tarra Terah, father of Abmham, 

Tigernin mac Aeda Slane (Slangi), 

Toirdelbacb mac 1.6adrach, king of 

Connaugbt and Ireland, 1 1156, Introd 
Trede ingen Luachain, 8. 



Tuathal mac Gilla Coluim, priest of 

Lann, Introd. 
Turges, chief of the Gaill glaiss, t&45, 


Ua hAedacain, 19. 

Un hAengusa, erenagh of Cell Uird, 


Ua Conch ubuir, see Ruaidri. 
Ua Dercain, 19. 

UaFerchair, 19. 

Ua Mailsechlainn, see Conchobar and 


Ua Mochain, see Gilla Crist. 
Ua Scoil, 101. 
Ua Suanaig, t757. 42, 75. 
Uictuir aingel the angel Victor, 29. 
Uidrin mac Aramail, of Cell Uidrin, 79. 

Ultan, 59. 


The numbers refer to the paragraphs. 

Achad in Pubaill, in Ui Dubain, 41. 
Adrad Ingine Luachain, in Croebech 

Lainne, halfway between Croeb 

Ullann and Lann, 17. 
Adrad Motura, near Lann, 27, 84. 
Amalech Amakk, 1. 
Ard Cain, 74. 
Ard M&lt;5r Ardmore, bar. Moyashel, co. 

Westmeath, 74. 
Ard Muccada, 74. 
Ard Nessan, 74. 
Ath (in) Dairc, in Fartullagh, on the 

Brosnach, 8, 29, 89, 97. 

Bale Asidta, 74. 

Bale Ua nDimman, in Ui Thigernain, 

Bale Ua Fothatan, in Ui Thigernain, 

Bale Ua nDiingalan, in Ui Thigernain, 

Bale Ua Lothrachan, in Ui Thigernain, 


Berba f. the Barrow, ri Berba, 88. 
Bethel f. Bethlehem, ace. Bethil, 10. 
Boann f. the Boyne, 45, 69. 
Bordgal f. in Ui Thigernain, 59, gen. 

Borddgaile, LL. 374*, 16. 

Brechmag n., the plain of Bregia, co. 
Meath, 74. 

Brega Bregia, dat. i mBrega[ib], 69. 
Bretach f., near Clonard, gen. na Bret- 

cha, 92. 
Bretain Britons, gen. Baetin Bretan, 

Brosnach f., the river Brosna, 13, 14. 

Caill Cellan, in Fartullagh, 54. 

Caille na hlngine, near Ath in Daire, 


Cananei Canaanites. 1. 
Garrac Leime ind Eich, in Ui Foran- 

nain, p. 14, n. 1, 50, 51. 
Cam Fiachach Cam, par. Conry, bar. 

Rathconrath, W. M^eath, 91. 
Cell Becc in Ui Thigernain, N.E. of 

Less in Daire, 12, 13, 14, 29, 62, 

p. 14, n. 1. 

Cell Becrachan, at Lann, 101. 
Cell Chaca (?) in Ui Dubain, 39. 
Cell Chluana Gamna, 9. 
Cell Luache, in Leix, 9. 
Cell Ua Muca, 63. 
Cell Uidrin, 79, 89. 
Cell Uird, in Fermoy, p. 14, n. 1. 19, 


Cenel Ailella, in Fartullagh, 39, 79. 
Ciarraige Luachra Kerry, 9. 
Claenr&th Temrach, 58. 
Clann Onchon, 49. 



Clanna Forandain meic Lseda Find, 43, 

1. CUiain = Cluain Fota. 

2. Cluain, 85, = Cluain Meic Nois. 

3. Cldain, 36, = Cluain Colmain Moir. 
Cluain Colmain M6ir, 34. 

Cluain Dam, in Ui Dubain, 39, 53. 
Cluain Fota Clonfad, in Farbill, W. 

Meath, 33, 34, 35, 42. 
Cldain Gamnae, prob. Clo&lt;&gt;gawny, bar. 

Moyashel and Magheradernon, W. 

Meath, 8, 9, 74. 
(Main Gilli Fin&n, Clongil, bar. Mor- 

gallion, Meath, 74. 
Cluain Iraird Clonard, 75, 90, 92. 
Cluain Mrfeil, in Ui Dubain, 39. 
Cluain Mescdn, in Ulster, 54. 
Cnamross, dat Cnairarus, 8. 
Cnoc Brfinaind Brandon Hill, Kerry, 


Cnoc Domnallain,in UiThigernain, 62. 
Coirthe na nGiall 1 , at Tara, 70. 
Comraire, Conry, bar. Rathconrath, 

W. Meath, 31. 

Conaille Murthemne, co. Louth. 
Conaillech, a native of Conaille Mur 
themne, 34. 

Corca Raidhi Corkaree, W. Meath, 5. 
Corco Bascinn, co. Clare, 27. 
Crdeb Ullan(n) in Ui Dubain, near 

Lann, 9, 17, 39. 
Croebech Lainde, at Lann, 17. 
Cro-inis f. Growinish or Cormorant 

Island in Loch Ennell, dat. lain Chro- 

insi, 62, 101. 
Grose Ciamau, near Lann, p. 14, n. 2. 


Cross Fursai, at Lann, 97. 
Cross na Trumraa, near Lann, 84, 85. 

in cross 6 Thig Lorn main siar, 7. 
Cuillend Bee, near Less Dochuinn, 46. 
Cuillend M6r, near Less Dochuinn, 46. 

Daire Aidnen, 81. 
Dair Colmdin, 81. 

Dal Cftiss, in Thomond, 28. 

Delbna Ethrae Delvin, bar. Garrycastle, 

Meath, 9. 

Delbna Mdr Delvin, W. Meath, 37. 
Domnach Mor, 73. 
Dronn f., Dronn Ard Faichnig, Drong 

Faichnig, 79. 
Druim Ceta, in Roe Park, near 

Newtown-Limavaddy, Co. Derry, 42, 

52, 77, 78. 

Duiblinn, see Port Duiblinne. 
Duma Bolgc, in Ui Thigernain, 62. 
Dun Bri, 68, 

Dun Leime ind Eich, 44, 45. 
Dun na Cairgge, in Meath, 48, 50. 
Dun Senchada, 74. 

Elg-inisf. Ireland, 11. 
Eriu f. Ireland, 27, 34, 49, 70, 76, 77, 
78, 96, 97, ri Erenn, 44, 52. 

Faithche meic Mecnan, on Loch Sewdy, 

bar. Rathconrath, W. Meath, 91. 
Ferna M6r Ma"edoc Ferns, Co. 

Wexford, 71. 
Felistinech Philistine, 1. 
Fid Dorcha (the Ui Dubain, near Lann, 

were in), 29, 39, 53, 86. 
Fir Maige Fermoy, 24. 
Fir Xulach Fartulluyh, W. Meath, 47, 

50, 54, 101. 

Gaedil Gaels, 49. 

Gaill Norsemen, 49. 

Glass Naeiden Glasnevin, near Dublin, 

77, 78. 

Gortin Grogin, in Ui Dubain, 39, 41. 
Guirtfn Tire Bandala, 2 in Fid Dorcha, 


I f. lona, 65. 
Ibrach f., at Lann, 19. 
Ibrach Colmain meic Luachain, at 
Rahen, 19, 21. 

1 Cf. Duma na nGiall in Tara, Dinds. 1, 12. 

2 There are two Gorteens in W. Meath, one in Clonlonan, the other in 
Fartullagh barony. 



Inis Conchada, in Ui Thigernaiu, 62. 
Inis Locha Maige Uath, 50. 
Inis na Cairrce, 4-1, 48. 
lordanes the Jordan, 1. 
Israel Israel, 1. 

Laeichis f. Leix, gen. crich Lseichsi, 9. 

Laigin Leinster, ri Laigen, 90. 

Lam airgit, a name for the Brosnach, 1 

Land = Land meic Luachain, 17, 19,27, 

28, 35, 40, 42, 35, 53, 66, 68, 72. 
Land meie Luachain Lynn, bar. Delvin, 

W. Meath, p. 14, n. 1. 29, 87. 
Lathrach Briuin Laragh Brien, Co. 

Kildare, 77, 79. 

Leim ind Eich, in Ui Forannain, 44, 45. 
Lemchaill, in Ui Thigernain, Meath, 

Lena (Le ne), in Ui Forrain, p. 14, n. 1, 

43, 44. 

Less an Pobuil, 74. 
Less Conin, 74. 
Less Dochuind, in Ui Forannain, p. 14, 

n. 1, 46, 69. 

Less Draignein, in Ui Dubain, 39. 
Less Duban, in Ui Dubain, 39. 
Less Glinne, 74. 

Less Gruccain, in Ui Dubain, 39. 
Less in Daire, near Ath in Daire, SW. 

of Cell Bee, 12. 
Less Mor Lismore, Co. Waterford, 19, 

21, 24, 26, 27. 
Less na Con, in Ui Dubain, near Cell 

Uidrin, perhaps Liosnugon, Upper 

Kells, Meath, 39, 89. 
Less na Findan, in Ui Thigernain, 62. 
Less na Fingaile, in Ui Duban, 39. 
Less na Moga = Raithin in Pupuill, 

near Tulach ind Oiss, 74. 
Less na h Uama, at Cluain Gilli Finain, 


Leth Cluain, 74. 
Letha Latium, 76, 79. 

Lia Fursa, ace. sg. fri Lie F., 98. 

Life the Li/ey, gen. ri Lin, 89. 

Loch Anninn Lough Ennell, W. Mealh, 

69, 84. 

Loch Corr, in Ui Dubain, 39. 
Loch Maige Uath, probably Bally 

Loughloe, Clonlonan, W. Meatb, 50. 

Macne Mailodrain, 49. 
Madian, Midianite, 1. 
Maelblatha, name of a stone in lona, 


Mag Descirt, co. Kerry, 9. 
Mag Uath, 50. 

Meic Airechtaig, erenaghs of Lann, 37. 
Meic Menndn, 28. 
Mide Meath, 9, 29, 48, 86, 91, 102; 

gen. riMidi, 41, 62, 91, 101. 
Miliuc, 79. 
Mdin Lainne, 27. 
Muilenn Cerr Mullingar, W. Meath, 56, 


Muilenn Dee, 59. 
Muir Ruad the Red Sea, 64, 104. 
Mumu f. Munster, 20, 23, 25, 26. 
Murbach na B6inne, 69. 

Port Duiblinne Dublin, 77. 
Port Indsi ha Cairrge, 41, 50 ; = Port na 
hlndse, 64. 

Rdith Cairech, in Ui Dubain, 39. 

Raith Cosemnaig, 75. 

Raith Criti (Cridi) in Ui Dubain, 39, 

Rdith Chuanna M6r Rathcoon, bar. 

Morgallion, co. Meath, 8. 
Raith Donnchada, 74. 
Raith Drogcan, 74. 
Raith in Midg, in Ui Dubain, 39. 
Raith Inraith, in Ui Dubain, 39 
Raith Lechet, in Cnimross, 74. 

1 But according to Sir Henry Piers, quoted in James Woods Annals of 
Westmeath, p. 76, the Brosna is called the &lt; Golden Hand, while the Silver 
Hand is a name for a stream issuing from the northern end of Loch Owel. 



Raith M6r Maige Deisceirt, in Ciarraige 

Luachra, 9. 

Raith Spelan, in Ui Dubain, 39, 40. 
Raithen Rahen, bar. Ballycowan, 

King s Co., dat. ace. Rathen, 18. 
Raithin in PupailL= Less ha Moga, 74. 
Raithin in Usci, in Ui Dubain, 39. 
Raithin na Brechmaige, 74. 
Raithin na Gabann, 74. 
Rom f . Rome, 26, 76, 77 ; R6m Letha, 
76, 79 ; gen. R6mae, 82 ; dat. is in 

Ruaim, 77; ic R6im, 83; do Roim, 


Romanach a Roman, 11. 
Ross, gen. Rossa, 88. 
Ross Dullerin, 74. 
Ross Findglaisse, in Slieve Bloom, 

Rosenallis, Queen s Co., 9. 
Ross Omna, 74, 79. 
Ruba Conaill, in Ui Thigernain, Rath- 

connell (Rowe Connell, Racunnell), 

2 miles east of Mullingar, W. Meath, 

59, 62. 
Ru[b]a M6r Corracan, in Ui Dubain, 


Senraith. Chuanna, 8. 

Senraith Leis in Daire, see Less in 

Daire, 74. 

Sliab Bladma Slieve Bloom, 9. 
Sliab Elpa the Alps, 76. 

Tailltiu Telltown, 88 ; gen. aenach 

Taillten, 84. 
Tech Colmain, in Upper Fartullagh, 

54, 82. 

Tech Conain, in Ui Dubain, 39, 40, 41. 
Tech Laisrenn, nearLann, 27. 
Tech Lommaiu, in Tir Colmain, Port- 

loman on Lough Owel, 7, 10, 82. 
Tech Meic Conba, in Ui Dubain, 39. 
Tech Mochua Timahoe, Queen s Co., 35. 
Tech Nadfraich, in Bregia, 69. 
Temair f. Tara, 34, 45, 69, 73 ; gen. 

Temrae, 69; ri Temrach, 70, 86, 89, 

102; ace. Temraig, 192. 
Tipra Colmain, at Dun na Cairrce, 50. 
Tir Baethain, in UiDubain, 39. 

Tir Bandala, 86. 

Tir Colmain, along the western shore of 

Loch Owel, bar. Corkaree, co. West 

Meath, 10. 

Tir Fraech, in Ui Thigernain, 62. 
Tir in Disirt, near Lann, 53, 54. 
Tir M6r, hi Ui Thigernain, 62. 
Tir na Copan, in Tir Colmain, 10. 
Tir na Leici, in Ui Dubain, 39, 41. 
Toidiu Moling Luachair, 71. 
Tulach ind Oiss, 58, 74. 
Tulach Lin, in Ui Dubain, 39. 
Tulach Lon&n, 45. 
Tulach Ruad, in Ui Dubain, 39. 

Uachtar Comartha, in Ui Thigernain, 

p. 14, n. 1, 61. 
Uachtar Fer Tulach, Upper Fartullagh, 

Uam Colmain, Caiman s Cave, at Dun 

Leime ind Eich, 45. 
Ui Airmedaig, 64. 
Ui Braendin, 45. 

Ui Chennselaig, in South Leineter, 9 
Ui Chruib Chriad, 72. 
Ui Dimma, 82. 
Ui Dochartaig, at Land, 72. 
Ui Domnain, in Fartullagh, 50. 
Ui Dubain Caille, in Fid Dorcha, 39. 
Ui Dubain Maige, ir Fid Dorcha, 39. 
Ui Failgi Offaly, 40, 86, 87, 88, 89. 
Ui Flaind, 65. 

Ui Forannain, p. 14, n. 1. 46, 70, 73. 
Ui Fuill, in Corco Raidi, 5, 82. 
Ui Gussain, 62. 
Ui Lechett, near Lann, 37. 
Ui Mailbethad, 45. 
Ui Mailumae, 8, 36. 
Ui Maenachain, 8. 
Ui Manchain (lucht na Cluana), 36. 
Ui Muca, 63. 
Ui Sfianaig, 19, n. 1. 
Ui Thegthecha n, in Fartullagh, 50. 
Ui Thigernain, bar. Corkaree, W. 

Meath, p. 14, n. 1, 59, 61, 62. 
Ulaid Epscop Aeda, near Ath in Daire, 


Ulaid Fursa, at Land, 98. 
Ultach an Ulster man, 34. 

( 135 ) 



p. 4, 1, 14, read martlri 

p. 8, 1. 10, for Daire read Daire 

p. 8, 1. 26, fcr descirt, read Descirt 

p. 10, 1. 10, for tort[h]romad read tortromad 

p. 11, 1. 19, read Copan 

p. 14, 1. 11, for hath[s]ilti read hathilti 

p. 18, 1. 28, for laibraige read hlbraige 

p. 20, 1. 10, emend 6 Blathmac na rab tathmet 

p. 28, 11. 15 and 16, for can read each 

p. 30, 1. 3, for can read each 

p. 35, n. 3, read Anfosaid 

p. 38, 1. 2, for Griein read griein 

p. 40, 1. 11, for each read cacha 

p. 42, 1. 21, for Gulban read Gulban 

p. 46, 1. 25, for findfaidech read findfaidech 

p. 48, 1. 3, for curottimnor read curotimnor 

p. 50, 1. 7, read rnane tarset and translate unless false 

chieftains come 

p. 52, 1. 21, for dechmad read dechmatd 
p. 64, 1. 22, for c[h]roind-si read C[h]roindsi 
p. 72, 1. 25, for are gin read ar egin 
p. 76, 1. 6, for gein read g[c]ein 
p. 80, 1. 22, for lepthaid read lepaid 
p. 80, 1. 28, for Colum read Coluim 
p. 94, 1. 25, for trit read trit 
p. 96, 1. 27, for dobeiran read dobeir an 


p. 3, 1. 14, for Amra read Amram 
p. 7, 1. 23, for her (bis) read his 
p. 7, note 3, for 51 read 52 
p. 21, 1. 3, for Aedacain read hAedacain 
p. 23, 1. 31, for bids farewell to read asks leave of 
p. 25, 1. 32, for urged read helped 

p. 29, 1. IS, for without permission read out of every hundred 
p. 31, 1. 1, for limb read joint 

p. 31, 1. 3, for only without permission read out of every 



p. 37, note 1, for dige read aige 

p. 39, 1. 3, for family of Grian read global family 

p. 43, 1. 13, for brothers of his grandfather read descendants 

of his grandfather s brothers 
p. 43, 1. 24, for Conal read Conall 
p. 51, 11. 21 and 27, for hill read island 
p. 53, . 5, omit hill 

p. 61, .33, after Dun Bri insert hitherward 
p. 53, . 11, after Cairrge insert without 
p. 53, .21, for CuChaile read CuChaille 
p. 89, . 33 before safeguard insert proper 
p. 91, after obedient insert with love 


p. 108, 1. 11, dele the note, and for a persoin compare : in 

tan labratar ind filid a persin inna ndea, Sg. 162a3 
p. Ill, 1. 30, for Rahen read Lismore 

p. 122, col. I, for * ad-berim read ad-opraim 



p. ix., 1. 5, for 19 read 20 

? &., n. 1, dualaig should be dualaig. See corrigenda on 

Notes p. 110, 11 
p. xvi., 1. 8. According to the text ( 5) his mother was 

descended from Niall s brother Brian. P. W. 


4, 1. 15, for maic read me? c (sio passim) 

ib., for is oentu read is[in] oentu 
4, 1. 22, for Srobthine read Srobtine 
4, 1. 26, om. m. D[I]armata Deirer. P. W. 
6, 1. 1, for secht read sechtmad 


P. 6, 1. 6, for de nach mathwsa read nach rnathtwsa or de 

nach mathiws. P. W. 
p. 8, 11. 13, 23, for Ernain read Ernan and cf. p. 62, 16, 27, 

or else Ern(a)m P. W. 
p. 8, 1. 18, for an-ord read a n-ord P. W. 
p. 14, 1. 2, for Romanchaib read romanchaib (?) 
p. 14, 1. 20, for batir read batis (?) 
p. 16, 1. 26, for for read for 
p. 18, 1. 13, for Ullan read Ullan[n] 
p. 18, 1. 33, for conieci sarugud read cuicci. Sarugud 


p. 20, 1. 13, for clamrad read chlamraid P. W. 
p. 22, 1. 27, for deonebad read deonebad 
p. 24, 1. 27, for torsed read torgbad P. W. 
p. 28, 1. 20, for trath read tra 
p. 28, 1. 25, for fine read fin[n]e 
p. 30, 1. 21, for firu bile read Firu Bile P.W. 
p. 32, 1. 24, for ba read bid 
p. 34, 1. 19, for cac[h] read cac P.W. 
p. 36, 1. 26, for mair read mair 
p. 38, 1. 6, for Less Gruccam read Liss Gruccain 
p. 38, 1. 7, for Caca read Chachdn (?) P.W. 
p. 38, 1. 9, for Tulaig read Tulach. P. W. 
p. 38, 1. 26, for i areas read tarcas 
p. 40, 1. 27, for bid read bid 
p. 40, 1. 31, for Bid . . . bid read Bid ... bid 
p. 42, 1. 22, for chungaidis read chumgaidis P. W. 
p. 44, 1. 5, "for carraic read c[h]arraic 
p. 44, 1. 8, for -] Aedae Find -\ Mane read meic AedaB Find 

meic Mane (as at p. 72, 1. 7) P. W. 
p. 46, 1. 1, for Leiss read Liss (or Liuss) 
p. 46, 1. 9, for asbeir read asberr 
p. 48, 1. 7, for roba read roba 
p. 50, 1. 27, for co rab read corab 
p. 56, 11. 29-30, for roboi . . . Disirt read roboi hi Tir an 

Disirt etir -] comad iar ndul adiu nogabad ifus P. W. 
p. 68, 1. 7, for cuinc[h]id fair read cuinc[h]i forn (?) 
p. 58, 1. 14, for thoimela read thoimelod 
p. 62, 1. 19, for bid fir read biait (or beit) fir 
p. 62, 1. 22, for Bit read Bit (or Biait or Beit) 
p. 62, 1. 26, for ro read co P. W. 
p. 64, 1. 22, for i ngnesto read ingriesta P. W. 
p. 68, 1. 26, for tuc-som read ] tuc-som P. W. 
p. 70, 1. 20, for tancais read tancos 
p. 76, 1. 19, for a cella read [n]a cella P. W. 



p. 82, 
p. 86, 
p. 92, 
P- 94, 
p. 94, 
p. 94, 
p. 98, 
p. 98, 
p. 100 
p. 100 : 

1. 22, for bid read bid (ipv.} or biaid (fut.) 
20, for grcis read greis 
. 30, for fa cenn dib read fa cendaib (?) 
, 3, for Ber read Berid 

. 9, for firbale read fir bale (c/. p. 88, 12) 
, 11, for murthaid.i read murthaidi 

28, for timna read t imna 
, 32, for tig read thaig 
1. 5, for t[h]nuth read t[h]nu 
1. 7, for nar read nel 


p. 3, 1. 23, for the saints read His saints 

p. 5, 1. 11, for another read the other 

p. 5, 1. 13, for his soul the text has they 

p. 5, 1. 25, for Srobthine read Srobtine 

p. 5, 1. 30, om. son of Diarmait the Red P. W. 

p. 7, 1. 10, for demicans read dimicans P. W. 

p. 7, n. 3, for 51 read 52 P. W. 

p. 9, 1. 1, for lia read lee 

p. 9, 1. 22, for the order read their order P. W. 

p. 11, 1. 6, for it read she P. W. 

p. 11, 1. 7, for Ethnae read Ethrae P. W. 

p. 13, 11. 25-6, for serve read give to him the service of 

p. 15, 1. 2, for of the Romans read for his great monks (?) 

p. 15, 1. 18, for they would hear read would be heard (?) 

p. 15, 1. 24, for watching read taking care of P. W. 

p. 17, 1. 16, for for read depends on P. W. 

p. 17, 1. 32, dele (?) 

p. 17, 1. 34, for come read let him come 

p. 19, 1. 5, for his mother s read Colman s mother s P. W. 

p. 19, 1. 15, /or Ullan read Ullann 

p. 19, 1. 18, for come read go 

p. 19, 11. 29-30, for depart . . . blessing. read depart in 
another direction to do thy reading henceforth, and 
farewell. P. W. 

p. 19, 11. 31-33, for yew-wood read Ibrach 

p. 19, 1. 37, for in expectation etc. read for any young cleric 
that would go on his pilgrimage to it. It is an outrage 
to Mochuta and to Colman and to the saints of the 
wandering, seven hundred and seven score and seven 
in number, if the covenant be not thus fulfilled ; Ua 
Ferchair and Ua hAedacain and Ua Dercain and all 


the Culdees, and all the monks of Lismore are a 

guarantee for it till Doom. P. W. 
p. 21, 1. 33, for may count as their exile read may be their 

place of pilgrimage P. W. 
p. 21, n. 1, dele. 
p. 23, 1. 34, go, lit. come 
p. 23, 1. 35, for land read land where Mochuta would be 

(aen-) P. W. 
p. 25, 1. 15, for a greater miracle . . than read as great 

a miracle . . as 

p. 25, 1. 26, dele one hundred and 
p. 25, 1. 32, for he had urged . . . return, read he (C.) 

helped him (M.) by adopting that order provided only 

that M, should introduce it. P. W. 
p. 27, 1. 11, for are read shall be 
p. 27, 1. 22, for the great read a great 
p. 27, 1. 28, for cures read heals 

p. 29, 1. 30, for chief of a tribe read blessed Kingdom 
p. 31, 1. 12, for by read from 
p. 31, 1. 22, for blessed men read Farbill P. W. 
p. 31, 1. 28, for altogether read at the same time 
p. 33, 1. 28, for is- read shall be 
p. 35, 1. 6, for possesses read has possessed 
p. 35, 1. 14, for west read back (?) 
p. 35, 1. 1.6, for east read front (?) 
p. 35, 1. 24, for every man read human excreta (delete 

n. 2) P. W. 

p. 35, 1. 27, for Cluain read that Cluain 
p. 35, 1. 32, for heritage read thy heir 
p. 37, 1. 13, for land read their land 
p. 37, 1. 30, for a great while read hail (?) 
p. 39, 1. 6, for places read steadings (so 63, 25) 
p. 39, 1. 10, for Choca read Chachan P. W. 
p. 39, 1. 14, for above read south of (?) 
p. 39. 1. 18, for of tribe read of the rest of the tribe (so 

41, 17) 
p. 45, 1. 16, for every battle . . . upon him read he shall 

be routed together with the whole battalion in which 

there shall be one of them (i.e. the Ui Forannain) 


p. 47, 1. 2, for steadings read steading 
p. 51, 1. 12, for steeds read steeds ... 
p. 53, 1. 2, for which is read let them be 
p. 53, 11. 17-25, for This rock etc. read This Carriek was 

ever the residence of the Kings of Fartullagh until 


the time of the daughter of the son of Conchubar, 
viz. the wife of Conchubar Ua Maelsechlainn, when 
the King (of Meath) wrested it from Cii Chaille, son 
of Dublaide, King of Fartullagh, and it was outraged 
by depriving it of its king and giving it to the queen 
of Meath. She was the first of the queens of Meatli 
that took it, and every one after her has since held 
it, and it is their own special property, free from 
the King of Fartullagh. P. W. 

p. 55, 1. 7, for to me ... sheep read for me now around 
the sheep to protect them. 

p. 55, 1. 22, for that news read news of that 

p. 57, 1. 33, for thither read hither P. W. 

p. 57, ib., for there before him . . . Disirt read in Tir in 
Disirt before him at all, and it was after Conchraid 
had gone hence that Colman settled here P.W. 

p. 59, 1. 8, for him read us (?) 

p. 59, 1. 12, for stir . . . Colman read accuse him (cf. 
Gwynn, Eriu xi. 159) 

p. 59, 1. 13, hounds (or perhaps wolves n. 1): coin 
is not in the printed text 

p. 59, 1. 15, for they read he 

p. 59, 1. 25, for ordered it to cease read asked that it 
should be stopped 

p. 61, 1. 6, for the meal read his corn 

p. 61, ib., for went read comes 

p. 61, 11. 8-9, for with him read \\ith it (?) 

p. 61, 1. 27, for milk read cream (sic Glossary) 

p. 65, 1. 26, for what . . . read he should be driven P. W. 

p. 69, 1. 5, for Thirteen men who read With twelve men he 

p. 71, 1. 22, for thou hast read men have 

p. 71, 1. 30, for went read came 

p. 73, 1. 1, for Loch Ennell was the Boyne in Bregia read 
the Boyne in Bregia was Loch Ennell P.W. 

p. 73, 1. 10, for Liss read Less 

p. 73, 1. 19, for it shall read may it 

p. 77, 1. 3, after that add now 

p. 77, 1. 10, for thou read ye 

p. 77, 1. 21, for his read the P.W. 

p. 77, 1. 30, for is its name to-day read on the hither side 
of it P.W. 

p. 77, 1. 33, for brother read brothers P.W. 

p. 85, 1. 33, as they shall be needed, lit. as it shall wear 
them out 

p. 87, 1. 1, for above read southward (?) 


p. 87, 1. 11, for go read come 

p. 87, 1. 34, after us add from it 

p. 91, 1. 13, for king of the read king of 

p. 93, 1. 11, for above . . . below read to the south . . . 

to the north (?) 
p. 93, 1. 33 for it was a hood over head read there was a 

hood about their heads (?) 
p. 93, 1. 37, read Faithche Meic Mecnan 
p. 95, 1. 1 1, for each steading read every owner of a steading 

(cf. p. 89, 18) 

p. 95, 1. 14, for mariners read the pirates 
p. 95, 1. 31, for overthrown read wearied 
p. 97, 1. 36, for no ill repute . . . there will be read perhaps 

thy fame shall not be carried (ni berihar do blad) 

beyond this, however much thou shalt do. 
p. 99, 1. 28, for the men of the commandments read thy 

p. 101, 1. 1, for let their bodies embrace read let them 

force the body to 
p. 103, 1. 4, delete the comma, and for for the purpose of 

(collecting) read instead of P.W. 
p. 105, 1. 17, for would read will 
p. 105, 1. 18, for their read the 
p. 105, 1. 36, after mass add four times 


p. 108; 1. 5, for ranordnestar read ranordan. 

p. 109, 1. 24, for 19 read 21. P.W. 

p. 110, 1. 5, for gaenithir read gainithir P.W. 

p. 110, 1. 11, du-dlaig has always been trisyllabic. See 

firiu viii. 166 

p. 110, 1. 30, for come read go 
p. 110, 1. 39, condici is found in O. Ir, j see Pedersen II 

677, 18 
p. 110, 1. 41, In Mid. and Early Mod. Ir. the second a of 

tdrfds is regularly long 

p. Ill, 1. 14, for ( = fo-a-ro) thuil tit is right 
p. Ill, 1. 15, tustide is O. and Mid. Ir. gen. pi. 
p. Ill, 1. 26, After this add note on p. 18, 1. 18: co 

hanmcharait crdbdig, an example of anmchara as fern. ; 

see O Bahilly, Desiderius, p. 249. 
p. Ill, 1. 31, for south read north 
p. 114, delete last sentence. P.W, 


p. 115, 1. 23, read so that 

p. 116, 1. 6. This is not a parallel to na fir tuc era. The 

construction is regular at all periods ; cf. m snl 

dudrigni Ml. 124^3 
p. 116, 1. 24, Hogan has four examples of the gen. Bordgaile, 

Onomasticon p. 119 b 
p. 117, 1. 31, tdncas (sic leg,) uentum est is Mid. Ir. 

for O. Ir. ttoht (Bawl. B 502, 70*25). The Mid. Ir. 

2 sg. act. (O. Ir. tdnac) is tdnacais 
p. 117, 1. 33, for 3 read 4 
p. 117, 1. 41, for 25 read 26, and after nodbera add O. Ir. 


p. 120, 1. 8. This should follow 1. 12 
p. 121, 1. 5. The usual meaning of orad is gilding. 

Translate : that one s body should not be adorned 

with gold 
Add : co ndmad n-6 means to the ninth generation. 

The latest discussion of the phrase is by Thurneysen, 

C6ic Conara Fugill p. 81, where au in the earlier 

co nomad n-au is explained as the older form of the 

preposition 6. 
p. 121, 1. 8, for termun read termund 

After 1. 22 add : ib. 1. 26, airchetal means however not 

love but poetry. Read [f]oircetal teaching (?) 
p. 121, 1. 23, for suibhsgeal read suibhisgeal. P. W. 

The initials P. W. in the above denote corrections 
made by the Rev. Paul Walsh in two articles in ZCP viii., 
one * The Topography of Betha Colmain, pp. 568-582, 
the other a review of the book, pp. 590-593. I have not 
included his valuable notes on the place-names. 

There remain many doubtful passages, especially in 
the verse. The mark of length over vowels is in many 
cases omitted or misplaced, e.g. read Ulltan, esein, 
esidein, etc. 

O. J. B. 


BX Meyer, Kuno, 1858-1919, 

4700 ed. 

C67M4 ^Betha Cc^lmain Male 

Luach ain; life of 
Colman, son of Luachan, 

Hodges, Figgis 
and Co. (1911)