Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Cath Almaine (Author: Unknown)

Recension 2

Cath Alamine, Brussels MS. (diplomatic edition)

1

Cath Almhaine idir Laigniu, & Ui Néill intertíd Decimbris ra cuiredh an cath-sa. Cáuis an chatha-sa .i. an boromha ro mhaith Finnachta do Moling, atobhach d-Fergal, & issedón nara fuilngeador Laigin. Nis tuccsat Laigin do Loingsech mac
5] Aongusa
, & ní tucsat do Congal Cinnmhaghair, cía ro fuilngettur mór dimnedh ó Congal, & ní moo dno robail doibh athabhairt d-Fergal, uair ro tairisnigh-siot i m-briathraibh Moling ra geall na bertha uatha tré bítha an boromha o Laignib.

2

Bá trom tra la Fergal sin .i. Laigin do nemhchomhall
10] angeallta fris, go ro fuacradh sluaigedh direcra dimór úadh for Leth Cuinn .i. for Eogan & for Conall, & for Airgiallaibh & Mídhe an cetramadh bliadain a flaitiusa féin, no itress bliadain déc, ut quibusdam placet, do thobhach na boromba. Ba fada tra ro bhás og an tinól sain; uair assedh ad-beiredh gac fer do
15] Leith Cuinn gus a roicheadh an fuaccra .i. dá t-tí Donnbó ar an sluaghadh raghad-sa.

3

Donnbó immorro mac baintreabtaighe eisidhe d-Feroibh Rois, agasní deachaidh lá na aidhchi a taigh a mathar imach ríamh, & ní raibhe in Eirinn uile budh caoímhe, no budh ferr
20] cruth, no delbh, no denamh inás. Ni rabha i n-Eirinn uile budh griubhdha, no budh segaine inás, & as uadh budh ferr rann espa, & risgéla for domhon. Asé budh ferr do ghlés ech, & do indsma slegh, & d-fighe folt, & budh fer riaichni na einech de quo dicitur.

.r.

  1. 25] Aille macaibh Donnbo baidh,
    binne a laidhe luaidhid beoil,
    aine ogaibh Innsi Fáil,
    ra thogaibh tain trillsi a threóir.
Niar licc dno amathair Donnbo la Fergal go t-tuccadh Máol mac
30] Failbhe, meic Erannain, meic Criomhthainn
comarba Coluim Cille fria aisic beó, & go t-tuccsaidhe Colum Cille dno dia chionn go risedh Donnbo slán da taigh fein a crích Laigen.

4

Tocomla dno Fergal for séd. Ra battur dna lucht eólais reimhe, nir bó maith an t-eólus do radsad dó. .i. iccumhgaibh
35] gacha conaire & i n-aimhredhibh gacha conare, go rancuttur Cluain Dobail in-Almaine. As ann buí Aodhan clamh Cluana Dobhail ara chinn. Do ronsad dno na slúaigh micostadh .i. aaonbhó do marbadh & afuine ar bheraibh na fhiaghnaisi & athech do bhreith da chinn & a losccadh;

5


40] Con-er-bert an clamh comba digal go bráth for UibhNeill an digal do beradh an coimdidh farsin. & tainicc an clamh remhe go puball Fergail, & battur rioghradh Leithe Cuinn uile ara chinn sin phuball in-tan-sin. Ro baoí an clamh ag acaoine a imnidh na f-fiaghnaisi, ní tainig cridhe neich dibh fair, acht
45] cridhe Conbretan meic Congusa rí f-Fer Rois, & asedh onna ba h-aithrech do Coinbretan, uair ni terna rí do nech ro bhaoí isin phuball acht Cubreatan mac Oengusa aáonar asin chath. Conadh ann ad-bert Cubretan:

    .r.

    1. Ad-ágar cath fordearg flaind
      50] a fhir Fhergaile adglionn
      badh bronaigh muintir Meic Maire
      ar m-breith an taighe dar cionn.
    2. Bo an chlaimh
      ro gaod andeaghaid a daim,
      55] mairg laimh ra toll ambrad
      ar ní thimcomart mac Brain etcetera.

6

As andsin as-pert Fergal fria Donnbó; ‘déna airfidedh dúin a Doinnbó, fo bith as tú as deach airfididh fail i-n-Eirinn .i. i-cuisigh, agas i-cuislendoibh, & i-cruitibh, & randaibh, & raidsechoibh,
60] & rigsgelaibh Eirenn, & isin madinsi imbarach do beramne cath do Laignib’. ‘Ac’ ar Donnbó ‘ní cumhgaim-si arfidedh dhuit-si anocht, & nimthá aongniomh dibh sin uile do taidbh-sin anocht, & cip-si áirm irabhai-si amarach, & imbeó-sa do dhén-sa airfidedh duit-si. Dénadh immorro an rioghdruth ua
65] Maighléine airfidedh dhuit anocht’.

7

Tugad ua Maighleni chuca iarttain. Ro gabh-saidhe og indisin cath & comramha Leithe Cuinn, & Laigen, o thoghail Tuama Tenbath .i. Deanda Rígh in ra marbhadh Cobhtach Caolbhregh, conigi an-aimsir-sin, & ní bá mór codalta do rinnedh
70] leó in-aidhchi sin rá méd egla leo Laigen, & la méid na doininne .i. uair aidhche fhéle Finniain gaimhridh sin.

8

Imthús Laigen do-lottur-saidhe i-Cruachán Claonta, dáigh ní mhaidh for Laigniu da n-dearnat acomairle ann, & gurob tíusad do chum an chatha. Lottur iarsain go Dinn
75] Canainn
, a-saidhe do chum an chatha.

9

Con-rancuttur tra isin maidin ar na marach, na catha cechtardha, naoí míle do Laighnibh, míle ar fichit immorro do Leith Cuinn. As crúaidh & as feochair racuiredh an cath-sa leith for leth, & ra ghabh cach na chomraicibh ann: Ra ba dimór
80] rá innisi comrama na laoch Laigen, & laoch Leithe Cuinn.

10

As bert go f-facas Brighid ós cionn Laigen; ad ches dno Colum Cille ós cionn Ua Neill. Ra mheamhuidh iaramh an cath ría Murchadh mhac m-Brain, & re n-Aodh Mend mac ColganLaigen Deasgabair. Ra marbadh Feargal ann. Aodh
85] Mend
, & Dunchadh mac Murchadha ro marbhsat Fergal fadesin, & Bile mac BainAlban, as uaidh ainmnighther Corr bile in Almaine. Asé dno Aodh
85] Mend
ra marb Donnbó, ní torcair immorro Fergal go t-torchair Donnbó.

11

Ra marbadh dno sesca ar cet amhus indú sin. A coimhlín
90] féin ro-marbhaid Laighin san chath sin do Leit Cuinn .i. naoí míle; & naoí n-gelti dibh do thol for geltacht, & cét righ do righaibh. Atá Cnoc Fergail annsin. Ra chuirsiot Laigin ilaigh commaidmi and dno.

12

Unde dixit:

  1. 95] Deodh laithe Almaine,
    ar cosnamh búair Breaghmaine,
    ro la badbh beldearg biorach,
    iolach imcenn f-Fergaile.
  2. Scarais Murchadh ra midlaigh,
    100] brogais a triuna i-t-talmuin,
    do soí faobhar fria Fergal.
    go f-fein dearmair des Almuin.
  3. Bath ann cet ruirech rathach,
    cruadhach costadach carnach
    105] im naoí n-gelta gan míne.
    um naoi mile fer n-armach.
  4. Ceitri cet cabhsaidh a-Cruaich,
    las an amsaigh gaod san n-glíaidh
    latrí cedoibh Conaill cruaidh,
    110] asé [ ].

13

Ra gabhadh annsain an druth ua Maighleine, & do radadh fair geim druith do dhénamh, & do rigne, bá már, & bá binn an gheim-sin, go mair geim ui Magleine ósin ale oc druthaibh Eirenn. Ra gadadh achenn iarttain d-Fergal, & ra gadadh a cenn
115] don drúth. Ra baoi mac alla gheimi an druith sin aieor go cenn tri la & tri n-oidhche. As de as-m-berar geim ui Maigleine og tafan na fer san monaidh.

14

Do luidh dno Aodh Laighen mac FithcheallaighUa Maine Connacht iráon madhma, & teichidh go n-epert fria
120] macoibh: ‘Nacham faccbaidh a maca, budh ferde bur mathair friu mo-breith-si lib’; ‘Nit berad’ or Laighin. Conadh annsin ro marbadh Aodh LaighenUa Maine. Ra siachtattur immorro a meic Aodha Laighen im Aodh Alláin mac Fergaile go Lilcach airm a-m-buí. Mo-dichu mac Amargin, & an Gall Craibhdheach.
125] Conadh ann sin claidhisit Ui Néill, & Connachta cladh na cille, & iad iriocht na g-cléirech, & asamhlaidh sin ra saoraid tri miorbaile na naomh, go f-fuil cotach Ua Néill, & Chonnacht ó shin ale sin chill sin: Unde Aodh Alláin cecinit.

  1. Ni f-fuaramar ar talmain
    130] Almain badid-redithir
    ni rangamar iarsin cath
    Lilchach badid nemethar.
Ba buadhach tra an lá-sin do Laighnibh. Ra h-anact immorro Cubretan mac Congusa Rí f-Fer Rois ar na runna do righne
135] an-aidhche reimhe.

15

I Condail na riogh battur Laigin an-aidhchi-sin ag ól fína & medha ar c-cur an chatha go subhach soimhenmnach, & cách diobh ag innisin a chomramha, isíad medraig medarcaoin. As andsin ra ráidh Murchadh mac Brain ‘Do berainn carpat
140] cethre cumala, & mo ech, & merradh don láoch no raghadh isin n-ármach, & do béradh comhartha chugainn as’. ‘Ragad-sa’ ar Baothghalach laoch di Mumain. Gebhidh achatherradh catha & comhlainn uime, go rainig go h-airm i-m-boí corp Fergaile, go c-cuala ní inesgairgaire isin aéor osa cinn
145] con-d-epert. Ar clois uile, ‘timarnadh duibh ó righ Secht nimhe. Denaidh airfidedh da bar t-tigerna a nocht .i. d-Fergal mac Maoleduin, cia do rocrapair sunn uile inbhar naoís dána eidir cuislendchu, & cornaire, & cruitire na tairmesccadh er fhúath, no éccomhnart sibh dairfidedh anocht d-Fergal’. Go c-cuala iaramh
150] an-t-oglach an cuisigh & an ceól sirechtach, go c-cúala dna san tum luachra bá nesa dhó an tórd fiansa bá binne ceólaibh.

16

Luidh an t-oglach na tocum; ‘na tair ar mamus’ ar an cenn fris. ‘Cesc cia thú?’ ar an t-oglach. ‘Ni ansa misi cend Duinnhó’ ar an cenn, ‘& naidm ro naidmedh form aréir airfidedh an rí a
155] nocht, & na erchoididh dhamh’. ‘Caidhe corp Fergail sunn?’ ar an t-oglach. ‘As e do aithtne frit anall’. ‘Ceisc andad bér lem?’ ar an t-oglach. ‘As tú as deach lim: nom bera’ ar an cenn; ‘acht ráth Crist dod chinn danom ruga, go d-tuga me ar amus mo colla do ridhisi’. ‘Do bér égin’ ar an t-óglaoch.

17


160] & im-poi an-t-oglaoch & an cenn lais conige Condail, & fuair Laigniu ag ól ar a chenn sin aidhchi cetna. ‘An t-tugais comurtha lat?’ ar Murchadh, ‘tugas’ ar an t-oglac ‘cenn Dhuinnbó’. ‘Furim aran fhuaithne úd thall’ ar Murchadh. Tugsat an sluagh uile aithne fair gur bé cenn Duinn bó, & asedh ra raidhsid uile:
165] ‘Dirsan dhuit a Duinnbó, bá cáomh do dhealbh, déna airfidedh cluinn a nocht, febh do rignis dot-tigerna imbuarach’.

18

Impaighter a aighedh dno, & att-racht adord fiansa attruagh ar aird, go m-battur uile ag caoí, & ag tuirsi.

19

Idhnaicidh an láoch cetna an cenn do chum a cholla
170] amal ro geall, & coirghidh é ar a mheidhe. Cittracht, rainic Donnbó go tech a mathar. Uair assíad tri ionganta an chathasa .i. Donnbó do rochtain na bhethaidh gonige a thech dar chenn brethre Coluim Cille, & géim an druith ui Maigleine tri la & tri h-aidhce san aéor, & na naoí míle do foruaislig an míle ar
175] fhichit. Unde dicitur:

  1. Cath Almaine ard a n-gein
    mór an gniomh Decembeir,
    rom bris Murchadh morda crech.
    mac Brain la laochraidh Laighnech
  2. 180] Memhaidh ar Fergal Fail.
    ar mac Maoilidúin dermair.
    gom eltis muille fo leircc.
    ar lintibh fola fordercc.
  3. 185] Ocht righ ochtmoghad iar f-fior.
    naoí míle gan imarriomh.
    do Leith Cuinn comal n-gnaoi.
    do rochair ann ar anchaoi.
  4. Naoi n-geilte for gealtacht de.
    190] lottur diobh for Fidh n-Gaibhle
    ra claoclaidhsit dath iarttain.
    ara glethea Cath Almain.

.C.

20

Haec sunt nomina regum qui interfecti sunt in hoc bello. Hi sunt quidem do Shíol Guinn. Fergal mac Maoiliduin cum lx. militibus suis. Forbasach
195] Bogaine. Fergal ua Aithechdha. Fergal ua Tamhnaigh. Mac Eachach Lemhna. Congalach mac Conaincc. Eicnech mac Conaing. Coibdeanach mac Fiachaidh. Conall Cráu. Fergas Glut. Murghes mac Conaill. Letaithech mac Concharat. Anmcaidh mac Concarat. Aedgein ua Maithe. Nuada Uirc ri
200] Guill, & Irgconuill. Decem nepotes Maoilifitrigh. Itesin righ Ua Neill an Tuaiscirt. Hi autem qui sequuntur Ui Neill an Desgirt, Oilill mac Feradhaigh. Suibhne mac Congalaig. Aod Laigen ua Cernaigh. Nia mac Cormaic. Clothna mac Colgan. Tadhg mac Aigthide. Dubhdacrioch mac Duibhdhabairenn.
205] Mencossach mac Gamnaigh. Elodhach mac Flainn ó Sgigi. Dunchadh ua Fiacrach. Mac Conloingsi. Mac Maoile Móna. Doiriadh mac Conla. Flann mac Aodha Odhbha. Mac Concoingelt. Mac Tuathail meic Fáolchon. Indrachtach mac Taidg. Mac Garbhain. Dá ua Maoilcháich. Da mac Aileni.
210] Fócarta ua Domhnaill. Ailill mac ConaillGraint. Fidhgal mac Fithcheallaigh. Duibdil ua Daimine et fratres ejus. Da mac Muredhaigh meic Indreachtaigh. Nuadha mac Duibh dunchuire. Rechthapra ua Cumusccaigh. Ua Maine cer cer cera. Fergas ua Eogain. no Leogain. Flaitheamhail mac Dluthaigh. Donghalach
215] ua Aongasa
. Conall Mennceneil Cairbre. Mac Erca mac Maoilidúin. Tri h-ui Nuadhat. Flann mac Irgalaig. Aod Laigen mac Fithcheallaigh. Niall mac Muirgessa. Dolore autem et frigore mortui sunt clxxx. Tar eis Cath
219] Almaine i-ttorchuir Fergal mac Maoilidúin etcetera.