Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition

The Metrical Dindshenchas (Author: [unknown])

poem 51

Luimnech

1. O thou that dispensest the lore of the learned,
   that declarest every usage with fresh radiance,
   approach, above the slopes of oak-wood,
   the portion of Luimnech, home of the hero-folk.
2. 5] Luimnech — wide-reaching the story,
   it has been spread abroad mightily —
   at all times it is unsubdued,
   so that it is ever famous till doomsday.
3. It is a market-place of a gathering that is held
   10] with victories, with great renown;
   a proud and wealthy people held it,
   a people with saddles and silken raiment.
4. A multitude assembled here
   in the midst of Limerick of the fleet
   15] from the host that merited fame,
   whence Luimnech got its martial name.
5. Eochu's province assembled there,
   it was a concourse peaceful, on noble business;
   over against the host of eager Luachair
   20] came the champions of Cruachan, elate with fame.
6. The princely leaders brought thither,
   endowed with lasting fame and prosperity,
   a noble pair free from shifty treachery,
   the two sons of Smucaille Smitchend.

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7. 25] Smucaille son of huge Bacdub,
   that black-fisted carle, bright-eminent;
   sons to him, good at weaving strife,
   were the men of martial arts.
8. Bind and Faebur, plain to see-
   30] no danger
   [...]
   
   as we proclaim across all seas,
   those were the names of the noble warriors.
9. On coming to the fair-fought combat
   the nimble warriors, broad-visaged,
   35] before they entered on their famous contest,
   took to them sureties.
10. Ochaill from wide-branching Cruachan
    undertook protection of true Faebur;
    40] at the Sid of Bodb, who would not endure treachery,
    was found protection for fierce Rind.
11. When the tide turned to flow again
    it brought each host to fame;
    so that the lake, covered with cloaks
    was in regular ridges
12. 45] On this wise came, in
    [...]
    
    every hero, clad in a grey cloak;
    so the waters of Luimnech carried them off,
    from Munstermen and men of Connaught.

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13. Therefore said the host
    50] from high-mounded Tul Thuinne,
    "'Cloaked' (lumnigthe) is the mighty estuary called,
    as long as the combat shall be remembered."
14. Hence is named everywhere
    Luimnech — proud the home of heroes —
    55] from this gathering, as the learned deduce,
    wherein its true warriors were despoiled:
15. Or else, when the stream of sail-dotted Shannon
    carried away from where you stand, past meadow lands,
    the shields of the chieftains of your mighty host
    60] from the shoulders of the nimble gillies.
16. Lumman is the name of every spiky shield —
    no weakling is the chieftain that bears it;
    from these, it may be, mark it mindfully!
    the name Luimnech clave to the river of heroes.
17. 65] The heroes were saying
    on massy Tul Thuinne,
    "'Shielded' (luimnechda) is the stream of Mac Lir:
    unfruitful are its strong men!"

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