674 Dóer son of Máel Tuili, king of Cianachta, was killed.
675 Kl. A battle in Aircheltair, in which Cenn Fáelad son of Crundmáel, king of Ireland, fell. Fínnachta son of Dúnchad was the victor. Of this was said:
- The soldiers from the west of the land
closed about Fínnachta;
Cenn Fáelad's kingship was shorn from him—
great its propriety.
676 Kl. Colmán of Inis Bó Finne rested.
675 The beginning of the reign of Fínnachta son of Dúnchad, for twenty years.
676 Kl. The destruction of Ailech by Fínnachta.
677 A battle between Fínnachta and the Laigin at Loch Gabair, with mutual slaughter, but nevertheless Fínnachta was the victor.
Here below are some of the stories of Fínnachta.
I This Fínnachta was at first poor and unprosperous. He had a house and a wife, but he had no stock except for a single ox and one cow. On one occasion the king of Fir Rois happened to be lost and wandering astray in the vicinity of Fínnachta's cottage. There had never before been a night worse than that one with storm and snow and darkness, and the king and his wife and attendants could not get to the house that they wished to reach because of the foul weather and the darkness, and they were talking about spending the night under the trees. Fínnachta heard them in that conversation, for they were not far from his cottage then, and he came to meet them on the road, and this is what he said to them: that it would be better for them to come to his cottage, such as it was, than to wander in the dark, stormy night.
The king and his attendants said: ‘It is true, it is better,’ they said, ‘and we are indeed glad that you have told us so.’ They came then to his house, and the size of the house was greater than its wealth. Fínnachta knocked his ox on the head, and he knocked the cow on the head also. The king's own attendants prepared them swiftly and speedily, by spit and by kettle, and they ate until they were full. They slept well after that until morning came.
In the morning the king of Fir Rois said to his wife, ‘Don't you know, woman, that although this house was poor formerly, it is poorer now, because its only cow and its only ox have been slaughtered for us?’ ‘That is indeed true,’ said the woman; ‘now it is proper for us to make it rich. However much or little you give to the man, I will give its equal to his wife.’ ‘What you say is good,’ said the king. Then the king gave Finnachta a huge herd of cows, and many pigs and sheep, along with their herdsmen. The king's wife accordingly gave to Fínnachta's wife the same amount. Then they gave them beautifully decorated clothing and fine horses, and everything that they needed in the world.
II It was not long afterwards that Fínnachta came with a large horsetroop to the house of one of his sisters, having been invited by the sister, and owing her a visit in return. As they were going on the journey, they met Adamnán, then a young scholar, travelling on the same road, with a jug full of milk on his back, and as he was running out of the way of the
That was done accordingly; they brought the other four clerics, and the ale-house was arranged, half of the house for clerics and the other half for laymen. Adamnán's tutor was filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, and the spirit of prophecy, and he said, ‘The man who has given this banquet will be the High King of Ireland, and Adamnán will be the head of piety and wisdom of Ireland, and he will be Fínnachta's confessor, and Fínnachta will be in great prosperity until he gives offense to Adamnán.’
III Not long after that Fínnachta and the king of Fir Rois, his friend, went to visit his father's kinsman, i.e. Cenn Fáelad, to request lands from him. Cenn Fáelad gave him the high-stewardship over all of Mide from the Sinann to the sea, that is, over the twenty-four tuatha. Fínnachta held that position for some time. He came to consult his friend, the king of Fir Rois, as to what he should do, for he was not satisfied as he was. He gave him hard and heroic advice, and said to him: ‘Doesn't Slige Asail divide Mide in two? Make one half of Mide faithful and devoted to you, and when that half is loyal to you, arrange a meeting with the other half, and kill their noblemen, their pillars of battle; and you will get not only the full kingship of Mide, but even the kingship of Temair if you wish it.’
Fínnachta took that advice, and afterwards he challenged his father's kinsman, i.e. Cenn Fáelad, to battle. When Cenn Fáelad's wife heard that, she was blaming her husband for giving the stewardship to Fínnachta.
IV It was that Fínnachta who remitted the Bóroma to MoLing, after it had been levied by forty kings previously, i.e. from Tuathal Techtmar to Fínnachta. MoLing came on behalf of all the Laigin to seek remission of the Bóroma from Fínnachta. Now MoLing asked Fínnachta to remit the Bóroma for a day and a night. Fínnachta accordingly remitted the Bóroma for a day and a night. To MoLing that was the same as remitting it forever: for there is nothing in time but day and night. However, Fínnachta had thought that it was for one day and one night only. MoLing went out and said, ‘You have granted a stay of it forever.’ And on the previous day MoLing had promised heaven to Fínnachta.
Then Fínnachta understood that MoLing had tricked him, and he said to his followers, ‘Rise up,’ he said, ‘after the holy man who has left me, and tell him that I granted a stay of but one day and one night to him, for it seems to me that the holy man has deceived me, since there is nothing except day and night in the whole world.’ When MoLing knew that they were coming after him, he ran swiftly and speedily till he reached his house, and the king's attendants did not catch up with him at all.
Others say that MoLing brought a poem with him to Fínnachta, namely Fínnachta over the Uí Neill, etc. (That is written in the Bóroma in this book). So the Bóroma was remitted to MoLing forever, and although Fínnachta regretted that, he was not able to levy it, for it was for the sake of heaven that he had remitted it. And this is truer.
In the fifteenth year from this year Fínnachta remitted the Bóroma. Adamnán came to see Fínnachta immediately after MoLing, and he sent a cleric from his retinue for Fínnachta, that he might come to talk with him. Fínnachta was playing fidchell at that time. ‘Come and talk to Adamnán,’ said the cleric. ‘I will not go until this game is over,’ answered Fínnachta. The cleric came to Adamnán, and told him Fínnachta's reply. ‘Go to him, and tell him: I will sing fifty psalms meanwhile, and there is a psalm in that fifty in which I shall pray to the Lord that neither son nor descendant of yours, nor any man of the same name, shall ever take the kingship of Ireland.’
The cleric went and said that to Fínnachta, and Fínnachta paid no attention to it, but played his fidchell until the game was finished. ‘Come and talk to Adamnán, Fínnachta,’ said the cleric. ‘I will not go,’ said Fínnachta, ‘until this game is finished.’
The cleric told that to Adamnán. ‘Tell him,’ said Adamnán, ‘that I shall sing fifty psalms during that time, and there is a special psalm among that fifty, and in that psalm I shall ask and demand that the Lord shorten his life.’
The cleric told that to Fínnachta, and Fínnachta paid it no attention, but played his fidchell until the game was finished. ‘Come and talk to Adamnán,’ said the cleric. ‘I will not go,’ said Fínnachta, ‘until this game is over.’
The cleric came back, and he told Adamnán Fínnachta's answer. ‘Go to him,’ said Adamnán, ‘and tell him that I will sing the third fifty, and there is a special psalm in that fifty, and I will pray the Lord in that psalm that he may not reach the kingdom of heaven.’
The cleric returned to Fínnachta, and reported that. When Fínnachta heard it, he abruptly threw the fidchell from him and came to Adamnán. ‘What has brought you to me now,’ asked Adamnán, ‘since you did not come at the other messages?’ ‘This is my reason,’ answered Fínnachta; ‘the threats that you made against me before, that is, that neither son nor grandson should succeed me, and that no man of my name should hold the kingship of Ireland, or that my life should be shortened—those seemed light to me. But when you promised to deprive me of heaven, it was on that account that I came immediately to talk to you, because I cannot bear this.’ ‘Is it true,’ asked Adamnán, ‘that you have remitted the Bóroma day and night to MoLing?’ ‘It is true,’ answered Fínnachta. ‘You have been deceived,’ said Adamnán; ‘that is the same as remitting it forever.’ He was reproaching him like that, and he sang the lay:
After that Fínnachta laid his head in Adamnán's bosom, and he did penance in his presence, and Adamnán forgave him the remission of the Bóroma.
- Although the withered, gray-haired, toothless king
arrays himself today,
he does not obtain the cattle—proper to the king—
that he remitted to MoLing.- If I were Fínnachta,
and I were lord of Temair,
I would never give it;
I would not do what he has done.- Every king who does not remit his tribute,
long-lived are his legends;
alas, that he has granted the award he has granted;
he who is weak is shameful.- Your wisdoms and our follies
have ended with wrong-doing;
woe to the king who has remitted his tributes,
oh celestial Jesus of heaven.- A person is famous while he is in control;
alas for him who clings to old men;
...
...- If I were a king who reddens spears,
I would put down my enemies;
I would raise my strongholds;
my wars would be many.- My wars would be many;
my words would not be false;
my contracts would be just;
my territories would be abundant.- My signs would be apparent;
my contracts would be firm;
this treaty, although it were an accident,
I would not allow to the Laigin.- I pray a prayer to God
that neither death nor danger may come to me;
may MoLing escape today;
may he not die by point or edge.
- The son of Faillén, a man across seas,
he could not be turned back;
he knows the secrets of the Son of God;
the Son of God knows his secrets.- Thrice fifty psalms each day
are what he says for God;
thrice fifty poor men—course of swiftness—
are what he feeds each night.- The tree of virtue and fruitfulness,
the learned one with knowledge,
a ship of the sea that has received welcome,
the wave of Berba, the boat of Bressal.- The ship of gold whose quality is excellent,
the plank of gold over the kindreds,
the salmon of brown Dubglais,
the sound of a wave, a wave against cliffs.
678 Kl. The death of Colcu son of Failbe Flainn, king of Munster.
678 A battle between Uí Ceinnselaig and the Osraige, in which Tuaim Snáma (that is, Cicaire), king of Osraige, was killed. Fáelán Senchustul, king of Uí Ceinnselaig, was the victor. Whence:
- Tuaim Snáma's battle,
he was not able to win it,
from which Fáelán took—expedition that was not a displeasure—
a truce by force.- To him he gave it, apparently;
it was treachery to give it;
and he gave the hostages of Osraige
from Áth Buana to Comar.
678 The battle of Dún Locha.
678 The battle of Liaig Móeláin.
678 A battle in Calatros, in which Domnall Brecc was defeated.
666 Fáelán (i.e. the fosterson of Cóemgen) son of Colmán, king of the Laigin, died.
679 The repose of Failbe, abbot of Í.
679 Kl. A battle between Fínnachta and Bécc Bairche.
679 Fiannamail began to reign over the Laigin.
680 Kl. Colmán, abbot of Bennchor, rested.
681 The burning of the kings in Dún Ceithirn, i.e. Dúngal son of Scandal, king of the Cruithne, and Cenn Fáelad son of Suibne, king of Cianachta Glinne Gaimen; they were burned by Máel Dúin son of Máel Fithrich.
681 The battle of Máel Dúin son of Máel Fithrich.
678 Ciar, daughter of Duib Re, died