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CELT document T106500A

The Metrical Dindshenchas

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Volume 1 English translation

Edited by Edward Gwynn

The Metrical Dindshenchas

p.3

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1. Temair I

Temair Breg, whence is it named?
declare O sages!
when did it separate from the country-side?
when did Temair become Temair?

5 Was it under Partholan of the battles?
or at the first conquest by Cesair?
or under Nemed of the fresh valour?
or under Cigal of the knocking knees?

Was it under the Firbolgs of the boats?10
or from the line of the Lupracans?
tell which conquest of these it was
from which the name Temair was set on Temair?

O Duban, O generous Findchad,
O Bran, O quick Cualad,15
O Tuain, ye devout five!
what is the cause whence Temair is named?

There was a time when it was a pleasant hazel-wood
in the days of the noble son of Ollcan,
until the tangled wood was cut down20
by Liath son of Laigne Lethan-glas.

Thenceforward it was called Druim Leith—
its corn was rich corn—
until there came Cain free from sorrow,
the son of Fiachu Cendfindan.

p.5

25 Thenceforward it was called Druim Cain,
the hill whither chieftains used to go,
until Crofhind the chaste came,
the daughter of all-famous Allod.

Cathair Crofhind ('twas not amiss)30
was its name under the Tuatha De Danand,
till there came Tea, never unjust,
the wife of Erimon lofty of mien.

Round her house was built a rampart
by Tea daughter of Lugaid;35
she was buried beyond the wall without,
so that from her is Temair named.

The Seat of the Kings was its name:
the kingly line of the Milesians reigned in it:
five names accordingly were given it40
from the time when it was Fordruim till it was Temair.

I am Fintan the poet,
I am a salmon not of one stream;
it is there I was exalted with fame,
on the sod-built stead, over Temair.

p.7

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2. Temair II

Temair free from feebleness hides not
the glory due to women for its building;
the daughter of Lugaid obtained in her possession
an open plain that it were pity to pillage.

5 The wife of Gede begged a dower
from her husband, as I have heard,
the clear-hued fortress, stately ascent;
keen was the game for graves.

The abode was a keep, was a fortress,10
was a pride, a rampart free from ravage,
whereon was to be the grave of Tea after death,
so that it should be an increase to her fame.

Erimon the lowly had
a wife in the very midst of imprisonment;15
she got from him all her eager desires;
he granted everything she spoke of.

Brega Tea, a teeming home,
is famed because Tea was a noble dame;
the funeral mound under which is the great one of the standards,20
the burying ground that was not rifled.

The daughter of Pharaoh, with tale of warriors,
Tephi the bright, who used to cross the hill-slope,
framed a stronghold (hardy the labourer!)
with her staff and with her brooch she traced it.

p.9

25 She gave a name to her fair stronghold,
the king's wife gracious and lovely:
the Rampart of Tephi, who would affront an army,
whence she executed without dread any deed.

Not hidden is the secret place that it should not be spoken of,30
the Rampart of Tephi in the east, as I have heard;
in such wise at that place with no unworthy tradition
did many queens build their sepulchres.

The length and breadth of the House of Tephi
not ignorantly the learned measure—35
sixty feet in full;
diviners and druids beheld it.

I have heard in many-cornered Spain
of a maiden fair and indolent, heroic in fight,
offspring of Bachtir son of Buirech;40
Camson, gentle champion, wedded her.

Tephi was her name, from every warrior;
ill-luck to him whom her entombment should wear out!
a rath of sixty feet, full measure,
was built by them for her concealment.

45 The king of Bregon free from sorrow did not wed her,
though there was strife between him and Camson,
that the loan of her might be returned ¹
were it for better or for worse, or were she dead.

p.11

The tutelar of Camson, not hidden,50
Etherún (he was transitory),
and the grey-eyed pasturing host
were sent by him as a pledge for the restitution of mighty Tephi.

The sad death of Tephi who came to the north,
was a deed not concealed for a moment;55
Camson launched a vessel without payment
with her over the surface of the cold and treacherous sea.

The chief of Britain sent them from the shore,
(for Etherun was pure;)
with the lifeless body to do it honour in the rampart60
in the south, on which settled the name Tephirún.

It was after this likeness in this place
was made boldly the first frame
of Temair, that has no match nor mate
for beauty and for gaiety.

65 'Temair' is the name of every lofty and conspicuous spot
whereon are dwellings and strong keeps;
'Temair' is the name of every peaked and pointed hill
except the far-seen Emain.

Temair of the cantred, and of the house,70
without hurry, without frenzy of heroes,
was mother of the wealth of every tribe
till a foolish crime destroyed her.

p.13

It was a shield of lords and chiefs
it was a home of heroes, valiant in fray,75
Temair free from feebleness and faintness
hides not its glory from womankind.

p.15

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3. Temair III

Temair noblest of hills,
under which is Erin of the furrows,
the lofty city of Cormac son of Art,
son of mighty Conn of the hundred fights.

5 Cormac, constant was his prosperity,
he was sage, he was poet, he was prince;
he was a true judge of the men of Fene.
he was a friend, he was a comrade.

Cormac, who gained fifty fights,10
disseminated the Psalter of Temair;
in this Psalter there is
all the best we have of history.

It is this Psalter that tells of
seven warlike high kings of Erin;15
five kings of the provinces it makes,
the king of Erin and her viceroy.

In it is set down on every hand
what is the right of every king of a province,
what is the right of the king of Temair eastward20
from the king of every songful province;

The correlation, the synchronising of every man,
of each king one with another together;
the delimitation of every province marked by a stone-rick,
from the foot to the full barony.

p.17

25 Baronies thirty in number it finds
in the baronies of each province;
in each province of them there are
seven noble score of chief fortresses.

Cormac knew the number being king;30
he made the circuit of Erin thrice;
he brought away a hostage for every walled town,
and showed them in Temair.

Duma na Giall (purity of palms),
is called from the hostages Cormac brought;35
to Cormac was revealed in their house
every marvel that is in Temair.

There was revealed to Fergus, as it is,
the place in which is Fergus' Cross;
the Slope of the Chariots marks the limits40
between it and the Crooked Trenches.

The Crooked Trenches where they slew the maidens,
The Crooked Trenches of the crooked dealings
west from Rath Grainde below,
they remain free from decay both of them.

45 Eastward from Rath Grainde in the glen
is the Marsh of strong Temair;
east of the Marsh there are
Rath Nessa and Rath Conchobair.

The Measure of the Head of grim Cuchullin50
lies north-east from Rath Conchobair;
the dimension of his Shield under its Boss
is wonderful and huge.

p.19

The Grave of Mal and Midna
is in Temair since their slaying:55
thence is their grave and their sepulchre,
on account of the head they boasted.

Let us consider too the Hall of the Heroes
which is called the Palace of Vain Women;
the House of the Warriors, it was no mean hall,60
with fourteen doors.

The Mound of the Women after their betrayal
was hard by the upper structure;
south of it are Dall and Dorcha,
they were bowed down both alike.

65 Dall is south-west of sad Dorcha,
from them was called Duma Dall-Bodra;
each of them killed the other
in fighting over their alms.

The dwarf came, to his sorrow,70
to interpose between them,
so they killed the dwarf
under their feet, through their dimness of sight.

Westward from the Grave of this dwarf
are Mael, Bloc, and Bluicne—foolish their wisdom!75
over them are the three stones
that the Prince of great Macha flung.

The secret Rampart of the three Whispers
is between the Hall and the Heroes' Well;
the Stone of the Warriors is east of the road,80
over against the Rath of the Synod.

p.21

The Rath of the Synods, noble excellence,
lies north of the Precinct of Temair;
eastward from the Rath beside the Stone
is the house whence Beniat escaped.

85 The Synod of Patrick was at the noble Rath,
The Synod of Brendan and of Ruadan,
The Synod of Adamnan thereafter,
assembled to curse Irgalach.

Below from the Rath of the Kings (it is not false)
90 are the Grave of Cu, the Grave of Cethen, the hill of the Ox;
east of the Rath is
the grave of Maine son of Munremar.

There remains south of the Rath of the King
the Rath of Loegaire and his Keep95
and his Grave on the floor of his Keep;
the righteous one of the Lord overcame him.

Behold the noble House of Mairise
chief for beauty in Erin;
it is high to the west, very high to the north,100
level eastward of it,—it was a triumph of the mason.

It is there was situated
the house, on the margin of Nemnach;
about this house away across Meath
were scattered the houses of Temair.

105 Temair, whence Temair Breg is named,
Rampart of Tea wife of the son of Miled,
Nemnach is east of it, a stream through the glen
on which Cormac set the first mill.

p.23

Ciarnait, hand-maid of upright Cormac,110
used to feed from her quern many hundreds,
ten measures a day she had to grind,
it was no task for an idler.

The noble king came upon her at her task
all alone in her house,115
and got her with child privily;
presently she was unable for heavy grinding.

Thereupon the grandson of Conn took pity on her,
he brought a mill-wright over the wide sea;
the first mill of Cormac mac Art120
was a help to Ciarnait.

The Caprach of Cormac is in the Rath of the Kings;
eastward from the Rath of the Kings (that is the truth of it)
is the Well of the Numbering of the Clans,
which is called by the three names:

125 Liaig Dail Duib Duirb, Tuath Linde,
and Tipra Bo Finne,
three names to designate it,
to make known the well of Temair.

Another spring (mighty force),130
which flows south-west from Temair;
Calf is its name, though it never sucked a cow;
Cormac's Kitchen is on its margin.

There rise north of Temair
Adlaic and Diadlaic of the host;135
two springs flow diverse thence
down to the Carn of the Boys.

p.25

Between the two Carns of the Lads
is the Deisel of Temair south of Crinna,
a sward that brings luck before going to death,140
where men used to make a turn right-hand-wise.

North of the great hill
is the Rath of Colman, the brown Domnan;
the Grave of Caelchu under a like heap of stones,
lies north-east from the Hall of the Women of Temair.

145 Caelchu son of Loarn son of Ruad
son of Cormac Cas, who loved victory,
was the first hostage out of the men of Munster;
from him descend the princes of Ros Temrach.

The House of Temair, round which is the rath,150
from it was given to each his due;
honour still continues to such as them
at the courts of kings and princes.

King and Chief of the Poets,
sage, farmer, they received their due,155
couches that torches burn not,
the thighs and the chine-steaks.

Leech and spencer, stout smith,
steward, portly butler,
the heads of the beasts to all of them160
in the house of the yellow-haired king.

Engraver, famed architect,
shield-maker, and keen soldier,
in the king's house they drank a cup;
this was their proper due ... a fist.

p.27

165 Jester, Chess-player, sprawling buffoon,
piper, cheating juggler,
the shank was their share of meat in truth,
when they came into the king's house.

The shins were the share of the noble musician,170
the flute-player and rhymester both,
the horn-blower, the piper,
both consumed the broken meats.

A charge on the prince of Meath,
were the cobblers and comb-makers,175
the due of the strong skilled folk
was the fat underside of the shoulder.

The backs, the chines in every dwelling
were given to druids and doorkeepers.
the uruscla belonged without question to the maidens ²180
after serving the house of Tara.

Colum Cille, who used to redeem captives,
broke the battle against Diarmait;
before he went away over-sea
the lords of Temair gave him obedience.

185 The faith of Christ who suffered in the flesh
has brought all strength to nought;
because of the sorrow of the people of God in its house
He gave not protection to Temair.

p.29

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4. Temair IV

This world, transient its splendour!
perishable gathering of an hundred hosts;
deceitful to describe is the multitude of delights,
save only the adoration of the King of all things.

5 Perished is every law concerning high fortune,
crumbled to the clay is every ordinance;
Temair, though she be desolate to-day,
once on a time was the habitation of heroes.

There was no exhaustion of her many-sided towers,10
where was the assembly of storied troops;
many were the bands whose home was
the green-soiled grassy keep.

It was a stronghold of famous men and sages,
a castle like a trunk with warrior-scions,15
a ridge conspicuous to view,
in the time of Cormac grandson of Conn.

Fair is the title that protects it,
the name he chose [to mark it out] among cities;
the Fort of Crofind, pen of victory,20
excels Boand, millstone of combat.

p.31

When Cormac was among the famous
bright shone the fame of his career;
no keep like Temair could be found;
she was the goal of the world's road.

25 Strong before hosts was the might
of this king who used to ride through Temair;
better for us than tribes unnumbered
is the tale of his household retinue.

The great house with thousands of soldiers30
was not obscure to posterity;
the shining fort with the choicest of the illustrious,
seven hundred feet was its measure.

Fierce folly did not hold sway over it,
nor strictness of harsh wisdom;35
it was not too small for separation,
six times five cubits was its height.

Nine walls it had, fierce fight could not demolish,
with nine ramparts round about them;
with noble equipment of the noble scions,40
it was a fort illustrious and impregnable.

The dwelling of the king, King over Erin,
was a refuge, a keep, a fortress,
whereon was poured out the sparkling wine,
there were thrice fifty chambers in it.

p.33

45 Thrice fifty heroes with coronets,—
(it was a castle not foolish and brawling)
that was the tale, according to the counts of fortresses,
in every chamber of the number.

Goodly was the throng in this wise,50
the gold gleamed from their weapons;
thrice fifty stately couches there were,
and fifty men to each shining couch.

Seven cubits, an honest reckoning,
before the crowded warlike company,55
with blazing torches burning,
that was the measure of the hearth.

Other seven, I have heard,
made in truth a brightness beyond denial,
majestic, notable, noble,60
beautiful chandeliers of brass.

This sunny shining citadel,
festive, martial, with cask-staves,
therein, amid radiant hospitality,
were doors twice seven in number.

65 This was the right of that king—
a vessel from which that host would drink,
a vast capacity was the full content thereof,
three hundred draughts there were in that vessel.

p.35

Harmonious and stately was the carouse70
of the fiery chieftains and noblemen;—
there were none neglected of the number;
three hundred cupbearers dispensed the liquor. ³

Nine times fifty beakers to choose from;
their abundance was a case of choice75
except what was carbuncle, clear and strong,
all was gold and silver.

Thrice fifty steaming cooks,
in attendance unceasingly,
with victuals, an abundant supply,80
on the jolly kings and chieftains. ⁴

Fifty noble stewards
with the well-guarded honourable prince,
fifty festive spruce lackeys,
with [each] fifty of kingly champions.

85 Fifty men standing
guarded the sturdy wolf,
as long as the king was a-drinking,
to ward off mischances for him.

It was glory to the prince that was greatest,90
every day [his retinue] was more numerous;
thirty hundreds whom he kept in attendance
the son of Art counted daily.

p.37

The chief company of the good genuine poets
who declared the rule of their assembly,95
along with the professors of every art in general,
'tis certain whatever that company says is not folly.

Let us tell in full tale the household
of the house of Temair for posterity;
this is their right number,100
thirty thousands in all.

When Cormac was in Temair,
beyond all high prowess for his great might,
a kingly equal to the son of Art Oenfer
was not to be found among the men of the world.

105 Cormac, fair of form,
was the firm set foundation of the kingdom;
he was born of white-skinned Echtach,
[he was] son of the daughter of Ulc Acha.

Since Solomon was a-searching110
who was better than all progenies together,
has any progeny like Cormac
enjoyed the world?

p.39

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5. Temair V

Temair, Tailtiu, land of assembly,
Raigne, Rachru, proud rath,
Cuillend with the river Crommad,
Tromra, Trommad, Druim Suamaig,

5 The Mound at Brug, it shall be remembered,
Cumar Droman, Druim Calaid,
Belat, Blaitine, Bruigin,
Muincille, Mured, Maigin,

Cermna, Caprach, and Callann,10
Mag Breg with numerous hills,
Cnoc Dabilla, Mag Mellenn,
Crinna, Cerrenn, Colt, Cuillend,

Muirtemne, Tlachtga, Tuirbe,
Suilighe, Slanga, Semne,15
Sid Muine, majestic, many-hued,
Echtga, Ochaine, Ai, Aigle,

Nas, Carman, Cualu, Celbe,
Raigniu, Rafann, and Rairenn,
Dun Inteing, Dun Clair, Dun Crea,20
Dun Brea, and Dun Cairenn,

p.41

Uisnech, Athais, Ard Feda,
Slemun, Slaine, Sid Coba,
Dermag of the oakwoods and the hills,
Lusmag, Luimnech, Lecc Loga,

25 Druim Ruaid, Druim Rig, Druim Rossa,
Druim Criad, Druim Cain, Druim Cressa,
Druim Dian, Druim Dailb, Druim Essa,
Druim Meith, Druim Aird, Druim Dressa,

Eithmann, Aisi, Ard Gabla,30
Cernna, Collamair, Cnogba,
Crufot, Crinna, Cruach Aigle,
Uachtar Ailbe, Ard Odba,

Bri Scail, Bri Airc, Bri Aine,
Bri Breg, Bri Ech, Bri Fele,35
Bri Molt, Bri Dam, Bri Dile,
Bri Leith, and Bri Ele,

Loch Da Dall, bright Loch Faife,
Loch Ing, Loch Gabur, Loch Gand,
Loch Dub, Loch Dreman, Loch Dond,40
Loch Corr, Loch Cera, Loch Camm,

Loch Rib, Loch Cuan, Loch Codail,
Loch Uair, Loch Airc, Loch Enaig,
Loch Lein, Loch Laig, Loch Lugair,
Loch Cuil, Loch Cimmi Cnedaig,

p.43

45 Mag Breg, Mag Find, Mag Ferai,
Mag Luirg, Mag Li, Mag Line,
Mag Slecht, Mag Ce, Mag Cummai,
Mag Moen, Mag Marc, Mag Mide,

Sinann, Sligech, Sruth Domna,50
Boand, Banna, and Berba,
shining Goistine, Grene,
Fele, Life, Lind Segsa,

Ath Cliath, Ath Croich, Ath Cuili,
Ath I, Ath Orc, Ath Ele,55
Ath Luirg, Ath Luain, Ath Craibe,
Ath Fraich, Ath Fian, Ath Fene,

Lordly the roar of the five cataracts,
Ess Ruaid, that was king of the ancient cataracts,
Ess Croich, Ess Muiriath beyond,60
Ess Dubthaig, Ess Tigernaig,

Rath Guill, Rath Goirt, Rath Gabra,
Rath Mor, Rath Mael, Rath Medba,
Rath Becc, Rath Eich, Rath Emna,
Rath Truim, Rath Tail, Rath Temra;—

65 The strongholds of Erin after these
I have left—I say without shame—
to someone else that shall be wiser,
who may traverse them unto Temair.

p.45

Though there be over imperial Banba70
famous kings—high their mirth!
no kingly authority is binding on them
save from the king that possesses Temair.

Maelsechlaind, branch of bright fortune,
spreads peace about the ancient plain,75
free from mortal pain beyond all generations,
may he be in the kingship of Temair!

Thereafter, till Doomsday, may it be shared,
before and above everyone without shame,
by his line, ever famed for hospitality;80
may it never be extinct in Temair!

p.47

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6. Achall

Achall which confronts Temair,
the youths from Emain loved her;
she was mourned when she died,
the white bride of Glan, son of Carbad.

5 The daughter of Cairpri perished,
the daughter of Fedelm Noichruthach,
from grief for Erc, which fills the stanza(,
who was slain in vengeance for Cuchullin.

Conall Cernach brought the head of Erc10
to Temair about the hour of terce;
bad was the deed was done by him,
the breaking of the cold heart of Achall.

The Mound of Finn, the Mound of the Druids,
the Mound of Creidne, cheek by cheek;15
the Mound about which was fought the famous fight,
the Mound of Erc, the Mound of Achall.

The nobles of Ulster came
round Conchobar of the champions;
they held races bright and pure20
for Achall which confronts Temair.

The Mound of Erc (it was no narrow work)
on the hill south of Temair;
Erc, it is there his time came,
the comely brother of Achall.

p.49

25 Brothers were Finn from cold Alend,
and Ailell from stern Cruachan,
of Cairpre Nia from Temair in that country,
whose noble daughter Achall was.

The Mound of the Druids, south of it30
lay Temair of the Kings, the royal hold;
eastward of Temair yonder,
it is there Achall died.

It is there the woman was buried,
the daughter of the high Kings of the Gaels,35
for her was raised this rath on that spot;
there did Achall meet her death.

The six women that are the best that were in the world,
after Mary the mother of God;
are Medb, Sadb, Sarait who adorn stanzas,40
Erc and Emer and Achall.

A squire of Cairpre Nia Fer,
Eochu the fierce, champion of the Gaels,
attempted to have one of his children
by the maiden, by Achall.

45 I give sure testimony thereon
to the daughter of Cairpre ...
that a stolen hour with her was not to be had in that place;
Achall surpasses all damsels in beauty.

I pray the Son of God who brought decay50
on Medb Lethderg, on Medb Derg,
on Sadb, on Sarait, on Fand,
on Garb, on Erc, on Achall,

p.51

That there may be a place in high heaven
for Cinaed ua Hartacain:55
he knows the rule of rhyme for every verse;
it is he that goes to and fro in Achall.

Never set foot on earth
one that surpassed her in herds nor horses;
never was bred there in Temair60
a woman that surpassed Achall.

Boy, take my horse in thy hand;
let none come to trouble me;
the Gael and the Gall are on the foray;
swift are their horses across Achall.

65 The place where our horses are,
there was a wood through it on every hand;
the land of the poet Mane the indolent,
it was called from him before it was named Achall.

The rath of pure Conaire endures,70
the rath of Cairpri ... endures;
Essa endures not, here or elsewhere,
Erc endures not, nor Achall.

Fogartach was at Dind Rig;
he was a king of Fodla with doughty deeds;75
the Gael and the Gall knew
the valour of that single hero at Achall.

Pleasant the folk, brisk and cheerful,
the clan of Cernach, son of Diarmait;
they have slain hosts till now80
round the cold flanks of Achall.

p.53

Amlaib of Ath Cliath the hundred-strong,
who gained the kingship in Bend Etair;
I bore off from him as price of my song
a horse of the horses of Achall.

85 There came to Temair of the kings
Colum Cille free from sorrow;
by him a church is founded there
on the hill where Achall was buried.

Document details

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File description

Title statement

Title (uniform): The Metrical Dindshenchas

Title (supplementary): Volume 1

Title (supplementary): English translation

Editor: Edward Gwynn

Responsibility statement

translated by: Edward Gwynn

Electronic edition compiled by: Beatrix Färber and Saorla Ó Corráin

Funded by: University College, CorkThe Connacht Project, the Centre for the Study of Human Settlement and Political Change, NUI Galway and the HEA via the LDT Project

Edition statement

2. Second draft.

Extent: 8100 words

Publication statement

Publisher: CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts: a project of University College, Cork

Address: College Road, Cork, Ireland—http://www.ucc.ie/celt

Date: 2004

Date: 2008

Distributor: CELT online at University College, Cork, Ireland.

CELT document ID: T106500A

Availability: Available with prior consent of the CELT programme for purposes of academic research and teaching only.

Availability: Copyright for the printed edition lies with the School of Celtic Studies (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies).

Series statement

Title (): Todd Lecture Series

CELT document ID: 8

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Source description

Manuscript sources

Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 1229, olim 23 E 25, al. Leabhar na hUidhre.
Dublin, Trinity College Library, MS 1339 olim H. 2. 18, al. the Book of Leinster, pp. 151–170 and 191–216 of facsimile.
Rennes, Bibliothèque Municipale, The Rennes MS, ff. 90–125.
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 P 12, The Book of Ballymote, pp. 349–410.
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 P 2, al. the Book of Lecan, pp. 461–525.
Trinity College Dublin, The Yellow Book of Lecan, H 2 16, pp. 438–455 of facsimile.
Trinity College Dublin, MS H 3 3 (1322).
Trinity College Dublin, MS H 2 15 b (1317), pp. 157–end (a copy of H).
Trinity College Dublin, MS E 4 1 (1436).
Trinity College Dublin, MS H 2 4, pp. 462–590 (an 18th cent copy of B).
Trinity College Dublin, MS H 1 15 (1289), pp. 409–532 (an 18th cent copy of B).
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, The Book of Huí Maine, Stowe, D II 1, ff. 143–169.
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, Stowe, D II 2.
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, Stowe, B II 2. A fragment.
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, Stowe, B III 1.
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, Reeves, 832, pp. 61–197.

Editions/Translations

The Poems on Tara (Tara I–IV) were first edited by George Petrie, On the history and antiquities of Tara Hill. A memoir published in the Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy, Vol. XVIII, pt. 2and obtained the Cunningham Medal, June 1839. Dublin 1839); translated by John O'Donovan.
The Poems on Tara (Tara I–IV) were afterwards edited by J. O'Beirne Crowe, in vol. 2, ser. 4, of the Kilkenny Archaeological Journal.
The poem on Achall was edited by O'Curry, Lectures on the Materials of Irish History, New York 1861.

Secondary literature: a selection

Journals devoted to the study of names and place names such as BUPNS, 1st and 2nd series, and Ainm have their own webpages at http://www.ulsterplacenames.org.
James Norris Brewer, The beauties of Ireland: being original delineations, topographical, historical, and biographical of each county. 2 vols. 1823–26. [Contains only the province of Leinster and the county of Cork with general introduction. No more published.]
G. H. Orpen, 'Ptolemy's map of Ireland'. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 4th series 24 (1894) 115–28.
Alexander Bugge, Caithreim Chellachain Chaisil. The victorious career of Cellachan of Cashel or the Wars between the Irishmen and the Norsemen in the middle of the tenth century. With translation and notes. Christiana, 1905.
H. Cameron Gillies, The place-names of Argyll, London 1906.
Patrick Power, The place names of Decies, London 1907.
Edmund Ignatius Hogan, Onomasticon Goedelicum, Locorum et tribuum hiberniae et scotiae. An index, with identifications, to the Gaelic names of places and tribes. Dublin and London 1910. An electronic edition which was compiled by the Locus Project, na Ranna Gaeilge, University College Cork, is available online at http://minerva.ucc.ie:6336/dynaweb/locus/
Patrick Power, Place-names and antiquities of South East Cork, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, vol. 34, section C, nos. 1 and 9, 1917–18.
Rudolf Thurneysen, Die irische Helden- und Königsage bis zum siebzehnten Jahrhundert (Halle a. S. 1921), reprinted Hildesheim (Olms) 1980, 36–45.
Paul Walsh, 'The earliest records of Fermanagh', Irish Ecclesiastical Record, 5th series 34 (1924) 344–55.
Liam Price, Place names of County Wicklow: the Irish form and meaning of parish, townland, and local names, Wexford 1935.
Éamonn O'Tuathail, 'Notes on some Irish place names'. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 67:1 (1937) 77–88.
C. Ó Lochlainn, 'Roadways in ancient Ireland', in: Féil-sgríbhinn Eóin Mhic Néill, ed. J. Ryan (Dublin 1940) 465–74.
Liam Price, The place-names of County Wicklow. 7 pts. Dublin 1945–67.
Thomas F. O'Rahilly, On Ptolemy's geography of Ireland, in: Early Irish History and Mythology, Dublin 1946 (repr. 1999) 1–42; 453–66.
Edward O'Toole, Place names of County Carlow, Carlow 1947.
Hugh Shearman, Ulster (The County Books series), 1950.
Julius Pokorny, Die Geographie Irlands bei Ptolemaios, Zeitschrift für Celtische Philologie 24 (1954) 94–120.
Paul Walsh, The place-names of Westmeath, Dublin 1957.
James J. Tierney, Ptolemy's map of Scotland, Journal of Hellenic studies 79 (1959) 132–148.
Liam Ó Buachalla, 'An early 14th century placename list for Anglo-Norman Cork', Dinnseanchas 2 (1966) 1–12.
K. W. Nicholls, 'Some place-names from 'The Red Book of the earls of Kildare''. Dinnseanchas 3 (1968–69) 25–37, 61–62.
K. W. Nicholls, 'Some place-names from Pontificia Hibernica'. Dinnseanchas 3:4 (1969) 85–98.
T. J. Hughes, 'Town and baile in Irish place-names'. In: Irish geographical studies in honour of E. Estyn Evans, eds. N. Stephens, R.E. Glasscock (Belfast 1970) 244–58.
Margaret Gelling, 'The Place-Names of the Isle of Man', Journal of the Manx Museum, 7:87 (1971) 168–75.
Charles Thomas, 'The Irish settlements in post-Roman western Britain: A survey of the evidence', Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, ns, 6:4 (1972) 251–74.
Éamonn de Hóir, 'The anglicisation of Irish place-names', Onoma, 17 (1972) 192–204.
Deirdre Flanagan, 'Settlement terms in Irish place-names', Onoma, 17 (1972) 157–72.
Magne Oftedal, 'Scandinavian place-names in Ireland', in: Bo Almquist, David Greene (eds.), Proceedings of the Seventh Viking Congress, Dublin, 15–21 August 1973 (Dublin 1976) 125–33.
C. Bowen, 'A historical inventory of the Dindshenchas', Studia Celtica 10 (1975–76) 113–137.
Myles Dillon, 'The Irish Settlements in Wales'. Celtica, 12 (1977) 1–11.
Breandán Ó Ciobháin, Toponomia Hiberniae 1, Barúntacht Dhún Thuaidh (Barony of Dunkerron North). Dublin 1978.
John Field, Place-names of Great Britain and Ireland, Newton Abbot 1980.
Tomás Ó Concheanainn, 'The three forms of Dinnshenchas Érenn', Journal of Celtic Studies 3 (1981) 88–131.
Thomas Fanning, 'Early Christian sites in the barony of Corkaguiney', in: Donnchadh Ó Corráin, (ed.), Irish antiquity: essays and studies presented to Professor M.J. O'Kelly (Cork 1981) 241–46.
Nollaig Ó Muraíle, 'The barony names of Fermanagh and Monaghan', Clogher Record: Journal of the Clogher Historical Society 9 (1984), 387–402; 11:3 (1982–5) 387–402.
Deirdre Flanagan, 'The Christian impact on early Ireland: place-names evidence', in: Próinséas Ní Chatháin & Michael Richter (eds.), Irland und Europa–Ireland and Europe. Die Kirche im Frühmittelalter–the early Church (Stuttgart 1984) 25–51.
Nollaig Ó Muraíle, Mayo Places: Their Names and Origins. 1985.
K. W. Nicholls, 'Medieval Leinster dynasties and families: three topographical notes', Peritia 5 (1986) 409–15.
Breandán S. Mac Aodha, 'The element áth/ford in Irish place-names'. Nomina 11 (1987) 115–22.
Proinseas Mac Cana, Place-names and mythology in Irish tradition', in: G. W. MacLennan (ed.), Proceedings of the first North-American Congress of Celtic Studies, Ottawa 1988, 319–341.
Helmut Jäger, 'Medieval landscape terms of Ireland: the evidence of Latin and English documents', in: John Bradley (ed.), Settlement and society in medieval Ireland: studies presented to F. X. Martin, OSA (Kilkenny 1988) 277–90.
Liam Mac Mathúna, 'The topographical vocabulary of Irish: patterns and implications'. Ainm 4 (1989–90) 144–164.
Breandán S. Mac Aodha, 'Lake-names on Mercator's map of Ireland'. Nomina, 12 (1989 for 1988/9), 11–16.
Dónall Mac Giolla Easpaig, 'The place-names of Rathlin Island'. Ainm 4 (1989–90) 3–89.
T. S. Ó Máille, 'Irish place-names in -as, -es, -is, -os, -us'. Ainm 4 (1989–90) 125–143.
Diarmuid Ó Murchadha, 'A reconsideration of some place-names from miscellaneous Irish annals', Ainm 4 (1989–90) 180–193.
Jeffrey Spittal, John Field, A reader's guide to the place-names of the United Kingdom: a bibliography of publications, 1920-1989, on the place-names of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, The Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands. Stamford, 1990.
A. J. Hughes, 'Irish place-names: some perspectives, pitfalls, procedures and potential'. Seanchas Ardmhacha: Journal of the Armagh Diocesan Historical Society, 14:2 (1991) 116–148.
Cathal Dallat, 'Townlands: their origin and significance', in: Tony Canavan (ed.), Every stoney acre has a name: a celebration of the townland in Ulster (Belfast 1991) 3–10.
A. S. MacShamhrain, 'Placenames as indicators of settlement', Archaeology Ireland, 5:3 (1991) 19-21.
Alan Mac An Bhaird, 'Ptolemy revisited', Ainm 5 (1991–93) 1–20.
Diarmuid Ó Murchadha, 'A reconsideration of some placenames from 'The Annals of Innishfallen'', Ainm 5 (1991–93) 21–32.
Place-names of Northern Ireland, general editor Gerard Stockman. 6 Vols. [v. 1. County Down I, Newry and South-West Down, eds. Gregory Toner and Mícheál B. Ó Mainnín; v. 2. County Down II, The Ards, eds. A.J. Hughes and R.J. Hannan; v. 3. County Down III, The Mournes, ed. Mícheál B. Ó Mainnín; v. 4. County Antrim I, The baronies of Toome, ed. Patrick McKay; v. 5. County Derry I, The Moyola Valley, ed. Gregory Toner; v. 6. County Down IV, North-West Down, Iveagh, ed. Kay Muhr;.] Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, The Queen's University of Belfast, 1992–1996.
Place-names of Northern Ireland, general editor Nollaig Ó Muraíle. Vol. 7: County Antrim II, Ballycastle and North-East Antrim, ed. Fiachra Mac Gabhann. Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, The Queen's University of Belfast, 1997.
Art Ó Maolfabhail, 'The role of toponymy in the Ordnance Survey of Ireland', Études celtiques 29 (1992) 319–325.
Gillian Fellows Jensen, 'Scandinavian place-names of the Irish sea province', in: J. A. Graham-Campbell (ed.), Viking treasure from the north-west: the Cuerdale hoard in its context (National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside Occasional Papers 5) (Liverpool 1992) 31–42.
Tomás G. Ó Canann, 'Áth Uí Chanannáin and the toponomy of medieval Mide'. Ríocht na Mídhe [Journal of the County Meath Historical Society] 8:4 (1992–93) 78–83.
Michael B. Ó Mainnin, 'The mountain names of County Down'. Nomina 17 (1994) 31–53.
Deirdre & Laurence Flanagan, Irish place-names. Dublin 1994.
Adrian Room, A dictionary of Irish place-names. Revised edition. Belfast 1994.
Dónall Mac Giolla Easpaig, 'Placenames and early settlement in County Donegal', in: William Nolan, Liam Ronayne, Mairead Dunlevy (eds.), Donegal: history & society. Interdisciplinary essays on the history of an Irish county (Dublin 1995) 149–182.
Nollaig Ó Muraíle, 'Recent publications relating to Irish place-names', Ainm 6 (1994–95) 115–122.
Micheál Ó Braonáin, Príomhshruth Éireann. Luimneach 1994. [A poem by a Roscommon poet on the River Shannon (1794) listing 30 tributaries and over 300 place-names.]
Diarmuid Ó Murchadha, 'A reconsideration of some place-names from 'The annals of Connacht'' Ainm 6 (1994–95) 1–31.
Dónall Mac Giolla Easpaig, 'Early ecclesiastical settlement names of county Galway', In: Gerard Moran, (ed.) Galway: history & society: interdisciplinary essays on the history of an Irish county (Dublin 1996) 795–815.
Simon Taylor, 'Place-names and the early church in eastern Scotland', in: Barbara Elizabeth Crawford, (ed.), Scotland in dark age Britain, (Aberdeen 1996) 93–110.
Brian Ó Cuív, 'Dinnshenchas: the literary exploitation of Irish place-names', Ainm 4 (1989–90) 90–106.
Tomás Ua Ciarrbhaic, 'North Kerry placenames', The Kerry Magazine 7 (1996) 33–34.
Diarmuid Ó Murchadha, 'A reconsideration of some place-names from the Annals of Tigernach', Ainm 7 (1996–97) 1–27.
Gregory Toner, 'A reassessment of the element Cuilleann', Ainm 7 (1996–97) 94–101.
Gregory Toner, 'The backward nook: Cúil and Cúl in Irish placenames', Ainm 7 (1996–97) 113–117.
Kay Muhr, 'The Northern Ireland Placename Project 1987–97', Ainm 7 (1996–97) 118–119.
Conleth Manning, 'Daire Mór identified'. Peritia 11 (1997) 359–69.
Roibeard Ó Maolalaigh, 'Place-names as a resource for the historical linguist', in Simon Taylor, The uses of place-names (St. John's House Papers, 7) (Edinburgh: Scottish Cultural, 1998) 12–53.
Seosamh Ó Dufaigh, 'Medieval Monaghan: the evidence of the placenames'. Clogher Record: Journal of the Clogher Historical Society, 16:3 (1999) 7–28.
Patrick McKay, A dictionary of Ulster place-names. Belfast: Queen's University of Belfast, Institute of Irish Studies, 1999.
Nollaig Ó Muraíle, 'The place-names of Clare Island', in: Críostóir Mac Cárthaigh, Kevin Whelan, (eds.), New survey of Clare Island, volume I: history and cultural landscape (Dublin 1999) 99–141.
Gregory Toner, 'The definite article in Irish place-names'. Nomina, 22 (1999) 5–24.
Sharon Arbuthnot, Short cuts to etymology: placenames in Cóir Anmann, Ériu 50 (1999) 79–86.
Patrick McKay, A dictionary of Ulster place-names, Belfast 1999.
Kevin Murray, 'Fr Edmund Hogan's 'Onomasticon Goedelicum', ninety years on: reviewers and users', Ainm 8 (1998–2000) 65–75.
Art Ó Maolfabhail,'Ar lorg na Breatnaise in Éirinn', Ainm 8 (1998–2000) 76–92.
Diarmuid Ó Murchadha, 'A reconsideration of some place-names from 'Fragmentary Annals of Ireland'', Ainm 8 (1998–2000) 41–51.
Gregory Toner, 'Settlement and settlement terms in medieval Ireland: Ráth and Lios'. Ainm 8 (1998–2000) 1–40.
Michael J. Bowman, Place names and antiquities of the Barony of Duhallow, ed. by Jean J. MacCarthy, Tralee 2000.
Eoghan Ó Mórdha, 'The placenames in the Book of Cuanu', in: Alfred P. Smyth (ed.), Seanchas: studies in early and medieval Irish archaeology, history and literature in honour of Francis J. Byrne (Dublin 2000) 189–91.
Kay Muhr, 'Territories, people and place names in Co. Armagh', in: A. J. Hughes, William Nolan (eds.), Armagh: history & society: interdisciplinary essays on the history of an Irish county (Dublin: Geography Publications, 2001) 295–332.
Kay Muhr, 'The early place-names of County Armagh'. Seanchas Ardmhacha: Journal of the Armagh Diocesan Historical Society, 19:1 (2002) 1–54.
Historical Dictionary of Gaelic Placenames/Foclóir Stairiúil Áitainmneacha na Gaeilge, London: Irish Texts Society 2003. [Volume 1 of Hogan's revised Onomasticon.]
Petra S. Hellmuth, 'The Dindshenchas and Irish literary tradition', in: John Carey, Máire Herbert and Kevin Murray (eds.), Cín Chille Chúile, Texts, Saints and Places, Essays in honour of Pádraig Ó Riain, Aberystwyth 2004.
Pádraig Ó Riain, Diarmuid Ó Murchadha and Kevin Murray, Historical Dictionary of Gaelic Placenames, Fascicle 3 [C-Ceall Fhursa] (London: Irish Texts Society 2008).
Rudolf Thurneysen, Die irische Helden- und Königsage bis zum siebzehnten Jahrhundert (Halle 1921; reprinted Hildesheim: Olms 1980) passim.
Whitley Stokes (ed. & tr.), 'The prose tales in the Rennes dindshenchas', Revue Celtique 15 (1894) 272–336, 418–84; 16 (1895) 31–83, 135–67, 269–312.

The edition used in the digital edition

Gwynn, Edward, ed. (1991). The Metrical Dindshenchas‍. 2nd ed. reprinted 1941. Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.

You can add this reference to your bibliographic database by copying or downloading the following:

@book{T106500A,
  title 	 = {The Metrical Dindshenchas},
  UNKNOWN 	 = {title},
  editor 	 = {Edward Gwynn},
  edition 	 = {2},
  note 	 = {xi + 82 pp.},
  publisher 	 = {Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies},
  address 	 = {Dublin},
  date 	 = {1991},
  note 	 = {first published 1906},
  note 	 = {reprinted 1941}
}
 T106500A.bib

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Project description: CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts

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The present text represents odd pages 3–53 of the volume. All editorial introduction, apparatus, extensive notes and footnotes have been omitted. The Irish text is available as a separate file. Editorial addenda and corrigenda from volume 5, pp. 125–126, are integrated in the electronic edition.

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Correction: Text proofread twice. Text supplied by the editor is tagged sup resp="EG". Corrections are tagged corr sic resp="EG"; where the emendation is tentative, the corresponding 'cert' attribute has been allocated a value of 40 per cent. Corrections taking the form of notes are marked note type="auth" n="". Corrections suggested in writings by Kuno Meyer, Rudolf Thurneysen and Patrick Dinneen are marked. Text attested in certain witnesses only is tagged add place="", with the witness ID given as attribute value.

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A canonical reference to a location in this text should be made using “poem”, eg poem 1.

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Profile description

Creation: Translation by Edward Gwynn [for details of Irish text see file G106500A].

Date: c. 1905

Language usage

The translation is in English. (en)
Some words in Old and Middle Irish are retained. (ga)

Keywords: place-lore; poetry; medieval; translation

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Revision description

(Most recent first)

2011-02-03: Header updated; new wordcount made. (ed. Beatrix Färber)
2008-10-22: Keywords added; file validated. (ed. Beatrix Färber)
2008-07-27: Value of div0 "type" attribute modified, title elements streamlined, content of 'langUsage' revised; minor modifications made to header. (ed. Beatrix Färber)
2005-08-25: Normalised language codes and edited langUsage for XML conversion (ed. Julianne Nyhan)
2005-08-04T16:38:00+0100: Converted to XML (ed. Peter Flynn)
2005-02-21: More corrections added in line with Irish file; file re-processed. (ed. Beatrix Färber)
2005-02-16: Header modified; bibliographical details added. (ed. Beatrix Färber)
2005-01-18: File parsed using nsgmls; html file created. (ed. Beatrix Färber)
2005-01-17: Line-breaks and editorial corrections marked up. (ed. Beatrix Färber)
2005-01-13: Provisional header created; poems proofed (2), tagged and integrated into file. (ed. Beatrix Färber)
2004-06-05: First proofing of text. (ed. Saorla Ó Corráin)
2004-05-30: Text scanned. (data capture Saorla Ó Corráin)

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G106500A: The Metrical Dindshenchas (in Irish)

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[lit.] that there should be restitution of her from her loan 🢀
[some part of a carcase, exact meaning uncertain, see <title type="journal" TEIform="title">Hermathena</title> 48, 150.] 🢀
[For this verse, read:] Their liquor, going round in state, did 300 cupbearers dispense to the fiery princes and noblemen: none of the number was neglected. 🢀
[For lines 2 to 4 of this verse, read:] never stopping for delay, to serve the food of the wide-reaching [or, broad-handed] kings and princes, —a pleasing employment. 🢀

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