Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
A poem on the Kings of Connaught (Author: [unknown])

p.463

  1. Man that art going to the plain of Maeve,
    let thy tale be mindful of the story!
    I spread over every pleasant tribal land
    the names of the kings of fair Cruachan.
  2. Fifty-eight kings — far it has been heard —
    were in high-kingship since the Faith:
    from Amalgaid whose fame poets spread
    down to Domnall son of Tigernan.
  3. Amalgaid son of Fiachra the Fair,
    after him Ailill ruled;
    after Ailill Molt without gentleness
    Dui Galach was in the high-kingship.
  4. Eogan Bel ruled for a time after his father,
    before Ailill;
    Ailill the Womanly was king
    after the death of Eogan of great honour.
  5. Thereupon after Ailill,
    Dui Tenga seized the kingship;
    after Dui — famous he was, and warlike —
    came Eochu Dryflesh, the choice man.
  6. After Eochu,
    Feradach the fair ruled, a true judge;
    after the son of Ross of the slaughter
    came Maelcothaid son of Maelumai.
  7. After Maelcothaid the fair, the spear-armed,
    Aed Abrat son of noble Echu ruled;
    after Aed Uatu
    a son of Aed Abrat seized it.
  8. Colman son of Conchobor the fair
    ruled after the son of Aed lof sacred honour;
    after Colman whom he had slain in battle
    Rogallach the king seized it.
  9. After Uatu's son — loud was his war-cry! —
    Longsech son of Colman ruled:
    after Longsech — a great name! —
    Guaire of pure Aidne succeeded.
  10. After Guaire, who would suffer no treachery,
    ruled Cenn Faelad the truly comely;
    after the son of Colman, 'twas a famous tale!
    Dunchad the rich of Muiresc.

    11. p.465

  11. After Dunchad, the bearded, the valiant,
    Cellach the brilliant son of Rogallach,
    after Cellach without reproach
    came the reign of Fergal son of Artgal.
  12. After Fergal who prepared attacks,
    Muredach son of Murgius;
    then — noble he was and father of many children —
    came the comely king Indrechtach.
  13. After the son of flaming-red Dúnchad, Cathal — he was a leader of great hosts —
    the good and perfect son of Muredach,
    seized the kingdom,
    an inheritance which was not his by right.
  14. Domnall, great Cathal's son,
    ruled after his father;
    after the death of Domnall without discord
    Indrechtach the son of Muredach.
  15. Cathal son of Murgius the great,
    ruled immediately after that,
    king of Irros Domnann, the flame,
    Domnall son of Cathal of the hundreds.
  16. Indrechtach, a noble pilgrim,
    son of Muredach, greater than any prince;
    after him — 'tis no wonderful fiction —
    King Aed the Dumb united them under his sway.
  17. After Aed, who ruled us with dignity,
    Fergus son of Cellach ruled;
    after the death of Fergus the fair
    came an excellent king, Ailill.
  18. Dubinrecht son of Cathal the prince
    ruled for a while after Ailill,
    after him — he did not find tribulation —
    came Donn Cothaid the warlike and handsome.
  19. After Donn Cothaid Flathroi seized the kingship,
    far as the wall of the land:
    after the son of Domnall — he was a bold rider —
    came a battle-king of strife, stern Artgal.
  20. Tipraite son of Tadg ruled
    after Artgal of the rough blade,
    thereafter the flame found hardship,
    Muirgius the Great, son of Tomaltach.

    21. p.467

  21. Diarmait came after Muirgius the good and great,
    who obtained each fair host through agreement,
    a high-king over strong hosts,
    the sturdy son of Tomaltach of Tailltiu.
  22. Cathal son of Muirgius, a diadem,
    succeeded Diarmait of the sweet songs,
    after Cathal the fair,
    Murchad son of Aed the beloved was my companion.
  23. Fergus son of Fothad — behold! —
    came after the son of Aed; he was wise;
    after Fergus the Great without folly
    Finnachta the puissant of Luibnech.
  24. Conchobar, a beloved visitor,
    after the rule of the man of Formael:
    after the death of the prince of fair Fobar
    Aed son of Conchobar ruled.
  25. Cathal son of stern Conchobar came
    after the death of red-browed Aed,
    king of the bards from Céis that loved me,
    Tadg ruled after his father.
  26. Fergal son of Ruarc from the Rige succeeded,
    who seized all the country round through battle-rage,
    after the death of Fergal
    Conchobar the noble, the cleaver of hostile ranks, obtained it.
  27. Cathal son of Tadg came here
    after Conchobar of the combats,
    better the time without spoil,
    the rule of Cathal son of Conchobar.
  28. Tadg son of Cathal, commemorate him to me!
    seized the kingdom after his father's death,
    after Tadg, the rover round Codal,
    Art grandson of Ruarc of the royal seat.

    29. p.469

  29. After Art the Fair of the land of Codal,
    Aed grandson of Conchobar ruled:
    'twas straightforward kingship,
    a choice rule of justice.
  30. Aed son of Art after the other Aed,
    seized on Sart of lasting valour;
    after him — a battle-king he was here —
    Ruaidri son of Aed was with us.
  31. Domnall son of Tigernan the Silent
    after the son of Aed the ever-fresh;
    king of the Domnainn over the living Braine
    was another Domnall, Ruadri's son.
  32. Since Nathí seized it at his house,
    or Ailill of the strong frame,
    there did not seize on Cliu of the alliances
    any man who was equal to Tairdelbach.
  33. Tairdelbach, chief of Tulach Óg,
    he is the sea across every level road,
    Oh God, may he uplift us,
    the high prince of fair-haired Erin!
  34. Grandson of Conchobar of the enclosure of Céis,
    after each king of ever-new grace,
    bright white-handed warrior-king,
    may the noble hero live long here below!