Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
The Metrical Dindshenchas (Author: [unknown])

poem 7

Druim nDairbrech

  1. Whence is the hill of Druim Dairbrech named?
    for many a day it increased the household;
    by mine art I see in memory
    a plain populous as the domain of Tara.
  2. 5] Druim Dairbrech, it is a fair fort,
    a sandy rampart by the lank-sided billow;
    the lay of a bard that will be profitable with its goodly share
    I see, from the lovely lofty height.
  3. The smooth-browed hill of the gay banks,
    10] the broad-flanked ridge with sloping sides,
    a spot like Raigne of the lucky bards,
    fiercely assailed rampart of Dairbre Ruddy-face.
  4. Dairbre Ruddy-face, son of Lulach,
    who was sudden as a chain-trap (?) in winter-time,
    15] son of Ligmuine leader of hosts,
    readiest in savage conflict.
  5. The Fidgai, the Fochmaind, and the Gaileoin,
    were not soon tamed, of their free will8;
    the Firbolg, and the multitude of Domnainn,
    20] tame for ever was the violence in their mood of distress.
  6. The tribe of the Crecraige of the raw gold,
    the Gumóir, the Brecraige of bloodless battle,
    the Mendraige of Dairbre generous to song,
    famed for ever was the fierceness of the horrid fight.

  7. p.49

  8. 25] Tuathal of the bloody warriors inflicted9
    on red Dairbre, about the swamp
    headlong defeat across every moorland
    in the battle of Commar, rough beyond other glens.
  9. Dairbre Ruddy-face, on that hill
    30] in evil hour did he separate from his soldiery;
    Tuathal of the martial cheek
    bound him with his iron grip.
  10. Tuathal the Wealthy, the warrior,
    great his rightful fame above princes:
    35] Dairbre of the songs fell
    by his axes–such was the might of the idolator!
  11. This hill of the array of battle
    O swift poets, I declare,
    good in truth is the day I speak of,
    40] for learning whence is named the noble hill.