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

poem/story 36

SLIAB CALLANN

  1. Well I know the origin of the name of stalwart Callann's mountain: the hound that Buide owned was called by the name of Callann, unalterably.
  2. Buide mac Báin was a man of mark: in his fair house he reared the fell hound, greater of size than an oak tree, to guard his goodly flock.
  3. Daelchú, the hound of Celtchar—hard his cast—was the hound's northern sire: in the hollow skull of Conganchness was Dael found—no puny beast.
  4. Three hounds there were in the head of Conganchness, a fair sight among all strongholds: dappled, black, and dun—warm was their coat: the pack mangled many a fell.
  5. The hound of Mac Dá Thó, breeder of strife, the hound of the Smith, equally noted, and the hound that fair Celtchar owned; a law-keeper was noble Dael.
  6. The hound that belonged to steadfast Buide, a whelp of Dael from the high-bred litter, was a guardian of kine and gear till the day of the dark Dun Bull's battle.
  7. The dark Dun Bull of Cualnge, too hard a match for him, crushed Callann in fresh gore: so here on this hill lies his carcass: a rite has been held from of old.

  8. p.173

  9. From this tale—truth I tell—comes the name, Sliab Callann of the triumphs: well I know Callann's grave in the sod under the sward by the road-side.