Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition

The Siege of Knocklong (Author: Unknown)

section 121

The men of Munster began to question Mogh Roith about the number of casualties on both sides – north and south – and which side had suffered the most. Mogh Roith gave a clear description of the situation in the following lay which he recited aloud:

Mogh Ruith

1. The lawless ones killed
   480 brave warriors
   of the Men of Munster,
   according to my calculations.
2. Five druids practised sorcery
   against Leath Mhogha of the large assemblies;
   this was the number killed, an impressive deed.
   ...
3. I formed three hounds
   to destroy the brave sheep.
   I formed an underwater sea-eel
   to destroy Colpa and Lorga.
4. I turned the fires northwards
   to Leath Choinn of the hard swords.
   I left only the strength of a woman in labour
   to the descendants of Conn Céadchathaigh in the east.

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p.107

5. Warlike Munster defeated Conn.
   ...
   Once their Aos Dána (Men of Art) had failed
   Cormac's army fell into distress.
6. Four hundred lords and kings
   of Cormac's band are calculated to have been killed
   on the way to Formhaol. It was an injury beyond repair
   for the descendants of Conn Céadchathaigh.
7. Exactly 400 horse-boys
   belonging to Cormac's army were killed on the road
   ...
   between Formhaol and Roighne.
8. Crotha, Céacht, Cith Rua from the plain
   – druids of the race of Conn Céadchathaigh
   – at Má Roighne of the red rocks
   I turned them into solid stones.
9. These stones will commemorate the deed,
   they will remain there for ever,
   a cause of shame for Leath Choinn;
   they will be known as Leaca Roighne.
10. There were five groups of seven men each there,
    having only five names.
    Everybody was forced to a retreat
    except for three.
11. There were seven men in each of the groups belonging to Céacht, Crotha,
    Ceathach, Cith Mhór
    and Cith Rua. Their feats were brilliant
    as was their composition of druidic spells.
12. 
    [...]
    at Áth an tSlua,
    north of Má Roighne,
    a group of seven twenties was killed –
    that I do not conceal.
13. Two twenties and two hundred
    fell from that ford eastwards that is not lie,
    on every path that Leath Choinn took.
    They were not given protection in Liathruim (Tara).
14. There were 1048 men killed
    ...
    – this was the destruction wrought on Leath Choinn
    by the grandson of Oileall Ólom.
    From pleasant Druim Dámhgháire
    to the great highway of Slí Mhíluachra.
15. A great and bloody deed took place
    in one day.
    It is the greatest march
    that a warrior ever undertook among brilliant feats of valour.
16. From Ceann Chláire it was a splendid journey
    northwards to Gleann Rí Righe.
    Fiacha of the numerous companies
    and Mogh Corb of the red sword
    decided that they would not be fully satisfied
    until Cormac beame their hostage.
17. ...
    ...
    ...
    ...