At one birth they were all three brought forth by Fuinche, daughter of Nár. She lay in by Lugaid mac Con, ut alii dicunt. Fuinche brought forth Oendia at nightfall. He is so called, because he was a king's son, for the excellence of the lucky hour. Trendia was born at midnight. The name was given to him for the strength of luck with the gods at that hour.3 Caindia was born in the morning. Because of the loveliness and the beauty of the dawn of morning, therefore Caindia is his name. Of them the shanachie has sung:—
- The three Fothads of Ireland without a blemish,
three sons of Lugaid, Garrchú's son:
before the men were called Fothad,
what were their names to show them forth?- Oendia and Cáindia the champion,
and Tréndia, I hide it not:
those are—they teach renown—
the names truly of the Fothads.- Oendia was Airctech of the clans,
and Cáindia was Fothad Canann,
Tréndia was Cairptech, you see,
[...]
with the High-kingThree F.
According to others they were called Fothad, as it were fó-suit, i.e. fo means ‘good’, viz., they were good foundations, i.e. a distinguished progeny. Fothad Canann is so called from Canann, a houndthat he had; whence also Canann4 in Mag Life is called. Or Fothad Cáinine, viz. cáin, i.e. delightful was the day when he was born.