In the podcast episode, we were working off three main texts: The Twelve Ordeals includes the descriptions of various means for telling truth from falsehood, describes many things decided at Cormac’s Feast of Tara, his adventure in the Land of Promise, and a court case through which Cormac obtained his sword. Download or view the…
Category: Texts and Translations
The published texts and translations from which we work, with links to their sources
The Instructions of King Cormac
“O Cormac, grandson of Conn,” said Cairbre, “what are the dues of a chief and of an ale-house?” “Not hard to tell,” said Cormac. “Good behaviour around a good chief Lights to lamps Exerting oneself for the company A proper settlement of seats Liberality of dispensers A nimble hand at distributing Attentive service Music in…
The Tabulated Immráma
While we were working on this series, Isolde thought that it might be helpful to create a table comparing all the islands and events of the four members of the set. Not all the details of each story are present, but it is a useful aide memoire to use while listening to any episode in…
The Text of Immram Brain Part 1: The Woman’s Poem
Here is the first part of the text of Immram Brain, as edited by Séamus Mac Mathúna. The translation is based on that of Kuno Meyer, although where my translation differs significantly from his, I have included his translation in brackets. I have also marked the scribe’s glosses with brackets, introduced with .i. in the…
The Ulster Women’s War of Words 2: Lendabair
In “Fled Bricrenn 1: The Feasting Hall“, we discussed the so-called Ulster Women’s War of Words. This is where the partners of the three contending heroes take turns to boast of their own greatness as well as that of their men-folk. Here is the second of these poetic weapons, here weilded by Lendabair, partner to…
The Ulster Women’s War of Words 1: Fedelm
In “Fled Bricrenn 1: The Feasting Hall“, we discussed the so-called Ulster Women’s War of Words. This is where the partners of the three contending heroes take turns to boast of their own greatness as well as that of their men-folk. Here is the first of these poetic weapons, here weilded by Fedelm Nóicride, partner…
Fer Fio’s Cry: A Poem for Long Life
In exploring the Dindshenchas of Inber Ailbine, we looked at the poem Nuall Fer Fio, “Fer Fio’s Cry”, to gain some understanding of the nine daughters of the sea in their bronze boats. In the episode, I incorrectly attributed the translation to Dr. John Carey. This is because I first read about the poem in…
The Dindshenchas of Inber Ailbine: Gormanston, Co. Dublin
In Dindshenchas: A Magical Mystery Tour, we linked the characters and themes in this poem with two characters from Cath Maige Tuired, “The Battle of Moytura“. We explored connections between Rúad in this poem and Rúadán in Cath Maige Tuired, and his father, Rígdonn, with Rúadán’s father Bres. We have discussed Rúadán’s story in Series…
The Dindshenchas of Carmun
In Dindshenchas; A Magical Mystery Tour, we discussed the poem on Carmun as an example of dindshenchas celebrating a particular geographical place. It describes a major óenach which takes place every three years, and the activities of that fair, as well as the origin-tale of the character Carmun said to be buried there. We discussed…
The Dindshenchas of Áth Clíath Cúalann: Dublin
As we discussed in Dindshenchas: A Magical Mystery Tour, the Modern Irish name for the city of Dublin is Baile Átha Clíath, “The Town of the Ford of the Hurdles”. The “English” name of Dublin comes from Dublind, “Black Pool”,. This version is pretty much as translated by Gwynn, with some updating of the English!…