Accompanying Handout for Lebor na hUidre: Some Early Connacht Associations - An tOll. Ruairí Ó hUiginn, MRIA, School of Celtic Studies, NUI Maynooth. For additional information including audio recordings to accompany this presentation please click here - http://www.ria.ie/library/exhibitions/lebor-na-huidre-conference.aspx. Disclaimer: The Royal Irish Academy has prepared the content of this website responsibly and carefully, but disclaims all warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy of the information contained in any of the materials. The views expressed are the authors’ own and not those of the Royal Irish Academy.

1. 1
LU: Some Early Connacht Associations
Ruairí Ó hUiginn 23 Samhain 2012 RIA
Donegal
1. Caislen Sliccigh do ghabháil la h-Ua n-Domhnaill for Domhnall mac Eoghain Uí
Concobhair iar m-beith athaidh fhoda in iomsuidhe fair, & a breth fein d'fághail dó
chomhtoibh d'Ua Domhnaill don chur-sin la taobh umhla, & cios chána o Iochtar
Connacht. Bá don chur-sin do-radadh dó an Leabhar Gerr, & Leabhar na h-Uidhri, &
cathaoíreacha Domhnaill Óicc ruccadh siar re linn Sheain mic Concobhair mic Aodha
mic Domhnaill Óicc Uí Domhnaill
‘The castle of Sligo was taken by Ó Domhnaill from Domhnall, son of Eoghan Ó
Conchubhair, after having besieged it for a long time, and O Domhnaill obtained on this
occasion his own demands of gifts, besides receiving submission and tribute from Lower
Connacht. It was on this occasion that he obtained the book called Leabhar Gearr, and
another called Leabhar na h-Uidhri, and the chairs of Domhnall Óg, which had been
brought westwards in the time of Seán, the son of Conchobhar, son of Aodh son of
Domhnall Óg Ó Domhnaill’, AFM 1470.
2. Maghnas Ó Domhnaill, Beatha Cholaim Chille (1532);
Amra Cholaim Cille (LU ll.292-1206).
3. ORAIT and so d'Aodh Ruadh mac Neill ghairbh I Dhomhnaill do tobaigh co foregnec an
leabar so ar Chonnachtaib & in Leabar Gearr maille fris iarna mbeith n-ar n-ecmuis o
aimsir Cathail oig I Concabair co haimsir Ruaidri meic Briain & dechneabur tigernad
etorro for Cairbre & a n-aimsir Concobair meic Aedho Hi Domnaill rucadh siar iad & is
mar seo rucadh iad .i. in in Leabar Gearr a fuasclodh I Dochartoigh & Leabar na
Huidri do dul a fuasclodh meic ollamon I Domnaill re seanchus arna ghabail do
Cathal a ngill fris ar Cenel Conaill fris sin o Concobur co hAedh.
‘A prayer for Aodh Ruadh son of Niall Garbh Ó Domhnaill who carried this book off by
force from the Connachtmen, and the Leabhar Gearrr with it, after they had been absent
from us from the time of Cathal Óg O Conchobhair to that of Ruaidhrí son of Brian [Ó
Conchobhair], and ten lords were over Cairbe in the interval. And in the time of
Conchobhar son of Aodh Ó Domhnaill they were taken to the West. And in this manner
they were taken, i.e. the Leabhar Gearr in Ransom for Ó Dochartaigh and Leabhar na
hUidhre going in ransom for the son of Ó Domhnaill’s ollamh of history, it being taken
by Cathal as a pledge for him from Cenél Conaill’, LU 2774-82.
4. Maidhm mór do thabairt do Chathal Óg mac Cathail Uí Concobhair occ Áth Senigh ar
Sheaan mac Conchobhair Uí Dhomhnaill, & ar Chonallchaibh. Seaan Ó Dochartaigh
taoiseach Arda Miodhair, Eoghan Connachtach, Toirrdhealbhach Mac Suibhne do
ghabháil do mhac Uí Concobhair don chur-soin, & daoíne iomdha do marbadh lais

2. 2
‘A great victory was gained at Ballyshannon by Cathal Óg, the son of Cathal Ó
Conchobhair, over Seán, the son of Conchobhar Ó Domhnailll, and the Cenéal Conaill.
Seán Ó Dochartaigh, Chief of Ardmire, Eoghan Connachtach , and Toirrdhealbhach Mac
Suibhne were taken prisoners on this occasion by the son of Ó Conchobhair, and many
persons were slain by him’, AFM 1359.
5. (a) Poetry of Giolla Brighde Mac Con Midhe († c.1272).
Conall cuingidh Cloinne Néill 33qq (based on earlier poem Conall cuingidh
Cloinde Néill 55qq. attributed to Fland Mainistrech †1056).
(b) Gabháltas Conaill Gulban.
Clonmacnoise and Mid Connacht
6. Legendary history of Connacht
Cath Airtig, Cath Bóinne, Cath Leitrech Ruibe, Cath Cumair, Táin Bó
Fliodhais 2, Tochmarc Treblainne, ‘Carn Fraoich, soitheach na saorchlann’ etc.
7. Three Connachts
(a) rothinoilsead dono Teora Condachta, i. Fir Domnann 7 Fir Craibi 7 Tuatha
Taiden ‘The three Connachts then assembled, that is Fir Domnann, Fir Craibi and
Tuatha Taidean’, Cath Airtig §11 (Ériu 8 (1916),176).
(a) Tres praecipiae fuerunt familiae, viz Gamanradii, Fir-chraibi & Tuatha-taidhen
‘there were three eminent families [in Connacht], viz. the Gamanrad, the Fir
Chraoibhe and Tuatha Taoidhean’, Ogygia 175.
8. Darcoimlead morsluaigead mor la hUltu desin i coicead nOl nEgmnacht. Rogobsat oc
indrad in tíri rompu co rancadar crich Airtigh Uchtlethain meic Thomantin meic Fhir
Choga do Domnannchaib ‘Because of that a great hosting was gathered by the Ulaid in
the fifth of Ol nEgmnacht and they fell to harrying the land before them until they came
to the land of Airtech Uchtleathain (broad-chested) son of Tomanten son of Fer Coga of
the Fir Domhnann’, Cath Airtig §11, Ériu 8 (1916), 176.
9. Airtech Uchlethan < Airtech, Clothru < Inis Clothrann, Sanb < Mag Sainb, Fer
Deichet/Teichead < Loch (d)Teichead, Loingsech Lacha Rí (Cath Airtig §11) =
Loingsech Locha Cé (?) TBFlidais 2, Celtic Review 1 (1904) 298.
10. Eochaid Beg mac Eochaid Ronn, .i. rí Fer Craíbe .i. rí an tres Condachtæ ‘Eochaid Beg
son of Eochaid Ronn king of the Fir Chraíbe, i.e. king of one of the Three Connachts’,
Bruiden Da Choca 151-2.

3. 3
Scribe(s) H and history of Connacht
11. ‘Annals of Tigernach’
(a) Cath Airtig for coiced Ol n-Ecmacht la Cuscraid mac Conchobair ‘Cuscraid son
of Conchobar prevailed over Coiced Ol nEcmacht [Connacht] in the battle of
Airtech.’ RC 16 (1895) 410.
Interpolated text of Táin Bó Flidais1 (LU ff21a-22b; ll.1587-1641).
(b) bátár tinoltai na Gamanraidi oc Ailill ‘those of the G. who had been mustered
were with Ailill’, LU 1616-7.
Ba si sin in tress láechaicmi Herend .i. in Gamanrad a Hirrus Domnand ‘they
were one of the three warrior-groups in Ireland, i.e. the G. from Erris’, LU 1620.
(c) Negative depiction of Fergus mac Róigh agrees with later version of Táin Bó
Flidais and with Cath Airtig against LL and other MSS
LL
Iar sin luid Flidais co Fergus mac Róig. & is doṡ ein no gaibed Flidais cech
sechtmad laa do fheraib Herend dia toiscid ocon Táin. & is desin luid la Fergus
iar Táin [leg. tain?] dochum a chríchi. Co ngab ríge nUlad. & is and atbathsi
iarum oc Tráig Baili.
‘After that Flidais went to Fergus mac Róigh, and from that she would go every
seventh day to the men of Ireland to sustain them on the Táin (cattle-raid), and
afterwards Fergus went to his own territory and assumed the kingship of Ulster.
And she died afterwards at Tráig Baili’, LL ll. 33096–99.
LU
Is de sin luid Flidais co Fergus mac Róich a comarli Ailella 7 Medba fa dáig
combad furtacht dóib ocon Tána [sic] na mbó a Cualngi. Is de sin no geibed
Flidais cach sechtmad laa di feraib herend do bóthorud dia thoscid ocon Táin.
Ba sé sin buar Flidais. Is de sin luid Flidais la Fergus dochom a chríchi bunaid
co ngab rígi blogi do Ultaib .i. Mag Murthemni cosinni baí i lláim Con Culaind
meic Sualtaim. Ba marb iarom Flidais iar tain oc Traig Bali. 7 nibá ferdi trebad
Fergusa ón. As ba sisi no frithailed Fergus im cach tincur bá hadlaic do. Is and
atbath Fergus iar tain hi crích Connacht iar n-écaib a mná .i. iar tíchtain dó do
fis scel co Ailill & Meidb. ar do irgartigud a menman & do breith táircthe cruid o
Ailill & o Meidb. luidi síar co Cruachain. conid tíar dind fecht sin fúair a bás tria
ét Ailella

4. 4
‘Resulting from that Flidais went to Fergus mac Róigh on the counsel of Ailill
and Medb so that she would be of assistance to them in driving the cattle out of
Cúailnge. Therefore Flidais would go on every seventh day to the men of Ireland
with calves to help [them] on the Táin. That was Flidais’s herd. As a
consequence, Flidais went with Fergus to his original territory where he took a
portion of Ulster, i.e. Mag Muirthemni together with that which was owned by Cú
Chulainn, son of Sualtam. Flidais died after a while at Tráig Bali and Fergus’s
husbandry suffered as a result, for it is she who used to serve Fergus with regard
to every provision for which he wished. Afterwards Fergus died in the territory of
the Connachta following the death of his wife, i.e. after he had come with tidings
to Ailill and Medb. For it was for his entertainment and to get a grant of cattle
from Ailill and from Medb that he went west to Cruachu, and it was on that
sojourn he died through Ailill’s jealousy’, LU 1629–41.
Cath Airtig
Luidh Fergus a morimmirci sair co hUlltu 7 Flidais lais. 7 is hi iarom tir
conaitech Fergus .i. ferond Sualdaim meic Roich & Con Culaind .i. crich
Cuailngne 7 Muirtemne & crich Rois & Brug mna Elcmair.Tucad dosom dono in
feronn sin & boisim intib side i n-aitreib corbó marb Flidais occai occ Traig
Baile meic Buain. Conid deiside dicoidsom ier toin co hOilill & Meidb ar nirbo
maith a trebad dar eis Flidhaisi, conid deiside fuairsim bas tier de enet Oilella
meic Matai.
‘Fergus went eastwards to Ulster with a great retinue and Flidais was with him.
And the land Fergus asked for was the land of Sualdam son of Róch, and of Cú
Chulainn son of Sualdam, namely the land of Cuailnge and Mag Muirthemne and
Crích Rois and Brug Mná Elcmair. That land was given to him and he dwelt there
` until Flidais died at Tráig Baile meic Buain. And as a result of that he went back
after a while to Ailill and Medb, for his householding was not good after Flidais
[had died]. And he died in the west through the single act of jealousy of Ailill mac
Máta’, Ériu 8 (1916) 175.
(d) Poem entered in lower margin of f.21b Ailid Ailill amra triath/gadaim tre ech asa
iath etc. is also found in later version of Táin Bó Flidias.
Ollamh Ceneóil Chonaill
12. Niall garbh mac Aedha mic Domhnaill oig ba tigherna for an ccrích an tan don-ánaic an
Corbmac at rubramor agus ba he ua Sgingin .i. Matha ba h-ollamh don Niall remhraite
is in ionamm sin; agus ni ro mhair do cloind ag ua Sgingin ina beos dia chenel is in crích
cenmothá aeningen cuchtach ro baoi leis agus ro nenaisc do seitche fris in ti Corbmac

5. 5
agus ba sidhe ro chuindig ina tinnscra cecib fersgal no geinfedh uaidhibh diblinibh do
chor fri tescclimm agus fri foghlaim senchusa o ro scaich agus o ro diobdait an cenél dia
mbaoi-siom isin ccrích acht madh eisiomh agus an aoininghean. Ro ernaidhm frisiomh
don chur sin. Do ringheallsomh ndo in ro in ro cuindigh fair, agus ro comhaill eigin.
Ro genair mac on Corpmac sin agus ó ingin ui Sgingín, Giolla brighde a
chomhainm, agus ba h-i foraithmhet agus i ccuimhne Ghiolla bhrighde uí Sgingín,
derbráthair a mháthar (adhbhar ollamhan Cenél Conaill at bath riasan tan sin an
bliadhain si d’aois ar tTigherna 1382) do radadh an anmain as Giolla Brighde for an
mac sin.
‘Niall Garbh son of Aodh son of Domhnall Óg was lord of the country at the time the
Cormac we have mentioned came there and the Ó Sgingín, that is, Matha, was ollav to
the Niall aforesaid. And none lived of Ó Sgingín’s family or people in the land save one
beautiful daughter. And he gave her in marriage to the aforementioned Cormac and what
he requested as her bride-price was whatever son should be born to them should be sent
to gather and learn history, since the people of whom he was had become extinct in
that land save for himself and his single daughter. He bound him to that. He [Cormac]
promised him he would do what he asked and this he honoured.
A son named Giolla Brighde was born to Cormac and to Ó Sgingín’s daughter
and it was in memory of Giolla Brighde Ó Sgingín his mother’s brother and the intended
ollamh of Tír Chonaill who had died before that time in the year of our Lord 1382 that
the name Giolla Brighde was given to that son’, O Clery Genealogies (ed. Pender)
§§1562-3
13 (a) Giolla Brighde Ó Sgingin adbar ollamhan Chinél c-Conaill do écc. ‘Gilla-
Bhrighde Ó Sgingín, intended ollav of Cenél gConaill, died’AFM 1382
(b) Matha O Scingín do écc don fhiolún ‘Matthew O'Scingin died of fiolún’
AFM 1402
(c) An Giolla Riabhach Ua Clerigh saoi seanchadha d'écc iar n-deigh-bheathaidh
‘Giolla Riabhach Ó Cléirigh, a learned historian, died, after spending a good life.’
AFM 1421
14. (a) Diarmaid Ó Sgingin ollam Chenel Conaill re senchas… d'ég ‘Diarmaid Ó
Sgingín, ollav of Cenéal gConaill in history died’ AFM1364
(b) Dermott o’Skyngin an excellent chronicler …Died. AClon. 1364
(c) Diarmait h-Ua Sgingin, sgelaighi maith & senchaidh, d'eg ‘Diarmait Ua Sgingin,
a good historian and antiquary, died’, AU 1361.
15. Giolla Criost Ó Sgingín ollamh cenél c-Conaill i senchus do écc do fhiolún ‘Giolla Críst
Ó Sgingín, ollav of Cenéal gConaill in history died of fiolún’, AFM 1378.

6. 6
16. (a) Matha h. Scingin ollam Ceneoil Conaill mortuus est ‘Matha O Scingin, ollav of
Cenel Conaill, died’, AC (ALC) 1289.
(b) Matha O Sgingin, airdshenchaidh Erenn uile, mortuus est. ‘Matha Ó Sgingín,
chief historian of all Ireland, died’, AU 1285.
Gabháltas Conaill Gulban
17. ‘Do biur mo chubhais, ámh, ar sé ‘gurab mairg dam fil i mbeathaidh a haithle in ro
imbirsiut Ulaidh do thár agus do tharcusal, do dímhigin agus do dhímiadh form, ed ón
mo oide do mharbhadh ocus a dhún do orguin agus a chríoch do ionnradh….agus
toingim fom bhréithir co ccluinfidear go comhchoiteann fo Érinn amhail dhigeólatt
mh’oide ar Ultaibh ‘By my conscience,’ said he, ‘alas that I am alive after the contempt
and insult, the disgrace and dishonour the Ulaid have inflicted on me, i.e. by killing my
foster-father, spoiling his home and over-running his territory….and I pledge my word
that the manner in which I will avenge my foster-father on the Ulaid will be heard far and
wide throughout Ireland’ ZCP 14 (1923) 221-1
18. Sluaighedh do dhenamh do Muiris Mac Gerailt i t-Tir Conaill & é do thabhairt leithe
Thire Conaill do Corbmac mac Diarmada mic Ruaidhri Uí Concobhair, & braighde Uí
Dhomhnaill do ghabhail ar an leith oile. Na braighde do fhaccbhail i c-caislén
Sliccighe.Ua Domhnaill, .i. Maoil Seachlainn & maithe Cenél c-Conaill do theacht la
Samhna go Slicceach. Badhún an baile do losccadh dhoibh. Ni ro fhedsat dol for an c-
caislén, & ro chrochsat lucht an chaislén a m-braighdi i n-a f-fiadhnaisi iar n-a leccadh
síos do mhullach an chaislén, .i. ó Mianáin oide Uí Domhnaill & a chomalta
‘Muiris Mac Gearailt marched with an army into Tirconnell: he gave the half of
Tirconnell to Cormac, son of Diarmaid, who was son of Ruaidhrí Ó Conchubhair, and
obtained hostages from Ó Domhnaill for the other half. These hostages he left in the
castle of Sligo.
Ó Domhnaill (Maoil Seachlainn), and the chiefs of the Cinéal Conaill came on
All-Saints' day to Sligo, and burned the bawn, but were not able to make their way into
the castle; upon which the people of the castle hanged the hostages in their presence,
having suspended them from the top of the castle, i.e. Ó Mianáin, the foster-father of Ó
Domhnaill, and [another who was] his foster-brother’ AFM 1246
19. Ro marbhadh Criomhthann mac Énna Cinsealaig la hÉnna Amhulcach mac Briain ...
acht as cronaighthi insin úair at-beir reim rioghraidhe Laighen gurab la hEochaid
nGuinech mac Dáire Barraig do cher Criomhthann mac Énna Ceinnselaig
‘Criomhthann son of Énna Cinnsealach was killed by Énna Amhulcach son of Brian
...but that is to be corrected for Réim Ríoghraidhe Laighen states that Criomhthann son of
Énna Cinnselach fell by Eochaid Guinech son of Dáire Barrach’, ZCP 14 (1923) 254.

7. 7
20 (a) Crimthand mac Ennae Eocho Guinech rí Hua mBarrchi mac a ingini féin ros marb
‘Criomthann son of Énna. Eochu Guineach king of the Uí Bairrche, the son of his own
daughter, killed him’, LL 5506 .
(b) Cremthand mac Enna Cennselaig mac Labrada meic Bresail Belaig xl bliadan 7
Eochaid Guinech mac Daire Barraig romarb he ‘Cremthann son of Énna Cennselach son
of Labraid son of Bressal Bélach [reigned for] 40 years and Eochaid Guinech son of
Dáire Barrach killed him’, BB 35v.
21. Ro asgna Conall iaromh tar Inbher nGlaisi ocus tre Sheanmhagh Luirg in Dághdha
‘Conall made his way across Inbhear Glaise and old Magh Luirg of the Daghdha’, ZCP
14 (1923) 254.
22. Fiachra mac Eachach Mhuighmheadhóin for Thír Meacon agus for Mhóirthír na
Gamanraide frisa ráitear Tír na nAmhalgaidh ‘F. ruled Tír mBeacon and Móirthír
na Gamhanraidhe which is [now] called Tír nÓ Amhalgaidh,. ZCP 14 (1923) 215-6.
23. Ro fhás immurgu esaonta adhbal agus coccad mór eitir macaib Echdach Muigmedóin im
ríghe Connacht ed ón Brian agus Fiachra. Ro éirghettor didiu Sen-Connachta
Partraighiu Sein-Cera agus Tuatha Taiden, ocus Fir Chraídhe ocus Garbhraige Suca
ocus na Ciarraighe ocus na Conmaicne in aghaidh Fiachra ocus Dáthí ‘A great dispute
and war started among the sons of Eochaid Mugmedóin, that is, Brian and Fiachra. The
‘Old Connachta’ rose up, Partraighe of Sean-Cheara agus the Tuatha Taidhean and the
Fir Chraoibhe agus the Gabhraighe Suca against Fiachra and Dáthí’, ZCP 14 (1923) 246.
24. (a) Ua S[c]ingin ba hollam seanchusa do thigerna chineil Chonaill .i. d’Ua Dhomhnaill,
athaidh imchian riasan tan sin; et a hArd charna a Muigh luirg an daghdha dus-fanaicc
cétus go cenél Conaill ‘The Ó Sgingín had been ollav of history to the Lord of Cenél
Conaill, that is, to Ó Domhnaill for a long time before then, and from Ard Charna, in
Magh Luirg of the Daghdha he first came to Cenél Conaill’, O Clery Genealogies §1561.
(b) Búandach bona Í Domhnaill ar cúiced Ulad. Slicht senliubair I Sgingín ó Ard Carna
andso ‘The quartering rights of Ó Domhnaill over Ulster. This is the version of the old
book of Ó Sgingín from Ard Carna’, Rawlinson B 514, 7v20.
25. (a) Maelcoimgin h. Scinginn airchinech & caipellan Ardda Carna in Christo quieuit
‘Mael Chaoimhgin O Scingin, erenach and chaplain of Ardcarne, rested in Christ’, AC
1224.
(b) Maol Caoimhgin Ua Scingin aircinneach Arda Carna d'écc ‘Maol Caoimhghin Ó
Scingín, Erenach of Ardcarne, died’, AFM 1224.

8. 8
References
Bhreathnach, E. ‘Tales of Connacht: Cath Airtig, Táin Bó Flidais, Cath Leitreach Ruibhe and
Cath Cumair’, CMCS 45 (Summer 2003) 21–42
Lehmacher, G. ‘Eine Brüsseler Handschrift der Eachtra Conaill Gulban’ ZCP 15 (1923) 202-69
Mac Eoin, G. ‘The Interpolator H in Lebor na hUidre’, in J.P. Mallory and G. Stockman, (eds.)
Ulidia. Proceedings of the First International Conference on the tales of the Ulster
Cycle, (Belfast 1994) 39-46
Ó Cannan, T.G. ‘Máel Coba Ua Gallchobair and his early family background’ JRSAI 134 (2004)
33-79
Ó Corráin, D. ‘Early Ireland: Directions and Re-directions’, in Bullán: an Irish Studies Journal
1 (1994) 1–15
Ó hUiginn, R. ‘Growth and Development in the Late Ulster Cycle: the Case of Táin Bó Flidais’,
in Memory and the Modern in Celtic Literatures, ed. Joseph Falaky Nagy, CSANA
Yearbook 5 (Dublin 2006) 143–61
—‘The Gamhanradh’ forthcoming Celtica 27 (2013)
Pender, S. ‘ The O Clery Book of Genealogies 23 D 17 (RIA)’ Analecta Hibernica 18 (1951) 1-
198
Simms, K. ‘The Donegal poems in the Book of Fenagh’ Ériu 57 (2008) 37-53
Toner, G. ed. and trans., Bruiden Da Choca, ITS 61 (London, 2007).