Texts

verse beg. Brónach ollamh d'éis a rígh

  • Early Modern Irish
  • verse
  • Classical Irish poetry

Irish bardic poem ascr. to Mac Coisi, i.e. Urard mac Coise (d. 983 x 1023), but composed well after his life-time. It laments the death of one Fergal ua Ruairc, a king whose grave at Clonmacnoise the poet is said to be visiting, and refers to the circumstances of the battle of Clontarf (1014). The king in question has been identified with Fergal ua Ruairc, king of Connacht, who died in c. 966 and is nevertheless depicted in Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib as having fought in the battle alongside Brian Bóruma.

First words (verse)
  • Brónach ollamh d'éis a rígh
“Sad is a poet after his king”
Author
Ascribed to: Urard mac Coise
Urard mac Coise
(d. 983 x 1023)
Irish poet

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The speaker of the poem names himself mac Coisi, probably to be identified with the Urard of that patronymic.
Manuscripts
p. 5 ff
O'Donovan's autograph manuscript of his edition from TCD 1419
f. 208v7 ff (in section d)
Language
  • Early Modern Irish
  • ?
Form
verse (primary)
Length
Number of lines: 94

Classification

Classical Irish poetryClassical Irish poetry
...

Subjects

Fergal úa Ruairc [king of Connacht]Fergal úa Ruairc ... king of Connacht
Entry reserved for but not yet available from the subject index.

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Dál CaisDál Cais
Entry reserved for but not yet available from the subject index.

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Clúain Moccu Nóis
Clúain Moccu Nóis ... Clonmacnoise
County Offaly
No short description available

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Sources

Primary sources Text editions and/or modern translations – in whole or in part – along with publications containing additions and corrections, if known. Diplomatic editions, facsimiles and digital image reproductions of the manuscripts are not always listed here but may be found in entries for the relevant manuscripts. For historical purposes, early editions, transcriptions and translations are not excluded, even if their reliability does not meet modern standards.

[ed.] [tr.] OʼDonovan, John, “Elegy of Erard Mac Coise, chief chronicler of the Gaels, pronounced over the tomb of Fergal O'Ruairc, chief of Brefny, at Clonmacnoise”, Journal of the Kilkenny and South-East of Ireland Archaeological Society 1:2 (1857, 1858): 341–356.  
Edition, with discussion and English translation, of the poem beg. Brónach ollamh déis a rígh (ascr. to Urard mac Coise) from TCD 1419 (H 6. 15)
Internet Archive: <link>
O'Donovan also appends an English translation by James Clarence Mangan (d. 1849) to that of his own.

Secondary sources (select)

OʼLeary, Aideen M., “The identities of the poet(s) Mac Coisi: a reinvestigation”, Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies 38 (Winter, 1999): 53–72.
Ó Lochlainn, Colm [ed.], “Poets on the battle of Clontarf [part 1]”, Éigse 3:3 (1943): 208–218.
Contributors
C. A., Dennis Groenewegen
Page created
April 2014, last updated: January 2024