Texts

Dinnshenchas of Mag nÚra

  • Middle Irish
  • prose
  • Dinnshenchas Érenn, Ulster Cycle, Irish hagiography, dinnshenchas

Prose text on the dinnshenchas of Mag nÚra. It offers a version of an anecdote in Bruiden Da Choca (§ 28 in Stokes’ edition, p. 163), distinguishing between three successive names for the plain. The two earlier names, Mag nDerg and Mag nÚatha, are associated with events from the Ulster Cycle, while the main narrative focuses on St Colum Cille, who is said to have composed a hymn in memory of Ciarán (patron of Clonmacnoise) in return for trí mámanna do úraibh Cíaráin '‘three handfuls of Ciarán’s earth’. Colum Cille went to Mag nÚatha, where he scattered the earth and expelled many demons there, hence it was called Mag nÚra after this.

Context(s)The (textual) context(s) to which the present text belongs or in which it is cited in part or in whole.
Language
  • Middle Irish
Form
prose (primary)

Classification

Dinnshenchas Érenn
Dinnshenchas Érenn
id. 6712
Ulster Cycle
Ulster Cycle
id. 1797
Irish hagiographyIrish hagiography
...

dinnshenchasIrish narrative literature, onomastic lore and learning, topographical literature
dinnshenchas
id. 32607

Subjects

Colum Cille
Colum Cille
(fl. 6th century)
founder and abbot of Iona, Kells (Cenandas) and Derry (Daire).

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Ciarán of Clonmacnoise
Ciarán (mac int Shaír) of Clonmacnoise
(c. 515–c. 549)
Irish saint, patron of Clúain Moccu Nóis (Clonmacnoise). Feast-day: 9 September.

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Mag nÚra
Mag nÚra ... Moyvore
County Westmeath
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.] Gwynn, E. J., The metrical dindsenchas, 5 vols, vol. 4, Todd Lecture Series, 11, Dublin: Hodges, Figgis, 1924.
CELT – edition: <link> CELT – translation: <link> Internet Archive – vol. 4: <link>  : View in Mirador
276–277 [id. 84. ‘Mag n-Úra’] Prose. direct link direct link direct link

Secondary sources (select)

Gwynn, E. J., The metrical dindsenchas, 5 vols, vol. 4, Todd Lecture Series, 11, Dublin: Hodges, Figgis, 1924.
CELT – edition: <link> CELT – translation: <link> Internet Archive – vol. 4: <link>  : View in Mirador
448–449 [id. 84. ‘Mag n-Ura’] direct link
Contributors
Dennis Groenewegen
Page created
November 2012, last updated: January 2024