Blathmac mac Cú Brettan
Encyclopedia
Blathmac mac Con Brettan was an Irish
fíle (poet) and monk whose floruit
was around 760.
Blathmac was the son of Cú Brettan mac Congussa (died 740), seemingly a king of the Airthir, one of the Airgíalla
kingdoms, situated in modern-day County Monaghan
. His brother Donn Bó was killed in battle in 759. Cú Brettan and Donn Bó both appear as characters in the saga Cath Almaine and are portrayed as poets.
Blathmac was educated in a monastic school and went on to become a monk, strongly influenced by the ascetic Céli Dé (Culdee) movement. A manuscript containing his surviving poems, two meditations on the Virgin Mary, Tan cucam a Mhuire and Oh Mhaire, a grain on cloine!, once in the possession of Mícheál Ó Cléirigh
, is in the National Library of Ireland
, where it was re-discovered by historian James Carney.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
fíle (poet) and monk whose floruit
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
was around 760.
Blathmac was the son of Cú Brettan mac Congussa (died 740), seemingly a king of the Airthir, one of the Airgíalla
Airgíalla
Airgíalla or Airgialla was the name of an Irish federation and Irish kingdom which first formed around the 7th century...
kingdoms, situated in modern-day County Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
. His brother Donn Bó was killed in battle in 759. Cú Brettan and Donn Bó both appear as characters in the saga Cath Almaine and are portrayed as poets.
Blathmac was educated in a monastic school and went on to become a monk, strongly influenced by the ascetic Céli Dé (Culdee) movement. A manuscript containing his surviving poems, two meditations on the Virgin Mary, Tan cucam a Mhuire and Oh Mhaire, a grain on cloine!, once in the possession of Mícheál Ó Cléirigh
Mícheál Ó Cléirigh
Mícheál Ó Cléirigh , sometimes known as Michael O'Clery, was an Irish chronicler, scribe and antiquary and chief author of the Annals of the Four Masters, assisted by Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh, Fearfeasa Ó Maol Chonaire, and Peregrinus Ó Duibhgeannain.-Background and early life:Grandson of Tuathal...
, is in the National Library of Ireland
National Library of Ireland
The National Library of Ireland is Ireland's national library located in Dublin, in a building designed by Thomas Newenham Deane. The Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism is the member of the Irish Government responsible for the library....
, where it was re-discovered by historian James Carney.