Dartraighe
Encyclopedia
Dartraighe anglicized as Dartree, Dartry or Dartrey, was a kingdom in ancient Ireland which stretched north to Clones
and south to beyond the Dromore river, once belonging to the O'Boylans and McMahons.
The Dartraighe or ‘calf people’ were an early Irish tribe that dwelt in and around the wider region of north Roscommon
, east Sligo, west Leitrim
and south-western Monaghan.
Their kingdom in the western portion of what is now known as County Monaghan
became a sub-kingdom of the larger federated Kingdom of Airgíalla
, which at one stage stretched from Lough Neagh
to Lough Erne
and from the ancient settlement of Derry
to the port of Dundalk
.
Various anglised forms of the name were used through the years and today a segment of the southern region of kingdom, the former Dartrey Estate or Dawson Grove
is now the location of Dartrey Forest
.
It was also known as n-Dartraighi, Dartraige Coinn innsi, Dartraige Con-innsi or Dairtre.
was such that they sat beside the High King at Tara at great gatherings, and his sword was allowed to touch the High Kings hand - a sign of trust. The larger kingdoms territory decreased as the area took on a more ecclesiastical power structure from Armagh
and allied with the with Northern and Southern Ui Neill
who dominated the political sphere serving as High King of Ireland
from the Hill of Tara
. It was further reduced by the conquest of the Normans
in the 12th century. The Book of Rights list the tribes of the Airgíalla
in the 5th century and their entitlements. The following poem was composed by the bard
Benén to preserve these rights.
the bright host of Liathdruim,
that they do not know the amount of their stipend,
from the king of bright Fuaid.
2. Here is the tradition—I shall relate it for you—
of the descendants of gentle Cairpre:
learn, people of Fál of the fiana,
the handsome stipends of the Airgialla...
16. The king of Dartraige, a flame of valour,
is entitled to four bondsmen of great labor,
four swords hard in battle, four horses,
and four golden shields...
20. Here is the tradition of the hosts,
whom Benén always loved:
it is a great difficulty to all the learned,
save him who is expert in testimony.
as Gaeilge (original)
1. In cheist sea for chloind Cholla
for sluag luchair Liathdroma
can fis a tuarastail tall
ó ríg Fuaid na find-fearand.
2. Atá sund, sloindfed-sa daíb
senchos cloindi Cairpri chaím:
cluinid, a lucht Fáil na fian,
tuaristla áilli Airgiall.
16. Dligid rí Dartraigi, in daig,
ceithri mogaid mórastair,
ceithri claidim chruaidi i cléith,
ceithri heich, ceithri hór-scéith.
20. Atá sund senchas na slóg
dá tuc grád co bráth Beneón;
acht int í bus treórach teist
ar cach n-eólach is ard-cheist. IN.
Clones
Clones is a small town in western County Monaghan, in the 'border area' of the Republic of Ireland. The area is part of the Border Region, earmarked for economic development by the Irish Government due to its currently below-average economic situation...
and south to beyond the Dromore river, once belonging to the O'Boylans and McMahons.
The Dartraighe or ‘calf people’ were an early Irish tribe that dwelt in and around the wider region of north Roscommon
County Roscommon
County Roscommon is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...
, east Sligo, west Leitrim
County Leitrim
County Leitrim is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Leitrim. Leitrim County Council is the local authority for the county...
and south-western Monaghan.
Their kingdom in the western portion of what is now known as 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...
became a sub-kingdom of the larger federated Kingdom of Airgíalla
Airgíalla
Airgíalla or Airgialla was the name of an Irish federation and Irish kingdom which first formed around the 7th century...
, which at one stage stretched from Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh, sometimes Loch Neagh, is a large freshwater lake in Northern Ireland. Its name comes .-Geography:With an area of , it is the largest lake in the British Isles and ranks among the forty largest lakes of Europe. Located twenty miles to the west of Belfast, it is approximately twenty...
to Lough Erne
Lough Erne
Lough Erne, sometimes Loch Erne , is the name of two connected lakes in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The lakes are widened sections of the River Erne. The river begins by flowing north, and then curves west into the Atlantic. The southern lake is further up the river and so is named Upper...
and from the ancient settlement of Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
to the port of Dundalk
Dundalk
Dundalk is the county town of County Louth in Ireland. It is situated where the Castletown River flows into Dundalk Bay. The town is close to the border with Northern Ireland and equi-distant from Dublin and Belfast. The town's name, which was historically written as Dundalgan, has associations...
.
Various anglised forms of the name were used through the years and today a segment of the southern region of kingdom, the former Dartrey Estate or Dawson Grove
Grove (nature)
A grove is a small group of trees with minimal or no undergrowth, such as a sequoia grove, or a small orchard planted for the cultivation of fruits or nuts...
is now the location of Dartrey Forest
Dartrey Forest
Dartrey Forest, County Monaghan, Ireland was formerly the estate of the Dawson family, who had the title "Earl of Dartrey" from 1866 to 1933. It is currently managed by Coillte as a commercial forest. The Forest is bordered by a Famine wall which stretches half way along the road from Cootehill to...
.
It was also known as n-Dartraighi, Dartraige Coinn innsi, Dartraige Con-innsi or Dairtre.
Airgíalla
The status of the king (and queen) of AirgíallaAirgíalla
Airgíalla or Airgialla was the name of an Irish federation and Irish kingdom which first formed around the 7th century...
was such that they sat beside the High King at Tara at great gatherings, and his sword was allowed to touch the High Kings hand - a sign of trust. The larger kingdoms territory decreased as the area took on a more ecclesiastical power structure from Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
and allied with the with Northern and Southern Ui Neill
Uí Néill
The Uí Néill are Irish and Scottish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noigiallach , an historical King of Tara who died about 405....
who dominated the political sphere serving as High King of Ireland
High King of Ireland
The High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...
from the Hill of Tara
Hill of Tara
The Hill of Tara , located near the River Boyne, is an archaeological complex that runs between Navan and Dunshaughlin in County Meath, Leinster, Ireland...
. It was further reduced by the conquest of the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
in the 12th century. The Book of Rights list the tribes of the Airgíalla
Airgíalla
Airgíalla or Airgialla was the name of an Irish federation and Irish kingdom which first formed around the 7th century...
in the 5th century and their entitlements. The following poem was composed by the bard
Bard
In medieval Gaelic and British culture a bard was a professional poet, employed by a patron, such as a monarch or nobleman, to commemorate the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities.Originally a specific class of poet, contrasting with another class known as fili in Ireland...
Benén to preserve these rights.
Benén's Poem
1. This difficulty rests upon the descendants of the Collas,the bright host of Liathdruim,
that they do not know the amount of their stipend,
from the king of bright Fuaid.
2. Here is the tradition—I shall relate it for you—
of the descendants of gentle Cairpre:
learn, people of Fál of the fiana,
the handsome stipends of the Airgialla...
16. The king of Dartraige, a flame of valour,
is entitled to four bondsmen of great labor,
four swords hard in battle, four horses,
and four golden shields...
20. Here is the tradition of the hosts,
whom Benén always loved:
it is a great difficulty to all the learned,
save him who is expert in testimony.
as Gaeilge (original)
1. In cheist sea for chloind Cholla
for sluag luchair Liathdroma
can fis a tuarastail tall
ó ríg Fuaid na find-fearand.
2. Atá sund, sloindfed-sa daíb
senchos cloindi Cairpri chaím:
cluinid, a lucht Fáil na fian,
tuaristla áilli Airgiall.
16. Dligid rí Dartraigi, in daig,
ceithri mogaid mórastair,
ceithri claidim chruaidi i cléith,
ceithri heich, ceithri hór-scéith.
20. Atá sund senchas na slóg
dá tuc grád co bráth Beneón;
acht int í bus treórach teist
ar cach n-eólach is ard-cheist. IN.
External links
- Dartrey Heritage, Dartrey History: resources
- The McMahon Story
- Dartrey Forest Walks
- Irish Kingdoms and family
- Celtic Maps. See "The Golden Age" map with churches linked to Armagh
- Airgialla History, Map and Kingdom, Airgialla Law Poems, The Annals entries for Dartraige (869-1505)
- The Kingdom of Airgialla and its sub-kingdoms(extract of Cardinal Tomas O Fiaich, MA thesis)
- Benen's Poem, from Lebor na Cert or Book of Rights The Book of RightsLebor na Cert (in Irish)
- Old Irish version of Benen's Poem, with more direct translation, Dartraidhe Coinn innsi (Google books pages 146-154)
- [ftp://ftp.ucc.ie/pub/celt/texts/G100001C.txt UCC Irish text(ftp), The Annals of Ulster, see Dartraighi]
- the english in louth (1170-1330), Brendan Smith, pages 17-34