Foraire Uladh ar Aodh is an Irish poem by Maol Sheachluinn na n-Uirsgéal Ó hUiginn

Maol Sheachluinn na n-Uirsgéal Ó hUiginn

Maol Sheachluinn na n-Uirsgéal Ó hUiginn, Irish poet, fl. c. 1400.Ó hÚigínn was a member of a well-known Irish family of bards, based in Connacht...

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Composed in the early fifteenth century, it is an address to Aodh mac Art Mag Aonghusa, Chief of Uíbh Eathach. It "... apparently became accecpted as a masterpiece in the bardic schools, since it was the model for Eochaidh Ó hEoghusa

Eochaidh Ó hÉoghusa

Eochaidh Ó hÉoghusa was an Irish poet.Native of Ulster, mainly employed by the Maguire chiefs of Fermanagh. Some of his compositions include* An tú ar gcéadaithne, a charrag?* A-tám i gcás eidir dhá chomhairle...

's more tongue-in-cheek treatment, Bíodh aire ag Ultaibh ar Aodh.

Mag Aonghusa controlled the Newry Pass, which played an important part in preventing the forces of the Dublin government entering Ulster

Ulster

Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...

to contest the rebels of the province; this made him:

"literally the procective sentinel of the province. ...There was some factural basis for the imagery of the tireless watchman, since the Annals give evidence suggesting that during times of open hostility the frontiers of Ireland's small lordships were guarded by horse-patrols to give the inhabitants early warning of approaching cattle-raid. .. the image of the patron as a vigilant sentilel could be used to evoke a more radical symbolism of the king as cowherd or shepherd (buachaill or aoghaire) of his subjects, standing between them and all perils, natural and supernatural."