Le dís cuirthear clú Laighean
Encyclopedia
Le dís cuirthear clú Laighean is a poem found only in the Tinnakill Duanaire
on folio 34r. It was composed for the brothers Aodh Buidhe Mac Domhnaill and Alasdar of Tinnakill, Queen's County
, by Muircheartach Ó Cobhthaigh
. It dates from about 1570.
In the poem, Ó Cobhthaigh refers to the brothers as heroes and Gallowglass
leaders. Aodh Buidhe is accorded the most attention, while his wife Máire Ní Mhórdha is the subject of three additional quatrains.
Neither brother is referred to as Mac Domhnaill (i.e., the head of the clan), and Raghallaigh suggests it may have a bearing on a possible dispute between Aodh Buidhe and Alasdar for the chieftainship. While Aodh Buidhe is given laudatory praise, Alasdar is portrayed as a 'fearsome warrior' who is nevertheless subordinate to his brother. Nevertheless, Alasdar succeeded on the death of their father, An Calbach, in 1570. He held the position till his death in 1577, following which Aodh Buidhe succeeded him.
Ireland, usually concerning members of a single family. The Tinnakill Dunaire is presently held in Dublin, where it is listed as Trinity College Dublin 1340. The likely patron was Aodh Buidhe himself.
Tinnakill Duanaire
The Tinnakill Duanaire is an early seventeenth-century manuscript "prized for its important collection of bardic religious verse". It is believed to have been compiled for Aodh Buidhe Mac Domhnaill of Tinnakill, Queen's County, Leinster, who is the subject of one of its poems, along with his...
on folio 34r. It was composed for the brothers Aodh Buidhe Mac Domhnaill and Alasdar of Tinnakill, Queen's County
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
, by Muircheartach Ó Cobhthaigh
Muircheartach Ó Cobhthaigh
Muircheartach Ó Cobhthaigh, Irish poet, fl. 1586.A member of the Ó Cobhthaigh clan of poets from County Westmeath. He is known as the author of six extant poems:* - Le dís cuirthear clú Laighean...
. It dates from about 1570.
In the poem, Ó Cobhthaigh refers to the brothers as heroes and Gallowglass
Gallowglass
The gallowglass or galloglass – from , gallóglach – were an elite class of mercenary warrior who came from Norse-Gaelic clans in the Hebrides and Highlands of Scotland between the mid 13th century and late 16th century...
leaders. Aodh Buidhe is accorded the most attention, while his wife Máire Ní Mhórdha is the subject of three additional quatrains.
Neither brother is referred to as Mac Domhnaill (i.e., the head of the clan), and Raghallaigh suggests it may have a bearing on a possible dispute between Aodh Buidhe and Alasdar for the chieftainship. While Aodh Buidhe is given laudatory praise, Alasdar is portrayed as a 'fearsome warrior' who is nevertheless subordinate to his brother. Nevertheless, Alasdar succeeded on the death of their father, An Calbach, in 1570. He held the position till his death in 1577, following which Aodh Buidhe succeeded him.
The dunaire
A dunaire were poem-books composed in GaelicIreland
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...
Ireland, usually concerning members of a single family. The Tinnakill Dunaire is presently held in Dublin, where it is listed as Trinity College Dublin 1340. The likely patron was Aodh Buidhe himself.
The poem
The first verse is quoted as follows; the translation is by Eoghan Ó Raghallaigh, cited below.
Le dís cuirthear clú Laighean;
clú 'na gcumaidh ní fog[h]ar;
ní t[h]éid barr dáibh nach dleag[h]ar;
mall treabhadh cáigh 'na gcom[h]ar.
The fame of the men of Leinster is spread by two men; fame comparage with theirs is not to be found; they are entitled to their pre-eminence; others progress slowly in comparison with them'.