Caithreim Ceallachain Caisil 002
Index to Part 2
Donnchadh, the King of Ireland, agrees to the Viking plot to kill Ceallachan because Ceallachan had not agreed to pay him tribute
Ceallachan wants to go with an army to Dublin but is dissuaded and instead goes with 80 men
Sitric tells his wife, Mor of the plan and because she is secretly in love with Ceallachan she warns him on the road to Dublin
The poem describing the meeting between Mor and Ceallachan
Ceallachan and his men are pursued by the Vikings on foot and by horse
Several of Ceallachan's men fight rear guard actions against the pursuing Vikings
Ceallachan and Donnchadh are captured, and the Vikings exhibit the heads of the slain Irish for identification
Ceallachan's poem lamenting the death of the riders of Munster
Sitric's ransom demands
Ceallachan instructs Aistrechan, son of Ailgisech, what to tell the men of Munster (2 poems)
Ceallachan tells Cennedigh to stay and defend Munster
Aistrechan returns to Munster and describes the situation
Donnchad, the son of Caem, agrees to a rescue expedition and recites Ceallachan's 15 battles
The expedition is organized
Donnchad is made the leader of the expedition
The route of the hosting
Muirchertach son of Airnelach, the king of Cenel Conaill, warns the Vikings to move Ceallachan to Dundalk
The Battle of Armagh
Donnchadh is told that Ceallachan was moved to Dundalk
The army goes to Dundalk and Sitric binds Ceallachan and Donnchuan, the son of Cennetig to the mast
Donnchadh reproaches Sitric (poem)
Ceallachan addresses Donnchadh and sees the approaching Munster fleet (poem)
Duinechad, son of Fiangus, arranges the order of battle
The Battle at Dundalk Harbor
Failbe leaps on to Sitric's ship and cuts Ceallachan loose
[[page 75]]
For Cellachan had not consented to pay tax or tribute to him. The king of Erin agreed with this plan, and they sent messengers to Cellachan.
28. Cellachan asked the nobles of Munster what he should do in that matter, and they told him to go there. "Let us assemble an army", said Cellachan, and "let us proceed in battle-array to Ath Cliath. Let us not go into the fortress there, but let yonder woman be sent out to us." "That is not what is right", said Cenneidig, "but go there with 80 sons of kings, and we shall continue to stay at Cashel. For we shall not leave Munster unprotected, and there is not in Erin a fortress of the Lochlannachs, that we shall not reach, if you are betrayed." They did so, and Cellachan went there with 80 princes.
29. That night there happened to be a discourse between Sitric, the son of Turgeis, and his wife. And his wife asked him why he gave his sister to Cellachan, as it was he who had destroyed the Lochlannachs. He answered that it was not out of kindness to him, but in order to capture himself and to slay his people. The woman arose early the next morning, and put a bondmaid's dress round her. For this discourse which she had heard was grievous to her as she herself greatly loved Cellachan. She left the town, and came upon the road where she supposed that the Munstermen would come. And as she stayed there she beheld Cellachan approaching, and the woman told this news to him. Cellachan asked her who she herself was. "Mor, daughter of Aed, son of Echu, am I," said the woman, "daughter of the king of the Islands of the Foreigners (i. e. the Hebrides), and my husband is Sitric, son of Turgeis, of the Fair Lochlannachs. And I fell in love with you the day I saw you at Port Lairge." And she recited the song; but there is nothing in this song but a repetition of the story. 1)
[[Footnote 1; appearing at the bottom of pages 75-77]]
1) The poem is found in full in the papercopies of the Royal Irish Academy (23 / H.I. a., p. 68) and of Egerton 106, p. 89. The text being very corrupt, it is impossible, with this as well as with the following poems to give a correct translation
----------------------------------------------------
"I have news for you, O bold hero,
[[page76]]
O descendant of Ailill Olom,
O king of Munster of the swift ships,
O Cellachan of the lovely cups.
If you come to Ath Cliath,
O king to whom the raven is truly grateful,
You will not come back again,
O king of Munster of the great forts.
They have made a cruel plot,
The children of Turgeis, south and north,
In Ath Cliath of the battle-hurdles,
With Donnchad of the princely countenanece.
To kill you, he said meaningly,
The man from the house of the royal three (i. e. Tara),
And that he would come with you among the Foreigners,
From the hosts of your lands and your countries.
I heard the speech of my husband,
O man, for whom poems are made,
And the secret of the champion of white wrists,
O king of Munster of the great spears."
Cellachan. "What is this? Who are you, O sweet-voiced woman,
O proud, beautiful maiden?
Who is your father, who is your husband"
Said the king of Munster of the great spears.
"Mor is my name in each good town,
The daughter of Aed of fair cheeks,
Sitric is my husband in every battle,
The son of Turgeis of the mighty spoils.
I fell in love with your red face,
In Port Lairge on the battle-fleld,
With your valour as you charged through the battalions, With your size among the Munstermen.
If you go eastwards on expedition,
O high-king, to whom I have given love,
You will get wound and woe,
We have not had, but sad stories to tell.
[[page76]]
30. Cellachan asked his men what they should do. This is, what they said, that they should not go into the town. but avenge themselves on the fields and great plains, and take the woman with them, as far as they went.
When the Norsemen perceived this, they ordered those who were in the town to pursue them, both foot and horse. And Cellachan and his princes had not gone far, when the van of the Norsemen overtook them.
[[page77]]
31. Then Aed, the son of Domnall the descendant of Faelan, and Domnall the descendant of Niall of Magh Dachonn said: "We are here twenty men of the Deisi, and let us remain behind the rest and avenge ourselves, before the body of the host overtakes us" And they stopped and slew twenty heroes of the Norsemen, and only five of them came back to their people alive.
32. Then Aed, son of Donnchad son of Caem, and Spelan, son of Suilleban, and Muirchertach son of Muirchertach, remained behind, and killed twenty men, and only three of them returned to their people alive.
33. Then Aengus, son of Assid, and Donnchad, son of Conchubar, and Fiangal son of Congal remained behind, and killed twenty men. But they were themselves slain there.
34. Then Cudub, son of Failbe, and Donnchad, son of Muirchertach, and Finn, son of Eterscel, remained behind, and they slew a multitude of the Lochlannachs, but were themselves slain.
35. Then an overwhelming number of the Norse champions pressed upon the champions of Munster. Cellachan and Donnchuan were captured by them, and brought to Ath Cliath. And when they reached the green of the town. Cellachan saw a man coming towards him, with a
[[page78]]
head in one hand and spoils in his other hand. And he asked Cellachan whose head it was. "That is the head of Aed, son of Donnchad son of Caem" said Cellachan, "and the descendants of Echu will lament that head", said he.
36. He saw another man coming towards him with a head in his hand. And he asked Cellachan, whose it was. "The head of Spelan, the son of Suilleban", said CelIachan, "and the noble queens of Cashel will lament that head".
37. He saw another man coming towards him, with a head in his hand, and he asked whose it was. "I regret to have brought the man to whom this head belongs with me", said Cellachan, "even Aengus, the son of Assid, and the descendants of Carthinn Finn will lament that head."
38. He saw another man coming towards him and he asked the same question of Cellachan. "That is the head of Aed son of Domnall the descendant of Faelan", said he, "and this head will be lamented among the Deisie".
39. Then he saw another man coming towards him, and he asked, whose was the head that was in his hand. "It is the head of Muirchertach, son of Muirchertach, and the women of Muscraige will lament that head."
40. Then he saw another man coming towards him, and he asked him whose head this was, He said: "The head of Donnchad, son of Conchubar, is that, even the son of the king of Ciarraige Luachra, and the descendants of Cer will lament that head," said Cellachan.
41. Then he saw three men coming towards him, with three heads in their hands, and they asked Cellachan, whose they were. "The heads of the three princes of Corcoduibne", said he, "namely Cudub, son of Failbe, and Aed, son of Segda, and Fiangal, son of Congal, and the descendants of Corc, son of Cairbre, will lament those heads," said Cellachan.
42. Then he saw another man coming towards him, and he asked him the same question. "This is the head of Donn-chad, son of Muirchertach", said he, "even the son of the king of the Eoganachts, and the descendants of Cairbre the Pict will lament that head. And that other
[[page 79]]
head is the head of Finn son of Eterscel, and the descendants of Lugaid will lament that head. But do not show them to me henceforward, for I cannot endure to look at them. And although I have not been wounded by you, I am killed through the wounds of yonder men. And it is a pity that I have not found death in their company." And he recited lay:
"Alas for the heads without bodies". 1)
[[Footnote at the bottom of pages 79-81]]
I) The poem is found in full in 23 / H. I. a. p. 69 f., and in Egerton 106, p. 60 f., from which I print the following translation.
Alas for the heads without bodies,
For whom dark tears will be shed.
It was no folly, although the men were valiant.
The horsemen of the race of Eogan will fall.
Aed, son of Donnchad is without a head,
Alas for the blood upon his slender side!
The fair descendant of wound-dealing Ua Cathail,
Of the bright-weaponed champion of the rough spears.
The head of Suibhne you have brought with you,
O host of the Foreigners,
[The head of] the son of Suilleban, who reddens spears. Alas for the descendant of Maelughra!
Sad to me the head with the braided hair
Of Muirchertach, son of Muirchertach,
That the fair and valiant one,
Is plainly in the power of the Lochlannachs.
I repent that he came with me,
the champion whom I see without head.
He was a gentle hero of a royal race,
Aengus the Young, son of Assid.
A head to whom women gave love.
The head of the brave son of the king of the Deisi.
His side is in sore stress from spears --
Aed, son of Domnall, the descendant of Faelan.
Fiangal. son of Conall of the raids.
The son of the chieftain of the high judgments,
the women of the Foreigners will be lamenting him,
although his head is exhibited in triumph.
There was many a theme of a good story
About Finn, the son of Eterscel.
Many were the men whom he attacked with spears,
He whose head is that in your hand.
Sad to me that his head should be exhibited,
The brave son of the king of Magh Coinchinn.
It was a success their fight with spear,
The brave man, Aed son of Segda.
The head of Donnchad which you have brought with you,
O host of the Foreigners,
There will be darkness upon my eyes,
Because of the death of the son of Muirchertach.
Alas for the head opposite you,
Of Donnchad, son of Conchubar!
A more heroic in powerful slaughter there has not been
Than the son of the king of Ciarraige Luachra.
A triumph for you is the slaying of the head
Of the brave son of the beautiful Ribardan.
Many were the graves from the hands of his father
Throughout Munster of the great fights.
Grievous to me the head in your hand,
The head of Spelan, the grandson of Suilleban.
No sadder to me the other head,
The head of Domnall, the descendant of yellow Niall.
Through the great number that has been exhibited to me.
Of the heads of the youths of Munster,
Though I am alive, it has been a torture to me,
I cannot enumerate them further.
If you keep me in fetters,
Since the riders of Munster are no more,
It is a pity that I did not find my death there.
Among the noble sons of the race of Eogan.
Let me be put to death.
And Donnchuan along with me.
Though it is a shame, my time has come to an end
To the host of Munster it is sad.
'Tis a pity that Mor has not come with me,
The Kings daughter of the Islands of the White Foreigners.
That I should be brought eastward,
'Tis not to you it is sad.
6
[[page80]]
43. Then Sitric asked Cellachan, whether the Munstermen would ransom him. "What is the ransom"? said Cellachan. "A ransom, which they are not able to obtain, viz. for the fifteen battles which you gained over us an eric for each man who was slain in them, and for the twelve hundred men who were slain by Olchobar, the son of Cinaed, in the battle of Sciach Nechtain together
[[page 81]]
with Thomar the earl, an eric for each man of them, and spoils for spoils. Cork, Limerick, Port Lairge and Cashel to be our fortresses, as they were in our possession before. A son of each king and of every chieftain in Munster to be given to us as
pledges for this. This is what Cellachan replied: "Let me and Donnchuan have
[[page82]]
a conference with Aistrechan son of Ailgisech in order that we may send him to tell these conditions, and let it be told us in what place you will be found, if they are obtained for you. "In Armagh", said Sitric, "for it is thither you will be brought to be guarded." They were allowed to hold a conference, and Cellachan told Aistrechan to relate these conditions to the men of Munster, and he recited the lay:
"Relate, o splendid Aistrechan 1),
[To the men of Munster and to their wives
That their king is in Ath Cliath,
With Sitric of the hundred curved shields.
Sitric will carry with him over the sea
Eastwards to Lochlann of the dark ships
Their cups and their curved drinking-horns,
Their rings and their chess-boards.
Unless they bring everything to him.
Shields and ornamented swords,
To be carried by Sitric across the sea
For the sake of Cellachan of the pallisade.
The hostages of Munster, the tribute of her lands.
Shall come together to Ath Cliath,
A son of every chieftain and of every king
Throughout Munster of the great deeds.
Cork, and Limerick of ships,
and Port Lairge of full waves,
along with Cashel of the dykes
To Sitric the swift Norseman.
The battle of Sciach Nechtain valiantly
Famous Olchobar has gained,
wherein twelve hundred of the Norseman
were put to a swift death.
[[Footnote]] 1) Only the first line of the poem is found in the Book of Lismore. the rest
between brackets -- is translated from 23/H.I.a., p. 70--71.
[[page83]]
Let them be brought to Sitric of the hosts,
Since he has perjured himself
To fulfill this henceforth
With Eric, king of the Islands (i. e. the Hebrides).
Donnchad in the fetters of the Foreigners,
the son of Cellachan of the handsome blades,
The hostages of Munster with him splendidly,
Both chieftain and strong king.
This is what he says to us,
The son of Turgeis with great fierceness,
Unless they give this now.
He will kill the high-king.
Relate, etc.]
46. And, O Aistrechan, say to the men of Munster not to give those gifts. But let them defend the territory of Munster, and let them make Cennedig son of Lorcan king, and tell them to remember the words they said the day I left Cashel, and let them defend us by the help of blades and armour. And say to the descendants of Corc to make a brave fight. Tell Donnchad son of Caem to come to seek us at Armagh. And let the descendants of Eogan come there before everybody, and let every chieftain bring the nobles of his territory and his land with him. Let Donnchad, son of Caem, son of Art, son of Cathal, come there at the head of the descendants of Echu. And let Maelfothartaigh, son of Flann, come. Let Suilleban, the son of Maelugra, come at the head of the descendants of Fingin. Let Donnchad, son of Duinechad son of Fiangus, come there together with Ribardan son of Assid, and Donnchad son of Domnall, and Donnchad son of Lorcan, and Domnall son of Cathal, and Eigirtach son of Cormac, and Cu-calma, son of Cennfaelad. Let Cuilen, son of Aindiarrad come, and let him bring the descendants of Failbe with him. Let Muirchertach son of Murchad come. Let Fogartach son of Fianamail come, and the nobles of Ui-Muiredhaigh along with him. Let Domnall, son of Diarmaid, and Fiana son of Feicine come there. Let Cuanachtach son
[[page84]]
of Cu-gan-mathair come there and bring the Eoganachts of East Cliu with him. Let Anmchad, son of Dunchad, come there. Let Flannabra, son of Airindan son of Flannabra. come there and bring the Ui Conaill with him. Let Ceithernach, son of Ceilechar son of Coman, come there. Let Cennfaelad, son of Dubdaboirenn, come there and bring the Ui-Cairbre with him. And he recited the lay:
"Tell the descendants of Eogan,
The hospitable host,
That their high-king is being carried northwards,
Till he come to Lochlann of the good ships.
Tell all Eoghanachts,
Both king and nobleman,
that I am being carried by Sitric across the sea,
Eastward to Lochlann of the brown fleet.
Unless the hosts come hither
Northward at the end of one month,
Until they reach molodious Armagh.
They will not find us in Erin.
Let the descendants of Corc be assembled,
The Eoganachts of Cashel of the pleasant dykes,
Before they carry away over the sea
Their valiant triumphant king.
Let the descendants of warlike Eogan come
To seek their king with a great vow,
From the wave of Cliodhna of the heavy storms
To the river of the Two Kine.
Donnchad son of Caem of the roads of spoil,
the son of the highking of the noble young steeds,
Let him bring to the army without reproach
The descendants of generous valiant Echu.
[[page 85]]
Let Donnchad the Dun come there,
And Suilleban of the radiant eye,
Along with nimble Duinechan,
And Eigertach together with them.
Let sportive Ribardan come,
(And) his valiant, victorious host.
Let the people of the house of the king come with you,
Four hundred noble men.
The race of Echu and of generous Fingin,
Let them all come together,
Let them come to the valiant host,
The descendants of Mac Caille and those of Liathan.
Let the Ui Conaill and the Ui Cairbre the fierce
Assemble the number of their host,
Let the Ui Cormaic come from the sea
In defence of Cellachan of the pallisade.
Proceed to fair Dun Bailc
Where are -- -- -- artists of the lovely hair.
And bring with you from Loch Lein
The two Eoganachts with one will.
Tell from me brave Fergal
To make a strong valiant gathering,
before Cellachan is carried off
in ship eastward out of Erin." 1)
46. "And when you have done speaking to the descendants of Eogan and mustering them in one place, proceed forward to the king of Dal Cais", said Cellachan, "namely to Cennedig son of Lorcan, and tell him to remain and defend the territory of Munster, lest the Connaughtmen plunder it in battle. And tell the men of Uaithne and the men of Ormond to come to this gathering. Proceed
[[Footnote]] 1) OnIy the first line of this poem is found in the Book of Lismore; the rest is translated from a paper-copy in the Royal Irish Academy) 23/H.I.a.
[[page 86]]
to the people of Ely and tell them to remain defending the territory of Munster, and tell their lord, even Cerbhall, son of Dublaidh, son of Cennamhan, that we are brothers of Ailill (i. e. that we are closely related to the race of Ailill Olom). Proceed to the descendants of Connla, namely to the hosts of Ossory, and tell them to protect Munster from Bladhma southwards to the sea and to protect Ely as far as Bladhma, as it has always been done. Proceed to the hosts of the Deisi, and let them and the inhabitants of Muscraige come into this great hosting. And when you have finished addressing Cennedig and the descendants of Eogan, go for me to the chieftains of my fleet and bring them with you to Sruth-na-Maeile, and if I am carried away from Erin, let the men of Munster take their ships to follow me. For it is not more proper for the champions of Lochlann to show valour in contesting our country than it is for the soldiers of Munster to act bravely in defence of their own country and in revenging ourselves upon them. Go first to the three kings of Corcolaighde, to Flann, to Eiterscel, and to Cobthach, and to Dubdaboirenn, the king of Western Ui-Echach. Go to Seghdha, to Failbhe, and to Conghal, the three kings of Corcoduibhne. Go to Conchobar, the son of Bethach, the king of Ciarraige Luachra, to Domnall and to Baiscinn, the two kings of Corcobaiscinn, and to Conchobar and Lochlann, the two kings of Corcomruadh, and let them bring with them ten ships from each cantred, for that is the full muster of our own fleet.
47. After this Aistrechan proceeded to Cashel, where the champions of Munster were, and he told them these news, namely that Cellachan and Donnchuan were captured, and that the 80 men who had accompanied them were slain. They were sorrowful, heavy in mind and sad on that account, when they heard that Cellachan their noble king was captured and their young men slain. Aistrechan addressed them and related the admonitions Cellachan had given in his song, namely to redeem him by the power of blades, and armour, and broad shields, and not to allow Munster to be put into slavery or servitude by Danes or ignoble Norsemen. He told them
[[page87]]
to remember the promise they had made the day Cellachan left them, and he told them that Cellachan was being carried to
Armagh to be there in close custody. When Donnchad, the son of Caem, heard those words, he told the clan of Cormac Cas to form an alliance, and the descendants of Eogan to go in search of their king, and the clan of Cairbre to arise, and the clan of Lugaid to show full valour, and the descendants of Fergus to show true nobility, and the descendants of Cellachan to show devotion, and the descendants of Tadg to make a powerful defence, and the descendants of Fiachu Suigde muster in full. "Indeed", said Donnchad, "if it were your brave men and your chieftains who were in the power of the Lochlannachs, Cellachan would collect an army in search of you and give battles to rescue you. For he has fought fifteen battles with the Danes in your defence, viz. the first of these battles at Limerick, the second battle at Corc, the third battle at Sliab Crot, the fourth at Thurles, the fifth at Cashel, the sixth at Port Lairge, the seventh at Muscraighe, the eighth at Ard Osraighe, the ninth at Glenn Corbraighe, the tenth at Senguala Cladard of Ui Conaill, the eleventh at Cromad, and four battles against the men of Leinster and Ossory. And all this will be concealed by the champions of Lochlann if Cellachan goes with them without being rescued.
48. Then they deliberated in council how to begin that hosting, and they settled to be a fortnight from that day at Magh Adhar, those of them who were an land, and those of them who were on sea to be at Bel Atha Laighin. Well, the day they had promised that their hosts should be at these places, they were there, as they had promised. This was the number that came to Magh Adhar, namely four battalions of equal size. And Cennedig, son of Lorcan, and the Dalcassian nobles also arrived there, and Cennedig entertained them that night.
49. When they arose the next morning, Cennedig said that he would go with them. Donnchad said that they would not let him go with them under any conditions. "For it is in search of your king and for his defence that we go, and we will not take you with us, but
[[page88]]
remain and protect the country. " If that is so", said Cenneidig, "since I shall not myself go there, I shall send two thousand men with you, and I myself shall remain with the same number to defend Munster, and I shall send my three brothers with you. He told a young nobleman of his people to go to seek his brothers, and he said to him: "Let Coscrach, and Lonngarcan, and Congalach come, with two-thousand men. Let Assid. son of Assid, come, and 500 of the descendants of Cairthenn along with him. Let Deghadh, son of Domnail, son of Donn, come and 500 of the men of Ely with him. And I know, said Cennedig, a thing which, I expect, will cause you to be defeated, namely that you have no king to lead you, who might give you counsel and contest the battlefield for you. And since there is none, let Donnchad, son of Caem, be made king by you, and if Cellachan is rescued, let his kingship be given to him. Cennedig put his hand in the hand of Donnchad in presence of the men of Munster, and they did so all after him.
50. Cennedig began to tell Donnchad to act bravely and to relate to him, how many kings there were of his family, who had obtained the kingship of Munster before him, namely Airtri, and Cathal, and Finguine, and Cathal, and Cu-gan-mathair, and Cathal, and Aed, and Flann, and Cairbre, and Crimthan, and Eochaid, and Aengus son of Natfraech, from whom the nobles branched off, so that from Aengus to Donnnchad there were eleven kings, who obtained the kingship of Munster, and the length of their reigns was 52 years, and in order to verify this the historian has made the following song:
"Enjoy thy noble kingships, etc.
51. After that they marched forward in their arranged battallions, and their fleet set out the same day. The place, where their host was that night, was in Ath-na-Righ. They went next morning to Sliab Cain, and set up huts and open sheds. But although the rain fell heavily, nobody was heard complaining, so great was their eagerness to reach the Lochlannachs.
52. They sent out foragers as far as the Muaidh, and spoils were collected by them to be brought to their camp.
[[page 89]]
While they were there, they saw a host coming towards them. Ten hundreds was their number. And they were arranged in the following way. One man was right in front of them. They asked, who he was, and who were the host. "A host of Munstermen", answered he, "but the Munstermen do not know that they belong to them, namely the Dealbhna, the Gailinga, and the Luighne, of the descendants of Tadg, son of Cian. And there are three valiant chiefs leading them, viz. Aed son of Dualascach, and the Gailinga around him, and the Luighne around Diarmuid son of Finnachta, and the Dealbna around Donnchadh son of Maeldomnaill. And this is their number, five hundred with armour and five hundred without armour." They encamped besides the Dalcassians, and they stayed there that night happily and peacefully.
53. They arose early the next morning, and crossed Esdara, and the bright little bridge of Matra, and the ancient streams of the Sligech, their right hand towards the windycold Ben Gulban. They crossed the Dubh and the Drobais, and crossed the verdant appleblossomed Magh Ene, and came to royal Ess Ruaid. They sent foragers eastwards across Ath Senadh, and collected the spoils of Crich Conaill from the east and brought them to their camp. Muirchertach son of Airnelach, the king of Cenel Conaill, pursued them and was demanding his spoils from them. Donnchadh replied that he would not restore them, before the host had been satisfied from them. "But we shall not take with us the least of our leavings; for it will not be a country without cattle to which we shall come." Muirchertach however returned northwards before them, and sent messengers to Armagh to tell the Norsemen that they were approaching towards them, and to tell the children of Turgeis to bring Cellachan to Dundalk.
When the children of Turgeis heard this, they left the town with the nine earls who had been around Cellachan when he was taken prisoner at Ath Cliath. But the Norsemen of the town itself remained there, namely Lulach, and Amlaibh, and Lagmann, and Turcaill, and GilIa Ciarain, son of Henruc the old king, and Oitir the Black. And their number was, 700 and an arranged battallion.
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54. As to the men of Munster, they arrived at the southern side of Armagh. Donnchadh then told them to take their battle apparel, "and let four battallions of us attack the fortress. Let the Dal Cais, and the Gailinga, and the Dealbhna, and the Luighne approach Armagh from the west. Let the Ui Conaill, and the Ui Cairbre, and the Ui Meic Cailli, and the Ui Liathain go from the north into the town. Let the Deisi go to the southern side. I myself, and the Eoghanachts, i. e. the Eoghanachts of Cashel, and the Eoghanachts of Aine, and the Eoghanachts of Glennamain, and the Eoghanachts of Cliu, and the Eoghanachts of Durlus, and the Eoghanachts of Loch Lein, and the Eoghanachts of Rathlinn shall come to the eastern side. Let the battallion of the Muscraighe, the Uaithne the Fir Maige, and the Ui Cuanach remain stationary. For a battle without a check is not common. And we do not know whether we or a part of our people shall be routed, and if that should happen, they will know the way in which they may escape." They did so, and marched forward to the town, as Donnchadh had instructed them.
55. As to the Danes of the fortress, they assembled in one place. Lagmann addressed the champions, and this is what he said: "We are not sufficient in number to cope with them, as they do not come from one side. But let us attack one battallion of them, and give battle to them. And if a part of them is routed, it is likely that they will be so all of them. That advice was adopted by them, and they arranged themselves into a glittering, deathbringing circle of combatants. Then they attacked the battallion nearest to them, namely the battallion of the Deisi. There was fought a hard, stubborn battle between them, so that soldiers were destroyed and champions wounded by them, and skins were lacerated. Nevertheless the nobles of the Norsemen fell, and the Norse heroes were forcibly driven from the battlefield northward through the centre of Armagh, until they met the battallion of the Ui Cairbre who came bending their standards and battleflags against them from the north, so that the Norsemen were turned westward in full derout, until the battailion of the Dal Cais
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and the Gailinga. and the Dealbhna, and the Luighne met them, coming against them from the west, so that they were turned back eastward, quickly, perilously, and through sharp wounding. until the battallion of Clan Eoghan came against them, so that there was opened a brave, highspirited breach in the close phalanx like a very large court, and the Eoghanachts then dexterously carried out a firm, compact flank-movement round them, until they got the stream of those rough Lochlannachs into that passage and into that fold. Then the breach was eagerly and very strongly closed behind them, and the champions were slaughtered, so that they did not find any opening or escape from their kings, but fell like heavy, deadly thunder on that battle-held. It is then, that the van of the Eoghanachts destroyed the people (?) who escaped from them. When Donnchadh saw that the battallions were intermingled, he ordered them all to separate and to stop. They did so, and entered the town, and the town was in their power that night. But they got no news of Cellachan.
56. They arose next morning, and went to the battlefield, and collected the bodies of their people into one place, and the heads of the Lochlannachs, and they placed the heads upon spikes. Donnchadh son of Caem then asked if there was any Gael in the town from whom he might get news of Cellachan. A man in the town answered him, and said that his origin was from the clans of the Gael. Donnchadh asked who he was.
57. (He answered): "It is I who was chief prophet of Armagh, before the Lochlannachs arrived; but now I am doorkeeper here." "Have you any news of the king of Munster?" said Donnchadh. "I have", said he. "The night you were at Ess Ruaid, there came messengers from the king of Cenel Conaill to this town to tell news of you. And Cellachan and the ten earls who were around him, when he was captured, were removed to Dundalk, the place where their ships are." "Let us march after them !" said Donnchadh, "for we shall not leave a Norse stronghold in Ireland which we shall not reach, in fulfilment of our word."
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58. They went forward in arranged battallions to Sliab Fuait and to Fid Conaill, and to Magh Murthemne and straight to Dundalk. But the Lochlannachs went away from them in their ships, and they themselves went to the seashore. And the ship that was next to them was the ship of Sitric son of Turgeis, and it was in that ship that Cellachan was. Donnchadh asked them if they might get Cellachan for a ransom. Sitric pledged his word that he should never be given up, unless they brought back to him all who were slain in the fifteen battles which Cellachan had fought, and all who were slain in the battle of Armagh. When Donnchadh heard this he began to reproach them, and he said that they had not captured Cellachan in battle or open fight, but by lying and open perjury. And he said that after this he would not trust any oath of the Norse. "Give honour to Cellachan in the presence of the men of Munster!"
said Sitric, "let him even be bound to the mast! For he shall not be without pain in honour of them." Thus it was done. "The women of Munster will lament this" said Donnchadh, "and your own wife will lament it, O Sitric. And there is not among you a man to carry out that cruelty but has been spared by his sword and his fight." Donnchuan the son of Cennetig was likewise lifted up in the ship of the son of the king of Fuarlochlann. But Donnchadh said, that he would rather prefer to have a fair fight with them, and he recited the lay: 1)
"O Sitric, who flees over the sea,
Stay to converse with us!
Since we cannot, O dark man,
Follow you out on the open sea.
You pledged your word in the south,
O Norseman of the azure blades,
To Cellachan of the fair hair,
That you would not destroy him in Erin.
1) Only the first line of the poem is translated from the Book or Lismore,
the rest is translated from 23/H.I.a., p.80 f.
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You pledged a false word, O man,
That if the champion were destroyed by you,
Nobody after you should trust
The oath of a Norseman.
The women of Munster will lament,
If Cellachan comes to harm.
Their loud weeping will not be gentle,
From Uighne to the fort of Eochar-mag.
If Gormflaith of the white hands hears,
The daughter of Buadachan of the banquets,
Her outcry will not be gentle,The good wife of Domnall, the descendant of Faelan.
If the death of Cellachan of the sharp weapons
Is related to your own wife,
Mor of the soft eyes will lament him,
The daughter of the king of the Islands of the Fair Foreigners
Well has curly Cellachan deserved
Of you that you should not let him out!
Often with the feet of his ships
He has followed the Norse heroes.
There is not among you without death
A warrior, but has been spared by his sword,
Who has fled through cowardice without strength.
In dread or in panic from the high-king.
Every reward, which a man may choose,
The king of Cashel of the pleasant banquets has given,
'Tis from the wealth of the Norse he gave it
To the host of Munster, O Sitric."
59. Then Cellachan said: "It is not the revenge you will take upon me, that is to be lamented. For I give you my word that I feel more sorry that Cashel is without a
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successor of the descendants of Eoghan than because I myself am in this torture. And my benediction upon the Dal Cais, as a reward because they have come to my help." After this Cellachan lifted his head and said: "O Donnchadh, has a fleet set out with you?" "It has", said Donnchadh. "I see them" said Cellachan, and he said the lay.
60. "O Donnchadh, who darkens the spear,
Do not reproach the Norse heroes!
They have not destroyed us till now,
In fulfilment of their truth.
The word Sitric gave in the south,
It is that which is still helping us.
It is because of that I am taken eastwards
To be destroyed in Norway.
It is a greater sorrow upon my mind,
Than to be in great torture
Not to be able to protect Cashel for you.
O noble descendants of the race of Eogan.
To me has ever been attributed
What you did both east and west.
To yourself it shall now be attributed.
Show bravery without me!
A king worthy of Cashel,
A match for the splendid Munsterman,
Shall help you out of every need: --
Let Cenneidigh be made king by you!
My benediction -- the cause is true --
Upon the Dal Cais who excel the rest!
Bravely they have come hither
to fulfil their brotherhood.
You have come on a warlike hosting,
O valorous descendants of Eogan,
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Through the province of Medb northward;
Great was the courage of the noble host.
When you crossed Assaroe,
There came messengers northward,
From Muirchertach -- a great deed --,
From the high-king of Cenel Conaill.
Although we left Armagh,
We left there a full battalion
Of champions of Norse heroes
For the Gaels to destroy them.
Thanks to God that he has heard it,
O valorous host of Munster,
That the hue of every spear was reddened
Yesterday in the battle of Armagh.
It is sweet to see you to-day,
O valiant host of Munster,
Your travelled faces without stain
Upon the lawn of Dundalk.
I see what your champions do not see,
Since I am at the mast of the ship,
A fleet that will not flee to the sea;
It is a place of watching where I am.
Gentle royal nobles of Western Munster,
Beloved the fleet that has not been shown,
It they have set out from home,
It is they I see, O Donnchadh.
O Donnchadh, who
darkens the spear."
61. Then the Munstermen raised their heads and lifted their nobles eyes, and they saw the harbour being filled with ships and swift barks, and 'tis they who were there, the fleet of the men of Munster. Sitric asked who they were, and Donnchadh told their names. "It would be better for us", said Sitric, "if we got to know which of those
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yonder will undertake to check us in battle to-day, and who are the chiefs of those who are there." Duinechad, son of Fiangus, said that if he got a boat to man and permission to go and to come, that he would go and get knowledge of these news on behalf of Sitric. He got what he asked.
62. Duinechad went to the place where the fleet was, and asked news of them, and told them news of the men of Munster at Armagh, and he related that Cellachan was in the ship of Sitric, bound to the mast. "But" continued Duinechad, "you said, that when all your hosts were assembled you would have a sufficient number to give battle for us. And it would be a shame for you now to let your chieftain and your lord be taken away from you to the sea, since you have followed him to the waves."
63. "We have given our word", said they, "that if the Munstermen and the Norsemen were joined together, we would not let Cellachan be taken away by them without giving them battle." "If that is so", said Duinechad, "then tell me which of the Lochlann heroes you will choose to match yourselves against? And these are they: Lochlannach of the Blades, and the handsome (?) Lochlannach, and Old Amlaib, the three guardians of Cork." "Let them be given to us", said the three kings of Corcaduibne, namely Flann, and Cobthach. and Edirscel." For it is to us that they have given cause after coming to Inis Clere, when they carried off our women and youths in captivity. And we have not overtaken them to avenge ourselves upon them, but we shall take them in hand to-day." Which of you", said Duinechad, "will undertake to fight against Lenn-Turmun of the Journey?" "Let him be left to me", said Dubdaboirenn, the king of Westem Ui Echach, "for he has slain a good son of mine", (viz. Aedh, the son of Dubdaboirenn). "Which of you", said Duinechad, "will undertake to fight against the three sons of Turgeis, namely Sitric, and Tor and Magnus? And it is in their ship Cellachan is." "Let them be left to us", said Segda, and Failbe, and Congal, for they went to Scelig Michil and devastated the country. But we shall take them in hand for our share to-day."
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64. "Another reason" said Failbe, "is that we have given our word that there shall not be on sea or on land a place where we see them that we shall not reach to attack them." "Which of you", said Duinechad, "will engage the son of the king of Fair Lochlann?" "Let him be left to me", said Conchubar, king of Ciarraige Luachra, "for he has burned Ard Fothaig Brenaind. But I shall avenge that upon him to-day." "Who will engage in battle with Lenn Turmun na Pers (i. e. of the Berserks)?" said Duinechad. "Let him be left to me", said Diarmaid and Baiscinn, the two kings of Corcobaiscinn. "For they have plundered Inis Cathaig, and we have not overtaken them before to-day." "Who will engage in battle with the king of Cold Lochlarin?" said Duinechad. "It is in his ship that Donnchuan is, and he bound fast." "Let him be left to us said the two kings of Corcamruadh, "for they went to Arann, and it was plundered by them, and we shall avenge it upon them to-day."
65. "How shall the ships recognise each another?" said Duinechad. "For the shields and ensigns you have are not those that are known to them." That is easy", said Failbe the Fair, "for they know the situation of our territories belonging to our houses, namely Corcolaighdi furthest to the south, and the Ui Echach next to them. Corcoduibne next to them. Ciarraige next to them. Corcobaiscinn next to Ciarraige. Corcamruaid next to Corcobaiscinn. And let us arrange our fleet according to our lands, and let them come to meet us." Duinechad [then] went to the Norse fleet, and related those answers to the children of Turgeis. "This has fallen out prettily", said Sitric, for these are the very opponents we have chosen." Duinechad went ashore and told the Munstermen of these engagements. And the sagaman said the lay.
Relate, 0 Duinechad the Dun, [etc.j 1)
To us, who are they, the couples
[[Footnote]] 1) The poem is found in full in 23/H.I.a., p. 80 f., whence I translate the whole.
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Which they have chosen, the twelve chieftains
From western Munster of the great riches.
Name each brave Norseman
Whom every single man of them has chosen,
And each man of those whom they have taken upon themselves.
Of the Norsmen in the quick fight!
Eiderscel yonder has chosen
From among you Lochlann of the blades.
Cobthach and Flann of Fal have promised
To beat off the other couple.
Failbhe [will go] against Sitric of the hosts,
Segh[dh]a against redhaired Maghnus,
Conall against Tor over the wave,
The (?) Ciarraige against Fair Lochlann.
Conchobhar against noble Ilbrec,
The king of Ciarraige of the rough sword.
And the Corcobaiscinn from the wave
Against the Berserks of the two strong Tormuns.
[To fight with] the Cold Norsemen of the harbour
The two Corcamruadhs have undertaken.
These are, as we think manifest,
The full number of the engagements made."
67. However, when those redarmed chiefs of Western Erinn, namely the powerful, very brave, noble clans, arrived from the whitebodied wave of Cliodhna in the south to the ever pleasant harbour of Traigh Baili in pursuit of their champion and their lord, and to fight for their heroic king and deliver him from the strait in which he was, when they saw him bound and fettered to the mast of the Norse ship, the senses, and feelings, and thoughts of the heroes underwent a change, their aspect became troubled, their colour changed, their looks became threatening, and their lips grew pale. And to defend Cellachan there was bravely arranged by the heroes a strong and
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cunning, quick [i. e. quickly arranged] circle of ships, and a fortified city of helmets, and a firm fold of bows, and a manly, angry, venomous hedge of bright spears.
68. Then arose those truly heroic, broadweaponed Norsemen and the darkfaced, sullen, terrible Foreigners, and the base, lowborn Danes [who were] without any hereditary right to the truly beautiful island of Fodla, and without origin in, or relationship to Banba. There was arranged by them a dense fortress of dark shields, and an immovable oakwood of venomous and strong spears. But, however, when they had reached the warriors in their impetuous and headstrong course, their ships went bravely to the battle so that listening to the noble clans was like listening to the sound, which arises from a seashore full of stones trodden by teams, and herds, and cattle, horses and racing horsemen, and bright cavalry, as the bloody, sharp showers poured down, and their swords and javelins rang forth in cutting up cuirasses and splitting shields, breaking helmets and head-gear and each others fair bodies around Cellachan.
69. Then the three fiercely active kings of Ui Luigdech, namely Flann, and Cobthach, and Eiderscel reached the southern angle of the brave hosts. They and the three guardians of Cork, namely Lochlannach of the blades, and the handsome (?) Lochlannach, and Old Amlaib, the senior of the army, went at each other and encountered each other in the battle. However, neither the great size of their shields, nor the excessive strength of their spears, nor the whistling shots of their arrows, nor the smiting of swords upon the heroes were of any use to the Norse heroes. For those chiefs leapt into the Norse ships and singled them out under the masts of the galleys till they met in the middle of each ship. And those six fell together along with their hosts, as the poet has said:
70. I am grieved for the fall of the chiefs
Of the children of Lugaidh of the bright shields,
From the southern part of Munster in the south,
By the host of Lochlann of the swift feats.
I grieve for the noble Eiderscel,
The brave, red-sworded hero,
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Though through him by force was slain
The Norseman of the full-sharp blades.
I am sorry that Flann, the descendant of Lugaidh of Luan (?),
Should be in famous Traigh Baile,
Though he cut off -- without treachery -- in the battle
The head of the handsome (?) Lochlannach.
Sorrowful the fall of the son of great Mac Niadh,
Of the descendants of Ith of the noble host
I grieve for Cobthach with the ruddy face,
The descendant of Lugaidh, a hero without deceit.
Ten ships and twenty in truth
Of the Clan Luigdech, with full force
Of them did not reach home -- it is known --
The crew of a ship of his garrison of heroes.
I am grieved.
71. Then the chief of Ui Echach, namely Dubdaboirenn, and Lenn-Turmun of the Journey met with their swift barques to fight and to smite each other like two dragons for cunning wounds or like two hawks for eager deeds. The army of the active, and famous clan of Cas leapt into the ships of the Norsemen so that they fell upon the rowbenches and strong oars of the mighty ships.
72. Then the three valiant champions. namely Segda, and Failbe, and Congal came up to the strong fleet of the sons of Turgeis, to Sitric, Tor, and Magnus. The Irishmen quickly flung tough ropes of hemp over the long prows of the Norse ships in order that they might not be separated from each other. The Norsemen then flung rough chains of blue iron over the stately prows of their vessels. There were arranged between the heroes smooth-shafted, sharp-pointed rows of long and stout, most venomous spears. Their helmsmen left off steering, and their crews arose with the oars around the splendid sides of their strong ships, and they raised a barbarous uproar against each other, so that the . . . .
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and mighty onset of those fierce . . . . was a raging sea of . . . .
73. Then the ship of the heroic Failbe was hurried up and rowed up to the battle-ship of Sitric, and Failbe made a high, and deerlike leap from the broad deck of his ship to the mast of [the ship of] Sitric. The royal champion unsheathed his two brisk, keen-edged blades, and he took one of the swords in his stout right hand encountering the champions of the ship, and the other sword in his heroic left cutting the ropes and fetters that were round Cellachan.