Síaburcharpat Con Culaind

Background information

References in the Annals of Tigernach, the Annals of the Four Masters and the Annals of Ulster
(The names of characters mentioned in the saga are shown below in bold type)

AT (p. 407 (69)) The death of Cúchulainn the bravest hero of the Irish, by Lugaid son of Three Hounds, King of Munster, and by Erc King of Tara, son of Carbre Niá fer, and by the three sons of Calatin of Connaught. Seven years was his age when he assumed arms, seventeen was his age when he followed the Driving of the Kine of Cualnge, but twenty-seven years was his age when he died.
The death of Erc son of Carbre King of Tara and of Lugaid son of Cú-roi by Conall Cernach.

M5191.1 Lughaidh Sriabh nDearg, after having been twenty six years in the sovereignty of Ireland, died of grief.

M36.1 Fearadhach Finnfeachtnach, son of Crimhthann Niadhnair, after having spent twenty two years in the sovereignty of Ireland, died at Teamhair.

M106.1 Tuathal Teachtmhar, after having been thirty years in the sovereignty of Ireland, was slain by Mal, son of Rochraidhe, King of Ulster, in Magh Line, at Moin An Chatha, in Dal Araidhe.

M119.1 Feidhlimidh Reachtmhar, after having been nine years in the sovereignty of Ireland, died.

M157.1 Conn of the Hundred Battles, after having been thirty five years in the sovereignty of Ireland, was slain by Tibraite Tireach, son of Mal, son of Rochraidhe, King of Ulster, at Tuath Amrois.

M266.1 Forty years was Cormac, son of Art, son of Conn, in the sovereignty of Ireland, when he died at Cleiteach, the bone of a salmon sticking in his throat.

M276.2 Aenghus Gaibuaibhtheach was killed this year by the sons of Cairbre Liffechair, namely, Fiacha Sraibhtine and Eochaidh Doimhlen.

M365.1 The eighth year of Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin, son of Muireadhach Tireach, over Ireland, when he died at Teamhair.

M405.1 After Niall of the Nine Hostages, son of Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin, had been twenty seven years in the sovereignty of Ireland, he was slain by Eochaidh, son of Enna Ceinnseallach, at Muir nIcht, i.e. the sea between France and England.

M432.2 Patrick came to Ireland this year.

M438.2 The Seanchus and Feinechus of Ireland were purified and written, the writings and old books of Ireland having been collected [and brought] to one place, at the request of Saint Patrick. These were the nine supporting props by whom this was done: Laeghaire, i.e. King of Ireland, Corc, and Daire, the three kings; Patrick, Benen, and Cairneach, the three saints; Ross, Dubhthach, and Fearghus, the three antiquaries, as this quatrain testifies:

Laeghaire, Corc, Daire the stern,
Patrick, Benen, Cairneach the just,
Ross, Dubhthach, Fearghus with goodness,
the nine props these of the Seanchus Mor.

M448.2 The family of Patrick of the prayers … Benen, his psalmist.

M457.2 The battle of Ath Dara [was fought] against the Leinstermen by Laeghaire, son of Niall. Laeghaire was taken in that battle; and Laeghaire took oaths by the Sun and the Wind, and [all] the elements, to the Leinstermen, that he would never come against them, after setting him at liberty.

U458.1 The battle of Áth Dara [was won] by the Laigin over Laegaire, and in it he himself was taken prisoner, but was then freed on swearing by sun and wind that he would remit to them the cattle-tribute.

M458.1 After Laeghaire, the son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, had been thirty years in the sovereignty of Ireland, he died by the side of Caissi, between Eire and Alba, i.e. two hills which are in Ui Faelain; and [it was] the Sun and the Wind that killed him, because he had violated them. Concerning which the poet said:

Laeghaire, son of Niall, died
On the side of Caissi, green its land;
The elements of God, whose guarantee he had violated,
Inflicted the doom of death upon the king.

U462.1 Death of Laegaire son of Niall, at Grellach Dabhaill or Grellach Ghaifil on the side of Caisse in Magh Life, between two hills called Eiriu and Albu; for the Laigin thought that it was sun and wind that killed him.

M467.2 Benen, son of Sescnen, Bishop of Ard Macha [Armagh], resigned his spirit.

M493.2 When the time of St. Patrick’s death approached, he received the Body of Christ from the hands of the holy Bishop Tassach, in the 122nd [year] of his age, and resigned his spirit to heaven.

Lebor Gabála Érenn (Macalister), Volume 4

p. 113 He under whom it [the Lia Fáil] should utter a cry was King of Ireland; until Cu Chulainn smote it, for it uttered no cry under him, nor under his fosterling, Lugaid [Riab nDerg].

The History of Ireland (Geoffrey Keating), Vol. 3

p. 39 It was against Laoghaire that the Leinstermen and Criomhthann, son of Eanna, fought the Battle of Ath Dara, wherein Laoghaire was made prisoner by them, and he gave the sun and moon and stars as sureties that he would fulfil his promise not to exact the Boraimhe from them; but he did not fulfil this promise in their regard. However, to avenge this falsehood Laoghaire was soon afterwards killed by a lightning flash at Greallach Dabhaill beside the Lithfe, as the poet says:

Laoghaire, son of Niall, died
Beside Lithfe, green its land,
The elements of God whose guarantee he had violated
Inflicted the fate of death on the king.

Related saga online: Comthoth Loegairi co cretim ocus a aided (The conversion of Loegaire to the faith, and his death)
Charles Plummer (ed. & tr.), “Irish miscellanies: the conversion of Loegaire, and his death”, Revue Celtique, 6, 1884, pp. 162-172.
Digital Edition at Archive.org (pp. 162-172)

Whitley Stokes (ed. & tr.), The Tripartite life of Patrick, Vol. II, (London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1887), pp. 562-567.
Digital Edition at Archive.org (pp. 562-567)

The Book of Rights (O’Donovan)
Intro. pp. ii-xi Benen (See Section 4)

The Wooing of Emer (Meyer)
§§12-16, pp. 71-72 Description of Cuchulainn and his charioteer (See Section 5)
§§68-76, pp. 299-301 Cuchulainn and Scáthach (See Section 14, qq. X-XVII)

Fled Bricrend (Henderson)
§§49-52, pp. 61-67 Description of Cuchulainn and his chariot (See Section 5)
§30, pp. 37-38 List of Cuchulainn’s feats (See Section 7)

Táin Bó Cuailnge Recension I (O’Rahilly)
p. 185 “His [Láeg’s] hand brought to his brow the circlet (gipni), red-yellow like a red gold plate of refined gold smelted over the edge of an anvil, which was a sign of his charioteer status to distinguish him from his master.”
“A wreath (gibne) of findruine on his forehead, that prevented his hair from falling about his face.” (See Section 5)

Siabur-charpat Con Culaind (John O’Beirne Crowe)
pp. 434-448 (473- 489) Discussion of Cuchulainn’s feats (See Section 7)

Tochmarc Emire la Coinculaind (Meyer)
§78, p. 255 List of Cuchulainn’s feats (See Section 7)

Táin Bó Cúalnge from the Book of Leinster (O’Rahilly)
§14, p. 189 List of Cuchulainn’s feats (See Section 7)

On the manners and customs of the ancient Irish, Vol. II (O’Curry)
pp. 372-373 (401-402) List of Cuchulainn’s feats (See Section 7)

Táin bó Fraích (Crowe)
p. 157 Conall Cearnach and the serpent.
“Ten serpents burst over its border.” (See Section 14, q. XIII)

Aided Conrói maic Dáiri (Best)
pp. 20-21 (32-33) “There was a caldron in that dún” (See Section 14, qq. XVIII- XX)

On the manners and customs of the ancient Irish, Vol. III (O’Curry)
pp. 79-82 “There was a caldron in that dún” (See Section 14, qq. XVIII- XX)

Cuchulainn’s Death (Stokes)
pp. 181-182 “Then Lugaid [son of Cúrúi] flung the spear and struck Cúchulainn, and his bowels came forth on the cushion of the chariot, and his only horse, the Black Sainglend, fled away, with half the yoke hanging to him, and left the chariot and his master, the king of the heroes of Eriu, dying alone on the plain …
He went to the pillarstone which is in the plain and he put his breastgirdle round it that he might not die seated nor lying down, but that he might die standing up …
Then Lugaid arranged Cúchulain’s hair over his shoulder, and cuts off his head.” (See Section 14, q. XXVI)

Lectures on the manuscript materials of ancient Irish history (O’Curry)
pp. 478-479, note 18 Lugaidh-mac-na-trí-con (See Section 14, q. XXVI)

Bóroma (Stokes)
p. 53, §§39-40 The death of Loegaire son of Niall (See Section 15)

D = The Martyrology of Donegal (O’Donovan)
G = The Martyrology of Gorman (Stokes)
O = The Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee (Stokes)
D: 9 November, Benignus .i. Benen, disciple of Patrick and his successor (See Section 4), p. 301 (363)
G: 9 November, Benignus, a bishop; St. Patrick’s disciple and his successor (See Section 4), p. 215
D: 17 March, Patrick, noble Apostle of the island of Erin (See Section 1), pp. 79 -81(141-143)
G: 17 March, Patrick, apostle of Ireland (See Section 1), p. 57
O: 17 March, Patrick, apostle of virginal Erin (See Section 1), p. 82 (141), p. 99 (158)

R = The Rennes Dindshenchas (Stokes), Revue Celtique, 15-16, 1894-1895
M = The Metrical Dindshenchas (Gwynn)
B = The Bodleian Dinnshenchas (Stokes), Folklore, 3, 1892
S = Silva Gadelica (O’Grady), Volume 2
R: Dindgnai in Broga §4 (See Section 4), Part 1, pp. 292-293, (‘Dindgnai in Broga’)
M: Brug na Bóinde I (See Section 4), Volume 2, pp. 11-17, pp. 92-94
M: Brug na Bóinde II (See Section 4), Volume 2, pp. 19-25, pp. 95-96
R: Emain Macha §161 (See Section 11), Part 5, pp. 279-283
M: Emain Macha (See Section 11), Volume 4, pp. 309-311, p. 459
M: Mag Muirthemne (See Section 8), Volume 4, p. 295, p.454
R: Temair §1 (See Section 1), Part 1, pp. 277-289, (‘Temair’)
M: Temair 1 (See Section 1), Volume 1, pp. 3-5, pp. 57-58 (78-79)
M: Temair 2 (See Section 1), Volume 1, pp. 7-13, pp. 59-61 (80-82)
M: Temair 3 (See Section 1), Volume 1, pp. 15-27, pp. 62-66 (83-87)
M: Temair 4 (See Section 1), Volume 1, pp. 29-37, pp. 67-74 (88-95)
M: Temair 5 (See Section 1), Volume 1, pp. 39-45, pp. 75-79 (96-100)
B: Temuir §1 (See Section 1), p. 470, (‘Temuir’)
S: Temhuir (See Section 1), p. 514 (549)

Cóir Anmann: Fitness of Names (Stokes), Irische Texte, Ser. III.2
Art mac Cuinn = Art Óenfer §112 (See Section 16), pp. 335-337, p. 415
Cairbre Lifechair §114 (See Section 16), p. 337, p. 415
Conn Cétchathach §111 (See Section 16), p. 335, p. 415
Cormac mac Airt = Cormac Ulfhota §113 (See Section 16), p. 337, p. 415
Crimhann Nía Nár §106 (See Section 16), p. 333, p. 415
Cú Chulainn §266 (See Section 16), pp. 399-401, p. 423
Eochaid Muigmedon §117 (See Section 16), p. 339, p. 416
Fedlimid Rechtaid §110 (See Section 16), p. 335, p. 415
Feradach Fechtnach §107 (See Section 16), p. 333, p. 415
Fiacha Sraibtine §§114, 115 (See Section 16), p. 337, pp. 415-416
Lugaid Réo nderg §105 (See Section 16), p. 333, p. 415
Muredach Tírech §116 (See Section 16), p. 339, p. 416
Níall Nói-gíallach §118 (See Section 16), p. 339, p. 416
Tuathal Techtmar §109 (See Section 16), p. 333, p. 415
Ulaid §245 (See Section 13), pp. 387-389, p. 422

Voices from the Dawn

Clochafarmore Standing Stone