Tromdámh Guaire

Background information

Information on the sources used by the author of Tromdámh Guaire can be found in:

Seán Ó Coileáin, The Making of “Tromdámh Guaire”, Ériu, 28, 1977, pp. 32-70.
Digital edition at JSTOR

References in the Annals of Ulster, the Annals of the Four Masters and the Annals of Tigernach

U445.1 Nath Í son of Fiachra son of Eochu Mugmedón [was killed] at the Alps mountain, or died after having been struck by a thunderbolt when he invaded its confines; and he reigned in Ireland for 23 years.

M548.8 St. Finnen, Abbot of Cluain Eraird, tutor of the saints of Ireland, died.

U549.1 The falling asleep of the son of the wright, i.e. Ciarán, in the 33rd year of his age or in the 7th after he had begun to build Cluain Moccu Nóis.

M571.1 St. Breanainn, Abbot of Birra, died on the twenty ninth day of November.

U575.1 The great convention of Druim Ceat at which were present Colum Cille and Aed son of Ainmire.

U577.3 Repose of Brénainn of Cluain Ferta.

U579.1 Repose of bishop Finnian moccu Fiatach.

T583.3 Ruadhan of Lothra rested.

M592.2 Dallan Forgaill composed this on the death of Colum Cille:

Like the cure of a physician without light,
like the separation of marrow from the bone,
Like a song to a harp without the ceis,
are we after being deprived of our noble.

U595.1 Repose of Colum Cille on the fifth of the Ides of June in the 76th year of his age.

U602.1 Repose of Comgall of Bennchor.

U622.6 The battle of Cennbag, in which Colmán son of Cobthach fell.

U663.1 Death of Guaire of Aidne.

The History of Ireland (Geoffrey Keating), Volume 2

pp. 209-211 When Fearghus was in banishment in Connaught, it happened that he was with Oilill and Meadhbh in Magh Ai, where they had a dwelling-fortress; and one day, when they went out to the shore of a lake that was near the lios, Oilill asked Fearghus to go and swim in the lake, and Fearghus did so. Now while Fearghus was swimming, Meadhbh was seized by a desire of swimming with him; and when she had gone into the lake with Fearghus, Oilill grew jealous; and he ordered a kinsman of his called Lughaidh Dalleigheas who was with him to cast a spear at Fearghus which pierced him through the breast; and Fearghus came ashore on account of the wound caused by that cast, and extracted the spear from his body, and cast it in the direction of Oilill; and it pierced a greyhound that was near his chariot, and thereupon Fearghus fell and died, and was buried on the shore of the same lake.

The History of Ireland (Geoffrey Keating), Volume 3

pp. 81-83 Thrice then did the men of Ireland cast off the filés, and the Ulstermen retained them on each of these occasions. The first time they were banished they numbered a thousand; and Conchubhar and the nobles of Ulster maintained them seven years. On their second banishment, Fiachna, son of Baodan, king of Ulster, maintained them a year, and seven hundred was their number under Eochaidh Righeigeas, as the poet says … :

Eochaidh Righeigheas of noble laws,
Went to Fiachna, son of Baodan;
He gave him great welcome,
And he retained the filés.

The third time they were banished, when Maolcobha, king of Ulster, retained them, they amounted to twelve hundred, under Dallan Forgaill and Seanchan.
The following are the provincial kings and the territorial princes who were at the convention of Drom Ceat: … Guaire, son of Colman, from the kingdom of clann Fiachrach, south and north.

p. 95 The ardollamh of Ireland at that time (i.e., the convention of Drom Ceat) was Eochaidh Eigeas, son of Oilill, son of Earc, and it was he who was called Dallan Forgaill, and he sent out ollamhs and set them over the provinces of Ireland, namely, … Sanchan, son of Cuairfheartach, over the province of Connaught.

p. 105 Columcille’s age when he died was seventy-seven years, as Dallan Forgaill says in Amhra Choluim Chille itself, which was written by Dallan soon after the death of Columcille.

Related text online: The Bodleian Amra Choluimb Chille (Stokes), Revue Celtique, 20, 1899

p. 37 Its (Amra Choluimb Chille) author was Dallán (called) ‘son of testimony’ (mac forgaill) of the Masraige of Mag Slecht from Brefne of Connaught.

p. 43 Now the men of Ireland rejected the poets thrice, but the Ulaid, from their generosity, retained them. Twelve hundred was their number at the first proscription, when Conchobar (mac Nessa) and the nobles of the Ulaid kept them for seven years. The second proscription was when Eochaid the king-poet (rigeces) with his seven hundreds was refused; but Fiacha, son of Baetán, retained them. Now the third time was the great proscription of the twelve hundred poets, including Eochaid the king-poet, and Dallán and Senchán, when Mael-coba, king of Ulaid, retained them for three years.

p. 45 Thereafter (i.e. after the Convention of Druim Cett), the poets were billeted throughout Ireland; but their retinues were diminished, namely, twenty-four in the ollave’s retinue and twelve in the anrúd’s. (See Seachan’s retinue in Section 15)

p. 133 Now at that time (i.e., the Convention of Druim Cett) Dallán, the chief-poet (ardollam) of Ireland, came to parley with Columba.

pp. 133-135 Dallán and Columba.

p. 135 Now Columba gave Dallán three tokens as to when he should make it (the Amra) … And (3) his eyes to be allowed to Dallán himself when he was making it. (See Section 11)

p. 139
Thrice fifty men, severe, acute,
of Erin’s poets in one retinue,
including Senchán, comely Dallán
and Eochaid the king-poet.

A year they were at Clochar:
To Daimín it was no detriment:
’tis there they satirised Aed
about the variously-handsome brooch of gold. (See Section 1)

Fifty saints (were) round Columba there
including two Ciarán and Comgall,
mo-Bí, Cainnech, eagar Laisrén,
two Finneáns and two Brénanns. (See list of saints in Section 6)

pp. 435-436 Dallan’s death and burial.

Related saga online: Scéla Cano meic Gartnáin (The story of Cano son of Gartnán)
D. A. Binchy (ed.), Scéla Cano meic Gartnáin, (Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1963; repr. 1975), pp. 1-19.
Digital Edition at CELT
Brigid (See Section 38 and Section 54), Section 12
Senchán and the inailt (See Section 35 and Section 36), Section 12, Section 13

Kuno Meyer (ed.), Scéla Cano meic Gartnáin, in: Anecdota from Irish Manuscripts, (Halle: Max Niemeyer, 1907), Volume 1, pp. 1-15.
Digital Edition at Archive.org (pp. 1-15 (13-27))

Related saga online: Scéla Mongáin ocus Echdach Rígéicis (The story of Mongán and Eochaid Rígéices)
Eleanor Knott (ed. & tr.), Why Mongán was Deprived of Noble Issue, Ériu, 8, 1916, pp. 155-160.
Digital Edition at JSTOR; Irish text at TLH; English translation at TLH; English translation at MaryJones.us

Related saga online: Do Fallsigud Tána bó Cualnge (The revealing of Táin bó Cualnge)
Ernst Windisch (ed. & tr.), Do fallsigud Tána bó Cualnge, in:Die altirische Heldensage Táin Bó Cúalnge nach dem Buch von Leinster, (Leipzig: Hirzel, 1905), pp. liii-lv.
Digital edition at Archive.org; Irish text at CELT

Kuno Meyer (ed.), Die Wiederauffindung der Táin Bó Cúalnge, in: Neue Mitteilungen aus irischen Handschriften, Archiv für Celtische Lexikographie, 3, 1905, pp. 2-6.
Digital Edition at Archive.org (pp. 2-6 (532-536)); Irish text at CDI (pp. 2-6) (PDF)
Feargus was drowned in Findloch on Magh Ái (Co. Roscommon) and buried nearby, p. 3, line 3; p. 5, line 4

Related saga online: Aided Fergusa Maic Róich (The Death of Fergus mac Róich)
Kuno Meyer (ed. & tr.), The Death-Tales of the Ulster Heroes, (Dublin: Hodges, Figgis and Co., 1906), pp. 32-35.
Digital Edition at Archive.org (pp. 32-35); Irish text at CELT; English translation at CELT; English translation at MaryJones.us
Feargus was drowned in Findloch on Magh Ái (Co. Roscommon) and buried nearby, p. 33, note c

Related poem online:
Kuno Meyer (ed. & tr.), King and Hermit:a Colloquy between King Guaire of Aidne and His Brother Marban, (London: David Nutt, 1901), pp. 10-21.
Digital Edition at Archive.org (pp. 10-21); Irish text at Archive.org (pp. 455-457); English translation at Hermitary.com

Imtheacht na Tromdháimhe (Connellan), Transactions of the Ossianic Society, 5, 1860
Eo Rosa (See Section 46), pp. 152-155
The origin of the harp (See Section 50), pp. 156-166
Naas (See Section 59), pp. 166-167
The Dun of the King of Leinster (See Section 59), pp. 168-169
Ath-Cliath (See Section 66), pp. 169-170

Mac Dá Cherda and Cummaine Foda (O’Keeffe)
Contention between Marbhán and Senchán (Section 52);
contention between Cumaine and Senchan, p. 33
(Digital Edition at JSTOR)

Life of Berach (Plummer)
“Hugh the Fair, son of Fergna, king of Brefney” (See Section 1), “Aedh Dubh son of Fergna, and the forces of Breifne with him,” p. 35

The Book of Fenagh (Hennessy)
“Hugh the Fair, son of Fergna, king of Brefney” (See Section 1), pp. 115-121

Táin Bó Cúalnge (O’Rahilly)
“Three blotches of reproach” (See Section 6), “Three blisters, shame, blemish and disgrace”, pp. 211-212

Three Irish Glossaries (Stokes), 1862
“Three blotches of reproach” (See Section 6), “three blisters, … Stain, Blemish and Defect,” pp. XXXVIII (42).

The banquet of Dun na n-Gedh (O’Donovan)
List of Irish saints (See Section 6), p. 27

Betha Colaim Chille (O’Kelleher/Schoepperle)
Dallán Forgaill and Colmcille §§336-339 (See Section 11), pp. 359-363 (447-452)
The revealing of Táin Bó Cúailnge §157 (See Section 69), pp. 161-165 (249-254)

Do aistib ind aircetail: On the types of poetry (Thurneysen),Irische Texte, Ser. III.1
“itir ollam ocus anrad” (See Section 16); the seven grades of file: fochloc, macfuirmedh, doss, cana, clí, anradh, ollam, pp. 96-97

On the Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish (O’Curry), Volume 2
The grades of file (See Section 16), p. 171, p. 217

The Death of Bresal (Stokes)
“a red-eared and purely white cow without a liver, but having tallow in place of her liver” (Section 28), “a cow with livers of tallow” p. xxvii (33)

The Death of Dermot son of Fergus Cerrbeoil, in Silva Gadelica (O’Grady), Volume 2
“Hogs that have not been farrowed”, “ale of one grain” (See Section 31), p. 87 (122)

Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 5, 1850-1853
“Ten mice fell dead” (See Section 39), J. H. Todd: “On Rhyming Rats to Death”, pp. 355-366

E. J. Gwynn (ed.), An Old-Irish Tract on the Privileges and Responsibilities of Poets, Ériu, 13, 1942, pp. 13-60
Digital Edition at JSTOR
“Nuts of Segais” (See Section 44), pp. 26-27

Sanas Chormaic: Gormac’s Glossary (O’Donovan/Stokes)
Senchán in the Isle of Man (See Section 62), pp. 135-138 (153-156)

Fingal Rónáin: How Ronan slew his son (Meyer), Revue Celtique, 13, 1892
“a half stanza in reply to this half stanza” (See Section 63), p. 382

D = The Martyrology of Donegal (O’Donovan)
G = The Martyrology of Gorman (Stokes)
O = The Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee (Stokes)
D: 29 November, Brenainn, abbot of Biorra (See Section 6), p. 321 (383)
G: 29 November, Brénainn, abbot of Birr (See Section 6), p. 229
O: 29 November, Brénand of Birr (See Section 6), p. 237 (296), p. 248 (307)
D: 16 May, Brenainn, Abbot of Cluain-ferta-Brenainn (See Section 6), pp. 129-131 (191-193)
G: 16 May, Brénainn, son of Findlug, abbot of Cluain Ferta (See Section 6), p. 99
O: 16 May, Brénann of Clúain, son of Findlug (See Section 6), p. 124 (183), p. 133 (192)
D: 13 November, Caillin son of Niatach, Bishop, of Fiodhnacha of Magh Rein (Fenagh, Co. Leitrim) (See Section 66), pp. 307-309 (369-371)
G: 13 November, Callín son of Niata from Fidnach Maige Réin (See Section 66), p. 219
D: 9 September, Ciarán, son of the carpenter, Abbot of Cluain-mic-Nois (See Section 6), pp. 241-243 (303-305)
G: 9 September, Ciaran, the carpenter’s son, Abbot of Clonmacnois (See Section 6), p. 173
O: 9 September, Ciarán of Clúain (See Section 6), p. 193 (252), pp. 203-205 (262-265)
D: 5 March, Ciaran, of Saighir, Bishop and Confessor (See Section 6), pp. 63-65 (125-127)
G: 5 March, Ciarán of Saighir, bishop and confessor (See Section 6), p. 49
O: 5 March, Ciarán of Saigir (See Section 6), p. 80 (139), pp. 87-91 (146-150)
D: 9 June, Colum Cille, son of Felim, abbot of Black Monks, at Doire Choluim Chille and at I in Albain (See Section 6), pp. 151-163 (213- 225)
G: 9 June, Colomb cille, abbot of Black Monks, at Doire Choluimb-chille and in Hí in Scotland (See Section 6), p. 113
O: 9 June, Colum cille (See Section 6), p. 139 (198), p. 145-149 (204-208)
D: 10 May, Comghall, Abbot of Bennchor-Uladh (See Section 6), pp. 123-125 (185-187)
G: 10 May, Comgall, abbot of Bennchor Ulad (Bangor in Ulster) (See Section 6), p. 95
O: 10 May, Comgall of Bangor (See Section 6), p. 123 (182), p. 131 (190)
D: 29 January, Dallán Forgaill, of Maighin, of the race of Colla Uais, monarch of Ireland. His name was Eochaidh, son of Colla, son of Erc. It was he that composed the celebrated panegyric of Colum Cille, which is called Amhra Choluim Chille, and another little Amhra on Seanán of Inis-Cathaigh. And he was interred at Inis-Caoil (Inishkeel, barony of Boylagh, Co. Donegal), a place sacred to Conall of Inis-Caoil. The Life of Maedhog of Fearna states, chap. 72, that this is the Dallán who was at Cill-Dalláin (Killdallan, barony of Tullyhunco, Co. Cavan), and that the two children were brother’s sons — namely, Maedhog son of Sedna, son of Erc and Dallán, son of Colla, son of Erc (See Section 1), p. 31 (93)
G: 29 January, Dallán, Forgall’s modest son from Maigen (See Section 1), p. 27
O: 29 January, Dallán ‘son of testimony,’ of Maigen (See Section 1), p. 55 (114)
D: 12 December, Finnen of Cluain Eraird (See Section 6), pp. 333-335 (395-397)
G: 12 December, Finnian, abbot of Clúain Eraird (See Section 6), p. 237
O: 12 December, Findian of Clonard (See Section 6), p. 251 (310), p. 259 (318)
D: 10 September, Finnén, Bishop, of Magh-bile (See Section 6), p. 243 (305)
G: 10 September, Findian, bishop of Mag bile (See Section 6), p. 175
O: 10 September, Findén of Mag bile (See Section 6), p. 193 (252), pp. 205-207 (264-266)
D: 15 April, Ruadhan, son of Ferghus, abbot of Lothra. … He was of the race of Eoghan Mor (See Section 6), p. 103 (165)
G: 15 April, Ruadan, abbot of Lothra (See Section 6), p. 77
O: 15 April, Rúadhán, of the Eoganacht of Cashel, abbot of Lothra (See Section 6), p. 106 (165), p. 115 (174)

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: Áth Cliath Cualann §28 (See Section 66), Part 1, pp. 328-329, (‘Áth Cliath Cualann’)
M: Áth Cliath Cualann (See Section 66), Volume 3, pp. 101-103, pp. 494-495
R: Brefne §149 (See Section 1), Part 4, pp.162-164, (‘Brefne’)
M: Bréfne (See Section 1), Volume 4, pp. 253-357, p. 443
M: Cnogba (See Section 39), Volume 3, pp. 41-47, pp. 483-484
B: Cnogba §43 (See Section 39), p. 506, (‘Cnogba’)
M: Dubgilla in Lumman Tige Scrafáin (See Section 1), Volume 4, pp. 329-335, pp. 463-466
R: Eó Rossa §160 (See Section 46), Part 5, pp. 277-279
M: Eo Rossa, Eo Mugna, etc (See Section 46), Volume 3, p. 149, p. 505
M: Eo Rossa (in Bile Tortan) (See Section 46), Volume 4, pp. 241-247, pp. 440-441
R: Ess Rúaid §81 (See Section 12), Part 3, pp. 31-33, (‘Ess Ruaid’)
M: Ess Ruaid I (See Section 12), Volume 4, pp. 3-7, pp. 375-376
M: Ess Ruaid II (See Section 12), Volume 4, pp. 7-9, pp. 376-377
B: Ess Ruaid §42 (See Section 12), pp. 505-506, (‘Ess Ruaid’)
S: Es [Aedha] Ruaidh (See Section 12), p. 526 (561)
R: Laigin §9 (See Section 12), Part 1, pp. 299-301, (‘Laigin’)
M: Lagin I (See Section 12), Volume 2, p. 51, p. 102
M: Lagin II (See Section 12), Volume 2, p. 53, p. 102
B: Laigin §3 (See Section 12), pp. 471-473, (‘Laigin’)
S: Laigin (See Section 12), p. 500 (535)
R: Mag mBreg §111 (See Section 1), Part 3, pp. 62-63, (‘Mag mBreg’)
M: Mag Breg (See Section 1), Volume 4, pp. 191-193, p. 427
B: Mag mBreg §2 (See Section 1), pp. 470-471, (‘Mag mBreg’)
S: Mágh mBregh (See Section 1), p. 517 (552)
R: Nás §20 (See Section 59), Part 1, pp. 316-318, (‘Nás’)
M: Nás (See Section 59), Volume 3, pp. 49-53, pp. 484-485
R: Raith Cruachan §63 (See Section 38), Part 2, p. 463-464, (‘Raith Cruachan’)
M: Rath Cruachan (See Section 39), Volume 3, pp. 349-355, pp. 541-542
B: Mag Cruachan §27 (See Section 39), pp. 492-493, (‘Mag Cruachan’)
S: Ráth Chruachan (See Section 39), p. 539 (574)
R: Segais (in Ráith Cnámrossa §31) (See Section 44), Part 1, pp. 333-334, (‘Ráith Cnámrossa’)
M: Segais (in Boand I) (See Section 44), Volume 3, pp. 27-33, pp. 480-481
M: Segais (in Sinann I) (See Section 44), Volume 3, pp. 287-291, pp. 529-530

Cóir Anmann: Fitness of Names (Stokes), Irische Texte, Ser. III.2
Aergialla §144 (See Section 1), pp. 351-353, p. 417
Connachta §76 (See Section 12), p. 325, p. 414
Cruachu (in Medb of Cruachu §274) (See Section 39), p. 403, p. 424
Dathí §146 (See Section 13 above), p. 353, p. 418
Fergus mac Róich §282 (See Section 68), p. 407, p. 425
Laigin §174 (See Section 12), pp. 363-365, p. 419
Senchán Torpéist §272 (See Section 12), p. 403, p. 424
Ulaid §245 (See Section 12), pp. 387-389, p. 422

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