EUGENE O'CURRY, M.R.I.A.,

PROFESSOR OF IRISH HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND;
CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND, ETC.

EDITED, WITH

AN INTRODUCTION, APPENDIXES, ETC.,

BY

W. K. SULLIVAN, PH.D.,

secretary oF THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY, AND PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY TO THE
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF Ireland, and TO THE ROYAL College of Science.

VOL. II.
LECTURES, VOL. I.

WILLIAMS AND NORGATE,

14 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN, LONDON,
AND 20 SOUTH FREDERICK STREET, EDINBURGH.
W. B. KELLY, 8 GRAFTON STREET, DUBLIN.
SCRIBNER, WELFORD, & CO., NEW YORK.

1873.

[All rights reserved]

DUBLIN:

JOHN F. FOWLER, PRINTER,

3 CROW STREET, DAME STREET.

CONTENTS

LECTURE I. OF THE CIVILIZATION OF THE PEOPLE OF ANCIENT

ERINN.

1-23

INTRODUCTION: The object of the former course. Subject of the

present course: the Social Life, Manners, and Civilization of the

people of ancient Erinn. Of the existence of a definite system of

Civilization in ancient Erinn at an early period. The Milesian

monarchy: Amergin, son of Milidh (or Milesius), a Judge and a

Poet, Of Professors of Music and Poetry among the early Mile-

sians. Of the working of gold mines by Tighhearnmas, B.C. 915.

Of the introduction at the same time of ornamental drinking cups,

and of coloured dresses. Of the law of Eochaidh Edgudhach as to

colours in Dress. Silver Shields introduced by Enna Aighnech;

Chains of gold, by Muinemon. The first Ogham inscriptions by

Cetcuimnigh, A.M. 3941. Of Ollamh-Fodhla. Antiquity of the Feis

of Tara. Of the three Ferceirtnés. Of the name of the province of

Connacht. Of the Feis of Tara. Of the institution of a military or-

ganization by Ollamh Fodhla. Keating's descriptio nof the Feast of

Tara. Of the Kingdom of Oirghialla (or Oriel). Of the Dal

Araidhe. Description of Cormac Mac Airt at the Feast of Tara.

Keating's authorities. Traditions of the bringing of the law of

Moses from Egypt. The Profession of Poet-Judges deprived of

their privileges, temp. Concobar MacNessa. Account of the more

remarkable of the early Judges of Erinn, from the Senchus Mór.

LECTURE II. OF LEGISLATION IN ANCIENT ERINN.

24-47

(I.) LEGISLATION; (continued).—Of the existence of a regular

System of Laws in Erinn before the time of St. Patrick. Of the re-

vision of the Laws, temp. St. Patrick. The Law of Adamnan. Of

the Seanchas Mór : Criminal Law Code; Law of Contracts; Law of

Ranks in Society; Military Laws; Laws as to the land; various

Special Laws. Law of Eric (or composition for murder) introduced

with Christianity. On the mode of Legislation, in the passing of

new laws. Of the Meill Bretha (temp. Conn). Of local Legislation

by the several Tribes. Mode of making the Nos Tuaithe, or Local

Law. Of the twelve Books of Laws of West Munster (A.D. 690).

Of some Laws not passed in assembly;-e.g. the Cain Domhnaigh, or

Law of Sunday. (II.) SYSTEM OF CLASSES OF SOCIETY. Of the

division of Classes of Society in ancient Erinn. Of the Fláith, or

noble. Of the Ceile, or tenant. Of the four Classes of Bo-Airech,

230093

Of the Seven Classes of Flaith. Of the Fair of Carmán (Wexford);

ancient accounts of the Legislative Assembly of the Kingdom of

Leinster held there.

LECTURE III. OF EDUCATION AND LITERATURE IN ANCIENT

ERINN.

48-68

(III.) EDUCATION AND LITERATURE. Of Education in Erinn in the

early ages.
Schools of the Fileadh or Poets. Account of some of

the more distinguished men of learning in the early ages in Erinn.

Of the Historians of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Of the Historians

and Poets of the Milesians. Of the ancient Genealogical Poem by

Finn, father of Concobar Abhradh-Ruadh (Monarch, B.c. 6). Of

Adhna, chief Poet of Concobar MacNessa. Of a very ancient

Gaedhelic Grammar. Of literary offices connected with the Courts

of the early monarchs. State of learning in the time of Concobar

MacNessa. Of the "Pot of Avarice" of the Fileadh. List of

eminent men of learning (continued). Poems of King Oilioll Oluim.

Poems of King Art "the Solitary". Foundation of a University by

Cormac MacAirt, in the third century. Of the book of O'Duvegan.

Of the literary education of Finn Mac Cumhaill. Of Torna Eigeas,

and of learning temp. Niull. Of the presence of King Corc at Tara

at the time of the revision of the Seanchas Mór. Of the Succession

of the Kings of Munster.

LECTURE IV. OF EDUCATION AND LITERATURE IN ANCIENT

ERINN.

69-89

Of Laidcenn

(III.) EDUCATION AND LITERATURE (continued).

the Poet. Popular belief in the power of a Poet's Satire. Of Finn-

chaomh, Poet of King Dathi. Torna Eigeas' Poem on Relig na

Righ. Of the Poets of the Court of King Laeghaire (temp. St. Pa-

trick). Druids of King Laeghaire Of the cultivation of the Gaed-

helic language in the early ages of the Church in ancient Erinn. Of

the early Gaedhelic writers after the introduction of Christianity ;-

Bishop Fiacc, etc. The Ecclesiastical Schools of the early period

not exclusively ecclesiastical. Of secular National Schools in the

early Christian ages in Erinn. Of the Feis of Drom Ceata (A.D. 590)

-revision there of the National System of Education, Of the

Chief Poet Dallan Forgaill. Of Laws concerning the Profession of

Teaching. Of the nature of the lay instruction in the early Chris-

tian Schools. Origin of "Sizars", or "Poor Scholars". Story of St.

Adamnan and King Finnachta. Early education of St. Colum Cille.

Students' Hut Encampments. Of the foreign students at Armagh

(temp. Bede). Of Secular Education in Ancient Erinn. Of Finn-

tain the Poet, and Cathal the son of King Ragallach (A.D. 645). Of

the qualifications of a Fer-Leighin, or Head Master of a Public

School. Of the Professors in a Public School or College. List of

early Ecclesiastics distinguished as Men of Letters. Of the Poet

Seanchan Torpeist (A D. 600). Story of Seanchan and King Guairè.

Legendary account of Seanchan's recovery of the heroic Tale of the

Táin Bó Chuailgne.

LECTURE V. OF EDUCATION AND LITERATURE IN ANCIENT

ERINN.

90-114

(III.) EDUCATION AND LITERATURE (continued). Poems of Colman

O'Cluasaigh, (vii. century). The "Liber Hymnorum". Of Cenn-

faeladh "the Learned". Of the School or College under St. Bricin,

(vii. century). Of Ruman, "the Virgil of the Gaedhil". Of Aengus

Ceilé Dé. Of Fothadh "na Canoine". Of Flannagan, son of Caellach,

(ix. century). Story of the lady Blanaid, and Ferceirtné the bard of

Curoi Mac Daire. Of Maelmuiré of Fathan. Of the poetess Laitheog.

Of Flann Mac Lonain. Topographical poem by Mac Liag. Poems

by Mac Lonain. Of Cormac Mac Cullinan. Of learning in the x.

and xi. centuries. Of Dallan Mac More. Of Cormac "an Eigeas".

Of Cinaedh O'Hartagan. Of Cormac “Fili”. Of Eochaidh O`Flinn.

Of Eochaidh Eolach (“the learned") O' Ceirin.

LECTURE VI, OF EDUCATION AND LITERATURE IN ANCIENT

ERINN.

115-135

(III.) EDUCATION, AND LITERATURE (continued). Of Mac Liag,

and his works [circa A.D. 1000]. The History of the "Wars of the

Danes". Life of Brian Boromha by Mac Liag. Poems by Mac Liag.

Of Poems of this writer not described by O'Reilly. Of the history of

Carn Conaill. Of Mac Coisé, and his Poems. Of a prose piece by

Mac Coise. Of the Tale of the "Plunder of the Castle of Mael-
milscothach".

LECTURE VII. OF EDUCATION AND LITERATURE IN ANCIENT

ERINN.

136-157

(III.) OF EDUCATION and LiterATURE (continued). The Profession

of Learning in ancient Erinn established by law. Professors some-

times employed as rulers or ministers of state. Of Cuan O'Lothchain

(ob. a.d. 1024). Descent of the O'Lothchains from Cormac Gaileng.

Of the Poems of Cuan O'Lothchain. Of the Legend of the origin of

the name of the river Sinann (Shannon). The Eo Feasa (" Salmon

of knowledge”,—alluded to by Mac Liag, and by Aengus Finn

O'Daly. Legend of the "Seven Streams of the Fountain of Connla".

Of the History of Druim Criaich (temp. Eochaid Feidhlech, circa B.C.

100). Of the History of the Cath Atha Comair. Of the history of

Nial" of the Nine Hostages". Of the origin of the Fair of Tailten.

Poems of Flann Mainistrech. Of the origin of the Palace of Aileach.

Of the Poem on Aileach by Cuaradh (x. century).

LECTURE VIII. OF EDUCATION AND LITERATURE IN ANCIENT

ERINN.

158-178

(III.) EDUCATION AND LITERATURE (continued). Of the Poems

of Flann Mainistrech (continued). Of the History of Aedh Slaine

(Monarch, vi. century). Of some Poems of Giolla-Brighde Mac

Conmidhé (xiii. century), attributed by O'Reilly to Flann. Of a Poem

by Eoghan Ruadh Mac an Bhaird (or Ward), attributed by O'Reilly

to Flann. Of Flann's Poem on the Pedigree of the Saints of Erinn.

Ilistory anciently taught in verse. Of Flann and his descendants. Of

general education in Erinn in early times. Continued cultivation of