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Edition

• A. Bugge (ed. & tr.) Caithreim Cellachain Caisil: The Victorious Career of Cellachan of Cashel (Christiania 1905).

Manuscripts

• Book of Lismore (contains only the first lines of the poems and lacks the ending), fol. 106 R a 1-115 R b 15.
• R.I.A. 23 H 18 (707) (contains the poems and the ending, but lacks the runs and is shorter overall).  As Ó Corráin points out, this manuscript is incorrectly cited by Bugge as R.I.A. 23 H. I. A.
• R.I.A. 23 G 20 (211)
• R.I.A. 23 M 47 (973)
• R.I.A. 23 K 43 (482)
• R.I.A. 23 B 21 (184)
• R.I.A. 23 K 46 (38)
• B.L. Egerton 106
• Advocates Library, Scotland MS VIII, Kilbride Collection (This MS was not consulted by Bugge.)
• A large number of later copies survive.  For a list, see Ó Corráin, 'Caithréim' 2.

Date

• mid twelfth century (Ó Corráin, 'Caithréim')

Characters

• (Only major characters listed)
• Cellachán Caisil (936-954), king of Munster from Clann Faílbe, a branch of the Éoganacht Chaisil.
• Donnchadh mac Caím, king of the Éoganacht Glendamnach
• Áed mac Donnchada, son of Donnchadh mac Caím.
• Súillebán, leader of Cenél Fíngin, a branch of the Éoganacht Chaisil and the eponymous ancestor of the Uí Shúillebáin
• Cennétig mac Lorcáin (d. 951), a claimant to the Munster kingship from Clann Chormaic Cais (alias Dál Cais).
• Don Cuan mac Cennéitig
• Cuilén mac Aindiaraid: Historically, he belongs to Cenél Conaill, a branch of the Éoganacht Chaisil, but in this text, he is the leader of the Uí Luigdech Éile (dynasty related to the Éoganachta) and the Éoganacht Ua Cathbath.
• Sitriuc mac Tuirgeis, Viking leader.
• Flannabra mac Airindan (recte mac Ciarmacáin), king of the Uí Chonaill Gabra, a branch of the Uí Fidginte
• Conchobar, king of Ciarraige Luachra
• Donnchad mac Cellaig (d. 976), king of Osraige
• Donnchad mac Flainn (919-944), king of Tara from Clann Cholmáin
• Muirchertach mac Cind Fáelaid mac Airnelaig (known as M. mac Airnelaig in the text) (died in ninth century): king of Cenél Conaill (a branch of the Northern Uí Néill).  His appearance in this text is an anachronism.
• Murchad mac Finn (d. 972), king of Leinster from the Uí Fáeláin.

Notes

• Bugge's edition is based on the Book of Lismore (his base text) and R.I.A. 23 H 18 (707).  Critical variants from British Library Egerton 106 are occasionally cited in footnotes.
• The title Caithréim Chellacháin Chaisil was given to the story by Eugene O'Curry, who transcribed the text from the untitled copy in the Book of Lismore.  However, 'a variety of titles occurs in the late manuscript tradition in which the tale is normaly divided into two parts entitled respectively "Cathughadh Ceallachain re Lochlannuibh" and "Toruigheacht na tTaoiseach air Cheallachain"' (Ó Corráin, 'Caithréim' 1 (fn 1)).
• There is a good deal of variation among the extant copies of this story.  A modern edition is needed.
• The story was composed as a Mac Carthaig reaction to the pro Dál Cais text on Brían Bóraime known as Cogadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh, which was written about the same time.
• 'In many . . . manuscripts CCC forms one of a wider collection of tales--Cath Cnucha, Cath Maige Léana, Cath Maighe Muccroimhe, Cath Crinna and Cath Cluana Tairbh--linked together with annalistic material to form what Robin Flower calls "a kind of Romantic history of Munster, A.D. 174-1138"' (Ó Corráin, 'Caithréim' 3).
• For more information on the story, see D. Ó Corráin, 'Caithréim Chellacháin Chaisil: History or Propaganda', Ériu 25 (1974), 1-69.

Summary

During the reign of Artrí mac Cathail (d. 821), the Vikings establish a presence in Munster and oppress the local population for the next 141 years.  Then, Cellachán mac Buadhacháin, the illegitimate son of the wife of the coarb of Cashel, comes on scene.  He travels around Munster for a year and a half spying on the foreigners to learn their weaknesses while his mother gathers him troops.  When Cellachán returns to Cashel, the Munstermen are gathered at Glennamain (Glenworth) to choose between Cennétig mac Lorcáin of Dál Cais and Donnchadh of the Éoganachta as their new king.  Upon the advice of his mother, Cellachán goes to Glennamain with his troops to claim the kingship because, as his mother tells the assembly, he is the strongest candidate.  Both Cennétig and Donnchadh concede, and Cellachán is proclaimed king.  Now, Cellachán prepares to embark on a long campaign to rid the province of the Vikings, who dwell predominantly in the towns of Limerick, Cork, Cashel, and Waterford.

After haranguing his troops, Cellachán declares that his forces will attack Limerick, and he sends word to the foreigners telling them to leave the city or give hostages, but the Vikings decide to fight.  Suillebán, Cellachán’s ally, bolsters their troops, and the battle is joined.  The Munstermen route the Vikings, capture the city, enslave the women and children, and claim their spoils.

Next, upon Suillebán’s advice, the Munstermen attack Cork and reclaim their hostages from the foreigners of that city.  Then, they head toward Cashel, defeating en route the Fir Maige Féne, the Uí Chuanach, and some Viking forces that stand in their way.  After this battle, the Éile Deiscirt and the Éile Tuaiscirt join forces to oppose the rebels, but Cellachán receives the aid of the Uí Luigdech and the Éoganachta Ua Cathbath under Cuilén mac Aindiarraid, and the joint Éile forces are defeated.  As Cellachán’s troops approach Cashel, they are intercepted by Donnchad mac Caím with the forces of the Éoganacht Glendamnach.  Cellachán and Donnchad negotiate and agree to terms—Donnchad will be paid tuarastal (the fee of an overlord to a subordinate) and will be next in line for the Munster kingship; in return, Donnchad will be Cellachán’s champion.  Together, the two march to Cashel, defeat the foreigners, and then head towards Waterford.  They reach the city just as the Viking Sitriuc mac Tuirgeis lands with six hundred men.  However, Cellachán and Donnchad defeat Sitriuc, driving him to his ships, and sack the city.  This ends the Viking oppression of Munster.

Cellachán then goes on a circuit of Munster and claims hostages from the Déisi, the Uí Meic Caille, and the Uí Líatháin.  Then, he plunders the lands of the Éoganacht Locha Léin and then gets hostages from Áes Iste and the Áes Irrais.  Next, Cellachán defeats the combined forces of the Cíarraige and some Viking allies, but suffers heavy losses in the conflict.  In his weakened condition, he is challenged by Flannabra mac Ciarmacáin, king of the Uí Chonaill Gabra, but gains an ally in Don Cuan mac Cennéitig of Dál Cais, to whom he promises the lands of Uí Chonaill.  In the following battle, Flannabra is captured and his forces defeated.  Then, the Uí Chairbre under Uaithne mac Cathail gather their forces, but Donnchad mac Caím joins up with Cellachán again, and the Uí Chairbre are defeated and Uaithne killed.  Finally, the Corcu Modruad and the Corcu Baiscinn threaten to attack Cellachán, but he dispatches Don Cuan to put them in check.

Supreme in Munster, Cellachán then sets up his court at Cashel as king of the province.  Cennétig arrives and is granted the right to succeed him.  Then, Cellachán sends word to the Osraige under Donnchad mac Cellaig to pay him the tribute owed the king of Cashel.  When Donnchad refuses, Cellachán ravages Osraige in a series of battles, Donnchad is captured, and Osraige gives hostages.

Following these events, the Dublin Vikings concoct a plan with Donnchad mac Flainn, king of Tara, to capture Cellachán.  The Vikings promise the Munsterman Bébinn, the daughter of Tuirgeis, if he comes to Dublin to claim her.  Their plan is to seize him when he arrives.  When informed of the marriage proposal, Cellachán takes a small contingent north, leaving the bulk of the troops behind to protect Munster.  But before he enters the city, Cellachán is warned of the trap by the wife of the Viking leader who is in love with him.  Cellachán takes her with him and plunders the lands around Dublin until he and Don Cuan are captured by the Vikings.

Sitriuc demands an exorbitant ransom for Cellachán’s release, which includes the éraic for each Viking slain in the conflicts and the return of Limerick, Cork, Waterford, and Cashel.  Aistrechán mac Ailgisaig is dispatched to relay these terms to the Munstermen and to tell them that Cellachán will be held at Armagh.  But at Cellachán’s urging, Aistrechán tells them not to pay the Vikings, but to make Cennéitig king, to defend Munster, and to send Donnchad mac Caím and his forces north to rescue Cellachán.  Then, Aistrechán is sent on a mission around Munster to tell the leaders of the various population groups, especially the Dál Cais, Éile, and Osraige, to protect Munster.  He is also to gather a massive fleet at Sruth na Maele and have them prepared to go out after Cellachán if he is taken to sea.  Donnchad addresses the Munstermen, urging them to put aside their differences and do what is necessary.  Cennétig remains in Munster and Donnchad sets off north as the leader of the combined forces of Munster, including some two thousand Dál Cais troops under the direct command of Cennéitig’s three brothers, Coscrach, Lonngarcán and Congalach.

During the march north, Donnchad’s forces are joined by the Gailenga under Áed mac Dualascaigh, the Luigne under Díarmait mac Fínnachta, and the Delbna under Donnchad mac Máel Domnaill.  These population groups are said to be of Munster origin, although they no longer reside in the province itself.  The allies continue north and eventually raid Cenél Conaill, whose king, Muirchertach mac Airnelaig, sends a message to the Vikings at Armagh that the Munster host is approaching.  The Vikings then move Cellachán to Dundalk, leaving a contingent behind at Armagh.  The Munster host attacks and captures the city and learns of Cellachán’s removal to Dundalk.

By the time the Munster host reaches Dundalk, the Vikings have put to sea with Cellachán and Donn Cuan tied to the mast of one vessel.  Soon, the Munster fleet appears, and both sides prepared for a naval battle, which the text describes in some detail.  After heavy losses on both sides, Cellachán and Donn Cuan are rescued and brought to shore, while the remaining Viking ships sail off.

Having buried their dead and burned their ships, the Munster host heads to Dublin, ravaging the land as they travel.  They plunder Dublin, take wives from among the Viking women of the town, and then head for home.  But when they reach Mag nAlmaine, Murchad mac Finn, king of Leinster, demands that they hand over Cellachán and Donn Cuan as hostages.  The Munstermen refuse and both sides prepare for battle.  Here the story ends.  However, some paper manuscripts provide an alternate ending.  After coming to shore and burning the ships, Cellachán and the Munstermen plunder Cenél Conaill, then Tara, and then return to Munster, where Cellachán holds the kingship until his death.