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Editions

• Joan Radner (ed. & tr.) Fragmentary Annals of Ireland (Dublin 1978) 151-66.
  

Manuscripts

• Brussels MS 5301-5320
  

Date

• In its present form, the language of the text is Early Modern Irish, but its source may date to the Viking age in Ireland (see ‘Notes’ below).
  

Characters

• Flaithbertach mac Inmainén (914-922): abbot of Inis Cathaig and King of Cashel from the Múscraige

• Cormac mac Cuilennáin (d. 908): king of Cashel.  Cormac’s dynastic affiliations are problematic.  He is attached to the Éoganacht Chaisil, but not the branch of that family that historical produced its kings (Byrne IKHK 214).

• Cerball mac Muirecáin (d. 909): king of Leinster from the Uí Fáeláin.

• Móenach mac Siadail (d. 921): abbot of Dísert Diarmata and subsequently of Bennchor

• Flann Sinna mac Máelsechnaill (d. 916): king of Tara from Clann Cholmáin (a branch of the Southern Uí Néill)

• Cellach mac Cerbaill (d. 908): king of Osraige

• Cormac mac Mothla (d. 919): king of the Déisi Muman

• Diarmait mac Cerbaill (d. 928): king of Osraige

Notes

• The Battle of Belach Mugna took place in the year 908.  According to AU, the combined forces of Flann mac MáelSechlainn (king of Tara), Cerball mac Muirecáin (king of Leinster), and Cathal mac Conchobuir (king of Connacht) defeated the men of Munster under Cormac mac Cuilennáin and his allies.  Cormac was slain in the battle.

• This story is in section V of the FA, which—along with section IV—focuses to a large extent on Osraige.  Radner refers to these sections of FA as ‘the Osraige Chronicle’.  It provides invaluable information on Osraige and was possibly ‘put together within the living memory of Cerball’s reign’ (Radner xxiv).

• According to Radner, ‘the tradition on which the FA saga of Cath Belaig Mugna is based was somewhat different from that reflected in the other Irish annals. . . .  The difference may have to do with political geography: in general, the accounts in AU, AFM, CS and AC1 have more information about Munster and Leth Cuinn, while FA preserves more Leinster material' (205).

• She further notes that ‘the fact that the author of the tale was able to identify all of the Leinster participants, but only half of the Munster men, is a strong indication of a Leinster origin for this version of the story, or of its transmission by men who knew Leinster history well’ (205).

• Keating’s account of the battle (FF III 196-215) is ‘virtually identical with that in FA” (Radner 205).

• According to Nancy Edwards, 'the most characteristic antler objects [from early Medieval Ireland] are combs.  Though bone was sometimes used, antler was definitely preferred since it is tougher, more pliable and has a better capacity to absorb shocks' (The Archaeology of Early Medieval Ireland 84).  This helps explain the final episode of the saga, where the comb-maker throws out scrap antlers and startles Cerball's horse.
  

Summary

Flaithbertach mac Inmainén and Cormac mac Cuilennáin gathered a large host of the men of Munster to demand hostages of the Laigin and the Osraige.  While Flaithbertach rode through their camp, his horse stumbled.  Many of the soldiers took this as a bad omen and no longer wished to fight.

When Cerball mac Muirecáin, the king of Leinster, got wind of this hosting, he sent messengers to Cormac asking for peace.  In return, the Laigin would hand over hostages into the keeping of Móenach, the abbot of Dísert Díarmata, and they would also send a lot of treasure (séoid 7 maithiusa iomdha) to the two Munstermen.  Cormac was pleased by the offer, but Flaithbertach refused to accept it.  Cormac was upset by this and knew that the coming battle would result in his death.  He returned to his tent and passed out apples to his men for what he said would be the last time.  Then, Cormac summoned Móenach, made his confession, took communion, and gave instructions for his burial.  After that, many of the Munster soldiers deserted, especially after they heard that Flann mac Máelsechnaill, the king of Tara, joined the Laigin.

The remaining Munster host marched to Mag nAilbe and arranged their forces into three battalions.  The first was commanded by Flaithbertach mac Inmainén and Cellach mac Cerbaill, the king of Osraige; the second by Cormac mac Cuilennáín; and the third by Cormac mac Mothla, king of the Déisi.  However, the Munstermen knew that they were greatly outnumbered.

When the battle was joined, many important Munstermen began to desert.  Cormac himself attempted to flee but fell from his horse and broke his neck.  Cellach mac Cerbaill too was slain along with a large number of prominent nobles.

After the battle, Flann Sinna installed Diarmait mac Cerbaill as king of Osraige.  Flann was then given the head of Cormac mac Cuilennáin.  The king of Tara lamented the bishop’s death and then had Cormac’s head and body conveyed to Móenach who buried them with honor at Dísert Diarmata.  Then, Flann returned home.

Cerball mac Muirecáin returned home with many spoils.  He took Flaithbertach to Cell Dara where he was rebuked by the clergy of Leinster and held prisoner until Cerball’s death.  Flaithbertach returned to Inis Cathaig and later became king of Cashel.

Next in the text comes a poem attributed to Dallán mac Moire, Cerball’s poet, which recounts the names of those slain in the battle.  Then there is a quatrain attributed to Cormac mac Cuilennáín, another poem by Dallán, and two quatrains by Gormflaith ingen Flainn.

The narrative ends with an account of Cerball's death: En route to Cell Dara, the king passed by a comb-maker’s workshop, just as the craftsman was tossing out some antlers.  Cerball’s horse was startled by this and reared up tossing the king backwards onto his own spear which was carried by a man riding behind him.  Cerball lingered for a year before dying of this wound.  He was then buried at Nás.