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Editions

• R. I. Best and M. A. O’Brien (eds), The Book of Leinster. Vol. V (Dublin 1967) 1205-9.
  

• T. P. O’Nolan (ed. & tr.), ‘Mór of Munster and the Tragic Fate of Cuanu son of Calchin’, PRIA C30 (1912) 261-82.

Manuscripts

• Book of Leinster, fo. 274a

• Book of Fermoy, fo. 17a

• H. 2. 15, p. 69
  

Date

• O’Nolan dates the language of the Book of Leinster copy (which he uses as his base text) to ‘not later than the tenth century’ (262).
  

Characters

• Áed Bennán (d. 619): king of Iarluachair from the Éoganacht Locha Léin.

• Mór Muman (d. 632): the daughter of Áed Bennán

• Fíngen mac Áedo (d. 619): king of Cashel from the Éoganacht Chaisil

• Sechnasach mac Fíngin: the son of Fíngen mac Áedo and Mór Muman

• Cathal mac Finguine (d. 742): king of Cashel from the Éoganacht Glendamnach

• Ruithchern ingen Áedo Bennáin: sister of Mór Muman.  In Suithchern 7 Rónán Dícolla and the Banshenchas, Ruithchern is known as Suithchern.  She was also the protagonist of the lost saga Aithed Ruithcherne la Cuanu mac Cailchin, which is mentioned in the LL tale list.

• Lonán mac Findig: husband of Ruithchern.  He likely belonged to the Éile.

• Cuanu mac Ailchine (alias Cuanu mac Cailchin): king of the Fir Maige Féne.

Notes

• Like her sister Ruithchern, Mór is a sovereignty figure, whose marriage to the king affirms his right to rule.  See Proinseas Mac Cana, ‘Aspects of the Theme of King and Goddess in Irish Literature’, Études Celtique 7, 76 ff. and 8, 59 ff.

• The adventures of Mór’s sister Ruithchern (alias Suithchern) are related in Suithchern 7 Rónán Dícolla.

• For the most part, the poetry in this text is difficult and could do with the attention of a competent editor.

Summary

Mór Muman is the daughter of Áed Bennán, the king of Iarluachair. One day, she hears a disembodied voice, saying ‘Woe to you, Mór’ (Rotmairg, a Mór).  When next she hears the voice, it asks her whether she wants to endure misfortune at the beginning or at the end of her existence.  She chooses to undergo it at the beginning, and immediately she becomes deranged (Do-ratad iarsin fualaing fóthe) and leaps over the ramparts of her father’s fort and runs off in a daze.

In time, Mór finds her way to Cashel and collapses by the fire.  When Fíngen mac Áedo, the king, notices her, he commands that she be cast out, but his wife, known only as the daughter of the king of the Déisi, tells him he must sleep with her.  Fíngen is not keen on the idea (no doubt because Mór is sunburned and dressed in rags and likely quite unattractive after her adventures), but his wife promises him her expensive brooch and refuses to have sex with him unless he does it.  (There is some indication here that the queen is taunting Fíngen.)  Mór undresses and goes to his room.  When Fíngen asks her name, Mór regains her sanity and tells him who she is.  Fíngen is pleased and sleeps with her.  In the morning, he forsakes his wife and makes Mór his queen.  In time, she bears Fíngen a son named Sechnasach.

When Fíngen dies, Mór becomes the spouse of Cathal mac Finguine, the king of Glendomnain and subsequent king of Cashel.  During this time, Mór learns that her sister, Ruithchern, has been taken captive by the Uí Líatháin.  Mór rescues her and brings her back to Cashel where the two lament the death of Fíngen mac Áedo.

In due course, Mór marries Ruithchern to Lonán mac Findig.  Lonán is a close ally of Cathal’s until one day when the king bids him rise and show respect to the king of the Déisi.  Lonán takes offense at this request and leaves Cashel taking his wife with him.  His plan is to stay with his wife’s family, the sons of Áed Bennán, but en route, he is attacked and wounded by Cuanu mac Cailchin who abducts Ruithchern.  The sons of Áed Bennán are furious at this and declare war on the sons of Cashel, because the couple did not travel to Loch Léin under their protection.

The narrative of the battle is somewhat confusing, but in the end, Cuanu and Lonán kill one another, and with that, the story ends.