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Edition

• K. Meyer (ed & tr), 'Stories and Songs from Irish Manuscripts: V. How King Niall of the Nine Hostages was Slain', Otia Merseiana. Vol. II. (Liverpool 1900) 84-92.

Manuscripts

• Oxford Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B. 502 (fol. 47a1-47a2)
• The Yellow Book of Lecan (p. 126b)
• The Book of Ballymote (p. 134b.)
• Dublin, RIA MS 23 K 32 (617)
• 16th-century addition to the Book of Leinster 393b (fragmentary)
  

Date

• Middle Irish period, "hardly earlier than the eleventh century" (Meyer 85).  However, the poem on Níall's death, which is appended to the end of the text, dates from the ninth century (ibid).
  

Characters

• Níall Noígíallach, king of Tara and the eponymous ancestor of the Uí Néill.
• Echu mac Énna Chennselaig, a Leinster nobleman from Uí Cheinnselaig.
  
• Erc mac Echach Muinremuir, king of Scotland from Dál Ríata.
  
• Laidchenn mac Baircheda, Níall's chief poet.
  

Notes

• This narrative is part of the Cycle of Níall Noígíallach, the eponymous ancestor of the Uí Néill.
• A shorter version of his death survives under the title Aided Néill.  It differs enough from Orcuin Néill Noígíallaig to be considered a separate story.
• Níall's death is also referred to in the Dindsenchas of Ochonn Midi (see MD II 36-41) as well as a number of annals.
• For an analysis of both recensions of the tale, see M. Ní Mhaonaigh, 'Níall Noígíallach's death-tale', in John Carey et al. (eds) Cín Chille Cúile (Celtic Studies Publications 2004) 178-191.

En route to Leinster, Echu mac Énna Cheinnselaig is refused hospitality at the house of Laidchenn, Níall’s chief-poet.  Upon his return north, Echu destroys Laidchenn’s house, killing his son Leat in the process.  Laidchenn is so enraged by this that he satirizes all of Leinster, causing a blight upon their lands for an entire year.  Níall himself then goes to Leinster and demands that Echu be given him as a hostage.  The Laigin comply by leaving Echu in chains at Ath Fadat, but when Níall’s men come to collect him, Echu breaks his bonds and kills nine men before their fellows take flight. 

Then Níall again leads troops into Leinster, going as far as Inis Fáil (Begery Island?).  With him on this hosting is Laidchenn who demands an audience with Echu for as much time as it takes to milk a cow.  But when the poet continues to satirize the Leinstermen during this meeting, Echu kills him with a stone.  As a result of all this, Níall ravages Leinster and has Echu exiled from Ireland.  Echu seeks shelter with Erc mac Echach Muinremuir, king of Scotland.

At some point thereafter, Níall goes on a hosting to extend his domain into Letha (Brittany?) and Italy.  But when he reaches the Alps, his progress is halted by the Loire River.  As Níall weighs his options, he sees a man in expensive clothing approaching.  The stranger tells Níall that he has come from the Romans to act as a temporary pledge until the formal Roman hostages should arrive. 

At this same time, Erc and Echu go to meet Níall.  While still at a distance, Echu places an arrow in his bow without Erc noticing him and shoots Níall dead.  A fight then breaks out between the Franks and the Gaels.  With the corpse of Níall before them, the Gaelic hosts win seven battles.

When Tuirn mac Torna, Níall’s foster-brother, hears of his murder, he chants a poem in his honor as does Cairenn, Níall’s mother.  Then, Torna, the poet and the foster-father of Níall, dies of grief.