Orgain Tri Mac Diarmata


The Cycles of the Kings

Kings Home Updates The Sagas The Kings The Dynasties Copyright Information Early Irish Literature Links D. Wiley Homepage Hastings College Contact	Orgguin Trí Mac Díarmata mic Cerbaill "The Slaying of the Three Sons of Díarmait mac Cerbaill" Editions D. Greene (ed), Fingal Rónáin and Other Stories (Dublin 1975) 48-51. K. Meyer (ed & tr), Hibernica Minora (Oxford 1894) 70-75. Manuscripts Rawlinson B 502 Rawlinson B 512 The Book of Uí Maine Date "it [is] possible that the date of the original composition was within the OIr. period" (Greene 47). Characters Díarmait mac Cerbaill (d. 565), king of Tara from the Southern Uí Néill Máelodrán mac Dímma Chróin (alias ua Dímma Chróin), a Leinster hero from Dál Messin Corb, said to have lived in the mid-seventh century The three sons of Díarmait mac Cerbaill who are unnamed in the Book of Uí Maine and Rawl. B 512 copies, but are identified as Dúnchad, Conall, and Máelodor in Rawl. B 502. Mumain ingen Choncraid maic Duach, the wife of Díarmait Notes This text is part of the cycles of Díarmait mac Cerbaill and Máelodrán. This is the final story in the collection of Leinster lore in Rawlinson B 502 known as the Scélsenchas Laigen. This story contains a number of historical inaccuracies. The original killing that inspired the story was the murder of Dúnchad and Conall in the year 651. Both men are identified in the Annals of Ulster as the sons of Blathmac mac Áedo Sláine (d. 665), who was the grandson of Díarmait mac Cerbaill. For more information on these matters, see Greene 45-47. Summary While ravaging Leinster, the three sons of Díarmait mac Ceraill (identified as Dúnchad, Conall, and Máelodor in one version) come upon the hero Máelodrán. They catch him on foot and, therefore, at a disadvantage, but he soon gains a horse and chases them toward a mill where they hide themselves. When he arrives, Máelodrán tells the old woman who is grinding grain there to start the mill. She does and the three sons of Díarmait are crushed to death. Some time later, Díarmait invades Leinster in order to avenge his sons and stops at Loch Gabar (Lough Gower, Co. Meath). Díarmait promises to free the Laigin from paying the penalty for his sons’ deaths if they hand over Máelodrán, but they refuse. That night, Máelodrán sneaks onto the island in Loch Gabar where Díarmait and his men are feasting. The king leaves the house alone to answer the call of nature. While he is attending to his business, Máelodrán comes up, and the king, not knowing who he is, asks the Leinsterman to hand him a bit of foliage (dlaí). Máelodrán complies by handing him a wisp of nettles, a wisp of thistles, and a wisp of athrathai luaid (an unidentified plant). Stung by the plants, Díarmait reaches for his sword, but Máelodrán grabs it first. He then lays a hold of Díarmait's hair, tells him who he is, and threatens to kill him. Díarmait surrenders, and the two make peace. When they go into the house together, a cry is heard from Mumain’s womb. She takes this as a bad omen and asks who has come in. Díarmait introduces Máelodrán, and she promises the Leinsterman a reward for sparing her husband. The king, however, is not sure how they can save him from the host, but Mumain tells Díarmait to call a special feast and have each man pledge himself to protect Máelodrán. Díarmait follows his wife’s advice, and soon his men are all bound to protect Máelodrán. Then Díarmait sends him home to Leinster with many presents, and from that day on, Máelodrán served as a commander of Díarmait’s troops.




Copyright 2004 Dan M. Wiley. Last updated 08/01/04