Book of the Dean of Lismore Book of the Dean of Lismore Fian-lays and other heroic verse
University of Glasgow

XVII. Fleadh mhór [a] rinneadh lé Fionn

MS p. 174a

[1.]   Fleyg woir rinni lay finni / Innois dout a halgin
        Fa hymmi dwn̄ we an̄n deanow alb<in> is errin

MS p. 175

[2.]   Fearis mcmorn̄ moir / din reane fa galle gloir
        a waktow fley wi ȝair / o hanyt tow weanow errin

[3.]   di reggir sen̄ finni wan̄e / fa mach wle tor & tear
        dowrt gi wak fley wi ȝar / na gi fley ane roywe in nerrin

[4.]   cho’gimir huggin won̄ ton̄n / leich mor ayrrichtit foltinn
        gin ane dwn̄ ag ach ay feyn̄ / fa mat in toglat essane

[5.]   mir hanyt shay i’ gen̄ ni wan̄e a dowrt in toglat fa keyv<m> ⎡keyll⎤
        tarshyt lomsith nos inni / is (deych) ⎡ber⎤ cayd leich id di hy’chill

[6.]   deytmek eichit morn̄ni wor // ber let i’ dows di he’noyll
        Fer is othtir ȝit clonn f<a>yn̄e // ber is oskir di ȝane wan̄e.

[7.]   ber deachnor di cla’nich smoill / & feichit ⎡di⎤ cla’ni ronan̄<e>
        ber di cla’ni newin let / deachnor elli gi’ dermit

[8.]   ber let dermit o dwn̄ich bar ni swr is no shalga
        (y) A feyn is kerrill id lwng deychnor di ȝanit is ⎡di⎤ ȝorrin

[9.]   ber nenor di ȝillew let / fa farda how y’ bee aggit
        Agis tws fen̄ a Inni / a vc awasse ermȝrinni

[10.]    ber C leich let er twn̄ni / di ȝnâ/wuntir Inn vckowl<e>
           C skay gin ni’wi noir dinni mckow vctranewor

[11.]    bersi let i’ nos a Inni / i’ da chonni is ferri i’ nerrin
           ber bran <is> skoillin / ⎡let⎤ <(sai> lowt di ȝorrin a gi’micht

[12.]    Na beit fadcheis <o>rt a Inni di ray i’ toglayt ard <     vinn>

MS p. 17(6)

           <T>uggir fa woye id heich di we er / ar sloye is sotiche

[13.]    Gloir a’wic harle id chenn / ogle out hanik chwggin
           mir fayin tow a weanos Inn di wea di chen̄ gin ċolli<   >

[14.]    di chora ne churffe in swm̄ a cho’nane weill ni beymi’
           Is mest i’ sloye di wee / ann / id ta tow agrow a’win

[15.]    Erri⎡d⎤syt clanni biskni ann / ers co’na’ i’ nani’
           gowis gi neach ȝeiwe Erm̄leich / tig ni feanit as gi ane ⎡teiwe⎤

[16.]    marwir in sen̄ mak di ȝinn // feani gal a ȝasgi ȝrinn
           Is mak a ȝillin mcmorn̄ / fa mach i’ gat chrw̄woynyt

[17.]    Erri<ss>ich arris ann / is danis a wurrill
           fearyt (ch<u nni>) ⎡y’ beinni⎤ cwt (d) ag gowle / di cho’nane i’ nani’

[18.]    Di wersi a wraa feyn̄ di ȝinn / di ray gowle mor ni ⎡beymi’⎤
           war co’nane na mes a chinni / na bonfeit as i’ tinchin

[19.]    ferris koill dreichid i’ glen̄ / er nat leyr rawe che i’ fer⎡ri<n>⎤
           ay gin fis ni<t> feanich ag finn / troyiġ ni skaill so halgin

[20.]    faddi lommi a halgin trane / nat wagga ma doȳni ȝi/na<ne>
           Ead a shelgi o ȝlenni gow glenn / is nit aewlt no dy’ch<ill>

[21.]    binvin lom ossin mcfinni / ne (a) (i’) hanich ken̄ nat deachi ȝee
           Ter gi dwn̄i gar royve ann / di binvin lwm fin ni wle
                                                                            Fley

Restored text:

1.    Fleadh mhór [a] rinneadh lé Fionn,
       <inneós[ad> duit, a Tháilginn;
       fā h-iomadh <duin[e]> bhí ann
       d’Fhianaibh Alban is Éireann.    (4)

2.    Fiaruighis Mac Morn[a] mór
       don ríghfhéinnidh fā geal glór:
       “A bhfac[a] tú fleadh bhudh fhearr
       ō tháin<ig> tú [a] bhFianaibh Éireann?”    (8)

3.    Do fhreagair sin Fionn na bhFian
       fā math uile toir & tiar;
       dubhairt go bhfac[a] fleadh bhudh fhearr
       nā ga[ch] fleadh [dh]ān roibh a nÉirinn.    (12)

4.    Chonncamar thugainn bhōn tonn
       laoch mór arrachtach foiltfhionn,
       gan aon duin[e] aig[e] ach é féin –
       fā math an t-óglach eiséin.    (16)

5.    Mar tháinig sé an gceann na bhFian,
       adubhairt an t-óglach fā caomh ciall;
       “Tair-se liomsa [a]nois, Fhinn.
       is <beir> céad laoch ad do thimchioll.    (20)

6.    “Deich mic fhichead Morna mhóir
       beir leat an dtús do thionóil;
       fear is ochtar dhed c[h]loinn féin
       beir, is Osgar, <do ghádh na bhFéin>.    (24)

7.    “Beir deichnear do C[h]lanna Smóil,
       & fichead do C[h]lanna Ronáin;
       beir do C[h]lanna Neamhainn leat
       deichnear eile gan dearmad.    (28)

8.    “Beir leat Diarmaid Ó Duibhne,
       barr na suirgh[e] is na sealga,
       é féin is Caireall ad luing,
       deichnear do <dh’Fhiana> is do dh’fhoirinn.    (32)

9.    “Beir naoinear do ghillibh leat –
       fā feairrde thú am beith agad –
       agus tus[a] féin, a Fhinn,
       a mhic ághasaigh airmghrinn.    (36)

10.   “Beir c[éad] laoch leat air tuinn
        do ghnáthmhuintir Fhinn mhic Cumhaill,
        c[éad] sgiath go n-innbhe n-óir
        d’Fhionn mac Cumh[aill] mhic Tréanmhóir.    (40)

11.   “Beir-se leat anois, a Fhinn,
        an dá choin as fearr a nÉirinn;
        beir Bran <is> Sgeólan[g] leat
        <fá lúth> do dh’fhoirinn ag imtheacht.    (44)

12.   “Na bíodh faitcheas ort, a Fhinn,”
        do ráidh an t-ógl<á>ch ard <aoibhinn>;
        <       >
        do bhí air ar sluagh ’s sochaidhe.    (48)

13.   “Glóir ainmheach tharla ad cheann,
        óglaich úd tháinig chugainn;
        mar faighinn tú a bhfiadhnais Fhinn,
        do bhiadh do cheann gan cholai[nn].    (52)

14.   “Do chomhradh ní chuirf<ea[d]> an suim,
        a Chonáin Mhaoil na béimeann;
        is misd[e] an sluagh do bheith ann;
        atá tú a gcruth anbhfann.”    (56)

15.   “Eirghidh-se Clanna Baoisgne ann,”
        ars[a] Conán a n-anam;
        gabhais ga[ch] neach dhíobh airm laoich;
        tig na Fiana as ga[ch] aontaobh.    (60)

16.   Marbhthar an sin mac do dh’Fhionn,
        féinnidh geal a’ ghaisgidh ghrinn,
        is mac a dh’Iollann mac Morn[a]
        fā math an gcath Chrunnmhóna.    (64)

17.   “Eirigh-se, [a] Fhearghuis, ann
        is déan-s[a] a bhfuráil;
        fiaraich <am bíonn> cuid aig Goll<,”>
        <do [ráindh] Conán> a n-anam.    (68)

18.   “Do-bhēar-sa a bhreith féin do dh’Fhionn,”
        do ráidh Goll mór na béimeann;
        “bheir Conán nō mis[e] a chinn
        no buinf<ead> as an t-inchinn.”    (72)

19.   Fearais <ceó> draoidhea<cht[a]> an gleann
        air nach léir dhaibh chaoidh an fearann;
        é gan fios na Fiana aig Fionn;
        truagh na sgéal[s] so, [a] Tháilginn.    (76)

20.   Fada liom, a Tháilginn tréin,
        nach bhfaca mé duine dhen Fhéi<n>,
        iad a’ sealg ō ghleann gu gleann
        is na h-allt[a] ’na dtimcheall.    (80)

21.   B’ionmhain liom Oisēan mac Finn –
        ní tháinig ceann nach deach a dhíth;
        tar ga[ch] duine dhār roibh ann
        do b’ionmhain liom Fionn na bhfleadh.    (84)

Fleadh

Translation:

1.      A great feast was made by Fionn – I shall tell you about it, Adzehead; many <men> were there of the Fiana of Scotland and Ireland.

2.      The great Son of Morna asked the kingly fian-warrior of clear voice, “Have you seen a better feast since you came among the Fiana of Ireland?”

3.      That question was answered by Fionn of the Fiana, who were all of good repute in east and west; he said that he had seen a feast that surpassed all the feasts ever held in Ireland.

4.      We saw coming towards us from the sea a great monstrous fair-haired warrior without a single companion; he himself was a capable combatant.

5.      When he had come up to the Fiana, the warrior of amenable disposition said, “You come with me now, Fionn, and bring a hundred warriors along with you.

6.      “Bring the thirty sons of great Morna at the head of your assembled company; bring nine men of your own children; bring Osgar too <to the strait of the Fiana>.

7.      “Bring ten men of the Clanna Smóil, and twenty of the Clanna Rónáin; do not forget to take with you another ten of the Clanna Neamhainn.

8.      “Bring with you Diarmaid Ó Duibhne, who excels in wooing and hunting; [put] himself and Caireall in your ship as part of a company of ten men of the Fiana.

9.      “Bring nine serving-lads with you – you would be the better for having them – and [come] yourself, Fionn, you valorous youth of fine weapon.

10.    “Bring with you over the sea a hundred warriors of the customary troop of Fionn son of Cumhall, and a hundred shields with gold notches belonging to Fionn son of Cumhall son of Tréanmhór.

11.    “Bring with you now, Fionn, the two best dogs in Ireland; bring Bran and Sgeólang with you – <they would invigorate> a company on the move.

12.    “Do not be afraid, Fionn,” said the tall agreeable warrior; <our host and our company were           >.

13.    “Foolish talk has come out of your head, you warrior who has come to visit us; if I did not find you in Fionn’s presence, your head would lack a body.”

14.    “<I shall> not pay any attention to your talk, contentious Conán Maol; the host is the worse for your presence; you have the appearance of a weakling.”

15.    “Rise to participate, Clanna Baoisgne,” said Conán Maol at an unfortunate time; each one of them grasped warrior’s weapons; the Fiana came from every side.

16.    Then a son of Fionn was slain, a radiant fian-warrior of fine valour, and a son of Iollann son of Morna who was good in the battle of Cronnmhóin.

17.    “Rise to participate, Fergus, and you urge them on; ask whether Goll has a part,” <said Conán> at an unfortunate time.

18.    “I shall give Fionn his own choice,” said great Goll who dealt blows; “Conán or I shall remove his <head>, or I shall dash out his brains.”

19.    A magic <mist> fell upon the glen, so that they could never see the land; Fionn did not know where the Fiana were; this is a sad story, Adzehead.

20.    It seems to me a long time, powerful Adzehead, since I saw any man of the Fian as they hunted from glen to glen with the wild animals around them.

21.    Oiséan son of Fionn was dear to me – no leader has come who has not perished; beyond all men who ever existed, I loved Fionn of the feasts.

 

Notes to Poem XVII