DASG Blog

Duain agus Laoidhean na Fèinne (Pàirt 2)

Welcome back! We are continuing with more lays of the fingalians this week. Here is another list of them:
 

1. “Dàn Liuthair,” “Dàn Liughair” no “Dàn Liur.”
2. “Laoidh an Amadain Mhòir.”
3. “Laoidh an Fhir Mhòir” no "Seathan Mac Rìgh Beirbh."
4. “Laoidh Mhànais.”

1. Dan Liughair is about a fingalian visit to Liughar. Liughar was a friend and companion to the Fingalians and in dire straits at the end of his life. His land and everything he used to have before was given back to him by the Fingalians before he died:
“’Latha chaidh Fionn fo thigh Liùir
Le aon fichead fhear dèug fear gu fìor;
’S bu cheannard trì naoinear feachd
An t-aon fhear bu tàire dhuinn.
 
Shuidh bean Liuir air gualainn Fhinn
Shuidh Fionn air le’ ghualainn Liuir;
Shuidh Rìgh Arta [mar] re Aogh,
Aogh Mac Garbh a ghnùis ghil...”
 
[“A day Fionn went to Liur’s house,
With one twenty and ten exceptional men;
The the leader of three of nine-men forces
The one 'contemptable' man to us.
 
Liur’s wife sat at Fionn’s shoulder
Fionn sat at the shoulder of Liur;
King Arthur sat with Aogh
Aogh son of Garabh of the white countenance...”]

You can find the verses above here, with "Archive," on page 126 of the book.

2. This lay marks a time that the Fenians met with a large man, a giant perhaps. It is said that he was Seathan mac Rìgh Beirbhe and that he stole a women. He was killed by Còmhraig, one of the Fenians:
“Sgeul uamharr a chualas gun bhreug,
Air òinid dh’an geill na sloigh;
Mac meanmnach nach dearg le airm,
D’am b’ainm an t-Amadan mor.
 
Neart an domhain gu’n ghlac e
’Na lamhaidh ’s cha bu ghniomh borb,
Cha be neart a sgéith no lainn,
Ach an treine bh’ ann a bhi na dhorn.”
 
[“Tale of wonder that was heard without lie,
Of the idiot to whom hosts yield,
A haughty son who yields not to arms,
Whose name was the mighty fool.
 
The might of the world he had seized
In his hands, and it was no rude dee.
It was not the strength of his blade or his shield,
But that the mightiest was in his grasp.”]
These verses can be found in "Tale of the West Highlands," and J.F. Campbell, on page 169 here, and on page 203 of the book itself in the book "Leabhar na Fèinne," by J.F. Campbell here. You can find a recording of the lay here.

3. "Laoidh an Fhir Mhòir," or "Seathan Mac Righ Beirbh," looks at a story when Còmhrag, one of the Fingalians hunters, fought against Seathan The Son of the King of Bergen (of Norway) who stole a woman. Còmhrag won in that battle:
“...'Gun d' thug cille cinn Choin Fhinn
Còmhrag diotsa anns an troma ghleann.'

'Mise Seathan, Mac Rìgh Beirbh
Mac an Fhir ghairg, bu mhòr trosd,

Gum b'e h-ainm tighinn go teach,
Còmhrag nan còig ceudan con.'"

["'That the head huntsman of Fionn,
Gave thee battle in the heavy glen.'

'I am John, son of Bergen's king,
Son of the fierce one of the sturdy tread.

My name shall be, on coming home,
Còmhrag of five hundred hounds."

4. Lay Manus is somewhat different but according to my research of it about its name the lay is about one of the enemies of the Fenians, with it likely that Manus was a Viking attacking the Fenians:
“...A Chlèirich a chanas na sailm oir leam fhèin gum b’ fheudar do chiall,
Nach èist thu ri tàmall sgeul air an fhèinn nach cuala[dh] riamh?"
"Air do thomhais, a Mhic Fhinn, ge binn leat teachdaire an fhèinn
Fuaim nan salm air feadh mo bheòil, gur e sin as ceòl leam fhèin...”

["Oh Cleric that speaks of psalms I remember that your sense was better,
Won't you listen a while to my tale about the Fingalians that were never heard?"
"On your estimation, son of Fionn, though you love the reciting of the Fianna
The sound of the psalms throughout my mouth, that is the music I like the best."]
[You can hear Laoidh Mhànuis in the recording "Laoidh Mhànuis." You can find more information about it with the University of Edinburgh Archives.]

We shall continue another time with more lays of the Fingalians. Do you know any lore about the Fingalians that I haven't said already with the lays above? Let us know on facebook, twitter and our own website!