Classic Poem

Conall, champion of the Sons of Niall, was the noblest son of the proud stock; with him every kin that is in the north went forth in the beginning from Midhe. What brought the Sons of Niall of the nine hostages to Teamhair of Conn, whatever sent them from Lios Floinn there is no-one of us who does not know. Conall's foster-father — hard the oppression — a warrior of the province of Connaught, took up residence in Gulbain; he pressed hard against the rear of the Ulaidh. From being reared in rugged Gulbain, the nick-name stayed with the hero: slender, fair-skinned, curly Conall of Gulbain; what tradition of the ancient authors is more noble? One morning the Ulaidh killed the foster-father of warlike Conall; at once thereupon a force went in a host to avenge him upon the Ulaidh. A few of his brothers went with him along with Eoghan, the son of great Niall; yonder they wrought mighty destructions, Eanna, Cairbre and Conall. The ancient tuaths of the Ulaidh from Srubh Broin to Beann Gulban, the Sons of Niall stayed therein and took the territory themselves. When Conall Gulban had displaced the Sons of Ir from the rugged territory, he gave the territory of the Ulaidh in the east to the Sons of Niall; he divided it himself and made his own choice. Crioch Cairbre went to curly Cairbre, Crioch ├ëanna to ├ëanna of the grey weapons; he did not desist from dispatching them in turn, until he had allotted Eoghan to Aileach. Conall's share then was from Eas Ruaidh as far as Fanaid; he drew the division to a close with himself; it was clear with Conall's share. If there be contention or strife in a meeting or council, the Kindred of Conall listen to the cock-bird whose offspring they are. To fight with the Offspring of red-speared Conall is like swimming against Eas Ruaidh; to join battle with the men of Tir Chonaill is like diving into a cataract after a water-hound. To mark out neighbouring territory with any Conallach is like consorting with a wolf; Maol Seachlainn, who stands out boldly from the host of them, is of the same yoke as Conall. The Sons of Conall Gulban waited for a while after their father's death; when news of his death came in due course, immediately it afflicted everybody. Westward from Srubh Broin to Bearnas no-one disputed his dominion, so that not so much as a lamb, not a piglet was taken from him to Gulbain. There was no putting of treasure for safe-keeping into a church, no lifting of arms from the armoury; the nobles, as was unusual, suffered no crime nor raiding. There was no fighting on the ├ëirne, no war, no insurrection; there was not even as much as a brooch plundered from a king; there was no anger, no wrath, no anxiety. At the end of a week his lustrous eye went south to Rioghdhonn; after the death of his father he did not remain in the north, cowed before the host of Aileach. Danger was imminent upon the Sons of Conall — it was not less than their ruin; it was his son who kept danger from the descendants of Conn after O Domhnaill's death. The Sons of Eoghan thought to attack him when his father died; the group of them that are fleetest of foot relate it — he sent a multitude against them. Like the cleric on another occasion, when he struck the sleeping dog lest it attack him first, was the expedition of the rod of Suileach. Over Ard Sratha, over Sliabh Truim devastating was the foray of ├ô Domhnaill; the whelp of Clar Maighne was hard by the bend in the Modharn. With his face towards Sliabh Cairn and his back to the Modharn, he was on the road where he joined battle, upon the turf of the Ui Fhiachrach. The second half of the yoke of battle was upon Brian of Eamhain of noble Macha and the other half beside him in the battle was upon Maol Seachlainn of Fanaid. I teach sense to the descendants on my mother's side, to the Sons of Conall, son of great Niall: many are the people in the world who would be grateful for their diminution. No-one can overcome them provided they preserve their valour; if the heroes themselves chanced to attack, to oppose their might would be perilous. Let not the Sons of Conall keep the Kindred of Eoghan in a single cluster; it is obvious to everyone that in days of yore we gave justice to the Sons of Niall. The men of Connaught closed in their treachery about Aodh, the son of Cathal Croibhdhearg; the nobles of Cruachain are without prosperity in opposing him; alas, there are few to whom it is known. Let not the Kindred of Conall of Teamhair's hill forsake their lord; let not the anger of Colum Cille be upon the Sons of Conall of Creibhlinn. The son of Domhnall of Dun Balair is the acorn of a richly productive oak; ├ô Domhnaill, the nut of a fruitful hazel, is one of a pair of hounds with Conn Ceadchathach. Fragrant rod of the Kindred of Lughaidh, the king of Conall is a tree with large apples; fair-haired Maol Seachlainn of the Kindred of Conall is a hand with curved nails about the shaft of a spear. The supporting prop of the country, the last in the high kingship — the judgment of the words of chaste Colum was that he should hold together the twining bonds of the Kindred of Conall. Maol Seachlainn, son of brown-haired Domhnall, king of the Kindred of Conall, is a stream in full flood; to attempt to subject the descendant of Lughaidh is like trying to bind a stag or a water-hound.