Classic Poem

Here is the history of Muan from the battle of Carraig of ancient Cuan, such that the kings of Banbha may be considered, their deeds and the branches of their pedigree. Niall Naoighiallach of the mighty strength was the grandfather of Muan of the tapering fingers; as far as Muir nIocht there is no place where his grandfather's descendants cannot be found. The son of Eoghan, son of modest Niall, was the father of Muan of the great encounters; curly Muireadhach of the hundred slayings was the lock of the gory Men of the Western Land. Earc, the daughter of the noble king of Scotland, was the mother of swift, great, fierce Muan; Mor Bhinn was the following people's grandmother — I shall prove it irrefutably. Muireadhach's mother, Mor Bhinn, was the daughter of the spear-plying king of the Saxons; blue eyes and white palm, Muan was a son like the son of Morna. Muircheartach, son of Earc, then, who acquired Scotland and Ireland — one woman was their goodly mother — was the pale-fingered brother of Muan. Muireadhach, father of Muan, went one day from Teamhair — a journey of pleasure — and he chanced on his eastward wanderings from the fair plain of Banbha to be in Britain. The king of blue Gabhran met Earc, daughter of Logharn, in the east and love for the curly descendant of Conn filled her from the arch of her foot to the crown of her head. The future high king of Banbha went into Scotland, her patrimony; he who was called the son of Eoghan of Teamhair, went to the territory of the hero Logharn. Seventeen years Muireadhach, son of Eoghan, spent in the land in the east and then he crossed the blue, wavy sea with Logharn's daughter, rich in cloaks. The son of the king of Fodla, great in feasts, came to the estuary of the Boinn; he slept in the place — it was no warm blanket — and his head in Earc's lap. The swineherd of Eoghan, his father, close to the Boinn of speckled ducks, saw at the mouth of the estuary of the land of Breagha a young woman and a hero. The irascible swineherd of Eoghan was seized with jealousy when he saw this; the death of the future high king resulted from it — it was not a cause of hindrance to Banbha. The violent churl thrust a spear into Muireadhach and killed him; it is a pity that a swineherd should boast of having slain the darling of the hosts of the Irish. Earc went to noble Eoghan; she told him about his great, fierce son; a fresh retinue was given to Earc to accompany her to the wall of Teamhair. The king was taken into Teamhair, into a lonely oratory; there was no-one except the woman at the top of the palace to watch over him. A weasel ran across the high king of the men of Fal from the pale rafters of the sun-room; Earc struck the weasel roughly and by treading on it she killed it. Immediately another weasel put a herb in its mouth and revived it; when the life had come back into the weasel, Earc proceeded to imitate it. The woman put the tip of the slender herb into Muireadhach's mouth; it was an event to bring peace to Banbha, that the life came back into the high king. O you who wrought the world, to you we owe praise that the rod of Teamhair recovered from his decline and lived to beget a son like Muan. The Seed of great Muan, the son of Earc, the heroes of the dark-blue Island of Fal, the ale-sweet warriors of Cruachain are more noble than the seed of wheat. O torches of Teamhair, one could not sing of a leader equal to your lord until nobles like you come to a leader's house. The lord of the territory has acquired the keys of the high kingship; it is like hosts of women who have no husbands until the king, ├ô Gairmleadhaigh, gets it. Niall ├ô Gairmleadhaigh of Geirg is cruel in anger and gentle in speech;...