Page:Eriu Vol 2, 3.djvu/189

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the son of Sraibgend, the father of Ailill mac Mata; and Mumain Etanchaithrech, daughter of Eochaid Feidleach, wife of Conchobar mac Fachtna Fathach, the mother of Glaisne[1] Conchobar’s son; and Eithne, daughter of Eochaid Feidleach, another wife of the same Conchobar, mother of Furbaide[2] Conchobar’s son; (it is therefore he was called ‘Furbaide’ because the ‘urbad’ or ‘cutting’ of him out of the womb of his mother was performed after she was drowned in the stream Bearramain, which is called the Eithne[3] today, and it is from her the river takes its name, namely, Eithne, and Diarmaid was Furbaide’s (first) name); and Clothra, daughter of Eochaid Feidleach, mother of Cormac Conloingeas,[4] Conchobar’s son (or Nessa daughter of Eochaid Sulbaide was the mother of Cormac Conloingeas); and Deirbriu, daughter of Eochaid Feidleach, from whom were (called) the pigs of Deirbriu;[5] and Meadb of Cruachan, daughter of Eochaid Feidleach, another of Conchobar’s wives, mother of Amalgad, Conchobar’s son, so that Conchobar was Meadb’s first husband, and Meadb forsook Conchobar through pride of mind, and went to Tara, where was the High-King of Ireland. The reason that the High-King of Ireland gave these daughters to Conchobar was that it was by Eochaid Feidleach that Fachtna Fathach had fallen in the battle of Lettir-ruad[6] in the Corann, so that it was as his eric these were given to him, together with the forcible seizure of the kingship of Ulster, over Clan Rudraidhe: and the first cause of the stirring up of the Cattle-raid of Cuailngne was the desertion of Conchobar by Meadb against his will. Tindi, the son of Conra Cas, of the Fir Domnand, was king of Connacht at that time, and Eochaid

  1. I can find no mention of Glaisne. There is a "Glas" mentioned as a son of Conchobar's in Windisch's Táin, 801.
  2. It was he who afterwards slew his aunt Meadh with a cast of "tanach." It is stated in LL. 199 a 53 that his cairn is on the summit of Sliabh Uillend.
  3. For Eithne's death and the birth of Furbaide, see Book of Lecan, fol. 251 aa, fourth line from bottom, LL. 199 a 53, Coir Anmann, and Bodleian Dindsenchus (Stokes), p. 11. The river is the "Inny" which runs between Westmeath and Longford.
  4. For Cormac Conloingeas, see Windisch's Táin, passim.
  5. For these pigs, see LL. 165 a 35, 167 a 30, Rennes Dind., p. 47 (Stokes' Ed.). They were the sons of Oengus mac Ind Óc, and the foster-children of Derbriu. They seem to be connected with the fairy pigs (of the Firbolg?) which came out of Croghan, and which no-one could count. The Manners and Customs of Hy Fiachra, p. 26, contain verses ascribed to Torna Eigeas, and addressed to the great red pillar-stone at Roilig-na-riog, stating that under it lie the three sons of Eochaid, and their sister "Derbriu Dreac-maith".
  6. Lettir-ruad, I can find no further mention of this place. Corann is a barony in Co. Sligo.