Coire Sois. The Cauldron of Knowledge: A Companion to Early Irish Saga

652 Pages·2014·4.185 MB·English

by  Tomás Ó Cathasaigh

Coire Sois

Coire Sois
The Cauldron of Knowledge
A COMPANION TO EARLY IRISH SAGA
T O M Á S Ó C A T H A S A I G H
EDITED BY MATTHIEU BOYD
University of Notre Dame Press
Notre Dame, Indiana
Copyright © 2014 by University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
www.undpress.nd.edu
All Rights Reserved
Manufactured in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ó Cathasaigh, Tomás.
Coire Sois, The Cauldron of Knowledge : a Companion to Early Irish Saga /
Tomás Ó Cathasaigh ; edited by Matthieu Boyd.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-268-03736-9 (pbk.) — ISBN 0-268-03736-1 (paper ) —
ISBN 978-0-268-08857-6 (e-book)
1. Irish literature—To 1100—History and criticism.
2. Irish literature—Middle Irish, 1100–1550—History and criticism.
3. Epic literature, Irish—History and criticism.
I. Boyd, Matthieu, editor of compilation. II. Title.
PB1321.O34 2013
891.6'209001—dc23
2013029855
∞ The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence
and durability of the Committee on Production Guidelines
for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources.
Contents
Forewordby Declan Kiberd ix
Prefaceby Matthieu Boyd xv
Acknowledgments xxi
Abbreviations xxv
Maps xxviii
1 Introduction: Irish Myths and Legends (2005) 1
PART 1. THEMES
2 The Semantics of síd(1977–79) 19
3 Pagan Survivals: The Evidence of Early Irish Narrative (1984) 35
4 The Concept of the Hero in Irish Mythology (1985) 51
5 The Sister’s Son in Early Irish Literature (1986) 65
6 Curse and Satire (1986) 95
7 The Threefold Death in Early Irish Sources (1994) 101
8 Early Irish Literature and Law (2006–7) 121
vi Contents
PART 2. TEXTS
The Cycles of the Gods and Goddesses
9 Cath Maige Tuiredas Exemplary Myth (1983) 135
10 The Eponym of Cnogba (1989) 155
11 Knowledge and Power in Aislinge Óenguso(1997) 165
12 “The Wooing of Étaín” (2008) 173
The Ulster Cycle
13 Táin Bó Cúailnge(2002) 187
14 Mythology in Táin Bó Cúailnge(1993) 201
15 Táin Bó Cúailnge and Early Irish Law (2005) 219
16 Sírrabad Súaltaim and the Order of Speaking among
the Ulaid (2005) 238
17 Ailill and Medb: A Marriage of Equals (2009) 249
18 Cú Chulainn, the Poets, and Giolla Brighde Mac Con
Midhe (2005) 259
19 Reflections on Compert Conchobuirand Serglige
Con Culainn(1994) 271
The Cycles of the Kings
20 “The Expulsion of the Déisi” (2005) 283
21 On the LU Version of “The Expulsion of the Déisi” (1976) 293
22 The Déisi and Dyfed (1984) 301
23 The Theme of lommradin Cath Maige Mucrama(1980–81) 330
24 The Theme of ainmnein Scéla Cano meic Gartnáin(1983) 342
25 The Rhetoric of Scéla Cano meic Gartnáin(1989) 352
Contents vii
26 The Rhetoric of Fingal Rónáin(1985) 376
27 On the Cín Dromma SnechtaVersion of
Togail Brudne Uí Dergae(1990) 399
28 Gatand díbergin Togail Bruidne Da Derga(1996) 412
29 The Oldest Story of the Laigin: Observations on Orgain
Denna Ríg(2002) 422
30 Sound and Sense in Cath Almaine(2004) 439
The Fenian Cycle
31 Tóraíocht Dhiarmada agus Ghráinne(1995) 449
The Pursuit of Diarmaid and Gráinne (translated by the
author, 2011) 466
Further Reading (compiled by Matthieu Boyd) 484
Notes 501
Bibliography of Tomás Ó Cathasaigh 551
Works Cited 555
Index 589