Cover art is ‘North of Ireland’ by Samuel Read

---

Book of Leinster

Notes: This is an onomastic poem, a verse explanation of a place-name or tribal name. The poem traces the name Connacht through a chain of wordplay: Conn + snechta (snow) → Condsnechta → Connacht, linking the name to a mythological contest between Conn (a druid or hero figure, distinct from the famous high king Conn Cétchathach) and the Tuath Dé Danann. The plain Mag nÓi in Roscommon gets its name from the sheep (óe) gathered there, and the province name Ól nÉcmacht is also woven in. The poem is attributed to Áed Ollbarr, ollam of Cruachain (the royal seat of Connacht).

---

---

Connacht — Why Does the Name Exist?

1. O learned men of Fál, ever called upon — is there anyone among you, north or south, who has knowledge of it, who knows the explanation?
2. If you do not all know it, O learned men of prosperous life, the noble scholar Áed Ollbarr will give you a proper account of it.
3. Áed Ollbarr, ollam of Cruachain and of Ireland — it is no small thing; it is he who explains, day by day, how the territory of Connacht came to be.
4. Conn — how powerful he was — the praiseworthy youngest son of Cethrend; it is he who seized kingship without opposition over the fair-headed province of Connacht.
5. He used to bring upon the track of truth a venomous snow of great strength across the middle of his land, with force, whenever the Tuath Dé Danann would come.
6. Trees and stones of the world — to hurl them against the opposing force; enough of his hardness would be burned up in displaying a single hour’s [power].
7. The heat of the sun was there for him alone — a wonder to all from afar; no druid of swift anger ever performed his equal in power.
8. He entered into a great contest with the fierce-faced Tuath Dé Danann, that he would plunder them with showers of trees — and that they would not plunder his land.
9. On the following morning he plundered them all in one day; he burned, after taking their cattle, their forts and their fortresses.
10. Conn’s mother’s son did not practice falsehood — Dálach, the breadth of every full lie [i.e., the opposite of every falsehood]; the same power cherished him, the same pride, the same vigor.
11. All the men of Ireland came to Dálach the fierce warrior, to beseech him to come with them, so that he might pit himself against dear Conn in fair combat.
12. “I will go with you tomorrow, though it is hard for me,” said Dálach, “provided I receive, as is proper, everything for which I practice druidry.”
13. Three hundred double-herds from each territory — and they cold-white, red-eared — their separation is a brave feat, without sight and without speech.
14. “Bring their sheep here,” said Dálach, “together in one place, with their knowledge of the track of deeds, so that I may pit battle against dear Conn.”
15. All their sheep were brought together in one place, in one gathering; it covered the plain where the host was, and the eternal snow melted.
16. From that time on it is Mag nÓi — that plain, without dispute; and from that assembly whose authority is swift comes the province of Ól nÉcmacht.
17. Condsnechta — from Conn’s snow and from the splendid deeds — that is it for you, the reason why it is Connachta upon Connachta.

---