Cover art is ‘County Mayo’ by William Henry Bartlett
Notes: This is a praise-poem of Ireland’s provinces and territories — a genre the Irish called a molad or praise-poem — cataloguing the characteristic virtues, qualities and gifts associated with each region. It moves systematically through:
Ailech — the great royal fortress of the northern Uí Néill in Donegal, associated with warrior kings.
Ulster — praised for its fierce valor but also its treachery and passion — a very characteristic Ulster stereotype in Irish literature.
Meath — the central province, seat of the high kingship at Tara, praised for its dominance.
Brega — the rich coastal plain north of Dublin, famous for its judges and learned men.
Leinster — praised for its generosity, musicality and feasting culture.
Ossraige — the kingdom of Kilkenny/Laois, blessed by its saints.
Munster — divided into Desmond (south) and Thomond (north, the territory of the Dál Cais and the Uí Briain).
Connacht — praised for its wealth in cattle and its fierce western warriors.
Fland Fína himself is identified at the end as son of Ossa, a chief sage, composing on the bank of the river Réin — a lovely detail that grounds this sweeping geographical vision in a single specific moment of composition. The poem ends with a reminder that all these gifts have flowed since the time of Niall of the Nine Hostages, ancestor of the dominant Uí Néill dynasty — a political as much as a poetic statement.
Fland Fína sang:
- […] of God, noble free elders of prosperity —
- It has flowed into every holy church, between land and wave and shore: the learning of wisdom, the devotion of God, the labor of faith and protection.
- It has flowed from the monks of the territories — the swift rendering of alms; and their equal together — the half-penny in the head-tax.
- It has flowed from the dwelling of Ailech — of wonderful kings and high kings; the rush of bright weapons, fame with valor, that men of full-worth cannot withstand.
- It has flowed from the dwelling of Ulster — the surpassing of victory and of prime-strength; treachery, ardor, affection, a challenge upon energy; battle, beauty of form, comeliness, bravery.
- It has flowed from the great plain of Meath — warrior-service, generosity, open-handedness; valor, fierceness, wonderful beauty of border — dominance over the territory of Ireland.
- It has flowed from the territory of wealthy Brega — handsome mercenaries, boars of towers; judges, bards, hundreds of crosses; swimming, hunting, feasting, horsemanship.
- It has flowed from Leinster — to my satisfaction, from Étar to Indeón; generous, lively, famous men — gentle, musical, ale-feasting ones.
- It has flowed from Leinster — lasting fame — and to the host from Tomar; the plundering of Cuille, a track across the Suir, and blows across Indiún.
- It has flowed to the children of sharp Crimthann, to the seed of Labraid of full-partnership; bravery over the kindreds of men — nobility of weapons, the brightness of the Gaels.
- It has flowed from red Raigne — beautiful men with great victories; the blessing of every saint with his hundred — and it is upon the Ossraige it has flowed.
- It has flowed from Munster without hardship — a company of kings, queens and royal poets; without aggression against mighty Niall — happiness, ease, settledness.
- It has flowed from dark Desmond — supreme sovereignty over great Ireland; brightness of chastity after clear deeds — generosity, excellence, truth.
- It has flowed from heavy Thomond — a noble, lasting lordship of Aulam; a great bestowal greater than every grace — to the seed of Conall son of Lugdach.
- It has flowed from the territory of fair Connacht — wealth of milk-yields, pride, honor; generosity, strength, victory and fame — from the territory of Cruachain of the weirs.
- It has flowed from the west of Connacht — fierce, sharp, deed-mighty men; cattle to the lords of every tower — small and gentle their bestowal.
- It has flowed to the seed of noble Muiredach — the sovereignty of Medb of great renown; men of bloom, ever rough, householding — of every strong inheritance.
- It has flowed from the north of Connacht — the reporting of land over heavy burden; men of victory bestow their limbs — the consumption of provisions of the seed of Conall.
- It has flowed from the territory of sharp Conall — brave heroes of the blue-grey sword; fierce men with beauty of border — the high stars of Ireland.
- Fland the fair — Fína son of Ossa, chief sage of the knowledge of Ireland; on the bank of the stream of Réin in its selling — he found his due as he fully received it.
- These are the modes with victory that are owed from every land in turn; from the day that noble, strong Niall seized power — it is long and great since we have received it.