CINÁED UA hARTACÁIN
Cináed ua hArtacáin (d. 975) was an accomplished,
prolific Mide poet who was closely connected with the
Síl nÁeda Sláine ruler, Congalach mac Maíle Mithig
(d. 956), the most powerful king in Ireland in his day.
Significantly, among his other patrons was the
Hiberno-Norse king of Dublin, Amlaíb Cúarán (d. 981),
who was associated with Skreen, County Meath. A
dinnshenchaspoem on Achall (the Hill of Skreen)
names Cináed as author and cites Amlaíb as dedicatee,
from whom the poet received ech d’echaib ána Aichle
(a horse of the noble horses of Achall) as payment for
his composition. We may speculate that the Norse king
was also the recipient of Cináed’s work on Benn Étair
(Howth, Co. Dublin), since he is described as having
assumed the kingship of that territory in the Achall
poem. Five other poems in this genre attributed to
Cináed survive, all concerned with places in his imme-
diate vicinity. Two focus on Tara, a third on Brug na
Bóinne (the Boyne Valley), and a further pair of poems
describe what may well be literary locations, but which
are perceived nonetheless as being within the same
general region. Thus, Ochan, burial place of King Níall
Noígíallach (Níall of the Nine Hostages), is Ochan
Mide, and Ráth Ésa (the fort of Ésa or Étaín) recounts
how a king of Tara, Eochaid Airem, successfully
retrieved his wife and daughter from Midir of the Oth-
erworld, a tale told in more detail in To c hmarc Étaíne
(The Wooing of Étaín).
These dinnshenchas compositions all attest to
Cináed’s considerable command of narrative tradition,
which is in even greater evidence in his best-known
work,Fíanna bátar i nEmain(Champions Who Dwelt
in Emain [Navan Fort]). This detailed composition
constitutes a virtual compendium of the aideda(death-
tales) of Ireland’s premier heroes and kings and functions
as an important index to stories already in existence, in
some form, in Cináed’s time. That it was valued is
indicated by its reworking in the twelfth-century by
Finn, bishop of Kildare, who added a number of verses
to the copy he transcribed into the Book of Leinster
making references to more recent notable destructions,
including those at the battles of Clontarf (1014) and
Móin Mór (1151). Not surprisingly, stanzas by Cináed
also preface one version of the downfall of King
Conchobar mac Nessa. Furthermore, his composi-
tion on the Boyne is incorporated into Senchas na
Relec(Burial Ground Lore) preserved in Lebor na
hUidre, and he is said to be the author of verse con-
tained in Lebor Gabála Érenn(The Book of the Taking
of Ireland, commonly known as The Book of Inva-
sions). This fame may not simply be due to the inherent
interest of the subject matter of his work. A skilled
metrical craftsman who, in his own words, rofitir
rind-chert cech raind (knows the rule of rhyme for
every verse), Cináed must also have been admired for
his technical accomplishments. These are particularly
well displayed in his poems on Tara, which employ
elaborate, intricate meters with accuracy and precision.
It is with some justification, therefore, that he is termed
príméces(primary poet) of Leth Cuinn (the northern
half of the country) and of Ireland in his obituary
notices in contemporary chronicles.
MÁIRE NÍ MHAONAIGHReferences and Further Reading
Best, R. I., and Bergin, Osborn, eds. Lebor na Huidre: Book of the
Dun Cow. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy, 1929, pp. 129–132.
Gwynn, Edward, ed. and trans. The Metrical Dindshenchas.
5vols. Todd Lecture Series 8–12, 8: 6–13, 28–37, 46–53;
9: 2–9, 10–17, 36–41; 10: 104–109. Dublin: Royal Irish
Academy, 1903–1935.
Meyer, Kuno, ed. and trans. The Death-tales of the Ulster
Heroes.Todd Lecture Series 14, 18. Dublin: Royal Irish
Academy, 1906.
Meyer, Kuno, ed. “Mitteilungen aus irischen Handschriften:
Cináed húa Artagáin .cc.” Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie
12 (1918): 358–359.
Stokes, Whitley, ed. and trans. “On the Deaths of Some Irish Heroes.”
Revue Celtique23 (1902): 302–322; 27 (1906): 202–203.
See alsoÁes Dána; Aideda; Amlaíb Cúarán;
Dinnshenchas; Dublin; Emain Macha;
Lebor na hUidre; Leinster, Book of; Mide (Meath);
Niall Noígiallach; Poetry, Irish; Poets/Men
of Learning; Tara; Uí Néill, SouthernCLARE, de
The history of the de Clare family in Ireland covers
the period from the Anglo-Norman invasion to the mid-
fourteenth century. The de Clare earls of Gloucester and
Hertford held extensive estates in England and Wales
throughout this period, and in Normandy until 1204.
Their importance in an English context can be judged
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thirteenth century, Earl Gilbert the Red, was consid-
ered to be the leading magnate of his day and married
Joan of Acre, one of the daughters of Edward I. The
family fortunes in Ireland, however, were started by
a member of a junior branch of the de Clare earls of
Hertford—Richard de Clare (d. 1176), known as
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claimant to the earldom of Pembroke. Failure in the
male line caused Strongbow’s lordship of Leinster to
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Isabel, his third daughter, to her son Richard deCLARE, de