twelfth-century literary-historical compendium, the
Book of Leinster, also known as Lebar na Núachongbála,
the Book of Oughavall, which was his family’s ancestral
home. Much of the writing of the manuscript may
have been completed there. He signs himself on 32r
(p. 313): “Aed mac meic Crimthaind ro scrib in leborso 7
rathinoil a llebraib imdaib” (Áed Úa Crimthaind wrote
this book and collected it from many books). He is not
the finest scribe in the Book of Leinster, but he evidently
played a key part in the compilation and redaction of
the many texts which went into it. The identification of
his hand in certain places is still a matter of some paleo-
graphic difference, particularly in those entries referring
to events post-dating 1166.
He is also the recipient of the earliest Irish personal
letter, written to him by Finn mac Gormáin, bishop of
Kildare (d. 1160), copied into the tale known as Cath
Maige Mucramaon 206v of the manuscript. It is the
earliest vernacular example of the medieval ars
dictaminis.It has the usual form of a rhetorical epistle,
praising him for his learning as “chief historian of
Leinster in wisdom and knowledge and book-lore, and
science and learning.” It requests that the tale Cath
Maige, being dictated to his scribe by Finn, be com-
pleted by Áed, who apparently had access to a better
or fuller copy. It concludes by asking him to send a
copy of the duanaire of Mac Lonáin, “so that we may
study the meanings of the poems that are in it.” The
letter also styles him fer léigind(man of learning)
to the king of Leth Moga, perhaps Diarmait Mac
Murchada. Although there is no independent evidence
for the assertion, it is often claimed that the famous
references to the exile of Diarmait Mac Murchada,
“king of Leinster and the Foreigners” in 1166 and to
his death in 1171, at the end of the prose regnal list of
Leinster(f.39d)—Saxain. iar sain miserabiliter regnant
Amen. (And, after that, the Saxons miserably reign)—
indicate a close personal relationship between Áed and
Diarmait. His span of scribal activity on the manuscript
can be judged from the date of his first personal entry,
which records the death of Domnall Ua Conchobair in
- Best identifies his last entry in the notice of the
death in 1201 of Ruaidrí mac Con Ulad, but it is very
doubtful that an individual who was fer léigind of Leth
Moga in the middle of the twelfth century was still
alive in 1201.
AIDAN BREEN
References and Further Reading
Best, R. I., et al., eds. The Book of Leinster, formerly Lebar na
Núachongbála. Vol 1. Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced
Studies, 1954.
Bhreathnach, E. “Two contributors to the Book of Leinster:
Bishop Finn of Kildare and Gilla na Náem Úa Duinn.” In
Ogma: Essays in Celtic studies in honour of Próinséas Ní
Chatháin, edited by M. Richter and J.-M. Picard. Dublin:
Four Courts Press, 2002.
Forste-Grupp, S. L. “The Earliest Irish Personal Letter.” Pro-
ceedings of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium 15 (1995): 1–11.
See also Aés Dána; Anglo-Norman Invasion;
Glendalough, Book of; Historical Tales; Laigin;
Lebor na hUidre; Leinster; Manuscript
Illumination; Poets, Men of Learning; Scriptoria;
Uí ChennselaigÁEDÁN MAC GABRÁIN (fl. c.574–606)
The Irish king of Dál Riata in Scotland from about
574 to 606, Áedán mac Gabráin was a member of
Cenél nGabráin and son of a previous king, Gabrán
mac Domangairt. While many aspects of his reign
are disputed (partly because the two main sources,
Adomnán’s “Life of St. Columba” and the Irish chron-
icles, often provide contradictory evidence), it is clear
that Áedán was involved significantly in the politics
of both Ireland and Britain.
There are no certain examples of Áedán being
engaged in military activity in Ireland, but he was
involved in Irish politics. With Columba active in Dál
Riata at Iona and elsewhere during his reign, Áedán
was involved with the saint’s Cenél Conaill relatives
in Ireland, meeting Áed mac Ainmirech, ruler of Cenél
Conaill and the northern Uí Néill, at Druim Cett,
although it is disputed whether the Irish chronicle date
of 575 for this event or a date between 586 and 597
is correct. While the outcome of the meeting is unclear,
it is likely that the political relationship between the
Uí Néill and Dál Riata was discussed. In Adomnán’s
“Life of St. Columba,” Columba (Colum Cille) ordains
(reluctantly) Áedán as king, the first instance of this prac-
tice in Gaelic literature. An earlier version of this tale
by Cumméne of Iona makes it explicit that Áedán and
his successors should be on friendly terms with Cenél
Conaill (and perhaps by implication enemies of the
Cruthni and Ulaid), which was possibly a reflection of
a treaty made between Áedán and Áed mac Ainmirech
at Druim Cett, but also a retrospective explanation of
the tribulations of Áedán’s descendants after fighting
Cenél Conaill in 637.
The Irish chronicles portray Áedán as militarily
active in Britain, undertaking an expedition to the
Orkneys in 580–581, fighting in either the Isle of
Man or near the Firth of Forth in 582–583, and at
the battle of Leithreid in 590. He was defeated by
the Northumbrians in 600, probably the same event
as the battle of Degsastan (dated to 603) described
by Bede in his Ecclesiastical History of the English
People. Bede states that Áedán attacked in responseÁEDÁN MAC GABRÁIN (fl. c. 574–606)