nEógain in preference to Ailech or Armagh is evidence
enough of the political importance attached to it. The
first king of Ailech to be inaugurated there, and in a
ceremony presided over by an ecclesiastic, was possibly
Áed Ua Néill. He was installed as king of Cenél nEógain
by Muirecán, comarbaof Patrick, “in the presence of
Patrick’s community,” while Muirecán was in Tír Eógain
on visitation in 993.
ELIZABETH FITZPATRICK
References and Further Reading
Byrne, Francis J. Irish Kings and High-Kings. London: Bats-
ford, 1973. Reprint, Dublin: Four Courts Press 2001.
Jaski, Bart. Early Irish Kingship and Succession. Dublin: Four
Courts Press, 2000.
Lacy, Brian. Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. Lifford,
Ireland: Donegal County Council, 1983.
See alsoDerry; Earthworks; Inauguration Sites;
Kings and Kingship
AIRBERTACH MAC COSSE (d. 1016)
Allowing that he held the offices of fer léigind(“man
of learning”; lector) and airchinnech (superior) of Ros
Ailithir (Roscarberry, County Cork), Airbertach mac
Cosse’s reputation as a scholar, among present-day
historians, rests mainly on four surviving works on the
basis of which he has been viewed as a Latinist, a
commentator on the Psalms, and a poet who utilized
geographical and biblical themes. Little is known of
his background. His genealogy is unknown, although
it seems reasonable to conclude that his origins lay in
Munster. He may have belonged to the minor popula-
tion group of Uí Dobráin, which features among the
subject peoples of Dál Messin Corb—a Laigin
dynasty—and is associated with other lineages which
had mid-Munster connections. He joined the community
of Ros Ailithir, which included among its founding-
fathers Fachna of Corco Loígde and Colmán Ailithir
(the pilgrim). The reputation for Latin learning which
the foundation enjoyed is reflected in the Old Irish
Triads. During his time as fer léigind, in 990, the site
was attacked by a Hiberno-Scandinavian force (prob-
ably from Waterford), which carried him off as hostage.
He was ransomed on Inis Cathaig (Scattery Island,
County Clare) by the powerful Munster high king,
Brian Bóruma (Boru). Subsequently, he became supe-
rior of his community. He died in 1016.
The four surviving works most widely associated
with Airbertach are found in the manuscript compi-
lation Rawlinson B 502, at the Bodleian Library,
Oxford, which, Ó Riain argues, is to be identified
with the Book of Glendalough. These include a com-
pound tract, written in 982, the principal concern of
which is a study of the Psalms. One verse, seemingly
an interpolation, refers to Airbertach as having trans-
lated some of the subject matter from Latin to Irish.
There is also a lengthy poem, with a geographical
theme, based on the writings of Orosius and Isodore
of Seville, which is expressly ascribed to “in fer
léigind Mac Coise.” The two remaining poems, one
dealing with the kings of Judah and the other with a
battle in which the Israelites defeated the Midianites,
are assigned to Airbertach because they are found in
conjunction with the above-discussed compositions
in Rawlinson B 502. Although it is not unreasonable
to attribute these biblical poems to Airbertach, the
possibility remains that they were produced by one
of his students—or at least by another Ros Ailithir-
based scholar.
Another work which features in the same manu-
script compilation, the biblical opus known as “Saltair
na Rann,” may also, in the view of Gearóid MacEoin,
have been composed by Airbertach. Widely regarded
as one of the finest examples of Middle Irish verse,
this apparently unfinished epic has been dated to 988
on the basis of a chronological passage which, it
seems, formed part of the original poem. Various argu-
ments advanced by MacEoin on this matter, including
the suggestion that the poem’s incomplete state reflects
a suspension of Airbertach’s work following his cap-
ture by the Norsemen in 990, have drawn opposition
from James Carney and others.
AILBHE MACSHAMHRÁINReferences and Further Reading
Carney, James. “The Dating of Early Irish Verse Texts,
500–1100.” Éigse19 (1982–1983): 177–216.
MacEoin, Gearóid. “The Date and Authorship of Saltair na
Rann.” Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie28 (1960–1961):
51–67.
———, (ed.). “A poem by Airbertach mac Cosse.” Ériu 20
(1966): 112–139.
———. “Observations on Saltair na Rann.” Zeitschrift für celt-
ische Philologie 39 (1982): 1–28.
O’Leary, A. “The Identities of the Poet(s) Mac Coisi: A rein-
vestigation.” Cambridge Medieval Celtic Studies38 (Winter
1999): 53–71.
Ó Néill, P, ed. “Airbertach mac Cosse’s poem on the Psalter.”
Éigse17 (1977–1979): 19–46.
See alsoDevotional and Liturgical literature; Poets,
Men of LearningAIRGIALLA
Airgialla, “those who give hostages,” was a collective
name for a group of peoples around the Sperrin Moun-
tains in the north of Ireland and in the midlands. They
consisted of nine main tribal groups: Uí Maic
Caírthinn, south of Lough Foyle; Uí Fiachrach ofAIRGIALLA