lachtga, whence was it named?
lachtga, whence was it named?
Not hard (to say). Tlachtga, daughter of Mogh Ruith, three sons of Simon Magus ravished her when she went with her father to learn wizardry in the eastern part of the world, because ’tis she that had made the Rowing Wheel for Trian (?) and the Stone in Forcarthu, and the Pillar-stone in Cnámchoill.
Then she escaped from the east, bringing those two things with her till she reached the hill of Tlachtga. There, then, she lay in, and three sons were born, to wit, Doirb, from whom Mag nDoirbe (is named), Cumma, from whom is Mag Cumma, and Muach, from whom is Mag Muaich. So long as these names shall remain in the memory of the men of Erin, foreigners’ vengeance shall not visit Ireland. And she died in childbed, and over her the fortress was built, whence Tlachtga.
Tlachtga, daughter of great Mogh,
Simon’s sons ravished her.
From the hour that she came over the beautiful sea
After her green-sided Tlachtga is (named).
Tlachtga daughter of Mog Ruith son of Fergus: three sons of Simon Magus ravished her when she went with her father to learn the world’s magic: for ’tis she that made for Trian the Rowing Wheel and the Stone in Forcarthu and the Pillar-stone in Cnámchoill. Then she escaped from the east, bringing those two things with her, till she reached Tlachtga Hill; and there she lay-in and bore three sons, namely Dorb, from whom is Mag nDoirb, and Cuma, from whom is Mag Cuma, and Muach, from whom is Mag Muaich. And till these three names are forgotten in Ireland, foreigners’ vengeance will not visit it. Whence Tlachtga is said.
1. Tlachtga, proud and princely hill, has seen the passing of many a stern king,
since long ago seemly Tlachtga possessed it, daughter of the famous slave of kingly Roth.
2. Mug Roith was son of Fergus Fáil, son of royal and worshipful Ross;
Cacht daughter of Cathmann skilled in feats was his own mother, fresh of hue.
3. Roth son of Rigoll fostered him, therefore was he Roth's chosen Slave:
his two sons were Buan and Corb, whose noble chant brought the people luck.
4. The mother of those goodly sons was Derdraigen, strong, fierce, and fell:
she was mother too of Cairpre, as my gentle bardic art certifies
5. Daughter of Mug, master of thousands, was choice Tlachtga—not chill was her bosom:
with her giant father dear went she to noble Simon sechtmisid.
6. Three sons had Simon, who dwelt at ease; gigantic was their league of hell:
Nero, Carpent, and Uetir, they were a mighty race, mortal in conflict.
7. All the sons together gave their love to Tlachtga secretly, and quickened her womb,
in truth, with offspring like in build and bulk.
8. Tlachtga—no weakling was she—was one of three, with the beloved giant Slave and with Simon sechtmisid,
who made the red well-finished Wheel.
9. She carried with her the fragment, I wis, that the cunningly-made Wheel left behind it,
the perfect Stone at feeble Forcarthain and the Pillar at Cnamchaill.
10. Blind is each that once sees it, deaf is each that hears it:
dead is he that aught touches of the rough-jagged dreadful Wheel.
11. When the woman came westward she bore three sons of great beauty:
she died at their birth, the bright brisk lady: a strange tale—let us hear it and hide it not!
12. The names of her sons (no meagre utterance) were Muach and Cumma and darling Doirb:
'tis for the men of Torach, that claimed them for its own, to hear their names—and mark ye them!
13. As long as the names of her sons shall be held in honour throughout Banba
(this is a true saying to spread abroad) there comes no ruin to her men.
14. The hill where a grave was built for the lady of the chilly lands,
above every title given by lucky poet it bears the style of silent Tlachtga.
Sources : Whitley Stokes, Folklore 4 and Revue Celtique 16
Edward Gwynn, Todd Lecture Series 11
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