Matheson Collection > Buile Shuibhne

85
NOTES.
§ 1, p. 1. roaisnéidhsem remhamn. In MSS. B and K this
tale follows that entitled the Battle of Magh Rath, in which reference
is made to the derangement of Suibhne. See Battle of Macjh
Rath, ed. O'Donovan, p. 231.
§ 2, p. 1. Bónán Finn. St. Ronán, son of Bearach, &c.,
was abbot of Druim Ineascluinn (Drumiskin) in Co. Louth. His
deatli from the plague known as buidhe connaill is recorded in the
Ann. Four Mast, at the year 664. He is mentioned in the Félire
of Aengus at 18 November, where (in the notes) his pedigree is
given. A Rónán Finn (son of Saran, son of Colchu, &c.) is
mentioned in the Félire of Aengus at 22 May ; he was of Lann
Rónáin Fhinn in Húi Echach of Ulster. It is possible that the two
sauits are confused in our tale, just as they are in the Martyrology
cf Donegal. Lami Rónáin Fhinn was in Magh Rath ; see Hogan's
Onomasticon.
§ 5, p. 2. doriacht dobarchú . . , i a psaltair. A similar
miracle is recorded in the Irish Lives of St. Kevin ; see Plummer's
Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae, Vol. 1, p. cxliv. note .5.
§ 5, p. 3. gurab amhlaidh sin bhias do ghrés. Curses of
this kind as a result of which the offending person (with his
descendants) is always to remain in the state in which he is when
cursed are common ; see Plummer's Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae,
p. elxxvii.
§ 5, p. 3. bás do rinn ; ' death from a spear-point ' ; i.e. a
violent death as opposed to e'c fri adart ; cf . bás re hadart,
Acall. na Senórach, ed. Stokes, 3590.
§ 8, p. 5. an t-ionar tuc Congal do ; cf. Banquet of Dun na
nGédh, p. 39 : ' And they (the saints of Ireland) also cursed Suibhne,
the son of Colmán Cuar, son of Cobthach, king of Dal Araidlie,
for it was he that had carried away from them by force the many-
coloured tunic which Domhnall had given into the hand of St.
Rónán Finn, the son of Berach, to be presented to Congal ; but
as Congal had refused to accept of the King's tunic, Suibhne took
it from the cleric's hand in despite of him.' See also Battle of
Magh Rath, ed. O'Donovan, p. 235.
§ 9, p. 6. isin chlog robhaoi for a ucht. The ancient Irish
bell was a small hand-bell ; how small may be inferred from this
passage. A great deal of interesting lore about ancient Irish bells
is given by Mr. Plummer in the Introduction to his Vitae Sanctorum
Hiberniae.
§ 9, p. 6. Xlradhrán (Furadhrán) agus Telle. A Furudián
is mentioned in the Féhre of Aengus at 18 June ; son of Moenán
of Lann Luachar in Bregia. A Telle is mentioned there also, at
25 June ; of Tech Telli near Durrow in Westmeath.
§ 11, p. 7. With the description of Suiblme's madness given
here cf. Battle of Magh Rath, pp. 230-235.