posted on 2017-06-22, 15:32authored byGordon Ó Riain
The subject of the poem edited here, Brian Óg Ó Néill, was a son of
Brian (d. 1401 /2) and grandson of Éinrí Aimhréidh (d. 1392).' The
branch of the Í Néill to which he belonged was antagonistic to
the reigning Ó Neill, Eóghan, and presented a threat to his rule (2) In
1435 Brian Óg allied with Neachtain Ó Domhnaill against Ó Néill on
two occasions, the second of which provides the background to our
poem (3) Neachtain precipitated the second alliance of that year by
endowing Brian Óg with Ballyshannon Castle. Brian Óg broke faith
with Neachtain, however, and parleyed with Ó Neill under the
protection of the latter's newly appointed ollamh Conchobhar Ruadh
Mac Con Midhe (4) Upon his arrival at Ó Neill's stronghold Brian Óg
was seized, his hand and foot severed, and two of his sons mutilated,
one of whom died immediately (5) On the basis of the present poem we
know Brian Óg's limbs to have been interred in Derry, although Brian
Óg himself was to survive until 14496 All tbis took place in violation of Mac Con Midhe's protection provoking him to satirize Eóghan Ó
Néill's sons
History
Publication
Eigse- A Journal of Irish Studies, MacMathúna, Liam (editor);37, pp. 92-111