Dáire Cerbba
Encyclopedia
Dáire Cerbba was an Irish
dynast of uncertain origins, named in many early and late sources as the grandfather of the semi-mythological Mongfind
and Crimthann mac Fidaig
, and the most frequently named early ancestor of the historical Uí Liatháin
and Uí Fidgenti
. All of these are historically and mythologically associated with the province of Munster
, but according to the early manuscript Rawlinson B 502, Dáire Cerbba was born in Brega, County Meath
, and got his epithet from a location there. This is otherwise unexplained. He may or may not have been a relative of Conall Corc
, the founder of the Eóganachta
dynasty.
He is often confused or paired with Maine Munchaín, who may be his father or twin brother, depending on the source, or this is an alias
and the two people are the same. Both are listed in the surviving genealogies as sons of Ailill Flann Bec
, grandfather of Conall Corc, but the arrangement changes from source to source.
Mongfind is simply called the daughter of Dáire (Cerbba?), not of Fidach, in the Book of Lismore
, and there Dáire's father is called Findchad, while Crimthand Mór is not mentioned at all. Thus the alternative exists they were not originally brother and sister.
Though he supposedly flourished in the 4th century AD, Dáire Cerbba is mentioned as an ancestor of the O'Donovan
family, specifically the dynast Donnell II O'Donovan, Lord of Clan Cathail, in as late as the early 17th century, in song, by the bard
ic poet Tadhg Olltach Ó an Cháinte
.
Modern descendants of Dáire Cerbba may or may not include the O'Connells of Derrynane, Daniel Charles, Count O'Connell having explicitly declared this to the heralds of Louis XVI of France
. Also was Michael Collins
, descending from the Ó Coileáin of Uí Chonaill Gabra, once the most powerful sept
of the Uí Fidgenti.
, a once prominent Érainn people. In fact the passage gives it the alternative names of "... Ardchluain na Féne and Mucfhalach Mac Dáire Ceirbe. This Ceirbe was king of Meáin Mairtine. This area is called Emly today..." However it does not specifically state that Dáire belonged to the Mairtine themselves, and perhaps of importance is the fact that this site was historically occupied by the Eóganachta
, for whom it was their chief church, namely Emly
, which the author of FDD obviously recognizes. The Mairtine themselves belong only to prehistory and legend, but may be in part ancestral to the later Déisi Tuisceart and famous Dál gCais
.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
dynast of uncertain origins, named in many early and late sources as the grandfather of the semi-mythological Mongfind
Mongfind
Queen Mongfind was the wife, of apparent Munster origins, of the legendary Irish High King Eochaid Mugmedón and mother of his eldest three sons, Brion, Ailill and Fiachrae, ancestors of the historical Connachta, through whom she is an ancestor of many Irish and European nobility today...
and Crimthann mac Fidaig
Crimthann mac Fidaig
Crimthann Mór, son of Fidach , also written Crimthand Mór, was a semi-mythological king of Munster and High King of Ireland of the 4th century. He gained territory in Britain and Gaul, but died poisoned by his sister Mongfind. It is possible that he was also recognized as king of Scotland or Alba...
, and the most frequently named early ancestor of the historical Uí Liatháin
Uí Liatháin
The Uí Liatháin were an early kingdom of Munster in southern Ireland. They belonged the same kindred as the Uí Fidgenti, and the two are considered together in the earliest sources, for example The Expulsion of the Déisi...
and Uí Fidgenti
Uí Fidgenti
The Uí Fidgenti or Wood-Sprung People were an early kingdom of northern Munster, situated mostly in modern County Limerick, but extending into County Clare and County Tipperary, and possibly even County Kerry and County Cork, at maximum extents, which varied over time...
. All of these are historically and mythologically associated with the province of Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
, but according to the early manuscript Rawlinson B 502, Dáire Cerbba was born in Brega, County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and got his epithet from a location there. This is otherwise unexplained. He may or may not have been a relative of Conall Corc
Conall Corc
Corc mac Luigthig, also called Conall Corc, Corc of Cashel, and Corc mac Láire, is the hero of Irish language tales which form part of the origin legend of the Eóganachta, a group of kindreds which traced their descent from Conall Corc and took their name from his ancestor Éogan Mór. The early...
, the founder of the Eóganachta
Eóganachta
The Eóganachta or Eoghanachta were an Irish dynasty centred around Cashel which dominated southern Ireland from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of Desmond, and its offshoot Carbery, well into the 16th century...
dynasty.
He is often confused or paired with Maine Munchaín, who may be his father or twin brother, depending on the source, or this is an alias
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
and the two people are the same. Both are listed in the surviving genealogies as sons of Ailill Flann Bec
Ailill Flann Bec
Ailill Flann Bec, son of Fiachu Muillethan, was an Irish dynast belonging to the Deirgtine, the proto-historical ancestors of the historical Eóganachta dynasties of Munster. He was the father of Luigthech, also known as Lugaid, and thus the grandfather of Conall Corc...
, grandfather of Conall Corc, but the arrangement changes from source to source.
Mongfind is simply called the daughter of Dáire (Cerbba?), not of Fidach, in the Book of Lismore
Book of Lismore
The Book of Lismore is a Medieval Irish manuscript.-Overview:The Book of Lismore is an Irish vellum manuscript, compiled in early 15th century, Lismore, Ireland. Its original name was Leabhar Mhic Cárthaigh Riabhaigh...
, and there Dáire's father is called Findchad, while Crimthand Mór is not mentioned at all. Thus the alternative exists they were not originally brother and sister.
Though he supposedly flourished in the 4th century AD, Dáire Cerbba is mentioned as an ancestor of the O'Donovan
O'Donovan
O'Donovan or Donovan is an Irish surname, as well as a hereditary Gaelic title. It is also written Dhonnabháin in certain grammatical contexts, and Donndubháin, being originally composed of the elements donn, meaning lord or dark brown, dubh, meaning dark or black, and the diminutive suffix án...
family, specifically the dynast Donnell II O'Donovan, Lord of Clan Cathail, in as late as the early 17th century, in song, by the bard
Bard
In medieval Gaelic and British culture a bard was a professional poet, employed by a patron, such as a monarch or nobleman, to commemorate the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities.Originally a specific class of poet, contrasting with another class known as fili in Ireland...
ic poet Tadhg Olltach Ó an Cháinte
Tadhg Olltach Ó an Cháinte
Tadhg Olltach Ó an Cháinte, Irish poet, fl. c. 1601.A member of the Ó an Cháintighe bardic family, and a relative of Fear Feasa Ó'n Cháinte, Tadhg Olltach is probably to be identified with 'Teige on Canty, of Clansheane', mentioned in a fiant of Elizabeth I dated 14 May 1601, along with his wife,...
.
Modern descendants of Dáire Cerbba may or may not include the O'Connells of Derrynane, Daniel Charles, Count O'Connell having explicitly declared this to the heralds of Louis XVI of France
Louis XVI of France
Louis XVI was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre until 1791, and then as King of the French from 1791 to 1792, before being executed in 1793....
. Also was Michael Collins
Michael Collins (Irish leader)
Michael "Mick" Collins was an Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for Finance and Teachta Dála for Cork South in the First Dáil of 1919, Director of Intelligence for the IRA, and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations. Subsequently, he was both Chairman of the...
, descending from the Ó Coileáin of Uí Chonaill Gabra, once the most powerful sept
Sept (social)
A sept is an English word for a division of a family, especially a division of a clan. The word might have its origin from Latin saeptum "enclosure, fold", or it can be an alteration of sect.The term is found in both Ireland and Scotland...
of the Uí Fidgenti.
King of Medón Mairtine
In a strange passage in the notably peculiar Munster epic Forbhais Droma Dámhgháire, Dáire Cerbba (Ceirbe) is said to have been king of Medón Mairtine, known to historians as the ancient capital of the MairtineMairtine
The Mairtine were an important people of late prehistoric Munster, Ireland, who by early historical times appear to have completely vanished from the Irish political landscape...
, a once prominent Érainn people. In fact the passage gives it the alternative names of "... Ardchluain na Féne and Mucfhalach Mac Dáire Ceirbe. This Ceirbe was king of Meáin Mairtine. This area is called Emly today..." However it does not specifically state that Dáire belonged to the Mairtine themselves, and perhaps of importance is the fact that this site was historically occupied by the Eóganachta
Eóganachta
The Eóganachta or Eoghanachta were an Irish dynasty centred around Cashel which dominated southern Ireland from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of Desmond, and its offshoot Carbery, well into the 16th century...
, for whom it was their chief church, namely Emly
Emly
Emly or Emlybeg is a village in South Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Clanwilliam. It is also an Ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly....
, which the author of FDD obviously recognizes. The Mairtine themselves belong only to prehistory and legend, but may be in part ancestral to the later Déisi Tuisceart and famous Dál gCais
Dál gCais
The Dál gCais were a dynastic group of related septs located in north Munster who rose to political prominence in the 10th century AD in Ireland. They claimed descent from Cormac Cas, or Cas mac Conall Echlúath, hence the term "Dál", meaning "portion" or "share" of Cas...
.