The Voyage of Máel Dúin’s Boat

There was a famous man of the Eoganacht of Ninuss (that is, the Eoganacht of the Arans): his name was Ailill of the ‘Edge of Battle’. A mighty soldier was he, and a hero lord of his own tribe and kindred. And there was a young nun, the prioress of a church of nuns, with whom he met. Between them both there was a noble boy, Máel Dúin, son of Ailill.

This is the way according to which Máel Dúin’s conception and his birth came to pass. Once upon a time the king of the Eoganacht went on a raid into another district and province and with him fared Ailill of the Edge of Battle. They unyoked and encamped on an upland therein. There was a church of nuns near to that upland. At midnight, then, when everyone had ceased moving in the camp, Ailill went to the church. It was the hour that the (aforesaid) nun went to strike the bell for nocturne. Ailill caught her hand, and threw her down, and lay with her.

Said the woman to him: ‘Unblessed is our state’. Saith she: ‘(for) this is the time for my conceiving. Which is thy race and what is thy name?’

Said the hero: ‘Ailill of the Edge of Battle is my name ‘(and I am) of the Eoganacht of Ninuss in Thomond.’

Then after ravaging and taking hostages, the king returned to his district, Ailill also being with him.

Soon after Ailill had reached his tribe, marauders of Leix slew him. They burnt (the church named) Dubcluain upon him.

At the end of nine months the woman brought forth a boy, and gave him a name, Máel Dúin was he. The boy was afterwards taken secretly to her friends, even to the king’s queen; and by her Máel Dúin was reared; and she gave out that she was his mother.

Now the one foster-mother reared him and the king’s three sons, in one cradle, and on one breast, and on one lap.

Beautiful, indeed, was his form; and it is doubtful if there has been in flesh anyone as beautiful as he. So he grew up till he was a young warrior and fit to use weapons. Great then, was his brightness and his gaiety and his playfulness. In his play he outwent all his comrades, both in throwing balls and running, and leaping, and putting stones, and racing horses. He had, in sooth, the victory in each of those games. One day, then, a certain soldier warrior grew envious against him, and he said in transport and anger: ‘Thou’, saith he, ‘whose clan and kindred no one knows, whose mother and father no-one knows, vanquish us in every game, whether we contend with you on land or on water, or on the draughtboard!’

So then Máel Dúin was silent, for till then he had thought that he was a son of the king and of the queen his foster-mother. Then he said to his foster-mother: ‘I will not dine and I will not drink until thou tell me’, saith he, ‘my mother and my father’. ‘But’, saith she, ‘why art thou inquiring after that? Do not take to heart the words of the haughty warriors. I am thy mother.’ Saith she: ‘The love of the people of the earth for their sons is no greater than the love I bear to you’.

‘That may be’ he said: ‘nevertheless, make known my parents to me’.

So his foster-mother went with him, and delivered him into his (own) mother’s hand; and thereafter he entreated his mother to declare his father to him.’

‘Silly’, saith she, ‘is what you art adoing, for if you shouldst know thy father ‘you hast no good of him, and you shalt be the gladder, for he died long ago’.

‘Tis the better for me to know it’, saith he, ‘however’.

Then his mother told him the truth. ‘Ailill of the Edge of Battle was thy father’, saith she, ‘of the Eoganacht of Ninuss’.

Then Máel Dúin went to his fatherland and to his own heritage, having his (three) foster-brothers with him; and beloved warriors were they. And then his kindred welcomed him, and bade him be of good cheer.

At a certain time afterwards there was a number of warriors in the graveyard of the church of Dubcluain, putting stones. So Máel Dúin’s foot was planted on the scorched ruin of the church, and over it he was flinging the stone. A certain poison-tongued man of the community of the church, Briccne was his name – said to Máel Dúin: ‘It were better,’ saith he,’ to avenge the man who was burnt there than to cast stones over his bare burnt bones’.

Who (was) that ?’ saith Máel Dúin.

Ailill’, saith he, ‘thine (own) father’.

Who killed him ?’ asked Máel Dúin.

Briccne replied: ‘Marauders of Leix,’ saith he, ‘and they destroyed him on this spot’.

Then Máel Dúin threw away the stone (which he was about to cast), and took his mantle round him, and his armour on him; and he was mournful thereat. And he asked the way to wend to Leix, and the guides told him that he could only go by sea.

So he went into the country of Corcomroe to seek a charm and a blessing of the wizard who dwelt there, to begin building a boat. (Nuca was the wizard’s name and it is from him that Boirenn Nuca is named). He told Máel Dúin the day on which he should begin the boat, and the number of the crew that should go in her, to wit, seventeen men, or sixty according to others. And he (also) told him that no number greater or less than that should go; and he (lastly) told him the day he should set to sea.

Then Máel Dúin built a three-skinned boat; and they who were to go in it in his company were ready. Germán was there and Diurán the Rhymer. So then he went to sea on the day that the wizard had told him to set out. When they had gone a little from land after hoisting the sail, then came into the harbour after them his three foster-brothers, the three sons of his foster-father and foster-mother; and they shouted to them to come back again to them to the end that they might go with them. (more ...)