Nisi Mac Niata | |
|---|---|
| Died | South Leitrim, Ireland |
| Family | Conmaícne Rein tribe |
| Father | Niata |
| Memorials | Moynish (plain of Nisi) |
Nisi Mac Niata (or Nissi Mac Niatach, fl. 560 AD) lived in 6th century Gaelic Ireland. Nothing is known of his life, but his death left a legacy for a millennium. Namely, the Túath where he died was renamed in his honour, and his brother Saint Caillín obtained a substantial honour price in compensation under Brehon Law, securing a revenue stream for the famous monastery of Fenagh.[1]
Life
Nisi (pronounced Nishy) was born in 6th century Gaelic Ireland, the son of Niata and brother of Saint Caillín, the patron saint of Fenagh.[2] He belonged to the tribe of Conmaicne-Rein who lived in present-day South Leitrim and West Longford. He was probably a noble or a priest, and close associate of his sibling Caillín. Little else is known of his life.
His death is described in both prose and rhyme by the ancient Book of Fenagh[3][4] along the following lines. Sometime in the 5th or 6th century, Nisi and Caillín journeyed from Ard-Carna Monastery in Roscommon eastwards towards Cora Droma Rúisc crossing the river Shannon to Magh-Cellachain ("the plain of Cellachan"), staying overnight at a place named the Bennachan,[5][n 1] in the home of Cellachan, who was not of the Conmaicne tribe.[6] Next morning for some unknown reason, Nisi was killed unlawfully by Cellachan who then had to pay Nisi's brother a substantial "body fine" and honour price in compensation.[2][7] Nisi was interred at Fenagh.
Legacy
For the following millennium, the locality where he died was known as Moynish[n 2] ("the plain of Nisi") in his honour.[2][8] Nisi's "honour price" became the perpetual claim by the monastic settlement at Fenagh to patronage from Moynish nobles.
From Cellachan the active,
The proud plain had been named;
Magh-Nissi, manifest famous,
Is its name from that time down.
Their land and their tributes,
Caillin got for the deed.[7]
The name of Nisi was forgotten when Gaelic Ireland collapsed in the 17th century. Irish nobles had their estates confiscated in the plantations of Leitrim.[10] The English incorporated Moynish into the barony of Leitrim and Cromwellian forces plundered Moynish in 1652.[11] Though forgotten today, the place name of Moynish is preserved by the Irish annals and English Fiants.[8]
Pedigree
The mythical pedigree of Nisi Mac Niata is as follows:[12]
- Nisi,
- brother of Caillín,
- Son of Niata, (or Niatach[2] and Niataig[13])
- Son of Duban,
- Son of Fraech,
- Son of Cumscrach,
- Son of Echt, (or Cecht[14])
- Son of Erc,
- Son of Eredal, (or Erdail[15])
- Son of Echt, (or Cecht[16])
- Son of Dubh,
- Son of Moghruadh, (or Medhruagh[14])
- Son of Nert,
- Son of Fornert,
- Son of Echt, (or Cecht[16])
- Son of Uisel,
- Son of Beire, (or Beiri[15])
- Son of Beidhbhe, (or Beidhbe[15])
- Son of Doilbhre,
- Son of Lugaid Conmac, (or Lughaidh[15])
- Son of Oirbsen Mór, ("Oirbsen the great". See also "Loch Oirbsen", in County Galway.[14])
- Son of Ethedon, (or Sethdon[14])
- Son of Seghda,
- Son of Art, (or Atri[14])
- Son of Allta, (or Alta[14])
- Son of Oghamun, (or Ogamun[14])
- Son of Fidhchar,
- Son of Doilbhre,
- Son of Eon,
- Son of Cetguine Calusach,
- Son of Mochta,
- Son of Mesoman, (or Mesamun[14])
- Son of Mogh Taeth,
- Son of Conmac, (the mythical ancestor of the Conmhaícne tribe.)
- Son of Fergus,
- Son of Rossa,
- Son of Rudraige.
Notes and references
Notes
- ↑ The Irish: Bennachan place name is obsolete, but may correspond to present-day Keenaghan townland (Irish: Caonachán) beside Carrick on Shannon
- ↑ Moynish was variously written as Irish: m. Nisi, M. Nisse, m. neisi, Magh-Nisi, mMuig Nise, Moigi Nise, Magh-Nise, and Magh-Nissi, English: Moy-Nissi, Mag Nise, Moynishy, and Moynishe, and also called "Upper Muintir Eolais" from the High Middle Ages onwards.[8][9]
Citations
- ↑ Fenagh Visitors Center.
- 1 2 3 4 Ó Donnabháin 1828, pp. 181.
- ↑ Monks of Caillín 1300–1350.
- ↑ Mac Phaidín Uí Mhaoil Chonaire 1516.
- ↑ Ó Donnabháin 1828, pp. 180.
- ↑ Ó Donnabháin 1828, pp. 186.
- 1 2 Ó Donnabháin 1828, pp. 187.
- 1 2 3 Hogan 1910, pp. M.
- ↑ Ó Donnabháin 1862, pp. xxxviii.
- ↑ O Rodaighe, p. 4.
- ↑ O'Byrne 1930, pp. 285–286.
- ↑ Ó Donnabháin 1828, pp. 5.
- ↑ Stalmans, Charles-Edwards 2007.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ó Donnabháin 1828, pp. 382, 383.
- 1 2 3 4 Ó Donnabháin 1828, pp. 383.
- 1 2 Ó Donnabháin 1828, pp. 6, 382, 383.
Primary sources
- Ó Donnabháin, Sean (1828). Book of Fenagh, Translation and Copious Notes (PDF). Fenagh, Leitrim, Ireland: Maolmhordha Mac Dubhghoill Uí Raghailligh. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
Secondary sources
- Hogan, Edmund (1910). "Onomasticon Goedelicum, locorum et tribuum Hiberniae et Scotiae, An index, with identifications, to the Gaelic names of places and tribes , M". University College Cork, Documents of Ireland. Edmund Hogan, SJ. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
- O Rodaighe, Tadhg. "Tadhg O Rodaighe to [Edward Lhwyd], [around May 1700]" (PDF). Oxford University Research Archive. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- John, Hynes (1931). "St. Caillin". The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 1931. 1 (1): 39–54. JSTOR 25513584. (subscription required)
- O'Byrne, Charlie (1930). "The Schools' Collection 1930s, Volume 0225, Page 286". Duchas Ireland. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
- Ó Donnabháin, Sean (1862). The topographical poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na naomh O'Huidhrin. Irish Arachaeological and Celtic Society. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
External links
- Monks of Caillín (1300–1350). old Book of St Caillín / Leabar Chaillín (no longer extant). Fenagh, Leitrim, Ireland: Ó Rodaighe. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
- Mac Phaidín Uí Mhaoil Chonaire, Muirgheas (1516). Book of Fenagh / Leabar Chaillín / Leabar Fidhnacha. Fenagh, Leitrim, Ireland: Tadhg Ó Rodaighe. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
- John O'Donovan, ed. (1856). Annála Rioghachta Éireann. Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters... with a Translation and Copious Notes. 7 vols. Translated by O'Donovan (2nd ed.). Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. CELT editions. Full scans at Internet Archive: Vol. 1; Vol. 2; Vol. 3; Vol. 4; Vol. 5; Vol. 6; Indices.
- Fenagh Visitors Center. "Fenagh history: St. Caillin". Fenagh.com. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
- Stalmans, Charles-Edwards, Nathalie, T. M. (2007). "Meath, saints of (act. c.400–c.900)', first published 2004; online edn". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Online: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) (subscription required) - Caonachán townland on logainm. "Placenames Database of Ireland, Caonachán/Keenaghan townland". Retrieved 20 August 2016.