TRYST OF A FLEET

The second of two medieval poems, (both) originally composed in Gaelic, celebrating the attempt by John MacSween, to retake Castle Sween, in Knapdale, Scotland. The poem brings to life the optimism and bravery of the defeated cause. It's reference to what is reputedly the earliest stone castle on the Scottish mainland illustrates 'the misfortune that outshone all others in the west'. Exactly who built this powerful structure, which overlooks the loch of the same name, before any king of Scots did the same remains a guess. The earliest reference to a 'Norse-Gael' Sween in Gaelic occurs in 1034 and is the best historical candidate for the clan's eponym: 'Suibne son of Cinead [Kenneth], King of the Foreigner-Gaels (Gal-Gaedhil), died. That was the year of King Duncan's accession to the throne, in the time of Thorfinn The Mighty and Macbeth of Moray.

The MacSweens had survived nearly three centuries of turbulent history as the Lords of Knapdale since then, when they launched their expedition in 1310. King Robert had already laid Buchan waste and daunted MacDougall, so that John showed much temerity in accepting a grant from the English king to all the lands his ancestors had enjoyed, provided he could recover them by force. The fleet with which he made his attempt is described exactly as if it belonged to an alliance of Irish Scots and Norsemen in the days before there was a Scottish nation. The poem is filled with the spirit of a bygone age.

"Tryst of a fleet against Castle Sween;

Welcome is the adventure in Ireland;

Horsemen travelling the billows;

Brown ships are being prepared for them.

Of quilted Hauberks is arrayed

The ship's prow in the form of jewels,

of warriors with brown-faced girdles.

They are Norsemen and Nobles."

They took their womenfolk with them, lying about in cushions, of satin and sendal in their ships, so confident were they of the outcome. But needless to say the MacSweens were scattered, and although some remained in Argyll for centuries to come, others carried the name to the Outer Hebrides, where they are found today in particularly large numbers in the Isle of Scalpay. 

(Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia.pg.66)

Tales of the Tinker No.7. The Lords of Fanad, and how they came to be inaugurated at Kilmacrennan.

O'Donovan and his colleague were almost at the end of Market Street, roughly twenty five yards from where the cobblestones ended and the dirt track began when they decided to pack up their gear for another day. The wind, which had been blowing for most of the day, making their task all the more difficult, had died down at last and the late afternoon sun began once more to shine.

Down on the strand the boats were back inside the safety of the harbour wall and McRory the elder and his son were busy landing their catch.

Father MacMahon was among the first to greet them and had, as usual, the pick of the baskets.

He had chosen two of the larger Lemon Sole and a fine looking Halibut with large brown spots.

After paying for them he headed back past the pub and stopped to converse with the younger Miss Keating, who was also on her way down to the strand to buy fish.

O' Donovan entered O'Donoghue's Pub at just past the half hour, finding the musicians already set up in their corner, next to the fireplace, tuning their instruments and arguing over which piece they would start with.

The old Chief entered the pub ten minutes later, just as the musicians began playing 'Lilli Bullero', joining O'Donovan at their usual table.

After taking off his tweed cap and having taken a good draught of the porter into his throat, the Chief began to speak in that quiet, low tone of his, and the following is what O'Donovan was able to remember and write down with his pen, later that evening:

"The children of Toirrdhealbhach Caoch here, namely: Toirrdhealbhach Ruadh, the best offspring of the north of Ireland for generosity and for prowess; and Conchubhar Balbh 'the Stammerer', a noble respected man was he, who won seven victories over the English and the Scots in Trian Congail (these were the seven victories: [1] a famous one at Skirry, [2] one at Dún na Fraoch, [3] one at the Abha Chorcra (Crimson River), [4] one at Clochán Salach, [5] a famous one at Slemish, [6] one in the plain of Sliabh Fhuadh, and [7] one in Lecale against the Savages), and it was in Scotland he spent the greater portion of his life; and Eamonn (these were the three sons of Margaret, daughter of O' Kane); and Donnchadh Garbh 'the Rough,' and Maghnus, and Maolmhuire Og (the three sons of the daughter of Cathal, son of Aodh Breifneach O' Conchubhair); and Eoin Buidhe 'the Yellow', the son of a concubine.

Of the war between Toirrdhealbhach Ruadh and his father's two brothers for the lordship of Fanad here: but we shall not recount their battles and conflicts with one another concerning that lordship, only stating the end of their contention. Toirrdhealbhach by violence assumed the chieftainship in the end. He was the first Mac Suibhne whom O'Domhnaill ever inaugurated. It was the successor of Columcille who used to inaugurate Mac Suibhne in lona as long as they remained in Scotland, but after their coming to Ireland, when they were not at enmity with one another, and they had power, they used to give the task of inauguration to O' Firghil, instead of having it done in lona by Columcille's successor.

A proof of that is this: no Mac Suibhne was ever proclaimed except in Columcille's precinct [that is, Kilmacrenan] , and if any were inaugurated elsewhere, he could not be long in power. And in confirmation thereof, O' Firghil gets five marks for every Mac Suibhne who is proclaimed there. But on this occasion Toirrdhealbhach conceded whatever he asked to O' Domhnaill for his making him chieftain in preference to those kinsmen of his, namely, Eoin and Murchadh, who were senior to himself. That is the reason why cows were exacted of each Mac Suibhne who was inaugurated from that time forward until Maolmhuire Mac Suibhne was installed [1461] . Maolmhuire did not give any cows, for he was strong and powerful, and his own tribe was in submission to him.

At one time after that Aodh Buidhe O'Néill sent messengers to Niall O' Domhnaill to announce to him that the English and foreigners were establishing great supremacy over himself and all his country, and to ask him to come and render him assistance. When Niall heard that, he sent information and couriers to his people and all his army to every place in which they were, and after they had gathered into one place, they set out spiritedly and courageously, and united with Aodh Buidhe O' Néill. They together marched against the English. Among the English there was a famous nobleman who was called 'The Knight', and who was the King's Deputy in Ireland. He came with a great hosting of all his supporters, English and Irish, against O' Domhnaill and his people, and they fought a fierce, bloody battle with one another. The English were all defeated there, and the knight himself was slain by O' Domhnaill and Clann Suibhne, and that rout has ever since been called the 'Rout of Branar'. It was then that the knight's mailcoat was captured. The mailcoat is a precious, treasured heirloom with successive generations of Clann Dálaigh (the Donnells), commemorating the victory which was won by themselves and Clann Suibhne.

It was Niall O' Domhnaill and this Mac Suibhne who first made a circuit of Leath Chuinn. They proceeded from Derry, east to Clannaboy, and to Lecale, and lveagh, and Meath. From Meath they moved westward into Offaley and Éile Uí Chearbhaill, and through all Connacht back again to Assaroe. It was this Mac Suibhne who with difficulty rescued the army of Niall O' Domhnaill on the day O' Domhnaill himself was captured by the English and his son Toirrdhealbhach slain. It was he also who, with Diarmaid O' Catháin, gave the defeat of Casán to Niall O' Domhnaill himself, to avenge the banishment of Clann Suibhne na dTuath. That same day Clann Suibhne na dTuath were drowned with the ships in which they put to sea in obedience to the decree of banishment. This also was the Mac Suibhne who was with Nechtain O' Domhnaill when he ate in Gallach the Christmas feast which was prepared for Aodh Buidhe O Néill, in spite of Aodh Buidhe and all his army. This Mac Suibhne and Nechtain O' Domhnaill defeated Enrí, son of Eoghan, O' Néill at the Rosses. These are not all his exploits, for there are many not here enumerated, and we consider it enough to write here a few of his great deeds. He was in the full lordship of his country for thirty-nine years.

Once there were prisoners of this Mac Suibhne we are speaking of in the hands of Enrí, son of Eoghan, O Neill, namely, his son and his own foster-brother. It happened that there were sixty marks of the ransom for them unpaid by Mac Suibhne, and he had gathered together that amount in full. The prisoners were to be forfeited if this ransom were not received for them on a particular day, and on that day Easter chanced to fall. Now a great number of poets came on a visit to Mac Suibhne on his return to the country from the expedition we have mentioned, and the resolution he came to, in spite of his people, was to distribute the ransom among the poets, and to forfeit his prisoners. He made this known to [Enrí] O' Neill, intimating to him that he might do whatever he pleased with the prisoners, for that he himself had bestowed the ransom upon the poets who came to visit him. When [Enrí] O' Neill heard that, he said that he would not be less generous regarding the ransom than Mac Suibhne was, and that he would return his prisoners to Mac Suibhne because he had so expended the money. [Enrí] O' Néill then gave back his prisoners to Mac Suibhne unredeemed, and in that way God wrought a miracle of generosity for Mac Suibhne's sake. For him were compiled these famous poems you have heard of, namely, 'Fanad Sanctuary of Generosity', 'Fanad Nurse of Generosity' and 'Fanad Well of Generosity', and many others which we shall not mention here.

These were the children of Toirrdhealbhach Ruadh, namely, Ruaidhrí, the eldest son, who was Mac Suibhne Fánad; and Toirrdhealbhach (a son of that Toirrdhealbhach was Brian, who inflicted the defeat of Cnoc na Lurgan on Cormac Dall MacCarthy, and a son of that Brian was Maolmuire, who with the Mac Carthys inflicted the defeat of Mainistir na Móna (Moume Abbey) on the Earl of Desmond); and Dubhdara, the third son of the daughter of Diarmaid O' Domhnaill; these children performed many great deeds which we shall not narrate now: and the five sons of Onóra Ní Mháille, namely, Domhnall, Maolmhuire, Eoghan Bacach, Aodh Buidhe, and Murchadh: and Maghnus Caoch, the son of the daughter of Dubhghall Mac Suibhne (he was a reputable, victorious constable all the time he was in Munster): and the two sons of the daughter of O' Néill Buidhe, Eimhear and Anradhán; and the son of the daughter of the erenagh O Sheerin, Ereamhán.

It was pitch black outside the pub by the time the old Chief left the place that evening, with most of the regulars well drunk and in full song. O'Donovan was as drunk as he'd been on his very first visit to the place and it was remarkable how he was able to make out his own handwriting the following morning, when he re-read what he'd written under candlelight the previous evening. He marvelled at the old Chieftain's capacity for holding his drink and promised himself he would only drink one or two pints the next time they met.

"The Assembled Fleet" By 'Blind' Arthur McGurkich

The assembled fleet at Castle Sween,
Pleasant tidings in Innisfail
Of all the riders of the waves,
A finer ship no man e'er owned.
Tall men did manage the ship,
Men, I think, to urge their way;
No hand without a champion,
A slashing, vigorous, noble band.
With coats of black all were supplied,
In this bark, noble their race,
Bands with their brown, broad belts,
Danes and nobles were they all.

Chieftains with ivory and gold
The crew on board this brown-sailed ship,
Each with a sheaf of warriors' spears,
Shields on their hooks hung round the sides.
Wide-spread wings, speckled sails,
Bearing purple, all of gems;
A long, handsom, gentle band,
Stood along the stout-made spars.

The blue sea at the swift ship's prow,
The ship laden when the tide is full;
Wattled baskets full of swords,
With shields all brought on board the bark.

Fair women, too, were in the ship,
Modest, Their beds were placed on high,
Spotted cusions were provided,
Couches for the nobles' wives.
Spotted coverings of fine linen,
This was the covering of the ship;
Handsome, easy, as she rocked,
Purple linen round each mast.

No hardened hands, no tightened belt,
Nor roughened by their usual toil;
Heroes were there, nor did they labour,
Bands of men of sweetest lips.
We heard not of so many nobles,
Of our isle from labour free;
From Erin princely champions,
A troup with soft and ruddy hair.

Not ship of all did she count swifter,
None has there been nor will be,
No sigh, no sorrow, and no grief,
Nor is there any end of all.

No ship of ships she counted swift,
Full of princely men she is,
Scattering gold among the bards
, While round the ship resounds the sea.

Many the men of sword and spear.
Many men quick in fight to mix;
Down by the sea the fighting men
Above, the gentle women were.

Who is he provides this fleet,
At Castle Sween of many hills?
A vigorous man who fears no blast,
His masts up raised, seeking his right.

JOHN M'SWEEN sail thou the ship,
On the ocean's fierce-topped back;
Raise aloft the vessel's masts,
Let thy bark now test the sea.

A leading wind then for them rose,
At Kyle Aca* as rose the tide;
The speckled sails were roundly bellied,
as John ran swiftly for the land.

We entered the cheerful anchorage
in the bay of fruitful Knapdale;
The noble hero, lordly, shapely,
Comely, masted, swift, victorious,
He was then near Albin's walls,
Helpful, welcoming his men.

Fair was then the youthful hero,
Abundant dew distilling round,
Favourable at Slieve Mun's streams,
To MAC SWEEN, him of Slieve Mis.

Speakers then come near to ask,
They deal as with him of the sharpest eye.
Branches are laid beneath their knees,
To welcome those of valour great.

Their safety in each harbour nook
Suffers from the welcome they give John.
The men of Albin's isles then come
With welcome from the narrow sea.
The men who sweetest are that sing,
Tenfold welcomes to him bring.

For a while there was a conflict,
Between them and our men of song;
They come at last to know full well,
How fair the hill from whence came John.

Then did we fight at Castle Sween,
Just as a slender, furious hawk,
We set us down around that rock,
Every limb endowed with strength.

We pierced the bodies of our foes,
Just as a serpent fiercely wounds;
Our thin-bladed, well-edged swords,
The foreigners' bodies fiercely hacked.

We raised the cry of great MAC SWEEN,
Amidst the rolling of the sea;
True it is that roll won't help,
Broad-backed, long although it be,
Their javelins have no power to pierce
The shields which our brown coats protect.

Rathlin of the sharp rocks, hears
The music of our ringing swords.
The thin-bladed sword, in Europe best,
A spear that swift obeys the wish,
What shield on earth can it resist?

Fierce and fearless Erin's sons.
JOHN MAC SWEEN of stratagems
With his thin, powerful, cutting sword,
He whose shield is spotted brown,
A blind man found him brave and wise.

(From the "Dean of Lismore's Book"
page 151)