Cath Gabhra na mBéimionn

By ‘S.S.Ó C.’ from Ó Siochfhradha, Pádraig. ND. Bruighean Eochaidh Bhig Dheirg. Comhlucht Oideachais na hÉireann: Corcaigh.

Iníon álainn a bhí ag Cairbre Lifechair, ardrí Éireann, agus Scéimhsholas b’ainm di. Tháinig Maolsheachlainn, mac rí na nDéiseach, á hiarraidh mar bhean. Bhí sé de phribhléid ag an bhFiann nach bhféadfaí aon bhean a thabhairt d’fhear in Éirinn gan í a thairscint faoi thrí don bhFiann i dtosach. Bhí Cairbre chun Scéimhsholas a thabhairt do Mhaolsheachlainn gan í a thairscint don bhFiann ar chor ar bith. Nuair a chuala Fionn agus na Fianna é sin, chuireadar teachta chun Cairbre ag éileamh cánach i ngeall ar nár ghéill agus nach ngéillfeadh go deo arís.

A beautiful daughter was had by Cairbre Lifechair, the High King of Ireland, and Scéimhsholas was her name. Maolsheachlann, the king of the Decies, came asking for her as a wife. It was the privilege of the Fianna that no woman could be given to any man in Ireland without offering her three times to the Fianna first. Cairbre was going to give Scéimhsholas to Maolcheachlainn without offering her to the Fianna at all. When Fionn and the Fianna heard that, they send a messenger to Cairbre demanding a fine on account that he didn’t yield and wouldn’t yield ever again.

Chuir sé teachta ansin chun Rí Uladh agus chun Rí Laighean agus chun Rí na Mumhan. Thánadarsan chuige agus shocraíodar eadarthu gan géilleadh feasta do na Fianna ach iad a dhíbirt glan amach as an tír ar fad. Iar na gclos sin d’Fhionn d’fhógair sé cath ar Chairbre. Is ansin a chuir Cairbre teachta ar cheann gan rí agus uasail dá raibh in Éirinn agus thosaigh Fionn agus na Fianna a bhailiú, freisin, as gach aird ina rabhadar.

He sent a messenger then to the King of Ulster and to the King of Leinster and to the King of Munster. They came to him and they arranged between them to no longer yield to the Fianna but to expel them clean out of the country entirely. After Fionn hearing that he declared battle on Cairbre. It is then that Cairbre sent a messenger to those without a king and nobles that were in Ireland and Fionn and the Fianna began to gather, also, from every direction in which they were.

Tháinig an dá shlua le chéile ar shliabh Gabhra agus troideadh cath mór eadarthu, an cath is mó tugadh in Éirinn riamh. Thit Oscar mac Oisín sa chath agus ní thug an Fhiann aon chath ón am sin amach. Briseadh cumhacht na Féinne an lá sin. Thit Cairbre sa chath, freisin.

The two armies came together upon the hill of Gabhra and a great battle was fought between them, the largest battle ever fought in Ireland. Oscar son of Oisín fell in the battle and the Fianna did not fight any battles from that time on. The power of the Fianna was broken that day. Cairbre fell in the battle, also.

*Deir cuid de na hAnnálacha gur sa bhliain 283 A.D. a tugadh Cath Gabhra.

*Some of the Chronicles say that the Battle of Gabhra was fought in 283 A.D.

Adapted from: Breathnach, Micheál. 1932. Prós na Fiannaidheachta. Comhlucht Oideachais Na hÉireann: Dublin.