Guaire ar Aonach Tailteann
Chuaigh Guaire, Rí na gConnacht, go hAonach Tailteann uair. Thug sé mála mór airgid leis d’fhonn é a roinnt ar fhir Éireann. As náire, d’ordaigh Diarmaid, Ardrí na hÉireann, roimh ré nach mbeadh sé de chead ag éinne aon ní a iarraidh ar Guaire ar an aonach. “Is gnách leis an bhfear seo a chuid saibhris a roinnt go fial oraibh ag a theach féin,” ar seisean. “Ach thug mise cuireadh dhó teacht chugamsa anseo ar an Aonach. Mar sin, níl sé de chead ag éinne anseo i láthair, pé acu bocht nó saibhir é, ní a iarraidh ar Ghuaire an fhaid a bheidh sé ar cuairt agamsa.”
Guaire, the King of the people of Connacht, once went to the Tailtin Fair. He brought a great bag of money with him, wanting to share it with the men of Ireland. Out of shame, Diarmaid, the High King of Ireland, ordered beforehand that no one would be permitted to ask anything of Guaire at the fair. “It is usual with this man to share his wealth generously with you at his own home,” he said. “But I myself invited him to come to me here at the Fair. As such, no one here present has permission, whether he is poor or rich, to ask anything of Guaire as long as he will be visiting me.”
Chuaigh Guaire ar an Aonach agus shuigh sé in aice leis an Ardrí. Ba mhian le Diarmaid gach onóir a thabhairt dó, agus chuir sé ina shuí ar a láimh dheas féin é ar an ardán ríoga. Dhá lá a bhí Guaire suite ansiúd agus na comórtaisí ar siúl. B’ait leis gan éinne a theacht chuige. An tríú lá labhair sé le Diarmaid.
Guaire went to the Fair and he sat next to the High King. Diarmaid wanted to give every honour to him, and he put him sitting on his own right side on the royal dias. For two days Guaire was seated there and the competitions taking place. It was odd for him to not have anyone coming to him. The third day, he spoke with Diarmaid.
“Féach, a Dhiarmaid,” ar seisean, “glaotar easpag chugam go ndéana mé m’fhaoistin leis agus go gcuirtear an ola dhéanach orm.”
“Cad ina thaobh sin?” arsa Diarmaid.
“An bás a bheith i mo chóngar,” arsa Guaire.
“Cad faoi deara duit sin a cheapadh?” arsa Diarmaid.
“Watch, oh Diarmaid,” he said, “call a bishop to me that I may make my confession to him and that the consecrated oil will be put on me.”
“What for?” asked Diarmaid.
“Death is near me,” said Guaire.
“Why do you think that?” asked Diarmaid.
“Cad ina thaobh nár chomhartha báis domhsa é” arsa Guaire “fir Éireann, idir bhocht agus saibhir, a bheith cruinnithe anseo agus gan oiread agus aon bhochtán amháin a theacht chugamsa ag iarraidh ní éigin orm?”
“How is it not a sign of death for me” arsa Guaire, “for the men of Ireland, both poor and rich, to be gathered here and not so much as a single poor person coming to me asking something of me?”
“Thug mise ordú dhóibh gan aon ní a iarraidh ort an fhaid a bheifeá ar cuairt agam,” arsa Diarmaid. “Ach más mar sin atá an scéal, ní chuirfidh mise cosc le héinne ní a iarraidh ort feasta. Seo mála airgid uaimse dhuit.”
“I gave them an order not to ask anything of you for as long as you would be visiting me,” said Diarmaid. “But if that is how the story is, I will not ban anyone from asking things of you henceforth. Here is a bag of money from me to you.”
“Dhe!” arsa Guaire, “tá airgead mo dhóthain agam féin.”
D’éirigh Guaire ansin agus roinn sé an t-airgead ar chách lena dhá láimh. Ba mhór é meas fear Éireann air agus thogh siad mar cheann comhairle dhóibh féin é ón lá sin amach.
“Oh!” said Guaire, “I have enough money myself.”
Guaire arose then and he shared the money with everyone with his two hands. Great was the respect of the men of Ireland for him and they elected him as their Head of Council from that day on.
Adapted from: Ó hUallacháin, Peadar. ND. Ór-Chnuas. Brún agus Ó Nualláin: Baile Átha Cliath.
