Nisi Mac Niata
| Nisi Mac Niata | |
|---|---|
| Died | South Leitrim, Ireland |
| Family | Conmaícne Rein tribe |
| Father | Niata |
| Religion | Celtic Christian |
| 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 (prounced 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 Saint Caillin. 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 Caillin 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 Caillin,
- 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 Co. 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 Caillin & 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 1700, pp. 4.
- ↑ Master 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 (1700). "Tadhg O Rodaighe to [Edward Lhwyd]" (PDF). Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, a document bound into MS 1318 (donated from Edward Lhuyd collection): Rev. J. H. Todd, D. D., ‘Autograph Letter of Thady O’Roddy’, The Miscellany of the Irish Archaeological Society 1 (1846), 112–125. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- John, Hynes (1931). "St. Caillin". Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 1931. JSTOR 25513584. (subscription required)
- Ó Donnabháin, Sean (1862). "The topographical poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na naomh O'Huidhrin.". Internet Archive, a non-profit library of millions of free books, and more. Irish Arachaeological and Celtic Society. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
External links
- Monks of Caillín, 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.
- Annals of the Four Masters, ed. & tr. John O'Donovan (1856). Annála Rioghachta Éireann. Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters... with a Translation and Copious Notes. 7 vols (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.
- O'Byrne, Charlie (1930s). "The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0225, Page 286". Duchas Ireland. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
- 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. (subscription required)
- Caonachán townland on logainm. "Placenames Database of Ireland, Caonachán/Keenaghan townland". Retrieved 20 August 2016.