Nisi Mac Niata
| Nisi Mac Niata | |
|---|---|
 one man killing another with his axe | |
| Family | Conmaícne Rein tribe |
| Father | Niata |
| Died | South Leitrim, Ireland |
| Religion | Celtic Christian |
| Memorials | Moynish (plain of Nisi) |
Nisi Mac Niata (or Nissi Mac Niatach, fl. 560 AD) lived in 6th century Gaelic Ireland. Scant details of his life are known, but his death and legacy are described in the Book of Fenagh.[1][2][3]
His killing left a legacy for a millennium. Namely, the Túath where he died was named the plain of Nisi in his honour, the burial place of the Irish: Conmhaícne "Conmaicne" nobility was established at his grave site, and Saint Caillín, his next of kin, obtained a substantial honour price in compensation under Brehon Law, helping sustain a famous monastic center at Fenagh, Leitrim, Ireland.
Life and Death
Nisi (prounced Nishy) was born in 6th century Gaelic Ireland, the son of 'Niata and brother of Saint Caillín, patron saint of Fenagh.[1] He belonged to the tribe of Irish: Conmhaícne-Maighe-Rein "Conmaicne-Rein", a people who lived in present day South Leitrim and West Longford. He was probably a close associate of Caillin, as they were siblings in the same Túath, and travelling companions when Nisi died.[1] His life and deeds are unknown, but his legacy suggests a person of high standing.
Nisi and Caillin journeyed from Ard-Carna Monastery in Roscommon eastwards towards Irish: Cora Droma Rúisc (present day Carrick on Shannon[1]), crossing the river shannon into the region called Magh-Cellachain ("the plain of Cellachan"). Here, they stopped in the "Bennachan[n 1]", resting at the residence of Cellachan, who was probably not of the Conmaicne.[5]
Next morning, Caillin set out for a place called Tulach-na-crot ("the hill of the harps"), somewhere on the road to Fenagh, County Leitrim. The "slumbering" Nisi, who had been left behind, was killed by Cellachan,[1][6] though the circumstances surrounding his death are unknown.
Nisi was buried at Fenagh and "Then it was that Caillin established the burial place of the Irish: Conmaicni, to wit, Irish: Fidnacha[1]".
Legacy
Afterwards, the Túath where Nisi died was popularly called the plain of Nisi (Irish: Magh-Nisi "Moynish"[7]) in his honour, and Saint Caillin was granted a perpetual right to profit from Moynish lands as Irish: Log nEnech "honour price" for the death of Nisi.[1] This patronage would help the viability of "a famous monastic settlement at Fenagh".[8] Ó Donnabháin (1828) translated the original prose as follows:
- "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".[6]
The legacy of Nisi ended when Gaelic Ireland collapsed in the 17th century. Most native nobles of Moynish had their lands confiscated for plantations, severing their patronage of Fenagh Abbey: "the nobility of the Irish line, who would encourage and support their posterity, lost all their estates too, so that the antiquaryes posterity were forced to follow husbandry, etc., to get their bread, for want of patrons to support them. Honos alit artes[9]".
The English incorporated Moynish into the barony of Leitrim, and in 1652, Cromwellian forces plundered the region (and Fenagh Abbey too: "At the time of Cromwell, Fenagh was persecuted .. terrible things happened to Fenagh[10]").
Legend
The primary source for Nisi is the Book of Fenagh,[1] but Hynes (1931) doubts the veracity of the work- "Though the explanations given are interesting, they must be regarded as legendary".[11] Nonetheless, the English Fiants, Annals of the Four Masters, ed. & tr. John O'Donovan (1856), and Onomasticon Goedelicum,[7] a survey of Irish Annals, confirm the plain of Nisi was a Túath[n 2] of medieval Leitrim, and Gaelic Ireland[n 3].
Pedigree
The mythical pedigree of Nisi Mac Niata is as follows:[13]
- Nisi,
- brother of Caillin,
- Son of Niata, (or Niatach[1] and Niataig[14])
- Son of Duban,
- Son of Fraech,
- Son of Cumscrach,
- Son of Echt, (or Cecht[15])
- Son of Erc,
- Son of Eredal, (or Erdail[16])
- Son of Echt, (or Cecht[17])
- Son of Dubh,
- Son of Moghruadh, (or Medhruagh[15])
- Son of Nert,
- Son of Fornert,
- Son of Echt, (or Cecht[17])
- Son of Uisel,
- Son of Beire, (or Beiri[16])
- Son of Beidhbhe, (or Beidhbe[16])
- Son of Doilbhre,
- Son of Lugaid Conmac, (or Lughaidh[16])
- Son of Oirbsen Mór, ("Oirbsen the great". See also Irish: 'Loch Oirbsen' "Lough Corrib", in Co. Galway.[15])
- Son of Ethedon, (or Sethdon[15])
- Son of Seghda,
- Son of Art, (or Atri[15])
- Son of Allta, (or Alta[15])
- Son of Oghamun, (or Ogamun[15])
- Son of Fidhchar,
- Son of Doilbhre,
- Son of Eon,
- Son of Cetguine Calusach,
- Son of Mochta,
- Son of Mesoman, (or Mesamun[15])
- 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 place name of Bennachan is obsolete,[4] though the townland of Irish: Caonachán "Keenaghan", near Carrick on Shannon, has similar grammatical and phonetical form to "Bennachan".
- ↑ "Moynish was sometimes called "Upper Irish: Muintir Eolais" from the High Middle Ages onwards[7][12]"
- ↑ "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
Citations
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 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.
- ↑ Fenagh Visitors Center.
- ↑ O Rodaighe 1700, pp. 4.
- ↑ Master O'Byrne 1930, pp. 285-286.
- ↑ Hynes 1931, pp. 50.
- ↑ Ó Donnabháin 1862, pp. xxxviii.
- ↑ 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.