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Amerghin - “The Birth of Song”
“Among the Celts are honored poets called bards who to the music of harps (instruments like lyres) chant praise
of some, stire of others. Also they have philosophers called druids whom they hold in high veneration”
e e-Diodorus Sisculus (circa 60 B.C.E.)
In the Leabhar Gabhála or Irish Book of Invasions,
there is a fascinating account of the taking of Ireland traditions of Ireland. At that time, the poets of Ireland
by the Milesians the sons of Mil, from the Tuatha Dé were a mighty and powerful caste. A poet’s satire was
Dannan. According to records, the Tuatha Dé Dannan known to have the power to produce blisters of shame
with their knowledge of the magical arts whipped up in a victim and was even known to kill! Such is a power
a mighty storm in the face of the oncoming Milesians. attributed to the spoken Word.
In return, the poet Druid of the Milesians, Amerighin According to records of the time, the ruling classes
whose name is said to mean “Birth of Song” used became fed up with these poets, the filí of the time.
his spiritual knowledge to embody every element of They had become so numerous, demanding and
nature such that he was able to quell the storm. The arrogant that it was decided to abolish them . However,
Milesians landing on Irish shores , needless to say was the story goes that they were saved by Colm Cille also
a swift and smooth. The son of Mil, Goideal gave his known as Saint Columba, at “The Convention of Druim
name to the peoples of this Island – the Gales. His Ceat” in 575AD.
wife was the Egyptian princess Scotia from whom the Colmcille travelled by boat from the monastic settlement
Irish took another name “The Scotti”. Hence we have he had founded on Oileán Í or Iona, off the coast of
Scotland, Nova Scotia etc. Scotia’s grave is marked in the Scotland. According to a very old tradition, they had
mountains south of Tralee in the county of Kerry. him travel with a blindfold over his eyes and two sods of
For centuries, the learned classes of ancient Ireland held Scottish turf beneath his feet as he had pledged never to
a store of memory an oral tradition of the great wisdom set foot on Ireland again. At this meeting at Druim Ceat,
and stories of own fore-bearers passed from generation some agreement was made to allow the filí or poets to
to generation. This store of knowledge has largely been survive by limiting their numbers and their power.
lost elsewhere in the world, but in Ireland, the scribes Having studied poetry under the chief poet of Leinster
recorded the native lore in writing and thus, the world’s Colmcille was sympathetic to their class. An elaborate
oldest vernacular literary tradition is preserved for us elegy Amra Choluim Chille, was composed for him by a
today. blind poet named “Dallán Forgaill- whose name means -
In the 6th Century AD., a compromise was struck “the blind one of the testimony”. Dallán claimed to have
between the Christian monastic society and the pagan himself been made a “king” of Irish poets by Colmcille
Milky Way, Donegal © Brendan Alexander
263
“Among the Celts are honored poets called bards who to the music of harps (instruments like lyres) chant praise
of some, stire of others. Also they have philosophers called druids whom they hold in high veneration”
e e-Diodorus Sisculus (circa 60 B.C.E.)
In the Leabhar Gabhála or Irish Book of Invasions,
there is a fascinating account of the taking of Ireland traditions of Ireland. At that time, the poets of Ireland
by the Milesians the sons of Mil, from the Tuatha Dé were a mighty and powerful caste. A poet’s satire was
Dannan. According to records, the Tuatha Dé Dannan known to have the power to produce blisters of shame
with their knowledge of the magical arts whipped up in a victim and was even known to kill! Such is a power
a mighty storm in the face of the oncoming Milesians. attributed to the spoken Word.
In return, the poet Druid of the Milesians, Amerighin According to records of the time, the ruling classes
whose name is said to mean “Birth of Song” used became fed up with these poets, the filí of the time.
his spiritual knowledge to embody every element of They had become so numerous, demanding and
nature such that he was able to quell the storm. The arrogant that it was decided to abolish them . However,
Milesians landing on Irish shores , needless to say was the story goes that they were saved by Colm Cille also
a swift and smooth. The son of Mil, Goideal gave his known as Saint Columba, at “The Convention of Druim
name to the peoples of this Island – the Gales. His Ceat” in 575AD.
wife was the Egyptian princess Scotia from whom the Colmcille travelled by boat from the monastic settlement
Irish took another name “The Scotti”. Hence we have he had founded on Oileán Í or Iona, off the coast of
Scotland, Nova Scotia etc. Scotia’s grave is marked in the Scotland. According to a very old tradition, they had
mountains south of Tralee in the county of Kerry. him travel with a blindfold over his eyes and two sods of
For centuries, the learned classes of ancient Ireland held Scottish turf beneath his feet as he had pledged never to
a store of memory an oral tradition of the great wisdom set foot on Ireland again. At this meeting at Druim Ceat,
and stories of own fore-bearers passed from generation some agreement was made to allow the filí or poets to
to generation. This store of knowledge has largely been survive by limiting their numbers and their power.
lost elsewhere in the world, but in Ireland, the scribes Having studied poetry under the chief poet of Leinster
recorded the native lore in writing and thus, the world’s Colmcille was sympathetic to their class. An elaborate
oldest vernacular literary tradition is preserved for us elegy Amra Choluim Chille, was composed for him by a
today. blind poet named “Dallán Forgaill- whose name means -
In the 6th Century AD., a compromise was struck “the blind one of the testimony”. Dallán claimed to have
between the Christian monastic society and the pagan himself been made a “king” of Irish poets by Colmcille
Milky Way, Donegal © Brendan Alexander
263
