Tailtiu
TailtiuorTailltiu(Old Irish pronunciation:[ˈtalʲtʲu];modern spelling:Tailte[1]) is the name of a presumedgoddessfromIrish mythology.The goddess's name is linked toTeltown(< OIÓenach Tailten) in Co. Meath, site of theÓenachTailten. A legendarydindsenchas"lore of places" poem relates a myth connecting the presumed goddess Tailtiu with the site.[2]However, linguistic analysis of the name reveals that Tailtiu as a place-name derives from a loan word of Brythonic origin represented by the Welshtelediw"well formed, beautiful."[3]The mythological character of Tailtiu likely derives her name from the place-name.
In Irish mythology
[edit]According to theBook of Invasions,Tailtiu was the wife ofEochaid mac Eirc,lastFir BolgHigh King of Ireland,who named his capital after her (Teltown,betweenNavanandKells). She survived the invasion of theTuatha Dé Danannand became the foster mother ofLugh.[4]
Tailtiu is said to have died of exhaustion after clearing the plains ofIrelandfor agriculture. Lugh established a harvest festival and funeral games,Áenach Tailteann,in her honour, which continued to be celebrated as late as the 18th century.[4]
In Irish history
[edit]The firstÁenach Tailteann,later theTailtin Fair,was held atTeltown.Historically, theÁenach Tailteannwas a time for contests of strength and skill, and a favoured time for contracting marriages and winter lodgings. A peace was declared at the festival, and religious celebrations were also held. Aspects of the festival survive in the celebrations ofLughnasadh,and were revived as the Teltown Games for a period in the twentieth century.[4]
A similar Lughnasadh festival was held at Carmun (whose exact location is under dispute). Similar to Tailtiu, the festival atCarmunis celebrated by adindsenchaspoem that provides a psedo-etymology for the site. The poem claims that the festival is named after the mythological Carmun, in a tale similar to that of Tailtiu. But as with Tailtiu, this mythological figure likely derives its name from the place-name.
In historical times the town of Tailtiu was where the principal assembly of the earlyUí Néilldynasties was held.
From the Locus Project at CELT, Tailte had one or two raths [residence(s)] in Munster:
- ráith canann: a ráith of queen Tailte, LL 201; cf. Rathcannon tl., Co. Limerick
- ráith con: rath of queen Tailte, LL 201; in Tuath Tailten, UM 165b, Lec. 514, Stowe D ii 2, 656; cf. Rathcon, in dry. and d. Cashel, Tax
Rathcanann and Rath Con may or may not be identical.
Annalistic references
[edit]SeeAnnals of Inisfallen(AI)
- M1095. Taillti, inghen Domhnaill Guitt
- U1127. Tailltiu ingen Murchadha H. Mael Sechlainn benTairrdhelbaigh H. Concobuir
- M1170. Taillte, inghen Muirchertaigh Uí Mhaoil Sechlainn, ben Domhnaill mic Murchadha Uí Fherghail, taoisechMuintire Anghaile,d'écc isin cethrachtmhadh bliadhain a h-aoisi./Taillte, daughter of Muircheartach Ua Maeleachlainn, and wife of Domhnall, son of Murchadh Ua Fearghail, chief of Muintir-Anghaile, died in the fortieth year of her age.
- M1171. Tailltin, inghen Conchobhair Uí Maoil Sechlaind, ben Iomhair Uí Chathasaigh, tigherna Saithne.
References
[edit]- ^Dinneen, Patrick S.,ed. (1927). "Luġ".Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla: an Irish–English dictionary, being a thesaurus of the words, phrases and idioms of the modern Irish language(New edition, revised and greatly enlarged ed.). Dublin: Irish Texts Society. p. 684.
- ^Gwynn, E., trans., "Poem 33: Tailtiu,"The Metrical Dindshenchas,http:// ucc.ie/celt/published/T106500D/index.html
- ^Binchy, D.A., ‘The Fair of Tailtiu and the Feast of Tara,’ Ériu 18 (1958) 113-138.
- ^abcMacKillop, James (1998)A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology.Oxford, Oxford University Press.ISBN0-19-280120-1pp.309-10, 395-6, 76, 20