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

  1. ↑ The Irish: Bennachan place name is obsolete, but may correspond to present-day Keenaghan townland (Irish: Caonachán) beside Carrick on Shannon
  2. ↑ 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

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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2016. 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.

  • 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.
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