Émonn Ó Braonain

A resident of Baile Adhaimh (now Adamstown), County Westmeath, his father's name was Tomás. He was succeeded by his son, Oliver, who was dispossessed in the 1650s. His family were of the Cenél nEnnae of the Southern Uí Néill. According to Paul Walsh (priest), "The name of O Braonáin is still common in the parish of Castletown, which lies a few miles to the south of the hill of Uisneach, Baile Ui Bhraonáin, now Brennanstown, in the same parish."

Ó Braonain was the subject of a 36 verse lament, Caoineadh Émonn Ó Braonain, written sometime after his death. Paul Walsh had the following to say of the poem:

"The poem is anonymous in the manuscript. It was evidently written by one who had a training in the schools, possibly by an Cobhthaigh. That family gave many poets to Ireland, and the name was well represented in the neighbourhood of Adamstown in the seventeenth century."

Verse 11 describes the subject as "graceful hand/a loss to the poets/a friend to the churches/to his family his death is an evil/ and to the plain of white Meath a sorrow."

The first three verses of the poem are given:

• Coitchenn cumha chloinne Néill,
• do throim-loit orchra íad-séin,
• cáoimh-chletha do clódh ré tan,
• dáoir-chetha on mbrón dá mbáthadh.
• Monúar atáid go tríamhuin
• sliocht tuirseach Néill Náoighíalluigh,
• an ceólchuire fár ghin goimh
• nimh eólchuire dhá n-argoin.
• Táinicc an chumhaidh c[h]oitchenn
• go tteidhm bfíochdha bfornoicht-tenn
• fán rígh-ealbha ó Bhóinn na mbenn,
• mí-mheanma dhóibh an dílghenn.

Translation:

• Universal is the grief of Niall's progeny, death
• hath sorely pained them : fair warriors are
• overpowered for a time, while showers of
• sorrow flood upon them.
• Alas, Niall Naoighiallach*s race is lamenting
• in sorrow — grief has taken the place of merry
• making — the sting of regret is overpowering them.
• This universal grief has come together with a
• raging destructive pestilence upon the royal
• houses of Boyne of the peaks, the death is
• a loss of courage to them.

• Gleanings from Irish Manuscripts, National Library of Scotland