Nisi Mac Niata

Nisi (pronounced 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 Caillín. 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 Caillín 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.

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]

The mythical pedigree of Nisi Mac Niata is as follows:[12]

• Nisi,
• brother of Caillín,
• 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.