Togail Bruidne Dá Derga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Togail Bruidne Dá Derga |
|
|---|---|
| "The Destruction of Dá Derga's Hostel" | |
| Also known as | Orgain Bruidne Uí Dergae ("The Massacre of Ua Derga's Hostel") (first recension) |
| Language | Old Irish and Middle Irish |
| Manuscript(s) | Three recensions: Recension I: RIA MS 23 N 10; BL MS Egerton 88; NLI MS G 7; TCD MS H 3.18; Lebor na hUidre |
| Genre | prose narrative of the Ulster Cycle and Cycle of the Kings |
| Personages | protagonists: Conaire Mór son of Eterscél, Da Derga, Mac Cécht, Conall Cernach, Ingcél Cáech, sons of Dond Désa; Lé Fer Flaith, son of Conaire; etc. |
Togail Bruidne Dá Derga (which means The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel) is an old Irish story. It is part of the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, a collection of tales about heroes and kings. This story is found in different versions, called recensions, written in Old Irish and Middle Irish. One famous copy is in the Book of Dun Cow.
The tale tells the exciting life and sad death of Conaire Mór. He was a legendary High King of Ireland. Conaire Mór is killed at a place called Da Derga's Hostel. This happens because he breaks his geasa, which are like special rules or forbidden actions he must never do. This story is thought to be one of the best early Irish sagas, similar to the well-known Táin Bó Cúailnge.
The story shows a feeling of coming disaster. The king is forced by events to break one special rule after another. This idea of fate and unavoidable doom is very old and not based on Christian beliefs. The way the story is told, with repeated phrases, shows that it was likely passed down by people telling it aloud before it was written. Many people compare the feeling of this story to ancient Greek tragedy, where heroes often face a sad fate.
Contents
What Happens in the Story?
The story begins with King Conaire Mór already having broken some of his important geasa (special rules). He travels south along the coast of Ireland. He is told to spend the night at Da Derga's Hostel.
As he gets close to the hostel, he sees three men dressed in red, riding red horses. They arrive at the hostel before him. Conaire realizes that three red men have entered the house of a red man (because "Dá Derga" means "Red God"). This means he has broken another one of his geasa.
The Attack on the Hostel
Conaire's three foster-brothers, the sons of Dond Désa, had been sent away to Alba (Britain) for their crimes. They had teamed up with Ingcél Cáech, the king of the Britons. Now, they were raiding across Ireland with a large group of followers. They decide to attack Da Derga's Hostel.
The attackers try to burn the hostel down three times, but each time the fire is put out. Conaire is protected by his brave fighters, Mac Cécht and the Ulster hero Conall Cernach. Before he even gets to his weapons, Conaire kills six hundred enemies. Then, with his weapons, he kills another six hundred.
A King's Last Moments
Conaire becomes incredibly thirsty because of a magical curse. He asks for a drink, but all the water has been used to put out the fires. Mac Cécht travels all over Ireland with Conaire's cup, but no rivers will give him water.
He finally returns with a cup of water. But it is too late. He sees two men cutting off Conaire's head. Mac Cécht quickly kills both of them. The battle continues for three more days. Mac Cécht is eventually killed, but Conall Cernach manages to escape.
How the Story Was Written Down
The story of Togail Bruidne Dá Derga exists in three main versions, or "recensions." These are like different editions of the same book, written at different times or by different people.
Recension I: The Shortest Version
Recension I is the oldest and shortest version of the story. It gives a quick summary of the main events. It is also known as Orgain Bruidne Uí Dergae (The Massacre of Ua Derga's Hostel). This name helps tell it apart from the later versions.
- It can be found in old manuscripts like 23 N 10 (at the RIA), Egerton 88 (at the BL), G 7 (at the NLI), H 3.18 (at TCD), and Lebor na hUidre (LU).
Recension II: The Most Famous Version
Recension II is the most well-known version of the story. It is a mix of different parts, which means it might have been put together from two or three earlier stories. Some experts think the person who wrote this version used many different written and spoken stories to create it.
- You can find this version in manuscripts like Yellow Book of Lecan (YBL), RIA MS D IV 2, Lebor na hUidre (LU), and Egerton 1782.
Recension III: The Longest Version
Recension III is the newest and longest version. It includes even more details and other stories. For example, it has a list of kings and a version of Tochmarc Étaine (another Irish tale). It also contains more "dindsenchas" lore, which are stories about the names and history of places.
How the Story Influenced Others
The story of Togail Bruidne Dá Derga has had an impact on other works.
- Another related tale is called De Sil Chonairi Móir.
- Some people believe that parts of Geoffrey Chaucer's famous poem, The House of Fame, were inspired by Togail Bruidne Da Derga.
- A version of this old saga also appears in the second half of a 1938 novel called Sons of the Swordmaker, written by the Irish author Maurice Walsh.
