Ceann Coradh
The Poem ' Ceann Coradh ' was written by Mac Liag, Poet Lauriet and story keeper for the Irish High King Brian Boru. Contemporary writers place Kincora in the north-east corner of County Clare near Lough Derg which is part of the Shannon River system.
Commanding an important ford on the Shannon, Killaloe has been a place of strategic importance for thousands of years. Its greatest claim to historical fame is as the site of ' Kincora ' the place of Brian Boru, the 11th century High King of Ireland and one of its most powerful rulers of all time. The Brian Boru royal residence stood on the summit of the hill, above the bridge at Killaloe. This great king lived here from 1002 to 1014. At the hight of Boru power Kincora was a massive fort rich in wealth and harvest and became the centre of authority and capital of Ireland. Here is the translation of the poem ' Ceann Coradh '
Commanding an important ford on the Shannon, Killaloe has been a place of strategic importance for thousands of years. Its greatest claim to historical fame is as the site of ' Kincora ' the place of Brian Boru, the 11th century High King of Ireland and one of its most powerful rulers of all time. The Brian Boru royal residence stood on the summit of the hill, above the bridge at Killaloe. This great king lived here from 1002 to 1014. At the hight of Boru power Kincora was a massive fort rich in wealth and harvest and became the centre of authority and capital of Ireland. Here is the translation of the poem ' Ceann Coradh '
Oh Kincora
Where, Kincora is Brian the Great?
And where is the beauty that once was thine?
Where are the princes and nobles that sate,
At the feast in thy halls and drank the red wine?
Where, oh, Kincora?
Where, Kincora, are the valorous lords?
Oh whither thou hospitable have they gone?
Oh where are the Dalcassians of the Golden Sword?
And where are the warriors Brian led on?
Where, oh, Kincora
And where is Murrough, the descendent of King's-
The defeater of a hundred-the daringly brave-
Who set but slight store by jewel's and rings-
Who swam down the torrent and laughed at its wave?
Where, oh, Kincora?
And where is Donogh, King Brian's son?
And where is Conaing, the beautiful chief ?
And Kian and Corc? Alas! They are gone-
They have left me this night alone with my rief,
Left me, Kincora!
And where are the chiefs with whom Brian went forth,
The ne'er vanquished sons of Erin the Brave,
The great King of Onaght, renowned for his worth,
And the hosts of Baskinn, from western wave?
Where, oh, Kincora ?
Oh where is Duvlann of the swift-footed steeds?
And where is Cian, who was son of Molly?
And where is King Longeran, the fame of whose deeds
In the red battlefield no time can destroy?
Where, oh, Kincora?
And where is that youth of majestic height,
The faith keeping Prince of Scots? - Even he
As wide as his fame was, as great as his might,
Was tributary, oh, Kincora, to thee!
Thee, oh, Kincora!
They are gone, those heroes of royal birth,
Who plundered no churches, and broke no trust.
'Tis weary for me to be living on earth,
While they, oh, Kincora, lie low in the dust!
Low, oh, Kincora!
Where, Kincora is Brian the Great?
And where is the beauty that once was thine?
Where are the princes and nobles that sate,
At the feast in thy halls and drank the red wine?
Where, oh, Kincora?
Where, Kincora, are the valorous lords?
Oh whither thou hospitable have they gone?
Oh where are the Dalcassians of the Golden Sword?
And where are the warriors Brian led on?
Where, oh, Kincora
And where is Murrough, the descendent of King's-
The defeater of a hundred-the daringly brave-
Who set but slight store by jewel's and rings-
Who swam down the torrent and laughed at its wave?
Where, oh, Kincora?
And where is Donogh, King Brian's son?
And where is Conaing, the beautiful chief ?
And Kian and Corc? Alas! They are gone-
They have left me this night alone with my rief,
Left me, Kincora!
And where are the chiefs with whom Brian went forth,
The ne'er vanquished sons of Erin the Brave,
The great King of Onaght, renowned for his worth,
And the hosts of Baskinn, from western wave?
Where, oh, Kincora ?
Oh where is Duvlann of the swift-footed steeds?
And where is Cian, who was son of Molly?
And where is King Longeran, the fame of whose deeds
In the red battlefield no time can destroy?
Where, oh, Kincora?
And where is that youth of majestic height,
The faith keeping Prince of Scots? - Even he
As wide as his fame was, as great as his might,
Was tributary, oh, Kincora, to thee!
Thee, oh, Kincora!
They are gone, those heroes of royal birth,
Who plundered no churches, and broke no trust.
'Tis weary for me to be living on earth,
While they, oh, Kincora, lie low in the dust!
Low, oh, Kincora!
In 1014 Brians armies confronted the armies of Leinster and Dublin at Clontarf near Dublin on Good Friday.
The resulting battle of Clontarf was a bloody affair with brian and his son Murchad and Mael Morda among those killed. The list of the noble dead in the annals of Ulster includes Irish Kings, Norse Gaels, Scotsmen and Scandinavians...Brian Boru became an Irish legend, he was the ' Lion of Ireland ' but that is another story.
The resulting battle of Clontarf was a bloody affair with brian and his son Murchad and Mael Morda among those killed. The list of the noble dead in the annals of Ulster includes Irish Kings, Norse Gaels, Scotsmen and Scandinavians...Brian Boru became an Irish legend, he was the ' Lion of Ireland ' but that is another story.
