5.   The Death of Ireland

This is an interesting poem by the ‘East Ulster’ poet, Fear Flatha Ó Gnímh. The surname has normally been anglicised as Agnew but the spelling O’Gnive is also known. The Ó Gnímhs were hereditary poets to the O’Neills of Clandeboy. The poem was written soon after The Flight of the Earls, circa 1609 and thus we have a contemporary account of the state of Ireland at the time of the Ulster Plantation. It is a lamentable account. The poet regrets the scattering of the learned poets, the departure of many of the Irish clergy to the Continent, the death of her nobility, the blighting of the countryside and the noncelebration of feastdays. His belief is that Ireland is dead and implies that the Irish cause has been utterly lost.
 

The same as the death of Fodla
is the suppression of her right and her faith,
the degradation of her free sons
and her scholars, if lays or letters are true.

Ionann is éag na Fódla
ceilt a córa ‘s a creidimh,
táire a saormhac ‘s a saoithe,
más fíor laoithe ná leitir.

Fear of the foreign law does not permit me
to tell her sore plight;
this smooth land of royal Niall
is being washed with innocent blood.

Ní leigeann eagla an ghallsmaicht
damh a hanstaid do nochtadh:
atá an chríoch réidhse ríNéill
do chrú fíréin dá folcadh.

In her is no love of feast-days, no,
nor no recourse to the clergy:
the mirth of her bardic companies is no more,
the modesty of her maids is no more.

Ní fhuil cion innte ar fhéiltibh,
ní fhuil ná ar chléircibh caingean,
ní mhaireann greann a dáimhe,
ní mhaireann náire a hainnear.

Alas for the ruin of the youths,
a noble-handed troop of valorous feats:
hard drinking subdues their sense,
that is the characteristic of all.

Dursan milleadh na macaomh,
díorma ghlacshaor chleas ngoile:
craosól ag clódh a gcéille,
ag sin a dtréidhe oile.

 
6.   The Passing of the Old Order

The subject of this poem touches on a common theme in the bardic poetry of the Early 17th century, namely, the downfall and demise of the poetic order due mainly to the defeat at Kinsale in 1601 and the departure of the Ulster leaders in 1607, referred to as The Flight of the Earls. The poet regrets ever having taken up the poetic profession, as he is unable anymore to speak out about his patron, his pedigree and kinship and must now seek different employment, something for which he has been illprepared. Any scholar, who has not been trained in some craft before he attained his learning, is to be pitied for the honour of writing poetry has departed. The poem is addressed to Art son of Fear Dorcha (the Dark one) who is one of the Magennises of Iveagh, County Down. He has been identified as Sir Arthur Magennis who died in 1629.
 

Alas for him who has followed his family profession:
it has befallen Banbha of the fresh soft surface
that in Ireland’s cool green field
one’s father’s natural calling is not the best.

Mairg do-chuaidh re ceird ndúthchais:
rug ar Bhanbha mbarrúrthais
nach dualghas athar is fhearr
i n-achadh fhuarghlas Éireann.

It has come to them,
north and south, that the poetic order
cannot speak of their father’s produce:
let us set about a change of work.

Do héirgheadh dhóibh thuaidh is teas
nach bí ar breith don ord éigeas
labhairt ar oigdhe a n-aithreadh:
malairt oibre ionnsaighthear.

One must not spin the threads of lore;
one must not follow up the branches of kinship;
one must not weave artistry or lyrics;
poetry should not be spoken of.

Ní sníthe snátha an fheasa,
ní leanta craobh choibhneasa,
gréas duan ní déanta d’fhighe,
luadh dréachta ní dlighfidhe.