PREFACE

The collection of Irish Triads, which is edited and translated here for the first time, has been preserved in the following nine manuscripts, dating from the fourteenth to the nineteenth century:

L, that is, the Yellow Book of Lecan, a vellum manuscript made from calfskin from the end of the fourteenth century, pages 414b–418a; this is a complete copy.

B, that is, the Book of Ballymote, a vellum from the end of the fourteenth century, pages 65b–66b (this copy is incomplete at the end).

M, that is, the Book of Húi Maine, a vellum from the fourteenth century, folio 190a¹ to folio 191a². This is a complete copy beginning with "Armagh is the head of Ireland" original: ‘Ceand Erenn Ardmacha’ and ending with "three prohibitions regarding food: eating it in haste original: 'díescaidheadh', eating it after its proper time, and eating it without giving thanks" original: ‘tri hurgairt bidh a caitheam díescaidheadh a chaitheam iarna coir a caitheam gan altughudh’. This is followed by proverbial sayings from the "Conversation between Cormac and Cairpre," such as: "Two things that every good thing consumed deserves: eating and giving thanks" original: ‘Dedhe ara ndligh gach maith domelar ithe 7 altugud’. Another says: "What is best in every feast: its pleasant thanksgiving and its early conclusion" original: ‘Anas deach gacha fleidhe a cainaltughudh 7 a mochdingbail’. "What is the best of a community? It is not difficult to answer: Valor without oppression" original: ‘Caidhe deach samtha. Ni hansa. Gal gan forran’. "The result of sleep is lying down" original: ‘Deasgaidh codulta frislige’, and so on, ending with: "the result of ignorance is strife. That is the end of the conversation of Cormac and Cairpre" original: ‘deasgaidh ainèolais imreasain. Ni d’agallaim Cormaic 7 Cairpre coruici sin’.

Lec, that is, the Book of Lecan, a vellum from the fifteenth century. The leaves on which the Triads are found are now bound within the collection H. 2. 17 belonging to Trinity College. It is a complete copy beginning on page 183b with "Armagh is the head of Ireland" original: ‘Ceand erenn Ardmacha’ and ending on page 184b with "the four alphabets of folly: boasting, sentimentality, pledging, and strife" original: ‘ceitheora aipgitri baisi baig connailbi gell imreasain’.¹

¹ Due to an oversight, I have sometimes referred to this manuscript as "Lec" and sometimes as "H." In some cases, both "Lec" and "H" will be found cited in the variations. Both labels always refer to the same manuscript.