PREFACE

Cormac's Glossary original: Cormaic (pp. 343a–345b), the Old Sayings of Fithal original: Senbriathra Fithail (pp. 345b–346a), and the Sayings of Morand original: Briathra Morainnd (pp. 346a–b), do not include them.

Only a small portion of the many triads scattered throughout early Irish literature has been gathered in our collection under the title Trecheng breth Féne—which literally means "a triadic arrangement of the sayings of the Irish" original: Féne refers to the ancient Irish people or their legal system. I first pointed out the existence of Irish triads in a note on Irish proverbs in my edition of the Battle of Ventry (p. 85), where a few examples are quoted. A complete collection would fill an entire book, especially if it included those still common among people in Ireland today, among both Irish and English speakers. For now, I will provide just a few examples taken at random from my own collections:

Three kinds of martyrdom that are considered a cross for a person to bear: white martyrdom, green martyrdom, and red martyrdom. — The Cambray Homily (The Treasury of Old Irish original Latin: Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus, vol. 2, p. 246).

Three enemies of the soul: the world, the devil, and an ungodly teacher. — Colman son of Beognae’s Alphabet of Piety (Journal of Celtic Philology original German: Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie, vol. 3, p. 452).

Three ways the devil reveals himself in a person: by their face, by their walk, and by their speech. — In the same place original Latin: Ib. (ibidem), p. 453.

Three useful tasks in the day: praying, working, and reading. — The Rule of Columba original Irish: Regula Choluimb Cille (Journal of Celtic Philology, vol. 3, p. 29).

Three laypeople of Ireland who became monks: Beccan son of Cula, Mochu son of Lonan, and Enda of Aran. — Notes on the Calendar of Oengus original Irish: Félire of Oengus (Henry Bradshaw Society, vol. 29, p. 112).

Three master craftsmen of Ireland: Tassach (associated with Saint Patrick), Conlaed (with Saint Brigid), and Daig (with Saint Ciaran). — In the same place, p. 186.

Three great poets of the world: Homer of the Greeks, Virgil of the Romans original: Latins, and Ruman of the Irish original: Gaels. — Book of Leinster, p. 354b.

The three worst pieces of advice ever followed in Ireland based on the counsel of saints: the shortening of Ciaran’s...