An Chraobh Airgid

Person

Amairgen

Amairgen · modern Aimhirgin

The poet of the sons of Míl.

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Poet, druid and judge of the sons of Míl. He was the first of them to set his right foot on Ireland, at Inber Scéne, and as he stepped ashore he sang: “I am the wind on the sea; I am the wave of the sea; I am the bull of seven battles.” (Lady Gregory’s translation, 1904) At Tara he gave the first judgment in Ireland, sending his own people back out over nine waves; his invocation of the land of Ireland stilled the druids’ wind; and at Tailtiu he killed Mac Gréine.

Kin and bonds

In the tales

  • The Song of Amairgen A poet sets his right foot on Ireland and sings that he is the wind on the sea. Three queens of the old gods meet him, and each asks for the island’s name.

See also

  • Banba The first of the three queens who asked that Ireland bear her name.
  • Ériu The woman whose name became Ireland’s.
  • Fódla The second of the three queens who asked that Ireland bear her name.
  • Inbhear Scéine The Kenmare River. The long sea inlet where Amairgen set his right foot on Ireland.
  • Sliabh Eibhlinne The Slieve Felim Mountains. The hills where Fódla met the sons of Míl.
  • The sons of Cermait The three kings of the Tuatha Dé who ruled Ireland when the sons of Míl came.
  • The sons of Míl The last invaders in the Book of Invasions: the Gaels.
  • Tailtin Teltown. Where the sons of Míl beat the Tuatha Dé, and the old gods lost Ireland.
  • Teamhair The Hill of Tara. Seat of the high kings, and of the stone that cried out.

Sources

Medieval manuscript. Written down by Irish scholars between the eighth and seventeenth centuries.

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