Ua Lothcháin, Cúán

Ua Lothcháin, Cúán (d. 1024), poet to Máel-Sechnaill, king of Mide, was a native of Tethba in the kingdom of Mide. His family belonged to the Uí Lothcháin, rulers of Gailenga Móra (in present-day Co. Meath and Co. Longford), and were descendants of Cormac Gaileng. He composed several poems on the former glories of Tara for his patron, the main purpose of which was to support Máel-Sechnaill (qv) (d. 1022) in his revival of the early historic traditions relating to the seat of his kingship and to bolster his hopes of becoming high-king. According to references preserved in a number of sources, he was made joint regent of Ireland with Corcrán Cléireach on the death of Máel-Sechnaill, but was himself killed by some men of Tethba two years later. His poem on the gessa (taboos) and buada (prerogatives) of the kings of the five early provinces, ‘A fhir ían íadas in tech’, which gives precedence to the king of Tara, was written during the period of revival after the viking wars in the early eleventh century. His other compositions include a poem in praise of Cormac (qv) son of Art, which describes the monuments of Tara (‘Temair toga na tulach’). This may have invented the fiction of a ‘Psalter of Tara’ to rival the historical ‘Psalter of Cashel’, a compilation relating to Munster claims to overlordship. He is also the author of a poem, ‘Saer ainm Sinna saighuidh uaim’, on the origins of the name of the River Shannon; and of a composition, ‘A choému críche Cuind cháin’, on the history of the hill of Tailtiu (Teltown, Co. Meath), which praises the ancient Óenach Tailten, a festival of sports and games revived by Máel-Sechnaill in 1006. It is likely that he was the author of the main section of the metrical ‘Dindshenchas Érenn’, a great compilation of topographical lore. His poems, though chiefly political propaganda, also contain much valuable antiquarian lore. His obit in the Annals of Inisfallen reads: ‘Cúán Ua Lothcháin, chief poet of Ireland, was killed in Tethba by the men of Tethba themselves.’