Mac Rìgh Èireann fo gheasaibh gus am faigheadh e a-mach mar...
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1973.41-42.A
Original Tape ID
Summary
King of Ireland's son put under a spell to find out how Tuairisgeul Mòr died.
The King of Ireland was married with one son. His son was hunting one day and, when taking shelter from a shower, a rainbow appeared, and he saw a rider and a woman approach. The men played cards. The king's son won the woman in the game and a sword had to be kept between them until the rider could win her back. The next day, the woman told him he would win at cards again and to ask for the mare (fàlaire), which he did. The mare had to be put in a fine bedroom. On the third day, as the woman predicted, the rider won. He put the king's son under a spell to find out how Tuairisgeul Mòr died, but the king's son put him under counter spell to stand with legs on two different hills until he returned.
He set off, with three letters the woman had written to her father and uncles - three knights. It's a year and day's journey to the first one, but the mare took him in a day. He was refused entry, but he combed the mare, gave her a bottle of wine and a loaf of wheat-bread, and she jumped over the gate. He gave Ridire na Sgèithe Deirge the niece's letter and told him of his quest. Ridire told him he had been put under a spell by Tuairisgeul Òg, but he could not find any information about Tuairisgeul Mòr's death. He continued on his quest to find the answer. This he got, after a perilous adventure. He returned to where he left the Tuairisgeul Òg, gave him the answer, and killed him. He ends up marrying the daughter of Ridire na Sgèithe Uaine.
Item Notes
Unusual word for horse, 'fàlaire' - see 'Gaelic Words from South Uist' collected by Fr Allan MacDonald.
Recording Location
County - Inverness-shire
Parish - South Uist
Island - South Uist
Village/Place - Ardmore
Language
Gaelic
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Good