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óenach
óenach, a periodic assembly of the population of a tuath, or group of tuatha, for horse racing and athletic contests. Óenaig apparently originated as funeral games, a number of the traditional sites being associated with mythical burials. In Old Irish law tracts the presiding king uses this assembly for publicly binding announcements of war, treaties, or emergency legislation, and enforces clearance and maintenance of the site as a public duty. The 11th‐century poem on the Óenach Carmain adds that tributes were discussed there, and that there were musicians, story‐tellers, and markets for foodstuffs, livestock, and the wares of foreign merchants. However, after the 9th century the provincial gatherings at Teltown (Óenach Tailten) and Carmun were abandoned, though occasionally revived for political propaganda purposes. Instead assemblies of the surrounding population at major church sites on liturgical feast days acquired commercial and political associations, becoming known in their turn as óenaig. These are probably the forerunners of the early modern aontaí or Irish country fairs, although more overtly political gatherings of subjects summoned by later medieval lords to the green outside their castle on rent‐days (May Day and All Hallows) could be termed aonach as well as oireachtas, and were also festive occasions attended by minstrels and beggars.
Katharine Simms |
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Cite this article
"óenach." The Oxford Companion to Irish History. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "óenach." The Oxford Companion to Irish History. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O245-enach.html "óenach." The Oxford Companion to Irish History. 2007. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O245-enach.html |
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óenach
óenach. OIr. word commonly translated as ‘popular assembly’ or ‘fair’. Widely reported instances from early Ireland at Tara, Tailtiu, Tlachtga, and Uisnech describe games, races, and similar contests. The ModIr. word aonach denotes such assemblies as used to be held on the first days of March, July, September, and December at places like Millstreet, Co. Cork.
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Cite this article
JAMES MacKILLOP. "óenach." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES MacKILLOP. "óenach." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-enach1.html JAMES MacKILLOP. "óenach." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-enach1.html |
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