Glam Dicheinn or Satire

Above: Piece of Book of Ballymote

The wife of Caer king of Connacht conceived a criminal passion for Neidhe the king’s adopted nephew, " and offered him a ball of silver to purchase his love."    Neidhe, who was a distinguished poet too, asked his royal uncle, after much hesitation, for a knife which the king had obtained in Scotland.    The king reluctantly declined, it being prohibited to him to give the knife out of his possession.    Whereupon the poet composed a Glam Dicheinn or Satire.    Immediately three blisters appeared on the king’s cheek,  and he fled in  disgrace  to Dun Cearmna, now the Old Head of Kinsale, where he was entertained by Caichear son of Eidersceoil.    Neidhe then became king of Connacht, but repented of his conduct after a year, and followed the victim of his satire  to Dun  Cearmna.    So far,  Caer had escaped  recognition   in   the  southern   court.    On   the   approach of his chariot with Neidhe he fled into a cave, but was soon  located by  his faithful greyhound.    As  the usurper drew near, Caer dropped dead of shame ;   and the rock in left of which he lay hidden boiled, blazed and burst, so that a splinter of it entered Neidhe’s eye and broke it in its ket.   A somewhat similar example is afforded by the story of Labhan Draoi, who, hearing of the generosity of EochaH Aontsula, ancestor of the O’Sullivans, came from Scotl J to ask him for a gift, and would even accept no gift but ofl of Eochaidh’s eyes. So much did Eochaidh dread the drui satire that he actually gave him the eye. Saint RuadM of Lothra happened to be a witness of the incident, and throiH his instrumentality Eochaidh was instantly compensated^ Labhan’s expense.
While uttering the Glam Dicheinn, the corrghuinmchm sorcerer was " on one foot, one hand and one eye," standjM in other words, on one foot, with outstretched arm and (H eye shut. Lugh is represented in this attitude at the sec<B battle of Magh Tuireadh.1 A very interesting accountM the procedure in satirising a king in Christian times is givB in the Book of Ballymote, and will be referred to in dfl course.