Music formed the chief part of education in ancient Ireland as in
Greece, where the same word signified a song and a law. Laws, religion,
sciences, and history were all taught in music to the Irish people
by the _Ollamhs_, or learned men. The Poets chanted the _Ros-Catha_,
or song of battle, to incite the warriors to deeds of bravery. The
Bards recited the deeds of the chiefs, or pleasant tales of love, at
the festivals, and struck the harp to sustain the voice. The Brehons
intoned the law in a recitative or monotone chant, seated on an
eminence in the open air, while all the people were gathered round to
listen. The Senachie chanted the history, genealogies, and traditions
of the tribe, and the female mourners were instructed by the poets in
the elegiac measure, or funeral wail over the dead.
The poet-power was also believed to confer the gift of prophecy; and
no great expedition was undertaken by the tribe without the advice
and sanction of the bard, and especially of the poet-priestess of the
tribe. Thus Ethna the poetess stood on a high stone at the battle of
Moytura, and gave inspiration by her chants to the warriors of the
Tuatha-de-Dananns, and stimulated their courage by her prophecies of
victory; and the stone she stood on is in existence to this day on the
plain of the battle, and is still called by the people “the Stone of
the Prophetess.”
POET INSPIRATION.
EODAIN THE POETESS.
The _Leanan-Sidhe_, or the spirit of life, was supposed to be the
inspirer of the poet and singer, as the _Ban-Sidhe_ was the spirit of
death, the foreteller of doom.
The Leanan-Sidhe sometimes took the form of a woman, who gave men
valour and strength in the battle by her songs. Such was Eodain the
poetess, by whom Eugene, king of Munster, gained complete victory over
his foes. But afterwards he gave himself up to luxury and pleasure,
and went away to Spain, where he remained nine years, and took to wife
the daughter of the king of Spain. At the end of that time he returned
to Ireland with a band of Spanish followers. But he found his kingdom
plundered and ruined, and the revellers and drunkards were feasting in
his banquet hall, and wasting his revenues for their pleasures while
the people starved. And the whole nation despised the king, and would
not hear his words when he sat down in his golden chair to give just
judgment for iniquity. Then Eugene the king, in his deep sorrow and
humiliation, sent for Eodain the poetess to come and give him counsel.
So Eodain came to him, and upheld him with her strong spirit, for she
had the power within her of the poet and the prophet, and she said—
“Arise now, O king, and govern like a true hero, and bring confusion on
the evil workers. Be strong and fear not, for by strength and justice
kings should rule.”
And Eugene the king was guided by her counsel and was successful. And
he overthrew his enemies and brought back peace and order to the land.
For the strength of the Leanan-Sidhe was in the words of Eodain, the
power of the spirit of life which is given to the poet and the prophet,
by which they inspire and guide the hearts of men.