Críchad an Chaoilli

Críchad an Chaoilli ("boundary of the Caoille") is a medieval Irish text.

Críchad an Chaoilli
Language	Middle Irish
Date	between 1100 and 1300
Manuscript(s)	Book of Lismore, on folio 140a, 2 Egerton 92, folio 13b

Overview

Written in Middle Irish sometime between 1100 and 1300, Críchad an Chaoilli is a topographical text that takes its title from its opening verse:

Crichad an caoilli gu cruaidh

in fuil uaibh nech noimluaidh ?

tucad do mac Sonaisc sin

ar an forbhais d'fhoirdhin ^[1][2]

which translates as

The exact boundary of the Caoille,

is there anyone of you who would describe it?

It was given to the son of Sonasc

for assisting at the siege.^[3]

The rest of the text is written in prose, and describes the land and proprietors of Fermoy, County Cork, an area originally known as the kingdom of Caoille or Fir Maige Féne.

It survives in two manuscripts – Book of Lismore, on folio 140a, 2; and in Egerton 92, fo. 13b, preserved in the British Library, London.

Authorship

Its unknown author is thought to have been a monastic scribe.

See also

• Crichaireacht cinedach nduchasa Muintiri Murchada
• Triallam timcheall na Fodla
• Seán Mór Ó Dubhagáin
• Giolla na Naomh Ó hUidhrín