An investigation of the remscéla Tána Bó Cúailgne and an edition and translation of Aislinge Óenguso with textual notes

Abstract

This thesis is presented in two parts. Part 1 is a study of the application of the term remscél prefatory tale to Early Irish literature, specifically to those tales associated with the Táin Bó Cúailnge (TBC), and the wider implications of its usage, which led to the emergence of this medieval literary series. My starting point is the lists of so-called remscéla, which are extant in the following manuscripts: 12th-century Book of Leinster, p. 245b; 15th-century RIA MS D iv.2, f. 47vb; 17th-century RIA MS C vi.3, f. 27v; and two sets of transcriptions of a now-lost manuscript, NLS MS Adv. 72.1.46, by the Scottish antiquarian Ewen M Lachlan, i.e. NLS MS Adv. 72.3.5, p. 253, and NLS Ingliston MS A vi.1, box 4, p. 17. I include also in this study the compilation of the 16th-century BL MS Egerton 1782, which contains thirteen of the tales, described as remscéla in the aforementioned lists, as a complete collection that physically preface TBC in this manuscript. This represents the idea that, at least, the Early Modern Irish scribe of Eg. 1782 viewed the remscéla as complementing TBC in the manner of a complete series. What follows is an investigation of the relationships of individual tales that fall under the classification of remscél in the remscéla lists to the TBC; these are also plotted along a relative chronology of their composition, including the composition of various recensions of individual tales. Additionally, I include a study of the application of the term remscél to tales associated with Togail Bruidne Da Derga and the Middle Irish adaptation In Cath Catharda; both of which contribute to understanding the term remscél within the context of those tales associated with TBC. Part 2 of this thesis presents a new edition of the Old Irish text Aislinge Óenguso (AÓ), complete with full manuscript readings, a translation, and textual notes to each section of text discussing noteworthy linguistic features and editorial choices.