Eochaid ua Flannacáin, Irish

Irish people

The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

 cleric and poet

Poet

A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...

, 935-1004.

Life

Eochaid was the author of more than twenty surviving quasi-historical, genealogical and topographical poems, many of which were incorporated into Lebor Gabala Erenn

Lebor Gabála Érenn

Lebor Gabála Érenn is the Middle Irish title of a loose collection of poems and prose narratives recounting the mythical origins and history of the Irish from the creation of the world down to the Middle Ages...

. He was a member of Clann Sinaich, an eccleiastical family of Armagh

Armagh

Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...

. At the time of his death he was superior

Superior

Superior may refer to:*Superior : something which is higher in a hierarchical structure of any kind-Place names:*Superior Superior may refer to:*Superior (hierarchy): something which is higher in a hierarchical structure of any kind-Place names:*Superior Superior may refer to:*Superior (hierarchy):...

 of Clonfeacle and Lios Aoigheadh (unidentified). One of his sons, and several of his descendants, were abbots of Armagh.

Obit

The Annals of Ulster

Annals of Ulster

The Annals of Ulster are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years between AD 431 to AD 1540. The entries up to AD 1489 were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, under his patron Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa on the island of Belle Isle on Lough Erne in the...

 contain Eochaid's obit

Obituary

An obituary is a news article that reports the recent death of a person, typically along with an account of the person's life and information about the upcoming funeral. In large cities and larger newspapers, obituaries are written only for people considered significant...

 sub anno 1004, stating:

"Eochaid ua Flannacáin, superior of Les Oeiged and of Cluain Fiachna, a master of poetry and historical lore, died in the 69th year of his age."

Commemorative verse

The obit was accompanied by a stanza

Stanza

In poetry, a stanza is a unit within a larger poem. In modern poetry, the term is often equivalent with strophe; in popular vocal music, a stanza is typically referred to as a "verse"...

commemorating him:

"The full form of beautiful Eochaid/An ascending poetic psalm of happy aspect/eochaiss that he does not approach from behind(?)/A key to the lock of Ireland's ignorance./‘Eochaid of the undying knowledge’/Has long been an incontrovertible name for him;/For reproach in the matter of learning or wisdom/He has no cause to answer./"