Nisi Mac Niata (or ''Nissi Mac Niatach'',

fl. ''Floruit'' ( ; usually abbreviated fl. or occasionally flor.; from Latin for 'flourished') denotes a date or period during which a person was known to have been alive or active. In English, the unabbreviated word may also be used as a noun indic ...

560 AD) lived in 6th century

Gaelic Ireland Gaelic Ireland () was the Gaelic political and social order, and associated culture, that existed in Ireland from the late Prehistory of Ireland, prehistoric era until the 17th century. It comprised the whole island before Anglo-Norman invasi ...

. Nothing is known of his life, but his death left a legacy for a millennium. Namely, the

Túath ''Túath'' (plural ''túatha'') is the Old Irish term for the basic political and jurisdictional unit of Gaelic Ireland. ''Túath'' can refer to both a geographical territory as well the people who lived in that territory. The smallest ''túath ...

where he died was renamed in his honour, and his brother Saint

Caillín Saint Caillin (fl. c.570) was an Irish medieval saint and monastic founder. His Feast day is celebrated on 13 November. The patron saint of Fenagh, County Leitrim, Caillin was born in the 6th century and founded a monastic settlement at Fenagh ...

obtained a substantial

honour Honour (Commonwealth English) or honor (American English; American and British English spelling differences#-our, -or, see spelling differences) is a quality of a person that is of both social teaching and personal ethos, that manifests itself ...

price in compensation under

Brehon Law Early Irish law, also called Brehon law (from the old Irish word breithim meaning judge), comprised the statutes which governed everyday life in Early Medieval Ireland. They were partially eclipsed by the Norman invasion of 1169, but underwe ...

, securing a revenue stream for the famous

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of Monasticism, monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in Cenobitic monasticism, communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a ...

of Fenagh.{{sfn, Fenagh Visitors Center

Life

Nisi (pronounced ''Nishy'') was born in 6th century

, the son of {{em, Niata and brother of Saint

, the patron

saint In Christianity, Christian belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of sanctification in Christianity, holiness, imitation of God, likeness, or closeness to God in Christianity, God. However, the use of the ...

of Fenagh.{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=181 He belonged to the tribe of Conmaicne-Rein who lived in present-day South Leitrim and West Longford. He was probably a

noble A noble is a member of the nobility. Noble may also refer to: Places Antarctica * Noble Glacier, King George Island * Noble Nunatak, Marie Byrd Land * Noble Peak, Wiencke Island * Noble Rocks, Graham Land Australia * Noble Island, Gr ...

or a

priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deity, deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in parti ...

, and close associate of his sibling

. Little else is known of his life. His death is described in both prose and rhyme by the ancient {{em,

Book of Fenagh The ''Book of Fenagh'' () is a manuscript of prose and poetry written in Classical Irish by Muirgheas mac Pháidín Ó Maolconaire in the monastery at Fenagh, West Breifne (modern-day County Leitrim). It was commissioned by Tadhg Ó Rodaighe, ...

{{sfn, Monks of Caillín, 1300–1350{{sfn, Mac Phaidín Uí Mhaoil Chonaire, 1516 along the following lines. Sometime in the 5th or 6th century, Nisi and Caillín journeyed from Ard-Carna Monastery in Roscommon eastwards towards Cora Droma Rúisc crossing the

river Shannon The River Shannon ( or archaic ') is the major river on the island of Ireland, and at in length, is the longest river in the British Isles. It drains the Shannon River Basin, which has an area of , – approximately one fifth of the area of I ...

to {{em, Magh-Cellachain ("the plain of Cellachan"), staying overnight at a place named ''the Bennachan'',{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=180{{#tag:ref, The {{langx, ga, Bennachan, link=no place name is obsolete, but may correspond to present-day {{em, Keenaghan townland ({{langx, ga, Caonachán, link=no) beside

Carrick on Shannon Carrick-on-Shannon () is the county town of County Leitrim in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. A smaller part of the town located on the west bank of the River Shannon lies in County Roscommon and is home to the town's main train s ...

, group=n, name=bennachan in the home of ''Cellachan'', who was not of the Conmaicne tribe.{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=186 Next morning for some unknown reason, Nisi was killed unlawfully by Cellachan who then had to pay Nisi's brother a substantial "body fine" and honour price in compensation.{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=181{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=187 Nisi was interred at Fenagh.

Legacy

For the following millennium, the locality where he died was known as {{em, Moynish{{#tag:ref, Moynish was variously written as {{langx, ga, m. Nisi, M. Nisse, m. neisi, Magh-Nisi, mMuig Nise, Moigi Nise, Magh-Nise, and Magh-Nissi, {{langx, en, Moy-Nissi, Mag Nise, Moynishy, and Moynishe, and also called "Upper

Muintir Eolais The Muintir Eolais of Conmaicne Réin were nobles of Gaelic Ireland. For seven hundred years from the 8th century, they lived in and ruled an area roughly conterminous with present-day south County Leitrim. Their territory comprised the lands n ...

" from the

High Middle Ages The High Middle Ages, or High Medieval Period, was the periodization, period of European history between and ; it was preceded by the Early Middle Ages and followed by the Late Middle Ages, which ended according to historiographical convention ...

onwards.{{sfn, Hogan, 1910, pp=M{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1862, pp=xxxviii, group="n", name="m-nisi-name1" ("the plain of Nisi") in his honour.{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=181{{sfn, Hogan, 1910, pp=M Nisi's "honour price" became the perpetual claim by the monastic settlement at Fenagh to patronage from Moynish

nobles Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally appointed by and ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. T ...

From Cellachan the active,
The proud plain had been named;
Magh-Nissi, manifest famous,
Is its name from that time down.
Their land and their tributes,
Caillin got for the deed''.{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=187

The name of Nisi was forgotten when

collapsed in the 17th century. Irish nobles had their estates confiscated in the plantations of Leitrim.{{sfn, O Rodaighe, p=4 The

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

incorporated Moynish into the barony of Leitrim and Cromwellian forces plundered Moynish in 1652.{{sfn, O'Byrne, 1930, pp=285-286 Though forgotten today, the place name of Moynish is preserved by the

Irish annals A number of Irish annals, of which the earliest was the Chronicle of Ireland, were compiled up to and shortly after the end of the 17th century. Annals were originally a means by which monks determined the yearly chronology of feast days. Over ti ...

and English Fiants.{{sfn, Hogan, 1910, pp=M

Pedigree

The mythical pedigree of ''Nisi Mac Niata'' is as follows:{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=5 * Nisi, * brother of

, * Son of Niata, (or ''Niatach''{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=181 and ''Niataig''{{sfn, Stalmans, Charles-Edwards, 2007) * Son of Duban, * Son of Fraech, * Son of Cumscrach, * Son of Echt, (or ''Cecht''{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=382,383) * Son of Erc, * Son of Eredal, (or ''Erdail''{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=383) * Son of Echt, (or ''Cecht''{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=6,382,383) * Son of Dubh, * Son of Moghruadh, (or ''Medhruagh''{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=382,383) * Son of Nert, * Son of Fornert, * Son of Echt, (or ''Cecht''{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=6,382,383) * Son of Uisel, * Son of Beire, (or ''Beiri''{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=383) * Son of Beidhbhe, (or ''Beidhbe''{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=383) * Son of Doilbhre, * Son of Lugaid Conmac, (or ''Lughaidh''{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=383) * Son of Oirbsen Mór, ("Oirbsen the great". See also " Loch Oirbsen", in County Galway.{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=382,383) * Son of Ethedon, (or ''Sethdon''{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=382,383) * Son of Seghda, * Son of Art, (or ''Atri''{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=382,383) * Son of Allta, (or ''Alta''{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=382,383) * Son of Oghamun, (or ''Ogamun''{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=382,383) * Son of Fidhchar, * Son of Doilbhre, * Son of Eon, * Son of Cetguine Calusach, * Son of Mochta, * Son of Mesoman, (or ''Mesamun''{{sfn, Ó Donnabháin, 1828, pp=382,383) * Son of Mogh Taeth, * Son of Conmac, (the mythical ancestor of the

Conmhaícne The Conmaicne (; ) were a people of early Ireland, perhaps related to the Laigin, who dispersed to various parts of Ireland. They settled in Connacht and Longford, giving their name to several Conmaicne territories. T. F. O'Rahilly's assertion ...

tribe.) * Son of Fergus, * Son of Rossa, * Son of Rudraige.

Notes and references

Notes

{{Reflist, 82em, group=n

Citations

{{Reflist

Primary sources

{{refbegin *{{cite book , author-link= John O'Donovan (scholar) , last = Ó Donnabháin , first = Sean , title= Book of Fenagh, Translation and Copious Notes , url= http://www.askaboutireland.ie/aai-files/assets/ebooks/49_Book-of-Fenagh/49%20Book%20of%20Fenagh.pdf#page=171 , publisher= Maolmhordha Mac Dubhghoill Uí Raghailligh , location= Fenagh, Leitrim, Ireland , year=1828 , access-date=20 August 2016 {{refend

Secondary sources

{{refbegin *{{cite web , last= Hogan , first=Edmund , title=Onomasticon Goedelicum, locorum et tribuum Hiberniae et Scotiae, An index, with identifications, to the Gaelic names of places and tribes, M , url=http://publish.ucc.ie/doi/locus/M , website=University College Cork, Documents of Ireland , publisher=Edmund Hogan, SJ , year=1910 , access-date=20 August 2016 *{{cite web , last=O Rodaighe, first=Tadhg, title=Tadhg O Rodaighe to dward Lhwyd round May 1700, website=Oxford University Research Archive , url=http://databank.ora.ox.ac.uk/emlo/datasets/lhwyd-transcripts/1700-00-00%20O%20Rodaighe%20TCD%20MS%201318.pdf#page=4, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006144901/https://databank.ora.ox.ac.uk/emlo/datasets/lhwyd-transcripts/1700-00-00%20O%20Rodaighe%20TCD%20MS%201318.pdf#page=4 , archive-date=6 October 2016 , access-date=31 August 2016 *{{Cite journal , last1=John , first1=Hynes , title=St. Caillin , journal=The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland , jstor=25513584 , year= 1931 , volume=1 , issue=1 , pages=39–54 , publisher=Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 1931 {{subscription required *{{cite web , last=O'Byrne , first=Charlie , title=The Schools' Collection 1930s, Volume 0225, Page 286 , url=http://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4658448/4656823 , website=Duchas Ireland , year=1930 , access-date=20 August 2016 *{{Cite book , author-link= John O'Donovan (scholar) , last = Ó Donnabháin , first = Sean , title= The topographical poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na naomh O'Huidhrin. , url=https://archive.org/details/topographicalpoe00odonuoft , publisher=Irish Arachaeological and Celtic Society , year=1862 , access-date=30 August 2016 {{refend

External links

{{refbegin *{{cite book , author-link= Caillín , last= Monks of Caillín , title= old Book of St Caillín / Leabar Chaillín (no longer extant) , url= https://www.ria.ie/ga/library/catalogues/special-collections/medieval-and-early-modern-manuscripts/book-fenagh-leabar , publisher= Ó Rodaighe , location= Fenagh, Leitrim, Ireland , access-date=20 August 2016 , date= 1300–1350 *{{cite book , author-link= Muirgheas mac Pháidín Ó Maolconaire , last = Mac Phaidín Uí Mhaoil Chonaire , first = Muirgheas , title= Book of Fenagh / Leabar Chaillín / Leabar Fidhnacha , url= https://www.ria.ie/ga/library/catalogues/special-collections/medieval-and-early-modern-manuscripts/book-fenagh-leabar , publisher= Tadhg Ó Rodaighe , location= Fenagh, Leitrim, Ireland , year= 1516 , access-date=20 August 2016 *{{Cite AFM *{{cite web , last= Fenagh Visitors Center , title= Fenagh history: St. Caillin , url= https://www.fenagh.com/history/st-caillin/ , publisher= Fenagh.com , access-date= 20 August 2016 *{{cite ODNB , last=Stalmans, Charles-Edwards , first=Nathalie, T. M. , title=Meath, saints of (act. c.400–c.900)', first published 2004; online edn , url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/index/51/101051010 , year=2007 , doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/51010 , access-date=31 August 2016 {{subscription required *{{cite web , last=Caonachán townland on logainm , title=Placenames Database of Ireland, Caonachán/Keenaghan townland , url=http://www.logainm.ie/en/29166 , access-date= 20 August 2016 {{refend {{Portal, Ireland, History {{Ulaid History of County Leitrim 6th-century Irish people 6th-century births 6th-century deaths People from County Leitrim Year of death unknown People of Conmaicne Maigh Nissi