Trecheng Breth Féne

TheTriads of Ireland

In 1906, Kuno Meyer published The Triads of Ireland as volume 13 of
the Todd Lecture Series of the Royal Irish Academy. The publisher was Hodges,
Figgis, & Co., Ltd. of Dublin and London.

The original name of this collection is Trecheng Breth Féne . Meyer
translated this as "a triadic arrangement of the sayings of Irishmen", and noted
that "it is but a small portion of the large number of triads scattered
throughout early Irish literature." The text of Trecheng Breth Féne is
found in largely identical form in the following manuscripts:

The Yellow Book of Lecan (L)
The Book of Ballymote (B)
The Book of Húi
Maine (M)
The Book of Lecan (Lec)
A paper MS written in 1575 (N)
A
paper MS written by Tadhg Tiorthach Ó Neachtain in 1745 (H')

Meyer used these six manuscripts to construct his critical text. He noted
that he followed the order of triads found in the Yellow Book of Lecan "in the
main." The material on this webpage consists of the "Text and Translation"
portion of Meyer's edition of Trecheng Breth Féne, including footnotes,
but not including variant readings of the Irish text. The Preface, Glosses and
Notes, Index Locorum, Index Nominum, and the Glossary are not included here at
this time.

NB: There are 256 items in the Text and Translation
section. We will be adding items in batches until we have completed that
section. We hope to include other portions of the book thereafter.

Innéacs na dTréanna

1
- 31

Logainmneacha Singile

Single Placenames

32

Trí tairleme Éirenn

The three places of Ireland to alight at

33

Trí aithechpuirt Hérenn

The three rent-paying places of
Ireland

34

Trí clochraid Hérenn

The three stone-buildings of Ireland

35

Trí háenaig Hérenn

The three fairs of Ireland

36

Trí dúine Hérenn

The three forts of Ireland

37

Trí slébe Hérenn

The three mountains of Ireland

38

Trí haird Hérenn

The three heights of Ireland

39

Trí locha Hérenn

The three lakes of Ireland

40

Trí srotha Hérenn

The three rivers of Ireland

41

Trí machaire Hérenn

The three plains of Ireland

42

Trí dorcha Hérenn

The three dark places of Ireland

43

Trí díthruib Hérenn

The three desert places of Ireland

44

Trí dotcaid Hérenn

The three unlucky places of Ireland

45

Trí huilc Hérenn

The three evil ones of Ireland

46

Trí cáemnai Hérenn

The three comfortable places of
Ireland

47

Trí trága Hérenn

The three strands of Ireland

48

Trí hátha Hérenn

The three fords of Ireland

49

Trí sligid Hérenn

The three highroads of Ireland

50

Trí belaige Hérenn

The three mountain-passes of Ireland

51

Trí drommanna Hérenn

The three ridges of Ireland

52

Trí maige Hérenn

The three plains of Ireland

53

Trí clúana Hérenn

The three meadows of Ireland

54

Trí tellaige Hérenn

The three households of Ireland

55

Trí hessa Hérenn

The three waterfalls of Ireland

56

Trí fothirbi Hérenn

The three fields (?) of Ireland

57

Trí tiprata Hérenn

The three wells of Ireland

58

Trí haimréide Hérenn

The three uneven places of Ireland

59

Trí hinbera Hérenn

The three estuaries of Ireland

60

Trí hairderca Hérenn

The three conspicuous places of Ireland

61

Trí gnátha Hérenn

The three familiar places of Ireland

62

Trí hamrai la Táin Bó Cúailgne

Three wonders concerning the Táin Bó Cúailgne

63

Trí meinistri fer Féne

The three halidoms of the men of Ireland

64

Trí dotcaid duine

Three unfortunate things for a man

65

Trí dotcaid threbtha

Three unfortunate things of husbandry

66

Trí hairgarta ecalse

Three forbidden things of a church

67

Trí fáilti co n-íarduibi

Three rejoicings followed by sorrow

68

Trí bróin ata ferr fáilti

Three sorrows that are better than joy

69

Trí fáilti ata messu brón

Three rejoicings that are worse than sorrow

70

Trí fiada co n-anfhiad

The three worst welcomes

71

Trí dotcaid maic athaig

Three unfortunate things for the son of a peasant

72

Trí dotcaid threbairi

Three unfortunate things for a householder

73

Trí búada trebairi

Three excellent things for a householder

74

Trí hóenaig eserte

Three holidays of a landless man

75

Trí cóil ata ferr folongat in mbith

Three slender things that best support the world

76

Trí duirn ata dech for bith

Three hands that are best in the world

77

Tréde conaittig fírinne

Three things which justice demands

78

Tréde conaittig brethemnas

Three things which judgment demands

79

Trí túarascbála étraid

Three characteristics of concupiscence

80

Tréde ara carthar escara

Three things for which an enemy is loved

81

Tréde ara miscnigther cara

Three things for which a friend is hated

82

Trí buirb in betha

Three rude ones of the world

83

Trí buidir in betha

Three deaf ones of the world

84

Trí cáin docelat éitchi

Three fair things that hide ugliness

85

Trí héitich docelat cáin

Three ugly things that hide fairness

86

Trí óible adannat seirc

Three sparks that kindle love

87

Trí haithne co fomailt

Three deposits with usufruct

88

Trí búada téiti

Three glories of a gathering

89

Trí ségainni Hérenn

Three accomplishments of Ireland

90

Trí comartha clúanaigi

Three ungentlemanly things

91

Trí gena ata messu brón

Three smiles that are worse than sorrow

92

Trí báis ata ferr bethaid

Three deaths that are better than life

93

Trí húathaid ata ferr sochaidi

Three fewnesses that are better than
plenty

94

Trí brónaig choirmthige

Three sorrowful ones of an alehouse

95

Trí cuitbidi in domain

Three laughing-stocks of the world

96

Trí cuil túaithe

Three ruins of a tribe

97

Trí fuiric thige degduni

Three preparations of a good man's house

98

Trí fuiric thige drochduni

Three perparations of a bad man's house

99

Trí gretha tige degláich

Three shouts of a good warrior's house

100

Trí dorchae ná dlegat mná do imthecht

Three darknesses into which women should not go

101

Trí sailge boccachta

Three props of obstinacy

102

Trí airisena boccachta

Three characteristics of obstinacy

103

Trí comartha meraigi

Three signs of a fop

104

Trí máidme clúanaigi

Three ungentlemanly boasts

105

Trí bí focherdat marbdili

Three live ones that put away dead things

106

Trí scenb Hérenn

Three places of Ireland to make you start

107

Trí hingnad Hérenn

Three wonders of Ireland

108

Trí daurthige Hérenn

Three oratories of Ireland

109

Trí hingena berta miscais do míthocod

Three maidens that bring hatred upon misfortune

110

Trí hingena berta seirc do cháintocud

Three maidens that bring love to good fortune

111

Trí túa ata ferr labra

Three silences that are better than speech

112

Trí labra ata ferr túa

Three speeches that are better than silence

113

Trí ailgesa étúalaing

Three impossible demands

114

Trí hamaite bít[e] i ndrochthig óiged

Three idiots that are in a bad guest-house

115

Trí hairig na dúalche

The three chief sins

116

Tréde neimthigedar crossán

Three things that constitute a buffoon

117

Tréde neimthigedar círmaire

Three things that constitute a comb-maker

118

Tréde nemthigedar sáer

Three things that constitute a carpenter

119

Tréde neimthigedar liaig

Three things that constitute a physician

120

Tréde neimthigedar gobainn

Three things that constitute a blacksmith

121

Tréde neimthigedar cerdai

Three things that constitute an artificer

122

Tréde neimthigedar cruitire

Three things that constitute a harper

123

Tréde neimthigedar filid

Three things that constitute a poet

124

Dá mígairm míthocaid

Two ominous cries of ill-luck

125

Teora airi[se]na iarnduba

Three things betokening trouble

126

Trí bainne cétmuintire

Three drops of a wedded woman

127

Trí coiri bíte in cach dúini

Three caldrons that are in every fort

128

Trí comartha láthraig bendachtan

Three tokens of a blessed site

129

Trí comartha láthraig mallachtan

Three tokens of a cursed site

130

Teora muimmecha táide

Three nurses of theft

131

Teora ranna sluinte fri cáintocad

Three qualities* that bespeak good fortune

132

Teora ranna sluinte dotcaid

Three qualities that bespeak misfortune

133

Dí derbshiair

Two sisters

134

Dá derbráthair

Two brothers

135

Trí fuidb dotcadaig

Three unlucky . . .

136

Trí sethracha góa

Three false sisters

137

Trí bráthair uamain

Three timid brothers

138

Trí mairb fortgellat for bíu

Three dead things that give evidence on live
things

139

Trí brothcháin rátha

Three pottages of guaranteeing

140

Trí dubthrebtha

Three black husbandries

141

Trí hiarnduba

Three after-sorrows

142

Trí maic beres drús do lonnus

Three sons whom folly bears to anger

143

Trí maic beres féile do ainmnit

Three sons whom generosity bears to patience

144

Trí maic beres neóit do deinmnait

Three sons whom churlishness bears to impatience

145

Trí húar fíchte

Three cold things that seethe

146

Trí fúammann móaigthe

Three sounds of increase

147

Trí hana antreinn

Three wealths in barren places

148

Trí aithgine in domuin

Three renovators of the world

149

Trí diubarta forsná íada dílse

Three concealments upon which forfeiture does not
close

150

Trí cuir tintaiter do réir britheman

Three contracts that are reversed by the decision
of a judge

151

Trí nata[t] túalaing sainchuir

Three that are incapable of special contracts

152

Trí maic nad rannat orbai

Three sons that do not share inheritance

153

Trí ái nad eplet faill

Three causes that do not die with neglect

154

Trí fuile ná dlegat frecor

Three bloodsheds that need not be impugned

155

Trí fuchachta nad increnat slabrai

Three cohabitations that do not pay a
marriage-portion

156

Trí ná dlegat turbaidi

Three that are not entitled to exemption

157

Trí aithne ná dlegat taisec

Three deposits that need not be returned

158

Trí mairb direnaiter beoaib

Three dead ones that are paid for with living
things

159

Trí[ar] ná ditoing ná fortongar

Three that neither swear nor are sworn

160

Trí ná dlegat athchommus

Three that are not entitled to renunciation of
authority

161

Trí nát fuigletar cia beith ar a ngáes

Three who do not adjudicate though they are
possessed of wisdom

162

Trí fors ná tuit aititiu 'na ré

Three on whom acknowledgment does not fall in its
time

163

Trí foimrimme ná dlegad díre

Three usucaptions that are not entitled to a fine

164

Trí duilgine conrannat gníaid

Three wages that labourers share

165

Trí nóill doná dlegar frithnóill

Three oaths that do not require fulfilment

166

Trí gráda coillte túath inna ngói

Three ranks that ruin tribes in their falsehood

167

Trí sóir dogníat dóeru díb féin

Three free ones that make slaves of themselves

168

Trí ruip conberat duinechinaid

Three brutes whose trespasses count as human
crimes

169

Trí ruip ara tíagat cinta

Three brutish things that atone for crimes

170

Trí imuscrenat

Three things that ...

171

Trí comartha aragella i tig britheman

Three signs that ...

172

Trí dlegat aurfocrai

Three things that should be proclaimed

173

Trí doruis gúa

Three doors of falsehood

174

Trí doruis a n-aichnither fír

Three doors through which truth is recognized

175

Trí búada airechta

Three glories of a gathering

176

Trí tonna cen gáissi

Three waves without wisdom

177

Trí búada insci

Three glories of speech

178

Trí cumtaig gáisse

Three ornaments of wisdom

179

Trí miscena indsci

Three hateful things in speech

180

Trí fostai dagbanais

Three steadinesses of good womanhood

181

Trí fóindil drochbanais

Three strayings of bad womanhood

182

Trí búada étaig

Three excellences of dress

183

Trí ná dlegat othras

Three that are not entitled to sick-maintenance

184

Trí tharsuinn archuillet othras

Three sauces that spoil a sick-bed

185

Trí mná ná dlegat díri

Three women that are not entitled to a fine

186

Trí dofortat cach flaith

Three things that ruin every chief

187

Trí túarascbaid cach ngenmnaide

Three things that characterise every chaste person

188

Trí ara n-aichnider cach fergach

Three things by which every angry person is known

189

Trí thúarascbait cach n-ainmnetach

Three things that characterise every patient
person

190

Trí thúarascbait cach n-úallach

Three things that characterise every haughty
person

191

Trí forindet cach n-umal

Three things that tell every humble person

192

Trí airdi gáisse

Three signs of wisdom

193

Trí airdi drúisse

Three signs of folly

194

Tréde immifoilnge gáis do báeth

Three things that make a fool wise

195

Tréde immifoilnge báis do gáeth

Three things that make a wise man foolish

196

Tréde faillsiges cach ndagfheras

Three things that show every good man

197

Tréde faillsigedar cach ndrochfheras

Three things that show a bad man

198

Trí foglúaiset fóenledchu

Three things that set waifs a-wandering

199

Trí slabrada hi cumregar clóine

Three chains by which evil propensity is bound

200

Trí all frisa timargar béscna

Three rocks to which lawful behaviour is tied

201

Trí caindle forosnat cach ndorcha

Three candles that illumine every darkness

202

Tréde neimthigedar ríg

Three things that constitute a king

203

Trí glais foríadat rúine

Three locks that lock up secrets

204

Trí heochracha aroslicet imráitiu

Three keys that unlock thoughts

205

Trí orbai rannaiter fiad chomarbaib

Three inheritances that are divided in the
presence of heirs

206

Trí seithir óited

Three youthful sisters

207

Trí seithir sentad

Three aged sisters

208

Trí seithir sognáise

Three well-bred sisters

209

Trí seithir dognáise

Three ill-bred sisters

210

Trí seithir sotcaid

Three sisters of good fortune

211

Trí seithir sochlatad

Three sisters of good repute

212

Trí seithir dochlatad

Three sisters of ill repute

213

Trí seithir ferge

Three angry sisters

214

Trí seithir deirmiten

Three irreverent sisters

215

Trí seithir airmiten

Three reverent sisters

216

Trí banlae

Three woman-days

217

Trí ferlae

Three man-days

218

Trí gníma rátha

Three duties of guarantorship

219

Trí brotcháin rátha

Three pottages of guarantorship

220

Trí húais rátha 7 aitiri 7 nadma

Three things hard to guarantee and to become a
hostage and to make a contract for

221

Trí as anergnaid do neoch

Three things that are undignified for everyone

222

Trí bassa téchtai

Three lawful handbreadths

223

Cia mesam hi trebod

What is worst in a household

224

Trí galair ata ferr sláinti

Three illnesses that are better than health

225

Trí fáilti coirmthige

Three welcomes of an alehouse

226

Trí fognama ata messam dogní duine

Three services the worst that a man can serve

227

Trí ata ferr i tig

Three things that are best in a house

228

Trí ata messum i tig

Three that are worst in a house

229

Trí comartha tirdachta

Three signs of boorishness

230

Cenéle amus

Various kinds of mercenaries

231

Cenéle dáileman

Various kinds of dispensers

232

Trí as anso bís do accallaim

Three that are most difficult to talk to

233

Trí as mó menma bís

Three whose spirits are highest

234

Cetharda forná bí cosc nó ríagail

Four on whom there is neither restraint nor rule

235

Trí húais dóib

Three hard things

236

Trí hamra Glinne Dalláin i tír Eogain

Three wonders of Glenn Dallan* in Tirowen

237

Trí hamra Connacht

Three wonders of Connaught

238

Trí luchra ata mesa

Three worst smiles

239

Cisne trí ana soitcedach?

What are the three wealths of fortunate people?

240

Trí maic beres genas do gáis

Three sons whom chastity bears to wisdom

241

Trí airfite dála

Three entertainers of a gathering

242

Trí ata ferr do fhlaith

Three things that are best for a chief

243

Trí ata mesa do fhlaith

Three things that are worst for a chief

244

Ceithre báis breithe

The four deaths of judgment

245

Trí adcoillet gáis

Three things that ruin wisdom

246

Trí muime ordain

Three nurses of dignity

247

Trí muime menman

Three nurses of high spirits

248

Cetheora miscne flatha

Four hatreds of a chief

249

Trí dorcha in betha

Three dark* things of the world

250

Trí urgarta bíd

Three prohibitions of food

251

Cetheora aipgitre gáise

Four elements* of wisdom

252

Cetheora aipgitre báise

Four elements* of folly

253

Teora sírechta flatha

Three tabus of a chief

254

Trí indchoisc ordain do duine

Three indications of dignity in a person

255

Trí gúala doná fess fudomain

Three coffers whose depth is not known

256

Trí féich nach dlegar faill

Three debts which must not be neglected