ABSTRACT
Described as ardollamh Érenn (“chief poet of Ireland”) in the Annals of Ulster on his death in 1016, is primarily associated with Brian Boru in later tradition whose literary biography he is credited with composing, along with poetic works on various aspects of the career of the Munster king. These include the mournful elegy, Anoir ánic tuitim Briain (“Brian’s downfall came from the east”), and A Chinn Choraidh, caidi Brian lamenting the neglected state of Brian’s County Clare citadel, rendered into English by James Clarence Mangan as “O, where, Kincora, is Brian the great?,” as well as versified genealogies of Brian’s Dál Cais dynasty. Frequently associated with Mac Coisse, said to be chief poet of Brian’s main rival, Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill, he engages him in dramatic dialogue in one particular work. What these compositions have in common is that their varied late dates link them with the polished poetic persona Mac Liacc subsequently became, rather than with a historical personage of that name about whom we know next to nothing. The latter may have been the author of a dinnshenchas text explaining the origin of Carn Conaill in south County Galway, in which he describes himself, metaphorically, according to Edward Gwynn, as Mac Liacc Linni na nÉces (“of Linn na nÉces,” literally “of the pool of the poets”). Of the same “pool” was his son, Cumara, who is also described as a poet on his death in 1030. However, to the later literary legend bearing his name, this elusive Mac Liacc bears scant resemblance.
