Gaelic Ireland
Gaelic Ireland ( ga, Éire Ghaelach) was the Gaelic political and social order, and associated culture, that existed in Ireland from the late prehistoric era until the early 17th century. It comprised the whole island before Anglo-Normans ...
, a ''bruiden'' was a building offering shelter, drink and food, often translated as "
hostel
A hostel is a form of low-cost, short-term shared sociable lodging where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed in a dormitory, with shared use of a lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex and have private or shared ba ...
", "banqueting hall" or "
inn
Inns are generally establishments or buildings where travelers can seek lodging, and usually, food and drink. Inns are typically located in the country or along a highway; before the advent of motorized transportation they also provided accommo ...
."
A description in The Tale of Mac Da Thó's Pig (c. AD 800) describes one ''bruiden'': "There were seven doors in each hall, seven roads through it, and seven fireplaces therein. There were seven cauldrons, with an ox and a salted pig in each. The person who came that way would thrust the fleshfork into the cauldron, and whatever he obtained with the first thrust he ate, and if he did not obtain anything with the first thrust he ate nothing."
The host (''brugaid'') was required to show "welcome to all" and "refusal to none."
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the s ...
:
*Bruiden Dá Derga (Berga), located in the kingdom of
Cualu
Cualu or Cuala (genitive ) was a territory in Gaelic Ireland south of the River Liffey encompassing the Wicklow Mountains.
History
Edmund Hogan concludes from primary sources that it "seems to extend from Arklow to the Liffey, and to be coexte ...
; usually placed on the
River Dodder
The River Dodder ( ga, An Dothra) is one of the three main rivers in Dublin, Ireland, the others being the Liffey, of which the Dodder is the largest tributary, and the Tolka.
Course and system
The Dodder rises on the northern slopes of Ki ...
or at Stackallen, County Meath. Featured in the famous poem ''
Togail Bruidne Dá Derga
''Togail Bruidne Dá Derga'' (''The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel'') is an Irish tale belonging to the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. It survives in three Old and Middle Irish recensions, it is part of the Book of Dun Cow. It recounts th ...
'' (The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel)
*Bruiden Forgaill Manaich, located at Rathmooney, near to
Lusk, Dublin
Lusk () is a small town in
Fingal, Ireland. The town is located about north of Dublin city centre.
Toponymy
The name "Lusk" is said to date back to Saint MacCullin, who founded a church there c. 450. Oral tradition suggests MacCullin may ha ...
.
*Bruiden Dá Réo (Bruiden Mic Cecht Da Réo, Dareo, Bruiden dá Ger), located in
West Bréifne
The Kingdom of West Breifne (Irish ''Breifne Ua Ruairc'') or Breifne O'Rourke was a historic kingdom of Ireland that existed from 1256 to 1605, located in the area that is now County Leitrim. It took its present boundaries in 1583 when West Breifn ...
(County Leitrim)
*Bruiden Dá Choca (Coga), at Breenmore Hill (Bryanmore), near Athlone ("in a district which belongs to Meave and Ailill"); featured in the story of ''Togail Bruidne Da Chocae'' (The Destruction of Da Choca's Hostel)
*Bruiden Dá Thó, in
Laigin
The Laigin, modern spelling Laighin (), were a Gaelic population group of early Ireland. They gave their name to the Kingdom of Leinster, which in the medieval era was known in Irish as ''Cóiced Laigen'', meaning "Fifth/province of the Leinster ...
, believed to lie in the south of
County Carlow
County Carlow ( ; ga, Contae Cheatharlach) is a county located in the South-East Region of Ireland, within the province of Leinster. Carlow is the second smallest and the third least populous of Ireland's 32 traditional counties. Carlow Co ...
(possibly Ballyknockcrumpin)
However,
Fled Bricrenn
''Fled Bricrenn'' (Old Irish " Bricriu's Feast") is a story from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Bricriu, an inveterate troublemaker, invites the nobles of the Ulaid to a feast at his new '' bruiden'' (hostel, banquet hall) at Dún Rudraig ...
(8th century) mentions the ''briuga'' Bricriu Nemthenga ("Poison-tongue").
Bruiden Blai Brugad or Bruiden Brúadaig is another, located in
Ulaid
Ulaid (Old Irish, ) or Ulaidh (Modern Irish, ) was a Gaelic over-kingdom in north-eastern Ireland during the Middle Ages made up of a confederation of dynastic groups. Alternative names include Ulidia, which is the Latin form of Ulaid, and in ...
, hosted by Blai. Bruiden of Moda Minadhmadadh is another.
The idea of having six ''bruidne'' may have been chosen to mirror the six "
cities of refuge
The cities of refuge ( ''‘ārê ha-miqlāṭ'') were six Levitical towns in the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah in which the perpetrators of accidental manslaughter could claim the right of asylum. Maimonides, invoking talmudic lit ...
" in the
Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh (;"Tanach" ''
Sean's Bar
Sean's Bar is a pub in Athlone, Ireland, notable for its reputed establishment in AD 900, and claim to being the oldest extant bar in both Ireland and Europe. Other architectural and archaeological records, including the Record of Monuments and P ...
in
Athlone
Athlone (; ) is a town on the border of County Roscommon and County Westmeath, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is located on the River Shannon near the southern shore of Lough Ree. It is the second most populous town in the Midland Region, Ire ...
is located in a building parts of which have been dated to c. AD 900, with wattle and wicker walls. Located near a crossing-point on the
River Shannon
The River Shannon ( ga, Abhainn na Sionainne, ', '), 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 the island of Ireland.
The Sha ...
, it claims to be Ireland's oldest pub and may be the site of an ancient ''bruiden''.
See also
*
Hall
In architecture, a hall is a relatively large space enclosed by a roof and walls. In the Iron Age and early Middle Ages in northern Europe, a mead hall was where a lord and his retainers ate and also slept. Later in the Middle Ages, the gre ...
*
Irish pub
An Irish pub is an establishment licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. Irish pubs are characterised by a unique culture centred around a casual and friendly atmosphere, hearty food and drink, Irish sports, and t ...
*
Termonn
is an Gaelic (Irish) word meaning 'sanctuary, boundary'. Other spellings include '','' and . It denotes land belonging to Irish early Christian monasteries and churches on which right of sanctuary prevailed.
The word is common in many place ...