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An or ollamh (; anglicised as ollave or ollav), plural ollomain, in
An or ollamh (; anglicised as ollave or ollav), plural ollomain, in early Irish literature
Early Irish literature is one of the oldest vernacular literatures in Western Europe, though inscriptions utilising Irish and Latin are found on Ogham stones dating from the 4th century, indicating simultaneous usage of both languages by this per ...
, is a member of the highest rank of filí
The filí (singular: file) were members of an elite class of poets in Ireland and Scotland, up until the Renaissance.
Etymology
The word "file" is thought to derive from the Proto-Celtic ''*widluios'', meaning "seer, one who sees" (atteste ...
. The term is used to refer to the highest member of any group; thus an ''ollam brithem'' would be the highest rank of judge, and an ''ollam rí
Rí, or commonly ríg ( genitive), is an ancient Gaelic word meaning ' king'. It is used in historical texts referring to the Irish and Scottish kings, and those of similar rank. While the Modern Irish word is exactly the same, in modern Scot ...
'' the highest rank of king. Ollav was also applied to a druid
A druid was a member of the high-ranking class in ancient Celtic cultures. Druids were religious leaders as well as legal authorities, adjudicators, lorekeepers, medical professionals and political advisors. Druids left no written accounts. Wh ...
ic rank; meaning much the same as "professor", or person of great learning. Typically the ollav/ollam was endowed with a distinction equal to that of a king, and could therefore wear six colours.
There was an official post in ancient Ireland called the "Rí
Rí, or commonly ríg ( genitive), is an ancient Gaelic word meaning ' king'. It is used in historical texts referring to the Irish and Scottish kings, and those of similar rank. While the Modern Irish word is exactly the same, in modern Scot ...
Ollam" or "Ard Ollam" or Chief Ollam of Ireland
Chief may refer to:
Title or rank
Military and law enforcement
* Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force
* Chief of police, the head of a police department
* Chief of the bo ...
. The holder of the post had a standing equal to the High King of Ireland.
Ollamh Fodhla was the title of the mythical 18th High King of Ireland
High King of Ireland ( ga, Ardrí na hÉireann ) was a royal title in Gaelic Ireland held by those who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over all of Ireland. The title was held by historical kings and later sometimes assigned ana ...
who is said to have first formed the assembly known as the ''Feis Teamhrach'', or Feast of Tara around 1300 BCE.
Literary fosterage
InAncient Ireland
The prehistory of Ireland has been pieced together from archaeological evidence, which has grown at an increasing rate over the last decades. It begins with the first evidence of permanent human residence in Ireland around 10,500 BC (although ...
, ollams taught children either for payment or for no compensation.
See also
*Ollamh Érenn
The Ollamh Érenn () or Chief Ollam of Ireland was a professional title of Gaelic Ireland.
Background
An (literally 'most great') was a poet or bard of literature and history. Each chief or had its own . The head ollam of a province such as ...
*Senchán Torpéist
Senchán Torpéist (c. 560–649 AD) was a Gaelic-Irish poet.
Background
Seanchan Torpest was the Chief Poet of Connacht c.640 AD when he succeeded Dallán Forgaill as Chief Ollam of Ireland. He died in c.649 AD.
His father was Cuairfheartaig ...
*Dallán Forgaill
Eochaid mac Colla ( 560 – 640), better known as Saint Dallán or Dallán Forgaill ( sga, Dallán Forchella; la, Dallanus Forcellius; Primitive Irish: ''Dallagnas Worgēllas''), was an early Christian Irish poet and saint known as the writer o ...
References