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Dinn Rig

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One of the old Royal Seats of Leinster.

Near the picturesque village of Leighlinbridge in County Carlow the ancient remnants of Dinn Ríg, the King's Fort, rise from the western bank of River Barrow. Though little now remains of it, this historic hillfort is the setting for the saga known as The Burning of Dinn Ríg.

However I digress. Please be welcome, settle yourself by the fire, and get warm. We'll share a yarn or two and retell the tale of the capture of Dinn Ríg by a group of warriors led by Labraid Loingsech, 'The Seafarer'.

The story really begins with Cobthach of Bregia who murdered his brother Loeghaire Lorc, the King of Leinster, in a fit of jealous rage. This made him the king and not content with this one murderous act, he also killed all of his rivals except one. A child called Moen, Loeghaire's grandson, was spared because he couldn't speak and was therefore not allowed make any claim to kingship. Moen was fostered by Craftine the Harper who took him into Munster, a place where he could be raised in safety. The boy miraculously recovered the power of speech when he was injured in a game of hurling. He chose the name Labraid Loingsech for himself and became a popular youth. However, when Cobthach found out he was determined to kill Moen because he could now make a claim for the kingship. Forewarned, Moen fled to Gaul where he gained a heroic reputation by his deeds. He gathered a war band of about 2000 men, Gauls who were called "Laigin" or "spear men". It was these warriors he led in an invasion of Leinster and the capture of Dinn Ríg.

Once he became King, Labraid Loingsech kept the peace with Cobthach for a while but revenge was still on his mind. He invited his great uncle to Dinn Ríg in friendship and had a hall constructed entirely in iron to house Cobthach and his men. Upon their arrival they were shown into the hall and once inside, the doors were closed and barred. Cobthach and his companions were burned within the hall.

'Dinn Ríg,
Strong Tuaim Tenbai,
Thirty nobles died there in anguish,
Labraid, the fierce champion,
Crushed and burned them,
The warrior of Eire,
Grandson of Loeghaire Lorc.'

For centuries after its importance as a royal hillfort had declined, Dinn Ríg was still used as an investiture site of Leinster's Kings.



Reference and Further Reading Material:

• Lebor Gabála Érenn
The Book of the Taking of Ireland
Part VI
Edited and translated with notes, etc.
By R.A. Stewart Macalister, D.Litt.
University College Cork (UCC)
• Oxford Dictionary of Celtic Mythology
• Finte O'Broin - Hillforts of the Leinster Dynasty
• The Celtic Encyclopedia Volume II

Text by Siobhan D Cumhaill

Main image for Dinn Rig stylized by Fenian Niafer from an illustration of 'Dinnree' from Hall's "Ireland", 1845

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