Cúán úa Lothcháin

Who was Cúán úa Lothcháin?

Cúán úa Lothcháin was an Irish poet from Tethba, County Meath. He was the Chief Ollam of Ireland and died in 1024.

Born in the region of Tethba - part of the kingdom of Mide - Cúán acted as bard and propangadist for High King Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill.

The Annals of Ulster give his obit as- "U1024.3 Cuán ua Lothcháin, chief poet of Ireland, was killed in Tethba by the men of Tethba themselves. The party that killed him became putrid within the hour. That was a poet's miracle."

The Annals of the Four Masters give his obit as- "M1024.4 Cuan Ua Lothchain, chief poet of Ireland, and a learned historian, was slain in Teathbha, and the party who killed him became putrid in one hour; and this was a poet's miracle."

The Annals of Inisfallen give his obit as- "AI1024.6 Cúán. Ua Lothcháin, chief poet of Ireland and a historian, was slain by the men of Tethba; and the man who slew him, i.e. the son of Gilla Ultáin, son of Roduib, was killed forthwith."

The Annals of Loch Cé give his obit as- "LC1024.4 Cuan Ua Lochain, i.e. the chief poet of Erinn, was slain by the men of Tethfa. God performed a ‘poet's miracle,’ manifestly, on the party that killed him, for they died an evil death, and their bodies were not buried until wolves and birds preyed upon them."