Rare and Unique Names of "Non-Indo-European" Type and the Case of Dallán Forgaill

Abstract

Two-part compound names connected with notions of war, fame and power and with animals like the wolf and horse were popular among speakers of many Indo-European language branches (Indian, Iranian, Greek, Germanic, Slavic and Celtic). This “Indo-European” type of composita, probably inherited from Proto-Indo-European language (and culture) was studied in detail by Uhlich (1993). At the same time there is another Old Irish name-type consisting of a noun + adjective or a noun + noun in genitive case, for example, Mac Menman ‘son of thought’. This name-type was described by M.A. O’Brien and other scholars as “Non-Indo-European” (O’Brien 1973), hereafter “Non-IE”. I accept this conventional term, without necessarily implying, however, that I agree that this name-type was inherited from a “Non-Indo-European” substrate. Study of this name-type is long overdue. Dallán Forgaill, the 6th century poet and saint, is credited with authorship of the Amra Choluim Chille, an elegy in memory of the saint Columba. I do not intend to discuss the historicity of the poet himself or the dating of the poem: our main point of interest is his name as it has come down to us in medieval Irish sources. Dallán’s name and genealogy, as well as his alleged identity with Eóchaid Rígéices, also chief poet of Ireland, deserve closer scrutiny.