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The Dead of Clonmacnoise

In a quiet watered land, a kind of Roses,
Stands Saint Ciarans city fair;
And the wariors or Erin in their famous generations
Slumber there.

There beneath the dewey hillside sleep the noblest
Of the Clan of Conn.
Each below his stone with name in branching Ogham
And sacred knot theron.

There they laid the seven Kings of Tara,
There sons of Cairbre sleep-
Battle banners of the Gael that in Ciaran's plain of Crosses
Now their final hosting keep.

And at Clonmacnoise they laid the men of Teffia,
And right many a lord of Bregal;
Deep in the soil above Clan Creide and Clan Conaill
kind in hall and fiercein fray.

Many and many a son of Conn the Hundred-fighter
In the red earth lies at rest
Many a blue eye of Clan Colman the turf covers,
Many a swan-white breast.

Thomas William Rolleston