Trecheng Breth Féne
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Trí fuidb dotcadaig: ráthaiges, etargaire, fiadnaise. Dotoing dia fiadnaisi, íccaid dia ráthaiges, doberar béimm n-etargaire ina chinn. Three unlucky . . . 1: guaranteeing, mediating, witnessing. The witness has to swear to his evidence, the guarantor has to pay for his security, the mediator gets a blow on his head2.

1 The usual meanings of ‘fodb’, ‘accoutrement, equipment, arms’, do not seem to suit here.

2 Literally, ‘the blow of mediation is dealt on his head’.

2008-06-24 CPD