díchedul do chennaib, dícheadal do cheannaibh
[Old Irish, extempore incantation (?)]
A kind of incantation or spell composed by poets (fili) and druids of early Ireland. Various early sources describe it as being composed extemporaneously, often using the finger-tips, which may imply divination. Commentators have suggested that díchetal do chennaib may have been a kind of clairvoyance or psychometry in which the seer conveys his message in quatrain or verse. The ollam was required to be proficient in both the díchetal do chennaib and the imbas forosnai. Fionn mac Cumhaill is described as being especially proficient at díchetal do chennaib. St Patrick allowed díchetal do chennaib to continue because it was judged harmless and did not involve pagan rites.
See also DIVINATION; TEINM LAÍDA; AWENYDDION.
