Flann mac Lonáin

Flann mac Lonáin (?-896), poet, described in the Annals of the Four Masters as the ‘Virgil of the Irish race’, born probably in the east Clare/west Tipperary area. A distinguished poet in his own day, his verse was cited as an exemplar in metrical tracts.

Ninth- and tenth-century Irish poet, the earliest from whom any definite tradition survives; his death dates vary from 893 to 918/920. While little of his life can be documented, such as an association with the monastery at Terryglass, Co. Tipperary, his persona has attracted many stories. The bite of his satires caused him to be called the ‘Devil's Son’, and his avarice was reputed to have sent him to hell. In one story he contends with Angus Óg, the pre-Christian god of poetry; and his knowledge of place-name lore was proverbial. After his death he rose to give his own elegy as well as elegies for the five people buried with him.