Boí coire féile la Laigniu, Buchat a ainm.
Boí coire féile la Laigniu, Buchat a ainm.
(was * cauldron * of generosity * with * Leinstermen * Buchat * his * name)
The men of Leinster had a cauldron of generosity, and his name was Buchat.
These are the opening words of the tale “Esnada Tige Buchet”, edited by David Greene. The centerpiece of any guesthouse (tech n-oíged) or hostel (bruiden) was always one or more cauldrons, a reliable source of comfort and sustenance for all comers. The fires beneath the cauldrons of Buchat’s house were never extinguished, according to the tale. Thus it is not surprising that a generous man would be metaphorically called a “coire féile” or a “coire don t-sochaide”. The latter expression is found in FDG (p. 58). The text says “is e in senfhocal ó chein mair, .i. in coire don t-sochaide” (it is a proverb in longstanding, ‘the cauldron for the multitude’). The application of the proverb here is slightly muddled, but the reference is to Suibne, a man celebrated for his hospitality.