Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Nov 20 - St Edmund martyr, king, (841-870)
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Christian King of East Anglia
Edmund was born of Saxon stock and was brought up a Christian. Though only about fifteen years old when crowned on Christmas Day 855, Edmund showed himself a model ruler from the first, treating all his people with equal justice, and known as refusing to listen to flatterers and informers. In his eagerness for prayer he retired for a year to his royal tower at Hunstanton in Norfolk where he learned the whole Psalter by heart, so he could afterwards recite it regularly.
Resisting the Vikings
In 870 two Danish chiefs Hinguar and Hubba invaded his kingdom and at first he drove them back. They withdrew to Northumbria but soon returned with greater numbers, and pressed terms upon him which as a Christian he felt bound to refuse. In his desire to avert a fruitless massacre, he disbanded his troops and retired towards Framlingham in Suffolk. The conditions of surrender the Vikings offered involved the betrayal of his people and the rejection of his Christian faith, so he refused.
Martyrdom at Hoxne in Suffolk
Edmund was tied to a tree and whipped at Hoxne in Suffolk. He bore this torture patiently, calling on the name of Jesus. At last worn out by his constancy, the Vikings began to shoot arrows at him until his body looked like that of a 'hedgehog'. At this stage, Hinguar commanded his head to be cut off. Edmund was 29 years old. From his first burial-place at Hoxne his relics were taken in the tenth century to Beodricsworth, since called Bury St. Edmunds, where a shrine and abbey were erected in his honour.
Patron Saint of England?
Devotion to St. Edmund the martyr became very popular in England. Many churches were dedicated in his honour. He was regarded as patron saint of England until during the reign of Henry II (1154-89), he was partly eclipsed by St Edward the Confessor (1003-66). The cult of St George came to England with knights returning from the Crusades at the end of the twelfth century and it was during the reign of King Edward III (1327-77) who dedicated a chapel at Windsor Castle to the soldier that George came to be recognised as the patron saint of the English monarchy. Currently there is a campaign to have St Edmund reinstated as England's patron.
In art
St Edmund's is represented in Christian art with sword and arrow, the instruments of his torture.
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Memorable Sayings for Today
Venerate the martyrs,
praise, love, proclaim, honour them.
But worship the God of the martyrs.
~ Saint Augustine ~
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Wednesday of the Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2
St John is given a vision of the Heavenly Court where God reigns with the saints.
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Apocalypse 4:1-11
A vision; Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty; he was, he is and he is to come.
[caption id="attachment_72758" align="alignleft" width="286"] St John writes his fascinating fabric of dreams given to him in an angelic presentation over a period of time.[/caption]
In my vision, I, John, saw a door open in heaven and heard the same voice speaking to me, the voice like a trumpet, saying,
'Come up here: I will show you what is to come in the future'.
With that, the Spirit possessed me and I saw a throne standing in heaven, and the One who was sitting on the throne, and the Person sitting there looked like a diamond and a ruby. There was a rainbow encircling the throne, and this looked like an emerald.
Round the throne in a circle were twenty-four thrones, and on them I saw twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white robes with golden crowns on their heads. Flashes of lightning were coming from the throne, and the sound of peals of thunder, and in front of the throne there were seven flaming lamps burning, the seven Spirits of God.
Between the throne and myself was a sea that seemed to be made of glass, like crystal. In the centre, grouped round the throne itself, were four animals with many eyes, in front and behind.
The first animal was like a lion, the second like a bull, the third animal had a human face, and the fourth animal was like a flying eagle.
Each of the four animals had six wings and had eyes all the way round as well as inside; and day and night they never stopped singing:
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty; he was, he is and he is to come'.
Every time the animals glorified and honoured and gave thanks to the One sitting on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders prostrated themselves before him to worship the One who lives for ever and ever, and threw down their crowns in front of the throne, saying,
'You are our Lord and our God, you are worthy of glory and honour and power,
because you made all the universe and it was only by your will that everything was made and exists'.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 150
Response: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty.
or Alleluia!
1. Praise God in his holy place, praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his powerful deeds, praise his surpassing greatness. Response
2. O praise him with sound of trumpet, praise him with lute and harp.
Praise him with timbrel and dance, praise him with strings and pipes. Response
3. O praise him with resounding cymbals, praise him with clashing of cymbals.
Let everything that lives and that breathes give praise to the Lord. Response
Gospel Acclamation 1 Jn 2: 5
Alleluia, Alleluia!
When anyone obeys what Christ has said, God's love comes to perfection in him.
Alleluia!
Or 1 Jn 4: 10
Alleluia, Alleluia!
I chose you from the world to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last says the Lord.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 19:11-28 Glory to you, O Lord
Why did you not put my money in the bank?
While the people were listening to this Jesus went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and they imagined that the kingdom of God was going to show itself then and there. Accordingly he said,
'A man of noble birth went to a distant country to be appointed king and afterwards return. He summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds.
"Do business with these" he told them "until I get back."
But his compatriots detested him and sent a delegation to follow him with this message,
"We do not want this man to be our king".
Now on his return, having received his appointment as king, he sent for those servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what profit each had made. The first came in and said,
"Sir, your one pound has brought in ten".
"Well done, my good servant!" he replied "Since you have proved yourself faithful in a very small thing, you shall have the government of ten cities."
Then came the second and said, "Sir, your one pound has made five".
To this one also he said, "And you shall be in charge of five cities".
Next came the other and said,"Sir, here is your pound. I put it away safely in a piece of linen because I was afraid of you;
for you are an exacting man: you pick up what you have not put down and reap what you have not sown."
"You wicked servant!" he said "Out of your own mouth I condemn you.
So you knew I was an exacting man, picking up what I have not put down and reaping what I have not sown?
Then why did you not put my money in the bank? On my return I could have drawn it out with interest?"
And he said to those standing by, "Take the pound from him and give it to the man who has ten pounds".
And they said to him, "But, sir, he has ten pounds . . ."
"I tell you, to everyone who has will be given more; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
But as for my enemies who did not want me for their king, bring them here and execute them in my presence."'
When he had said this he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Wednesday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time Luke 19:11-28
In the time when the Book of Revelation was written, towards the end of the first century, the Emperor Domitian was on the throne in Rome. Historical sources suggest that he was happy to be addressed as ‘Lord and God’. According to our first reading, there is a throne which is higher than the throne of the Roman Emperor, and the one seated on it, the Creator God, is alone worthy of the titles that Domitian claimed, ‘You are our Lord and our God, you are worthy of glory, honour and power’.
The often perplexing symbolic language of the Book of Revelation is always at the service of this fundamental truth. There is only one who is worthy of the worship of our lives and hearts and that is the Creator God who, according to the reading, ‘made all the universe’ and by whose will ‘everything was made and exists’. In the following chapter of this Book of Revelation, the risen Lord is honoured and worshipped on an equal footing to God, ‘To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever!’ (Rev 5:13). It is in and through his Son, the risen Lord, that God exercises his rule on earth.
The author of this book was reassuring his persecuted churches that in a world where the Emperor and various gods were demanding to be honoured and worshipped, the God of Jesus Christ was alone worthy of their total allegiance and worship. Such worship finds expression in liturgy but embraces all of our lives. Paul calls on the church in Rome, at the heart of Empire, to ‘present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds’ (Rom 12:1-2). Today’s gospel reading suggests that one of the ways we give expression to this spiritual worship, the worship of our lives, is by imaginatively using the gifts God has given us in the service of others. The time before the arrival of the glorious Son of Man is an opportunity for faithful and courageous service of the Lord and all created reality.
The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd. and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Scripture Reflection is made available with our thanks from his book Reflections on the Weekday Readings 2023/24: The Word is near to you, on your lips and in your heart by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Sliocht as an Leabhar Apacailipsis 4:1-11
Is naofa, naofa, naofa, an Tiarna Dia Uilechumhachtach; an té a bhí ann, atá, agus atá le teacht.
[caption id="attachment_72758" align="alignleft" width="280"] Scriobh N.Eoin a fisanna ó neamh[/caption]
Bhí fís agam, Eoin, agus ba shiúd doras oscailte ar neamh, agus an chéad ghlór a chuala ag labhairt liom mar ghlór trumpa, bhí sé á rá:
“Gabh anseo aníos agus taispeánfaidh mé duit a gcaithfidh teacht ina ndiaidh seo.”
Bhí mé faoi luí an Spioraid gan mhoill, agus, féach, bhí ríchathaoir suite sna flaithis, agus neach ina shuí sa chathaoir sin. Agus an té a bhí ina shuí bhí sé ar lí seaspair agus sairdis agus bhí bogha ceatha timpeall na ríchathaoireach ar dhealramh na smaragaide.
Bhí ceithre ríchathaoir fichead mórthimpeall na ríchathaoireach agus ceathrar seanóirí fichead ina suí sna ríchathaoireacha, iad gléasta in éidí geala agus corónacha óir ar a gceann. Gabhann amach ón ríchathaoir splancacha tintrí, glórtha agus toirneacha; bíonn seacht lóchrann tine ar lasadh os comhair na ríchathaoireach, agus is iadsan seacht spiorad Dé.
Agus os comhair na ríchathaoireach tá mar a bheadh farraige gloine, cosúil le criostal. Agus i lár baill ag an ríchathaoir, agus mórthimpeall na ríchathaoireach, tá ceithre dhúil bheo atá lán de shúile chun tosaigh agus laistiar. Is cosúil an chéad dúil bheo le leon agus an dara dúil le damh; tá aghaidh mar aghaidh duine ar an tríú dúil, agus tá an ceathrú dúil cosúil le hiolar ar eitilt. Agus bíonn sé sciatháin ar gach ceann de na ceithre dúile beo, agus iad lán de shúile mórthimpeall agus laistigh; ní théann aon stad orthu de lá ná d’oíche ach ag rá:
“Is naofa, naofa, naofa, an Tiarna Dia Uilechumhachtach; an té a bhí ann, atá, agus atá le teacht..”
Agus i gcónaí nuair a thugann na dúile glóir agus onóir agus buíochas don té atá ina shuí sa ríchathaoir, an té a mhaireann ar feadh na síoraíochta, sléachtann an ceathrar seanóirí fichead go talamh os comhair an té atá ina shuí sa ríchathaoir, agus adhrann siad an té a mhaireann ar feadh na síoraíochta, agus caitheann a gcorónacha síos os comhair na ríchathaoireach á rá:
“A Thiarna agus a Dhia linn, is fiú thú glóir agus onóir agus cumhacht a fháil, óir is tú a chruthaigh an uile ní agus is trí do thoil a tháinig siad ann agus a cruthaíodh iad.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 150
Freagra Is naofa, naofa, naofa anTiarna Dia, Rialtoir an Uile
Malairt Freagra Alleluia
1. Molaigí Dia ina ionad naofa! Molaigí é i bhfirmimint a chumhachta!
Molaigí é as ucht a éachtaí! Molaigí é as ucht a chumhachta ollmhóire! Freagra
2. Molaigí é le séideadh an stoic! Molaigí é leis an gcruit agus leis an gcláirseach!
Molaigí é le teampán is le rince! Molaigí é le téada ceoil is leis an bpíb! Freagra
3. Molaigí é le clagarnach na gciombal! Molaigí é le ciombail chlingíneacha!
An uile dhúil bheo dá bhfuil ann, moladh sé an Tiarna! Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 19:11-28 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Cad chuige más ea nár chuir tú mo chuid airgid ar gaimbín?
San am sin labhair Íosa parabal leis na daoine, de bhrí go raibh sé i ngar do Iarúsailéim agus gur síleadh dóibh ríocht Dé a bheith le taibhsiú láithreach. Uime sin a dúirt:
“Chuaigh duine de threibh uasal go tír i gcéin chun céim ríoga a bhaint amach dó féin agus filleadh ansin.
Ghlaoigh sé ar dheichniúr dá sheirbhísigh agus thug dóibh deich míoná agus dúirt leo: ‘Bígí i mbun gnó go dtaga mé.’
Ach bhí fuath ag a chomhthírigh dó, agus chuir siad teachtaí ina dhiaidh chun a rá:
Ní áil linn é seo a bheith ina rí orainn.’
Ach ar a theacht ar ais i dtráth agus an chéim ríoga bainte amach aige, d’ordaigh sé fios a chur ar na seirbhísigh úd chuige a raibh an t-airgead tugtha aige dóibh, chun go mbeadh a fhios aige cad a bhí de bharr a ngnó acu faoi seach.
Tháinig an chéad duine i láthair agus dúirt: A Thiarna, ghnóthaigh do mhíoná deich míoná.’
Dúirt sé leis: ‘Is maith sin, a dhea-sheirbhísigh; de bhrí go raibh tú iontaofa faoin mbeagán, bíodh forlámhas agat ar dheich gcathair.”
Tháinig an dara duine agus dúirt: ‘Rinne do mhíoná cúig mhíoná, a thiarna.’
Dúirt sé leis sin chomh maith: ‘Tusa mar an gcéanna, bí i gceannas ar chúig chathair.’
Ach tháinig an duine eile agus dúirt:
'A thiarna, seo duit do mhíoná; bhí sé i gcoimeád agam i naipcín. Óir bhí eagla orm romhat, de bhrí gur duine dian tú; glacann tú chugat an rud nár chuir tú i dtaisce agus baineann tú an fómhar nár chuir tú a shíol.’
Dúirt sé leis:
‘Tabharfaidh mé breith do bhéil féin ort, a dhroch-sheirbhísigh! Bhí a fhios agat, an raibh, gur duine dian mé, ag glacadh chugam an rud nár chuir mé i dtaisce, agus ag baint an fhómhair nár chuir mé a shíol? Cad chuige más ea nár chuir tú mo chuid airgid ar gaimbín? Agus nuair a thiocfainn, dhéanfainn é éileamh le hús.’
Agus dúirt sé leo seo a bhí i láthair: ‘Bainigí de an míoná, agus tugaigí é dó seo a bhfuil na deich míoná aige.’
‘Ach, a thiarna,’ ar siad sin leis, ‘tá deich míoná aigesean.’
‘Deirim libh, gach aon duine a mbíonn aige, tabharfar dó, ach an té nach mbíonn aige, bainfear de fiú amháin a mbíonn aige.
Ach na naimhde úd agam nárbh áil leo mé bheith i mo rí orthu, seolaigí i leith iad agus déanaigí iad a choscairt i mo láthair.’”
Nuair a bhí an méid sin ráite aige, ghluais sé roimhe ag dul suas go Iarúsailéim.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
24-11-2024
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Solemnity
(34th and Last Sunday in Ordinary time, Cycle B)
Christ did not seek earthly domination in his kingship, but rather the liberation of the weak and oppressed.
The Christian community shares in the royal dignity of Christ by sharing his mission of service.
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Daniel 7:13-14
His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty.
I gazed into the visions of the night.
And I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven,
one like a son of man.
He came to the one of great age
and was led into his presence.
On him was conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship,
and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants.
His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass away,
nor will his empire be destroyed.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 92
Response The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed.
1. The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed; the Lord has robed himself with might, he has girded himself with power. Response
2. The world you made firm, not to be moved; your throne has stood firm from of old.
From all eternity, O Lord, you are. Response
3. Truly your decrees are to be trusted. Holiness is fitting to your house,
O Lord, until the end of time. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the Book of the Apocalypse 1:5-8
Ruler of the kings of the earth... he made us a line of kings, priests to serve his God.
Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the First-born from the dead, the Ruler of the kings of the earth.
He loves us and has washed away our sins with his blood, and made us a line of kings, priests to serve his God and Father;
to him, then, be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.
It is he who is coming on the clouds; everyone will see him, even those who pierced him,
and all the races of the earth will mourn over him. This is the truth. Amen.
'I am the Alpha and the Omega' says the Lord God, who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Mt 24:42
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessings on the coming kingdom of our father David!
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 18:33-37 Glory to you, O Lord.
It is you who say I am a king.
Pilate asked Jesus 'Are you the king of the Jews?' .
Jesus replied, 'Do you ask this of your own accord, or have others spoken to you about me?'
Pilate answered,
'Am I a Jew? It is your own people and the chief priests who have handed you over to me: what have you done?'
Jesus replied,
'Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if my kingdom were of this world,
my men would have fought to prevent my being surrendered to the Jews.
But my kingdom is not of this kind.'
'So, you are a king then? said Pilate.
'It is you who say it,' answered Jesus. 'Yes, I am a king. I was born for this,
I came into the world for this: to bear witness to the truth;
and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/
Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966, by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.
Sollúntas Ár dTiarna Íosa Críost Rí na nUile
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as Leabhar Dhainéil , Fáidh. 7:13-14
Tiarnas síoral a thiarnas
Chonaic mé i bhfíseanna oíche.
Féach! neach ag teacht ar néalta neimhe,
amhail mac an duine.
Thainig sé chun Sinsir na Laethanta, agus cuireadh os a chomhair é.
Dó síud tugadh tiarnas, glóir is ardfhlaitheas,
go bhfónfadh dó an uile phobal, chine agus theanga.
Tiarnas síoral a thiarnas,
nach rachaidh ar ceal, ná ní scriosfar a ríocht.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 92
Freagra Tá an Tiarna ina Rí: tá sé gléasta le maorgacht.
1. Tá an Tiarna ina Rí: tá sé gléasta le maorgacht; chlúdaigh sé é féin le neart,
chrioslaigh sé é féin le cumhacht. Freagra
2. Bhunaigh tú an domhan go dobhogtha; tá do chathaoir arna daingniú ó na cianta.
Ón tSíoraíocht atá tusa ann, a Thiarna. Freagra
3. Is dearfa go deimhin do reachtanna. Is do do theachsa is cuí an naofacht,
a Thiarna, go brách an breithe. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Leabhar Apacailipsis 1:5-8
Rialtóir ríthe an domhain... rinne sé ríocht agus sagairt dá Dhia agus da Athair dínn.
Is é Íosa Críost an finné dflis, an chéadghin ó mhairbh, rialtóir ríthe an domhain.
Don té a bheir grá dúinn, agus a scaoil sinn ónár gcionta trína fhuil féin, agus a rinne ríocht agus sagairt dá Dhia agus da Athair dínn, don té sin go raibh glóir agus cumhacht ar feadh na síoraíochta. Amen.
Féach, tá sé ag teacht ar néalta neimhe, agus feicfidh gach duine lena súile cinn é, fiú iad siúd a tholl é, agus beidh ciníocha uile an domhain ag déanamh mairgní dá bharr.
Abair é! Amen.
'Mise an tAlfa agus an tÓmega,' a deir an Tiarna Dia, an té atá, a bhí agus atá le teacht, Rialtóir an Uile.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Mc 11: 10
Alleluia, alleluia!
Is beannaithe an té atá ag teacht in ainm an Tiarna!
Is beannaithe ag teacht í, Ríocht ár nAthar, Daivi!
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 18:33-37 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
De réir mar a deir tú, is rí me.
San am sin dúirt Pioláit Ie hÍosa:
'An tusa Rí na nGiúdach?'
D'fhreagair Íosa:
'An uait féin a deir tú an meid sin, nó an daoine eile a dúirt leat e mar gheall orm?'
D'fhreagair Pioláit: 'An Giúdach mise?
Do náisiún féin agus uachtaráin na sagart a thug ar láimh dom thú. Cad tá déanta agat?'
'Dfhreagair Íosa:
'Ní den saol seo mo ríocht.
Dá mba den saol seo mo ríocht, throidfeadh mo sheirbhísigh ionas nach dtabharfaí ar láimh do na Giúdaigh mé.
Ach anois ní as seo mo ríocht.'
Dúirt Pioláit leis: 'Ach is rí thú ámh?'
D'fhreagair Íosa:
'De réir mar a deir tú, is rí me.
Is é fáth ar rugadh mé agus ar tháinig mé ar an saol, chun fianaise. a thabhairt ar an bhfirinne.
Gach aon duine ar den fhírinne é, éisteann sé le mo ghlór.'
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
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Machtnamh ar Bhriathar Dé dia Domhnaigh Sollúntas Ár dTiarna Íosa Críost Rí na nUile
Ríocht na Córa, an Ghrá agus na Síochána
Is é an príomh-bhealach praiticiúil chun urram a thabhairt do Chríost ár Rí ná a bheith ag obair chun teacht ar a ríocht. Is é an rud a dhéanaimid le faoiseamh na n-úsáideoirí díothacha agus dífhostaithe go bhfuil seirbhís le Críost, mar a shainaithníonn sé go pearsanta leis na daoine atá ag teastáil. Ní féidir leis an deisceabal Chríost an Rí an sócmhainn a choimeád féin agus mé féin nó "Bhuel is dochair dom duine ar bith." Is é a bheith bodhar chun cries an chomharsa atá i ngátar ná ár gcluasa a dhúnadh go Críost. Is é a bheith dall ar an bhriseadh ar an bháis ná na súile a dhúnadh air. Má leanamar Íosa Críost mar ár rí-Shepherd ní mór dúinn a bheith ar bhealach éigin féin, mar gheall air féin.
Pádraig Ó Rúairí, cp,
Sliabh Argus, Átha Cliath.
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AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart