Editing Mesgegra (section)

== Genealogy ==

Mesgegra (Messcegra), Mesroida (Mesreta), Mesdana, Mesdomnand are named as siblings in the poem ''Cethri meic Airtt Mis-Telmann'' ("four sons of Art Mes-Telmann"){{efn|These spellings are according to Dobbs, from the Book of Leinster, with variants from Trinity College MS H.2.7.}}{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|The poem is found in these codices: Rawlinson 502, p. 82b28ff;{{sfnp|Buttimer|1982|p=61}} [[Book of Leinster]], LL. facs. 311b29. 378a; H.2.7. col. 72. T.C.D.; [https://celt.ucc.ie/published/G800011F/ LL Part F], §1, fol. 312b (p. 1327);<!--Best et al. ed. (1954) ''Book of Leinster'', p.128 is cited by Buttimer, note 1.--> }}<ref>{{harvp|Buttimer|1982|p=61}} and notes</ref><ref name=dobbs/> Their father Art is said to have belonged to the tribe of [[Domnann]], and the settlement of the British [[Dumnonii]] in East Leinster appears to be incontrovertible historical fact.<ref name=dobbs/>

Mesgegra was a King of Leinster, Mesroidia a wealthy ''brugaid'' of Leinster also known as Mac-Da-Tho, Mesdana, a warrior, and Mesdomnand, a poet according to the stated poem.<ref name=dobbs/> Mesroída aka Mac Datho{{efn|These spellings are according to Buttimer, who uses the Rawlinson 502 text}}

Mesroída who was the ''brugaid'' (hospitaller{{harvp|Buttimer|1982|p=61}}, from ''brug'' "hostel") was of course the titular figure of ''Scéla Muicce Mac Dáthó'' "[[The Tale of Mac Da Thó's Pig]]", and the final strophe of the poem recapitulates that story by telling of the pig and hound and the banquet and the "Four times seven fifties" who died in the mansion.{{harvp|Buttimer|1982|p=61}}{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|Mac Da Tho's alias Mesroeda is given in the R (Rawlingson recension) of SMMD,<ref name=meyer-mac-da-tho/> but he is changed to ''rí amrae for Laignib'' ("wonderful king of Leinster"), without the alias in the L H recensions.<ref name=thurneysen-mac-da-tho/> John Rhys equates Mac Da Tho with Mesgegra.<ref name=rhys/> Since it is stated that both Mesgegra and Mes Mes Róid[i]a had death-mute parents in the ''Siege of Howth'',{{sfnp|Stokes|1887|pp=52–53}} on the strength of that information, the nickname Mac Da Thó which means 'the son of two silent persons' (''tó'' recte ''tuá''){{sfnp|Buttimer|1982|p=64}} does become applicable to both figures.}}