Máel Muire Othain

Máel Muire Othain held the post of Chief Ollam of Ireland. He died in 887 A.D. His nickname ‘Othna’, referred to him being a member of the monastery of Othain at Fahan, County Donegal. He was amongst the early poets and historians who produced various parts of Lebor Gabála Érenn. Edward O'Reilly gives a full account of Máel Muru's works in his Irish Writers, LXXXII sq.; d. anno 884.

His obit is given in the Annals of Ulster as follows:– "U887.5 Mael Muru, chief poet of Ireland, died. 1. The choice earth has not covered, To Temair's multitudes there shall not come, Ireland of the great territories(?) shall not contain A man like the pure and gentle Mael Muru. 2. There has never tasted death fearlessly, Nor reached the known dead, The cultivator's soil has never covered A more wonderful keeper of tradition." His obit is given in the Chronicon Scotorum as follows:– "Annal CS887 Kalends. Mael Muire, the learned poet of the Irish, rested." His obit is given in the Annals of the Four Masters as follows:– "M884.12 Maelmura, the learned and truly intelligent poet, the erudite historian of the Scotic language, died. It is of him this testimony was given: 1. There trod not the charming earth, there never flourished at affluent Teamhair, The great and fertile Ireland never produced a man like the mild fine Maelmura. 2. There sipped not death without sorrow, there mixed not a nobler face with the dead, The habitable earth was not closed over a historian more illustrious."