Senchán Torpéist

Senchán Torpéist (c. 560–647 AD) was a Gaelic-Irish poet.

Seanchan Torpest was the Chief Poet of Connacht in 598 AD when he succeeded Dallán Forgaill as Chief Ollam of Ireland. He died in 647 AD.

His father was Cuairfheartaigh from the Araidh sept on the northern Tipperary-Limerick border.

Senchan's mother's name was Dediva (also called Editua or Dedi or Deidi or Deighe or Deidiu or Deaga or Mediva), daughter of Tren, son of Dubhthach moccu Lughair, who was also a previous Chief Ollam of Ireland and royal poet of King Lóegaire mac Néill. Dediva's other children were Saint Senan of Laraghabrine, son of Fintan, Saint Diarmaid the Just, son of Lugna, Saint Felim of Kilmore son of Carill, Saint Daigh of Inniskeen son of Carill, Saint Femia, daughter of Carill, St.Mainchín of Corann, son of Collan of Corann and Saint Caillin, son of Niata, who in the Book of Fenagh, page 215 states:

"My blessing on thy men of song Who from mild Senchan may descend.”

Seanchan must have been born at least before 560 AD to have allowed him time to complete the long course of study to be named Chief Ollam of Ireland. Furthermore in Tromdámh Guaire he is referred to as "the aged Senchan" in 598 AD and Geoffrey Keating's History of Ireland states that at the Synod or Convention of Drumceat in 584 AD, "Seanchán mac Cuairfheartaigh" was made chief ollam over the province of Connacht. An explanation for his nickname is given in the Cóir Anmann (The Fitness of Names)- "Entry 272: Senchán Toirpéist .i. Senchán [dororba péist] día rothogaibh spirat na h-écsi cenn do fo sceib (leg. scéim, dat. of scíam) dodheilbh, intan luidh Senchán for cuáirt a n-Albain dochoíd spirat na h-écsi a richt pesti gráinchi fora chiund forsan sligi a m-bói, gurus aigill tré fordhorcha filidhechta é. Conid [d]e rohainmniged e.(Senchán Torpest, i.e. Senchán whom a péistor monster profited when the spirit of wisdom appeared under a hideous form. At the time that Senchán went on a circuit into Scotland the spirit of poetry came in the shape of a loathly monster to meet him on his road, and conversed with him in the obscurity of poetry. Hence he was so named.)"

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