Translating the Untranslated - the Morrigan's prophecy

So here's another translation from Old Irish, this one is the Morrigan's prophecy from the Cath Maige Tuired. The Old Irish text is from Sean O Tuathail's version. The English is my own, as always with the caveat that I am not fluent but am offering my own understanding of the material based on the way I personally translate it.


Fáistine leis an MórríguSídh go neimh
neimh go domhan
domhan fo neimh
neart i gcách
án forlán
lán do mil
míd go sáith
sam i ngram
gae for sciath
sciath for dúnadh
dúnadh lonngharg
fód di uí
ros forbiur beanna
abú airbí imeachta
meas for chrannaibh
craobh do scís
scís do ás
saith do mhac
mac formhúin
muinréal tairbh
tarbh di arcain
odhbh do crann
crann do thine
tine a n-áil
ail a n-úir
uích a mbuaibh
Boinn a mbrú
brú le feabh faid
ásghlas iar earccah
foghamar forasit eacha
iall do tír
tír go trácht le feabh ráidh
bíodh rúad rossaibh síoraibh ríochmhór
sídh go neimh
bíodh síornoí.


Prophecy of the Morrigan

Peace to sky
sky to earth
earth below sky
strength in each one
a cup overfull
filled with honey
sufficiency of renown
summer in winter
spears supported by warriors*
warriors supported by forts
forts fiercely strong
land of sheep
healthy under antler-points
destructive battle cries held back
crops [masts] on trees
a branch resting
resting with produce
wealth of sons
a son under patronage
on the neck of a bull
a bull of magical poetry
knots in trees
trees for fire
fire when wished for
wished for earth**
getting a boast
proclaiming of borders
borders declaring prosperity
green-growth after spring
autumn increase of horses
w troop for the land
land that goes in strength and abundance
be it a strong, beautiful wood, long-lasting a great boundary
peace to heaven
be it so lasting to the ninth generation


*scíath means shields but also "fighting man, warrior, guardian". The usual translation here is given as shield, but I prefer the imagery that comes with warrior, however it may also be taken as "spears supported by shields, shields supported by forts"
** alternately "wished for by flesh"

A more poetic and less word-for-word version might be:

Peace to sky
sky to earth
earth below sky
strength in each one
a cup overfull
filled with honey
fame enough for everyone
summer in winter
spears supported by warriors
warriors supported by forts
forts fiercely strong
a land full of sheep
healthy with stags
war cries held back
trees full of acorns
a branch resting
resting covered in fruit
a  wealth of sons
a son under patronage
on the neck of a bull
a bull of magical poetry
knots in trees
an abundance of firewood
fire when wished for
wished for by people
much to boast of
proclaiming wide borders
borders declaring prosperity
green-growth after spring
autumn increase of horses
a war-band for the land
a land of strength and abundance
be it a great boundary, long lasting, a strong, beautiful wood
peace to heaven
It shall last to the ninth generation


Reference:O Tuathail, S., (1993). The Excellence of Ancient Word. Retrieved from imbas.org/articles/excellence_of_the_...