14 Sruth n'am Ollamh                   14 Streams of an Ollamh 

 

Firinni , Dire, Obair Lathanadh,          Honesty, Dignity, Daily work, Geneology 

 

Sheanachie, Imbas Forosnai,              Imbas Forosnai and Dichetal 

 

agus Dichetal, Anamain, agus            Anamain and Judgment 

 

Flaith-Breith, Tenm Laegdha,             Tenm Laegdha and Ocean of song 

 

agus oran n'am muir, Glan lamh,      Purity of hand and of Marriage 

 

agus Posaidh, Glan bheul, agus         Purity of lips and of study 

 

Ionnsachadh 

 

 

 

Bardic instruction detailed in the Sanas Chormaic 

 

From "Manners and customs of the ancient Irish" by -Eugene O'Curry 

 

 

 

Year 1: 50 Oghams or Alphabets. Elementary grammar. Twenty tales. 

 

Year 2: 50 Oghams. 6 easy lessons in philosophy. Some specified poems. 30 tales. 

 

Year 3: 50 Oghams. 6 minor lessons in philosophy. Certain specified poems. Grammar. 40 poems. 

 

Year 4: The Bretha Nemed or Law of privileges. 20 Poems of the species called Eman. (Births). 50 Tales 

 

Year 5: Grammar. 60 Tales 

 

Year 6: The secret language of the Poets. 40 Poems of the species called Nuath (twins). 70 or 80 Tales. 

 

Year 7: Brosnacha (Miscelanies) The Law of Bardism. 

 

Year 8: Prosody. Glosses (the meaning of obscure words). Teinm Laegdha (Illumination of song), Imbas Forosnai (Light of foresight), Dichetal do Chennibh(extempore incantation). Dindsenchas (Land lore). (?) 

 

Year 9: A specified number of compositions of the kind called Sennet, Luasca (3 oscillating springs over a Druids head?), Nena(?), Eochraid (Keys) Sruith (Streams), and Duili Feda (Wisdom tales).  To master 175 tales in this and the next 2 years. 

 

Year 10:  A further number of the compositions listed above (Part of the 175 tales) 

 

Year 11: 100 of the compositions known as Anamuin. 

 

Year 12: 120 Cetals (Orations). The 4 arts of poetry. During this and the 2 years previous to master the 175 tales, along with the 175 tales learned from the Annruth - 350 tales in all.