Fír na cétnae ⁊ na n-airrad!

Fír na cétnae ⁊ na n-airrad!

(truth * of the * first ones * & * of the * guarantors)

The truth of the principal men and of the sureties!

In other words, “You can depend on it!” This is Midir in “Tochmarc Étaíne” telling Eochaid that his wife will definitely be returned to him the following day. The implication of this asseveration is that the promise is as firm as one backed up by formally appointed sureties or guarantors. In early Irish law, the “airrad” (also “aurrae, aurrad, urrad”) was a free landholding member of the túath who was thus qualified to guarantee that the terms of a contract would be fulfilled; to “cosign” as it were.

Topics: Oaths