núa cacha bídh ⁊ sen cacha dighi

(new * of every * food * & * old * of every * drink)

the freshest of food and the oldest of wine

This formula, denoting the finest of hospitality, is found in the prologue to “Acallam na Senórach”, where this is what Cámha serves to Caílte and Oisín. A similar formula is found later in the tale (line 5061) when the heroes are given “sen cach lenna & nua gacha bíd”. The modern spelling of the formula, which is still used, is “nua gach bia agus sean gach dí”.

Topics: Drink