Ollam

An ollam or ollamh (Old Irish: [ˈol͈aṽ]; anglicised as ollave or ollav), plural ollomain, in early Irish literature, is a member of the highest rank of filí. The term is used to refer to the highest member of any group; thus an ollam brithem would be the highest rank of judge, and an ollam rí the highest rank of king. Ollav was also applied to a druidic rank; meaning much the same as "professor", or person of great learning.[1] Typically the ollav/ollam was endowed with a distinction equal to that of a king, and could therefore wear six colours.

Look up ollam in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Coronation of Alexander III as King of Scots, 1249. He is being greeted by the Ollam rígh Alban, the royal ollam of Scotland, who is addressing him with the proclamation Benach De Re Albanne ("God Bless the King of Scots").

There was an official post in ancient Ireland called the "Rí Ollam" or "Ard Ollam" or Chief Ollam of Ireland. The holder of the post had a standing equal to the High King of Ireland.[1]

Ollamh Fodhla was the title of the mythical 18th High King of Ireland who is said to have first formed the assembly known as the Feis Teamhrach, or Feast of Tara around 1300 BCE.[2]

Literary fosterage

In Ancient Ireland, ollams taught children either for payment or for no compensation.[3]

See also

References
  1. "Sacred text archives". Internet Sacred Text Archives. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  2. Marsh, Richard (2006). The Legends & Lands of Ireland. New York, New York: Sterling Publishing Company Incorporated. p. 33. ISBN 9781402738241. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  3. "Fosterage in Ancient Ireland". Library Ireland. Retrieved 16 June 2012.


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