Sinech Cró, an mháthair chíche agus ant-altramas in Éirinn sa Mheánaois

Abstract

The character Sinech Cró appears in the text Cath Cairn Chonaill. We are told there that she raised Díarmait mac Áeda Sláine. Her name is an unusual one, the first element of which may be based on the word sine ‘teat, pap’. Should the name mean ‘teated one’ it raises questions about the role of the foster mother and whether it involved wet nursing. Seven is often taken as the age at which fosterage began, at which stage a wet nurse would no longer be required. Questions will be raised as to the age at which fosterage began, the nature of that fosterage and the role of the foster mother.