feis
(fɛʃ, feɪʃ)
Pl. feiseanna. Also fes(s.
[a. Ir. feis, fess meeting, assembly.]
1. An assembly of kings, chiefs, etc., being a kind of early Celtic parliament.
| 1792 Encycl. Brit. IX. 313/1 Ollam Fodla..erected a grand seminary of learning, and instituted the Fes, or triennial convention of provincial kings, priests, and poets, at Feamor or Tarah in Meath. 1880 Ibid. XIII. 250/2 He summoned a convention (feis or fess)..to assemble at Druimceta. 1898 J. Heron Celtic Ch. i. 19 The Feis was an assembly of all the kings, chiefs, ollamhs, and other leading men, and lasted for seven days. 1905 Daily Chron. 15 June 3/1 The whole scheme of [old Irish] national life turned on central feiseanna—social, legislative, and literary functions. |
2. An Irish or Scottish festival of the arts, resembling the Welsh Eisteddfod.
| 1896 Daily News 2 Oct. 5/2 The ‘Feis’ extending over four days. 1896 Westm. Gaz. 3 Oct. 8/1 The Feis is announced to take place next May. 1910 Daily Chron. 3 Jan. 3/4 In her incidental reference to latter-day Feiseanna. 1916 N. & Q. 12th Ser. II. 71 The feis portions of local shows. 1938 L. MacNeice I crossed Minch xii. 162 The school-kids recited her songs at the local Feis. 1955 Times 25 July 6/4 A similar ban was imposed last year and prevented the holding of a procession in the town [sc. Newtown Butler] in connexion with an annual Roman Catholic feis (festival). |