137 



The following extract from an old MS. history of Ireland,* rela- 

 tive to Fin Mac-Cumhal and his strife with the Clanna-Morna, may 

 be satisfactory to the reader : 



" Cairbre Lithfeacliair, the son of King Corbmac, obtained the crowne, and was nick- 

 named Lithfeachair, because he was fostered near the river Liffey in Leinster, in which place 

 he tooke great delight : this monarch was killed in the battle of Gabhra, which was fought 

 upon this occasion. 



"There were two septs of the Fions of Ireland, the Clanna-Moma, and the Clanna 

 Boisgne. This Boisgne was father to Cumhall, who was Fion's father, (commonly called 

 Fion Mac-Cumhall.) Fion had a son and daughter. The daughter was called Samhair, and 

 was married to Corbmac Cais, king of Munster, by whom he had three sons, Tine, Conla, 

 and Mogha Cuirb. This Mogha Cuirb was king of Munster in the raign of this monarcli 

 Cairbre. Fion Mac-Cumhall's son was called Oisin, and was head of the Clanna Boisgne, 

 who fallinge at difference with the Clanna Morna, was protected and assisted by Mogha 

 Cuirb, his sister's husband. The Clanna-Morna, who were then the monarch's mercionary 

 souldiers, were headed by Aodh Caomh, son of Garadh Glundubh, son of Morna, assisted 

 and backed by the monarch Cairbre ; soe that this civill warr continued betweene the Fions 

 for seven years ; and at length the Clanna-Morna provoked the monarch and the other princes 

 of Ireland to warr upon Mogha Cuirb, king of Munster, because he protected the Clanna 

 Boisgne, hoping by that meanes that they should be deserted by the king of Munster, and so 

 be utterly expelled the kingdom, which the monarch did, (although that Oisin was his owne 

 daughter's son.) But the king of Mimster stuck faithfully to the Clanna Boisgne, where- 

 upon ensued the battaile of Gabhra, wherein the monarch Cairbre was slain after he had 

 raigned twenty-seven years." 



O'Flaherty in his Ogygia, speaking of Cormac, the 126th monarch 

 of Ireland, says : 



" He had a son.in-law Fin married to his daughter Grania,f but as She eloped with 

 Diermoit O'Duibhne, he had his other daughter, Albea, married to him, who was the son of 



* This history is in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy. 



f This Grania is changed by Macpherson into the more mellifluous sound Ros-erana. 

 Thus unblushingly does he alter names as he utters forgeries, which he presents to his rea- 



VOL. XVI. T 



