56 



quaestio," in the histories of both these countries, but the truth of 

 which the pen of the learned Whitaker,* has now so unassailably esta- 

 bUshed, both as to the fact and the period of its occurrence, as to make 

 much comment here unnecessary. The annals of Tigernach, one ot 

 the oldest of the Irish historians now extant, assert that " Fergus 

 Mor Mac Eirkj-f- with the tribe of Dalriada, possessed himself of a 



• Genuine History of the Britons, p. 99. 



t The early occurrence of this name of Eire, Eric, Ere, Erck, or Erch, (for so is it vari- 

 ously spelt,) evidences in itself the intercourse of the northern nations with Ireland, prior to 

 the era of their devastations in that and the neighbouring countries. In norway, Denmark, 

 and Sweden, it was and has been for centuries a royal name. In Ireland it is found, precisely 

 where it might be expected from such a communication, on the coast of Antrim ; and is trace- 

 able in English records, in the southern counties even to the days of Edward 3rd, when the 

 Dymmocks and other families obtained the lands that had been held by the Ercks. The above, 

 mentioned Ere is the first of note that occurs in Ireland, and proud indeed might he have been, 

 if with the prophetic spirit of the patriarch, he could have looked into futurity, and seen his 

 younger child, " the child of his old age," a fruitful bough, " even a fruitful bough whose 

 branches run over the wall." Another of the name was of the first who rose up in the presence 

 of King Leogaire, and did respect to Saint Patrick, in consequence of which, according to the 

 Irish annals, the saint "blessed him, and he believed in the eternal God," and was afterwards 

 constituted the first Bishop of Slane. The deaths or achievements of many others of the 

 name are recorded in the Irish annals, and Murdoch Mac Ere, chief of the Hibernian Dalara- 

 dians, is the object of their more peculiar eulogy. They represent him, in accordance with 

 their chronology of the Scottish colonization, as brother of the above mentioned Fergus, and as 

 extending his dominions in North Antrim, and the neighbouring districts, by various vicfories 

 over his opponents, while Fergus was establishing his in North Britain. In A. D. 51 1, this 

 illustrious prince is said to have perished by drowning. His untimely fate is the subject of a 

 very ancient historical tale in prose and verse, attributed to a contemporary of his own. — (See 

 Ibemo-Celtic Transactions, p. xxxiv.) In A. D. 532, one of the name was killed at the battle 

 of Tortan, by the people of Leinster. In 700, Colman O Eire, was abbot of the celebrated 

 house for regular Canons at Clonard, on the river Boyne, from which so many learned men 

 have issued. In the eighth century, the sept of the sons of Erck are noticed as a very powerful 

 body. In 828, one of the name was abbot of Fedaduin, (Fiddown,) in Ossory. In 948, the 

 pastoral staff of Saint Ere, which had been held in high veneration, is recorded to have been 

 consumed by fire. In 952, Eric set himself up as king of Northumberland. In 970, Brian 

 Poroimhe having sailed up Lough Ree, with a fleet of 300 transports, devastated the western 



