Mr. Peteie on the History and Antiquities of Tara Hill. 33 



■would maintain an inviolable attachment, subjection, and obedience to him 

 and his posterity as kings of Ireland, as long as Irish soil should be sur- 

 rounded by the sea. 2. That he formed the territory of Meath by a union of 

 four portions from the four provinces, as mensal lands for the support of the 

 monarchy. 3. That in three of the four portions thus united solemn assemblies 

 were held every year, one at Tlachtga, in the Momonian portion, on the last 

 day of October, celebrated by night to appease the local gods, through the 

 ministry of the Druids, by immolating victims and lighting fires ; another on the 

 first of May, at Uisneach, in the Connaught portion, for the sale of merchandizes ; 

 and the third at Tailteann, in the Ultonian portion, about the first of August, 

 to contract marriages by the consent of parents and friends. And 4. That in the 

 fourth, or Lagenian portion, namely, Temur, a convention was held every third 

 ■year for the administration of public affairs. In addition to these, Keating 

 further adds, that Tuathal erected longphorts, or fortified habitations, at these 

 four places. 



With regard to these statements, as the writers last referred to give no authorities 

 for them, it is not easy to determine how far they may be true or otherwise. 

 But for the summoning of the princes and nobles of Ireland to Tara by Tuathal, 

 their swearing by the objects of their pagan adoration to be faithful to him, and 

 the formation of the territory of Meath, as mensal lands for the support of the 

 monarchy, very ancient authorities are found in all the copies of the Leahhar 

 Gahhala, or Book of Conquests. 



If la Cuarhal cpa do Dichcheannao " It was by Tuathal that every province in 



each coiceo in Gpino, conao oe a oepap Ireland was decapitated to form Meath, which was 



mice pia .1. TTleiDi cacha coicio, no, ip o thence csMieA Meidhe, that is neck; or, it was 



TTIioi, mac 6paraa DepapjMwrferfjci^Mr' miDi. called from Midi, son of Bratha. Tuathal as- 



t)o job rpa Cuachal piji poTchpen pepa- sumed a mighty and manly reign over Ireland, 



mail pop Gpino, cap eip a oanap acup after having cut ofiF its Danars and enemies, 



oupbiobao do pcpip. t)o ponoao qia p^T Tuathal Teachtmar afterwards convened the Feis 



Cempach la Cuachal Cechrmap lapcam, of Temur, and the provinciahsts came to him to 



acup cancaoap coiceDaich Gpeno na chorii- Temur. These were the provinciahsts who came 



Dail CO CempaiD. Ip lao po imoppa na thither, viz. Fergus Febal and Eochaidh Mac 



coiceoaich chanic ano .1. peapjup pebal Conrach [who were] in the joint government of 



acup 6ochai6 TTIac Conpach 1 compiji pop Ulster, and Eogan, the son of Ailill Eran, over 



Ulcuib, ocupGojan, TTIac Qililla 6pan, pop Desmond, and Conrach Mac Derg over the Con- 



tDeapmuriiam, ocup Conpach TTIac Dep5 nacians, and Eochaidh Mac Dairi over great 



VOL. xviii. e 



