94 Mr. Petrie on the History and Antiquities of Tara Hill. 



Julian the apostate : but the annalists above quoted are more accurate in their 

 chronology, and even if it vpere otherwise, in a question beset w^ith so many 

 difficulties, this could be but of small weight, the chronology of the kings of 

 this period being technical, and evidently shaped into form at a comparatively 

 modern age, as may be seen in the extract from the Book of Cuana, an authority 

 of the seventh century, quoted from the Annals of Ulster, above, p. 81 ; 

 and it may be observed that the Book of Clonmacnoise, as translated by Connell 

 Mageoghegan, makes the reign of Niall Naoighiallach synchronise with the reign 

 of Julian, as it places the reign of the former about the year 360. Any shade of 

 doubt, however, that might exist on this point will be removed by the following 

 decisive record, preserved both in the Annals of Tighearnach and Ulster, of 

 which no notice has been hitherto taken, and from which it must be inferred 

 that the date of 461, given in the Ulster Annals as the year of Patrick's death, 

 has been copied from the Annals of Tighearnach, which are defective at that 

 year : " A. D. 663. In Campo Ito Focairt exarsit mortalitas primo in Hiber- 

 nia, a morte Patricii cc ill. Prima mortalitas c xii." — Annal. Ult. Tighearnach 

 gives nearly the same words, but places the first appearance of this plague in 664, 

 which is the true year, as has been demonstrated from a very remarkable eclipse 

 by which, according to both annals, this plague was preceded in the same year. 



Thus far the authorities adduced would seem to sustain Dr. Lanlgan's hypo- 

 thesis, that Sen- Patrick was the Apostle of Ireland ; and the very epithet of 

 sen, or old, prefixed to his name, would be a characteristic cognomen to one 

 who, according to all the Irish accounts, had lived to so great an age. But this 

 very appellation is in Itself a strong evidence that there must have been another 

 Patrick of later age, or who was not so remarkable for longevity, as the Irish- 

 have never applied the epithet sen, old, or og, young, to a man's name, except 

 for the purpose of contradistinction either with regard to age or time. But if 

 no other Patrick be allowed, these authorities would impugn altogether the 

 dates assigned to the birth, captivity, and mission of the Apostle, as well as the 

 time and place of his death. And hence Dr. Lanlgan involves his theory in 

 inextricable difficulties by denying the existence in Ireland of any other saint of 

 the name, and is consequently forced to set himself in opposition to all the 

 ancient authorities, which allow about one hundred and twenty years as the 

 period of the duration of Patrick's life. He is, moreover, obliged to repudiate as 



