118 Mk. Peteie on the History and Antiquities of Tar a Hill. 



Colgan, that by Probus, states that Patrick also was unsuccessful, and revisited 

 Rome to obtain the apostolic benediction, but that he afterwards returned to 

 Ireland. 



13. Lastly, It may be repeated, that nothing certain Is known of the year in 

 which either this second Patrick or Palladlus died, or the place where they were 

 interred, which could hardly have been the case if Patrick died in Ireland, nor 

 could the relics of Sen- Patrick only have been venerated at Armagh, as it is stated 

 they were, if those of the second Patrick could have been obtained. 



These coincidences are thrown out for the consideration of the learned, with 

 a hope that they may assist in promoting a spirit of impartial investigation of this 

 interesting portion of the history of Ireland ; and though the subject has led to 

 a much more extensive apparent digression from the immediate object of this 

 memoir than was anticipated, or was desirable, still it cannot be considered as out 

 of place in a dissertation on the history of a spot in which the first great effort is 

 said to have been made to establish Christianity in the country, by the conversion 

 of its monarch and chieftains. But, even if it were otherwise, it is hoped that 

 an effort to assist in the elucidation of a subject so interesting in Itself, and so 

 Important as that on which the whole chronology of Irish history has been erected, 

 by the publication, in a faithful and ungarbled manner, of ancient documents, 

 bearing upon the subject, and hitherto locked up from the learned, may be 

 received in a spirit of indulgence. 



To resume the list of kings : 



IV. Muircheartach Mac Earca succeeded Lughaidh, according to Tlgh- 

 earnach, in the year 509, but, according to the Annals of Ulster, with which 

 Ware and O'Flaherty agree, in 513, there having been, according to the latter 

 annals, an interregnum of five years' duration. 



The following notice of the reign of this prince is given in the Book of 

 Lecan, fol. 306, p. a. col. 1 : 



Do job qia Ttluipcheprach (.i. TTIac Muirchertach, (i. e. Mac Erca,) son of Mu- 



Gpca) TTlac muipeoaich, mic eojain, mic redhach, son of Eogan, son of Niall of the Nine 



■Nell 'Haijiallaich, piji n-Gpeno p6 ceachpa Hostages, assumed the government of Ireland for 



bliaoan pichec. a period of twenty-four years. 



Ipaipioepcheamac Gpcape TTIuipchep- Muirchertach was called Mac Erca, because 



each .1. pepc chuccq^caip Gppoc Gpc Slanja Ere, Bishop of Slane, placed his affection upon 



00, Ota noebpao po : him ; of whom was said : 



