168 Mr. Petbie on the History and Antiquities of Tara Hill. 



he was killed (simul) at once, so it has become a common saying, ' they have 

 acted like Cu and Cethen.' " 



On the slope of the hill, to the east of Rath na Riogh, the same authorities 

 place the Leacht, or Monument, of Maine, the son of Muinremhar. This also 

 has been destroyed by the progress of cultivation, and nothing has been dis- 

 covered relative to its history. Muinremhar, the father of Maine, according to 

 the ancient tale entitled Tain Bo Cuailgne, was Lord of Mughdhorn, a dis- 

 trict in the County of Monaghan, in the time of Cuchullin, who flourished in 

 the first century. . ^ 



Imperfect as the historical notices of the preceding monuments are, it will 

 be seen that they are nearly all connected with king Cormac's time, or the close 

 of the third century, a period quite within the limits of real Irish chronological 

 history. 



The great feature next to be noticed is of still later date, namely, the Rath 

 of Laoghaire, who, as already shewn, according to all the Irish authorities, be- 

 came monarch of Ireland in 428 or 429, and died in 463. The situati6n of this 

 Rath, with itsieos, or circumvallation, is distinctly pointed out in all the authorities 

 as south of Rath na Riogh ; and it is stated in the prose account, that " it had 

 four principal doorways facing the cardinal points." The progress of cultivation 

 on the hill has totally destroyed the internal features, and nearly effaced a consi- 

 derable portion of the external rampart of this fortress. But though the western 

 portion of the rampart only remains in any degree of preservation, it is sufficient 

 to show that, like that of Rath na Riogh, it consisted of a double ring, of which 

 the outer one only is now strongly developed. This Rath occupies that part of 

 the southern end of the hill at the foot of the first slope, where there is a piece 

 of nearly flat ground. The part of the outer circle now remaining is on the 

 edge of the western slope, and the accompanying section, which is from west to 

 east, and on a scale of 120 feet to an inch, will shew the measurements along the 

 slopes. 



The eastern, southern, and northern parts have been levelled, but the line they 

 occupied can still be traced, and the diameter appears to have been 300 f. 



