358 
visiting the house of Niall’s poet laureat, Laidginn, the son of 
Barcead, to refresh himself, but on arriving there he was re- 
fused entertainment. He proceeded home then, but soon re- 
turned with some followers to the poet’s house, burned it, and 
killed his only son. The poet for a full year after that con- 
tinued to satirize the Leinstermen, and to bring fatalities upon 
them, so that neither corn, grass, nor foliage grew unto them 
during the whole year. In the meantime the poet so worked 
up the feelings of the monarch Niall, that he vowed to march 
with his army into Leinster and lay it waste, unless the young 
prince Eochaidh was delivered up to him again, to be dealt 
with as he should deem fit, in expiation of the double insult 
and violation which had been offered to the sacred persons of 
himself and his poet. This vow he immediately carried into 
effect, and the King of Leinster, being unable to offer any ef- 
fectual resistance, was compelled to deliver up his son as he was 
commanded. The young prince was conveyed to Niall’s camp, 
at Ath Fadat (now Ahade), on the river Slaney (about three 
miles below Tulla), where he was left with an iron chain round 
his neck, and the end of the chain passed through a hole in a 
large upright stone, and fastened at the other side. Shortly 
after, there came to him nine champions of Niall’s soldiers, for 
the purpose of killing him. This is bad indeed (said he) at the 
same time giving a sudden jerk, by which he broke the chain. 
He then took up the iron bar which passed through the chain 
at the other side of the stone, and faced the nine men, and so 
well did he ply the iron bar against them, that he killed them 
all. The Leinstermen, who were in large numbers in the 
neighbourhood, seeing their prince at liberty by his own va-~ 
lour, rushed in, led by him, upon their enemies, and a great 
battle ensued, in which the monarch was routed, and forced 
to retreat to Tulla, and ultimately out of Leinster, closely pur- 
sued, with great slaughter, by the Leinstermen.” 
Although this story is doubtless exaggerated, and has 
the appearance of a legend, it is, nevertheless, in all probabi- 
