173 
land, ascended the throne A. M. 3922. He made some alterations 
in the laws, and restored the pentarchical government which Hu- 
gony the Great had abolished. In his time flourished Sean, son 
of Agaidh (Agay) the reputed author of a code of laws called 
“ Fonn Seancuas mor.” ‘Three copies of a tract, bearing that 
name, are to be found in the MSS. in the Library of Trinity Col- 
lege. H. No. 35, page 11. H. 54, page 10, and H. 54, page 358. 
By a memorandum prefixed to the first of these copies, it is said to 
have been compiled by Sean, the son of Agaid, in the time that 
Fergus, son of Leid was King of Ulster, twenty-six years before 
our Lord’s Incarnation. By some introductory matter prefixed to 
the second copy, it is said to have been compiled in the time of 
Laoghaire, son of Niall, the first Christian Monarch of Ireland, 
who commenced his reign A. D. 429. The persons who were con- 
cerned in this compilation were the famous committee of nine, 
mentioned above at page 153, who were specially appointed for that 
purpose. The third copy seems to be nearly the same as the second, 
and both differ from the first, at least in the arrangement of the 
laws, though in some respects the laws agree in substance. Per- 
haps the first tract may be the same as that composed by Sean, and 
the others, copies of that work as revised and altered by the com- 
mittee. ach of these copies appears to be more or less imperfect ; 
but still they contain laws ona great variety of subjects, well de- 
serving of publication, as affording matter illustrative of the man- 
ners and customs, not only of the ancient Irish, but also of other 
Celtic tribes, and interesting in a peculiar manner to the British 
nation. 
About the time of our Saviour’s nativity, whilst Conor, son of 
Nessa, the Mecenas of Ireland, ruled the province of Ulster, 
flourished the poets Adhna (Ahna) Athairne (Ahairne) of Binn- 
