8 



The Rev. J. H. Todd on an Ancient Irish Missal. 



This Mac Raith seems to have siicceeded Donnchadh as King of Cashel, 

 or of Mimster, when Donncliadh became King of Ireland, having been pre- 

 viously king, or chieftain, of the Eoghanacht-Chaisil, as he is styled by Tigher- 

 nach and the Four Masters. But neither his title as King of Cashel, nor that 

 of Donnchadh to the greater sovereignty, was universally admitted. And hence 

 we find, that Tighernach (a contemporary historian, but a native of Connaught) 

 calls Donnchadh King of Munster only, and Mac Raith, heir apparent (pig 

 Damhna), not King, of Cashel. But in the inscription before us, the pretensions 

 both of Mac Raith and of Donnchadh are asserted ; and it appears that they 

 were associated in the pious act of contributing to the expense of this box. 

 Dr. O'CoNOE thinks that both Mac Raith and Donnchadh, son of Brian, must 

 have been living when the inscriptions were made, because we are asked to 

 pray for them, not to pray for their souls: "for" (he says) "in all Irish inscrip- 

 tions in memory of the deceased, we are desired to pray for their souls." It 

 is more than probable that the conclusion is correct, although the argument 

 adduced in support of that conclusion is certainly not true. We have innume- 

 rable instances of inscriptions on ancient tombstones, in which we are desired 

 to pray for an individual by name, without any mention of his soul ; and it is to • 

 be presumed that tombstones were not erected until after the decease of those 

 whose names they bear. It is highly probable, however, from other consi- 

 derations, that this box must have been made before the death of Mac Raith 

 and Donnchadh, and during the plenitude of their power and prosperity ; for 

 it is not very likely, from their subsequent history, that so costly a relic would 

 have borne mention of them with their regal titles, after their death. 



The death of Mac Raith is recorded in the Annals of Tighernach, A. D. 

 1052, in these words: — 



mac ■Raich Viua t)onticat)ha, pig eogan- 

 achca Caiyil, |ii5t)amhna DIuTiilian, t)0 ecc. 



Mac Eaith O'Donncadha, King of the Eogh- 

 anacht of Casbel, heir apparent King of Mun- 

 ster, died. 



This was twelve years before the expulsion of Donnchadh, son of Brian 

 Boroimhe ; and it is, therefore, almost certain that the original box must have 

 been made between the years 1023, when Donnchadh became King of Ireland, 

 and 1052, when Mac Raith died. 



