18 CORNISH DEDICATIONS. 



can be determined with accuracy, and with. Saints, whose date is 

 also fairly certain. But if the 11th and 12th century writers 

 thrust him back to a period too early, Dr. Lanigan is wrong in 

 advancing him to another too recent. 



In order to understand the history of S. Kieran, and to 

 arrive at a judgment as to the reasons for his settling in 

 Cornwall, it is necessary for us briefly to consider the limits and 

 condition of the old kingdom of Ossory. 



This kingdom anciently occupied the entire tract of land 

 between the Suire, the Barrow and the Slieve Bloom Mountains. 

 The name signifies the land between the waters. It is one that 

 comprises three extensive plains separated from each other by 

 parallel ridges of mountains. Northernmost is the Magh (plain) 

 Airget Eos, extending south to the Thornback chain. The 

 middle plain is Magh Reighna, bounded on the south by the 

 Dundergh range, twelve miles below Kilkenny. Magh Feimhin 

 is the third or southernmost plain, and included in it the Rock 

 of Cashel. 



From a century before the Christian era the Kings of 

 Munster claimed a fine from the Kings of Leinster, called the 

 Eric of Eidersceal, to be levied annually on the two southernmost 

 plains of Ossory. The enforcement of this fine proved a fruitful 

 source of feuds down to the end of the 10th century. 



The Ossorians attempted to shake off the burden in the 2nd 

 century. They were assisted by Lughaid Laoghis, from Leinster, 

 but, as a price for this aid, were forced to surrender a portion of 

 the northern plain between the Nore and the Barrow, which was 

 now constituted into the kingdom of Leix under the suzerainty 

 of Leinster. 



Another cession of land took place later, when a slice was 

 yielded to the Hy Bairrche. 



Next, Core, King of Munster, abandoned the old royal seat 

 at Knock Grrafton, and seized on the Eock of Cashel in Magh 

 Eeighna, thus commanding the middle Ossorian plain. At the 

 same time he redemanded the payment of the hated tax. At 

 this time Euman Duach was King of Ossory, and he was the 

 founder of the Hy Duach, a subclan of the royal race of the 

 Hy Connla, 



