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Tar, in that ‘Isle of the West’’ indicated as their ultimate settlement ; 
and the locality still retains in its nomenclature traces or memorials of 
the supposed events. 
Dar Ivi (the Oak Island of Ir) is still, in the mouth of the peasant, 
the familiar name of the “‘ Island of Valentia,”’ derived, as is believed, 
from that son of Milesius, held,.also, to have had his burial in the ad- 
jacent Skellig Rock, once dedicated to the Pagan Jove,” but, under Chris- 
tianity, consecrated, as all similar separated rocks were, by dedication 
to St. Michael, and thence known as Skellig-Mihil, or Skellig of St. 
Michael. 
The actual landing is recorded as having taken place at Inbher 
Sceine, or the Kenmare Estuary, and the first encounter between the 
possessors of the soil and the invaders is placed ‘three days’ journey 
inwards,’’ in the very locality of which I write, namely, in the large and 
deep valley terminating on its western face the Sliab-Mis range of moun- 
tain which skirts the southern shore of Tralee Bay ; and in this valley, 
on the very field of battle, lies the Ogham monument which furnishes 
my subject. 
Before I glance at the signs and tokens which still identify this field 
of battle, I think I should extract the clear and precise narrative which 
Keating gives us, as derived from still more ancient chronicles ; for that 
he ever saw the place itself, I hold to be in a high degree improbable. 
Dr. Wood, the great impugner of Keating’s authorities, though 
acknowledging him to be a “ faithful narrator and assiduous compiler,”’ 
tells us that in the reign of King Charles I., Dr. Keating travelled 
through different parts of Ireland, with a view to gleaning materials for 
his history of this country from bards and priests. Whether in his 
travels he took in Munster and Kerry, I know not, but in the age re- 
ferred to I think it almost certain that the valley was an inaccessible 
fastness, covered in great part with wood, and without road or track to 
invite a passenger or tourist to turn aside and inspect it. It is only 
within a late period that the traces of conflict to which I am about to 
refer have been discovered; and there is no kind of probability that 
Keating could have been aware of the Ogham witness which lay hidden 
in this valley to give the testimony, which, quantum valeat, remains for 
consideration. Having premised this, I proceed with Keating’s narra- 
tive :— 
“Three days after Heber and his followers were got on shore, they 
were attacked by Hire, the wife of ae Greine, one of the princes of 
the country, at Sliabh-Mis, or the Mountain of Mis. 
“‘This lady was attended by a strong body of men, and a desperate 
battel followed, in which many were destroyed on both sides. In this 
action Mais, the wife of ‘ Un Mac Vighe,’ was slain in a valley at the foot 
of the mountain, which, from her obtained the name of Glen-Fais, which 
signifies the Valley of Fais. The death of Fais is thus observed by an 
old poet :— 
‘¢¢ The valley where the lovely Fais fell, 
From her, as ancient Irish records tell, 
Obtained the name Glen-Fais.’ 
