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placed at my disposal a translation of this poem, which, in the March of 
the year 1854, I published in the “‘ Dublin University Magazine ;” but 
the Irish which he now presents has never been printed before.* 
Very recently, Mr. Curry discovered a prose account of this tale in 
the Book of Lecain, which, in his opinion, tends to authenticate its 
great antiquity. The only difference between the poetic and the prose 
version is, that instead of the animals being required as a ransom for: 
Finn, they were requested by Graine, the daughter of King Cormac (the 
lady who subsequently eloped with Diarmait), during the courtship of 
Mac Cumhaill. 
To this poem have been added topographical notes, chiefly for the 
purpose of directing special attention to the places therein referred to, 
as likely habitats for certain animals, and in the hope that some of our 
Irish-speaking people in their vicinity may still remember the as yet, 
to us, unknown names. Until we learn what animals were understood 
by these, we eannot say, with any degree of certainty, what creatures 
are wanting in the list. It is, however, well worthy of note, that the 
localities specified are just such as naturalists would expect to furnish 
these particular animals—thus, the wild oxen were sought for in the 
then impassable districts of Clare; the otters beneath the overhanging 
rocks; the cranes and wagtails from the river’s brink; the cuckoos and 
hawks from the green woods; the eagle from the tall cliff; the grouse 
from the wild heathery bog; the fox from the rocky mountain; the 
ducks and waterhens from the inland lake; the gull and the curlew 
from the sea-margin; the lark from the broad plain; the corncrake 
from the Shannon’s bank; the bat out of the dark caye—and soforth, 
all showing accuracy of observation, as many of these places are still 
the most likely haunts for these very animals specified in this poem. 
There are a few apparent exceptions, such as that of the swans from 
the wood of Gowran, but that may yet be explained. 
It is hoped that the present publication of this poem in the Irish lan- 
guage will add many more names to the translation. Cailte, it is said, 
thus addressed the Saint :— 
* The late Dr. Ball mentioned the circumstance of the existence of this poem to the 
Academy in 1844. See Proceedings, vol. ii., p. 541. ‘‘ He stated that for one impor- 
tant addition he was indebted to Mr. Curry, who pointed out in a manuscript poem, 
ascribed to Caoltie, one of Finn MacCumhail’s heroes, and which is certainly older than the 
year 1000, a portion in which the names of one hundred animals are recorded in a list of 
the ransom paid for the celebrated Finn MacCumhail whena prisoner. Some of the names 
mentioned have not yet been translated. Dr. Ball observed on the value of such a collec- 
tion as a means of throwing light on the names of places in Ireland, and urged the interest 
that naturalists of other countries felt in preserving the names by which animals were 
known in their native places, as a sufficient reason for desiring to preserve those of Ire- 
land. He stated his intention of having the collection he had made properly digested 
and arranged by a competent person, and that he would then offer it to the Academy for 
publication.” 
