257 



the handwriting, and other characteristics, induce me to be- 

 lieve that it may be as old as the tenth century. Unfortu- 

 nately, no memorandum is attached, indicating the name or 

 time of the scribe. This life of the Saint was unknown to 

 Colgan, and seems to have formed the groundwork of the 

 voluminous Life of Colum Kille, compiled by Magnus 

 O'Donnell at the close of the sixteenth century, and highly 

 prized by Irish antiquaries for the curious legends and inte- 

 resting historical and topographical notices which it contains.* 



" 3. A piece of ten folios, containing: (a) A romantic tale 

 relating to Goll, Connall Mac Ghlegais of Colptha, Cuchul- 

 ann, &c.t {b) A copy of the Tain Bo Fraoich, a tale of a 

 plunder of cows, brought over from Scotland by Fraoch, one 

 of the Connaught heroes of the Tain Bo Cuailgne. (c) A 

 tract entitled the Penance of Adam : a copy of this exists in 

 the Leabhar Breac in the library of the Academy. 



" 4. Another piece of ten folios, in a different handwriting, 

 commencing with the words 



" Ri pipen poipglio po jaBupcap plarap i poplariiup pop 

 ©pinn .1. Gperhon. 



In this tract is given the story of Cuchulann's adventures at 

 Teamhair Luachra, on the borders of Kerry and Limerick ; 

 a tale of uncommon interest, on account of the topographical 

 references contained in it, and chiefly because it gives much 

 insight into the manners and customs of the ancient Irish. 

 Parts of it are preserved in the Book of Leinster, and in the 

 Leabhar na Huidhre in our library ; but these two fragments 



* Since making the above communication, Mr. Graves has ascertained 

 that copies of an ancient Irish Life of Colum Kille, similar to the one here 

 described, in their commencement and in the general arrangement of their 

 matter, but apparently much less copious, are preserved in the Leabhar 

 Breac and the Book of Lismore, both manuscripts in the library of the Royal 

 Irish Academy. 



t I am not aware that copies of these tales are to be found in any library 

 in Ireland. 



