78 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



find that the ancient Oenach has transmitted its memories to us in the 

 modernly spelled name of the townland of Enagli, on the Cavan estate 

 of the Marquis of Headfort, there being also two other townlands of the 

 same name not far distant. 



It has not, we believe, been satisfactorily ascertained where queen 

 Taillte, was buried; and, in the absence of any proof to the contrary, 

 we think it is very likely that her tomb was placed upon one of the 

 summits known as Sliabh-na-Caillighe ; and that from this fact the 

 cemetery may have been originally called The Cemetery of Taillte. 



Eow, if this were the case, we might be able to connect in some way, 

 though not in the literal sense of the terms of the modern local legend, 

 the name — Sliabh-na-Caillighe — or "the old woman's mountain," with 

 the fact of the mountain being the site of Taillte' s tomb. All this, of 

 course, is purely conjectural, but, we think, highly probable.* 



* Since the foregoing went to press we have been most obligingly favoured by 

 Brian O'Looney, Esq., M. R. T. A., of the Catholic University, Dublin, with the 

 following interesting extract, translated by him from the Book of Lecan : — 



The Fair of Taillten. 

 (Dindsencas, from Book of Lecan, fol. 258, a. a.) 

 " Taillten, why so called P Answer : Tailtiu, daughter of Magh Mor, the wife of 

 Eochaidh Garbh, son of Duach Temin; it was by him Duma na n-Gall, at Ternair, 

 was made, and she was the nurse (foster-mother) of Lugaidh, son of Seal Balbh, 

 and it was she that requested her husband to cut down Caill Cuain, that it should be 

 an Oenach (a fair or assembly-place) around her Leacht {or grave), and she died on 

 the Kalend of August after that, and her guba (lamentations) and her nosad (games- 

 funeral rites) were celebrated by Lugad, wide Lug Nosad dicitur. Five hundred 

 years, moreover, and three thousand before the birth of Christ this occurred, and this 

 fair was made (celebrated) by every king who occupied Erin till Patrick came. And 

 four hundred years [it continued to be celebrated] in Taillten, from Patrick to the 

 Black Fair of Donchadh, son of Fland, son of Maelseachlaind. Three prohibitions 

 were upon Taillten [namely], to pass through it without alighting ; to see it over the 

 left shoulder ; and to throw a cast which does not take effect in it — wide the Fail - of 

 Taillten dicitur —of which is said as follows : — 



1. You nobles of the land of comely Conn, 

 Listen to us for our blessing ; 



Till I relate to you the ancient history 

 Of the origin of the fair of Tailtiu. 



2. Tailtiu, daughter of renowned Magh Mor, 

 Wife of Eochaidh Garbh, son of Duach Dall, 

 Was thither brought by the Firbolg host, 

 To Caill Cuain, after a co-valiant battle. 



3. Caill Cuain, tall and stately were its trees ; 

 [Extended] from Eisgir to Ath n-Droman ; 

 From Monad More, of great adventures ; 

 From Aill to Ard na-Suigi (hill of the Suck). 



4. From Suige of the Suighe Sealga (Suck), 

 Whither went the Dams 3 - of Druim Dcarg ; 



From the wood westward the chariot head did pass 

 Into Ath Find to Guil Clochar. 



a Companies. 



