218 Proceedings of the Moijal Irish Academy. 



oldest copy I know of the tale is that preserved in Zeabhar na h- Uidhri, 

 which is, however, imperfect at the end. 



Umti ceop& n-Cpc n-eAch&c. — •" Plunder of the three cows 

 of Eochad." 



This tale, which gives an account of a raid made into Ceann Tire, 

 now Cantire in Scotland, by Cuchulaind and his Ultonian comrades, is 

 preserved in the British Museum in the manuscript classed Egerton, 88, 



Umti bo Ktn-p.- — " Cow-spoil of Eos." 



U&in bo He5.Mn.Mn. — "Cow-spoil of Regaman." 



This is a pre-tale of the Tain Bo Cuailnge, and one of the oldest of 

 its class, being referred to in all the older copies of the Tain. Regaman 

 was an affluent chieftain of that part of ancient Corcomroe now called 

 Burren, in the County of Clare. His seven daughters, with all his 

 herds and chattels, were carried away by the seven Manes — sons of 

 Ailell, and Medb, King and Queen of Connaught, when they were 

 preparing for the expedition of the Tain B6 Cuailnge. This tale is 

 curiously summarized in the Book of Lecan, in the Bindsenchas of Ath 

 Cliath Meadraidhe, which is said to have its name from a circumstance 

 recorded in this tale. The Cowspoil of Regaman, and another tale 

 under the same title, relating to the interview between Cuchulaind 

 and the Mor Rigu, are well preserved in the Yellow Book of Lecan 

 Class H. 2, 16^Lib., T.C.D. 



Umh bo Vli"OM}\ — " Cow-spoil of Flidas." 



This is another of the pre-tales of the Tain Bo Cuailnge, and its 

 antiquity is shown by its being mentioned in all the older versions of 

 the Tain. It is preserved in the Book of Leinster, and in the Yellow 

 Book of Lecan, Lib. T.C.D., and a still older copy, a little imperfect 

 at its commencement, will be found in Leabliar na h-Uidhri, Lib. 

 R. I. A. Flidas was the beautiful wife of Ailell Find, or the fair, an 

 affluent Brugh and warrior chief of West Connaught, who was alike 

 renowned for her personal beauty and her wealth in cattle. She was 

 carried away with all her cows and chattels, and her husband killed by 

 Fergus Mac Rogli and his Ultonian exiles, aided by Ailell and Medb, 

 King and Queen of Connaught, when they were preparing for the 

 expedition of the Tain Bo Cuailnge. 



UMn bo FjAMch. — "Cow-spoil of Fraech." 



This is also a pre-tale of the Tain Bo Cuailnge, and one of the 

 oldest of its class. It is well preserved in the Book of Leinster, and 

 in the Yellow Book of Lecan (Lib. T. CD.), but the two versions 

 differ somewhat in details. This curious tale is as much a Tochmarc as 

 a Tain, and in reality it is both. It is chiefly devoted to the courtship 

 of Findabar, daughter of Ailell and Medb, King and Queen of Con- 

 naught, by Fraech, son of Fidad, a Danmonian warrior of Irrus 

 Domnan in the west of Connaught. When Fraech had returned from 

 Cruachan, his mother informed him that his wife, children, and cows, 

 had been carried away by a band of plunderers from the Alps, who 

 had visited his place in his absence. Fraech went forth and complained 

 to Con-all Cearnach, who espoused his cause, and with a small band of 



