250 O'Looney — Historic Talcs in Irish. 



Additional Notes. 



P. 218. U*m bo tltnf— " Cow-Spoil of Eos." 

 O'Curry says (1861), " jSTothing known of this tale." It is, how- 

 ever, possible that it is the story referred to at page 227 under the 

 title " Aided Conchobair'''' — "Death of Conchobar," and preserved in 

 the Book of Leinster, and in MS. H. 3. 17. Lib. T.C.D. It sets forth 

 how Cet, son of Magach, a famous champion of Connaught, having 

 made an incursion into Ulster, possessed himself of the ball made of 

 the brain of Mesgegra, which had been treasured at Emania among the 

 trophies of Conall Cearna'ch, by whom he had been previously slain. 

 It was prophesied that this ball would revenge the fate of Mesgegra, 

 by killing one or more of the kings and king-champions of Ulster in 

 return. Cet, knowing this, determined that he should be the man 

 through whom the prophecy should be fulfilled. He placed the ball 

 in his girdle and continued for some time to watch the Ultonians, 

 seeking an opportunity of carrying out his resolution. As no such 

 opportunity offered, he ( Cet) went eastward and drove away a spoil of 

 cattle from the Feara Ross. The Ultonians pursued him, and the 

 people of Connaught came to aid him ; a battle was fought between 

 them, in which king Conchobar himself was engaged. The women of 

 Connaught (who then enjoyed the privilege of attending military 

 hostings) admired the comely form and valour of king Conor as 

 he distinguished himself in the battle. They besought him to come 

 aside (i. e. to advance nearer to them), that they might have a better 

 view of his beautiful form and noble figure. As Conclwbar advanced, 

 Cet, who had concealed himself among the women, cast the fatal ball 

 and lodged it in his skull : thus inflicting the wound of which king 

 Conchobar subsequently died. This tale then is the Tain Bo Buiss, 

 inasmuch as the battle in which king Conor received his death wound 

 was fought for the possession of the Tain Bo, or Cow spoil of the 

 Feara Boss. The subsequent portion of the tale relates the circum- 

 stances of king Conor's death, hence it is called Aided Conchobair or 

 Death of Conchubar, and thus the tale will correspond to both titles. 



P. 222. C^ch bbirme.— " Battle of the Boind." 

 This is made C&u coroen, i. e. "Battle of Toiden" in the Book 

 of Leinster List, but not identified. It is probably the invasion of 

 Toidean by the Bibcrgs, or plunderers, of which there is an abstract 

 in the Book of Leinster. 



Note. — All the translations mentioned in the foregoing Paper were presented to 

 the Academy on the night on which the Paper was read. This collection is exclu- 

 sive of Professor O'Looney' s translation of Lcabhar net h-Uidhri, which, with a 

 classified list of orthographical and other peculiarities of the original text of that 

 MS., he suhmitted to the Academy on the 12th of June, 1871. It contains sixty- 

 five independent pieces, some of them more or less imperfect. The Academy has 

 taken steps towards the publication of these translations, and already a portion of 

 the Tain Bo Cuailnge has been printed off. — Ed. 



