3S0 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



The n^xt abbot in the List, Fethgna (no. 39), was certainly not of that 

 stock ; he is described in the List as the son of Nechtan, of the (Jlann Echdach. 

 The Annals of Inisfallen and the Fragmentary Annals mention one Cathasach. 

 abbot of Armagh, who died in 856. Possibly he was an opponent of Fethgna, 

 but tlie evidence for his existence is slender. 



On the death of Feihgna (874) Mael Coba (no. 41) was elected abbot. 

 Three years later he was ejecteil in favour of Aininirc (no. 40), who was 

 "pruiceps" for nine months. Ainmire was then apparently dislodged, and 

 died a year or two afterwards 879). In the List his term of odice is 

 ineludtJd in that of Mael Coba. In tlie year of Ainmire's death Mael Coba 

 was taken prisoner by foreignei-s. Tims the two claimants were removed, 

 and Catha.ssach I (no. 42) seems to have immediately .seized the abbacy. 

 According to tlie List he ruled for four years, obviously from 879 to his death 

 in 883. Mael Coba, however, must have returned from liis captivity and 

 been restored ; for the incumbency of Mael Brigte (no. 43) is reckoned from 

 his death. 



Neither Ainmire nor Catha.ssach was of the Claim Sinaich. A partly 

 obscure note in the List give.s suHicient evidence that the former was of the 

 Ui Niallaiii. The latler, according to the List, was a son of Kobartach, 

 who was grandson of Mocnach, of Clann Suiimc. He is also called son of 

 HohartAch in the Annals nf I'l.sler; but in the Annals of Inisfallen son of 

 Fergu.s.' Apparently there was Bonie uncertainty alxuit the name of his 

 father. It is scarcely rash, therefore, to identify him with Cathassach, son 

 of Dindolach, son of Dimnchad, son of Moenach, son of Diucaill, son of 

 Suibne, who was liesoeiuled, through Ercc, from Colla Uais, brother of Colla 

 Fochrioli, the ancestor of Clann Sinaich ami many other septs.''^ There is 

 ni>thing against the supposition that Mael Cuba belonged to the Clann 

 8inaiuli ; for the cummunity of Kilniore, from which he came, was probably 

 Cill-nior Eiiir, three miles east of Armagh.' 



It has lK?en observed already that the MSS. diller here as to the order of 

 the nuincs, L placing Mael Coba before, YBO after, Cathassach. On cither 

 arrangement there is a hiatus in the chronology ; for the nine years divided 

 between these two ablwls do not till the gap between the death of Fethgna 

 (874 and that of Mael Coba in 888. It may be conjectured that in the 



< .\I mention this Cathaiuch twice: (1) a. a. 869 (re-te 883), Quies CathaBsaich 

 abbntis A. ; (2) s. a. 883, Quies Cathassaich, son of Fergus, abbatis A. The former 

 entry evidently follows the authority normally used by the aiinnliHt, which at this point 

 is fourteen years bvhind in its chroiiulogy ; the latter come.H from another d'Kunicnt 

 which (fave the true ye»r of the obit. 



• fUwIinson. li .50->. pp. 141, a, II. 5, 35, b, 1. 31, 14(i, e. 



' See Hogau, Oiuinuulicon s. v. ; Atnial$ of UUUr (MacCarlhy), Index, 



