368 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



Dian, after a " record reign " of 150 years over " all Ireland," died. He had 

 won great battles at Ceann duin Asail and Moin Foicnigh in I'i Failge (not 

 Offalj", but a district eWdently in Co. Limerick)' over the Mautine and 

 Emai, with others in Luachair, Claire, Samhain, and Cuoc Ochair, i.e., in 

 Co. Limerick in the western Hills and at Dun Claire aud Knocksouna, near 

 Kilmallock. The later compiler thus moves back the name " Asal " at 

 lea.^t 1000 years before the reign of Cairbre Xia Fer, in which " Asal " is 

 placed in Mac Liac's poem. 



The Legexd of Fergus and Asal. — Asal mac L'moir, one day, sat on 

 the tidach, " Munster's central point, commanding Cliu Mhail," the con- 

 spicuous " hillock, in the central plain of the province," as the extent was 

 defined, after A.D. 377. Fergus mac Koig came to see him, and found him 

 foretelling his own death, but Asal remembered his duties, and offered 

 hospitality to his distinguished \-isitor. Fergus refused, but determined to 

 try to ward off the danger from his friend. He bade his charioteer drive him 

 eastward and then southward from the hilL Reaching " the Ford of the 

 Chariot of Fergus," he stopped, a little to the side of the road, and awaited 

 events. At midnight the enemy at last appeared, and proved to be "a host 

 from Spain." Thirty spearmen attacked him, and, though severely wounded, 

 he slew them all and held his own. The rest of the army, however, swept 

 past him, behind their advanced guard, reached the house of Asal, slew him, 

 and brought away his head. 



Fei^s, severely wounded, was taken to the house of Conchenn, son of 

 Deda,' westward in Luachair, and nursed back to health. Hearing of his 

 condition, Curoi mac Daire retunied " from P'rance " and cheered him ; when 

 the hero recovered his strengtli he and Curoi set off ' for Spain," slew the 

 " Spanish " King, and brought back his head and that of Asal to Drom 

 nAsail (whence its name),' as the heads of Febra and C^in Derccdualach were 

 brought to Slievereagh, full in sight to the south, avenging and appeasing the 

 spirit of their dea.l friend.* 



IVrL.i.s the Ui Faiibe of other passages and the Cenel Failbe of the Dalcaasian 

 tT\\>\\ {■edi^Tee. 



' For the Deda familr, see ntpra, xxxir, p. 159. 



= This is c»nfirine<l by B.K.k of Ballymote, .V)a, 22-4L', which mentions Mend, son 

 of I mor, the pr^t. and Maij nAssail, in .Munster. named from Assal, son of Umor. 



« •• Book of I^tinstcr,' f. 2ii2<j. Silra Gad. . ii. p. 528. For bringing heads to moun- 

 Uins, cf. at Cenn Febrat (Metr. Diod .S.. x, p. 247) ; Currech's head, on a hill over 

 Bodamar strand {.Silva Oad.. ii, p. 262;. Congal » was placed on Ihc " diima " of a rath 

 (" hriu, T, p. 246), and Cairiire's on the mound of Sid Kennto (Aided Con Chulaind;. 

 The limbs of a defeated army of in\-adeTS wet« distributed among the "hills" of 

 Ireland (Irische Text*:, iii. p. ;;I4>. 



