Westkopp — Ancient Sanctuaries oj Knoekainey and Clogher. 51 



A few points call for notice. I hope to study later the history and legend 

 of the Mairtine tribe. 1 The saga of " Magh Leana " calls them " the champions 

 of Cliu," 2 before that battle, in the Bregian campaign, "circa A.D. 160." They 

 were severely raided by the Norse in A.D. 845, both in south-west Co. Clare 

 and in the Emly district, and disappear. The name Druim Collchoilli and 

 the hazel thickets recall that Tara, too, was a " Druim Collchoilli " ; "a 

 pleasant hazel ridge." The "pleasant hills" were defined as "ceremonial 

 hills " ; 3 bundles of firewood were offered to " the king of the sidh," or sacred 

 mound, at Eath Cruachan, and there is much early evidence for supernatural 

 power (benignant) of the hazel, and (deadly) of the white hazel.' The feast 

 of nut-gathering was kept on Samhain, or All Hallows night, as we still burn 

 or eat nuts. 



The Sanas Chormaic* contains (circa a.d. 890-910) probably the earliest 

 extant mention of 'Aine — " Aine Cliaeh, the highest ground in Cliu, named 

 after 'Aine, daughter of Eogabal, of the Tuatha De Danann." 



Next in legendary order, the drunken raid of the Ultonians reached to 

 'Aine. Bewildered in the great oak woods, they asked Ciichulaind to " take 

 their bearings." He and his charioteer, Loeg, ascended 'Aine's Hill (as they 

 did in Muirthemne) 6 to look around. The "Hound" points out the land- 

 marks. " To the south is Cenn Abhrat Slebi Cain " (Slievereagh) ; " to the 

 north, Sleibti Eblinni " (Slievephelim) ; " the bright sheet of water is the 

 linn of Luiinneach " (the Shannon estuary) ; in the distant hills ahead was 

 their objective, Curoi's great fort of Temair Luachra. I have seen from 

 Knoekainey all these hills, but not the river ; still (as I only once saw it 

 from Slievereagh, and know how many conditions of air, light, and tide are 

 requisite to make it visible), I do not deny that it can be seen from Knoek- 

 ainey. The Ultonians set up pillars to shelter their horses from the snow, 



1 Annals Tighernach ; Rev. Celt., vol. xvii, p. 416 ; Ann. Ulster, 1084 ; Four MM.. 

 B.C. 1412 and 1043 ; "Battle of Magh Leana," pp. 76-79 ; "Book of Lismore," f 172. 

 at Clar, or Cooraclare, Corcovaskin ; " Wars, Gaedhil and Gaill," pp. 15, 227. 



2 I presume of the supernatural harper Cliu — like JJia Segamain, " Champion of 

 Segonio," the Fomorian "champions of the Sidh," and Mugh Xuadat, " servant >>f 

 Nuada." 



3 Ancient Laws of Ireland, " Book of Aicill," p. 296 n. 



4 The hazel was a "chief tree," the white hazel a "shrub" (Ancient Laws, vol. vr, 

 p. 147). White hazel smothers men with gas (Duanaire Finn, p. 136) ; hazel offered to 

 the Sidh-King (Echtra Nerai, Rev. Celt., vol. x, p. 219) ; Chief compared to hazel (Proc. 

 R.I. A., vol. iii, ser. iii, p. 549) ; heavenly hazel (Irish hymn to the Virgin) ; nut feast 

 (Folk Lore, vol. iii, p. 500, and "Sick Bed of Cuchullin," Atlantis, vol. i, p. 371) ; Hazel 

 of Wisdom (Dindsenchas of Tuag Inbir). 



5 Ed. Whitley Stokes, p. 9. 



Mesca Ulad, p. 15, and "Legend of Goll and Garbh " (Rev. Celt., vol. xiv, p. 401). 

 In the latter case, they ascend merely to admire the view. The Irish long forestalled 

 other nations in their admiration for scenery. 



