166 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



confine myself to a short study of Fer Fi, son of Eogabal, 1 and a summary of 

 the legends of his sisters, like that of the Nuadas. As we saw, Fer Fi 

 thoroughly avenged the violence of Oilioll Aulom to Eogabal and his 

 sister 'Aine.- In addition to luring his enemy's family into civil war, he 

 raided and burned Dun Claire fort, which deed keeps his remembrance green 

 at Knoekainey. 3 He had a holy mound at Sid Firai mhic Eogabailf "to the 

 south," perhaps the most southern of the conjoined rings. He first discovered 

 the Slige Cualann road, and was guarantor of the treaty of neutrality 

 between Bodb Dearg and King Conn. Xow Caclit, wife of Eogabal, was 

 tutelary goddess of Fingin mar Luchta, an early king of Munster {circa 

 a.m. 130), who used to meet her at Killinnan, for Luachair Deadaid covered 

 the district at Cliu, at least t<> tin- east of t'enn Febrat.'' Caelit broke the 

 treaty by warning her favourite against every move of Conn. 6 Fer Fi's mother 

 i- said in a late poem to have been daughter of Crimthann Nia Nair, King 

 of afunster, " B.C. 3 to a.d. 13,"' who owned a fort of Cenn Febrat. Nia Nair 

 commemorates another tutelary goddess, "Nar, the witch of the Sid mounds," 8 

 who protected Crimthann on his naval expeditions from Eowth;' but his 

 fori there was not at the Baily (as O'Donovan decided), if it was in sight of 

 ftfeath." If Fer Fi (as seems probable) was Fer Fidail, son of Eogabal, he 

 was instructed by Manannan mac Lir, and used to hear a trident; but, having 

 abducted and accidentally drowned the Lady Tuan, the sea god slew him." 

 E • i was hi- wife, and Emer was wife of JTJainide. 1 ' Eogabal's sons were 

 Fer Fi oi Fer I. Lu, and Fainle. The others, Fere, Fermait and Fer Fidail, 

 are possibly alias names of Fer Fi. In the latest edition of the legends 'Aine 

 l- also killed by i >ili« »11 Aulom. A still later poem makes the latter straighten 

 hi- bent spear-point with his troth, one of which got poisoned with the 



fork," a suspicious oame in view of the magic yew episode. Were the 

 Kuockaini onected with a Baered yc n as well is » iili the hazel grove ? 



; The iinm.- 'Abie, A in ,. • •! Alois appear* in Gaulish inscriptions, Holder, i, 71. 

 - Mr. Douglas Hyde informs me. I could nol gel any traditions on my visits to 

 Knockainey. Be has since published the legend in the Celtic Review in l'.UT 

 ' < momasl . < loedel., p. B99. 

 & On which lay tlu-ir chief cemetery. 



Book of Fennoy (R I A. Iri.ih T. its, Sei i 



M.-sca I'lad, p. 53. Legends van rimthann'e death ; see Rev. Celt., xxiv, 



p. IT.". 



I ir Anm.. p. 33, Ko. 106. 



' •■ H-.wth and isOwnem," Dr. V K Ball R.S. Ami. Ir.),pp. 11, 12 : Rev. Celt., ii, 

 p. 86, and " Erin." viii. p. 31. 



1 Metr, Dind S.,vii, Rath Bsa, p. 7; also Dubb'n Penny Journal, 1833 t, p. 60 ; the last 

 19 decisive for site of Dun Crimthann being at the mound i' the martello tower in Howth. 



" Rcnnes Dind S., Rev. Celt., \vi, p 152. 



Hist ry, Silva Gadelica, pp. 76-76 



