236 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



it would naturally be mentioned first, being the first site met with in pro- 

 ceeding in the south-to-north direction which the author of PD follows. 



Had there heeu any trace of a tumulus on the edge of either of the springs, 

 the identification with one or the other would be certain; for it was by 

 such a tumulus or s/tf-mound thai the well Nemnach was marked when 

 Dind-shenehas Erenn was written. I'.ut the most careful seai'ch has failed to 

 reveal any indication of such a mound. The earth around both springs lias 

 been cultivated, as the marks of furrows clearly show: and the tumulus has 

 been annihilated. The former existence of this sid is doubtless an indica- 

 tion that the waters of Nemnach, like those of the other springs of Temair, 

 were sacred. 



The stream that flowed from Nemnach bore the name Nith, according to 

 PD 5. This must be distinguished from the better-known river of the same 

 name, in M ig Klurtbeimne, on the borders of which were the winter-quarters 

 of the revisers of the S Hi ran although that document speaks of 



Nith nemundaeh, "pearly Nith." The same combination of words occurs 



where. Thus, in the quatrain describing the river-bursts that took 

 place in the reign of Sirna Soeglach, forming part of the poem beginning 

 Sirna & ■■ i ad — 



T •ii.n. ini Scirtige a* n ..ens totuaidin Duailte 



nit re ro niehaid immncli Nith neninaide nemnnnach. 



*• The l.u i - 9 ecfa ni In-- time, Mid tin- burst ..f 1 » • >;t 1 1 ; 

 in lii* day tiurat out Nith, brilliant aud pearly " (LL 19 i I. LLec581a). 



This suggests that the combination of words was so familiar that the one 

 unconsciously '-.died the other to n n. We timl the same or a similar 



!. inatiou iii . i. Under the word Neit, "a pagan Irish 



god i : his consorl A . and the next article but one 



in the Glossary is nith, "mortal wound 



2. I : \fd . •• ud 



- Ti. II use Mairisiu {Idthraeh Taigi Main- ml) is over 



the tumulus that is northward from Nemnach, with three small stones round 

 it. In this wise was that house established, with a lofty floor and a very 

 low • Mairi.-iu was a widow who was in Temair 1 at the same time as 



rmac. Every boose that is established in that manner will not be gloomy, 

 and wi not l>e without liches in it." - I'D 6; a paragraph that calls 



t..r most minute attention. YD iii '.'7 iks of it as "chief for beauty 



I . ,• ' Law* ■■/ Irtland, Rolls ed., i, -. 

 - The «..rd* " in Temmii are in II only. 



