Macaustkr — Tcmair Brcg : Remains and Traditions of Tara. 24 1 



rated (VD iii 93-96): Eaith Loeguiri (the inner dwelling); Les Loeguiri 

 (the enclosure surrounding the inner dwelling, with its rampart); and l.echt 

 Loeguiri, the grave, which was for lar a lis, "on the platform of his less." 

 There is not the slightest external indication of the sepulchre ; only an 

 extensive excavation could determine its position. The rampart was double : 

 but this does not now appear, except at one spot on the eastern side, jusl 

 south of a deep gravel-pit that has been dug into the entrenchments. 



It is not quite easy to see the meaning of the statement contained in the 

 passage quoted by Petrie from Lcbor na hUidrfi that, at the time of Patrick's 

 interview with king Loeguire, " Eaith Loeguiri was Tech Midchuarta." Does 

 this mean that Cormac's great building had already fallen into ruin, and that 

 the king's raith had been adapted as a substitute ? 



Though Temair was from the Bronze Age the site of a cemetery, it is 

 noteworthy that very few of its kings were buried on the spot. The tract 

 Senchas na Helcc states that only three kings were there interred — Conaire, 

 Loeguiri, and a third, whose name the scribe has omitted (Lcbor na hUidri, 

 facs., 51 b 1). 



4. Lecht Mixta M6r-glondaig 



We learn from PD 8 that the monument was beside Eaith Loeguiri, to the 

 south-east (hi tocb rdtha Loeguiri anairdes). VD makes no reference to it. 

 There is no trace of any monument now existing in the place indicated; 

 most likely it was a standing stone, as were the majority of the other lost 

 monuments. This is what we might have expected : for there are few 

 quarries in the neighbourhood, so that stone is in demand for building; 

 and, moreover, as the stone monuments seem to have been objects of pagan 

 worship rather than mere grave-marks, their disappearance after a change of 

 religion is easily accounted for. On the other hand, few forms of ancient 

 structure are more enduring than earthen mounds, when they arc not 

 destroyed with intention. 



There are two versions of the story of Mata told in the MSS. of Lind- 

 slienclias Ercnn, and there is also some uncertainty as to his name. All the 

 Dublin MSS. call him Mata-; but, according to Stokes, E reads Niata. This 

 is probably an error : as Niata had some such meaning as " champion-like,'' 

 the corruption would be easy. Whatever his name, he is said to have beeD 

 a ravaging warrior (amus bratbertach) of the time of Cormae. "One day 

 there were four warriors (occldcch) playing beside Eaith Loeguiri on the south- 

 east, and Mata pushed tliem all four into the ground above the narrow parts 



1 Tara, p. 170 ; see also Mevue celtique, vi, pp. 16-2 sqq. 

 - Matta iu L, Mada in U, H. 



L :t 1 



