Macalistek— Temair Breg : Remains and Traditions of Tara. 249 



(Liaig na Fian in H), Tipra Bo Findc, ami Derc Dub. VI) iii 125 gives the 

 three names rather differently : Liaig Da.il Duib Duirb, Tiiath Linde, and 

 Tipra Bo Finde; it also speaks of the well (iii 12.">) as Topur Tuirme Claud, 

 which looks like a fourth name. These names, though obscure, and perhaps 

 corrupt (as Gwynn suggests in his note ml /or.), are very suggestive. Liaig, 

 "Physician," indicates a medico-magical spring of some kind. Tipra Bd 

 Finde mast refer to some sacred white cow. Derc Dub, " black eye," may 

 be merely a descriptive name, applied to the dark waters; while Topur 

 Tuirme ('land, " the well of numbering of clans," is, as we shall see, a name 

 or expression very suggestive in the light of certain traditions regarding the 

 foundation of Temair. I am, indeed, inclined to suspect that the sacredness 

 of the ridge of Temair has its roots in the beautifully pure waters that now 

 richly from this particular spring. It is now called St Patrick's Well : is 

 " Patrick " here a popular corruption of " Capraeh "? 



PD tells us that there was a proverb current, Ni tact a laeg go liaig, which 

 would mean literally " its calf does not go to a healer " — Laeg being the 

 name of another spring on the opposite slope of the ridge. The proverb 

 evidently meant that two incompatible things do not associate together. But 

 I suspect that the writer of PD has corrupted the saying, the jingle of laeg 

 and liaig having proved too tempting for him ; and that the original version 

 was ni tod a loeg co boin final, " its calf does not go to a white cow." This 

 emendation adds point to the proverb, and explains the otherwise meaningless 

 little word a before laeg. Possibly the " Calf " well was supposed to be 

 actually an outflow from the well of the " White Cow." I he latter animal 

 may be identified with Glas Tcmrach, the Grey [Cow] of Temair, which gave 

 its Dame to the next site that we meet with. It may also be the same as the 

 White Cow after which the River Boyne is named. 



According to Wilde, 1 this spring was "formerly shaded by a magnificent 

 ash-tree." May this have been the scion of an ancient sacred tree, planted 

 by the holy well ? 



10. Duma na Bo 



The "Mound of the Cow" was westward from Duma na nGiall (IT) 11). 

 VD iii 90 calls this monument Cnoc Bo, and says that it was ' downward 

 from Raith Rig [fri BJl. anis), which would suggest that it was outside, 

 not inside, the rampart. It is curious that I'D does not enumerate either 

 Duma na Bo or Duma na nGiall among the decent or "notable things "of 

 Raith Rig. 



3 Beauties of Boy tie and Blackuxtter, 2nd cdn., [>. 125. 



X, , 



