Macalistkk — Temair Breg: IU mains and Traditions of Tara. 251 



author of the poem apparently meant to describe it at length, for he mentions 

 Duma na nGiall first of all the monuments of Temair, entirely out of its 

 proper order, most likely because of its proximity to Fill. From many points 

 of view Fal was the most noteworthy of all the monuments of Tein.iii. 



The historical and religious significance of Fal will be discussed later; at 

 present we are concerned with its identification only. The late tradition 

 connecting Fal with the Coronation Stone now in Westminster Abbey is not 

 worth the expense of a drop of printer's ink. 1 Petrie's identification of Fal 

 with the stone now erected over the " Croppies' grave," on the summit of the 

 mound here called Tech Cormaic, derives much weight from its resemblance 

 to other inauguration stones, 2 and from the fact that till 1798 it actually lay 

 beside Duma na nGiall, the place indicated by Dind-shcnclias Ercnn. Certainty 

 is impossible, but the identification is not without a considerable measure of 

 probability. The initials of the buried rebels, with the formula R.I.P.,' are 

 now carved on the stone ; but archaeologically it has no more business on the 

 mound where it now stands than has the unseemly statue of St. Patrick 

 erected beside it in recent years. 



Petrie, who describes and figures this stone {Tara, p. 162), reports, 

 evidently at second hand, an erroneous statement as to its dimensions. He 

 says that it stands 6 feet above ground, and that it is 12 feet in total length. 

 In point of fact, it stands just under 5 feet high above ground ; and the late 

 Dr. Cochrane, who saw it uncovered to its base, assured me that it is not more 

 than 6 feet in total length. 



13. Lecht Con ocus Cctltin 



Two stones, now disappeared, on the western slope, level with Raith Kig 

 (isin leitir hi comardus Bdtha na Rig slar, I'l > 14 1 . YD associated the 

 monument with Cnoc B6 (iii 89, 90). PD tells, in a not very intelligible 

 abstract, the tale of how Cii killed Cethen, and was himself slain in revenge; 



1 A curious version of the well-known old-wives' tele which makes the Westminster 

 stone, the Scone stone, Lia Fail, and Jacob's pillar identical with one another is abstracted 

 in lievue celtvjut, xxiii, 227, from Boletin de la Real Academia de la Historia ■!• Madrid, 

 vol. xl. It is not easy to make out from this review whether the Spanish story is merely 

 a confused rechauffe of the familiar material, or is genuinely an alternative version of the 

 legend. But this question is here of very little consequence. Skene's brochure on the 

 Coronation Stone (Edinburgh, ISti'J) still remains the best compilation of the literary 

 material. 



- Such as that wrongly called the Stone of Dathi at Rathcroghan. Excavation has 

 shown that the mound under this stone is merely an adapted esker. and contains no 

 interment. 



3 In spite of an imaginative article in Proceedings K.I. A., ix, b'AK there is no trace of 

 any ancient carving on the stone. 



