Macalistek — Temair Breg: Remains and Traditions of Tara. 2o7 



Especially, what was he doing at Temair with a duma '. Once inure we seem 

 to detect evidence of evasion ; a re-dedication (to the < 'hristian saint connected 

 with an event taking place at this part of the hill) of features previously 

 associated with the name of some pagan deity. Li', as 1 have suggested, the 

 so-called Cross of Adamnan was really a sacred stone originally dedicated to 

 Cernunnos (by whatever name Cernunnos may have been called in Ireland), 

 the "seat" and the " mound " may very well have been dedicated to the 

 same deity. 



But why should they be called after Adamnan rather than Patrick', or 

 Ruadan, who also presided at synods held in the same raith ? Is it because 

 of the homunculus sculptured on the standing stone V 



It should be noticed in passing that O'Donovan identified this stone with 

 Lia Fail, 2 and records a local tradition that it marked the grave of 

 Cormac mac Airt. He does not forget to add the obvious comment that 

 Cormac was buried at Eos na High. 



19. Lecht Maine meic Munremuir 

 Lccht Maine meic Munrenutir fri Edith na Rig anoir — " the grave of AI. 

 son of M. is towards E.E. eastward " — says PD 19 in all the mss. except L, 

 which omits the passage. I cannot find any story connecting Maine sou of 

 Munremar with Temair. But the name occurs in that very curious list, 

 Tochostul Ulacl, the persons to whom in Tain Bo Cualnge the message of 

 the Ultonians was sent. 3 This catalogue is much manipulated, and, as such 

 lists are apt to be, is corrupt. But a very brief glance is enough to show that 

 primarily and fundamentally it is a list of gods. Lug, Mor-rigu, Oengus Per 

 Bolg, Ogma Grian-ainech, Tailtiu, Maeha, are the most obvious of these. 

 Diabul Ard and Tarothor ("Lofty Demon" and "Monster" have all the 

 appearance of being Christian evasions for the names of unmentionable 

 deities : and there are other names in the list whose essential divinity is at 

 least probable. The names of heroes and of places have been interpolated, at 

 a time when the true meaning of the list hud become forgotten, or when it 

 was considered desirable to obscure it ; but to extricate the various elements 

 would need a very long and detailed study, which would here be out of place. 

 The appearance in the list of the name of Maine mac Munremair' suggests 

 that this is also a divine name ; and coupling this monument with the stone 

 of Mata, the stone of Fab and the stone of Cernunnos, which we have already 

 seen, we conclude that Lecht Maine was not a man's grave, but a sanctuary, 

 with a sacred stone planted upon it. 



1 See Cormac's Glossary, s. v. Adamiuin. ' Tdin, ed. Windisch, lines 47<>.""> cl seqq. 



- 0. S. Loiters, Month, p. 22:;. ' Bunni in L, Muindi in LLec. 



