308 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



iii. 3270 Gann and Genann, sons of Dela, in joint rule, 



iv. 3274 Sen-ganu, son of Dela. 



v. 3279 Fiachu Cend-findan, son of Starn, son of (ii). 



vi. 3284 Einnal, son of Genann. 



vii. 3290 Foidbgen, son of (iv). 



viii. 3294 Eochu mac Eire, son of (vi. 



Except Fiaclui, the names are all different. ' Hut we notice at once tliat 

 Fiachu occupies the fifth place in each list, and what is yet more suggestive) 

 we are told the same tale about both these kings, that "the cows in their 

 reign were white-headed." This leads to the inference that the two dynasties 

 are essentially one, notwithstanding the incompatibility of the names. Com- 

 parison of the meagre genealogical and other particulars confirms us in this 

 opinion. The first four names in each list are hound together by close ties 

 (counting Gann and Genann, for the moment, as one). In the first list we 

 have a father and three sons, in the second four dive) brothers. In each list 

 the kings after the third mel their death at the hands of their successors. 

 The penultimate name in each lis) is that of a descendant of the fourth, and 

 the ul ti mate tliaj of a descendant Df the third. That there are eight names in 

 one list, Beven in the other, need not trouble us seriously, for the Piotisb list 

 shows the possibility "f one of the kings having a multiple personality. 



The name Eochu appears in both lists, but in dillerent places. I suggest 



that there ha- I n a contamination of tradition, and that Slainge occupies 



the place properly held by Eochu mac Eire — a name that seems to mean 

 something like "divine horseman," or "horseman son of heaven" And 

 it is not difficult t" discover the Bource ol the contamination which has 

 produced this -hin of nan 



The ii Hue Slainge can hardly be dissociated from the river Slainge, 

 glicized " Slaney." That Slainge « egardi the leader of the Fir 



g m their expedition to Ireland 18 only another way of saying that in 

 Bome way the god of that rivei was responsible for their settlement in the 

 country. This would mean that there was at least a tradition that the firsl 



lement had hen made at oi fteai the mouth of the river in question, and 

 that the colonists had penetrated up its valley into the interior of the 

 coon try. 



Now the Milesians were said to have been led to the settlement of Ireland 

 by a certain Donn, though his untimely death prevented him from actually 

 enj. frnty in the country. A very ancient way of referring respect- 



ind /■'■ r/ijoJ have sufficient resemblance to suggest that tlio one m») 

 be a corruption ■■: 'lie other, "i both corruptions ni some diird form. 



