228 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Acudemij. 



centuries dead, that they know the truth. The survivors tell their tale 

 without landing, and sail out into the deep, never to be seen again. 



Maelduin.' — Ailill, " edge of battle," has a son Maelduin,but is killed and 

 burned by the men of Leix before his son's birth. The boy playing in the 

 ruined church, on the ashes of his unknown father, is taunted for not revenging 

 his parent. He goes to his mother, a nun, in the Eoghanacht of Ninuss, in 

 Burren, Co. Clare, and learns the truth. Nuca, a wizard, advises him to make 

 a eurrach or boat of three hides (like St. Brendan in 540), and the youth and 

 his comrades sail away. They approach a fort on the shore of an islet, and 

 hear a man boasting of having killed Ailill ; but a storm sweeps them into 

 " the great endless ocean." They visit numerous islets, some walled, some with 

 high cliffs, others low and sandy. On one demons enjoy a horse-race on a 

 magic race-course ; on others red-hot swine issue from caves all day, but after 

 sunset retire, so that wondrous birds and the seafarers can feast on golden 

 fruit in safety. On other islands, ants as large as foals are seen. In a wonder- 

 ful white dun, a cat leaps on four pillars and a rich banquet is spread. Maelduin's 

 foster-brother steals a necklace from the wall, and the cat springs through 

 him, burning him to ashes. A fiery river burns a spear thrust into it. A lady 

 entertains them in a brazen fort, and, angry at the advances of Maelduin, 

 vanishes with her dim. The voyagers see isles of psalm-singing birds, magic 

 fountains yielding whey, milk, and wine ; a rainbow stream ; boiling, glassy, 

 and cloudy seas ; a submarine country with roofed dims, people and cattle (one 

 of which is seized by a hideous serpent coiled round a tree) ; an isle like a 

 silver column with hanging veils (perhaps an iceberg), and an island of women 

 more complaisant than the lady of the dim. They visit island monasteries 

 in the farthest deep with anchorites and monks from the community of 

 St. Brendan of Birrha,^ and from Torry Island.^ A recluse bids them to return 

 home, foretelling that they shall find the slayer of Ailill, but he must be for- 

 given for the sake of Him who preserved them through all the dangers of 

 their journey, though they, too, were worthy of death. 



The Hui Coera.* — Lochan, Enne, and Silvester were sons of Conall and 

 his wife, Canderg, daughter of the Erenagh of Clogher. Their parents, despairing 

 of issue, fasted against the devil ; they had three sons and dedicated them to 

 the fiend "by heathen baptism." When the youths grew up they destroyed 

 half the churches in Connacht to honour their patron. They intended to 

 destroy Clogher, but were kindly received by the Erenagh, their grandfather. 

 That night Lochan dreamed of heaven and hell, and, full of remorse, won over 



^ Revue Celtiqne, vol. ix, p. 417, vol. x, p. 63. 



^ Perhaps the other Brendan, St. Brendan of Ardfert. 



' A legend still lold in Torry closely resembles one in the Imriim. 



^ lievue Celtiqne, vol. siv, p. 37. 



