232 Proceedings oj the Royal trhh Academy. 



chief of Ui Mdil, died a.d. 847. What is more, another chief of the same 

 tribe, by name Cairbre mac Cionaedha, died earher in the same year : N iall's 

 tenure of office must therefore have occupied only a few months. We 

 are not absolutely certain that Xiall mac Aedha Allain was the only chieftain 

 of the name who held that rank among the Ui Mail ; our list of chieftains of 

 this tribe is very imperfect. But he must have heen a person of some note 

 to have earned a place in the Annals, notwithstanding the shortness of his 

 reign ; and whUe we cannot be certain, I venture to think there is some 

 probability in the identification suggested. If it could be maintained, it 

 would give us what we ha\"e never had before : an Ogham stone dated exactly 

 to the year. 



