294 Proceedings of the Rot/al J risk Academy. 



Domnall, Kings of Cinel Eogain, and Aedh, son of Echaid llnnchama. 

 King of Connaught, with the TJi Maiae of Connaught, aided by the prayers of 

 Uolumba ; on the other, Diarmaid, King of Ireland, aided by the prayers of 

 Finnian. The night before the battle Columba "fasted on Grod," and (§174) 

 the Archangel Michael appeared to him, and announced that, according to 

 his prayer, he and his friends would be victorious. But he added "that, for 

 having made such a worldly request, God would not be pleased with bim 

 until he would exile himself beyond the seas, and never retiu-n to Ireland's 

 shores, nor partake of her food and drink, except during his outward journey, 

 nor behold her men and women for evermore." (§ 175) During the battle 

 the Archangel was seen in the form of a warrior, armed with shield and 

 sword, at the head of Columba's host. Keedless to say (§ 176), Diarmaid was 

 beaten, losing 3000 men. Of the victorious anny but one man was killed. 

 He had crossed the stream which flowed between the contending hosts, thus 

 violating a command of the Archangel. 



" Then," says O'Dounell, who may again be quoted verbatim : — 



§ 179. Colum Cille addressed his relatives and followers thus: "It behoves me to go 

 into exile and never return to Ireland, as the angel has declared unto uie, because of the 

 multitudes you have slain on my account at the battle of Cul Dremline and at the battle 

 of Cul Fedha, where you defeated Colmac Mor mac Diarmada, because his son Cumaine 

 mac Colmain slew Baedau mac Xindedha, Bling of Ireland, at Leim an Eich, notwith- 

 standing my protection of him, and at the battle of Cul Rathain, wliere you defeated 

 Fiachna mac Baedaia, King of Uladh and Clan Rudraige, through my contention for 

 Ros Torothair — that is, the land concerning which a contention arose between me and 

 Comghall" . . . 



§ 180. Moreover, the saints of Ireland murmured against Colum CUle, and accused 

 him of unrighteousness, considering all his people that were slain in those battles as a 

 result of his counsel. Then Colum Cille, acting on the advice of the saints of Ireland, 

 proceeded to Molaise of Damh Inis to confess his crime to him. And Molaise ratified the 

 sentence the angel had passed on him previously, namely, to abandon Ireland and never 

 to behold her, and to abstain from her food and drink, and the sight of her men and 

 women, and never to tread her soil. 



(§ 182) After the battle of Cul Dremhne, Columba visited a holy man 

 named Cruimthir Fraech, and was duly reprimanded by him for the .slaughter 

 which he had caused. The saint was less penitent than might have been 

 expected. '• I am not responsible for that," he said, " but the unjust judgement 

 passed on me by Diarmaid mac CerbuiU." The words thus put into his 

 mouth, as we shall see, are not without interest, but we may pass over the 

 remainder of the interview. The story ends with the departure of Columba 

 from Derry for Zona, in fulfilment of the sentence of exile passed upon him. 



It is manifest that this narrative cannot be accepted without reserve as in 

 all its parts historical. Three times over (§§174, 179, 180), for example, we 



