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Kane — Additional Researches on Black Pig's Dyke. 547 



plantation indicated by Thomas Greenan of Fenagh), and so west to 

 Dmmshanbo. 



It is now requisite before 1 proceed to trace in detail what appear to be 

 other frontiers of ancient Uladh, to define shortly what I have learned as to 

 their several respective alignments. That which I have just recapitulated with 

 corrections seems to have been the latest, previous to the destruction of the 

 kingdom of Uladh, since it marks off the most curtailed territory. As the 

 most recent, I shall refer to it as the third frontier. The second or middle 

 frontier, going from east to west, would consist of the Eoyne and Blackwater 

 rivers to Navan and Kells, thence to Lough Eamor (Virginia) in county 

 Cavan, and then west to Lough Gowna, Ballinamuck, Mohill, and north to 

 Ballinamore, where it joins the third frontier. 



The first and most ancient frontier of the three commenced at Drogheda, 

 with the river boundary of the Boyne and Blackwater. But at Tailtenn 

 it diverged to the west through Meath to near Kilskeer, passed south of 

 Crossakiel (the " Ard Chuillend" of the Tain)' through Kilallon, and thence 

 to Lough Derravaragh by a junction I am not clear about, then past Multy- 

 farnham to Lough wel, then to near MuUingar, Mount Temple, and Athlone. 

 Thence north the west boundary of Ulster was formed by Lough Eee and 

 the Shannon to Lough Boderg, whence from Kooskey entrenchments ran to 

 Mohill and BalKnamore. 



Of the Alignment of the Second Frontier. 



We will now describe the middle or Second Frontier, and where the 

 entrenchments are obhterated gi^-e the local traditions of their site which are 

 preserved by the country people. Our ancient literature states that the 

 southern boundary of Uladh was formed by the Boyne from Drogheda to its 

 junction with the Blackwater at Xavan, and thence to either Tailtenn or 

 Kells. From that point I found the local traditions extremely confusing, 

 some indicating that from Donaghpatrick Bridge the Black Pig's Dyke ran 

 westerly to Westmeath and Athlone. Others stated that it ran north-west to 

 Lough Eamor. And as the ditch of the Pale also ran north from Trim and 

 Athboy to the Hill of Lloyd beside Kells, some portions of which are traceable 

 on both sides of the Blackwater and on toward Ardee, much difficulty arose. 

 The Venerable the Archdeacon of Meath, at Kells, author of the History of 

 that Diocese, kindly came to the rescue and drove me from place to place, 

 till I was able to identify the traces of the Pale Ditch for some miles east. 



' In the Leabhar Uidhri this place is said to be "called Crossa Cuill to-day." See 

 the "Tain," Mrs. Hutton, Appendix B, '"' ArdcuUen." 



R.I. A. PROC, VOL. XXXni., SECT. c. [78] 



