556 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



the statement of Fergus, it seems unquestionable that at least a portion of 

 No. 1 frontier in the County of Meath was then universally acknowledged 

 bo be the southern boundary of Uladh ; for we read that Cuchullin " rode 

 into the marches " from Dun Dealgan, and reached Ardcullin. This is stated 

 in the L. U. MS. to he "called Crossa Cuill to-day." (See note, Appendix B, 

 " Tlie Tain," Hutton.) Here we are told that he cut a spancel-withe, 

 marked it with an ogam inscription, and threw it around the pillar-stone to 

 delay the advance of the hosts. (We find that at Crossakiel there still stands 

 such a pillar-stone, about five feet high, near the Eallinlough Eoad.) Never- 

 theless Mrs. Hutton, in her version of " The Tdin," in a note on "Ulster" 

 (Appendix B), states that, though " the boundary of ancient Ulster extended 

 from the estuary of the Boyne to the Bundrowes Eiver," yet " in the 'J'ain 

 ' Ulaid ' is occasionally used in a more restricted sense, and seems to apply 

 only to the north-eastern corner of Ireland — Antrim, Down, and Armagh." 



The explanation of this, however, is not far to seek. The epic in 

 question having been, doubtless, written down in Christian times, and 

 probably compiled from various sources, retains traces of various periods, 

 which have not been uniformly reduced and correlated harmoniously. 

 Naturally, therefore, some passages reflect phases of historical conditions 

 in which the outlying portions of the province were dealt with rather as an 

 appanage than as an integral portion of the central seat of power. Such 

 conditions are, even in these days, not wholly obsolete. 



To resume. Near Portloman tradition again points out a line of 

 entrenchments which started from the shore to the little hill of Slaue mor 

 (on whose conical summit are two small mounds, apparently constructed for 

 watching-places, or look-out stations). On its southern side, from the road, 

 are remains of what seems to have been a double rampart and fosse, running 

 down hill toward Greenpark. Some traces are said to exist between 

 Johnstown National School and Sonnagh House; but I could not identify 

 anything distinct. Yet, the name Sonnagh undoubtedly refers to a rampart, 

 probably near, but not necessarily at, that actual site. Here, in this district, 

 we are traversing historical ground. Slanebeg and Slanemor mark the site 

 of a battle which, in a.d. 494, was won over the Leinstermen by Colman 

 Rimidh, King of the Kinel Owen, from which Conall, son of Aedh, son of 

 Ainmire, escaped by flight. Some eleven years later, at Frewin Hill, not far 

 off, Fiacha son of Niall a Ulidian prince was in turn defeated by Foilge 

 Berraidhe a Leinster chieftain. But at length a final victory was won at 

 Dromdeirge' over the Leinster victor, by Fiacha; and we are told that 



1 Ann. Four Masters, a.d. 507 ; but in Ann. of Ulster, given under years 515 and 516. 

 See note on p. 553. 



