28 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



Drumcliff,'" belonged to Connaught. Under the new order Breifni O'Eeilly 

 was formed into au Ulster shire ; but not by itself, for Teallach Donnchaidh 

 (Tullyhunco) and Teallach Eachdhaich (Tullyhaw) were taken from Breifni 

 O'Euairc and united with it to constitute the County Cavan.' The other 

 tuaths of Breifni O'Ruairc remained with Connanght as part of the County 

 Leitrim. 



The partitioning of ancient Breifni between two provinces, coupled with 

 the antecedent division of Magh Eein between the dioceses of Ardagh and 

 Kilmore, has introduced much complexity into inquiries concerned wilh the 

 early topography of the march districts. Colgan, therefore, who lived out of 

 Ireland, and wrote not long after the administrative reorganization of the 

 provinces, may well be excused for placing Magh Sleachfc, or, as he names it, 

 Masraiffhe et Cathraige Slencht, " in Connaciae regione Ultoniae contermina."^ 

 OTlaherty, whose authority on questions of western topography will com- 

 mand respect, rectified Colgan's mistake by locating Magh Sleacht of Breifni 

 " in Comitatu Cavan ad Connactiantum spectante, sed nunc ad Ultoniam."* 



Thus tested at every side O'Donovan's delimitation of Magh Sleacht is 

 seen to emerge unshaken. His definition " the level part of the barony of 

 Tullyhaw," however, needs qualification, for no portion of that barony could 

 strictly be described as level. A large rhomboidal area on the south-east side 

 of Tullyhaw, though presenting everywhere crumpled and twisted elevations of 

 surface, appears low-lying in contrast with the towering Slieve Eussell, along 

 its northern margin, and the long ranges of Slieve Anierin which dominate 

 it from the 'west. Templeport Lake occupies a central position in this tract; 

 and near its perimeter, some two miles to the south-east of Templeport, lies 

 the hamlet of Ballymagauran. Both would serve pretty closely as points 

 for tracing a diagonal of the rhombus in question ; while the line so drawn 

 would run, near the Ballj'magauran end, along the base of a hill which is 

 locally known as Darraugh. The crest of this hill is crowned by an 

 elliptically shaped rath, whose major axis points directly south. The rath 

 commands beautiful prospects in every direction, but the most picturesque 

 view opens to the south, where the panorama is adorned by a series of lakes 

 that stretch away to right and left out of range of sight. Darraugh stands 

 medially over the circuit of this water system, and looks straight down, along 

 a gentle slope, on its midmost basin underneath. 



1 The " Book of Fenagh " (p. 80) extends Ui-Briuin " from Ath Droichit to Sligech " 

 (Drogheda to Sligo). 



- See Harris's " Hibernica," pp. 153-6 ; and Hill's " Plantation of Ulster,"p. 204. 

 3 "AA. SS. Hib.,"p. 203. 

 * " Ogygia," p. 196. 



