Daltox — Cromm Cruaich of Magh Sleacht. 29 



East of Ballymagawrau the lake-formatiou divides Cavau from Leitiim, and 

 ultimately drains out through the Woodford river, which ilows north by 

 Ballyconnell to Lough Erne. The Blackwater river, descending from Slieve 

 Anierin and discharging its water supply close by Ballymagauran, is the 

 principal feeder of the system. Conspicuously marked on cwo sides by high 

 mountain ramparts, the contour of Magh Sleacht is completed farther round 

 by the rivers just named and their intermediate band of lakes. Inside those 

 boundaries lay the choicest part of Teallach Eachdhaich — the Magauran's 

 country — the seat in olden times of the Sen-Tuatha Masraighe, or Masraighe 

 Sleacht. The physical landmarks which have been traced do not deiine 

 mathematically the bounds of Magh Sleacht, bait they supply the guiding 

 lines for its delimitation, and nowhere swerve appreciably from the actual 

 frontiers. 



The Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, in a much-quoted passage, relates : — 

 " Thereafter Patrick went over the water to ^lag Slecht, a place in which was 

 the chief idol of Ireland, namely Cenn Cruaich, covered with gold and silver, 

 and twelve other idols covered with brass about him. When Patrick saw the 

 idol from the water named Guth-ard (i.e., he uplifted his voice) ; and when 

 he drew nigh to the idol he raised up his hand to put Jesu's staff upon it, and 

 reached it not, but .... its right side, for to the south was its face, namely, 

 to Tara."' The Tripartite is silent as to the Saint's previous movements 

 after he had left Granard ; but the Memoir of Tirechan partially supplies 

 the lacuna by informing us that Patrick passed through Magh Eein, where he 

 ordained Eruscus to the ministry and founded a church.- The chief object 

 of this paper is to discover the site of the idol Cenn Cruaich ; and the more 

 important data for the solution of the problem have now been collected. 



The positions of Magh Eein and of Magh Sleacht being known, I have first 

 to search for the water expanses along their common boitndary ; for over 

 water the Saint's advance was continued when he had quitted Magh iieiu. 

 One glance at the maps of Co. Cavan and Co. Leitrim will show that Magh 

 Sleacht is cut off from Magh Eein by water envelopments only at the south- 

 east corner, the comer where Darraugh hill rises gradually from the brink of 

 JJallymagauran Lake. Looking north from the Magh Eein, or Xewtowngore, 

 side of the lake, the eye is instantly ai-rested by the graceful outhnes of 

 Darraugh, as well as by the venerable aspect of the quaint rarh-frontlet. No 

 other feature at all comparable in distinction is visible in its environment : nor 

 in the outstretched background of the lakes, for its entire length, is a second 



1 "Rolls Edition," vol. i, p. 93. 



2 "Book of Armagh," edited by Rev. JohnGwynn, d.d., folio 11, col. 1. 



