Dalton — Cromm Cruaick of Magh Sleacht. 33 



111 eaiiy times, then, Guthard was a vast, coiitimioiis water- sheet, con- 

 sisting of two far-ieaching branches, wliich met near Tuam Seanchaidh. The 

 old moat stood sentinel beside the narrowest crossing of Guthard, and thus 

 commanded the approaches to Magh Sleacht from eastern Magh Eein. A 

 study of the 200-feet contour lines traced on the six-inch Ordnance maps, 

 together with the peaty hollows and alluvial pockets laid down on the 

 Geological Survey maps, will show that Magh Angaidhe went out towards 

 Tuam Seancliaidh, through the present Woodford demesne, in a nearly 

 insulated promontory, much indented by creeks along the south side. But 

 Tuam Seanchaidh was always approachable from the east by dry land, resting 

 on a solid limestone foundation, and shrinking to an isthmus where Newtown- 

 gore village now stands. 



A direct line from Granard to Tuam Seanchaidh passes close by three 

 Tobar Patraics, all of which are marked on the inch Ordnance sheets. Two 

 of them lie a few miles south of Garrigallen village, while the third is just 

 inside the Longford border, nearly midway between Leggah and Ballinamuck. 

 Though no particulars are on record as to the Saint's journey, it may be 

 assumed, I think, that these wells were important halting stations along his 

 missionary march. It is most likely, indeed, that on setting out from Tara 

 on that eventful occasion St. Patrick had Magh Sleacht in view as his chief 

 destination, the destruction of Crom Cruaieh's worship being doubtless the 

 main object of his expedition. Not less certain is it that a direct road led 

 all the way from Tara to Guthard, for the High-King Laegaire is stated to 

 have habitually worshipped at Magh Sleacht, accompanied by the magnates 

 of Tara.' With this track the sanctified wells surviving between Garrigallen 

 and Granard would likewise have been closely in line. Geographical con- 

 siderations point distinctly to the probability that Tuam Seanchaidh was the 

 port of embarkation for the southern adorers of Crom Cruaich in their 

 pilgrimages to Magh Sleacht; but, independently of this inference, the 

 conclusion has strong recommendations that it was from Tuam Seanchaidh 

 St. Patrick crossed when he sailed over " the water named Guthard." 



The parenthetical phrase — " (i. gabtha a guth) " — inserted in the 

 Tripartite paragraph is, doubtless, an interpolation supplied by some early 

 copyist, who surmised that the origin of the name Guthard dated from 

 St. Patrick's memorable voyage. Guth-Ard unquestionably means " loud 

 voice "; but the attribution of the name to the Saint's uplifting of his voice 

 on the occasion seems to me not alone intrinsically improbable, but quite out 

 of place in a description which keeps so strikingly close to recognizable facts. 



1 See " Vita Trip.," p. 93. Also Colgan'.s " Trias Thaumaturga," pp. 25 and 42. 



