189 



shops resided at the same time — 1001 is therefore the entire number of 

 those bishops. Thus in the " Naemh Seanchas" the commencement is 

 with " those seven bishops." 



The List of Groups of 7 Bishops preserved in the " Leabhar Breac," 

 consists of 142, or within one of the number stated byMacFirbis; 

 whilst that given by iEngus the Culdee comprises 141. 



These important records could hardly have been known to the writer 

 who, in a recent number of " The Gentleman's Magazine," took excep- 

 tion to Dr. Todd's statement in his "Life of St. Patrick" respecting 

 this ancient practice, and the origin of its institution. 



The name of the church usually written Indednen, the situation of 

 which has hitherto evaded all attempts at discovery, is written Ednen, 

 and entered under the letter E. Its identification may now, therefore, 

 be found possible. 



In treating of Lusk, the compiler has made an observation of much 

 importance as regards the value of the " Ohronicon Scotorum," the most 

 ancient, and indeed only reliable, copy of which is that transcribed by 

 himself, and preserved in Trinity College Library, from which Mr. Hen- 

 nessy has made an accurate translation, which we trust may soon be 

 published. 



Speaking of Mac Cuillin, Bishop of Lush, predecessor of our worthy 

 Secretary, he observes in reference to the other names by which the 

 bishop was known. What Mac Firbis says is, " Quies Ctimdeda mac 

 Cathbadha, i. e. Mac Cuillin Epscop Luslca." This expression is iden- 

 tical in terms with the record of his Obit contained in the " Chronicon 

 Scotorum" of the year 497 ; and there can be little doubt that the chro- 

 nicle in question is the authority to which Duald Mac Firbis referred. 

 Now, it is not likely that the latter would have thus spoken of himself 'in 

 the third person. It was not his practice, as may be ascertained by re- 

 ferring to his writings in this Library, iu which he frequently alludes 

 to "what I have said" "what we have observed before," &c. 



It was the opinion of Professor O'Curry — " That the Chronicon 

 Scotorum was an original compilation of D. Mc Firbis ;" but the work 

 itself contains internal evidence to the contrary. Indeed, in a very 

 imperfect copy of the "Chronicle," in the collection in this Academy, 

 the original is said to have been compiled by Giollo- Christ C Malone, 

 an Abbot of Clonmacnois, who lived in the twelfth century. It is more 

 probable, however, that it may be found to be " the Volume of Annals 

 known to have been written by one of D. McFirbis's ancestors, Giolla- 

 Josa Mc Firbis, who died in the year 1301," and to whom Harris refers 

 in his edition of Ware's Bishops, article Tuam." Bat we will not pre- 

 judge a question which is at present in course of elucidation by my 

 intelligent friend Mr. Hennessy himself. 



It is worthy of remark that the ancient name of Lam bay Island is 

 written Rechra, and not Rechrain, which, as Dr. Reeves has remarked in 

 a note at p. 262 " Martyrol. Donegal," is the form of the word in the 

 genitive case, Rechra being the nominative. 



R. I. A. PROC. VOL. TX. 2 C 



