Ill 



This name appears in Keating in the form of Naoi, a skilful harper, 

 brought into Ireland by the Clanna Miledh. The chiefs of the invaders, 

 Heber and Heremon, disputed about the right to retain so excellent a 

 musician in their service ; which was decided by casting lots, in favour 

 of Heber. We find amongst the guests assembled at Tara on the 

 occasion of a great banquet given by Cormac Mac Airt, as described in 

 the " Book of Ballymote," the name of Ma-Mor, a King of Connaught ; 

 also the name of Enna Ma, a king of Leinster. It is stated in the 

 " Book of Invasions," that the plain of Magh-Tuireadh, the scene of the 

 great battle between the Fir-bolgs and Tuath De Danans, was anciently 

 called " Magh-Nia." 



South side Pillar, No. 5. — This is a coarse-grained, irregularly 

 shaped oval flag, three feet three inches in length, and eighteen inches 

 in width at centre; it has two lines of characters on its front angles, 

 reading from the bottom upwards, and commencing as follows : — 



-H--U h |n Mi l l f-UiiL-H. 



ODAFE M Q 0 



1 II 



D E N A F E 



There is a fracture in the top of the stone, and the lower part of 

 the strokes forming the Q, are obliterated, or knocked off; but the 

 upper ends of the five strokes above the angle are quite distinct, and 

 with the letters M before, and 0 following, formed the word Maqo. 

 The A is wanting ; but this may be accounted for by the injury to this 

 part of the stone, though we have other instances where this vowel 

 has been omitted in the same word. 



The legend is very simple and reads — 



" ODAFE, SON OF DENAFE." 



These names are of a hopelessly foreign cast ; I can make nothing 

 of them. 



North side Pillar, No. 1. (PI. XVI.)— This is a rude, unshapely 

 piece of conglomerate, much weather worn ; it is 3 feet 6 inches in 

 length, 10 inches wide, and 8 inches thick in the centre; it has only 

 three characters on one angle towards its top. 



L E I 



The upper part was broken to make it fit into its present position ; 

 and the upper part of the angle is fractured ; this, and the natural weather 

 wear of a stone so friable in its texture, will account for the disappear- 

 ance of the remainder of the inscription ; the letters that remain are 

 much worn down, but are still legible. This is the second instance 

 in which the consonants crossing the stem line are oblique. 



