390 



' Un Mac Vighe? was slain in a valley at the foot of the mountain, which 

 from her obtained the name of Glen-Fau, which signifies the valley of 

 Fais." 



The death of Fais is thus observed by an old poet : — 



" The valley where the lovely Fais fell, 

 From her, as ancient Irish records tell, 

 Obtained the name Glen-Fais." 



" Scota, the relict of King Milesius, was likewise slain in this en- 

 gagement, and was buried in another valley on the north side of Sliabh 

 Mis, adjoining the sea. This valley, which was the place of her inter- 

 ment, was called Glen-Scothian, or the valley of Scota, as an old poet 

 testifies. 



This'was the^first^battle^that was fought between the Milesians and 

 the Tuath-De-Dananns, for the empire of this island, as we are informed 

 by the same author. 



"The persons that fell on the side of the Milesians in this action 

 were, the Princess: Scota, and the Lady Fais; they likewise lost two 

 of their principal Druids, whose names were Uar and Either, and there 

 was no more than three hundred of the Gadelian soldiers missing after 

 the fight ; notwithstanding, they defeated the Tuath-De-Danans, and 

 slew a thousand of them. 



" Eire, the wife of Mac Greine, one of the princesses of the country, 

 with as many of her flying troops as she could keep together, retired to 

 Tailte. ? : The^Milesians continued on the field of battle burying their 

 dead, and celebrating the funeral rites of the two Druids with great so- 

 lemnity." 



So far, Keating : the narrative which has been received as gospel 

 by many Irish antiquaries has absurdity on the face of it, and will not 

 stand one moment the test of criticism. The country is represented as 

 having been at that time under the dominion of a people called Tuath 

 De Dananns, and who were governed by three kings reigning conjointly 

 at Tailte, in Meath, and named Mac Cuil, Mac Ceacht, and Mac Greine ; 

 they seem to have been lazy, cowardly fellows, for they remained at 

 home, and sent out their three wives, Fodhla, Eire, and Banbha, to do 

 battle against the d invading Scoti. The invaders are represented as 

 landing at Inbher Sgeine, which is generally supposed to be the present 

 bay of Kenmare, upon what evidence I am at a loss to conjecture, as 

 all the probabilities are against it. To believe Keating' s narrative, we 

 should imagine that the Tuath De Dananns must have had electric tele- 

 graphs and railroads radiating from the seat of their power at Tailte 

 into the remote wilds of Dunkerron, or Corcaguiney; otherwise, how 

 could they, imthree davs after the landing of a hostile force, not only 

 have had intimation of the same, but actually an organized army, under 

 the command of the wife of one of the reigning kings, ready to confront 

 them in battle, in this remote district ? Again, if the Scoti landed at 

 the bay of Kenmare, what business had they in marching on Sliabh 

 Mis ? Was not their natural and politic course to march eastward into 

 the rich, level, and fertile heart of the island, if indeed they felt them- 

 selves equal to its conquest ? Let us for a moment look at the geography 



