PAGAN ANTIQUITIES. 
3. Eociiy Opthach. lie was also of the race of Looee, and commenced his reign A. M. 3432 
Forty-one monarchs intervened between these two. 
4. Eochy Feidhleacii. He commenced his reign A. M. 3922, and ruled 12 years. 
5. Eochy Airemh. He commenced his reign A. M. 3934, and ruled 10 years 
6. Eochy Buadhach, or the victorious, appears to be another name for Eochy Gunat who 
governed L ister 13 years, and commenced his reign as monarch of Ireland A D 277 and 
died the year after. ’ 
7 . Eochy Mon does not appear among the monarchs of Ireland, but is found among the list 
of the kings of Ulster, in the book of Lecan, as Eochy, the son of Lugh, who was the 
son of Ross. 
8 . Eochy Dowlain was the son of Cairbry Liffecar, monarch of Ireland. The bard calls 
this monarch king of Temur, which means monarch of Ireland ; but it does not appear 
from Irish history that he ever attained to that eminence, though it is probable that he 
was king of Lister. He was the brother of Fiacha Sraivtinne, who was monarch of 
Ireland tor thirty years, and was killed by his nephews, the three Collas, the sons of 
Eochy Dowlam, m the battle of Dubcumber, in 322. Collas Uais, who succeeded his 
uncle as monarch of Ireland, was deposed after a reign of 4 years, and fled to 
9. Eochy Moyvain mounted the throne of Ireland in 358. He was the grandson of Fiacha 
Sraivtinne, and as the poem states, father to the celebrated Niall Naoigiallach or of the nine 
hostages. Carina, the mother of Niall, is called the Piet in the poem, but the Saxon 
woman by Tighearnach, and the books of Lecan and Ballymote, in the account of the 
illustrious women of Ireland. 
... ¥ .“J reliance can be placed on Irish chronology, it will be seen that the antiquity of 
this building would be very great indeed, no less than upwards of a thousand years before the 
Christian era ; and it is curious that the old poet, in making Eochy Ollathair, or the Dagda 
synchronize with the Assyrian monarch Darcylus, exactly agrees with this chronology of 
O hlaherty—the period assigned to that king by Usher being before Christ 1053. As it is 
stated however, by Tighearnach, the accurate annalist of Clonmacnoise, in the 11 th century, 
that all the records of the Scots before the time of Kimbaoth are uncertain,” that is to say 
in the year 0 O 0 before Christ, this chronology must be regarded as the work of later times 
and. treated accordingly. 9 
Passing, however, over this statement, and whatever else may be fabulous or doubtful in the 
legends m this poem, there is obviously much still remaining that may be regarded as historic 
truth, and as evidences of the very remote antiquity assigned by distant traditions to the work 
to wnicn it relates Ihe accuracy of the description of the ancient palace is fully verified by its 
existing ruins and there appears no reason to doubt that the names of its builders Garvan 
Mmhan and Frignu, are real names, preserved by tradition. Without entering on the very 
difficult question respecting the claim of the Irish to the use of letters before their conversion 
to Christianity, it appears certain from this poem, that the ancient traditions of the country were 
committed to writing at least at a very early period after that event; for the writer who it is 
certain, from internal evidences, must have written in or before the 11 th century, refers to 
Cuaradan Eolach, or learned man of an earlier, and as it would appear, a distant age as his 
authority The names of Garbhan and Frignu are found in many other ancient Irish authori¬ 
ties as the builders of Aileach, and the latter is called Frigriu, the son of Ruibi Ruadh, who 
was the son of Didiul and is stated to have been one of the Fomorians, or African mariners, 
celebrated for their skill m building with stone. The celebrated Irish antiquary, Duald 
M Firb is , m combatmg the assertion of modern antiquaries, that the Irish were acquainted 
with stone buildings before the arrival of the Danes and English, quotes as evidence of the 
fact an ancient poem, written in or before the 10 th century, by Donnell the son of Flanagan 
in which these two persons are named as the builders of Aileach. 
t)a catjleoip Gilij an aipm 
Hi^piu ajjup J^apban mac UjaipB 
Cpai^learan aoluij oealba 
Racbuioe cuip epen ceampac. 
The two cashelors of Aileach of the army, 
Rigriu and Garvan, son of Ugarv, 
Traighleahan [Troy lane] who split figures; 
The rathbhuide [rath-builder] of the strong tower of Temur. 
i this verse it will also be seen, that the ancient Irish had distinct terms to denote 
udders with stone and earth, and that a true distinction was made between the cashel, or stone 
c 2 
