ies this statement, and maintains that they
were Milesians, but of the lower classes, who had been cruelly oppressed
by the magnates of the land.

[95] _State_.--"Evil was the state of Ireland during his reign:
fruitless the corn, for there used to be but one grain on the stalk;
fruitless her rivers; milkless her cattle; plentiless her fruit, for
there used to be but one acorn on the oak."--Four Masters, p. 97.

[96] _Morann_.--Morann was the inventor of the famous "collar of gold."
The new monarch appointed him his chief Brehon or judge, and it is said
that this collar closed round the necks of those who were guilty, but
expanded to the ground when the wearer was innocent. This collar or
chain is mentioned in several of the commentaries on the Brehon Laws, as
one of the ordeals of the ancient Irish. The Four Masters style him "the
very intelligent Morann."

[97] _Woods_.--Four Masters, p. 97.

[98] _Magh Bolg_.--Now Moybolgue, a parish in the county Cavan.

[99] _Teachtmar_, i.e., the legitimate, Four Masters, p. 99.--The
history of the revolt of the Attacotti is contained in one of the
ancient tracts called Histories. It is termed "The Origin of the
Boromean Tribute." There is a copy of this most valuable work in the
Book of Leinster, which, it will be remembered, was compiled in the
twelfth century. The details which follow above concerning the Boromean
Tribute, are taken from the same source.

[100] _Polished_.--Keating, p. 264.

[Illustration: ORATORY AT GALLARUS, CO. KERRY.]

CHAPTER VII.

Tuathal-Conn "of the Hundred Battles"--The Five Great Roads of Ancient
Erinn--Conn's Half--Conaire II.--The Three Cairbres--Cormac Mac
Airt--His Wise Decision--Collects Laws--His Personal Appearance-The
Saltair of Tara written in Cormac's Reign--Finn Mac Cumhaill--His
Courtship with the Princess Ailbhe--The Pursuit of Diarmaid and
Grainne--Nial "of the Nine Hostages"--Dathi.

Tuathal reigned for thirty years, and is said to have fought no less
than 133 battles with the Attacotti. He was at last slain himself by his
successor, Nial, who, in his turn, was killed by Tuathal's son. Conn "of
the Hundred Battles" is the next Irish monarch who claims more than a
passing notice. His exploits are a famous theme with the bards, and a
poem on his "Birth" forms part of the _Liber Flavus Fergusorum_, a MS.
volume of the fifteenth century. His reign is also remarkable for the
mention of five great roads[101] which