Cormac's administration was the golden age at Tara, and although there was no pretense of architectural display in the wicker palaces that were thatched with straw, nevertheless he and other kings of that period possessed great wealth and made gorgeous displays at the ceremonies of their courts. An early writer describes a banquet given by Cormac Mac Art to one hundred kings, chieftains, astrologers, bards, and other distinguished men, who were seated at twelve tables, sixteen attendants at each table, and two oxen, two sheep, and two hogs were consumed, besides other and many varieties of food. "Beautiful was the appearance of Cormac," says the ancient manuscript, "flowing slightly, curling golden hair upon him; "A red buckler with stars and animals of gold and fastenings of silver upon him; "A crimson cloak in wide descending folds upon him; "Fastened at his breast by a golden brooch set with precious stones; "A torque of gold of curious design and richly graven around his neck; "A white shirt with a full collar intertwined with red gold thread upon him; "A girdle of gold inlaid with precious stones around him; "Two wonderful shoes of gold with runnings of gold upon him; "Two spears with golden sockets in his hand." In such attire did the king appear at the banquet given in honor of his chieftains: "The feis of Temur each third year, To preserve the laws and rules Was then convened firmly By the illustrious King of Erin." The last _ard-ri_, or king of all Ireland, was Roderick O'Conor, who died in 1198. The archæologists, judging by the ruins and the traces of the walls, find that the great banqueting hall was 759 feet long by 90 feet wide; the other buildings were circular or oval; and it is apparent that they were surrounded by walls of stone intended both for privacy and protection.