Emania, now called the "Navan Fort," the residence of the kings of Ulster, was founded by Queen Macha of the Golden Hair, whose legend is most interesting. It was founded about 300 B.C. It was a royal residence for six hundred years or more. It was then destroyed by the three Collas, and has remained a waste ever since. St. Patrick came nearly a century after its destruction. The petty king, Daire, who gave a site to St. Patrick, was probably king of Oriel, or possibly of one of the tribes which composed the kingdom of Oriel, or Oirgialla. Professor Bury, in his "Life of St. Patrick" says: "King Daire ... dwelt in the neighborhood of the ancient fortress of Emania, which his own ancestors had destroyed a hundred years agone, when they had come from the south to wrest the place from the Ulidians [Ulidia is Ulster] and sack the palace of its lords. The conquerors did not set up their abode in the stronghold of the old kings of Ulster; they burned the timber buildings and left the place desolate." Patrick's first foundation was not on the hill where the old cathedral now stands. He asked that site of Daire, but the latter refused, and gave him a site at the foot of the hill instead. The original church of St. Patrick is believed to have stood somewhere about the spot whereon the branch Bank of Ireland now stands in Armagh. Bury says of the original structures of Patrick: "The simple houses which were needed for a small society of monks were built, and there is a record, which appears to be ancient and credible, concerning these primitive buildings. A circular space was marked out one hundred and forty feet in diameter, and inclosed by a rampart of earth. Within this were erected, doubtless of wood, a 'great house' to be the dwelling of the monks, a kitchen, and a small oratory." Ultimately, King Daire gave Patrick the hill he coveted, then called Drum-saileach, the "ridge of the willows." The story is quaintly interesting. Daire brought to Patrick a bronze cooking-pot, as a mark of respect. Patrick merely said in Latin, "Gratias agamus" ("I thank thee"). This sounded, in the unlearned ears of the king, like "gratzacham." Daire was annoyed that the pot should be received with no greater sign of satisfaction. So, when he reached home, he sent servants to bring back the cooking-pot, as something which the monk was not able to appreciate. When they came back with the pot, Daire asked what Patrick said, and was told "Gratzacham." "What," said Daire, "'gratzacham' when it was given, and 'gratzacham' when it was taken away! It is a good word, and for his 'gratzacham' he shall have his cooking-pot." Then he went himself with the pot to Patrick, and said, "Keep thy cooking-pot, for thou art a steadfast and unchangeful man." And he gave Patrick, besides, the hill on which the old cathedral stands.