[73] The _Memoir_ by Tírechán. [74] The _Life_ by Muirchu. [75] Cuchullin of legend. [76] Then called Brene Strait. [77] The Slaney (see Appendix B, note). It flows from L. Money past Raholp. [78] It has been conjectured that the stronghold of Miliucc was on the hill of Skerry, north of Slemish, on the other side of the Braid valley. Muirchu says that Patrick saw the conflagration from the south side of Slemish. We may interpret south to mean south-west. A cross, mentioned by Muirchu, was erected on the spot where the legend supposed Patrick to have stood, and the memory of this is still preserved in the name of the townland of Cross, on a hill to the west of Slemish. [79] Dr. W. Stokes, taking the story literally, suggests that Miliucc committed self-destruction as “a mode of vengeance” (_Book of Lismore_, p. 295). [80] _Mag-inis_, later known as Lecale (_Leath Cathail_), now the baronies of Lower and Upper Lecale. It is accurately described as a peninsular plain. [81] But meaning _barn_. [82] There is a second story (also recorded by Muirchu), clearly inspired by the same motive. Patrick was resting near Druimbo (in the north of Mag Inis, and close to a salt marsh), and he heard the noise of pagans who were busily engaged in making an earthwork. It was Sunday and he commanded them to cease from work. When they refused he cursed them: “Mudebrod! may your work not profit you!” and the sea rushed in, as in the other story, and the work was destroyed. The curse _mudebrod_ (or _mudebroth_) has not been explained. [83] See above, chap. i. p. 14. [84] See Appendix C, 11. [85] See above, cap. iv. p. 72. [86] Compare what has been said above in chap. i. p. 9. [87] This name is the same as the British Vortigern (Welsh Gwrtheyrn), and the original Goidelic form was similar. It occurs in Ogam inscriptions, thus: ... Maqi Vorrtigern<i>, on a stone of Ballyhank (near Cork), now in the Dublin Museum (Rhŷs, _Proc. of R.S.A.I._, pt. i. vol. xxxii. p. 9, 1902). [88] The distance of Tara from Slane is about ten miles. [89] Yet more remote from the Paschal season was the feast of Samhain at the close of autumn (November 1), when on the hill of Tlachtga, not far from Trim, a fire was kindled, from which, tradition says, all hearths in Ireland were lit. It was at Samhain too, according to tradition, that the High Kings used to hold such high festivals at Tara as are designated in the story. See note, Appendix B. [90] This incident is obviously suggested by St. John xx. 19, 26. When St. Columba went to the palace of King Brude the closed gates opened of their own accord (Adamnan, _V. Col._ ii. 35). [91] See note, Appendix B. [92] See note, Appendix B. [93] Tírechán, p. 308, perrexitque ad civitatem Temro ad Loigairium filium Neill iterum quia apud illum foedus pepigit ut non occideretur in regno illius. [94] See Appendix C, 12. [95] At Crag, in Co. Kerry.—Macalister, _Studies in Irish Epigraphy_, ii. p. 52. [96] Cp. Appendix A, ii. 5.