Conaire, as from a fucceffor of his they are called Dalriada. Another branch are called Dal-Fiatagh; but it is to be noticed, that in the perfon of Suin this laft fept began, he having, befides Degadh, another fon called Eocha, who was the ancestor of Fiataigh, from whom this family took the name. The reader will

perceive, that I have taken great pains to clear up this part of our history, fo honourable to his prefent majefty, and to the North British Scots.

The first act of Conaire's reign, was an unexampled punish-. ment on the people of Leinster, for the murder of his father. He ordered that every firft of November, 300 fwords mounted with gold, 300 cows, 300 purple cloaks, and 300 fteeds should be delivered in at his palace, as an Eric from that province. From this it becomes evident, that his father was murdered by a party, not killed in battle; fince there was no law or precedent to justify this impoft otherwife. In revenge for this, we read, foon after of his own palace in Meath's being burnt to the ground, and he himself with difficulty efcaping. Barring this, our annals loudly proclaim the uncommon bleffings of this reign. We are told, that univerfal peace and tranquillity became established over the kingdom; that the seasons were uncommonly mild and fertile; and that Ireland had not beheld fuch Halcyon days! He did not alter the pentarchy established by Eochaidh, except lopping off a confiderable tract of land from the province of Leinster, and joining it to that of Munfter. This mutilated part extended from Goran to Grein-Airbfin; and Aongus furnamed Aimhas-righ, or of the King's Guard, its inheritor being of his blood, he freed from all future dues to the kings of Munfler, except the honour of compofing their body-guards. From this the country took the name of Aimhas-righ, commonly called Offory.

But

But though we read of no inteftine commotions, yet it is pofitively afferted by Bruodinus *, hereditary hiftorian of Munster, that this prince for feveral years carried on a fierce war, both in Britain and Gaul. Hence, from his great fuccefs in thefe expeditions, he was ftyled Chonaire na Creich, is na Lann, i. e. Conaire of the Tributes and Swords. It is highly probable, that these reiterated attempts were in favour of the difcontented in both kingdoms; fince Ireland, which had on fo many former occafions fhewn its diflike of the Roman greatness, must no doubt be highly alarmed to fee them fuch near neighbours; and at what times could these invafions be moft fuccefsful, but when thefe Romans were divided amongst themselves? But be this as it may, it is agreed upon, that fome malcontents whom he had banished the kingdom, and particularly Haingteil, who had married a British. princess, at the head of these, and numbers of Britons, fuddenly invaded the kingdom, and marched directly to his palace, which they attacked and put all to the fword, particularly the monarch, who was the principal object of their refentment. From this famous Haingteil, is my worthy and much efteemed friend Richard Anketill, M. D. defcended.

The Book of Reigns gives to this prince a rule of feventy years, and which is adopted by Gratian, Lucius, and O'Kennedy †. O'Flaherty admits it to be fixty; and Keating and Bruodinus but thirty. In a conftitution conducted as ours then was, a reign of seventy, or even fixty years, for very obvious reafons, feems too long. By admitting him an adminiftration of forty years, we bid fair for reconciling all parties; and if we fuppofe with many, that the birth of Chrift was in the year of the world. 4000, it will then appear, that the death of Conaire happened in the tenth year of our Salvation.

*De Regibus Hiberniæ, p. 875-1 + Hiftory of the Houfe of Stuart, p. 84.

The

10

15

The shock the nation felt at the death of this great prince can- A.C. not be better expreffed, than by obferving that fo unfettled were the people that it is univerfally agreed on, that for five years after his decease, no fixed rule of government was adopted! At length Lughaidh, the fon of Fineamhnhas, the fon of Eochaidh Feidh-lioch, an Heremonian, was by univerfal confent proclaimed monarch. He had two wives; the firft was a Pictish princefs; the next, a daughter of Denmark. On the death of this laft, he was fo afflicted as to fall upon the point of his own fword, and thus dispatched himself. From Clothra, this prince's mother, an island in Loch-Ribh, got the name of Innis Clothra.

Connor, called Abhra-ruadh, or of the Red Eyebrows, was his fucceffor. He was the son of Feargus named Fairghe, or of the Sea, on accountof his large navy, king of Leinster, the fon of the monarch Nuadha, another branch of the Heremonian line. His reign lafted little longer than that of his grandfather, being cut off in battle by Criomthan, in the very firft year of it.

24

Criomthan, fon to the above Lughadh, afcended the imperial 25 throne. He was furnamed Niagh-nar, or the Hero, on account of his great exploits in war. He alfo made feveral fuccessful expeditions into Britain and Gaul, greatly diftreffing these people most attached to the Romans, and always returning enriched with the spoils of his enemies. This was not all; for, from their manner of fighting, he introduced a new and more perfect difcipline amongst his troops; but, in the midst of his mighty projects. and great defigns, he was killed by a fall from his horse, near his own palace, in the fixteenth year of his reign.

VOL. I.

E e

CHAP.

CHA P. IV.

Of the Attachotic war, and the ufurpation of Cairbre-Moran refufes the diadem, and brings back the people to their duty-of Fearaidach the Juft, and of Moran's famous collar-fome paffages in Tacitus illuftrated-of Fiachadh.

W

E have feen Ireland for 1305 years, i. e. from the first landing of the Milefians to the death of Criomthan, governed by a fucceffion of princes, all of the royal blood of Milefius; but the immature death of this laft prince enabled a set of confpirators to overturn the conftitution, fooner and easier than they expected. As the caufe of this revolution has not been fatisfactorily explained, we fhall endeavour to elucidate it.

In the last book, I noticed the great power and unbounded ambition of the Heremonian line; that they not only obtruded a confiderable branch of their house on the Mamonians, but even wrested the crown from, and for a time divided that province with the Heberian or Munfter house. The like attempts they made both against Conaught and Ulfter; oppofing the troops and heroes of each province to the other, in hopes, by weakening each party, to make an eafier conqueft of the whole. Haingteil, was a Damnonian prince, expelled the province of Conaught by Conaire, and who, as we have seen, amply revenged this injury; and the long confusion that followed the death of that monarch, I perfuade myself was owing to the power and influence of these people.

This

This was called the Attachotic, or plebeian war, which Dr. A.C. Keating and Bruodinus place in the reign of Fiacha; but which the Book of Reigns, and from it Grat. Lucius, and O'Flaherty determine to have happened at the prefent time. The authority of Giolla Caomhain fixes me to this laft opinion. The Damnonii plainly seeing their ruin intended, privately league with the Belge of Leinster, and, not improbably, with fome of the Roman commanders in Britain and Gaul; for the confpiracy was very complex, and for a long time carried on with great fecrecy. The princes and nobles of the kingdom being affembled at Tara, to elect a fucceffor to the monarchy; and according to the cftablished mode, public banquets being appointed three days before, and three days after the election, the confpirators thought this the most favourable and leaft fufpected opportunity, of putting their deteftable scheme into execution. They accordingly moved 41 off by small parties, fo ordered as to affemble at Tara much about the fame time. With thefe Cairbre, called Cean-Cit, or of the Cats-Head, affifted by Monarcha and Buan, two Belgians of quality, fuddenly attacked the unfufpecting Milefian chiefs and their followers, whom they made an eafy conqueft of, putting to the fword all they met with, and then proclaimed Cairbre monarch. The reign of this Damnonian prince lafted but five years; and had its continuance been as fanguinary as its commencement, no doubt the crown might have continued in his family; but we do not read of more bloodshed. There is no doubt but during his reign, as many evidences as could be come at, of Milesian history and chronology, were deftroyed; and we muft fuppofe amongst these many works of great value.

On his death, his followers elected his fon Moran to fucceed him; but he, with an unexampled heroism and constancy refused the crown. Not only this, but fo great was his power and influence over these people, and in fuch animated eloquence did