[P. 117.]—For the foundations in Meath, see Tírechán, 307 sqq.
[P. 118.]—Donaghpatrick. The place is marked by a fine earth-fort of the mote type, with a crescent platform, separated from the mound by a ditch. See Westropp, Trans. of R.I.A. xxxi. p. 714.
[P. 119.]—Taillte: burning of the first-born offspring. Cp. Book of Leinster, 201 a. 15, and O’Curry, Manners and Customs, vol. i. p. dcxl.
[P. 120.]—Uisnech. For the plan of this hill-town, see Westropp, ib. p. 688.
[P. 123.]—The account of Patrick’s visit to Mag Slecht (which was near Ballymagauran in Co. Cavan) is found in later lives (Vita Tertia, c. 46, and Tripartite, p. 90). But there is reason to suppose that an account of the visit has fallen out of Tírechán’s text (p. 311): see Bury, Itinerary of Patrick in Connaught, pp. 154-6.
[P. 123.]—Cend Cruaich, Tripart.; ceneroth or cencroth (corruption of cencroch?), Vit. Tert.; Cromm Cruach, Book of Leinster, 16 b. 30, and cp. 213 b. 38 sqq.; Crom Cróich, Rennes Dindsenchas (ed. Stokes), in Rev. Celt. 16, 35-6. See Rhŷs, Celtic Religion, pp. 200 sqq. In the Vita Tertia, c. 46, it is said that Loigaire used to adore in Mag Slecht; but we cannot attribute much importance to this statement.
Chapter VII
[P. 127.]—Amolngaid. The name occurs on a gravestone at Breastagh, north of Killala, in King Amolngaid’s country: maq(i) Corrbri maq(i) Ammllongatt—“(monument of ...) of the son of Corpri, son of Amolngaid” (Rhŷs, Proceedings of R.S.A.I. Part iii. vol. vii. 5th series, p. 235, 1898). The Genealogy of the Hy Fiachrach (ed. O’Donovan, p. 11) gives Coirpre as the name of a son of King Amolngaid; likewise a notice in the Book of Lecan (fol. 46, see O’Donovan, ib. p. 12, note a). There is thus ground for supposing that the person commemorated was a descendant of the king.
[P. 129.]—Mathona was connected with Tamnach. Tírechán calls her sister of Benignus, Patrick’s successor. He probably confounded the famous Benignus with an obscure namesake whom he mentions in another place (319₁₅): Benignus frater Cethiaci de genere Ailello. We should expect Mathona, in Tirerrill, to be de genere Ailello.
[P. 134.]—For the place of crossing the Shannon (Sinona) indicated by Tírechán, see my Itinerary of Patrick in Connaught, where it is shown that the view which placed it near Clonmacnois is untenable.