The legends also tell that the shield belonging to a king moaned when the person who wore it in battle—whether the king himself or a member of his family—was in danger of death: the moan was heard all over Ireland; and the "Three Waves of Erin" roared in [response]. See "Irish Names of Places," Vol. II., Chap. XVI.
[28] Slieve Cullinn, now Slieve Gullion mountain in Armagh.
[29] The Red Branch Knights were all pagans; and besides, what they meant here by revenge was merely punishment for a great crime.
[30] The Brehon Law: that is, the old law of Ireland.
[31] Van Helmont.
[32] Fena, spelled Fianna in Irish, and pronounced Feena.
[33] The above account of how the Fena hunted, cooked, ate, and slept is from [Keating], who took it from old Irish books.
[34] "The Pursuit of the Gilla Dacker and his horse" is a [humorous] story, of which only a few incidents are given here. The Gilla Dacker was really Mannanan Mac Lir, the Pagan Irish sea-god, who came in disguise to play a trick—a sort of practical joke—on the Fena. The whole story is given in "Old Celtic Romances."
[35] Knockainey: a hill celebrated in story, rising over the village of Knockainey, in the Co. Limerick.
[36] Fomor, a gigantic warrior, a giant: its real meaning is "a sea-robber," commonly called a Fomorian.