Or more literally—
To Fatha, son of Maccon.
The expression east or eastward always refers to Alba or Scotland, in contradistinction to west, which was Sire, and the allusion here is to one of the mythic colonies from Ireland to Scotland.
In addition to the historic colony of Dalriada in the sixth century, the Irish historians record four colonies in prehistoric times.
These were—
1. Dalriads under Cairbre Riada, in the third century.
2. The Clanna Breogan, under the Fathads, sons of Lugad Mac Con, King of Ireland, in the third century, from whom the Campbells are said to be descended.
3. Eremonians, under Colla Uais, King of Ireland, in the fourth century, from whom the M’Donalds are said to be descended.
4. Eberians, under Cairbre Cruithnechan and Maine Leamhna, sons of Corc mac Lughadh, in the fourth century, from whom the Maormers of Marr and Lennox are said to be descended.
The second of these colonies, under Fatha Canann, is here connected with the legends of the Feinne.