[Illustration:  FLINT SPEAR-HEAD, FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE R.I.A.]

Meav lived to the venerable age of a hundred.  According to Tighernach, she died A.D. 70, but the chronology of the Four Masters places her demise a hundred years earlier.  This difference of calculation also makes it questionable what monarch reigned in Ireland at the birth of Christ.  The following passage is from the Book of Ballymote, and is supposed to be taken from the synchronisms of Flann of Monasterboice:  “In the fourteenth year of the reign of Conaire and of Conchobar, Mary was born; and in the fourth year after the birth of Mary, the expedition of the Tain bo Chuailgne took place.  Eight years after the expedition of the Tain, Christ was born.”

The Four Masters have the following entry after the age of the world 5194:—­

THE AGE OF CHRIST.

“The first year of the age of Christ, and the eighth year of the reign of Crimhthann Niadhnair.”  Under the heading of the age of Christ 9, there is an account of a wonderful expedition of this monarch, and of all the treasures he acquired thereby.  His “adventures” is among the list of Historic Tales in the Book of Leinster, but unfortunately there is no copy of this tract in existence.  It was probably about this time that a recreant Irish chieftain tried to induce Agricola to invade Ireland.  But the Irish Celts had extended the fame of their military prowess even to distant lands,[88] and the Roman general thought it better policy to keep what he had than to risk its loss, and, perhaps, obtain no compensation.  Previous to Caesar’s conquest of Britain, the Irish had fitted out several expeditions for the plunder of that country, and they do not appear to have suffered from retaliation until the reign of Egbert.  It is evident, however, that the Britons did not consider them their worst enemies, for we find mention of several colonies flying to the Irish shores to escape Roman tyranny, and these colonies were hospitably received.[89] The passage in Tacitus which refers to the proposed invasion of Ireland by the Roman forces, is too full of interest to be omitted:—­“In the fifth year of these expeditions, Agricola, passing over in the first ship, subdued in frequent victories nations hitherto unknown.  He stationed troops along that part of Britain which looks to Ireland, more on account of hope than fear,[90] since Ireland, from its situation between Britain and Spain, and opening to the Gallic Sea, might well connect the most powerful parts of the empire with reciprocal advantage.  Its extent, compared with Britain, is narrower, but exceeds that of any islands of our sea.  The genius and habits of the people, and the soil and climate, do not differ much from those of Britain.  Its channels and ports are better known to commerce and to merchants.[91] Agricola gave his protection to one of its petty kings, who had been expelled by faction; and with a show of friendship, he retained him for his own purposes.  I often heard him say, that Ireland could he conquered and taken with one legion and a small reserve; and such a measure would have its advantages even as regards Britain, if Roman power were extended on every side, and liberty taken away as it were from the view of the latter island."[92]