[Illustration:  GAP OF DUNLOE, KILLARNEY.]

[Illustration:  ARMAGH.]

FOOTNOTES: 

[101] Roads.—­Those roads were Slighe Asail, Slighe Midhluachra, Slighe Cualann, Slighe Dala, and Slighe Mor.  Slighe Mor was the Eiscir Riada, and division line of Erinn into two parts, between Conn and Eoghan Mor.  These five roads led to the fort of Teamair (Tara), and it is said that they were “discovered” on the birthnight of the former monarch.  We shall refer to the subject again in a chapter on the civilization of the early Irish.  There is no doubt of the existence of these roads, and this fact, combined with the care with which they were kept, is significant.

[102] Magh Lena.—­The present parish of Moylana, or Kilbride, Tullamore, King’s county.

[103] Reuda.—­Bede, Eccl.  Hist. p. 7.

[104] Lance.—­O’Curry, p. 45.  This quotation is translated by Mr. O’Curry, and is taken from the Book of Ballymote.  This book, however, quotes it from the Uachongbhail, a much older authority.

[105] Write.—­Professor O’Curry well observes, that “such a man could scarcely have carried out the numerous provisions of his comprehensive enactments without some written medium.  And it is no unwarrantable presumption to suppose, that, either by his own hand, or, at least, in his own time, by his command, his laws were committed to writing; and when we possess very ancient testimony to this effect, I can see no reason for rejecting it, or for casting a doubt upon the statement.”—­MS. Materials, p. 47.  Mr. Petrie writes, if possible, more strongly.  He says:  “It is difficult, if not impossible, to conceive how the minute and apparently accurate accounts found in the various MSS. of the names and localities of the Attacottic tribes of Ireland in the first century, could have been preserved, without coming to the conclusion that they had been preserved in writing in some work.”—­Essay on Tara Hill, p. 46.  Elsewhere, however, he speaks more doubtfully.

[106] Land.—­Four Masters, p. 117.

[107] Collas.—­They were sons of Eochaidh Domlen, who made themselves famous by their warlike exploits, and infamous by their destruction of the palace of Emania.

[108] Groans.—­Bede, Eccl.  Hist. c. 12.

[109] Sources.—­The Abbe M’Geoghegan says that there is a very ancient registry in the archives of the house of Sales, which mentions that the King of Ireland remained some time in the Castle of Sales.  See his History, p. 94.

CHAPTER VIII.

St. Patrick—­How Ireland was first Christianized—­Pagan Rome used providentially to promote the Faith—­The Mission of St. Palladius—­Innocent I. claims authority to found Churches and condemn Heresy—­Disputes concerning St. Patrick’s Birthplace—­Ireland receives the Faith generously—­Victoricus—­St. Patrick’s Vision—­His Roman Mission clearly proved—­Subterfuges of those who deny it—­Ancient Lives of the Saint—­St. Patrick’s Canons—­His Devotion and Submission to the Holy See.