Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 24, 1913.djvu/116

100 Daelach river; Ennach at Tech n Ennach, up the same river, where the great fort of Doon stands above Kilfenora; Beara at Finnavarra; and Adhar at Magh Adhair. Unless the story at Magh Adhair,—that "it is the tomb of a king,"—refers to Adhar, no trace of the tale has survived except the place-names. I am myself rather inclined to think that the localities in the tale are places of similar name in Co. Mayo, where early writers place a branch of Clann Uathmor.

The O'Conors and O'Loughlins of Corcomroe claimed descent from Fergus mac Roigh and Medbh, and possibly they, rather than the intruding Dalcassians, preserved the Red Branch stories.

Clare has been less forgetful of the far later saga cycle referring to Finn mac Cumhail and his warriors, the events of which are attributed to the third century. Finn, Conan, Caeilte, Dermot, and Oisin have left obvious traces in the place-names. The Agallamh says that Cluan Chepain in the mountains of Echtghe was named from Chepan, son of Morna, who fell there. The site is now forgotten, but was to the south of Lough Graney. The elopement of Dermot and Grainne, Finn's wife, has given many names. I have already recorded their association with dolmens, at one of which, Tobergrania, the use of a flooded dolmen as a holy well has replaced the pagan lovers by two Christian ascetics from Feakle. Several hill tops are called Seefin or Finn's Seat, viz. on Slieve Bernagh, on Inchiquin Hill, and a cairn at Black Head.

The tale of the Glasgeivnagh, or Grey-green Cow, on Slievenaglasha has been already alluded to, and runs as follows:—Lon mac Liomhtha (Loon mac Leefa), of the Tuatha Dé Danann, was the first smith to make an edged weapon in Ireland. He had only one leg, with which he could spring over hills and valleys, but as compensation he had a third arm and hand growing out of his chest, with which he held the iron on the anvil while forging it with