The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

CHAP. VIII] OF SCOTLAND 137
Temora, or as others relate, in the Plains of Bolgas ; and the
Annals of Innisfallen mention Hugh, king of Connaught, and
at the same time say that he was of the race of Bolgas. The
same annals mention, in 332, a battle in Fermoy by three
Collas, along with the seven tribes of the Bolgas, who are
called Oilnegmacht, from inhabiting Connaught.
We thus see that the Ossianic system of history is supported
by these old annalists in the few facts recorded, and
that in direct opposition to the later and generally believed
system.
We now come to the particular details of the history which
extend during the second and third centuries, and in the
following table the two systems are confronted with each other,
with a view to the distinct understanding of the argument, as
follows :—
Irish System. Ossianic System.
07ie people in Ireland called Two races i?i Ireland. In the
Conn, King .
I
Scots. North., the Gael; South, the
of Temora
Art Art.
Bolga.
. . Conar, a Gael from Alban.
I- I
Cormac Cormac, killed by
Cairpre Cairpre, King of the Bolga.
It will be seen that in the Irish, or generally believed
system, four kings are made to succeed each other, from
father to son, during that period ; while in the Ossianic
system, Conar, a Scottish chief, comes over to Ireland and
founds a fainily of kings of his own line, and his grandson,
Cormac, is killed by Cairpre, of the race of the Bolgas, who
in consequence mounted the throne.
In corroboration of this, I remark, first, that Conn is said
by Tighernac to have conquered the northern half of Ireland
from the Momonians, or inhabitants of Munster, and that he
is called by him of the race of the Cruithne. Thus, he remarks,
counting all the kings after Conn was on the throne, seven
kings of the race of the Cruithne reigned over Ireland, of course
I