Legendary fictions of the Irish Celts

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Fictions of the Irish Celts.
interest in the deeds and renown of living chiefs, and
soon forgot the notables of the age just past, they care-
fully retained the exploits of heroes, some altogether
fabulous, and others of whom nothing was authentic but
their names and their existence in the third century'.
Fion and hi s heroes were to the Irish romancers what
Diedrich of Eerne, Charlemagne, and King Arthur, with
their respective knights, were to the bards of Germany,
I France, and Brittany.
THE FIGHT OF CASTLE KXOC.
Cumhail, father of Fion, King of Leinster, and head of
the Clan Baoisne, ruled the Fianna in the reign of Con
of the Hundred Battles. While in Alba (the Highlands),
checking the attempts of the Romans and other unprincipled
marauders, circa a. d. 154, the Ard-Righ Con
transferred his honours and dignities to his own Daltha
(foster-father), Crimthan. Hearing this, Cumhail sped
back in the " high-cornered, big-bellied, broad-sailed
barque," landed at Inver Colpa (Drogheda), dispossessed
Crimthan, and made raids on Bregia (the level plain
from the Boyne to the Dublin hills), and on to IVIeath,
and took spoils of cattle and slaves, male and female,
and cloaks and bucklers, and well-tempered glaives
( C/oidhimh, pron. Chloive) and coats of mail, and chessboards
and chessmen. Loudly complained the graziers,
and fanners, and small chiefs to thejJcing, and, in consequence,
he sent swift messengers tbj^aas of the Kings,
then the capital of North Lei||^ter, Ordering Cumhail
to attend a national meeting at Tara,- and answer for his
outrages. On his refusal, ConTumrnoned to his, aid
Goll Mac Morna, the best v,-arrior m Connaucrht, along