The Scottish Celtic review

The MuUeaHack. 135NOTES.1. Eecitera are not agreed as to this being the purpose for which tlie Fianswere. Some (and this is the most rational of the realistic explanations) saythey were a liody of hunters that followed the chase both in Ireland andScotland. As to their having a separate kingdom, tradition makes nomention.2. More correctly " Cup of Virtues," or precious cup.3. Caogad is explained in dictionaries as meaning fifty. It was explainedby the person from whom this portion within brackets was heard, that thenumber who put their backs to the door was nine times nine ;and there areother confirmations of an explanation heard from an old man, chattao^rao^ wasused to signify nine days or times.4. In the twelfth century, Ireland was divided into five kingdoms— Ulster{Coige-vlainn), Leiuster {Cuige-Laighinn), Meath [MUh), Connaught (Conach)and Munster (Coigc-Mumha). The rulers of these divisions were styledkings ; and over all was the one called the " High King of Ireland,"Ard rtgh Eirinn. Cairbre, who slew Oscar, was one of these ; and Fin's owngenealogy is traced up to the same royal line.5. The common fonn is uile, but the various reciters said uilidh. This mayhave been merely the attraction of the emjihasis. At all events not muchweight is to be jilaced upon the peculiarity.6. The usual phrase is bonn-duhh, " the black sole," which is explained to bethe heel.7. Caoilte (Thinman) was called Daorghlas (Thorough-grey) till the daywhen the swords of the Fian chiefs were made in the magic smithy of LonMacLiovun, of which there is an account in a separate ballad.8. This expression is noticeable, as a reference to its being a sea fight. Theredoes not seem to have been any one in particular of the Fian band to whomthis post was assigned.9. This sentence, and the others within brackets, are from other oralversions.10. Conan was the crossest of the Fians, and is said, in popular lore, not tohave been worth anything till he got over the first disgrace. Any one, even awoman, could overcome him at first ; but after that he was as good as anotherman ; and there was a man's death on his hands if he struck. (" B/ia bdsduine air a d/iuni nam bnaileadh e.") He never saw a door open but hethought he should enter ; and he never saw a man frown but he thought heought to strike him. When he went to hell, lie gave " blow for blow andscratch for scratch." {Buille air son buiUe agxis sgriobadh air son sgriobadh.)The eWl spirits could not tolerate him.11. There is a much longer poem about this incident.1 i. Fin's mother was the daughter of the Ulster smith {An gobhainn Ultach),and the ugliest woman in all Ireland.His twin sister was Diarmid's raothei-.