Above : Painting Of Borumha

When Tuathal had subdued the revolting clans, he is said to have founded a new province called Midhe or ” Meath,” by cutting off portions of the other provinces. The centre of this new Kingdom was the palace of Tara (Cej.rii.Aif), while other royal palaces were those of Uisneach, Tlachtgha (the Hill of Ward), and Taillte (Teltown). To Tuathal may therefore be ascribed the foundation of the Kingdom of Meath, and the establishment of the great dynasty of Tara, which ruled the clans of the great open plain from the sea to the Shannon, and afterwards sent out branches to rule over the clans of more than half of Ireland.

Tuathal is also said to have originated the famous Borumha (Boruma) tribute, which for 500 years was the cause of fierce fighting between the Kings of Tara and the people of Leinster. The traditional cause of the Borumha was an act of treachery on the part of the King of Laighin towards Tuathal, in revenge for which the latter imposed a heavy tribute upon the people of Leinster. It would appear that the Kings of Tara, endeavouring to extend their power southwards over the plains between the Leinster Mountains and the Bog of Allen, and to bring the tribes settled there under tribute, were resisted by the descendants of Lozory Loingseach. Whatever may have been the origin of the Borumha, the rivalry between the two families of Ugaine lasted for many centuries ; the Kings of Meath asserting a right to tribute from all Leinster, and their opponents claiming as strongly to be the independent rulers of all its tribes. It is to be noted that the Borumha was supposed to be divided amongst the ” Heremonian ” families only— that is Meath and its off-shoots * , the rulers of which were all descended from Tuathal, and his grandson Conn.

* The “Ultonians ” are also said to have been of “Pictish ” origin.