Arrival of Tuathal Teachtmhar
Above: Metal Statue of Cuchulainn
Tuathal Teachtmhar came from Scotland at the age of twenty-five. He defeated the Athachthuaith or rustic tribes already referred to, north, south, east and west, in upwards of a hundred battles. Having convened the Feis of Tara, he took from each of the four provinces a portion at the point where all adjoined, and united into the royal province of Meath the whole four portions thus obtained. On them he erected four chief fortresses. In the Munster portion he built Tlachtgha where on the eve of Samhain the druids of Ireland assembled to offer sacrifices to the gods. All fires were extinguished that night and rekindled from the fire of Tlachtgha. For each fire thus lighted, the king of Munster received a screaball or threepence. In the Connacht portion was erected Uisneach where, at Bealtaine, the great convention or fair of Uisneach was held ; goods, wares and valuables exchanged, and sacrifice offered to Beil. The horse and trappings of every chief who came to Uisneach were given to the king of Connacht. The third fortress was at Tailltin where the men of Ireland formed alliances of marriage. An ounce of silver was given to the king of Ulster for every couple married there. At Tara was the fourth royal fortress. Here the Feis was held, laws and customs instituted, and the annals and records of the country approved. Tuathal in the course of time gave one of his daughters, Dairine, jn marriage to Eochaidh Aincheann, king of Leinster. Subsequently Eochaid came to Tara, pretended that Dairine was dead, and got the second daughter Fithir in marriage. Fithir on being taken to Leinster was so shocked on seeing her sister Dairine still alive that she died of shame, Dairine at the same time dying of grief. This incident recalls in some of its features the Greek legend that centres round the sisters Procne and Philomela, daughters of Pandion I, who were so brutally outraged by King Tereus. To avenge Eochaid’s callous treatment of the royal sisters, their father Tuathal re-imposed the boromha, or Leinster Tribute, consisting in this instance, of three score hundred cows, three score hundred hogs, three score hundred wethers, three score hundred ounces of silver, three score hundred mantles, and three score hundred bronze cauldrons. This tribute was paid during the reigns of forty kings until remitted by Fionnachta through the intercession of Saint Moling. Tuathal fell by Mathal who in turn fell by Feidlimidh Reachtmhar son of Tuathal.
Feidlimidh Reachtmhar was so called from the excellence of the legal judgments delivered in his time. His law resembled the Lex Talionis, an eye for an eye, a hand for a hand, a cow for a cow, and so on. After nine years on the throne, he died on his pillow.
Conn Ceadchathach, whose mother was Una daughter of the king of the Lochlain, was the next king of note. He was defeated in ten battles by Mogh Nuadat, forced to cede him half the country, and ultimately slain.
Mogh Nuadat or Eoghan Mor reminds us somewhat of Pharaoh. His druid foretold a famine ; and Eoghan, to make provision for it, used venison and fish for food, and stored all the corn he could procure, so that the men of Ireland had to seek provisions from him when want overtook them. His mother Beara was of the royal family of Castile. He was succeeded by Conaire. As happens not infrequently in similar circumstances, Sadhbh daughter of Conn Ceadchathach had Oileall Olom son of Mogh Nuadhat as her second husband. Among their nine sons were Cormac Cas ancestor of the Dal gCais and fifth best champion of Ire-kind in his time, and Eoghan Mor, called probably after his grandfather. Muilleathan, ancestor of the MacCarthy and O Sullivan tribes, was son of Eoghan.
Cormae Cas was the first to impose a rent-tax on Munster. He gave in one day nine ounces and five hundred ounces of silver to bards and learned men for praising him. When in exile he brought thirty preys from England.
