Ossian Collection > Critical dissertation on the poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal

Book II.
Hi A DISSERTATION.
Temora, OssiAN, in the poem of Temora, throws confiderable light
on this fubje<fl. His accounts agree fo well with what the antients
have delivered, concerning the firft population and inhabitants of
Ireland, that every unbiafl'ed perfon will confeis them more probable,
than the legends handed down, by tradition, in that country.
From him, it appears, that, in the days of Trathal, grandfather to
Fingal, Ireland was pofieffed by two nations ; the Firbolg or Belga
of Britain, who inhabited the fouth, and the Ca'e'l, who pafled over
from Caledonia and the Hebrides to Ulrter. The two nations, as
is ufual among an unpolifhed and lately fettled people, were di-
vided into fmall dynafties, fubject to petty kings, or chiefs, inde-
pendent of one another. In this fituation, it is probable, they
continued long, without any material revolution in the ftate of the
illand, until Crothar, Lord of Atha, a country in Connaught, the
moft potent chief of the Firbolg, carried away Conlama, the daugh-
ter of Cathmin, a chief of the Cach who poflelTed Ulfter.
Conlama had been betrothed, fome time before, to Turloch, a
cKief of her own nation. Turloch refented the affront offered him by
Crothar, made an irruption into Connaught, and killed Cormul, the
brother of Crothar, who came to oppofe his progrefs. Crothar
himfelf then took arms, and either killed or expelled Turloch.
The war, upon this, became general, between the two nations :
and the Cael were reduced to the lall extremity. — In this fituation,
they applied, for aid, to Trathal king of Morven, who fent his
brother Conar, already famous for his great exploits, to their relief.
Conar, upon his arrival in Ulfter, was chofen king, by the unani-
mous confent of the Caledonian tribes, who poffeffed tliat coun-
try. The war was renewed with vigour and fuccefs ; but the Fir-
bolg appear to have been rather repelled than fubdued. In fuc-
* seedhig