Matheson Collection > Fianaigecht

AILILL AULOM, MAC CON, AND FIND UA BÁISCNE 39
Thirty bands was the number of Mac Con, three thousand in each
band.
A message was sent by Ailill to Ferchess son of Commán (he was
in Cúil Mrochaill, .... to Bregon^) an old ^a«-warrior and an
ancient member of Ailill's household. Then he sent Ferchess on the
track of Mac Con's wandering host for the purpose of slaying him
among his troops. He goes ... in his pursuit and came up with
them at the fortress of the Hui Echach- in the place where the king
of Raithlind holds fairs. 'Tis there Finn said, using the incantation
called imhas forosna : ' A man on the track ! ' said he. ' Warriors will
be the more delighted at the number,' said Mac Con. ' A man on
the track ! ' said Finn. ' One man is always good sport,'* said Mac
Con. Meanwhile Ferchess . . . and struck . . . across the glen from
the east after them westward, and he chants a spell upon the spear,
saying : ' Rince,^ &c.* Thereupon the spear moved from the hand
of Ferchess and went through Mac Con in his chariot, and his tomb-
stones are there about him till this day.
Finn ua Báiscni went on the track of Ferchess to avenge Mac Con
(for 'tis Finn that was the leader of his fian), until he slew him at
the end of seven years at the Pool of Ferchess on the Bann, when he
found the chips carried down by the river whicli Ferchess liad set
free. Others say that Ferchess was slain at Ess Mage after seven
years. 'Tis then Finn said through imhas forosna : g . ^
' Here is the abode® of Ferchess, at Ess Mage .... swiftly after ^*:^f^^
great deeds; a great heroic champion' has fallen swiftly after great '4 ^^■^^'^^
deeds. To my lordly god I swear the oath of every one in the
world, a . . . deed will be avenged, Mac Con was slain here.'
So far the stories of Mac Con and Ailill.
' Near Clonmel. - = Iveagh, barony of S."W. and "W. Carbeiy, county Cork.'*'
■^ i.e. at there being only one man in pursuit.
^ Literally, ' delightful is every singleness.'
^cf. Cormac's Glossary £.v. vingcne. ^ i.e. the grave.
'' Literally, ' a hero of a great champion.'