J. F. Campbell Collection > Transactions of the Ossianic Society > Volume 5

THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE GREAT BARDIC
INSTITUTION,'
IN WHICH 18 KXPLAINBD HOW THE TAIN (OR AN AC-
COUNT OP THE CATTLE RAID OF CUAILGNE) WAS FIRST
DISCOVERED, ETC.
were at strife
NOBLE, worthy, king ruled Airgiall*
at one time whose name was Hugh son
of Duach the Dark. Contemporaneous
with him was Hugh the Fair, son of
Fergna, son of Fergus, son of Muredagh
Mai, king of Brefney,^ and those two
every good act performed by one, the
fought against the Fiana of Erin, A.D. 296. One of Carbry Liffeachair's
sons, called Fiacha Sravthinne, succeeded him in the monarchy, -\jiother son
of Carbrj', named Eohy Doivlein, was married to Alechia, daughter of Updar,
king of Alba, now Scotland, and by her he had three sons, called by the Irish
historians the " Three Collas," designated Colla Uais, Colla-da-chrich (or of
the two districts), and Colla Jleann. The three Collas, being warlike and
ambitious prmces, aimed at the monarchy, and having collected a powerful
army they invaded Meath, and fought a battle against the royal forces, A.D.
•327, in a district called Crioch-rois, at Teltown, near the river Blackwater, in
Meath. It was called the battle of Dubcomar, from Dubcomar, King Fiach's
druid, who was slain there, or from the confluence there of the Duhli^ or Black-
water, and the Boyne. In this battle the monarch's forces were defeated and
himself slain, and Colla Uais usurped the monarchj' and reigned four years.
Muredach Tirach, the son of the former prince, Fiacha, being aided by his
friends, compelled Colla Uais to abdicate the throne, and Muredach succeeded
to the monarchy, and expelled the Three Collas, who were obliged to flee to
Scotland with thirty nobles and 300 followers, and take refuge amongst their