and sub "Clanna Dedad"), yet this name means often a stratum of population and not a race, and so the people designed as Fir Bolg may be racially quite different from Fir Bolg[1] as a tribe.
As regards Conganchnes, it must be remembered that he is a mythical personage, brother of the quite mythical Cú Roí, and so it is perhaps too much to conclude that he was a real Munster settler (or representative of Munster settlers) in Ulster. His supposed Munster origin might as well indicate that the Conganchnes saga belonged to a tribe deriving their origin from the same stock as Ptolemy's Ivernii Ir. Érnae, but residing somewhere near[2] or in Ulster, i.e. kinsmen of Érnae but not their descendants.[3]
Finally, it would be good if Miss Dobbs paid more attention to the Irish language.
These remarks, however, are not intended to discuss the merits of Miss Dobbs' book; it is a useful book, and everybody should welcome further studies in this branch of Irish philology.
The object of this book, as announced in the introduction, is to provide evidence in support of Prof. Elliot Smith's thesis
- ↑ So Fir Bolg of Badbgna were probably a real Fir B. tribe. These were probably related to Fir Domnan of Irros Domnann, for we find them (L.U. 21b) helping the latter. On the other hand Gaileoin (perhaps of Brythonic or Gaulish origin; cpr. Ptolemy's Menapii) are regarded by some as Fir Bolg (but in the Ulster saga Gaileoin are simply Leinstermen).
- ↑ C. Z. iii. 41–42 says that Eraind (Érna.) occupied a territory as far as Uisnech Mide.
- ↑ Dál Fiatach, Dál Riada derived their origin from the ancestors of the Érnae, and so did also Conaille of Murthemne who were, however, according to other traditions, Picts, viz. J. MacNeill, Early Ir. Population Groups, § 121.
in his Psalter it was the Clanna Rudhruighe who banished them to Munster." The statement that Dedu expelled the Fir Bolg (Dobbs, p. 20) does not prove anything, but it does not corroborate that Ernae were Firbolg. (The statement that the Picts banished the remnants of Fir Bolg from Islands is an interesting analogy.)
