a statement that he was the first king of Erinn to have torques of gold made for wearing round the neck, which is in Irish muin;[1] in this reference to the gold torques or collars, we have probably the echo of a myth like that of Maine mac Durthacht's brooch. Further, Maine Mór was the mythic ancestor of the Hy-Many,[2] whose prince was caught by Cúchulainn, on whom he avenged himself by adjuring him to find what had happened to the Sons of Dóel Dermait, a quest which involved the sun-hero in a visit to the other world. The name of Cúchulainn's captive was Echaid Rond, or E. of (the) Chains, so called from a seven-ounce chain or thread of gold which formed part of his head-gear.[3] This may be regarded as another of the treasures associated with the Maini: we have thus no less than three, a brooch, a torque, and a chain, all perhaps originally characterized by the number nine in the tales to which they belonged. One more Maine may be mentioned: he is called Maine son of Niall of the Nine Hostages.[4] Niall is fabled to have reigned over Ireland in the fifth century of our era, and to have conquered Britain, France and other lands; so his is a great name in Irish pedigrees, but it is probably altogether mythic, and to be equated with that of the Welsh Neol.[5]
- ↑ See O'Curry, iij. 84, 178, and the Four Masters, A.M. 3868, 3872.
- ↑ That is to say, the Ui Maini, or Descendants of Maine, whose territory may, roughly speaking, be said to have consisted of the counties of Galway and Roscommon.
- ↑ Stokes & Windisch's Ir. Texte, pp. 177, 192; O'Curry, iij. 106.
- ↑ O'Curry's Manners, &c. ij. 161.
- ↑ Fully described he is Neol cyn Croc, which seems to mean 'Neol before the Crucifixion;' the person so called is spoken of as the father of a lady, Eỻylw, said to have lived for three generations. See the story of Kulhwch, R. B. Mab. p. 113; Guest, ij. 212.
