t the same time lived Flanagan, son of Cellach, who
wrote a long composition on the deaths of the kings of Ireland,
preserved in YBL., and Flann MacLonain (d. 918), called by the Four
Masters the Virgil of Ireland, eight of whose poems have survived,
containing in all about 1000 lines. Cormacan, son of Maelbrigde (d.
946), composed a vigorous poem on the circuit of Ireland performed by
Muirchertach, son of Niall Glundub. A poet whose poems are most valuable
from an antiquarian point of view is Cinaed Ua h-Artacain (d. 975). Some
800 lines of his have been preserved in LL. and elsewhere. Contemporary
with him is Eochaid O'Flainn (d. c. 1003), whose chief work is a long
chronological poem giving a list of the kings of Ulster from Cimbaeth
down to the destruction of Emain in 331. A little later comes MacLiac
(d. 1016), who celebrated in verse the glories of the reign of Brian
Boroime. His best-known work is a lament over Kincora, the palace of
Brian. Contemporary with MacLiac is MacGilla Coim Urard MacCoisi (d.
1023). To Cuan ua Lothchain (d. 1024), chief poet in the reign of
Maelsheachlainn II., are ascribed poems on the antiquities of Tara.
Sixteen hundred lines of his have come down to us. A writer who enjoyed
a tremendous reputation in medieval Ireland was Flann Mainstrech (d.
1056), who in spite of his being a layman was head of the monastery
school at Monasterboice. He is the author of no fewer than 2000 lines in
LL., and many other poems of his are contained in other MSS. His
best-known work is a _Book of Synchronisms_ of the kings of Ireland and
those of the ancient world. We have also poems from his pen on the
monarchs descended from Niall Noigiallach and on the chronology of the
high-kings and provincial kings from the time of Loigaire. Flann's
successor, Gilla Coemgin (d. 1072), gives us a chronological poem
dealing with the annals of the world down to A.D. 1014. He also is the
author of the Irish version of Nennius which contains substantial
additions dealing with early Ireland. Minor writers of the same nature
whose works have come down to us are Colman O'Sesnain (d. 1050), Neide
ua Maelchonaire (d. 1136), Gilla na noem ua Duinn (d. 1160), Gilla
Moduda O'Cassidy (1143). In the 13th century these historical poems
become very rare. In the next century we again find antiquarian poets of
whom the best-known is John O'Dugan (d. 1372). His most valuable
composition treats of the tribes of the northern half of Ireland