historians, poets and other distinguished men from the whole of Ireland.
It was due to be held every third year for the purpose of "preserving
the laws and rules," and it might be called specially on any urgent
occasion. After the statesmen had consulted, the laws were proclaimed,
with any modifications agreed upon. Then the proceedings became festive,
queens and great ladies taking part. The Feis of A.D. 560 was the last
regular one held at Tara because the monarch ceased to reside there. One
national assembly of an exceptional character was held at Tara in A.D.
697, by a decree of which women were emancipated from liability to
military service.

The Aenach held annually at Tailltenn, also in Meath, was a general
assembly of the people without restriction of rank, clan or country, and
became the most celebrated for athletic sports, games and contests. Yet
even here the laws were read aloud, and it is not without significance
that the last national assembly held at Tailltenn under King Rhoderic
O'Connor in 1168 was a political one.

The _Dal-Criche_ (= territorial assembly), held at Uisneach in
Westmeath, was a gathering for political and quasi-legislative purposes.
At one assembly there about a century before Christ, a uniform law of
distraint for the whole of Ireland was adopted on the motion of Sen, son
of Aige. This did not prevent the gatherings at Uisneach from being for
ages celebrated for gaiety and amusement.

Each provincial kingdom and each tuath had assemblies of its own. Every
_flaith_ and _flaith-fine_ was a member of a local assembly, the clan
system conferring the qualification, and there being no other election.

An assembly when convened by the _Bruigh-fer_ for the special purpose of
electing a tanist or successor to the king was called a _Tocomra_.

Very careful provision is made for the preparation of the sites of great
assemblies, and the preservation of peace and order at them is
sanctioned by the severest penalties of the law. The operation of every
legal process calculated to occasion friction, such as seizure of
property, was suspended during the time the assemblies lasted.

The term _Rig_ (reeh = _rex_, king) was applied to four classes or
grades of rulers, the lower grades being grouped, each group being
subject to one of their number, and all being subject to, and owing
tribute and allegiance to the Ard-Rig (= supreme king of Erinn). The
Ard-Rig had an official residence at Tara and th