1 This is also true of the scribal obits analysed in the previous essay: the assumption there made (p. 246), that ‘ almost all scriptoria of repute gain some notice in the annals ’ is rather rash. Similarly, the opening statement of the second paragraph on p. 269 needs modification, as Hillgarth’s paper makes clear (see below p. 268). The Annals of Inisfallen appear to indicate the existence of a body of southern annals, but unfortunately they have been drastically abbreviated by the eleventh century compiler. On p. 57 of the same work Mrs Chadwick seeks to show that the Annales Cambriae derive from a lost Leinster compilation, but while the evidence she has assembled is undoubtedly significant her conclusions seem invalid.

2 The process seems to have taken place earlier in Scottish Dál Riata: Dr Binchy had pointed out that Columba’s solemn ‘ ordination ’ of Aedán mac Gabrán was made easier by the fact that the new colony had no traditional site associated with pagan inauguration ceremonies.

3 This is in danger of becoming the new orthodox doctrine: see Professor Kelleher, , Studia Hibernica, iii. 119 Google Scholar.