Ath Cliath Cualann (Dublin)
Prose
Dindsenchas
Hurdles of wattling the Leinstermen made in the reign of
Mesgegra under the feet of the sheep of Athirne the
Importunate when delivering them to Dun Etair at the place
in which Allainn Etair was taken from Ulster's warriors,
where also Mesdedad son of Amergin fell by the hand of
Mesgegra king of Leinster. So from those hurdles "Ath
Cliath" ("the Ford of Hurdles") was named.
Or thus: "Ath Cliath": When the men of Erin broke the limbs
of the Matae, the monster that was slain on the Liacc Benn
in the Brug of Mac Oc, they threw it limb by limb into the
Boyne, and its shinbone (colptha) got to Inber Colptha
("the estuary of the Boyne"), whence "Inber Colptha" is
said, and the hurdle (clíath) of its frame (i.e., its
breast) went along the sea following the coast of Ireland
until it reached yon ford (áth); whence "Ath Cliath" is
said.
SOURCE:
Ancient
Irish Tales. ed.
and trans. by Tom P. Cross & Clark Harris Slover. NY:
Henry Holt & Co., 1936