From internal evidence, it is presumed that the author was a contemporary of King Brian Boroimhe.

Dr.O'Connor refers the authorship to Mac Liag, who was chief poet to that monarch, and died in 1016, two years after his master.

Dr.Todd evidently inclines to this opinion, though he distinctly states that there is no authority for it.
[200] _Death_ .-- It appears doubtful whether he really died at this time.
It is said that he repented of his sins of sacrilege, and ended his days in penance and religious retirement.

See Four Masters, p.

472.
[201] _Conquered_ .-- Duald Mac Firbis gives a curious account of these contests in his _fragments of Annals_.