Mr.O'Curry denies this statement, and maintains that they were Milesians, but of the lower classes, who had been cruelly oppressed by the magnates of the land.
[95] _State_.--"Evil was the state of Ireland during his reign: fruitless the corn, for there used to be but one grain on the stalk; fruitless her rivers; milkless her cattle; plentiless her fruit, for there used to be but one acorn on the oak."-- Four Masters, p.

97.
[96] _Morann_ .-- Morann was the inventor of the famous "collar of gold." The new monarch appointed him his chief Brehon or judge, and it is said that this collar closed round the necks of those who were guilty, but expanded to the ground when the wearer was innocent.

This collar or chain is mentioned in several of the commentaries on the Brehon Laws, as one of the ordeals of the ancient Irish.

The Four Masters style him "the very intelligent Morann." [97] _Woods_ .-- Four Masters, p.

97.
[98] _Magh Bolg_ .-- Now Moybolgue, a parish in the county Cavan.
[99] _Teachtmar_, i.e., the legitimate, Four Masters, p.