1860bc the killing of regan the formorian at tuiam drecain tomregan in 1860bc at mag senaig magh slecht Dinshenchus topographical poems of eireann number probably transcribed in 1160ad by giolla gilla na naomh hua duinn 253 255 257 62a brefne daughter of beoan sister of erglan a chieftain of the clann nemid
brefne cavan and Leitrim whence derives the name of brefne seek it of scholars for what cause was the name given to the land of abundant increase whence derives the name of sliab fraech ye seek of me the learned labour tell me the famous cause whence tuaim regain is named toamregan a hill in the confines of cavan & Fermanagh wherefore was the name mag slecht given to mag senaig of doughty deeds tell on with toil and effort the legend of mag indusa brefne daughter of beoan mac bethaig a brave soldier woman fell in conflict for that land with the children of ham with their evil power regain of the children of impious ham from the Regan on of the fomoire danda cain liag pedigree traced to ham army of strong smiting balor was a warrior of prowess and exploits whom none could face in equal battle
Balor goll blind one eyed giant goll glass goll na mbeumanan goll of the blows balor belmann one eyed leader of the fomorians balar balcheimnech of the mighty blows because of the strength of his blows
regan it was dangerous beyond dispute that engaged the combat he was the leader of the retinue of red armed oengus mac indoc with all his army the warrior went his way in good sooth when he had slain the soldier woman to demand an unjust tribute from the hosts of the gael through an unrighteous claim
there met him face to face unaided the kings son of the gael they fought a stern fight hard by the rock of asuals son the spot where the fomoirs head was struck off it was a doughty deed is called after him tuaim regain I hide not from thee the cause of the name fraechnat of cesairs following came to the mountain witness of noble deeds she rests under a bright windy grave mound and from her is named sliab fraech indusa daughter of long lived bress of the Tuatha de danann kind of face perished by a deed of manly might at dreadful mag indusa alternatively the metrical dindshenchas states the name is derived from brefne daughter of beom mac bethaig a brave soldier woman old territory brefney breifne brefne which signifies the hilly country the brenny latinised brefnia brefinnia ancient territory county of cavan province of ulster county Leitrim province of Connaught portion of meath province of leinster part of the barony of carbury in Sligo brefney extended from kells in meath to drumcliff in the county of Sligo and was part of the kingdom of Connaught down to the reign of queen Elizabeth the name brefney is according to seward topography derived from bre a hill and therefore signifies the country of the hills or the hilly country a derivation which may not appear inappropriate as descriptive of the topographical features of the country as innumerable hills are scattered over the counties of cavan and Leitrim on a vast number of these hills over cavan and Leitrim are found those circular earthen ramparts called forts or raths and some of them very large which circumstances shows those hills were inhabited from the earlier ages in ancient times the area that became to be known as breifne was said to be occupied by the erdini called in gaelic ernaigh who possessed the entire country bordering lough erne old territories that were at one stage part of breifne cenel cairpre cairbre northern county Sligo and northeast county Leitrim the territory of coirpre son of niall of the nine hostages around the 6th century extended from the drowes west of the Owenmore river in ballysadare duncarbry dun chairbre marks the border of cairbres territory on the drowes while the barony of carbury in north Sligo still reminds us also today noted chiefs of cenel cairpre included omulclohy o maolchloiche cairpre gabra northern county Longford barony of granard oronan o ronain were chieftains in the barony of granard until dispossessed by the ofarrells in the 13th century
