The three Fothadhs, namely, Fothadh Airctheach, Fothadh Cairptheach, i. e. Fothadh Canann, and Fothadh Dolus, were the three sons of Fuinnche, daughter of Nar, son of Fearmora of the Ara-Cliach. Teite, daughter of Maicniadh, son of Lughaidh, son of Daire Dearg, son of Gnathal, son of Nuadhat Neacht, son of Seatna Sithbhaic was her sister. Fuinnche brought forth together three male children, and they were the three sons of Feidhlimidh, son of Maicniadh, son of Gnathal, son of Maermaith, son of Cairbre Nia Nair, or Nia-fhear, whereon a certain poet sung:
- The three Fothadhs, three sons were they
Of Feidhlimidh the Great, son of Maicniadh,
Son of Gnathal, who was son of Maermaith,
Son of Cairbre Niadh, the highly good.
Other books state that they were of the race of the Ui-Eachach of Uladh,248 i. e. Irial Glunmhar, son of Conall Cearnach, had two sons, namely, Forc and Iboth. Recht-ghidh Righ-dhearg led them into Alba. They gained great battles, so that great districts were laid waste in Alba, until the men of Alba submitted to Reacht-ghidh Righ-dhearg, so that he was king of Eire and Alba, and it was from them sprang the two tribes Tuath Forc and Tuath Iboth249 in Alba. Three times fifty men came over from thence in exile, and they took Cluithrin Cliach,250 and the land on which they are seated at this day. And they took Crich-Maine, and Crich-Fiachrach, and Crich-Baiscinn as the heirs of their grandfather, namely, of Eochaidh, son of Luchta, viz. the heirs of Uaithne and Eile, the two daughters of Eochaidh, son of Luchta. The country of Eile extended from the Sinainn251 east and south, and the country of Uaithne from the Sinainn north-west to Derg-dhearc,252 and the tribes are called from the names of these women; for the one, i. e. Eile, went as wife to Caela Righ-dhearc, king of Eile and Bladhma,253 and from her Eile is named. The other, i. e. Uaithne went as wife to Fearrghus Foltleabhar, and from her Uaithne is named. She had four sons called Nias, viz. Uarth-Nia, Druth-Nia, Cainn-Nia, and Deoch-Nia. Oeth-Nia, Cainn-Nia, and Deoch-Nia were three full brothers, and these are they who are there.
Maicniadh, the father of the Fothadhs, was the son of Cairbre, son of Cormac, son of Mesinsuadh, son of Mesinfuirc, son of Mesinforgaill, son of Meanboth. Others say that they were the three sons by Feidhlimidh of the fair hair of Feidhlimidh, son of Niadh, son of Gnathal, son of Earcmar, son of Cairbre, son of Cairbre Nia-fhear. From him is Leithghleann-Erc, and of him it was permitted that there was no greater royal heir. Erc, son of Feidlimidh, was drowned in a lake, i. e. Loch Feidhlime.254
Nuadhat Neacht had three sons, namely, Gnathaltach, grandfather of the Fothadhs, and Baiscne, grandfather of Finn Ua Baiscne,255 and Fearghus Fairrge, ancestor of the kings of Leinster, as the poet says:
- The three Fothadhs truly,
Maicniadh, Lughdhach the furious,
Daire Dearg the fiery fierce
Gnathaltach of the hattle shout,
Nuada Neacht who took
The Geilfhine of the Gaileoin,
The fierce Finnfhir of Umhall,
Active, mighty, the noble three
Sanbh, Soalt, Sofhear the vigorous,
Baiscne, Bodanar,
Nuada Neacht, furious Lughaidh,
Finn the poet, Rosa Ruadh Ruipe,
Fearghus Fiadha, Fairrge Falnath Nia,
Nuadha Neacht, a sparkling gem.
Ailiter, the sons of Cealtchar, son of Uitheochair, were Eoghan, Ailill, Seam, Feartlachtgha, Druthnia, and Uaithnia. The descendants of Uaithnia, son of Cealtchar, are the Uaithne-thire, and the Uaithne-Cliach quod predictum est:
{column 1}
Madadhan,
son of Ruaidhre,
son of Caithnia,
son of Cathalan,
son of Cathan,
son of Dearmaid,
son of Aenghus,
son of Gormghal,
son of Flaitheamh,
son of Fogartach,
son of Donnghalach,
son of Fothadh,
{column 2}
son of Toman,
son of Finan,
son of Fiachra,
son of Fintan,
son of Nadfraech,
son of Maclaisre,
son of Maccaille,
son of Fearrghus,
son of Dallan,
son of Fochta,
son of Fothadh Airctheach,
{column 1}
son of Maicniadh. (For they
the three Fothadhs were
the three sons of Maicniadh. Or Maicniadh,
{column 2}
son of Lughaidh,
son of Daire Dearg,
son of Gnathaltach,
son of Nuada Neacht.