it is unknown whether in using the name "the "saltair na rann" by óengus céile dé", these three writers were following a convention which significantly predated the 17th century. caoimhín breatnach assumes that they did, but pádraig ó riain has expressed serious reservations, suggesting instead that the title may have been a convenient shorthand introduced by ware in the 1630s and adopted by some of his contemporaries.