Legendary fictions of the Irish Celts

2 44 Fictions of the Irish Celts.
his sayings, his eccentric manners, and his lawsuits, would
make an article in themselves. We must return to Mrs.
K. and her
LEGEND OF LOCH NA PI A ST A.
A long time ago, the pool near the bridge of Thuar
was infested by a terrible beast in the shape of a dragon.
He laid Avaste all the Duffrey from Kilmeashil out to
Moghurry, and the king of this part of the country didn't
know what to do. His very breath was so strong that
he could suck a horse into his throat, if he smelled him
within three miles of his pool.
At last messengers were sent to the court of the head
king of Ireland, who lived somewhere in Munster, to see
.
if he would send some great warrior to circumvent this
devil of a serpent, that would soon not leave a single
family alive on this side the Slaney.
Off went the messengers, and nothing need be told of
their travels till they came to the court. They up and
told their story, but the king was unwilling to fix on any
•one, it was so entirely dangerous. However, the hot
"blood was never wantirg among the Irish, and so three
t)rave fellows—an O'Brien, an O'Farrel, and an O'Kennedy—volunteered.
AVell, one of these, I won't say which, was so imj^atient
to set out, nothing could be like it; and " if the
iirst lot didn't fall on hmi, he'd roar his arm off." But
what will you have of it % The day before they were to
leave, the buck got an impression on his chest, or the
palate of his mouth was down—some t/ieeah was over
him, at any rate : he said he wasn't fit to go, and sure
enough it's the truth he was telling. There was a
brother of his in the house—a big slob of a boy, that
never got anything better to do than turn out the cows
* Pool of the ITcvm (Serpent).
'