Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

242 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[282]na Senorach, a long narrative piece dating from about thethirteenth century. It has been published with a translationin O'Grady's “Silva Gadelica.” It is not so much a story as acollection of stories skilfully set in a mythical framework. The“Colloquy” opens by presenting us with the figures of Keeltamac Ronan and Oisīn son of Finn, each accompanied by eightwarriors, all that are left of the great fellowship of the Fiannaafter the battle of Gowra and the subsequent dispersion of theOrder. A vivid picture is given us of the grey old warriors, whohad outlived their epoch, meeting for the last time at the dūn of aonce famous chieftainess named Camha, and of their melancholytalk over bygone days, till at last a long silence settled on them.Keelta Meets St. PatrickFinally Keelta and Oisīn resolve to part, Oisīn, of whom wehear little more, going to the Fairy Mound, where his Danaanmother (here called Blai) has her dwelling, while Keelta takes hisway over the plains of Meath till he comes to Drumderg, where helights on St. Patrick and his monks. How this is chronologicallypossible the writer does not trouble himself to explain, and heshows no knowledge of the legend of Oisīn in the Land of Youth.“The clerics,” says the story, “saw Keelta and his band draw nearthem, and fear fell on them before the tall men with the hugewolf-hounds that accompanied them, for they were not people ofone epoch or of one time with the clergy.” Patrick then sprinklesthe heroes with holy water, whereat legions of demons who hadbeen hovering over them fly away into the hills and glens, and“the enormous men sat down.” Patrick, after inquiring the nameof his guest, then says he has a boon to crave of him—he wishesto find a well of pure water with which to baptize the folk ofBregia and of Meath.The Well of TradabanKeelta, who knows every brook and hill and rath and woodin the country, thereon takes Patrick by the hand and leads himaway “till,” as the writer says, “right in front of them they saw