Irish Druids and Old Irish Religions

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Old Irish
Relio;ions.
IRISH GODS.
Some writers, from a jealous regard to the reputation
of their ancestors, have been unwiUing to acknowledge
the idolatry of ancient Erin. They reject the testimony
as to images, and decline to accept the record as to
heathen deities. Yet it is surely a satisfaction to know
that the Highest and Unseen was worshipped at all, though
under rude and material symbolism, instead of being unknown
and unfelt.
If claiming to be, in some degree, at least, of Celtic
heritage, the Irish may conceivably be esteemed of kindred
faith with Celtic Gauls and Celtic Germans, whose
divinities were recognized by the Romans, though called,
from certain supposed similitudes, by more familiar Italian
names.
The Irish, from their geographical position, were a
mixture of many peoples, forming a succession of human
layers, so to speak, according to the number of the newcomers,
and the period of local supremacy. The tendency
of populations northward and westward, from wars or
migrations, was to carry to Erin various races from the
Continent of Europe, with their different customs and
their gods, having more permanent influence than the
visitation of their coasts by Oriental seamen.
Thus we perceive, in fragmentary traditions and superstitions,
the adoration of the Elements, and the fanciful
embodiment of divine attributes in their phases and their
apparent contradictions. In some way or other, the
Islanders failed not to see, with Aristotle, that " the principle
of life is in God." Yet J. S. Mill thought that religion
may exist without belief in a God.
In our investifjations, we need bear in mind what the