Irish Druids and Old Irish Religions

Serpent Faith. i
/J
Apostle of Christianity is said to have gained over the
serpents of Ireland has been doubted, but if it means that
he gained a victory over the serpent-worship, the story seems
entitled to credit."
Ancient Ireland was certainly given to serpent-worship.
Allowing for the pre-Christian origin of some Irish
crosses, we may understand w^hy these were accompanied
by twining serpents. "Is it not a singular circumstance,"
asks Keane, " that in Ireland where no living serpent exists,
such numerous legends of serpents should abound, and
that figures of serpents should be so profusely used to
ornament Irish sculptures t There is scarcely a cross, or a
handsome piece of ancient Irish ornamental work, which
has not got its serpent or dragon."
The singular cross of Killamery, Kilkenny Co., exhibits
thereon two Irish serpents. The font of Cashel illustrates
the same mystery. The writer saw several stones at
Cashel cathedral with sculptured snakes, one large specimen
ornamenting a sarcophagus. The Crozier, or Pastoral
Staff of Cashel, w^hich was found last century, bears a
serpent springing out of a sheath or vagina. The end of
the sheath is adorned with wreathing serpents. In the
handle a man stands on a serpent's head with a staff, at
which the reptile bites. This staff was like that of a Roman
augur, or of an Etruscan and Babylonian priest.
Brash's Sculptured Crosses of Irelafid refers to
one cross,
at Clonmel, having four serpents at the centre, coiled round
a spherical boss. Several instances were known in which
the serpents have been more or
less chipped away from off
such crosses.
A serpent occupies a large space on the beautiful Irish
sculptured stone, Clzvyn Macnos, or Clon Macnois. Not
long ago, a stone serpent was discovered, with twelve