Irish Druids and Old Irish Religions

1 88 Old Irish Religions,
that three serpents were found in the heart of Mechi, son
of the great queen. After they had been killed by
Diancecht, their bodies were burnt, and the ashes were
thrown into the river Barrow, "which so boiled that it
dissolved every animal in it."
As tradition avows, St. Kevin, when he killed one of
the remaining serpents, threw the creature into the lake
at Glendalough, which got the name of Lochnapiast, or
serpent loch. Among the sculptures on impost mouldings
at Glendalough is one of a dog devouring a serpent.
Snake-stones have been found, consisting of small rings
of glass. The ammonite fossil is known as the snake
stone.
Windele, of Kilkenny, shows the persistence of ancient
ideas in the wilder parts of Ireland.
**
Even as late as the
eleventh century," says he, "we have evidence of the prevalence
of the old religion in the remoter districts, and in
many of the islands on our western coasts.—Many of the
secondary doctrines of Druidism hold their
ground at this
very day as articles of faith.— Connected with these practices
(belteine, &c.), is the vivid memory still retained of once
universal Ophiolatreia, or serpent worship ;
and the attributing
of supernatural powers and virtues to particular animals,
such as the bull, the white and red cow, the boar, the
horse, the dog, &c., the memory of which has been perpetuated
in our topographical denominations."
The Irish early Christians long continued the custom of
entwining their old serpent god around the cross. One has
said, " The ancient Irish crosses are alive with serpents."
Their green god-snake was Gad-el-glas. The word Tirdaglas
meant the tower of the green god. The old Milesian
standard, of a snake twisted round a rod, may seem to
indicate a Phallic connection with the Sabh.
The Book of Lisuiore asserts the same distinguished