Irish Druids and Old Irish Religions

Fire- WorsJiip. 203
Beltaine, or Baaltinne, was the Roman Compitalia.ox ^\^A
The Tailtean games
times, for their beginning; of the year.
of the Irish were said to have originated from Tailte,
wife of Mac Ere, the last Firbolg king, killed in the Battle
of Moy-tuir. May-eve was, with some, Neen na Bealtinn,
Baal's fire eve.
Keating, writing on the Fair at UisncacJi, of Meath, says,
"This fair, or assembly, was held on the first day of the
month of May ;
and they were wont to exchange or barter
their cattle and other property there. They were also
accustomed to make offerings to the chief god which they
worshipped, named Bel ; and it was a custom with them to
make two fires in honour of this Bel in every cantred of
Ireland, and to drive a couple of every kind of cattle in the
cantred between the two fires as a preservative."
Easter-time was duly celebrated in pagan as it is now in
Christian times. The joyful season of awakening summer
was being celebrated on Tara hill, at the very moment
when St. Patrick was lighting his Easter fire on Slane hill,
within sight of the King and his Court.
The Book of Rights informs us that '' Patrick goes afterwards
to Fearta Fear Feic. A fire is kindled by him at
that place on Easter Eve. Laegaire is enraged as he sees
the fire, for that was the geis of Teamhair among the
Gaedhil." The King had, according to custom, ordered all
or
fires out, as no fresh blaze could be kindled but directly
indirectly from his own fire.
This incident in the life of the Saint is the most interesting
of his career, but can only be briefly referred to
here. It was when standing on the site of the royal palace
at Tara hill, and looking across the beautiful country to the
distant hill of Slane, that we seemed to realize the legend.
Druids had forewarned the King of the coming of
strangers, but were as much astonished as he was at the