Irish Druids and Old Irish Religions

2o6 Old Irish Religions.
—
the first fire of the season, courts were regularly held
till long after Christian times.
The Venerable Bede records that even in his lifetime
many of the Irish were given to fire-worship. Fraser assures
his readers that " in the south of Ireland, the wayside
beggar, whose appeals for
charity have met with a liberal
response, can think of no benediction so comprehensive as
*
May the blessing of Bel rest upon you " '
!
Culdees, the recognized successors of the Druids in Ireland
and Scotland, are said to owe their name cal, gal, or
ceill—to the word meaning preserver of fire. "It is still
lucky," writes one, " for the young people to jump over the
flames, or for cattle to pass between two fires." Another
says, " Our forefathers sent their sons and daughters through
the fire to Moloch."
In Toland's day firebrands were cast
about the fields of corn at Midsummer Eve, the survival
prayers to the fire-god to give heat for the harv^est perfection.
He calls the November fire, Tine-tlaeJied-gJia, or fire-ground.
And yet, Arthur Clive considered fire-worship opposed
alike to Druidism and the faith preceding it.
In the Book of Rights, so ably reproduced by J.
O'Donovan, there are four seasons described— Earrach,
Samhradh, Foghmhar, and Geimeridh, which he finds to
be " undoubtedly Irish words not derived from the Latin
through Christianity." Fires were lighted at Bealtaine in
the beginning of Samhradh. The summer-end fires, Samhain,
were known by the name of TlaehtgJia. The new
fire was produced by the w^heel and spindle, with tow. The
wheel, a solar symbol, must be turned by the spokes in
direction of the sun's daily course.
As Scotland, especially the western part, was largely
peopled from Ireland, it would not be surprising to recognize
Baal or fire-worship there.
of
the
All Hallow Eve ceremonies are well known, and especially