Irish Druids and Old Irish Religions

A7i2?jial Worship. 227
the Irish Holy Bulls and Cows. The bull has been called
the Deity of the Ark.
In Owen Connelan's translation of
Proceednigs of the Great Bardic Institution^ is an account
of a magical cow which supplied milk to nine score nuns
of Tuam-daghnalan. This is very like the tale of the Tuath
smith's Glas GaibJine, or Grey Cow, which nourished a
large family and its numerous dependants. Though stolen
by the General of the roving Fomorians, she contrived to
live on, and practise her benevolence until the fifth century.
Her camping places, numerous as they were, are localities
recognized by Irish country folk to this day. There is
also the story of Diarmuid Mac Cearbhall, half Druid, half
Christian, who killed his son, because he had caused the
death of a Sacred Cow.
As to the nine score nnns of Tuam, it must be noticed
that the word caillach served alike for nun and druidess.
This led W. Hackett, in the Transactions, to observe
" the probability is that they were pagan Druidesses, and
that the cows were living idols like Apis, or in some sense
considered sacred animals."
The Pig must be placed among the sacred animals of
Ireland, as it was of various nations of antiquity. Was not
the place known of old as Mncinis, or Hog Island } Did
not Giraldus Cambrensis say in the twelfth century that he
had never seen so many swine as in Ireland And who
.?
would dispute the honour given still to "the gentleman who
pays the rent " .?
The Boar was sacred to Diana, who sent forth the destroying
Calydonian boar to ravage the country, but which
was slain by Theseus. The Hindoo divine mother Varahi
was the Eai't/i Sow. The third Avatar of Vishnu,
Varaha, had a boar's head. A Cyprus gem bears the
image of a flying boar, believed to represent Adonis,