Irish Druids and Old Irish Religions

58 Irish Dr^iids.
that " the
GalUc words were identical with expressions still
used In Irish."
We are told of a rebel chief who was helped by a Druid
against the King of Munster, to plague the Irish In the
south-west by magically drying up all- the water. The
King succeeded in finding another Druid who brought
forth an abundant supply. He did but cast his javelin,
and a powerful spring burst forth at the spot where the
weapon fell. Dill, the Druldlcal grandfather of another
King of Munster, had a magical black horse, which won at
every race.
Elsewhere is a chapter on the Tuatha de Danaans,
concerning whom are so many stories of Druids.
Attention
is drawn by Rhys to " the tendency of higher races to
ascribe magical powers to lower ones ; or, rather, to the
conquered."
A Druid's counsel was sometimes of service. A certain
dwarf magician of Erregal, Co. Deny, had done a deal of
mischief before he could be caught, killed, and burled. It
was not long before he rose from the dead, and resumed
his cruelties. Once more slain, he managed to appear
again at his work. A Druid advised Finn Mac Cumhail
to bury the fellow the next time head downward, which
effectually stopped his magic and his resurrection powers.
FIntain was another hero of antiquity. When the
Deluge occurred, he managed by Druidic arts to escape.
Subsequently, through the ages, he manifested himself in
various forms. This was, to O 'Flaherty, an evidence that
Irish Druids believed In the doctrine of metempsychosis.
Fintain's grave is still to be recognized, though he has
made no appearance on earth since the days of King
Dermot.
It Is not safe to run counter to the Druids. When King
Cormac turned against the Craft, Maelgenn incited the