Irish Druids and Old Irish Religions

Druidical Magic, 59
Siab/imdh, an evil spirit, to take revenge. \\y turning
himself into a salmon, he succeeded in choking the sovereign
with one of his bones. It was Fraechan, Druid of
King Diarmaid, who made the wonderful AirbJii Dniadli,
or Druidical charm, that caused the death of three thousand
warriors.
A King was once plagued by a lot of
birds wherever he
went. He inquired of his Druid Becnia as to the i)lace
they came from.. The answer was, " From the East."
Then came the order— " Bring me a tree from every wood
in Ireland." This was to get the right material to serve
as a charm. Tree after tree failed to be of use. Only
that from the wood of Frosmuine produced what was
required for a charm. Upon the dichctal, or incantation,
being uttered, the birds visited the King no more.
In the Book of Lecan is
the story of a man who underwent
some remarkable transformations. He was for 300
years a deer, for 300 a wild boar, for 300 a bird, and for
the like age a salmon. In the latter state he was caught,
and partly eaten by the Queen. The effect of this repast
was the birth of Tuan Mac Coireall, who told the story
of the antediluvian colonization of Ireland. One Druid,
Trosdane, had a bath of the milk of thirty white-faced
cows, which rendered his body invulnerable to poisoned
arrows in battle.
A Druid once said to Dathi, " I have consulted the
clouds of the man of Erin, and found that thou wilt sonn
return to Tara, and wilt invite all the provincial Kings and
chiefs of Erin to the great feast of Tara, and there ihou
shalt decide with them upon making an expedition into
Alba, Britain, and France, following the conquering fontsteps
of thy great-uncle Niall." He succeeded in Alba,
but died in Gaul. A brother of his became a convert to
St. Patrick.