Irish Druids and Old Irish Religions

So Old Irish Rcli(rions.
Dr. Todd, in his work on Irish Religion, ventured on
more tender ground, when he wrote concerning the
" Guardsman's Cry " of St. Patrick—" The prayer which it
contains against women, smiths, and Druids, together with
the invocation of the powers of the sky, the sun, fire,
lightning,
&c., proves that, notwithstanding the undoubted
piety and fervent Christian faith of the author, he had not
yet fully shaken off the pagan prejudices." Giraldus
Cambrensis declared that the Irish, at the conquest by
Henry II.,justified their condemnation by the Pope," beinc^
more ignorant than all other nations of the first principle's
of the faith."
The legends of the English and French might be shown
to contain a vast amount of questionable common sense
and faith ;
but our present inquiry is to trace the underlying
opinions of the ancient Irish.
Leaving outside the so-called Druidical megalithic monuments,
about the origin of which, in circles, pillars, &c., we
know little or nothing beyond speculation, and which are
scattered almost all over the globe, we notice in the Irish
certain notions and practices connected with stones that
reflect the manners of former times.
The stone of Cuamchoill, near Tipperary, produced
blindness on those who gazed on it.
Stones of Speculation,
LiatJi Meisieth, used to draw fire, were much revered. One
object in the Irish Museum, of brass cased in silver, six
inches by four, has the precious crystal in the centre, set
round with coloured stones. The footprints of the angel
Victor were to be seen on a stone in Down County, as the
celestial being alighted to deliver his message from on high
to St. Patrick.
In the Glimpses of Erin, by S. and Alice Milligan, an
interesting notice occurs of the Brash or Bidlan stones,
in Cork Co., though there is a specimen at the Seven