Irish Druids and Old Irish Religions

IrisJi
Siipcrstitions.
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3j
Churches of Glendalough. " The upper surface of this
monument," say they, " is indented with four deep basinshaped
hollows. Two of them, the smallest, are quite close
to each other at one edge ;
the other two, of lar^-er size
are at the opposite edge. The devotee placed his or her
knees in the smaller hollows ;
and, repeating a certain
number of prayers, dropped an offering of some minute
article into the larger. This operation, with certain rounds
and washings at the Well, was deemed a specific for
rheumatic pains and other ailments."
It is added, of the Brash superstition, " This is a pagan
cultus, which all the power of Christianity, the personal
influence of the cleric, and national education, have not
been able to obliterate." A respectable farmer declared
that he was not above saying a prayer at the " blessed
stone " when he came that w^ay. The water found in
hollows of Bullan stones w^as held good for bad e\'es.
Upright Standing Stojies, or Dallans, the same authorities
assure us, are reverenced as in idolatrous India. I\Ir.
Milligan says, "The Inismurray women kneel before these
stones, and pray that they may be delivered from the perils
of childbirth."
has a raised work round it,
St. Bridget's stone at the Faughard, Louth,
w^ith St. Bridget's pillar near it
upon steps, round which the devotees walk.
The ClocJia breca, or speckled stones of Inismurra\',
Sligo, are thus described by Dr. O'Donovan
" They are round stones, of various sizes, and arranged
in such order that they cannot be easily reckoned ; and, if
you believe the natives, they cannot be reckoned at all.
These stones are turned, and, if I understand them rightly,
their order changed by the inhabitants on certain occasions,
when they visit the shrine to wish good or evil against
their neighbours." An aeir, or long-curse, has been often
thus hurled against a private enemy.