Part 15 (1/2)

VII

_The Wild People of the Glen_

”And then he put on his helmet of battle and of combat and of fighting, from every recess and from every angle of which issued the shout as it were of an hundred warriors; because it was alike that woman of the valley (_de bananaig_), and hobgoblins (_bacanaig_), and wild people of the glen (_geinti glindi_), and demons of the air (_demna acoir_), shouted in front of it, and in rear of it, and over it, and around it, wherever he went, at the spurting of blood, and of heroes upon it.”

Description of Cuchulain's helmet in the story of _The Tain bo Chuailgne_.--O'Curry's ”Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish,”

Vol. II., p. 301.

VIII

_The Fair of Tara_

”The great fairs anciently held in Ireland were not like their modern representatives, mere markets, but were a.s.semblies of the people to celebrate funeral games, and other religious rites; during pagan times to hold parliaments, promulgate laws, listen to the recitation of tales and poems, engage in or witness contests in feats of arms, horse-racing, and other popular games. They were a.n.a.logous in many ways to the Olympian and other celebrated games of ancient Greece.

”These a.s.semblies were regulated by a strict by-law, a breach of which was punishable by death. Women were especially protected, a certain place being set apart for their exclusive use, as a place was set apart at one side of the lists of mediaeval tournaments for the Queen of Beauty and the other ladies.

”At the opening of the a.s.sembly there was always a solemn proclamation of peace, and the king who held the fair awarded prizes to the most successful poets, musicians, and professors and masters of every art.”--See Dr. Sullivan's ”Introduction to O'Curry's Lectures.”

IX

_The Contest of the Bards_

”The three musical feats of the _Daghda_, a celebrated Dedanann chief and Druid, were the _Suantraighe_, which from its deep murmuring caused sleep. The _Goltraighe_, which from its meltive plaintiveness caused weeping, and the _Goltraighe_, which from its merriment caused laughter.

”_Bose_, the great Norse harper, could give on his harp the Gyarslager, or stroke of the sea G.o.ds, which produced mermaids' music.”--O'Curry's Lectures.

X

_The Fairy Tree of Dooros_

The forest of Dooros was in the district of Hy Fiera of the Moy (now the barony of Tireragh, in Sligo).