these almost untouched by the culture of Rome and but little modified even by Christianity.[1] She alone had the good fortune to preserve a large mass of the tradition of her pre-Christian past, and is rich in the remains to which these traditions refer with such wonderful topographical accuracy.[2] In calling attention to the very curious fact that rites, commemorating the marriage of two great Celtic gods with the personified Ireland, subsisted till a few generations past, I hope the limitations and faults of this paper may be forgiven. It illustrates the marvellous vitality of ancestral religion and observance, which survived for thirteen centuries in face of Christianity, and for six centuries from the Norman conquest[3] resisted the efforts of different laws and a hostile civilization.
[The illustrations of this article have been kindly supplied by the Author.—Ed.].
- ↑ So the rites of the harvest goddess Aine survived with portions of her legend (as known from 890 down) till after 1879 in modified form to our time (Proc. R.I.Acad, xxxiv. p. 59).
- ↑ I would refer to the monograph of Prof. Macalister, “Temair Breg” (on Tara) in Proc. R.I.Acad, xxxiv. pp. 231-399; to the paper by Mr. G. H. Orpen on Carman (R. Soc. Antt. Ir. xxvi. pp. 11-41); to others on the great Munster Sanctuary-Assemblies of Temair Erann, Knockainey, Oenach Chuli and Oenach Cairbre in same journal, xlviii. p. 111 and xiix. p. 1; and those on the same in Proc. R.I.Acad, xxxiv. p 47, p. 127; xxxv. p. 363.
- ↑ Bardic conferences were held at Bruree, Co. Limerick, till 1746, and Dunaha, Co. Clare, till after 1820; I have recorded the succession of the last from the ancient bardic families (Mac Curtin, etc.) of Corcomroe (North Munster Archaeol. Soc. ii.). The sports at the inauguration place of the Dal Cais (Oenach Maig Adair, Co. Clare) lasted at least till 1845.
