for ships. This island is an inviolable sanctuary, dedicated to Mac Dara, a miraculous saint; whose chappell is within it, where his called Oilean Mhic Dara, or Mac Dara's island; but in Nimmo's Piloting Directions, p. 175, Cruankarra. In terming this island "an inviolable sanctuary," our author does not mean that it was ever appointed a sanctuary or asylum, to which fugitives might resort for protection, "sedes ad quam reus fugiendo proveniens, omnimodo habet securitatem" (for in that sense all Iar Connaught has been often termed an asylum.-See Stat. Kilkenny, p. 7, note); but rather that it was a place, like the sanctuary of a church, always held in the utmost veneration. St. Mac Dara is to this day held in the greatest respect by all the seafaring people and natives of the western coasts and islands. They often name their children after him. Thus you will frequently will frequently meet with Mac Dara O'Flaherty, Mac Dara M'Donough, Mac Dara O'Brien, &c.; and even their boats bear his name. To sail in the "Mac Dara," is considered a guarantee for personal safety. If you want a boat, one of the fishermen, perhaps Mac Dara M'Donough, will tell you, that his is the "Mac Dara," and that in itself he considers a sufficient recommendation. Notwithstanding this saint's local celebrity, his name does not appear in any of the Calendars or Martyrologies at present known; but that he flourished at an early period, may be concluded from the antiquity of statue his church. The remains of this primitive Irish building are well worthy of attention. It is situated near the only secure landing place, on the eastern shore of the island. Part of the original stone roof is still remaining. The entrance, in the western gable, is a fine specimen of the semi-cyclopean doorway. About 100 yards distance from the church, on the north side, there is a square altar, with a cross upon it; and near it a holy well, dedicated to the saint. In this church "his statue of wood for many ages stood." In former times, it was usual to preserve in Irish churches, statues of their founders or patrons. See Hib. Dominicana, pp. 273, 344. Cambrensis states that, in his time, many such were preserved; and at the present day there are some remaining. In the small chapel of St. Brendan, on the island of Inisgluaire (Inisglory), off the coast of Erris, in the county Mayo, the statue of that saint may still be seen: and in the island of Inismurry, off the coast of Sligo, the statue of St. Molaise (called by some ridiculers, “Father Molash"), is still, or lately was, preserved, in his old stone-roofed chapel there. Archdall's Monasticon, p. 635; and Anderson's Historical Sketches of the ancient native Irish, Edinburgh, 1828, p. 168. The statue of St. Mac Dara remained in his church until about 200 years ago, when See statue of wood for many ages stood, till Malachias Queleus, Archbishope of Tuam, caused it to be buryed under ground, for speciall weighty reasons. On the shore of this island is the captives' stone, where women, on low water, use to gather duleasg for a friend's sake in captivity, whereby they believe he will soon get succour by the intercession of the saint. Duleasg, or salt-leafe, is a weed growing on sea-rocks, and preserved by spreading it on dry stones in fair weather, and soon after, when occasion serves, for eating. There is scarce any sea shore [where] it grows not. The boats that pass between Mason-head and this island, have a the Archbishop of Tuam "caused it to be buryed under ground, for speciall weighty reasons;" probably to prevent the islanders from asseverating by the saint, as was then, and is still practised, on the relics of saints, in other places, notwithstanding the utmost vigilance of the clergy to prevent it. Martin, in his Description of the Western Islands of Scotland, informs us, that in St. Barr's church, in the isle of Kismul, "The Natives have St. Barr's Wooden Image standing on the Altar, covered with Linen in form of a shirt, all their greatest Asseverations are by this Saint. I came very early in the Morning with an intention to see this Image, but was disappointed, for the Natives prevented me, by carrying it away, lest I might take occasion to ridicule their superstition, as some Protestants have done formerly, and when I was gone, it was again exposed on the Altar."-p. 92. It was probably to prevent similar asseverations, that the sta custome tue of St. Mac Dara was "buryed," as above related by our author. b Gather duleasg.-The Rhodomenia palmata, now called dilisk. This singular superstition has not been practised here for many years; although an aged person has assured me, that in her youth it was frequent. quent. A few of these "old observances" still remain, of which the following have recently occurred. Some fishermen to the west of Galway, in order to obtain a fair wind, buried a cat to its neck in the sand on the sea shore, turning its face to the point from which the adverse wind blew; and there left the poor animal to perish. In the west of Iar-Connaught, they sometimes erect a pile of stones on the shore, bearing a rude resemblance to a small house or castle, which they offer to some imaginary being or goblin, and expect a fair wind in return. But this is considered a serious affair, and can never be repeated by the custome to bow down their sailes three times, in reverence to the saint. A certain captain of the garrison of Galway, Anno 1672, passing this way, and neglecting that custome, was so tossed with sea and storme, that he vowed he would never pass there again, without paying his obeysance to the saint; but he never [re]turned home, till he was cast away by shipwrack soon after. Few years after, one Gill, a fisherman of Galway, who would not strike saile, in contempt of the saint, went not a mile beyond that road, when, sitting on the pup of the boat, the mast, by [a] contrary blast of wind, broke, and struck him on the pate dead, the day being fair weather both before and after. This saint's proper name was Sinach, and patronimically called same individual. In these matters sailors c Bow down their sailes.-This is scru- Mac faring natives of the coasts would now venture to omit that accustomed mark of respect to St. Mac Dara. Many catastrophes, similar to those above mentioned, are still confidently attributed to its omission. It may be easily believed, that among the numerous wrecks and sea accidents which have occurred along these western coasts, some may have been attended by circumstances, which would induce a less imaginative people than the Irish to attribute them to the causes above assigned. It would be useless to object, that our author's incredulous captain might have been cast away, and poor Gill knocked on the pate, even though they had paid the accustomed obeisance. d Sinach. Sionnaċ, a fox. It is a curious coincidence, that the name of this favourite saint of our western fishermen, should be that of an animal which, of all others, they ΙΟΙ Mac Dara, from his father Dara. the sea shore just opposite to the most abhor. So great is their aversion to a fox, hare, or rabbit, that they never so much as mention their names themselves, nor can they endure even to hear them named by others. If a fisherman of Claddagh, vide ante, p. 42, noted, happens to see one of those animals, or to hear its name mentioned, he would not on that day venture to sea; and the cause of this strange superstition they neither know themselves, nor can any one else account for. But it has been often turned to their disadvantage, of which the following, among other instances, has been frequently related. Near the great fishing village of Claddagh, there once lived a butcher, who used to take a humorous but mischievous advantage of the simplicity of his neighbours. They never, it appears, go to fish on Saturday, for fear of breaking in on the sabbath, a day which they always scrupulously observe. Friday is, therefore, one of their principal fishing days; and a successful "take" on that day, generally has the effect of reducing the price of meat in the ensuing Saturday's market. The butcher, whose calling was thus occasionally injured, contrived for a long time to prevent it, by procuring a fox, or, as some say, a stuffed fox-skin, and causing it to be exhibited, every Friday morning, through the village. This invariably caused a general noise and move The parish church of Moyras, by island, in the continent of Irrosainhagh, ment among the fishermen, not unlike those of gulls in a loom-gale; and it never failed to make them, for that day at least, abandon their fishing excursion. It is probable, that to this moment, not one on the coast is aware that St. Mac Dara's real name was Sionnach, although his altar-stone, "Leac Shinach," is said to be still preserved. It has been pleasantly remarked by Mr. O'Donovan, that if a man of the name of Fox, Hare, or Rabbit, wished to settle among the Claddagh fishermen, he should change his name to Pike, Codde, or Salmon, or some such; for that his name would destroy the luck and happiness of this strange people. The ancient parish church of Moyrus is now in ruins. It had originally two doorways, one in the north side, and the other in the south. The former is built up. The latter, which is that now used, is formed of three concentric arches of beautifully cut stone. In the eastern gable there was a fine window, now nearly destroyed. Here St. Mac Dara's festival, la péile Mhic Dapa, is kept, and is attended principally by fishermen. The castle of Ardes.-In Irish, Caislean na h-Airde, now a ruin, is situate about seven miles north-west of Golam Head. Here "Teige ne Booly (buile) O'Fflahertie of the Arde,otherwise called O’Fflahertie of both Con O'Marrice (Conamaras),” the ainhagh, is dedicated to his name, where is kept his altar stone, by the name of Leac Sinach. His festivall day is kept as patron of Moyras parish, the 16th of July. Not far from Moyras, by a creek of the same sea, stands the castle of Ardes. On this side of Irros Ainhagh, is Murloghmore, or Blackford haven, a very broad and most safe harbour for ships; where there is an inexhaustible bank of oysters, that are carryed by boats hence to Galway. Into this haven, from Irros-ainhagh, comes Owangowla, a river of salmon fish and white trouts. From Macdara Island, westward, lies a like small high island, corruptly called Cruagh na Kily, for Cruagh Coelann. Cruagh is 66 chief of the western O'Flaherties, resided in A.D. 1585.-Indenture of Composition. By an inquisition taken 17th August, 1607, it was found that the same Teige na buile was seised of the castle or stone fortress of Arde." For these records, more in detail, see the Appendix.-Murloghmore, or Blackford haven.-Both these names are now obsolete. The haven is called Birterbuy (Bertrach buidhe) bay. See Nimmo's Piloting Directions, p. 176. Bertrach is the usual name in Connamara for an oyster-bank. Owan-gowla.-In Irish, Abainn Ghabla, the Forked River, flows into the east side of Birterbuy bay. any as monuments over people who formerly pa |