Irish Fairy Tales Part 15

It is nearly eight hundred years ago since the story was transcribed from some old authority into the Book of the Dun Cow, the oldest ma.n.u.script of Gaelic literature we possess.--Joyce's "Old Celtic Romances," p. 97.

VI.

_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).

On a certain occasion the Dedanns, returning from a hurling match with the Feni, pa.s.sed through the forest, carrying with them for food during the journey crimson nuts, and arbutus apples, and scarlet quicken-berries, which they had brought from the Land of Promise. One of the quicken-berries dropped on the earth, and the Dedanns pa.s.sed on not heeding.

From this berry a great quicken-tree sprang up, which had the virtues of the quicken-trees that grow in fairyland. Its berries had the taste of honey, and those who ate of them felt a cheerful glow, as if they had drunk of wine or old mead, and if a man were even a hundred years old he returned to the age of thirty as soon as he had eaten three of them.

The Dedanns having heard of this tree, and not wishing that anyone should eat of the berries but themselves, sent a giant of their own people to guard it, namely, Sharvan the Surly, of Lochlann.--"The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grania," "Old Celtic Romances," p. 313 (Joyce).

VII.

_Prince Cuglas._

In the list of the historic tales mentioned in the Book of Leinster, and which is given in O'Curry's appendix to his "Lectures on the MSS.

Materials of Ancient Irish History," "The Cave of the Road of Cuglas"

finds place. O'Curry has the following note:--

"Cuglas was the son of Donn Desa, King of Leinster, and master of the hounds to the monarch Conaire Mor. Having one day followed the chase from Tara to this road, the chase suddenly disappeared in a cave, into which he followed, and was _never seen after_. Hence the cave was called _Uaimh Bealach Conglais_, or the cave of the road of Cuglas (now Baltingla.s.s, in the County of Wicklow). It is about this cave, nevertheless, that so many of our pretended Irish antiquarians have written so much nonsense in connection with some imaginary pagan worship to which they gravely a.s.sure the world, on etymological authority, the spot was devoted. The authority for the legend of Cuglas is the _Dinnoean Chus_ on the place _Bealach Conglais_ (Book of Lecain). The full tale has not come down to us."

VIII.

_The Herald._

"Here comes a single champion towards us, O _Cuchulain_," said _Laegh_ (Cuchulain's charioteer). "What sort of a champion is he?" said _Cuchulain_. "A brown-haired, broad faced, beautiful youth; a splendid brown cloak on him; a bright bronze spear-like brooch fastening his cloak. A full and well-fitting shirt to his skin. Two firm shoes between his two feet and the ground. A hand-staff of white hazel in one hand of his; a single-edged sword with a sea-horse hilt in his other hand." "Good, my lad," said _Cuchulain_; "these are the tokens of a herald."--Description of the herald _MacRoath_ in the story of the Tain bo Chuailgne.--O'Curry's "Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish," Vol. II., p. 301.

IX.

_Golden Bells._

In O'Curry's "Lectures on the Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish" are several dazzling descriptions of cavalcades taken from the old tales. Silver and golden bells are frequently mentioned as part of the horse furniture.

X.

_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.

XI.

_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."

XII.

_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.