,,wurra-,,wurra ,illustration3 ,,grotto ,,and ,,image ,,of ,,wurra-,,wurra ,drawn by ,john ,innes1 from his reconstruction of this very ancient ,celtic ,idol1 as described in the ,legend4 ,illustration3 ,,wurra-,,wurra ,a ,,legend ,,of ,,saint ,,patrick ,,at ,,tara ,,here ,,first ,,transcribed ,,and ,,compared ,,with ,,the ,,testimony ,,of ,,ancient ,,records ,,and ,,modern ,,historical ,,research ,by ,,curtis ,,dunham ,,author ,,of 8,,the ,,golden ,,goblin10 ,,etc4 ,,with ,,illustrations1 ,,including ,a ,,reconstruction ,,of ,,the ,,very ,,ancient ,,celtic ,,idol ,,called ,,wurra-,,wurra ,by ,,john ,,innes ,,new ,,york ,,desmond ,,fitzgerald1 ,,inc4 ,,publishers ,,copyright1 #aiaa1 ,,by ,,desmond ,,fitzgerald1 ,,inc4 ,,to ,,those ,,descendants ,,of ,,the ,o',,shaughnessy ,,who ,,preserved ,,this ,,legend ,,of ,,st4 ,,patrick ,,at ,,tara2 ,,to ,,the ,,memory ,,of ,,father ,o',,shaughnessy1 ,,from ,,whom ,,it ,,was ,,received ,,orally2 ,,and ,,to ,,the ,,anti-,,worry ,,societies ,,of ,,christendom1 ,,this ,,transcript ,,is ,,respectfully ,,dedicated ,,full-,,page ,,illustrations ,grotto and ,image of ,wurra-,wurra ,frontispiece ,facing page ,patrick casting down ,cromm ,cruach and the twelve smaller idols #ab ,keth1 ,patrick's ,strong ,man1 describing to ,finola the virtues of his handstone #bj ,keth ,mac ,maragh in the bog1 beset by the wizard spells of ,lochru #ch ,keth recites the ,brehon ,law to ,dubthach ,mac na ,lugair and his debtor #dd ,dubthach1 the ,royal ,shanachy1 driving home the price of his poems #dh ,far down ,glanngalt ,keth sees the torches flaming about the ,grotto of ,wurra-,wurra #eb ,with his mighty handstone1 defying ,lochru1 ,keth shatters the idol ,wurra-,wurra #fb ,finola runs to ,keth and delivers an urgent message from ,patrick #fd ,keth1 in the shattered idol's place1 hears ,finola's great worry #gf ,patrick marries and blesses ,keth and ,finola of the ,white ,shoulder #gh ,illustration ',twas in the days whin the good ,patrick of ,armagh slept with wan eye open1 owin' to the murderous desire of a bunch of haythin magicians to hang onto their jobs at the court of ,king ,laeghaire4 ,there was the chief royal wizard1 ,lochru by name1 an' two other divil-sint ,druid priests1 namely ,caplait an' ,lucat-,moel1 who hild the graft of makin' wise haythins of ,ethne the ,fair an' ,fedelm the ,ruddy1 the ,king's two daughters an' the twin apples of his eye2 an' between the three of thim1 with the ,king lookin' their way wan day an' ,patrick's way the next1 the spells of wind an' water an' black magic the good ,patrick had to circumvint were sure a caution4 ,illustration ,illustration ,now ,patrick1 bein' a gintleman and the guest of ,king ,laeghaire at ,tara1 could not turn himself loose on mimbers of the ,king's own household4 ,all the same1 if he was to clane up ,ireland1 ,druids1 snakes an' all1 'twas important to begin by convertin' the ,king4 ,so he was goin' easy like1 wan day miltin' ,laeghaire to tears with his iloquence1 an' alas6 the nixt day findin' the ,king bowin' down to the great gold an' silver idol1 ,cromm ,cruach1 which stood on the plain near ,tara surrounded by twilve smaller idols of brass an' tin4 ',twas a case of ,cromm ,cruach against ,patrick an' the ,four ,gospils with the odds even4 ,illustration ,illustration ,wan thing was plain1 ,cromm ,cruach the big idol1 an' all the little idols must go4 ,so wan day1 in the prisence of ,king ,laeghaire an' all his household an' a great multitude of the people1 ,patrick raised his staff before ,cromm ,cruach1 an' in the twinklin' of an eye the big idol an' all the little idols sank into the plain up to their necks4 ',twas a miracle the like of which had niver been seen in ,ireland4 ,an' ,king ,laeghaire1 seein' that all the spells of his ,druid magicians could not raise up ,cromm ,cruach again1 nor even the smallest of the little idols1 became a ,christian on the spot4 ,observin' the same1 old ,lochru the wizard fell to ragin' an' tearin' out his long whiskers by handfuls4 ,caplait an' ,lucat-,moel were frothin' at the mouth because of their fat jobs gone a-glimmerin'4 ',twas a great day for the good ,patrick1 barrin' the prisint failure of the multitude to follow the example of the ,king4 ,illustration3 ,patrick casting down ,cromm ,cruach and the twelve smaller idols ,illustration ,instead of fallin' on their knees to receive the blissin' of ,patrick as he stood there with ,sechnall his bishop1 ,erc his judge1 an' ,presbiter ,bescna his chaplain1 all in their church vestmints1 the people turned their faces to the ,west as wan man1 beat upon their brists an' cried out3 8,o1 ,wurra-,wurra60 ,in their mixture of ancient ,irish an' ,gaelic 7which was the common speech in those days71 three times they cried3 8,o1 ,wurra-,wurra60 before they would let ,patrick bliss an' disperse thim4 ,now there was in ,patrick's train ,keth ,mac ,maragh1 his strong man1 the same that carried him on his back through the bogs an' was his champion whin it came to fightin' barbarians who would not accept the ,gospil with whole heads4 ,keth was moreover a bit of a shanachy1 or story-teller1 in his way1 with a head full of the old tales an' histories set down in the ,book of the ,dun ,cow1 which made him the frind of ivery small boy wheriver ,patrick carried on the good work4 ,so whin he heard the multitude cry out3 8,o1 ,wurra-,wurra60 at the downfall of ,cromm ,cruach1 ,keth was disturbed in his mind4 ,niver before had he heard those words of lamentation uttered by a multitude all in spontaneous accord4 ,yet in the mouths of sorrowin' girls forsaken by their lovers1 an' old women at a wake or grievin' over sheep with the foot-rot1 they were words as familiar in ,patrick's time as they are to this day4 ,illustration ,illustration ,illustration ,but the thing that most disturbed the mind of ,keth ,mac ,maragh was the sight of ,finola of the ,white ,shoulder1 wan of ,patrick's three embroideresses--which means a ,christian mimber of ,patrick's own household--turnin' her pretty face to the ,west with the multitude an' joinin' in the cry of 8,wurra-,wurra60 ',twas sure a haythin act1 an' as ,keth had been for a long time swate on this same ,finola1 findin' her white shoulder a plisant place to rist his head on1 he wint speedily an' taxed her with it4 ,but ,finola only hung her pretty head an' was silent4 ,illustration 8,finola10 says ,keth1 8ye ought to be ashamed of yoursilf1 you a mimber of the good ,patrick's household an' a 'broiderer of the sacred vestmints40 ,niver a word answered ,finola1 but only hung her head the lower4 ,then said ,keth ,mac ,maragh with a keen look at the girl3 8,finola1 'tis yoursilf has told the truth though not a word has passed your lips4 ,cromm ,cruach1 which our good ,patrick has overthrown1 was not the only great false god in ,ireland40 ,illustration ,illustration ,now the girl appeared startled1 but her head still drooped an' she answered neither yes nor no4 ,with a smile half hid by the hair on his lip1 ,keth spoke sternly to her3 8,finola1 ,i have it from your own lips that you came to ,patrick at ,tara from your people over in the ,west country4 ',tis over in the ,west stands another great idol1 an' the name of it is ,wurra-,wurra40 ,at these words ,finola began trimbling violently1 though she spoke no word1 an' her head still drooped4 ,keth ,mac ,maragh showed the girl no mercy4 8',tis in my mind1 ,finola10 he said1 8to make a journey over into the ,west country1 an' find this heathen god1 ,wurra-,wurra1 an' cast him down even as ,patrick cast down ,cromm ,cruach40 ,now the girl lifted her head and spoke up quickly3 8,but you are not in orders1 ,keth1 an' have no ,bishop's staff to raise against this idol--if so there be one40 8',tis true ,i have no ,bishop's staff10 said he1 8nor do ,i nade wan4 ,i have me handstone4 ,i have me handstone1 the same that did for ,macc ,cairthinn1 mind ye1 ,finola4 ,an' 'tis in me mind that the handstone that spilled the brains of the ,king's strong man is enough to bash the countenance of a haythin idol40 ,and he took the stone out of his shield to gaze on its fine shape and feel the weight of it4 8',twas a smaller wan10 he said1 8a mere stone from the brook with no virtue whativer1 that ,david sunk into the forehead of ,goliath40 8,is it the same10 whispered ,finola with awe in her eyes1 8that gave ye the triumph over ,macc ,cairthinn80 ,illustration3 ,keth1 ,patrick's ,strong ,man1 describing to ,finola the virtues of his handstone ,illustration 8',tis a better wan10 spoke up ,keth ,mac ,maragh proudly4 8',tis of fresh-slaked lime mixed with those same brains of the ,king's strong man that ,i spilled with the old wan--mixed with ,macc ,cairthinn's own brains an' dried in the sun till it has the hardness of flint an' the toughness of oak4 ,besides--mark this1 ,finola--'tis a true handstone with all the virtues of me own ,red ,branch ,knighthood4 ,an' who can throw it fairer or swifter than ,keth ,mac ,maragh80 ,at these words ,finola turned strangely pale4 ,prisently she threw her arms about the neck of ,keth an' besought him not to journey off into that wild ,west country4 ,illustration 8,keth1 darlin'10 said she1 8'tis the country of the ,badb an' all the ,dedannan furies1 where the terrible ,banshees are only the least of the bad fairies4 ,they will have your body an' your soul40 ,an' then she whispered3 ,illustration 8,stay with ,finola4 ,she nades ye1 an'--an' soon she'll nade ye sore60 ,now ,keth was touched with the tears of ,finola1 but he was an obstinate man an' his mind was made up to have it for his own great triumph and credit with ,patrick1 the castin' down of ,wurra-,wurra4 ',twas true also that he had become a trifle weary of the white arms of ,finola forever draggin' about his neck4 ,so he threw them off gintly1 lavin' her there on the ground half dead with grievin'1 an' wint straight to ,patrick for lave to go on a journey on business of his own4 ,illustration ,the good ,patrick1 bein' easy in his mind an' cheerful now that ,cromm ,cruach was done for1 gave ,keth his lave an' a blissin'2 an' lest ,finola's arms should drag at his neck again1 he did not delay1 but took his shield an' his handstone an' was off on his long legs for the ,west country4 ,illustration ,indade1 'twas well he did not loiter1 for the old wizard ,lochru had already got wind of his interprise an' was brewin' his most divilish spells against him4 ,caplait was in the same business4 ',twas a close call for ,keth ,mac ,maragh1 for between thim these two howlin' old wizards bossed all the bad fairies an' demons an' reptiles in ,ireland4 ,all this1 mind ye1 was before ,patrick had got ready to attind to the snakes4 ,the land was full of thim4 ,as for fairies1 good an' bad1 at the time whin the good ,patrick landed at ,wicklow they were thicker than the people--which is worth raymimberin'1 for there were tin times as many ,irishmin in ,ireland then than iver has been since4 ,in those days 'twas a case of ,ireland for the ,irish1 with the rist of the world lookin' on in envy an' covetousness1 but takin' care to kape their hands off to save their heads4 ,illustration ,illustration ,there was no nade for ,keth to carry meat or drink--which was another fine thing about ,ireland in those days4 ,at ivery crossroads was an inn maintained at the public expinse1 for the intertainmint of travellers without money an' without price1 an' the pot always a-bilin' day an' night4 ',twas the shanachies an' poets who travelled about thicker than thieves1 singin' their songs an' tellin' their tales at the courts of the kings1 that were the cause of all this hospitality1 for these gentry put on even more airs in those days than they do now1 havin' free graft iverywhere1 so eager were the people to hear all the news an' the romances4 ,illustration 99 99 99 99 99 ',tis already towld how ,keth was a bit of a shanachy himsilf1 an' well versed in all the wizardry of ,patrick's ,druid inemies4 ',twas a full grown man's job1 by this token1 that old ,lochru took on himsilf in layin' his plans to save ,wurra-,wurra from the vi'lint hands of ,patrick's strong man4 ,an' 'twill iver be to the credit of ,lochru's divilish subtlety that he so near finished for poor ,keth by transformin' himsilf into a false shanachy an' tacklin' the lad on his soft side4 ,illustration ,through ,county ,armagh an' well into ,fermanagh ,keth ,mac ,maragh passed safely1 livin' free on the fat of the land an' kapin' an eye opin for signs of the old idol ,wurra-,wurra4 ',tis true that wance ,lochru tried to beguile him with a venomous banshee in the guise of a beautiful maiden all smiles an improper alluremints2 but ,finola's white shoulder was still so fresh in his mind that he only laughed an' bid her the time of day an' passed on his way4 ,illustration ,wance1 too1 ,lochru sint a swarm of sheevras--which are the most impish of all the bad fairies--with orders to choke ,keth to death on salmon bones as he ate his avenin' meal2 but 'twas all in vain1 for ,keth was wise an' kept his fingers crossed4 ,illustration ,illustration ,havin' seen the failure of these poor experimints1 ,lochru changed his face out of all raysimblance to himsilf1 an' took a small ,irish harp an' wint an' sat on a hillside among the shamrocks close beside the broad road along which he knew ,keth was soon to pass4 ,this was his preparation for the grand schame that was to hocus-pocus the idol-hunting strong man for good an' all4 ,prisintly1 as ,keth ,mac ,maragh hove in sight1 all tired and dusty from a hard day of travel1 ,lochru1 in his guise of an old an' decrepit shanachy1 twanged the strings of his harp an' began to sing of past glories whin he was royal shanachy at ,tara with four an' twinty pupils all sheddin' lustre on his performance4 ,but whin ,keth came abrist of him on the road he lifted his voice in a sort of refrain1 the substince of which caused ,patrick's strong man to prick up his ears an' pinch himsilf to be sure he was indade awake4 ,for this was the unexpicted purport of ,lochru's refrain3 8,hail the dawn of ,erin's ,golden ,age1 ,redeemed from ,druids' evil signs and spells4 ,rejoice at ancient idols overthrown ,and demons banished to their flames below4 ,cromm ,cruach's head doth bow to ,patrick's power2 ,great ,laeghaire takes the ,gospel to his heart2 ,no more shall idols lure the simple mind-- ,e'en ,wurra-,wurra's fatal hour has struck4 ,hail ,erin's ,golden ,age1 ,hail ,patrick and the ,blissed ,word60 ,illustration ,an' no sooner had the schamin' ,lochru in his disguise exprissed these fine ,christian sintimints than ,keth fell for him4 ,yis1 ,keth ,mac ,maragh fell for him complately--swallowin' bait1 hook1 line an' all4 ,old ,lochru1 pretindin' not to observe the prisince of the lad1 was about to reel off a few more yards of his song1 but ,keth fell on his neck1 sayin'3 8,hiven's blessin's rist on ye1 old man2 for 'tis indade true1 as ye've said1 that ,wurra-,wurra's fatal hour has struck4 ,tell me where to look for the owld idol that ,i may bash his face with me handstone40 8,do me eyes desayve me80 said the false shanachy1 returnin' ,keth's embrace4 8,no2 sure 'tis the good ,patrick's strong man that stands before me--,keth ,mac ,maragh1 who1 wan day1 will be a bishop40 8',tis the same10 said ,keth1 swellin' with pride at the wizard's prophecy--for that was ,keth's great saycrit ambition1 to become a bishop4 ,an' now ,lochru had him hard an' fast4 ,no suspicion of the false shanachy could have been beaten into his head with an axe4 8,but the time passes10 said ,keth2 8show me the road to ,wurra-,wurra1 that ,i may speedily earn me bishop's staff40 ,lochru was playin' with the lad as a cat plays with a mouse4 8,have ye no fear of the druid wizards80 he said4 8,can ye circumvint the spells of ,lochru8 ,are ye after thinkin' that ,lucat-,moel an' ,caplait will let ye come at ,wurra-,wurra to do the idol harm80 ,illustration 8,divil take the wizards an' all their spells10 answered ,keth4 8,sure1 'tis ,keth ,mac ,maragh1 champion strong man an' as good a scholar as the bist of thim1 that has all their spells at his finger-ends4 ,so set me on the road to ,wurra-,wurra40 8,be it so10 said ,lochru4 8,i persayve that ye're already a bishop1 savin' the ordination4 ',tis well4 ,give heed to me words1 for 'tis growin' dark an' ye must travil the night through to escape the sure destruction which ,lochru has prepared for ye4 ,illustration 8,priss on your prisint way1 lad1 till ye've rached the top of the third wooded ridge4 ,there ye'll see below ye in the moonlight the glimmerin' surface of a great bog1 an' on the farther side of the same an owld round tower to the right1 an' ,concobar ,mac ,nessa's ruined castle to the lift4 ,go straight down to the edge of the bog an' suddenly ye'll see that a fine1 hard road leads across it4 ,cross the bog without fear4 ',tis a short cut to ,wurra-,wurra over beyond the round tower1 an' 'twill lave ye safe from ,lochru an' all his demon immissaries4 ,have ye me directions fixed clear in your mind1 lad80 ,illustration 8,yis10 said ,keth4 8,an' may the blissin's of ,patrick an' all the saints rest on your white head1 vinerable owld man1 for1 thanks to you1 ,wurra-,wurra is already as good as done for40 ,the nixt minute ,keth's legs were leadin' him straight into the trap so cunningly set for him1 an' old ,lochru1 raysumin' his own face an' form1 was chucklin' into his long whiskers4 99 99 99 99 99 ,now whin ,keth came to the top of the third ridge an' looked down upon the great bog1 'twas the darkest hour of the night1 whin the bad fairies are up to their worst divilmint1 an' the dangerous elves an' demons attind to the summons of their masters1 the ,druid wizards4 ,from the top of the ridge there was no sign of any road across the bog2 but ,keth1 full of foolish faith in the words of the false shanachy1 stopped only to draw a full breath1 an' was off down the slope at his top speed4 ,an' sure enough1 as he neared the bog's edge1 he saw before him a straight1 hard road gleamin' in the moonlight an' stretchin' clear an' fair to the hill-slope on the farther side4 ,with a shout of triumph1 ,keth laped forward an' ran swiftly out upon the road over the bog4 ,an' thin1 all at wance1 there was no more road1 an' he found himsilf flounderin' up to his arm-pits in the quaking mud of the stickiest bog in ,ireland4 ,an' while he floundered he heard a peal of faymiliar1 divilish laughter from the bog's edge4 ,there stood old ,lochru1 holdin' his sides an' waggin' his head--an' thin1 in a flash1 ,keth saw it all1 how he had been hocus-pocussed by a false shanachy who was none other than ,lochru himsilf4 ',twas useless to waste breath lamintin'1 or hurlin' hard names at ,lochru2 ,keth saw that he had nade of it all to extricate himsilf from the bog--which he would have done right speedily but for the trump card the old wizard played thin an' there4 ,all at wance ,keth found himsilf surrounded by a swarm of meisi--which are the most dreadful phantoms that inhabit the ,world of ,darkness--summoned by the incantations of ,lochru4 ,the sight of thim froze ,keth's blood in his veins4 ,for a time1 so full of terror they filled him1 he could nayther speak nor move4 ,manewhile1 ivery minute the bog sucked him down deeper4 ,illustration3 ,keth ,mac ,maragh in the bog1 beset by the wizard spells of ,lochru ,sure it would have been all over with ,keth ,mac ,maragh if1 suddenly1 there had not appeared before him a vision of ,patrick1 fearless in his great faith1 casting down ,cromm ,cruach in the very prisince of ,king ,laeghaire an' the most powerful of the ,druid wizards4 ,the vision gave him strength to raise his voice to the glory of ,god an' defiance of the divil1 so that he no longer quaked with paralizin' fear of the phantoms1 an' was near strugglin' out of the bog4 ,thin it was that ,lochru summoned ,banba1 queen of the ,dedannan furies1 an' with her diabolical aid caused ,keth to be set upon by sheevras1 leprechauns an' all manner of demoniac reptiles4 ,all the bog about him was covered with thim1 an' all the air murmured and shrieked with the flapping of demon wings4 ,pookas came and sat upon his shoulders to priss him down into the mire1 while the dread ,badb1 in the guise of a loathsome hag with the wings of a great bat1 shut the air from his nostrils and clawed at his throat4 ,yet always1 at what seemed the fatal momint1 the voice of ,keth1 raised in praise of ,god an' bowld defiance of the divil1 so weakened the demoniac powers that old ,lochru1 raging in vain1 saw the dawn approaching an' his triumph unaccomplished4 ,indade1 the triumph was ,keth's1 for1 by the blissin' of heaven1 he hild out4 ,in fear of the blastin' rays of the sun1 all at wance his demon inemies disappeared with shrieks of baffled vengeance1 an' old ,lochru with thim4 ,an' soon ,keth1 still praisin' ,god an' defyin' the divil1 was out of the bog an' dryin' himsilf in the sun4 99 99 99 99 99 ,whin he was dry an' somewhat risted an' raycuperated after the long agonies of that night1 he retraced his steps to the road where ,lochru had beguiled him4 ,wan day an' a night he spint at an inn for food an' slape1 while the maids claned the bog slime from his raimint1 an' thin proceeded on his way into the ,west4 ,not until he was out of ,fermanagh an' well into ,roscommon did he come upon any clue to the whereabouts of ,wurra-,wurra4 ',twas truly strange that the right direction should come from another shanachy--but a rale wan this time1 none other than the great ,dubthach ,mac na ,lugair1 royal poet at the court of the ,king of ,connaught4 ,keth came upon ,dubthach as the renowned shanachy was fastin' on a false poet who owed him a debt for makin' up some rhymes which the false poet recited about the country as his own divine afflatus4 ,this fakir was a failure at bog-drainin' named ,fergus1 an' havin' neglected to pay for the rhymes he couldn't make up for himself he was shut up in his house while ,dubthach sat before his door1 neither of thim eatin' nor drinkin'1 as the custom was1 till the matter was settled4 ,dubthach was so pale an' lean from four days an' nights of fastin' that his tunic was all in wrinkles about his shoulders4 ,fergus' plight was worse yet1 for as he sat by his open window with his head in his hand he seemed only half alive4 ,still ivery time ,dubthach braced up an' called on him to pay the debt he came back with a sharp answer4 ,illustration 8',tis four geese an' a sheep ye owe me10 said ,dubthach1 as ,keth came up4 8,ye're a liar4 ',tis three geese an' a pig10 said ,fergus4 8,the law is with me1 ,i'll starve the heart out of ye10 said ,dubthach4 8,yer rhymes were no good1 they stuck in me throat10 said ,fergus4 8,but ,i'll pay ye the three geese an' the pig--or see yer bones litterin' me doorstep40 ,right here ,keth stepped in1 havin' great wisdom in such matters4 ,after hearin' both sides he recited to 'em the ,brehon law1 an' then he said3 8,the both of ye are in the wrong4 ,fergus1 what ye owe to ,dubthach is not four geese an' a sheep1 but four geese an' a pig40 ,hearin' this wise judgmint1 ,dubthach an' ,fergus scowled fiercely at each other2 but 'twas plain their jaws were achin' to come together on a flitch o' bacon1 an' so ,dubthach spoke up3 8,niver shall it be told of me10 he said1 8that ,i refused to mate an inemy half way4 ,fergus1 ye omadhune1 open the door of your hovel an' let out the four geese an' the pig40 ,illustration3 ,keth recites the ,brehon ,law to ,dubthach ,mac na ,lugair and his debtor ,which the same ,fergus did1 with a string tied to the leg of each of 'em for ,dubthach to drive 'em home with4 ,an' ,dubthach1 with the pig an' the four geese safe in hand1 turned an' howled back at ,fergus3 8,as ,i'm lavin' your dirty doorstep1 ye double-faced falsifier1 wan word of advice3 ,lave off graftin' on your betters an' get back to your bog-drainin'40 ,to ,keth ,mac ,maragh who walked beside him he said3 8,niver mintion it to ,fergus1 but ye've done me a service this day4 ,faith1 ,i was that far gone with the fast ,i could feel me backbone through me stomach6 ,an' now me good frind tell me how ,i can square the account between the two of us4 ,will ye take two geese1 or the pig80 ,illustration ,now1 bein' well on into the ,west country1 with maybe the great god ,wurra-,wurra just around the turn of the nixt peat bog1 ,keth felt it was a time to exercise discretion1 for the lad was as wise an' cunning as he was strong an' mighty at heavin' the handstone4 ,so he reflected and made this answer to ,dubthach3 8,dubthach ,mac na ,lugair10 he said1 8the service ye say ,i've the honor of renderin' ye was no more than would be the duty of any man who knew the law4 ,ye owe me nothin'4 ,but 'tis in me mind that ye could give me a bit of advice on a private matter1 an' let it go no further80 ,illustration 8,on me honor as a royal shanachy10 said ,dubthach4 8,good frind1 name your trouble40 8,dubthach10 said ,keth1 with his hand beside his mouth an' his mouth to the poet's ear1 8,dubthach1 ,i've a great weight on me mind an' me heart4 ,the heft of it is draggin' me down in the dirt4 ,night an' day ,i'm sorrowin' an' grievin' the heart out of me4 ',tis turnin' me hair an' loosenin' me teeth4 ,it turns me food bitter in me mouth an' the best metheglin sour in me throat4 ,i can nayther slape nor stay awake4 ,unless ,i find relafe1 in another day the wits will be clane gone out of me4 8,iverything ,i've tried1 an' no use at all at all4 ,sure ,i've been atin' the cresses an' drinkin' the crazy people's water of ,tobernagalt an' ,stroove ,bran1 but divil the bit of forgetfulness of me trouble did it bring me4 ,wan more day1 good ,dubthach1 an' ,i'll be a foolish1 ravin' loon with all this sore grafe an' worry0-- ,illustration 8,hold1 me frind1 'tis enough10 broke in ,dubthach4 8,an' ye've struck the right road at last4 ,by nightfall ye'll rache the nixt valley4 ',tis called ,glanngalt1 mind ye 7manin' in the ,gaelic the glen of the galts1 or loonatics71 an' at the bottom of the same ye'll come to the grotto of ,wurra-,wurra1 our blissed ,god of ,peaceful ,souls4 ,ye've only to make the three prostrations an' whisper your troubles into the blissed ear of ,wurra-,wurra an' they'll all fall from ye1 lavin' ye clane an' paceful an' in your right mind40 ,at these words ,keth fell on his knees an' kissed the hand of ,dubthach that was not busy with the geese an' the pig1 showin' the joy an' gratitude he sacretly felt for bein' put on the right track to come up with an' bash the face of this haythin idol ,wurra-,wurra4 ,then he rose an' said3 8,wan thing more1 good ,dubthach4 ,will ye find me a guide down ,glanngalt to the grotto of ,wurra-,wurra80 8,ye'll find a hundred of your own choice10 said ,dubthach4 8,ye've only to enter the valley an' goin' down on wan side ye'll see a string of wild-eyed1 sorrowin' loonatics like yersilf--which ye've but to join--an' comin' up on the other side ye'll see another string dancin' an' singin' with joy because of the worries they lift in the grotto behind thim4 ,stick to the loonatics goin' down1 an' on the word of ,dubthach ye'll come back dancin' an' singin' with the happy wans40 ,illustration3 ,dubthach1 the ,royal ,shanachy1 driving home the price of his poems ,so now ,keth ,mac ,maragh fell on the neck of ,dubthach ,mac na ,lugair an' embraced him1 an' thin wint on his way at so swift a gait that the early avenin' brought him safe into ,glanngalt4 ',twas as ,dubthach had said3 there was the string of sorrowin' min and women goin' down on the wan side an' the happy dancin' people comin' up on the other4 ,an' ,keth wint with the loonatics1 an' by dark they came to the grotto of ,wurra-,wurra that was to be seen from afar by the light of torches that flamed all about it4 ,illustration ,illustration ,illustration ,illustration ,sure it was a grand sight--barrin' the haythin purpose of it all4 ,the poor loonatics stopped their screechin' from the moment the torches revealed to thim the smilin' face of the idol1 which shone from out the arch of the grotto entrance like the moon whin 'tis full at harvest time4 ,an' prisintly the first of the loonatics to prostrate thimsilves at the feet of ,wurra-,wurra were passin' over to the other side1 singin' an' dancin'1 with niver a fear nor a care to worry thim4 ,before dawn 'twas the same with the whole bunch4 ,with the cobwebs brushed clane out of the brains of thim1 they were on their way rejoicin'1 lavin' ,keth ,mac ,maragh alone before the idol1 fingerin' his handstone an' wonderin' what manner of spell was on him4 ,illustration ,illustration3 ,far down ,glanngalt ,keth sees the torches flaming about the ,grotto of ,wurra-,wurra ,illustration ,for three times ,keth had raised his hand to hurl the stone1 and could not4 ,the spirit was with him1 but the flesh was not4 ,the strength had gone out of his arm intirely1 an' the fingers that held the handstone had no more grip in thim than the little white wans of ,finola4 ,illustration 8',tis ,lucat-,moel1 or old ,lochru1 divil take him60 said ,keth to himself4 ,he gazed about in ivery direction1 but niver a wizard nor any of their bad fairy hilpers was about the premises4 ,yet the arm that hild the handstone still hung limp at his side1 an' his trimblin' fingers could scarce bear the weight of it4 ,illustration ,now it began to pinetrate the mind of ,keth ,mac ,maragh that while his arm was as heavy as lead1 the soul within him was lighter than for many a day4 ,a horrible fear rose within him that the ,four ,gospils had lost their grip on him1 an' it was the same with him as with the rist of the loonatics6 ,with the sweat standin' on his brow1 he said a ,latin prayer1 an' thin muttered to himsilf3 ,illustration 8,i will put a curse on the haythin idol4 ,i will curse this ,wurra-,wurra as niver haythin idol was cursed before1 so that his face will grow dull with fear an' the strength return to me arm40 ,illustration ,an' he turned to curse ,wurra-,wurra4 ',twas now1 for the first time1 he saw the opin ears of the idol that listened day an' night for the gintlist whisper of troubles of man or woman1 to take the same on himsilf--an' thin ,keth filt the full power of him4 ,the curse died on his lips1 all desire of curses wint out of his heart4 ,keth ,mac ,maragh1 ,strong ,man to the good ,patrick that was to become a blissed saint1 leaned upon his shield an' gazed long on the image that filled the grotto4 ,an' while he gazed the soul of him drank its fill of peace and forgetfulness of care4 ,illustration ,for it was true of the ancient ,irish ,god of ,peaceful ,souls1 named ,wurra-,wurra1 that no creature of woman born could stand before him an' know more of trouble in this world4 ,from ivery shoulder he took off the trouble to place it upon its own1 and bear it thinceforth in token of his great love and compassion for all with minds distrissed4 ,there was no nade for ,keth to read the inscription on the stone which was the idol's seat--which1 indade1 he could not1 for it was in the most ancient ,irish characters4 ',twas ,bishop ,erc1 the same who was ,judge in ,patrick's household and a very learned man1 who afterward put it into ,gaelic1 which1 being translated into ,english1 is the best of all mottoes in the category1 namely3 ,,let ,,wurra ,,worry ,there was no nade for ,keth ,mac ,maragh to read this inscription1 for the face and figure of the idol1 an' his wide opin ears foriver listenin'1 thimselves told the whole story--not only that it was his business to bear all the worries and troubles of the world1 but that he liked the job6 ,illustration ,indade1 yis4 ,though the weight of the world's worries through a hundred cinturies had glued the stomach of him to his thighs1 an' his broad chist risted on his stomach so that the massy shoulders were prissed nearly down to the region of his navel1 while the heft of the troubles showered on his head had crunched it down into his bristbone--in spite of all the crushing weight of worries upon him the smile he wore was like the noon sun bursting through after a tin days' rain in ,april4 ',twas that same smile of ,wurra-,wurra that chased away all the curses out of the heart of ,keth ,mac ,maragh an' brought the great peace to his soul4 ,illustration ,illustration ,illustration ,alas6 as ,keth looked upon the idol1 ,patrick an' all his glorious works became no more than a faded memory4 ,he filt himself ready to prostrate himsilf before ,wurra-,wurra an' whisper into the ear of him his last small worry about ,finola of the ,white ,shoulder--upon which he had risted his head more ardently than was good for his ease of mind--whin a well-raymimbered an' hated voice brought him suddenly to himsilf4 8,back1 thou sacriligious monster60 said the voice1 an' ,keth knew it for the voice of ,lochru1 the wizard4 ,indade1 the wizard1 prancin' down the hillside into the valley1 frothin' at the mouth an' all his whiskers flyin' in the mornin' breeze1 was only a lape or two from the mouth of the grotto4 8,back60 he shrieked4 8,back6 or ,i'll blast ye with the spell of ,banba60 ',twas nothing against ,keth ,mac ,maragh that in his surprise he should stand back a few paces and raise his shield1 for old ,lochru in a rage was a sight to sind children into spasms4 ',twas a good thing1 too1 for the hated sight of ,lochru brought back the grateful mimory of ,patrick1 an' the strength to his arm1 so that he faced the wizard boldly1 saying3 8,get thee gone thou ,geis of demon's spawn1 ere ,i spill thy rotten brains to gain a new handstone wherewith to destroy thy demon masters6 ,irk me not1 as ,i have better work at hand than to bandy words with such as thou60 ,illustration3 ,with his mighty handstone1 defying ,lochru1 ,keth shatters the idol ,wurra-,wurra ,illustration ,an' raisin' his handstone while the strength was fresh again in his arm1 ,keth ,mac ,maragh hurled it so swift and so straight that the idol's face--barrin' only wan fine ear--was shattered into a thousand pieces4 ,an' ,lochru1 seeing that ,wurra-,wurra was no more--a headless god havin' no further virtue in the ,druid philosophy--,lochru ran shriekin' up the valley1 to remain until his death the craziest loonatic in ,ireland4 99 99 99 99 99 8',tis a fine job well done10 raymarked ,keth to himsilf as he wint and raycovered his handstone in the grotto from among the fragmints that were wance the head of ,wurra-,wurra4 8,an' now for a bit of sup an' drink1 an' a fine long slape40 ,illustration ,illustration ,but 'twas nayther food nor drink nor slape ,keth ,mac ,maragh was to get that day4 ,for he had returned on his way up ,glanngalt no more than the distance of nine ridges whin he was stopped by a runner comin' down the valley with the speed of the wind4 ,the boy bein' breathless1 ,keth was the first to spake3 8,if 'tis to the ,king of ,connaught ye bear your message10 he said1 8sure ye're off your road40 ,illustration ,illustration3 ,finola runs to ,keth and delivers an urgent message from ,patrick 8,keth ,mac ,maragh10 panted the runner--who was lithe an' slender1 with round cheeks an' a white chin--8has the day come so soon whin ye forgit the face of your own ,finola80 ,illustration 8,what60 said ,keth in astonishment1 8will ye tell me that your haythin heresies have so strong a howld on ye that ye've lift the household an' spiritual guidance of the good ,patrick of ,armagh80 8,nay10 said ,finola4 8',tis for ,patrick sure ,i'm runnin'1 an' the message is to yoursilf40 8,so6 ',twas the likes of ,finola that gave me away60 ,and ,keth glowered darkly at the maid4 8,tell me1 ,keth10 she said in anxious tones1 8ye've not done it8 ,ye've not bashed the great idol1 ,wurra-,wurra80 ,illustration ,somethin' towld ,keth that 'twould be as well for him to dissimble4 ,so he answered cunningly3 8,sure the pot-bellied stone haythin sits as firm on his sate as iver he did40 8,o ,wurra-,wurra60 said ,finola1 with hands clasped in gratitude4 8,lave off your heretical supplications10 said ,keth harshly1 8an' hand over me missage from ,patrick40 ,illustration ,illustration 8',tis this10 said ,finola1 givin' him a tinder look from her eyes4 8,another bunch of poor loonatics have started down ,glanngalt to lave their troubles with ,wurra-,wurra4 ,patrick follows with his household1 but too late to heal thim with the spirit of the ,four ,gospils before they feel the spell of the sacred grotto4 ,so ye're to let thim1 for this wance1 resayve their easemint from ,wurra-,wurra1 as of old--for sure1 ,patrick says1 the great idol is an instrumint of ,god1 not yet to be destroyed40 ,illustration ,illustration ,illustration 8,so be it10 said ,keth1 dissimbling again4 8,go you back to ,patrick an' ,i will wait for ye beside the grotto40 ,finola flung hersilf upon his neck4 8',tis like the owld swate ,keth10 she said4 8,ah1 ,keth1 why are ye not always true to the gintleness an' hilpfulness that shines in your face so like ,wurra-,wurra's own80 99 99 99 99 99 ,thin she kissed him and lift him1 an' ,keth wint slowly back to the grotto1 with his chin on his brist1 wonderin' how he was to restore the idol's broken head on his shoulders4 ,he gathered up the pieces an' mixed some clay an' tried to patch thim together1 but 'twas no use--too well had the handstone done its work6 ,an' now ,keth could hear the fresh bunch of loonatics comin' shriekin' an' moanin' down the valley4 ',twas even a worse predicamint he was in1 for1 crowdin' the loonatics on all sides were scores an' hundreds of maids weepin' for their gallivantin' swatehearts1 an' old dames lamintin' sheep with the foot rot1 cows with calves miscast an' such like troubles which 'twas in the minds of thim to shoulder off on ,wurra-,wurra4 ,illustration 8,sure1 'tis a tight place ,i'm in10 thought ,keth ,mac ,maragh4 8,the loonatics1 an' the maids1 an' the old women will be after bashin' the head of me as ,i bashed their haythin idol4 ,true1 ,i have me handstone1 but what is wan handstone for all that crazy bunch80 ,illustration ,illustration ,an' then suddenly it flashed across his mind about what ,finola had said of his face raysimblin' that of ,wurra-,wurra4 8,sure1 'tis only the fondness of her foolish little haythin heart10 thought ,keth4 ,but as 'twas the only chance1 an' the first of the loonatics bein' now close to the grotto1 ,keth ,mac ,maragh wint behind the headless idol an' leaned over with his neck in the hollow between the shoulders which the handstone had cut as though through a bog-cured cheese4 ,he brought his chin down near to the idol's navel1 prissed the cheek of him against the opin ear that remained so providentially1 hid his arms an' body behind the great bulk of the image--an' thin upon the face of him he spread the gintlest and tinderest smile that was in him4 ,illustration ,sure it was all the same to the loonatics4 ,indade1 it seemed an improvement4 ,for1 no sooner did a daft wan catch the twinkle in ,keth's eye than the twisted brains of him were all straightened out an' he passed on rejoicin'4 ,as the last of the crazy wans were droppin' their troubles on ,wurra-,wurra1 ,keth saw that ,patrick an' his followers had rached the bottom of the valley1 where the blissed saint that was to be1 surrounded by his bishops and his priests and his psalmists1 all in their vestmints1 was prachin' the ,gospil an' making converts of iverybody4 ,illustration ,illustration ,illustration ,all the while ,keth grew bolder with his smile an' the twinkle in his eye4 ,whin it came to the turn of the old dames with their cow-yard troubles1 siveral times he forgot himsilf so far as to smile aloud4 ,indade1 more than wan full-stomached guffaw did he give in the face of thim1 an' got away with it1 so rayjoiced they were with the lightness of heart that ,wurra-,wurra gave thim4 ,illustration ,illustration ,illustration ,whin it came to the sorrowin' maids with their sad tales on their swatehearts1 beyond a wink or two at the prettiest ,keth was moved to restrain himsilf4 ,for sure1 many were the pitiful tales of loving maids' troubles they poured in his ear6 ,tales they were that made his heart sore1 an' disturbed his mind with recollictions of strange words lately dropped by ,finola of the ,white ,shoulder4 ',twas this new light on those same words that now caused ,keth ,mac ,maragh to forget for a momint the smile of ,wurra-,wurra1 an' to close his eyes with the pain of the thought that came to him4 ,illustration ,illustration3 ,keth1 in the shattered idol's place1 hears ,finola's great worry 99 99 99 99 99 ,an' whin ,keth opened his eyes the last of the maids was prostrated before him--an' she was ,finola6 ,quickly--though his soul quaked--he raycalled the smile of ,wurra-,wurra to his face4 ',twas none too soon1 for ,finola1 risen to her feet an' leanin' over1 was pourin' into the idol's ear all the grafe an' dread that clutched her heart4 ,from ,finola's lips the tale was like a white-hot iron in ,keth's vitals4 ,yet it made his heart swell an' rache out to her so that he could not restrain himsilf1 but turned his head an' put his lips to hers in a kiss that dropped her like wan dead at the idol's feet4 ,illustration ,illustration ,now ,keth ,mac ,maragh knew what it was for him to do1 an' he rayjoiced to do it quickly4 ,he came out from behind the shattered idol1 an' lifted the limp form of ,finola in his arms1 an' bore her swiftly through the press of people up to ,patrick himsilf1 an' said3 8,good ,patrick of ,armagh1 this maid gave her swate silf to me more suns gone by than it pleases me to raymimber4 ,as thy faithful follower1 an' for the honor of thy household1 ,i pray you now give her to me in the name of our ,holy ,church an' in the sight of all min40 ,illustration3 ,patrick marries and blesses ,keth and ,finola of the ,white ,shoulder ,an' ,patrick1 seein' how the matter lay--,finola bein' raycovered from her swoon an' clingin' tight to ,keth--thin an' there married an' blissed thim4 99 99 99 99 99 ,illustration ,illustration ',tis towld in the books how ,keth became a bishop1 though niver would he altogether lay aside the handstone which had lain low the last idol in ,ireland1 an' how all the four fine sons that ,finola bore him were sure death to snakes an' ,druid wizards till not wan of ayther was lift in the land4 ,concernin' the grotto1 an' the headless idol in it1 all there prisint bein' now convertid ,christians1 by their own free will they prisintly destroyed ivery vistige of both4 ,yet to this day there remains on the lips of all the ,irish race in time of trouble or worry that same ancient invocation3 8,o ,wurra-,wurra60 ,an' the ixplanation is ,patrick's own desire that it should be so4 ,for1 as he raymarked upon that occasion1 ,wurra-,wurra1 as spoken in the ,gaelic1 is the same as wan calling upon the blissid ,virgin1 8,o ,mary60 in that tongue4 ,,finis4 ,illustration ,illustration3 ,,wurra-,,wurra ,from a ,photograph of the original wax model of the reconstructed ,idol4 8,ye've only to whisper your worries into the blissed ear of ,wurra-,wurra an' they'll all fall from ye1 lavin' ye clane an' paceful an' in your right mind40--,legend of ,wurra-,wurra4 ,,historical ,,notes ,,historical ,,notes ,,on ,,the ,,legend ,,banba 7p4 #ci73 8,banba1 the queen of one of the three ,dedannan princes1 who ruled the land1 sent a swarm of meisa1 or phantoms1 which froze the blood of the invaders 7the ,milesians7 with terror40--,joyce's ,social ,history of ,ancient ,ireland4 ,,bog-,,cured ,,cheese 7p4 #gb73 8,masses of cheese have been found in bogs1 of which some specimens may be seen in the ,national ,museum40--,joyce's ,social ,history4 ,,book ,,of ,,the ,,dun ,,cow 7p4 #ad73 8,one of the most ancient collections of ,irish historical and legendary material1 curiously named for the color of the cow in whose tanned skin it was bound40--,joyce4 ,,brehon ,,law 7p4 #dd73 8,a judge was called a ,brehon4444 ,the ,brehons had absolutely in their hands the interpretation of the laws and the application of them to individual cases40--,joyce4 ,,cromm ,,cruach 7p4 #aa73 8,cromm ,cruach1 covered with gold and silver1 and twelve other idols covered with brass about him40--,tripartite ,life of ,st4 ,patrick4 8,and the earth swallowed up the twelve other images as far as their heads1 and they stand thus in token of the miracle40--,book of ,armagh4 ,,dedannan ,,furies 7p4 #bb73 8,a mythical race of powerful1 demoniac and dangerous elves40--,joyce4 ,,demons1 ,,wizards1 ,,druids 7p4 #bd73 ,all the ancient accounts agree that while the ,druids were the only educators in the ,ireland of their time1 they were also magicians and wizards1 and could command the services of demons and fairies1 good and bad4--,tr4 8,the demons used to show themselves unto their worshippers in visible forms3 they often attacked the people1 and they were seen flying in the air and walking on the earth1 loathsome and horrible to behold40--,joyce4 8,god protect me from the spells of women 7,druidesses7 and ,smiths1 and ,druids40--,st4 ,patrick's ,hymn4 ,,dubthach ,,mac ,,na ,,lugair 7p4 #db73 ,here the ,legend does not quite agree with the authorities4 ,instead of being attached to the court of the ,king of ,connaught1 he was royal poet and shanachy at ,tara during the greater part of ,laeghaire's reign as ,over-,king of ,ireland4--,tr4 ,,ethne ,,the ,,fair1 ,,and ,,fedelm ,,the ,,ruddy 7p4 #i73 ,in the 8,tripartite ,life of ,st4 ,patrick0 and in the 8,book of ,armagh10 these two daughters of ,king ,laeghaire are mentioned as being under the instruction of the ,druid priests1 ,caplait and ,lucat-,moel1 at the time when ,patrick overthrew ,cromm ,cruach and the twelve smaller idols and made ,christian converts of the entire royal family4--,tr4 ,,finola ,,of ,,the ,,white ,,shoulder 7p4 #af73 ,a heroine of the 8,book of ,armagh40 ,evidently the ,legend mistakes her for ,cruimthiris1 mentioned in the 8,tripartite ,life0 as one of the three embroideresses in ,patrick's household4 7,p4 #gi73 ,the reference to the four sons of ,finola of the ,white ,shoulder is clearly legendary4--,tr4 ,,fasting ,,to ,,collect ,a ,,debt 7p4 #db73 8,the plaintiff1 having served due notice1 went to the house of the defendant1 and1 sitting before the door1 remained there without food2 and as long as he remained1 the defendant was also obliged to fast40--,joyce4 ,,geis 7p4 #fb73 8,a geis was something forbidden4 ,it was believed to be very dangerous to disregard these prohibitions40--,joyce4 ,,glanngalt 7p4 #dh73 8,there is a valley in ,kerry called ,glanngalt1 the glen of the galts1 or lunatics40--,joyce4 ,here the ,legend1 by locating ,glanngalt in ,roscommon1 is palpably in error4--,tr4 ,,handstone 7p4 #bj73 8,it was the custom at that time1 every champion they killed in single combat1 to take the brains out of their heads and mix lime with them till they were formed into hard balls40--,book of ,leinster4 ,,inns 7p4 #bf73 ,the hospitable custom of maintaining inns for the free entertainment of travellers is mentioned by nearly all authorities regarding the social life of the ancient ,irish4 ,a most interesting account is contained in 8,joyce's ,social ,history40--,tr4 ,,laeghaire 7p4 #i73 ,modern form1 ,leary2 he was the ,irish ,over-,king when ,patrick landed at ,wicklow and began his missionary labors in ,ireland1 ,a4,d4 #dcb4 ,all the characters in the ,legend are historic1 and the names are spelled as originally derived from the ,gaelic4--,tr4 ,,mac ,,maragh1 ,,keth 7p4 #ad73 ,evidently confused with ,keth ,magach1 a famous warrior and champion of that time1 whose exploits are narrated in the 8,book of ,armagh40--,tr4 ,,macc ,,cairthinn 7p4 #bj73 ,in the 8,tripartite ,life0 ,macc ,cairthinn is named as ,patrick's ,strong ,man4 ,evidently the ,legend confuses him with ,keth ,magach4 7,p4 #ba73 ,according to the 8,tripartite ,life10 it was ,patrick's ,strong ,man1 ,macc ,cairthinn1 who became a bishop1 not ,keth ,magach4--,tr4 ,,metheglin 7p4 #dg73 ,also called mead1 8was made chiefly from honey3 it was a drink in much request1 and was considered a delicacy4444 ,it was slightly intoxicating40--,joyce4 ,,population 7p4 #be73 8,for the people were very numerous in ,ireland at that time1 and so great were their numbers that the land could afford but thrice nine ridges to each man in ,erin3 viz41 nine of bog1 nine of field and nine of wood40--,book of ,hymns 7,todd74 ,,presbiter ,,bescna 7p4 #ac73 ,named1 with all the members of ,patrick's household1 in the 8,tripartite ,life40--,tr4 ,,red ,,branch ,,knights 7p4 #bj73 ,according to ,joyce and other authorities1 this was an order created by ,concobar ,mac ,nessa1 a very ancient king of ,ulster1 and whose greatest commander was ,cuculainn1 the mightiest hero of ,irish romance4--,tr4 ,,shanachy 7p4 #bf73 8,the people 444 took delight in listening to poetry1 history and romantic stories1 recited by professional poets and shanachies40--,joyce4 ,,standards ,,of ,,value 7p4 #dd73 ,as in many other countries in ancient times1 a cow1 or an ox1 was the standard of value4 ,it seems probable1 therefore1 that the ,legend is correct in using sheep1 pigs and geese for the 8fractional currency0 of the period4--,tr4 ,,strong ,,man 7p4 #ad73 ,these ,strong ,men1 or champions1 like the smiths and other metal-workers1 appear frequently in the old annals as distinguished also for their knowledge of law and history1 and for their story-telling ability4--,tr4 ,,tara 7p4 #aj73 ,seat of the ,irish ,over-,kings4 ,old ,erin's centre of government1 of learning and of chivalry4 ,then1 as now1 the most eloquent of all words descriptive of ,ireland's ancient glory4 ,in poetry1 imperishable in the line3 8,the harp that once thro' ,tara's halls40 ,the scene of ,st4 ,patrick's first efforts to redeem ,ireland from paganism4--,tr4 ,,tobernagalt 7p4 #dh73 8,drinking of the water of ,tobernagalt 7the lunatics' well71 and eating of the cresses that grew along the little stream1 the poor wanderers get restored to sanity4444 ,there is a well called ,stroove ,bran1 which was thought to possess the same virtue as ,tobernagalt40--,joyce4 ,,wurra-,,wurra 7p4 #ah73 ,the authorities do not specifically mention the existence of an idol having that name2 but they agree that idols were worshipped in all parts of ancient ,ireland4--,tr4 ,the ,irish up to that time 7,st4 ,patrick's7 8had worshipped only idols and abominations40--,st4 ,patrick's ,confession4 8,the destruction of idols in various parts of the country was an important part of ,st4 ,patrick's lifework40--,joyce4 7,p4 #hj73 ,some ,gaelic scholars hold that the familiar exclamation1 8,wurra-wurra60 is the nearest approach in that tongue to the conventional invocation of the ,blessed ,virgin4 ,the ,legend1 however1 makes it1 in that sense1 an adaptation--evidently intending a tribute to ,st4 ,patrick's well-known policy of harmonizing his teachings1 as far as possible at the start1 with ancient customs and beliefs4--,tr4