Uses of the Round Towers of Ireland, fyc. 39 



namely, the preservation of the sacred fire is distinctly mentioned in the Psalters 

 of Cashel and Tara, Miss Beaufort gives no authority, and I might, therefore, 

 let it pass without observation. But it is worthy of remark, that in the curious 

 and valuable ancient Irish Glossary of Cormac Mac Cullenan, the supposed 

 compiler of the Psalter of Cashel, the word Bell-tinne is explained in such a 

 manner as to preclude the possibility of supposing that writer could connect 

 the May-fires of the Druids with towers of any kind. 



6ellcume .1. bil-cene .1. rene bil .1. cene pomriiec .1. oa rene pommecoo ftnicip na D P a ' ce co 

 cinceclmB mojiuib popaib, ocup DO bepoip na cecpa ecupa ap ceomanouib cecha bliaona. 



" Betttaine, i. e. bil-tene, i. e. tene bil, i. e. the goodly fire, i. e. two goodly fires, which the Druids 

 were used to make, with great incantations on them, and they used to bring the cattle between them, 

 against the diseases of each year." 



A somewhat different explanation of the Baal-tinne is given in another MS. 

 in Trinity College (H. 3. 18, p. 596), but, as will be seen, it makes no more al- 

 lusion to Towers than that already quoted: 



6elcame .1. &el-oine: bel, can, amrn oo mal: ipann DO raippealbra Dine cacha cerpa pop 

 peilb 6heil; unde 6elcme. No, 6elcme .1. 6il-cme .1. cene c-pommeac .1. oa cenio DO jjnioip 

 Opuio co cmceclaib mopa, ocup oe lejoip na cerpa ecappa ap ceomanoaib cucha bliaona. 



" Beltaine, i. e. Bel-dine : Bel was the name of an idol : it was on it [i. e. the festival] that a 

 couple of the young of every cattle were exhibited as in the possession of Bel; unde Beltine. Or, 

 Beltine, i. e. Bil-tine, i. e. the goodly fire, i. e. two goodly fires, which the Druids were used to make 

 with great incantations, and they were used to drive the cattle between them against the diseases 

 of each year." 



It may be remarked, that remnants of this ancient custom, in perhaps a 

 modified form, still exist in the May-fires lighted in the streets and suburbs of 

 Dublin, and also in the fires lighted on St. John's Eve in all other parts of Ireland. 

 The Tinne Eigen of the Highlands, of which Dr. Martin gives the following 

 account, is probably a remnant of it also, but there is no instance of such fires 

 being lighted in towers or houses of any description : 



" The Inhabitants here [Isle of Skye] did also make use of a Fire call'd Tin-Egin, (i. e.) a forced 

 Fire, or Fire of necessity, which they used as an Antidote against the Plague or Murrain in Cattle; 

 and it was performed thus : All the Fires in the Parish were extinguish'd, and eighty one marry'd 

 Men, being thought the necessary number for effecting this Design, took two great Planks of Wood, 

 and nine of 'em were employ'd by turns, who by their repeated Efforts rubb'd one of the Planks 

 against the other untill the Heat thereof produced Fire; and from this forc'd Fire each Family is 

 supplied with new Fire, which is no sooner kindled, than a Pot full of water is quickly set on it, 



