Uses of the Round Towers of Ireland, fyc. 41 



there. Even as to the marginal reference to the Psalter of Tara, it is of no 

 account whatever, for the writer, Comerford, was quite ignorant of Irish 

 authorities, his whole work being nothing more than an abridgment of the 

 English translation of Keating's Ireland, in which, however, no such marginal 

 reference occurs. An allusion, indeed, is made in the latter work to this 

 Psalter, but it is only to state, in describing the Palace of Tara, that the pedi- 

 grees, &c., were there transcribed into the royal records. See this question 

 examined at length in my essay on the History and Antiquities of Tara. 



But it should also be observed, that Keating, in this very account of the 

 four palaces of Tuathal, which Comerford has abridged, clearly shows that the 

 fires lighted at the convocation of Uisneach, on the first of May, could not have 

 been in towers, for he states that " upon this occasion they were used to kindle 

 two fires in every territory of the kingdom in honour of the Pagan God" (Baal), 

 and that " it was a solemn ceremony, at this time, to drive a number of cattle 

 between these fires ; this was conceived to be an antidote and a preservation 

 against the Murrain, or any other pestilential distemper among cattle, for the 

 year following." Keating's General History of Ireland, vol. i. p. 326, Dublin 

 edition, 1813. 



3. For Miss Beaufort's third assertion, that " the death of King Lugaid 

 was considered as a direct punishment from heaven for having preserved the 

 Baal-Theine in opposition to the preaching of St. Patrick," we are referred to 

 the " Psalter of Cashel, p. 68. Cited Parochial Surveys, III. p. 320." The 

 Parochial Survey does, it is true, refer for its authority for this assertion to the 

 Psalter of Cashel, but it is only as quoted by Comerford, in page 68 of his 

 history ; and, on referring to that page in the latter, we find no mention what- 

 ever either of the Psalter or of the Baal-theine. The passage referred to is 

 as follows: 



" This prince (Lughaidh) was killed by a thunderbolt, as a punishment from heaven, for opposing 

 the preaching of St. Patrick." Comerford, second edition, p. 68. 



4. Lastly, Miss Beaufort asserts, that " it is recorded in Irish history that 

 Rosa Failgee, the son of Cathair More, who was made monarch of all Ireland, 



A.D. 175 , built the tower of Rosenallis, which derives its name from him, a 



proof of the antiquity of this tower at least:" and, as authority for this statement, 

 she refers us to the Parochial Surveys, vol. iii. p. 328. It will be seen, how- 



VOL. XX. G 



