Mr. Petrie on the History and Antiquities of Tara Hill. 69 



Patrick. Nor is it easy to conceive any other reason why Colgan, who must have 

 had a copy of it in his possession, takes no farther notice of it than stating in 

 his list of the Saint's works, that such a hymn was composed by Patrick. But, 

 notwithstanding this silence of writers for so many centuries on this document, 

 it is remarkable that the Luireach Phadruig is still remembered popularly in 

 many parts of Ireland, and a portion of it is to this day repeated by the people, 

 usually at bed-time, with the same confidence in its protecting power as, according 

 to St, Evin, was placed in it previously to his time. 



Though the subject is of great interest, it would be too great a digression 

 from the purpose of this memoir to illustrate the belief in the magical powers 

 attributed in this hymn to women, smiths, and Druids ; but it may be shortly 

 stated, that there is abundant evidence of the continuance of such superstitious 

 credulity, not only in the Irish accounts of succeeding ages, but also in the popu- 

 lar belief of the people in several parts of Ireland, to the present time. 



In connexion with the history of Tara at this period, two very important 

 events are stated by the modern historians generally, of which it will be neces- 

 sary to take some notice here, with a view to ascertain their claims to credibility. 

 These events are : 1 . The compilation of a great work called the Seanchus Mor, 

 which consisted of the ancient historical records and laws of the country, purified 

 from error by a committee of nine persons, consisting of three kings, three 

 bishops, and three bards or antiquaries ; and, 2. The burning, by St. Patrick, 

 of the books in which the mysteries of the Druids were preserved. 



I. For the first of these statements the authority usually relied on is the fol- 

 lowing record in the Annals of the Four Masters : 



Qoip Cpipc ceirpe c6d rpiocha a hochc. A.D. 438, the tenth year of Laogaire. The 



Qn Deachriiao bliaoain do f,ao jaipe. Sean- Seanchus and Fenechus of Ireland were purified 



chup ajup Penechup na h-Gpenn do jlanao and written, the writings and old books of Ireland 



ajup DO pcpioBao ap DceaclamaD pcpeap- having been collected together at the request of 



qiao agup peinleaBap h-Gpenn co haonmai- St. Patrick. These are the nine supporting props 



jm ap itnpioe naoirii paqiaicc. Qciao by whom this was done, namely, Laoghaire, i. e. 



hariD f o na naoi patl je pocha' jreacha lap a King of Ireland ; Core and Daire, the three kings ; 



noepnoD ino pin .1. <Laoj;aipe .1. pi Gpenn, Patrick, Benen, and Cairneach, the three saints ; 



Copcc ajupbaipe anqiiuppio^; paopaicc, Ross, Dubhthach, and Feargus, the three anti- 



6enen,a5upCcnpneach, ancpiupnaoiTi;T?op, quaries, as this quatrain testifies — 

 iDubchach, ajup Pepjup, an cpiup peanchao, 

 oriiail oeapBup on pann — 



