18S9.] ^"O [Mooiiey. 



and passes it three times from right to left around his body. Then hold- 

 ing it out at arm's length in his right hand, he lets one end drop so as to 

 form a circle, through which he passes tliree times, putting the right foot 

 through first each time. He then doubles up the rope and again passes it 

 three times around liis body as at first. He is followd in turn by every 

 member of the family. In some cases the girdle is simply laid on the 

 floor in the sliape of a circle and each one passes through it by lifting 

 up one side to step under, and then raising the other side to step out 

 again. In the morning — Saint Bridget's day — the girdle is hung over the 

 stable door and all the animals ar made to go through it. This ceremony 

 protects both men and animals from the influence of evil spirits through- 

 out the year. In some cases the rope is kept in the family from one recur- 

 rence of the festival to another. A rush taken from it and tied about the 

 head wil keep the headake away from the wearer for a j'ear. 



In different parts of the country there ar several interesting ceremonies 

 in connection with bringing home the rushes, which ar procured on the 

 day preceding the festival. In Galway, the boys go in the morning to the 

 small streams in the neighborhood and gather bundles of the green rushes. 

 In the evening — the eve of the festival — these ar brought around to each 

 house, which, in every instance, is found with the door tightly closed, the 

 family being waiting in silence within. Going up to the door, the boys 

 shout seven times, " Leig asteac' Brig'id" (Lig ascliokh' Breej), "Let 

 Bridget enter," while to each demand thoi^e within reply, " Leig a's cead 

 fd'lle rom'cid " {Lig os caidh faidcha roath), " Enter and a hundred wel- 

 comes before you." The door is then thrown open and the boys come in 

 and leav some of their rushes, for which they ar rewarded with a small 

 treat, afrer which they go on to the next house. Occasionally, some fam- 

 ilies get their own rushes. 



In Donegal, the bringer of the rushes is a girl, who is calld Brig'id for 

 the occasion, and it is seldom that a family of girls is without one of this 

 name to enact that part in the ceremony. The rushes having been previ- 

 ously left at some convenient spot outside, Brighid goes out after dark 

 and the door is at once closed after her. Taking up the bundle of rushes, 

 she approaches the house and goes all around it, seeking an entrance, 

 while those inside affect great terror and observ the strictest silence. On 

 getting around to the back of the house, she sings : 



Guid' me air mo g'lunn, 

 Agus cleoiiid' go mo si'iile, 

 Agus leig asteac Brig'id.* 



I implore on my knees 

 And with tears in my eyes. 

 And let Bridget within. 



* Pronounced in Donegal, somewhat incorrectly : Gi'i mae er mo ghlunn, 



<)t/iis dherdhi e go mo nuila, 

 Ogiis lig asc hokW Breej. 



