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in Irish; the Bachull-Mura, or pastoral staff of St. Murus ; 
and a MS. containing the proper office for the saint’s festival 
(12th March) : all of which existed in Colgan’s time. 
The Bachull-Mura is now in the collection of George 
Petrie, Esq., LL.D., and Mr. Bell is of opinion that the bell 
now exhibited to the Academy, having been found in the 
neighbourhood, and being undoubtedly a bell of the seventh 
century, may also be considered as the bell of St. Murus. 
It is of bronze, with a top or handle of wood, decorated 
with silver: One side of the bell is also richly decorated with 
a crystal and gems, and with very elaborate silver ornaments, 
which cannot be later than the eleventh or twelfth century. 
What is singular respecting this bell is, that the ornaments are 
attached to the bell itself, not, as is usual in such relics, on a 
case or cover separate from the bell. Dr. Todd also pointed 
out to the Academy, that a portion of the ornament was loose, 
and that on removing it, a still more ancient ornament was ex- 
posed, representing the usual Irish knot-work deeply incised 
in the metal. The tone of the bell is, of course, destroyed by 
these ornaments, which are fastened by rivets to its side. 
Mr. Bell states: “ Like many other Irish square bells, it 
was probably used as a drinking-cup. It was customary to 
make women during their pregnancy drink from such bells, the 
people entertaining the idea, that a draught administered in a 
holy bell was possessed of peculiar virtue in diminishing the 
pains of childbirth.” 
Geo. Petrie, LL.D., made some remarks or the bell, and 
gave some additional evidence to show that it was the bell of 
St. Murus, mentioned by Colgan. 
The thanks of the Academy were voted to Mr. M‘Clel- 
land for his kindness in exhibiting the bell, and for permission 
to have it deposited for some time for public inspection in the 
Academy Museum. 
