JULY 165 



Lough Derg denotes two sheets of water in Ireland, one 

 in Donegal, the other that great overflow of the Shannon 

 between Killaloe and Portumna. Of the first, one may 

 assume that it received its epithet dearg, red, from some 

 local colour either in the water or on the banks, and that 

 it is the Red Lough on a similar principle to countless 

 others in Ireland named Lough Doo, Glaslough, Finloch 

 black, green, or white loughs. But of the second, the 

 Celtic literature of Ireland, which is never so graphic as 

 in recording deeds of violence and cruelty, has preserved 

 the story, showing a different origin of the name. 



It is not for nothing that the arms of Ireland display 

 a golden harp, seeing how powerfully the bards of old 

 swayed both the people and their rulers. So we read in 

 Talland Etair, an ancient chronicle of the siege of Howth, 

 how one Aithirne, a most accomplished harper and bard 

 of Ulster, travelled throughout the land of Erin, making 

 sojourn with every king in whose territory he arrived. 

 He was a proud man, this Aithirne, and would brook 

 hospitality only from royal hands ; but he had plenty of 

 entertainment, for the kingdoms in Erin were numerous 

 in those days of difficult locomotion. It was his practice, 

 on leaving each royal palace, to demand a present from 

 his host as a reward for his minstrelsy, and none was so 

 daring as to refuse whatever he chose to ask. 



It came to pass that, during his visit to Eochy mac 

 Luchta, King of Connaught, Aithirne took serious 

 umbrage at some details in cookery or what not ; so when 

 the time came for him to take his leave, he expressed a 

 desire to take also the king's eye with him. Unluckily, 

 King Eochy had but one eye, the other having been 

 knocked out in battle ; nevertheless, whether he dreaded 



