18 THE I'RESIDENt's ADDRESS. 



Connaught. Maine Mor and his people coveted their land ; 

 accordingly, they called on St. Grellan to curse the Firbolgs. 

 He did so, and then the Hy Many defeated them and took 

 possession of Connaught. Attributing their success to his impre- 

 cations, they bade him impose on them dues for ever ; and this 

 he did. "■ A scruple out of every townland, the first-born of 

 every family, every firstling pig or firstling lamb, and the first- 

 ling foal. Let the Hy Many protect my Church and frequent it, 

 refuse not their tribute, and my blessing shall be on the race. 

 It shall never be subdued carrying my crozier — that shall be the 

 battle-standard of the race."* I will give you a very remarkable 

 illustration from the life of St. Findchua of the manner in which 

 the saints were called on, as Balaam was by Balak, to curse the 

 enemies of the tribe to which they were attached. 



He belonged to an early period, as he was baptized by St. 

 Ailbe of Emly, who was converted by St. Palladius before the 

 coming of St. Patrick. The Christianity of Findchua can have 

 been of a very rudimentary and crude description only. He 

 made a present to the son of the King of the Deisi of his place 

 in heaven. So he had, he supposed, to earn for himself another 

 place. To do this he had made for him seven iron sickles, 

 on which he hung for seven years. 



The men of Meath were attacked by pirates from the sea, 

 coming yearly and committing great depredations, so Findchua 

 was sent for to curse them. When the saint heard that ambas- 

 sadors for this purpose were coming to him, he ordered for their 

 entertainment " a vessel of ale sufficient to intoxicate fifty men," 

 and meat in proportion. Then he came down from his sickles 

 and went with the delegates to Tara. He found the men of 

 Meath in great distress because the pirates had landed and 

 were spreading over the country. "Then," we read, "the cleric's 

 nature rose against them, so that sparks of blazing fire burst 

 forth from his teeth." 



Led by the saint roaring his incantations, the Men of Meath 

 rushed against their assailants and exterminated them, " slaying 

 their gillies, burning their ships, and making a cairn of their 

 heads." 



*Tribes and Customs of the Hy Many. 



