268 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



month of August, was the first-fruits day, and a great day on Buaile 

 na Greine. On Lammas Sunday, called Domnach Crom Dubli, and 

 anglicised ' Garland Sunday,' every householder was supposed to 

 feast his family and household on the first fruits, and the farmer who 

 failed to provide his people with new potatoes, new bacon, and white 

 cabbage on that day, was called a Felemuir Gaoithe, or wind farmer, 

 and if a man dug new potatoes before CromdubK 's Day he was con- 

 sidered a needy man, and hence this Sunday was called first-fruits day. 



" On this day all went to Buaile na Greine with their contributions 

 and their Ions (or food supplies), to hold the fair. The ceremonies 

 consisted of strewing Summer flowers on the altar and festive mound, 

 of which we have been speaking up to this under the name of Altoir 

 na Greine, or altar of the sun, but which is on this day used as the 

 altar of Crom Dubh. The assemblage of this day is called Comthineol 

 Chruim Duibh, or the congregation or gathering of Crom Dubh. And 

 the day is called from him Domnach Chrom Dubh, or Cromdubh's Sun- 

 day, now called 'Garland Sunday' by the English-speaking portion of 

 the people of the surrounding districts. This name is supposed to 

 have been derived from the practice of strewing garlands of flowers on 

 the festive mound on this day, as homage to Crom Dubh : hence the 

 name ' Garland Sunday.' 



" Assuredly I saw blossoms and flowers deposited upon it on the first 

 Sunday of August, 1844, and put some upon it myself, as I saw done 

 by those who were with me. I was then a mere lad, but very in- 

 quisitive. The assembly was at this time a mere gathering of boys. 



" We thus find a new deity introduced on the altar of the sun, and 

 sun-worship and pig- worship upset. 



" If you ask me who Crom Dubh was, I can only tell you I asked 

 the question myself on the spot. I was told that Crom was a god, 

 and that Dubh or Dua meant a sacrifice, which in combination made 

 Crom Dubh,. or Crom Dua, that is, Crom's sacrifice ; and this Sunday 

 was set apart for the feast and commemoration of this Crom Dubh, 

 whoever he may have been. 



" The feast, games, and sports of this day merged into a sort of patron 

 or festive fair, which continued to be celebrated on Buaile na Greine 

 for a considerable time. The principal amusements were feasting, 

 drinking and singing, racing, hurling, dancing, and other such sports,, 

 the patron being sometimes held for several days. 



" The priests and wise old men of the surrounding parishes, grow- 

 ing tired of this practice, admonished the people to abandon the custom 

 of going to Mount Callan, and counselled them to give up the 

 customary feasts and patron of Buaile na Greine, and subsequently 

 they got up a patron at St. Muchan's, in the Union of Ennistymon,. 

 whither they invited all to come. Here they set up races, goals, 

 moneen dances, and other sports to attract the people hither, and here, 

 while the young and sportive were at their sports, the old and pious 

 ■were engaged in performing rounds at St. Muchan's holy well, and 



