Ferguson — Evidences of Sun-worship at Mount Callan. 271 



Those familiar with the peculiar style of the Irish philomath of 

 the last century, will hardly fail to recognise the hand of 0' Flanagan 

 himself in this contribution to Wilson. Assuming the fact to be so, 

 it offers a further corroboration of the argument relied on in my former 

 paper against 0' Flanagan having been the fabricator of the inscription ; 

 for the version differs both from that given by Lloyd, and from that 

 published in the Transactions of the Academy. 



I here reach the limit beyond which I am unable to find any 

 proof from documents usually receivable in evidence of facts, that 

 Altoir na Greine existed prior to 1786. A work of fiction, how- 

 ever, remains, which, as it was written before the question of 

 sun-worship had been made a subject of discussion, more than 

 twenty years, indeed, before General Yallencey came to Ireland, 

 may not be unworthy of attention, as showing that the thing was 

 there in 1749, and what the traditions associated with it then were. 

 I refer to Michael Comyns' romance of the Adventure of the Sons of 

 Thorolb, which only differs from a large class of other Irish authorities 

 recognised as probable guides in matters of topography and tradition, in 

 this, that it was composed by a romance- writer of the last century, and 

 they by romance- writers of centuries somewhat earlier. A foundation 

 of history exists in some ; others are merely fabulous ; but in all, the 

 same reason exists for accuracy iu the description of localities and 

 objects, and for conformity to tradition in the usages and habits of the 

 imaginary actors. If Coningsboro' castle were destroyed, we might 

 resort to " Ivanhoe" for a reliable description of it. So, although the 

 incidents of Comyns' Irish novel are as imaginary as the adventures 

 of Isaac of York and his daughter Eebeeca, we may be reasonably sure, 

 that, when he brings his actors into the scene of his own daily life and 

 conversation, he will adapt their doings to the real objects surrounding 

 them, and will make his accessories conformable to the traditions of 

 those amongst whom he should seek for readers, and for appreciation. 



Comyns, then, thus describes the altar ; and in his description of it 

 uo one will hesitate to recognise the structure seen by Mr. O'Looney. 

 His heroes have arrived at Mount Callan, and have had — what is a 

 conventional exploit in tales of the sort — their combat with the piasf 

 or water-snake that haunted the lake. The tale proceeds — " A great 

 assembly, and (literally) monster-meeting was held at the usual time 

 on Buaile na Griene. It was a custom then to hold a meeting once in 

 every third year on Buaile na Griene, on the south side of Slieve 

 Callan, to make sacrifice and adoration to the sun, upon an altar which 

 was made of thin grey flags (literally of ice-plate-like grey flags) in 

 that place."* So far, it is plain he is speaking of an object well known, 



* Go ttarla crinnuighidhe tnor agus comhthiunol ionganthach amhail ba gnaitk 

 leo uair ansra tri bliadhan ambuaille na greine aira ttaobh theas do chnoe Callain ag 

 dluain iodbartha agus adhrad don grein air altoir na greine ata deanta d' lungaib 

 gel-oidheor an asuaitsin. (^fx i Q Lib. R. I. A., p. 211.) 



SEE. ir., VOL. I., r-OL. LIT. AND ANTTQ. 2 Q 



