Browne — Ethnograph)/ of the Mullet, Inishkea, 8f Portacloij. 637 



Horehound {^Marrubium vulgare), used as an expectorant. 

 Marsh-mallow [Althcea officinalis), used as poulticefor " sore breast." 

 Mullein ( Verhascum thapsus), used as an infusion for coughs. 

 Parsely {PetroseUnum sativmn), boiled in milk for " gravel." 

 Belladonna {Afropa helladotma), used for palpitation or " heart 

 beat." 



It will be seen from this list that several of the remedies used are 

 officinal ; and others, though not officially recognised, possess medi- 

 cinal properties. 



3. Legends and Traditions. — There are many of these current in 

 the district, but only a small number could be collected. Among all 

 these, few bearing on the early history of this region seem to have 

 come down to the present time, except the tradition of a great battle 

 fought at Cross, in the Mullet, between the people of the country, and 

 an invading army under a king of Munster who was slain in the fight, 

 and over whose remains a tumulus was erected. 



There is, so far as could be ascertained, no tradition as to the 

 origin of the earlier inhabitants, either of the mainland, or of the 

 islands ; but the families whose ancestors came from Ulster two cen- 

 turies ago are well known, and sometimes are called by the name 

 Ultagh, instead of their own surnames. 



It would be expected that there would be some tales connected 

 with the duns, of which there are several, but very few seem to be 

 known, even the oldest inhabitants not seeming to have heard any 

 history of them. The story of Dun Donald, related by Knight,^ the 

 vague tradition that Dunamoa was built by the Burkes, and besieged 

 by the "Danes"; and another concerning Dun Fiachrach, which is 

 believed to have been a favourite resting place for the children of Lir, 

 and the fishermen of the neighbourhood say that the founder of the 

 fort used to ride a " water-horse," on which he could leap across the 

 deep caves on to the cliffs on each side of the dun. Many of the 

 people ascribe these forts to " the Danes." 



The favourite tales and poems are either ancient myth, or of a 

 semi-religious character ; legends of the saints forming a large portion 

 of the old chroniclers' stock. 



Mr Knight says- — " It is not from these cairns (Seefins) alone 

 we claim Fingal and Ossian as peculiarly ours ; we have heard them 

 in real song, and many a winter's evening have I heard the old chroni- 

 cler lying on his back quietly, in the bed beyond the fire, repeat the 



iP. Knight, Erris, &c., p. 166. - Ibid., p. 110. 



