262 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



people bearing the name of Conneely and seals. They boast that they 

 "have seal's blood in them, and that is why they are such good 

 swimmers." The belief in this connexion is mentioned by O'Donovan, 

 who states that there was an old tradition, "that at a distant period 

 of time several of the clan Conneelys {MacCovghaile), an old family 

 of lar-Connaught, were by 'Art Magick' metamorphosed into seals!" 

 It does not, however, seem to be the case in these islands that the 

 killing of a seal is looked upon as a very unlucky and heinous action, 

 as is the case in some other places on the west coast. 



Many of the people retain a belief in fairies, and some claim 

 to have seen them. The usual story is told as to their origin, 

 i.e., that they are fallen angels who must wander the earth until 

 the judgment. They are malicious if provoked, and hurtful to men 

 and animals. 



The Fhuca is believed only to come out on November Eve, and 

 carries off people to a distance and takes them back again. The 

 banshee is described by those who "have been told by those who have 

 seen her" as like a little woman in a red cloak. She may be heard 

 singing before a death. Infants and parturient women have to be 

 especially guarded against the machinations of these beings ; fire, iron, 

 and salt are supposed to avert their influence — for this reason horse or 

 donkey shoes are nailed on the cradle or over the house door. In a 

 paper published some years ago by Professor A. C. Haddon he quotes 

 the following information obtained from Dr. T. Y. Costello of Eeala- 

 dangan, the medical officer for this district : — "On Lettermore Island, 

 which also is in South Connemara, immediately after the birth of a 

 child — which, by the way, is always delivered with the mother in a 

 kneeling posture — the father tlirows (counting as he does so) nijie 

 articles of clothing over the mother ; the number never varies." 



" A piece of the ash from the remains of the peat fire is tied up in 

 a red rag and attached to the cow's tail to prevent the fairies from 

 milking her during the night." 



The failles are believed to carry off and change children, and it is 

 thought that a changeling may be detected by making the child sleep 

 over a weed got from the lakes {cauUenagli) over which no fairy can 

 rest. 



When the infant is taken to be vaccinated, coals of turf and straw 

 crosses are put into its clothing to avert fairy influence. Meu also 

 take out a coal with them when fishing to bring good fortune. 



Means are sometimes adopted to propitiate the " good people." The 

 hearths are swept up at night and clean water is left out for them, 



