Macai.ister — The History and Antiquities of Inis Cealtra. 97 



I do not see the reference to the prophecy of Ciarau, at least not in 

 the Life published in O'Grady's " Silva Gadelica." 



Passing over details which, for our present purpose, are trivialities, we may 

 concentrate our attention for a few moments on two points of considerable 

 importance in the foregoing narrative : the personality of Mac Creiche, the 

 old man disposessed by Colum at an angel's bidding ; and the incident of the 

 lime-tree. 



Mr. T. J. Westropp has most kindly put at my disposal the following 

 notes on the extensive modern folk-lore concerning Mac Creiche : — 



" The chief church, and where his name is best remembered, is Kilmacreechy ah Lis- 

 cannor. It lies near the shore of the bay, opposite a heap of rocks far out on the strand, 

 and covered at high- water, called ' Maccreehy's Bed.' The north-west angle of the nave 

 and its adjoining walls are early, and of massive masonry below ; the upper parts, the 

 south nave vralls, and the chancel being late ; some parts perhaps of the fourteenth 

 century, but the bulk and most of the features of the late fifteenth century. The 

 monument of 'St. Maccreehy,' in the north wall of the chancel, is curious, late, rather 

 debased Gothic (two cinquefoil arches and a large quatrefoil between), the hood having a 

 bold carving of a mitred head. The south wall of the chancel had a similar 'monument,' 

 called after the saint's disciple and colleague, St. Mainchin. It has fallen, but enough 

 remains to restore it. I give drawings of both monuments (the second restored), and a 

 plan and photographs of the church in vol. iii of the 'Limerick Field Club,' pp. 193, 205. 

 The pattern of the saint was held on Garland Sunday, and eventually slipped into local 

 races. The usual documentary forms before 1700 are, Kilmaccrih, 1302 ; Kyllneicheiche 

 na traga, 1420, an interesting and appropriate form ; Kilmicrihy, 1571 ; Kilmacreehy, 

 1584 ; Kilmakrie, 1615 ; Killincrihy, 1617 ; Killmacrihy, 1675. 



" St. Mainchm's church, of Kilmanaheen, has left no trace but the small graveyard 

 of that name, on the north bank of the little river between Lehinch and Ennistymon, 

 in marshy fields. I think a chief is said to have given his dun to the church there. 



"I should have said that there are dragon heads, with large eyes and ears, on 

 the monument of ' Macreehy,' and a similar but far older (twelfth-century) head on 

 the carved sill built into the south wall of Rath church. 



The oblong foundation behind Colonel Tottenham's house, on Mount Callan, is said to 

 have been a church of St 'Maccreehy.' How far this was a conclusion derived from 

 ' Maccreehy's' connexion with the church of Inagh (the ' Templeduff ' ) I do not know. The 

 Inagh churches (two) are entirely demolished, but Teainpull Dubh is remembered. I 

 found the head of the east window and some other fragments in the graveyard. They 

 are of the late fifteenth century, a time of great building output in Co. Clare. 



" The latest version of the legend of Mac Creiche I got locally was : There are Loch na 

 Bruchee, Awen 7ia Bruckee, and Poul na Briickee (i.e., loch, abhainn, poll, mi hruic-shidhe, 

 the lake, river, and pool, of the fairy badger). The last is where the river goes under- 

 ground. A fairy badger lived at the lake and did awful harm eating cows, till ' they ' sent 

 for some saints (or clergy), who made it worse. Then 'they' sent to Liscannor, for one 

 who got bells and croziers, and drove it into the lake, where he chained it. I gathered 

 (without leading questions) that the people ' prayed ' to the big fairy badger to pacify it. 

 I did not find Mac Creiche's name when I got the legend at Rath before 1894 ; he was, as 

 now, ' the saint from Liscannor ' ; but this anonymity is usual, for Enda was in 1878 ' the 

 saint from Aran,' and Brecan 'the saint from Toomullin,' and in 1894 Mo-Chulla was 

 ' the saint at Tulla.' 



"Brian O'Looney told Dr. MacNamara (and myself later on) that Mac Creiche was 



