Dalton — Cromm Cruaich of Mngh Sleacht. 63 



them as before. Crom's residence was Dun Briste, or Doonbristy (the 

 broken fort), then joined to the mainland, but now a rock-islet in the sea, 

 outside Downpatrick Head.' The characters are : Crom Dubh himself ; his 

 two sons, Teideach and Clonnach ; and his two mastiff hounds, Coinn lothair 

 and Saidhthe Suaraighe. The editor presents the tale as he received it ; and 

 though he can hardly have failed to perceive its profound mythological 

 import, he makes no allusion whatever thereto. He does not even suggest 

 the latent significance of any one of the foregoing names. Who Crom Dubh 

 is I shall leave an open question for the present. Teideach, whose retreat 

 was Pollatheidigh," is the cavernous wind-gust in humanized form. Clonnach 

 is taken to be a variant, or derivative, of Clonn, meaning a pillar, or a 

 chimney-piece.' As the brother, in flesh and blood, of Teideach, Clonnach, 

 if not a verbal freak, must therefore represent the columned cloud-formations 

 that so often rise unexpectedly from the sea. Coinn lothair (= Cu lothair) 

 is explained as " Hound of Eage," and Saidhthe Suaraighe as " Bitch of 

 Wretchedness." Thus Crom Dubh's dogs become Eage and Affliction, while 

 his sons reveal themselves as the Storm-Blast and the Pillared, Tire-Eiiclosing 

 Clouds. With this preface I shall give, in translation, just a few passages 

 from the tale, and allow them to explain themselves : — 



"Before St. Patrick came to Ireland, the leader of the Pagans, whose 

 name was Crom Dubh, lived in the north of County Mayo." 



" He had a big fire kindled on top of the cliff, into which he threw every- 

 body who escaped the dogs." 



" Crom Dubh, his sons, and his dogs were noted far and near for their 

 wickedness ; and the people were so affrighted by his name, and not his 

 name alone, that they would bury their faces in their breasts when it was 

 mentioned ; and if they heard his dogs barking they would hide under the 

 ground to protect themselves from Crom Dubh and his mastiffs." 



" Crom Dubh would send his sons and his dogs before him to announce 

 that he was coming to collect his yearly rent." " It is how Crom Dubh came 

 after them in a sort of sliding car." 



" Crom Dubh and his company had the old authority, and the people had 

 to endure his tyranny for many years ; and every year their lot got worse, 

 without hope of getting better, as they did not know God." 



' For a description of this pyramidal rock-mass, and of the corresponding indenture 

 in the headland cliff close by, see M'Parlan's " Statistical Survey of Co. Mayo," p. 151 ; 

 O'Donovan's " Ordnance Letters," Co. Mayo, pp. 279 et seq.; and, particularly, a paper 

 by Mr. T. J. Westropp in Jour. R.S.A.I. for 1912, pp. 101-112. 



2 Recte Poll a t-Seididh (the blowing-hole), "the name of a sea-cave that is honey- 

 combed in under Glennlosser," "Lub na Caillighe," pp. 77-79. 



^ Ibid., p. 75. 



R.I. A. PROC, VOL. XXXVI, SECT. C. [7] 



