92 [Proc. B.N.F.C, 



Thus we find the Well of Fineen resorted to for religious 

 purposes more than 1,100 years ago, not very long after the 

 introduction of Christianity into Ireland. 



The Christian forms of worship substituted for the Pagan 

 rites and ceremonies at wells, fountains, and other places of 

 assembly fell into disrepute in the course of time wherever 

 there was a departuae from the oringinal simplicity of the 

 early Christian practices and a return to the scenes of revellings 

 and disorder characteristic of the old Pagan popular assemblies. 

 The tendency to degenerate was due to an inherent weakness 

 in the policy of early Christian missionaries who were unable 

 to completely stamp out all the Pagan rites and popular 

 customs, and therefore the missionaries were obliged as a 

 matter of policy to adopt a compromise, retaining such popular 

 rites and customs as were considered innocent amusements and 

 engrafting upon them the introduced formalities of the Chris- 

 tian ritual. 



This policy as enforced by Pope Gregory is embodied in a 

 letter written about the year 601 a.d., and addressed 4i To his 

 most beloved son, the Abbot Millitus," who was sent by the 

 Pope to Agustine, first Bishop of Canterbury. The full text is 

 given in Bede's Ecclesiastical History, Book I., chap xxx. 

 Under the policy thus recommended the feasting and amuse- 

 ments that followed the old Pagan rites were tolerated " to the 

 end that whilst some gratifications are outwardly permitted 

 them, they may more easily consent to the inward consolation 

 of the grace of God." Unfortunately the ; ' gratifications " thus 

 " permitted " the early converts, became afterwards the chief 

 attraction on the day of dedication, and the religious obser- 

 vances on the Patron's day degenerated into the " pattern " or 

 '* fair " that subsequently became the fruitful source of riot and 

 disorder down to our own day. This pattern or fair originated 

 with the trade carried on in former times by those who pro- 

 vided refreshments for the people who assembled at the wells 

 or places dedicated to some saint who became the Patron of 

 the place, and this annual gathering on the Patron's day was 



