1910-1911.] Griddle or Greidell Ine or Een. 285 



time by the same race that formed the population of the North 

 of Ireland. 



It is stated in O'Curry, vol. i. p. cccxxix : " The term Fert 

 is applied to a ridge or embankment, a mound or artificial 

 eminence, at a fair or other place of assembly, and a wall or 

 earthen rampart around a camp, a house, or a church." 



O'Curry mentions (vol. i. p. cclv) that Aenach or fairs 

 appear to have originated in funeral games celebrated in 

 honour of some distinguished chief or warrior, and in pagan, 

 and even in early Christian times, were always celebrated in 

 cemeteries. The chieftains, judges, and notables sat upon or 

 beside the mounds raised over the graves of the renowned 

 dead. The Scandinavians also deliberated upon all business 

 of importance upon an artificial hillock or mound raised over 

 tombs, called a haugr. (See Plate XXV. for remains of 

 burial-mound.) They were accustomed to conceal their 

 treasures in these tombs, which respect for the dead and 

 severe laws preserved from desecration. The piratical ex- 

 peditions of the Norsemen, and the dissolution of the old 

 ties of clan among the Germans and Anglo-Saxons, gradually 

 weakened the respect for the dead, and the plunder of graves 

 became a common practice of the Vikings. 



In the Saga of Fritliiof, Ingeborg directly incites her lover 

 to become a pirate and ransack graves. 



The old German Assemblies, prior to the time of the 

 Carlovingians, were held at the graves of pagan chieftains. 

 The new ones were ordered to be held in buildings, so as to 

 discourage burial in pagan cemeteries. — (Capitulary Pader- 

 brunnense, 785 a.d.) 



The institution of a fair at any place in Ireland in pagan 

 times seems to have always arisen from the burial there of 

 some great and renowned personage. For instance, the Fair 

 of Carmen seems to have been instituted at the request of a 

 great lady, probably a hostage held by the Tuatha De Danann. 

 There are two stories about Carmen and the reasons for her 

 being held by the Tuatha De Danann. She probably died of 

 grief, and before her demise requested that they would cele- 

 brate her fair in the place where she should be buried ; also 

 that the fair and place should retain her name for ever, and 

 hence Carmen and the Fair of Carmen. It is said that the 



