IRISH DOMESTIC ANIMALS. xxvii 



Domestic Animals of Ireland. 



The domestic animals of Ireland during the Historic period were the same as those of 

 Great Britain. The small, deer-like oxen, which, according to Youatt, inhabited the 

 mountains of Waterford, and were considered by him to be akin to the cattle of the 

 Scotch highlands, may be referred to the small, shorthorned variety, Bos longifrons. The 

 larger breeds are descended from the Urus, and the white cow, which has left its mark in 

 the names of places, and is mentioned in old Irish records, shows that a breed akin to 

 that of Chillingham was known in Ireland in early days. 1 



Fiach Finfoladh (finn = white, olaidh = cow) derived his name, according to the 

 author of ' Cambrensis Eversus/ because in his reign white cows were known in Ireland, 

 — Hibernia loves eo regnante insigniebantur? 



The date of their introduction is uncertain. Dun cows were known in Donegal before 

 the year 1342, which is the latest date that can be assigned to the book which is called 

 after their name. 



The sheep, both horned and hornless, and the goat, and the large gaunt descendant 

 of the wild boar, were domestic animals in the country as well as the horse. The 

 domestic cat probably found its way into Ireland after its introduction into England, 

 about the time of the first Crusades ; the two cats mentioned in a MS. in Trinity College 

 Library, and supposed to belong to the ninth century, most probably referring to the 

 wild species. 



1 'The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places,' by J. W. Joyce, Dublin ; McGlashan and Gill, 

 Upper Sackville Street, 1869 ; part 2, chap, iv, p. 156. 



There is a small lake in the island of Inishbofin, off the coast of Connemara, in which there lives an 

 enchanted white cow, or bo finn, which appears above the waters at certain times ; hence the lake is called 

 Lock-bo-finne, the lake of the white cow, and it has given name to the island. Bede calls the island Inis- 

 bo-finde, and interprets it " the island of the white cow '' (insula vaccse albse). 



There is another Inishbofin in Lough Ree on the Shannon, which in Colgan's 'Life of St. Aidus' is 

 similarly translated, and another off the coast of Donegal, south of Tory Island. We find also Loughbofin 

 (the white cow's lake) and Loughboderg (of the red cow) on the Shannon. Corrabofin near Balligbay, in 

 Monoghan (properly Carrowbofin, the quarter land of the white cow) ; Gortboffinna (gort, a field), near 

 Mallow, in Cork ; Drombofinny (drom, a ridge) in the Parish of Desertserges in the same county ; Lisboduff 

 (the fort of the black cow), in Cavan, and many others. It is very probable that these names are also 

 connected with legends. 



2 The impossible date of a.d. 39 to 56 is assigned to this king. ' Cambrensis Eversu9,' vol. iii, 

 chap, viii, p. 461, Celtic Society, 1851. 



