Westkopp — Cists, Dolmens, and Filiars of Co. Clare. 455 



altars," probably derived from the pseudo-learning of the gentry or 

 surveyors. These cases are the "Druids' altar" at Carnelly, the 

 " cromlech " of Maryfort, where a (doubtful) druid-idea attached some 

 thirty years since, and the " Druids' Altar " at Poulaphuca, a name 

 unrecognized by the people of the neighbourhood, and probably a 

 " sapper-name." The curious malicious sacrifices at or near the two 

 other places have been noted, so far as could be told without 

 giving local offence, earlier in these pages.^ The name "Altoirna 

 greine " at Callan is traceable only to Comyn's romance about 1750, 

 and may have arisen from a mistake in the name Grania, read by the 

 ''light" of the druidical theories. In all cases where the name 

 " altar " was a genuine peasant name, it was used in a Christian sense, 

 and understood, as at Altoir Ultach and Knockshanvo, as a place where 

 the Mass was celebrated in penal times. The Ulster priest who gave 

 his name to the former was (it is stated) of the eighteenth century. 

 The people of Burren, in their remote and hardly accessible uplands, 

 were less molested ; and such names are not found ; but about Feakle 

 and Eroadford there were many traditions ; and several Protestant 

 families (especially the Patersons, and in a lesser degree the Westropps 

 and others) enjoyed the repute of having protected the worship and 

 property of their neighbours. We recall vaguely only a few of these 

 legends, though we heard many about 1877. The cist of Tobergrania 

 is supposed to have been "built by the Saints" from Peakle. It is 

 an altar and reputed holy well to this day. So that not paganism, but 

 Christianity, " worshipping in deserts, mountains, and caves," gave 

 these names. On the other hand, probably from the indecent legends 

 told of the flight of Dermot and Grania, a sense of impropriety attached 

 to (at least) the Bally ganner dolmens in 1808, when Dutton was 

 refused by a girl whom he asked to guide him to them. We rarely 

 found any clear ideas about the early lovers ; but it was told how 

 Dermot put seaweed on the cover of the labba when he and Grania 

 slept under its shelter ; and Finn, learning this by biting his prophetic 

 tongue, imagined that they were drowned, and abandoned their 

 pursuit. The "phuca," a demon goat (or horse), seems connected 

 with Caheraphuca and Poulaphuca, as well as with certain Cork 

 dolmens. Of other offerings than the black cock at Carnelly, we have 

 never heard. The basins at Ballyganner and elsewhere suggest that 

 here, as in Sweden and France, offerings of milk and butter may have 

 once been made. The " Hados " or elves are thus "worshipped" 



Proc. xxiv. (C), p. 130. 



