Wurra-Wurra : $b A legend of Saint Patrick at TaraDunham, Curtis
Religion
Wurra-Wurra : $b A legend of Saint Patrick at Tara
Dunham, Curtis
Patrick, Saint, 373?-463? -- Legends
LAEGHAIRE (p. 9): Modern form, Leary; he was the Irish Over-King when
Patrick landed at Wicklow and began his missionary labors in Ireland,
A.D. 432. All the characters in the Legend are historic, and the
names are spelled as originally derived from the Gaelic.—_Tr._
MAC MARAGH, KETH (p. 14): Evidently confused with Keth Magach, a
famous warrior and champion of that time, whose exploits are narrated
in the “Book of Armagh.”—_Tr._
MACC CAIRTHINN (p. 20): In the “Tripartite Life” Macc Cairthinn is
named as Patrick’s Strong Man. Evidently the Legend confuses him with
Keth Magach.
(P. 21): According to the “Tripartite Life,” it was Patrick’s
Strong Man, Macc Cairthinn, who became a bishop, not Keth
Magach.—_Tr._
METHEGLIN (p. 47): Also called mead, “was made chiefly from honey: it
was a drink in much request, and was considered a delicacy.... It was
slightly intoxicating.”—_Joyce._
POPULATION (p. 25): “For the people were very numerous in Ireland at
that time, and so great were their numbers that the land could afford
but thrice nine ridges to each man in Erin: viz., nine of bog, nine
of field and nine of wood.”—_Book of Hymns (Todd)._
PRESBITER BESCNA (p. 13): Named, with all the members of Patrick’s
household, in the “Tripartite Life.”—_Tr._
RED BRANCH KNIGHTS (p. 20): According to Joyce and other authorities,
this was an order created by Concobar Mac Nessa, a very ancient king
of Ulster, and whose greatest commander was Cuculainn, the mightiest
hero of Irish romance.—_Tr._
SHANACHY (p. 26): “The people ... took delight in listening to
poetry, history and romantic stories, recited by professional poets
and shanachies.”—_Joyce._
STANDARDS OF VALUE (p. 44): As in many other countries in ancient
times, a cow, or an ox, was the standard of value. It seems probable,
therefore, that the Legend is correct in using sheep, pigs and geese
for the “fractional currency” of the period.—_Tr._
STRONG MAN (p. 14): These Strong Men, or champions, like the smiths
and other metal-workers, appear frequently in the old annals as
distinguished also for their knowledge of law and history, and for
their story-telling ability.—_Tr._
TARA (p. 10): Seat of the Irish Over-Kings. Old Erin’s centre of
government, of learning and of chivalry. Then, as now, the most
eloquent of all words descriptive of Ireland’s ancient glory. In
poetry, imperishable in the line: “The harp that once thro’ Tara’s
halls.” The scene of St. Patrick’s first efforts to redeem Ireland
from paganism.—_Tr._
TOBERNAGALT (p. 48): “Drinking of the water of Tobernagalt (the
lunatics’ well), and eating of the cresses that grew along the little
stream, the poor wanderers get restored to sanity.... There is a well
called Stroove Bran, which was thought to possess the same virtue as
Tobernagalt.”—_Joyce._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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