Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 28, 1917.djvu/482

 44'^ Collcctcmca.

monks said that at the Abbot's request they had drawn him round the building as a penance and that he was now dead. There was in fact a pious Roman CathuHc Bishop of Galway named John Lynch, author of Cambrensis Eversus, and a good- natured protestant Bishop of Killala (Otway or Otoway) ban- ished by Cromwell, and Bishop of Killala in 1 670, who rebuilt the Cathedral and was loved by all classes. He was translated to Ossory in 1697 I what other facts lie behind the legend are unknown to me. It was said at Killala that the protestant bishop left the place on account of a curse or prophecy of Abbot Lynch. In fact they long after resided there, notably the one who unwillingly entertained the French officers in 1798 and made them such mirth by saying grace.

This brings us to the 1798 landing of the French. The tales at Kilcummin are valueless, being made to supply the demand of uncritical enthusiasts on the centenary of the landing. One old man, produced to us that latter year, said he remem- bered " them " landing " from three big steamers," probably some thirty years before he was born. Unfortunately, I could get no record of what was said before the place was " exploited " and spoiled for ever.

Far different was the tradition of the too-true event in 1798 at Downpatrick Head ; it was well attested. Otway ^ heard it from contemporaries in 183S and I heard it two generations later as he heard it. During a yeomanry raid, in 1798, the men of the district successfully concealed themselves in the tidal sea-gallery of the " Poulashantana." An old woman was to let down a ladder, through the great pit in its roof, when all was safe ; but the yeomanry, suspicious at only finding old men, women, and boys about, lingered in the neighbourhood, and after nightfall it was too late : the tide was in, and all the young and mature men of the place floated in the dark tunnel drowned.

At Dunminulla fort, near Portacloy, a protestant, aided by a native foster-brother, took refuge on the lofty and hardly accessible platform of the great headland. He and his house-

^ £rrts and Tyrcnvly, pp. 216-218. See for full description of Downpatrick Head and its legends Roy. Soc. Antt. Ireland, vol. xliii. p. loi.