Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 6 1888.djvu/273

Rh Lady keeps some in the hall of, and when one of the maids one day removed them, with the intention of throwing them out, her mistress observed what was to be done, and forbade it, with the remark, "Throw out the horse-shoes, throw out all the luck." (Told by the maid). The house in which I lived had one lying on the window-sill outside. (Rev.) W. Gregor.

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IN the north of Ireland, especially Donegal, I have heard the smooth-leaf holly called the "Queen of the Wood," but I could not learn the reason why. Lately, however, I was in Ross and Cromarty, and learned, when in the neighbourhood of Loch Maree, that St. Maelrubha (who is both an Irish and Scotch saint) founded the church of Applecross A.D. 673, and died there on the 21st April, A.D. 722. He was much venerated in Gairloch, having his residence on Tuchmaree in Loch Maree. He is said to have introduced "the sacred smooth-leaf holly to outrival the Druidical oaks," and dedicated it to the Blessed Virgin. In the neighbourhood of the western end of Loch Maree there was a Druidical station, the ancient oaks, under which they sat, still remaining, and it is said that up to not long ago the place was used as a manor court.

A lady has sent me the following query and notes in connection with the ash in Ireland. Can any correspondent answer the query? "Can any one give me information as to whether the common ash is treated with veneration in Ireland—whether it is supposed to be a sacred tree in any sense (as it is in England and Scotland), or