"a 
 
 
^ ,/ 
 
 Return this book on or before the 
 Latest Date stamped below. 
 
 University of Illinois Library 
 
 2 9 
 
 
 L161— H41 
 
X ^ /S'/yy ' 
 
 
WWVEWlTy OP jtyjipg 
 
Ancient Druidical Stone. 
 
PIIEFAOE 
 
 LIFE OF ST. COLUMBKILLE 
 
 Prophecy of ht. columbkille, addressed 
 
 BRENDAN , 
 
 ST. COLUMBKILLE CECINIT 
 THE THREE CONNS 
 THE FALL OF 
 EIRE THIS NIGHT 
 MAELTAMHLACHT 
 ST. ULTAN CECINIT 
 SENANUS CECINIT 
 COIREALL, SON OF CRONAN 
 ST. BEARCAN CECINIT 
 LIFE OF ST. MALACHY, ARCHBISHOP 
 
 A. D., 1148 
 
 BT. MALACHy’s PROPHECIES 
 THE PREDICTIONS OF DONALL 
 
 PROPHECY A FRAGMENT 
 
 THE PROPHECIES OF MAC ADLIFFE 
 THE PREDICTIONS OF FION 
 ▲ PROPHECY . 
 
 1* 
 
 xxvi 
 
REFACE 
 
 The gift of prophecy is of divine origin. Tlie 
 Patriarchs, during the early sway of the human 
 family, enjoyed to a lesser or gi'eater extent this 
 divine gift ; and the Sovereign Creator of the uni- 
 verse raised up prophets among his favored people, 
 in order to deter them from the pursuit of wicked 
 practices, by preaching to them, and forewarning 
 them of the calamities that would be showered 
 upon them, as the penalty due for their mal-prac- 
 tices. We read in the Sacred Volume that it was 
 the Spirit of God that spoke by the mouths of his 
 prophets, and, therefore, that the denunciations 
 and warnings of those holy men to the stiff-necked 
 Jews were the words of God himself. The gift of 
 prophecy was held in high estimation even by 
 those who deviated from the paths of truth and 
 rectitude ; in fact, by all nations who enjoyed any 
 degree of civilization. The gentiles had their 
 prophets; and the prophets of Baal, though genei- 
 ally supposed to have had no true mission, were 
 held in high repute by the Israelites. The Magi, 
 a body of learned pagan priests, were prophets, 
 and the Sibyls, who w^ere pagan virgins, were 
 
 ■i 
 
1 ?^ 
 
 C.7a-P 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Vll 
 
 proplietesses ; so were the Druids prophets. ^A.c 
 cording as the human race graduated into a more 
 corrupted state, and as statesmen wished to look 
 into futurity to learn how long the fruits of their 
 troublous broils would remain available for them- 
 selves — and, probably, for the benefit of their fam- 
 ilies — they, having some sort of a traditional 
 knowledge, that the Almighty had conceded a 
 certain light to those he thought worthy of it, — 
 fancied that they were entitled to that same pre- 
 science which some other nation, or nations, en- 
 ; because they, too, adored a divinity to 
 
 they foolishly conceded supreme powers, yet 
 
 limited, because they allowed the attributes of the 
 Deity to be distributed between various imaginary 
 beings, for the human corrupt reason that one in- 
 dividual being could not possibly comprehend all. 
 This false philosophy was grounded on the mate- 
 rial knowledge of human nature, because man, 
 having deviated from the paths of rectitude, and 
 having spurned divine revelation, could not com- 
 prehend any thing beyond his own limited sphere 
 of natural knowledge. Hence, philosophers and 
 men of great knowledge, Socrates and two or 
 three others excepted, founding their theories on 
 natural causes, were infinitely deceived in tlieir 
 conclusions. 
 
 But as the corrupt ideas grounded on human 
 understanding united, in some way, with the tra- 
 
 I 
 
 680217 
 
Vlii 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 ditions handed down from sire to son, concerning 
 the gifts of prophecy conceded by the Almighty 
 to those whom he had mercifully selected to j»er- 
 petiiate his Church on earth, and the interests o1 
 individuals, a knowledge of future events was not 
 considered impossible, nor was its use looked upon 
 as unnecessary. The gentiles believed their priest- 
 hood to have been possessed of all that sanctity 
 and power from the deity or deities which was 
 necessary to accomplish all the ends they required 
 from them. The consequence w^as that oracular 
 sites were devised, temples erected on a magnifi- 
 cent scale to the honor and worship of false deities, 
 merely because man, devoid of the true light of 
 revelation, relied upon natural reason, and there- 
 ^ fore believed that the deities, conjured by the dint 
 of his own morbid imagination into existence, w^ere 
 fully capable of answering all his expectations and 
 requirements. This was the leason tliat Delphi 
 and such places were held in esteem by the vota- 
 ries of false deities. And speaking about the 
 pagans, we can by no n^eaiis deny that the aborigi- 
 nal Irish, before they received the light of faith, 
 had their oracular sites — doch-oir (stones of the 
 Bun), their Each-ldbhras (speaking steeds), their 
 Eain-chinn-duine (human-headed birds), their 
 doch-mhagh-righ cats (stones of the royal cat), &c. 
 &c. ; all these gave responses to their votaries. It 
 is redundant to speak of the Haruspices, who, 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 IX 
 
 when oracular sites were far away, undertook the 
 task of prying into the womb of futurity, at tlie 
 bidding of their masters. Their science, like that 
 of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, — a specimen of whose fore- 
 knowledge is presented to the reader in this vol- 
 ume, — was derived from natural appearances, such 
 as the inspection of the entrails of animals offered 
 for sacrifice, the flight of birds, &c. Those func- 
 tionaries could not be considered prophets in any 
 one sense of the word, but mere conjecturers, 
 whose opinions had been sometimes verified by 
 chance, and, probably, by some preconcerted 
 schemes of their own invention, like those used by 
 the greater oracles, involving doubtful meanings 
 of the responses given : their deceptions may be 
 learned more fully from the histories of Greece 
 and Rome. 
 
 Before we proceed further with our little inves- ' 
 tigation, it may as well be noticed that the power 
 of faticination, or working miracles, is conceded to 
 demons, in consequence of their nature as spirits ; 
 but their powers in this respect are necessarily and 
 natui’ally limited, but far greater than that of man, 
 speaking in a comj)arative sense. 
 
 It must, however, be generally allowed, that the 
 light emitted by those pagan philosophers, priests, 
 and seers, was only like a dim one, partially show- 
 ing at intervals in the gloomy horizon of the far 
 distance, when compared with that of the true sep 
 
X 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 vants of God, — an produced for the 
 
 Bpe-cial purpose of leading fallen and erring man 
 farther astray. 
 
 Yet, while the powers of prescience are conced- 
 ed not only to the prophets under the imperfect 
 regime of the old law, but even to those who did 
 not acknowledge any of its tenets, and who wei*e 
 evidently instructed by demoniacal agency, there 
 is no argument needed to prove that the priests of 
 a new and more perfect law had been endowed 
 with those miraculous gifts. If necessity be plead- 
 ed as the reason that urged the Almighty to con- 
 cede such supernatural gifts to man in the olden 
 time, namely, to deter the erring race from wicked- 
 ness by denunciations and threats, there can be no 
 reason for supposing that the very same, nay, even 
 greater need for forewarnings, denunciations, and 
 threats of future servitude did not exist in after- 
 times — ^in those of our early Christian missionaries, 
 and, therefore, that the divine gift of prophecy did 
 not, and as a inatter of necessity ought not, cease. 
 Apart from the fact that there were numbers oi 
 Btifi-necked pagans in Ireland, not only in the time 
 of St. Patrick, but even during the sway of Mael- 
 tamlacht, St. Columbkille, &c., and that nothing 
 short of some supernatural power conceded by 
 heaven to the zealous missionaries could wean them 
 from their old creed, so as to embrace the new 
 tenets that were preached to them, some of those 
 
PKEFACE. 
 
 XI 
 
 pagans, being Druids, were magicians, and could 
 effect supernatural acts by demoniacal agency 
 Our seers saw the corruption that was to come 
 upon religion and morals, through the intestine 
 broils of the country, the Noi’seman invasion and 
 its consequences, the total prostration of almost all 
 the forms of Christianity, the English invasion andv 
 its consequences — more bitter to the native Irish 
 than even the Egyptian or Babylonian captivities ; 
 were they, then, to be debarred, if matters of ne- 
 cessity have been made the rules for the working 
 of miracles, in the olden time, from those gifts of 
 heaven, in their days, because the circumstances of 
 time did not take away or lessen the necessity ? 
 Surely not. Therefore God conceded to us prophets 
 in the new law, as well as in the old law — prophets 
 who forewarned us against the commission of 
 crime, and threatened us with the consequences of 
 the guilt. 
 
 Among the saints and holy persons to whom God 
 has deigned the gift of prophecy, stand eminently 
 St. Patrick, St. Bridget of Kildare, St. Columbkille, 
 
 . St. Maeltamlacht, St. TJltan, St. Bearcan, St. Coir- 
 eall, son of Cronan, and several others, some of 
 whose predictions have been lost in the lapse, or, 
 rather, during the wreck of time. Among these 
 St. Columbkille was the most conspicuous, because 
 he entered into the subject at greater length, and 
 is, therefore, the most revered of our sainted seers. 
 
Xii PREFACE, 
 
 There was a custom, however, very prevalent 
 amongst the Irish — an injurious one indeed in 
 many respects — to reduce the prophecies of our 
 Saints to metre, in order to suit the language of the 
 age in which they wrote^ as well as to render them 
 the more easily to be committed to memory by the 
 people, whose only solace, under their galling bond- 
 age, was the hope, held out in those predictions, 
 of their even distant relief from servitude. These 
 rhymers were, for the greater number, prophecy- 
 men, who were always well received by the people, 
 on account of the amount of information they 
 gave concerning their future liberation, and who 
 carried on a lucrative calling— one, at least, that 
 insured them an easy competence for life — as they 
 Jived generally on the hospitality of the people. 
 Most of those prophecy-men, like modern philoso- 
 phers, who believe that every human being is less 
 or more inspired with the gift of prophecy, or the^ 
 second-sight people of Scotland, fancied or feigned 
 themselves to be able to make the predictions they 
 reduced to verse, rendered much more interesting 
 by accommodating them to the men and matters of 
 their time ; while a few more scrupulous and diffi- 
 dent contented themselves with loading their text 
 with dark and cumbrous comments — a course tha 
 can neither bo commended nor condemned, since 
 many of the passages are almost inexplicable 
 This was one mode by which the prophetic writ 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Xlil 
 
 higs of our sainted seers have been much cor- 
 rupted. 
 
 There was another less excusable mode adopt- 
 ed for corrupting our ancient prophetic writings, 
 though it cannot be properly called an intended 
 corruption, but it became so blended with them, 
 in course of time, that it must be really considered 
 a grave corruption of the originals. There were 
 in Ireland — grievous to relate — persons Avho — 
 whether really, fancifully, or pretendedly, is not 
 the question here to discuss — announced that they 
 had the aid of a pythonic spirit called Leannan 
 Sighe in Irish. Those villains contrived to wind 
 themselves closely into the affections of the pei*se- 
 cuted innocent people, by pretending to the art of 
 faticination, the secret of knowing the state of de- 
 parted souls, as well as all the other future events 
 the people wished to know, and not unfrequently 
 by contending with, maligning, and condemning 
 the teaching of the clergy, who, with a zeal scarce- 
 ly credible, when their persecuted condition is 
 taken into consideration, always denounced and 
 warned their respective flocks against the wicked 
 impostures of this class of people. Those py thonics, 
 or Leannan-sighe men, as a matter of course, de- 
 livered oracles suited to local subjects and mat- 
 ters, which were eagerly received and retained in 
 the memory of the people ; and s-ome made gen- 
 uine prophecy their text, whenever it was found 
 2 
 
XIV 
 
 PREFACE, 
 
 suitable to their selfish purposes. Hence aiiothei 
 source from which unchristian errors crept into the 
 genuine prophetic poems of our saints. 
 
 Perhaps the readers of this preface may doubt 
 as to the possibility of such persons having had an 
 existence, much more the license to pui'sue such a 
 career of iniquitous villany amongst the faithful 
 Irish ! However, instead of going into a long de- 
 tail about those wicked persons, which cannot be 
 afforded here, it is enough to instance the name ol 
 Tmdogh Kieran of Lordship, near Ballyrnacscan- 
 lan, in the county of Louth, who flourished about 
 the year 1765. It would swell our pages to too 
 large an extent to give even the heads of the histo- 
 ry of this wicked man ; it is, however, strange that 
 he was able to hold such an unbounded sway in 
 the estimation of the people, since the parish priest 
 of Paughart, Rev. Brian Kieran, always warned 
 his flock against having any belief in his powers ot 
 faticination, or holding any conversation wfith him. 
 There was a Presbyterian named Gibson who lived 
 in Kewry some twenty years ago, and who followed 
 pursuits similar to those of Turlogh ; but he does 
 not appear to have been so celebrated as his pred- 
 ecessor. 
 
 There was a third source whence emanated sev- 
 eral corruptions found in English manuscript copies 
 of the prophecies attributed to St. Columbkille, as 
 well as in the catch-penny printed ones, namely, 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 XV 
 
 their amalgamation with ancient pagan traditions. 
 It is needless to instance more than one of those in 
 elucidation, that is, the massacre that is believed 
 shall be perpetrated upon the mass of the Catholic 
 population of Ulster by their Protestant neighbors, 
 in Gleann na Muice Duihhe^'^ (Yalley of the 
 Black Pig). It is necessary to premise, before 
 giving a translation of the history of the Black 
 Pig,” that all the oldest and best copies of the pre- 
 dictions of St. Columbkille and other Irish saints, 
 now extant in Ireland, have been carefully exam- 
 ined with the view of discovering even the re- 
 motest allusion to the massacre of the ‘‘Yalley of 
 the Black Pig,” yet no such has been found. 
 W ell, the origin of this imaginary massacre, 
 though ludicrous in itself, shows with what degree 
 of tenacity and correctness the Irish people pre- 
 served traditionally the several historical reminis- 
 cences of the country ; for, though we find a writ- 
 ten account of the murder of Cian, son of Cainte, 
 the incidents relative to it are much more minute- 
 ly detailed in the traditions of the people, and it is 
 upon those traditions the prophecy concerning this 
 expected vengeful murder is based. It will be 
 detailed in as few words as possible. 
 
 It is true that the real meaning of the mysterious 
 story of Cian Mac Cainte is lost in the dark maze 
 of antiquity, but tradition and manuscripts supply 
 the deficiency in an intelligible manner. Tradi- 
 
xvi 
 
 TREFACE. 
 
 tioii says that Cian was a wicked Druid who kept 
 an academy near Drogheda, and was wont to 
 change his pupils into swine, for the mere purpose 
 of setting his wolf-dogs after them, and amusing 
 himself. This wicked practice having at length 
 become known to the friends of his pupils, who 
 had often been lacerated by the fangs of his hounds, 
 while some few had been killed in the chase, the 
 three sons of Tuireann resolved to take revenge of 
 the Druid, and having watched an opportunity, on 
 the occasion of his having changed himself into a 
 black pig, pursued and killed him near Cnoc Cian 
 mic Cainte (the Hill of Cian Mac Cainte), some- 
 times called Killeen Hill in English, but always 
 Cnoc Cian mic Cainte in Irish. This hill is about 
 one and a half mile north of Dundalk ; and Cian’a 
 gi’ave was seen on the hill from the time of his 
 death until about some twenty years ago, when an 
 ignorant farmer named Dickie, who owned a lime- 
 kiln at the foot of the hill, tore it down in course 
 of excavating for the supply of materials for the 
 use of his kiln. The tradition, however, states that 
 Cian’s hand remained over his grave as an indica- 
 tion that he demanded satisfaction on his mur- 
 derers. The manuscript account of his death 
 agrees with the tradition in this respect ; and it 
 was, perhaps still is, the belief of the Irish that a 
 person murdered, or wrongfully slain, was wont to 
 hold his right hand over the grave, demanding 
 
PKEFACE. 
 
 XVH 
 
 satisfaction on the murderers. Many instances of 
 this sort of pagan superstition can be adduced, even 
 BO late as 1798 ; but it is necessary to proceed with 
 the history of Cian, or the “ Black Pig,” with as 
 much brevity as possible, as we find it in a manu- 
 script termed the “ Oidhe Chloinne Tuireinn” 
 (Fate of the Children of Tiiireann), which is 
 termed by our archaeologists one of the “ Three 
 Sorrows of Story-telling.” 
 
 The murder of the “ Black Pig” took place long 
 before the Milesian colony took possession of Ire- 
 land, namely, in the reign of Nuadh of the Silver- 
 hand, who fiourished a. m. 2744. The whole nar- 
 rative savors of some religious rite long since for- 
 gotten, since the Tuatha Dedanans were said to 
 have possessed a monstrous breed of swine — per- 
 haps the Avatar of the Hindus — and it is because 
 it had once been some sort of a religious rite, that 
 it is suspected to have been so long retained in the 
 traditions of the people. 
 
 The death of Cian, son of Cainte, is thus related 
 in the above-named manuscript piece — literal trans- 
 lation : 
 
 “ With respect to Cian ; he proceeded forward 
 until he came to Magh Muirtheimne (now tlie county 
 of Louth), and was walking on the plain. He was 
 not long there until he saw three men well armed 
 and appointed coming on his path against him. 
 
 They were the three sons of Tuireann Begrinn, 
 2 * 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 CVlii 
 
 oamely, Uair, lucliar, and lucliorba. They and 
 he were enemies ; and it was certain that wherever 
 they met, the most powerful party only should es* 
 cape. 
 
 ‘‘ Cian said, (to himself), ‘ were my brothers here 
 we would make a gallant struggle.’ And seeing a 
 sluggish herd of swine hard by, he struck himself 
 into the shape of one of the swine, and commenced 
 to root the ground as the others did. 
 
 ‘‘ Thereupon, Uair said to his brothers Have 
 ye seen that man that was walking on the lea to- 
 wards ye V ‘We saw him,’ replied they. ‘ Have 
 ye noticed where he betook himself?’ ‘We have 
 not,’ replied they. ‘ You are very careless about 
 the matter, since you will not keep a good look- 
 out in time of war ; but I know where he betook 
 himself — he struck himself with his golden wand 
 into the shape of a pig in yonder herd — ^he is not a 
 friend of ours.’ ‘ This is an unpropitious affair for 
 us,’ said the brothers. ‘ The swine belong to some 
 one of the Tuatha Dedanan race, and let us kill 
 them all, and then the droidheacht (druidical) pig 
 shall be discovered.’ ‘Ye have performed your 
 studies very inefficiently, indeed, since ye are unable 
 to distinguish the druidical animal from the natural 
 i)ne.’ And when Uair said this, he struck both his 
 brothers with his dark druidical wand, and meta- 
 morphosed them into two gracile, nimble, sweet* 
 voiced hounds, and the}' (commenced) to bark and 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 XIX 
 
 pursue the chace. In a little time the druidical 
 ' pig separated from the herd, and fled along. It 
 discerned before it a dense wood (supposed to be 
 the wood that once covered the site of the red bog 
 of Coirteal, county Louth), and shaped its course 
 through it. The pig no sooner entered the brush- 
 wood than Uair made a cast of his javelin at the 
 animal, and pierced his middle with the dart. Tlie 
 pig gave utterance to a shriek, and said: — ^^You 
 have acted very unjustly in piercing me, since you 
 know me.’ ‘ I perceive you are endowed with hu- 
 man speech,’ said Uair. ‘ I am of the Tuatha 
 Dedanan race,’ said the pig, ^ I am Cian, son of 
 Cainte ; and I request that ye will be kindly 
 pleased to allow me a favor.’ ‘ We will,’ replied 
 luchar and luchorba, ‘and we feel very sorry for 
 all that has happened : therefore we will not hurt 
 you more.’ ‘ I swear by the aerial gods,’ exclaimed 
 Uair, ‘ that if life came seven times into your 
 body, I would deprive you of it.’ ‘ Grant me a 
 request,’ begged Cian, ‘ before you put me to death.’ 
 ‘I will,’ responded Uair. ‘Well, then, allow me 
 to assume my natural shape,’ said he. ‘ I will,’ 
 said Uair, ‘ because it is a much easier task to kill 
 a man than a pig.’ Cian assumed, thereupon, his 
 natural shape, and said : ‘ Extend good mercy to 
 me.’ ‘ I will not,’ answered Uair. ‘ I then have 
 deceived you, because, if you killed me, while in 
 the shape of a ] ig, there would be due only the 
 
XX 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 €7ic (ransom money), for the killing of a pig for 
 me ; but since you are about to kill me in my 
 natural shape, there never was killed an individ- 
 ual whose erio shall exceed that due for me : and 
 the w^arlike weapons with which I shall be slain, 
 shall bring the report of my death to my son,’ 
 said Cian. '‘You shall not be slain by warlike 
 weapons, but by the hard stones of the plain,’ 
 said they. And they, thereupon, began to pelt 
 him intensely and impetuously with stones, until 
 they reduced the brave hero to a shapeless mass. 
 They then buried him a cubit under the earth ; but 
 the earth did not receive him, on account of the 
 treachery that had been used towards him. ‘ Let 
 us inter him again,’ said TJair ; and they did inter 
 him again, and the earth then received him. The 
 sons of Tuireann, thereupon, marched after Lug- 
 haidh to the field of battle.” 
 
 Now, here are the denunciations uttered by a 
 pagan against his murderers, so far back as the 
 reign of Nuadh of the Silver-hand, and only a few 
 days before the battle of Moytuir, in which the 
 Fomorians were defeated. This is certainly strange, 
 but, nevertheless, true. Two factions there were, 
 namely, the Firbolgs, who w^ere the conquered 
 race, and the Tuatha Dedanans, who were the con- 
 querors ; one of the subsequently unconquered 
 race denounced vengeance upon his murderers, 
 and, strange to yelate, this same threat of vem 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 xxi 
 
 geance has been carried 3own traditionally to our 
 own times, and made the basis of a certain ‘‘ bal- 
 derdash prophecy,’’ as Hanmer would say, very 
 vulgarly attributed to St. Columbkille. It is also 
 deserving of remark that, for the vengeance de- 
 nounced upon the conquered Firbolgs, the same 
 tenor of opinion has been handed down to us ; and 
 the Saxons, in like manner, have been represented 
 as a people who will make a bloody massacre ot 
 the Irish in the Valley of the Black Pig !” 
 
 Though this fact is one of the strongest proofs 
 that can be adduced in support of the correctness 
 of our popular traditions, yet, at the same time, 
 there is danger in receiving such without due ex- 
 amination. 
 
 This delusion about the massacre to be perpe- 
 trated in the ‘^Valley of the Black Pig,” laugha- 
 ble as it is, caused the breaking up of many a hap- 
 py home in Ulster — the generally supposed doomed 
 valley — in times not very far gone by. It was the 
 opinion of the people of Ulster — grounded on this 
 pagan tradition — that some parts of Connacht and 
 above the Boyne were safe from the range of this 
 imaginary midnight massacre. 
 
 ‘ ‘ A peck of meal is more valuable above the Boyne, 
 
 Than a bushel of gold in Dundealgain (Dundalk),*' 
 
 IS one of the quotations our northern prophecy 
 mongers give, in elucidation of the terrible strig 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 ^'xii 
 
 gle and general massacre of the Catholic 23opnIa 
 tion of Ulster by the Protestant party, in the “ Yal 
 ley of the Black Pig.” This erroneons and wicked 
 prophecy has done much harm, as remarked above ; 
 for, whenever any little commotion darkened the 
 political horizon, families not unfrequently, in or- 
 der to avoid the carnage, fled the country or prov- 
 ince, a circumstance which has caused the ruin of 
 many who might have been comfortable and high- 
 ly respectable members of society had they re- 
 mained at home. This delusion, put upon the 
 people, was not less injurious than the stern de- 
 cree, “to hell or Connacht,” had been, in its 
 day. 
 
 Speaking of these sources of corruption, we can, 
 by no means, neglect to notice the traditions of the 
 people, no doubt gleaned from prophecies now 
 lost, or unknown ; these shall meet due considera- 
 tion in this work. 
 
 Having endeavored to show the reader the three 
 principal sources whence comiption crept into the 
 prophecies of our Irish saints, it remains due to 
 say a few words about those Korans, or compound 
 of superstition, p>aganism, and demonism, found in 
 the hands of the people, under the specious name 
 of the Prophecies of Sts. Colurnbkille, Bearcan, 
 &c., in order to caution them further against re 
 ceiving such as genuine ones. 
 
 It is really painful to contemplate the effects of 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 xxiii 
 
 the many and injuriotis deceptions put upon the 
 people by such forgeries as the MS. and printed 
 English copies of the prophecies attributed to our 
 sainted seers. There has been a sort of translation 
 made of one of St. Columbkille’s prophetic poems 
 by the Eev. Mr. Taaffe, and printed in his Life of 
 that saint ; there have been attempts also made to 
 translate the prophecies of Coireall, son of Cronan, 
 Ultan, and those of one or two other saints, but it 
 has proved a failure, as the versions are very in- 
 correct, from some cause or other. But the great 
 compound of falsehood is embodied in a book of 
 considerable size, purporting to be the genuine 
 version of the Prophecies of St. Columbkille, which 
 has been printed in Bow-street, Manchester, about 
 twenty years ago. This pretended prophecy is an 
 amalgamation of some few sentences found in the 
 prophetic writings of the saint, a portion of the pre- 
 dictions attributed to Nixon, a considerable portion 
 of localized pythonicism, and a suitable leaven of 
 pagan traditionary lore. This book was pompously 
 announced as the Prophecies of St. Columbkille — 
 was eagerly bought, and no estimation can be 
 formed of the amount of injury its perusal may 
 have done to the people into whose hands it found 
 its way. The original of this pseudo-prophecy, an 
 old MS, copy of which has been once in our hands, 
 purported to have been written, more probably 
 compiled, by one Stephen Carpenter of Moynalty 
 
xxiv 
 
 PKEFAOE. 
 
 county of Meath. But when this personage liv^ed^ 
 and whether he pretended to have been a prophet 
 himself, or a simple prophecy-monger, we are un- 
 able to ascertain at present. One thing, however 
 is certain, that he executed his task with a sur 
 prising cunning and tact, rarely to be found possess 
 ed by an ordinary country peasant. Those spu 
 rious prophecies have been, and are now being 
 published in different editions, varying in price 
 from one halfpenny to a shilling ! 
 
 The*great object in publishing the present vol- 
 ume is to show the Irish people the absurdity of 
 those pernicious tracts generally received as genu- 
 ine prophecy ; and, as the originals are given, to 
 prove the correctness of the translation. The notes 
 shall be few as possible, as the main object is to 
 make it as cheap as can be for the millions, for 
 whose use it is principally designed. 
 
 In fine, it may be as well to inform the public, 
 that the original Irish, accompanying the transla- 
 tion has been copied from old vellum manuscripts, 
 and that no pains or expense has been spared to 
 procure copies wherever they were known to have 
 been extant. To this may be added the care and 
 trouble taken to collate the transcripts made with 
 an old paper copy of most of those prophecies 
 W'hich belonged to a student, named O’lTagan, of 
 St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, who, at his de- 
 cease, some years ago, bequeathed it to the Library 
 
rREFACE. 
 
 XXV 
 
 of that Institution, where it now lies, and can be 
 inspected by the curious. Hence, it is hoped that 
 the antiquity of the language will be found a 
 sufficient proof of their originality, and the purity 
 of the metre, of their perfect correctness.* 
 
 In conclusion, it is only necessary to observe, 
 that the sole wish of the Editor is to make those 
 old documents as useful as possible, in order to dis- 
 pel the popular delusion respecting false prophe- 
 cies, and to rescue so valuable a portion of Irish 
 history from oblivion. This being obtained, I shall 
 feel a consolation in having done so much of the 
 duty I consider I owe to Ireland. 
 
 N. O’Keaeney. 
 
 Dublin, November, 1855. 
 
 * There being no type of old Irish character in the United St»te», 
 we are reluctantly obliged to give the English translation and notea 
 by themaelves. 
 
 8 
 
THE LIFE OF ST. COLUMBKILLE. 
 
 We copy the following very interesting sketch of the 
 Life of St. Columbkille from Walsh’s Ecclesiastical His- 
 tory of Ireland, recently published. 
 
 Columba was born on the 7th of December, 521; he 
 was surnamed “Columbkille," to distinguish him from 
 others of the name Columba. We read that his birth had 
 been predicted by St. Patrick, and by St. Mavateus, a holy 
 Briton, long before he came into the world. His origin 
 is most illustrious : by the father’s side he was descended 
 from Niall Neigiallach, being the son of Feidhlimid, who 
 was a gi'eat-grandson to that monarch. Feidhlimid was 
 the son of Fergus, who was the son of Conal “Gulban,” 
 from whom the country of Tirconnell has been named. 
 This is then the Conal to whom St. Patrick foretold the 
 birth and sanctity of his descendant Columba, and not the 
 Conal “Crimthan" whose territory was in Meath, and 
 who so kindly received the apostle of Ireland at Tailten, 
 and was baptized by him. The kindred which the 
 O’Donnell family claim with St. Columba, is derived from 
 Dalach, who w^as a descendant of Sedna, the paternal 
 uncle of Columba. His mother, Aethnea, the daughter 
 of Macanava (filius navis), was of an illustrious and prince- 
 ly house of Leinster. It is related, that before her deliv- 
 ery of Columba, an angel appeared to her in a dream, 
 bringing a robe or cloak of extraordinary beauty, which, 
 
THE LIFE OF ST. COLUMBKILLE. 
 
 xxvi* 
 
 on presenting to her, he soon after took away, and un- 
 folding it, let it fly tlirougli the air ; on her asking the 
 reason of depriving her of it, the angel replied that it was 
 too magnificent to be left with her. She then observed 
 the cloak expanding itself far and wide over plains, moun- 
 tains, and forests, and at the same time heard the words, 
 “Woman, do not grieve: for you shall bring forth a son 
 who is to be the guide of innumerable souls, and who will 
 be reckoned as one of God’s prophets.” 
 
 He was born at Garton, and baptized in the church of 
 Tulachdubhglaisse, by a holy priest named Crothnecan 
 when very young, he was intrusted to the priest, who re- 
 generated him in the waters of baptism, with whom he 
 lived, it is said, near the church of Kilmacuenain. Re- 
 turning to his home, on a certain occasion, the priest ob- 
 served his residence illuminated with a clear light, and a 
 globe of fire suspended over the face of his pupil ; on 
 which the holy priest prostrated himself on the floor, in 
 veneration, well knowing that this occurrence indicated 
 the divine grace, which was abundantly given to the 
 young Columba ; while yet a boy, he recited the psalms 
 with the Bishop Brugacius, at Rath-Enaigh, whither he 
 had accompanied his preceptor, who had been invited by 
 the bishop, in order to celebrate the festival of Christmas, 
 Having spent three years under the care of this priest, 
 and being now qualified to enter on more arduous studies, 
 Columba was sent to the school of Finnian, of Maghbile, 
 in the present county of Dowm, then very celebrated and 
 much frequented. He very diligently applied himself, not 
 only to the acquisition of knowledge, but also endeavored 
 to model himself after the example of his holy preceptor. 
 
Kx\m 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Here ho remained several years, and was promotec. to the 
 order of deacon before he left the care of St. Finnian, 
 While officiating as such, on some principal festival, tha 
 wine for the holy sacrifice could not be found, upon which 
 Columba, going to the fountain for the purpose of pro- 
 curing water for the divine service, he blessed some, in- 
 voking the name of Jesus, who had changed water into 
 wine at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee. The prayer 
 was heard ; the substance of the water was changed, and 
 wine for the celebration of the holy sacrifice was at hand. 
 Returning to the church, Columba said to the clergy, 
 “ Here is wine for you, which the Lord Jesus has sent.” 
 They, and the Bishop St. Finnian, returned thanks to God 
 for the favor which Columba in his humility ascribed to 
 the merits of the bishop. 
 
 Having left the school of St. Finnian, he repaired to 
 Leinster, and became the pupil of a venerable old man, 
 Germanus, who had been a teacher of great reputation. 
 While reading with him in a field, it is related, a female 
 who was pursued by an assassin fled towards them for 
 protection, which, however, he disregarded, killing her at 
 their feet. Columba announced the sudden punishment 
 of God against the monster, who soon after was deprived 
 of life. The time of his stay with Germanus is not as- 
 certained. Having attended for some period the lectures 
 of St. Finnian of Clonard, he returned to his native terrL 
 tory Tirconnell. He soon commenced the erection of a 
 monastery, the foundation of which is assigned to the year 
 546, being then in the twenty-sixth year of his age. The 
 monastery he erected on a pleasant eminence studded 
 with oaks, called Doire Calgaich, whence the name ol 
 
ST. CODUMBKILLE. 
 
 xxi:^ 
 
 Derry (qow Londonderry), whicli owes its origin to the 
 establishment of St. Columba. The site on which it was 
 erected, and tho land with which it was endowed, were 
 granted by his relatives, the princes of the country. Hav- 
 ing fixed his monastery on a firm basis, he resolved on 
 visiting other parts of the country, with the view of sim? 
 larly contributing to the advancement of religion and 
 piety. Having consigned the care of his first establishment 
 to one of the older monks, he directed his steps to the 
 south of the ancient Meath, and having obtained a site 
 from a chieftain named Bredon, he erected his monastery 
 of Dairmagh, now Durrow, in the King’s county. The 
 exact year of its foundation is not known, but it became 
 equally celebrated with that of Derry, and better known 
 to strangers. 
 
 During his residence at Durrow, several prelates ad- 
 miring his sanctity, deemed him worthy of the episcopal 
 order, and accordingly sent him with letters of approba- 
 tion to St. Etchen, then residing at Clainbile, in the 
 county of Meath, to be by him consecrated. He was re- 
 ceived by this prelate with marks of kindness and es- 
 teem, and was shortly after ordained priest, as he had 
 ah objection to any higher advancement in ecclesiastical 
 dignity. 
 
 The bishop Etchen was descended of an illustrious fam- 
 ily of Leinster ; his father, Manius-Ecceas, and his mother, 
 Briga, being both collaterally descended from Niath-corb, 
 the ancestor of all the kings of that province ; and it is 
 said Columba, having arrived near the church of St- 
 Etchin, inquired for the bishop, and was told, “ there he 
 is below, plough ng in a field.” The ordination of Co 
 s* 
 
XXX 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 laiiiba is supposed to have taken place a. d. 551, and ip 
 the 30th year of his age. 
 
 Columba is charged with being the cause of a war be- 
 tween the* king of Ireland and his relatives, in which the 
 troops of the monarch were put to flight, and three thou- 
 sand of them slain, while the relatives of the saint lost 
 only one soldier. The monarch of Ireland threatened to 
 extirpate the whole race of Tirconnel, and with that in- 
 tent marched towards their territory. Thus was the mon- 
 arch the aggressor, and against him the saint threatened 
 the vengeance of heaven, — the only par’: he seems to have 
 taken in this melancholy transaction. The battle in which 
 the relatives of St. Columba were so signally successful 
 was fought at Culdremni, not far from Sligo, to the north, 
 in the year 561 ; the saint praying, in the mean time, to 
 the God of battles, to bestow the victory on those whom 
 the monarch would have annihilated. 
 
 Columba, inflamed with zeal for the conversion of the 
 northern Piets, and of his countrymen who were settled 
 in Argyle and in other adjacent tracts, resolved to go and 
 preach to them the truths of salvation. Before his de- 
 parture for that country, a grant of the island of Hy was 
 made to him by his relative Conall, king of the Albanian 
 Scots. Accompanied with twelve disciples — Baithen, the 
 successor of Columba ; Cobtach, the brother of Baithen ; 
 Ernaan, the uncle of holy Columba ; Dermod, his steward 
 or overseer; Rus and Fethuo, the sons of Rodan ; Scan- 
 dal, son of Bresail; the son of Endeus; the son of Neil; 
 Luguid Mocutheimne ; Echoid ; Thorannu Mocufir ; Cetea, 
 Cairnaan, son of Branduib, the son of Meilgi Grillaan, — 
 he set sail for the island, w^aere he arrived after a short 
 
ST. CxOLUMBKIIXE. 
 
 XXXI 
 
 passage, in the year 563. He . then prcxieeaed to the 
 erection of his monastery ani church, and soon after un- 
 dertook the conversion of the northern Piets, who inhab- 
 ited tlie whole of Scotland, north of the great range of 
 the Grampian mountains. The saint was the first Chris- 
 tian missionary who preached in this wild region ; and 
 having repaired to the residence of King Brude, whosa 
 gates.were shut against him by order of that prince, but 
 on advancing with his companions, and making thereon 
 the sign of the cross, the bars were immediately un- 
 loosed. The king, as well as his council, struck with 
 terror at the prodigy, went forth to meet Columba, whom 
 he welcomed in the most respectful manner, and treated 
 with every mark of attention. The king received the 
 word of life, and the Magi, still anxious to sustain their 
 ancient errors, exerted themselves in preventing the mis- 
 sionaries from preaching to the people. ®h% Almighty 
 was, however, pleased to confirm the mission of Columba 
 by various miracles. A boy having died whose parents 
 were converted and baptized, the magi, hoping to profit 
 by the event, began to jeer and insult the parents, and to 
 boast that their deities were stronger than the God of the 
 Christians. Columba, apprised of the insolence of the 
 Magi, went to the house of the parents, and exhorting 
 them to have confidence in the mercy of God, was 
 shown into the apartment where the body of the boy 
 was stretched. Ordering the persons who were present 
 to retire, Columba fervently prayed for some time, and 
 then directing his eyes to the body of the deceased, he 
 said: “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, arise and 
 stand upon thy feet.” Immediately the boy returned tc 
 
XXXll 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 life ; and the saint, taking him by the hand, brought him 
 to his parents, whose sorrow was thus suddenly changed 
 into joy and exultation, — and glory was thus given to that 
 God who confounds the scoffer, by exalting his saints^ and 
 rendering their cause triumphant The exertions of the 
 saint were attended with great success — churches and re- 
 ligious houses were erected in that country during the 
 time of his first preaching there. He also left persons to 
 instruct the converts and to propagate the faith of Christ 
 during his temporary absence. It is said that he pene- 
 trated into the Orkney Islands, and formed cells in them. 
 His proceedings in the Western Isles are better known. 
 With indefatigable zeal he visited them frequently, preach- 
 ing the gospel — supplying them with religious instructors 
 — erecting churches, and founding pious communities. 
 Hymba, one of those isles, is particularly mentioned as a 
 favorite retreat of St. Columba, Here he erected a mon- 
 astery, over ‘which he placed, some years after, his ma- 
 ternal uncle, Ernan, and in which he was visited by four 
 founders of monasteries in Ireland — Comgall, Cainnech, 
 Brendan of Clonfert, and Cormac Hua Liathain; and 
 there, while celebrating the divine mysteries, at their re- 
 quest, and in the presence of these holy men, St. Brendan 
 saw a very bright flame, like a burning pillar, as if as- 
 cending from his head, which continued from the moment 
 of consecration until the sacrifice was completed. It was 
 also in this island that he had some extraordinary visions 
 from heaven, which lasted for three days, and as many 
 nights. 
 
 He founded several monasteries in another island called 
 Ethica, over one of which presided Baithen, who after- 
 
8T. 0OLU]tfBKILT.E. 
 
 xxxiii 
 
 wards became his successor in the abbey of Hy. A dis- 
 ciple of his, and a priest named Finachan, with whom tho 
 saint was displeased for concurring in having promoted to 
 the priesthood Aidus (the black), of the royal blood oi 
 the Irish Piets, a sanguinary man, who had killed, besides 
 others, Diermit, monarch of Ireland, founded another 
 monastery in the island of Ethica. 
 
 While St. Columba was engaged in visiting the adja- 
 cent islands, converting and civilizing the inhabitants, he 
 was frequently obliged to struggle in their defence, as was 
 St. Patrick, in Ireland, against certain depredators, pro- 
 fessedly Christians, who trafficked in the plunder which 
 those islands afforded. One of those spoliators, John, of 
 the royal family of Gauran, who was coasting along the 
 islands, St. Columba warned to desist from his unlawful 
 pursuit, and to return the booty which he acquired, lest 
 the vengeance of heaven should overtake him. Despising 
 the admonition of Columba, he set sail, but he was soon 
 overtaken by a violent blast from the north, which sank 
 the vessel, so that he and his companions miserably per- 
 ished, as St. Columba foretold. 
 
 Having excommunicated some of the ringleaders, who 
 were of the royal family of the British Scots, one of their 
 adherents, Lamdess, resolved on his destruction, rushed 
 against him with a spear, but the saint providentially es- 
 caped intact, as the assassin, notwithstanding all his might, 
 was not able to drive his weapon through the garment of* 
 the saint, which Findulgan, a monk of Hymba, who threw 
 himself between Columba and his intended murderer, had 
 put on. 
 
 St. Columba superintended also the affairs of the Brit- 
 
xxxiv 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 ish Scots, and formed some religions establishments in 
 their kingdom ; one of those near Logh-Awe, in Argyle, 
 was governed by one of his monks, named Cailten. 
 ^hough intent in watching the ecclesiastical concerns of 
 his Scottish institutions, Columba did not neglect the care 
 of those which he had formed in Ireland. Thither he 
 sent messengers to transact the business relative to their 
 management, and repaired himself in person, when mat- 
 ters of importance required that he should appear. He 
 was frequently visited by persons from Ireland, who were 
 either his friends or others who were desirous of consult- 
 ing him on religious subjects. Such he always received, 
 whether of high or low condition, with the greatest kind- 
 ness, and entertained with becoming hospitality. 
 
 Among those Irish visitors was an Aidus, a very reli- 
 gious man, who had lived twelve years with St. Brendan 
 of Clonfert. On the day before his arrival, Columba said 
 to his brethren, “We intend to fast to-morrow, as usual, 
 because it will be Wednesday, but on account of a stran- 
 ger who will be with us, the fast will be broken.” Such 
 was the discretion of Columba, that he did not scruple to 
 give necessary refreshment to a wearied traveller, without 
 obliging him to wait for the ordinary hour of taking food 
 on a fast-day. Cronan, a bishop of Munster, was another 
 visitor, who did not through humility wish that his dig- 
 nity, as a bishop, should be known to Columba. But in 
 the celebration of mass the bishop having called on the 
 saint to join him as a priest in breaking the Lord’s bread, 
 Columba came up to the altar, and looking him in the 
 face, said, “ Christ bless you, brother, do you alone break 
 it, according to the episcopal rite, for now we know that 
 
ST. COLUMBKnXE. 
 
 XXXV 
 
 you are a bishop. Why have you hitherto endeavored to 
 conceal yourself, so as not to let us pay that veneration 
 due to you by us ?” 
 
 Columba was held in the highest veneration by clergy 
 and people, as well as the sovereigns of Ireland and those 
 of Britain ; an instance of which occurs in his having 
 been the person selected for inaugurating, or as his biog- 
 raphers express it, “ ordaining Aidanas king of the British 
 Scots,” after the death of Conal. - The saint was unwilling 
 to inaugurate Aidan, as he was more inclined to have Eu- 
 gene, Aidan’s brother, raised to the throne ; but having 
 been repeatedly warned by nocturnal visions to ordain 
 Aidan as king, he consented to do so ; and the prince 
 having arrived at his monastery of Hy, Columba performed 
 the ceremony. Cumineus and Adamnan relate, that when 
 Columba was in the island of Hymba, an angel appeared, 
 holding a book, which the heavenly messenger ordered 
 him to read, and to ordain Aidan king, as that book com- 
 manded. The saint refusing to obey the order, we are as- 
 sured, was struck with a whip, and a mark was left which 
 remained during his life. The angel then assured him 
 that he was sent by the Almighty, and threatened to re- 
 peat the former chastisement if he would persist in hia 
 disobedience. 
 
 Henceforth Columba became much attached to Aidan, 
 ior whom the predilection of heaven was so signally 
 manifested, and afterwards evinced his anxiety for the wel- 
 fare and prosperity of this king, whose inauguration was 
 blessed by his own hand. When Aidan was afterwards 
 commencing a battle against the enemies of his kingdom, 
 Columba, then in the monastery of Hy, ordered his at- 
 
XXXVl 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 tendant Diermit to strike the bell, upon which the monki 
 hastened to the church, to whom he announced, having 
 first devoted some time to prayer, that the barbarians 
 were defeated, and that Aidan had gained a victory, }et 
 not without great loss on his side. 
 
 In the year 590, St. Columba paid a visit to Ireland — 
 an assembly being at that time held at Drumceat, in the 
 county of Derry. Aidus was then monarch of Ireland, 
 and Columba was invited in the most pressing manner to 
 assist at this national convention. It appears, that one oi 
 its objects was the suppression of^the Bardic institute, 
 against which was raised a cry of general dissatisfaction 
 throughout the country. Various were the charges which 
 the enemies of the order preferred ; and to destruction 
 would the whole order have been doomed, had not Co- 
 lumba interposed his good offices. Upon his advice it 
 was arranged that their number should be limited, and 
 that certain rules should be adopted, by which annoyance 
 to the public would be ;*8moved. From Drumceat St. Co- 
 lumba repaired to his favorite monasteries of Derry and 
 Durrow ; he afterwards visited Clonmacnoise, where he 
 was received with great marks of attention and kindness. 
 At this time he also visited the abbey of Ballysadare, 
 whither St. Muridach, bishop of Killala, and St. Derv- 
 hail, a holy nun of Erris, came to pay him their respects, 
 with whom he must have tarried some time, as he is enu- 
 merated among the saints who blessed the port of Killala. 
 His next visit was to St. Cdmgall, of Bangor ; thence he 
 went to-Uoleraine, to which place the inhabitants of the 
 country came in multitudes to see him and obtain his 
 benediction. St. Columba returned to his monastery of 
 
ST. COLUMBKILLE. 
 
 XXXVU 
 
 Hy, and though now far advanced in years, continued to 
 govern both it and his other religious establishments. 
 
 The happy day of his release from toil approaching, 
 Columba, attended by Diermit, went to bless the barn 
 which belonged to the monastery, and having acquainted 
 his faithful attendant that the last of his days had arrived, 
 he ascended an eminence, and with upraised hands gave 
 his benediction ter the monastery. On his return to the 
 abbey he sat down in an adjoining hut, and copied a part 
 of the Psalter ; and having come to a passage in the 33d 
 Psalm, Inquirentes autem Dominum, non deficient omni 
 bono,” he stopped, and said, “ Let Baithen write the re- 
 mainder.” 
 
 The saint afterwards attended vespers in choir, and then 
 retired to his cell, where he reclined on a bed of stone, 
 and gave instructions which were to be at a future time 
 delivered to the brethren of his establishments. The hour 
 for midnight prayers having arrived, Columba hastened to 
 the church ; his attendant soon after entered, and found 
 him in a reclining posture before the altar,. and at the 
 point of death. Immediately the monks were assembled, 
 who were expressing their sorrow with tears, but the saint 
 raising his eyes, viewed them with a bright and cheerful 
 countenance, and with the assistance of Diermit, who 
 raised his right hand, Columba gave a final benediction to 
 the community, and resigned his soul into the hands of 
 his Saviour^ whom he faithfully served, on the morning of 
 Sunday, the 9th of June, A. D. 597, and in the seventy- 
 eixth year of his age. 
 
 The memory of this great and extraordinary saint is, 
 and ever will be held in the highest veneration, not only 
 4 
 
XXXViil THE LIFE OF ST. COLTBIBKILLE. 
 
 in Ireland, but also in Scotland, the Hebrides, and ovei 
 the western church. Though only a priest, St. Columba 
 exercised ecclesiastical jurisdiction even over the bishops 
 of those countries, and this singular privilege was reserved' 
 to his successors a considerable time after his death, as a 
 mark of respect to his memory. St. Columba drew up a 
 monastic rule, which was strictly and faithfully observed 
 in all the houses of his institute. He composed several 
 tracts in prose and verse, abounding with scriptural knowl- 
 edge and theological research. Three of his Latin hymns 
 have been published — the first, commencing with the 
 eternity, unity, and trinity of God, embraces other sacred 
 subjects, and concludes with a description of the day of 
 judgment,- the general resurrection, and the rewards of the 
 just and the impious. He has also left a beautiful tract 
 in honor of St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise. His last com- 
 position was the Life of St. Patrick written in the Irish 
 language. 
 
 “ The prophecies of St. Columbkille have ever since his 
 time been familiar to the Irish people, amongst whom they 
 are often quoted in connection with the subsequent history 
 of their country. Their authenticity has been questioned 
 even by Irish writers, yet they are admitted by all to be 
 amongst the most remarkable documents of our own or 
 any other country. There is no Irishman, no student of 
 Irish history, who would not wish to be acquainted with 
 St. Columbkille’s Prophecies.” 
 
THB 
 
 FROPnECIES OF ST. COLUMBKILLE, 
 
 ADDRESSED TO ST. BRENDAN. 
 
 The time shall come, 0 Brendan,^ 
 
 When you would feel it painful to reside in Erin ; 
 
 The sons of kings shall be few in number, 
 
 And the literati shall be deprived of dignity. 
 
 They (the people) will continue to reside in stone mansiona) 
 They will inhabit the islets on the lakes ; 
 
 They will not perform charitable acts, 
 
 And truth shall not remain in them. 
 
 They will plunder the property of the church, 
 
 They will take preys of cattle furtively ; 
 
 They will treat men of learning disrespectfully, 
 
 Afterwards they themselves shall become powerless. 
 
 * 0 Brendam. This was St. Brendan, whom St. Cplumbkille if 
 represented as addressing ; probably the poem was a letter from 
 St. Columhkille to his friend. 
 
22 
 
 THE PROBHECIES OF 
 
 The sons of kings (great men) will become archaeologist^ 
 The descendants of sages shall become ignorant ; 
 
 They will be continually sneering at each other, 
 
 They will employ themselves at reading and writing. 
 
 They will scoff at acts of humanity,* 
 
 And at irreproachable humility ; 
 
 Men of learning shall become rare among thenit 
 And ignorant men shall prosper. 
 
 There shall come times of dark affliction. 
 
 Of scarcity, of sorrow, and of wailing, 
 
 In the latter ages of the world’s existence ; 
 
 And monarchs will be addicted to falsehood. 
 
 Neither justice nor covenant will be observed, 
 
 By any one people of the race of Adam : 
 
 They will become hardhearted and penurious, 
 
 And will be devoid of piety. 
 
 Men will become murmurers, — 
 
 The trees shall not bear the usual quantity of fruit ; 
 Fisheries shall become unproductive, 
 
 And the earth shall not yield its usual abundance. 
 
 The clergy will become fosterers. 
 
 In consequence of the tidings of wretchedness (that wiD 
 reach them) ; 
 
 * This stanza gives a true description of the ignorance and inho> 
 marity of the task-masters of the Irish people. 
 
ST. COLUMBKILLE. 23 
 
 Churches shall be held in bondage (i. e. become private 
 property), 
 
 By the all-powerful men of the day. 
 
 Inclement weather, and famine shall come, 
 
 Hatred, malignity, and despair ; 
 
 The natural span of human life shall be abridged, 
 
 And fishes will forsake the rivers. 
 
 The people oppressed by want of food, shall pine to death|, 
 Meanwhile they shall be bound in slavery 
 And in consequence of their enmity to one another, 
 Dreadful storms and hurricanes shall afflict them. 
 
 Judgesf will administer injustice. 
 
 Under the sanction of powerful, outrageous kings ; 
 
 The common people will adopt false principles. 
 
 Oh, how lamentable shall be their position ! 
 
 Doctors of science shall have cause to murmur. 
 
 They will become niggardly in spirit ; 
 
 The aged will mourn in deep sorrow, 
 
 On account of the woeful times that shall prevail. 
 
 ♦ The two first verses of this stanza give a correct picture of the stat« 
 of distress to which the people have been frequently reduced by their 
 oppressors ; the word daera (slavery, bondage), has evidently refer- 
 ence either ^to the slavery under which the poor groaned during 
 times of starvation, or to their confinement in the workhouses duF- 
 ing the late famine. 
 
 t This stanza appears to indicate the injustice dealt upon the Irish 
 people through the partiality of judges and juries supported by stat# 
 protection. 
 
 4 * 
 
24 
 
 THE PKOPHECIES OF 
 
 Cemeteries shall become all red (dug up),^ 
 
 In consequence of the wrath that will follow sinners; 
 Wars and contentions shall rage 
 In the bosom of every family. 
 
 Kings (great men) shall be steeped in poverty, 
 
 They will become inhospitable to their guests, 
 
 The voice of the parasite will be more agreeable to them 
 Than the melody of the harp touched by the sage’s finger 
 
 Their candles shall be quenched,! 
 
 Without intermission each sabbath-day ; [ticesj 
 
 In consequence of the general prevalence of sinful prac- 
 Humility shall produce no fruit. 
 
 The professors of science shall not be rewarded, 
 Amiability shall not characterize the people, 
 
 Prosperity and hospitality shall not exist. 
 
 But niggardliness and destitution will assume their places 
 
 The changes of seasons shall produce only half their verdure, 
 The regular festivals of the church will not be observed ;J 
 All classes of men shall be fiHed 
 With hatred and enmity towards each other. 
 
 * A true picture of the present condition and feelings of the peo» 
 
 pie. 
 
 t The two first lines of this stanza evidently refer to the change ot 
 ceremonies adopted by the reformers in disusing candles. 
 
 X Beait an t-mere da hriseadh. This verse contains the prediction 
 of the discontinuance of the obligation to refrain from servile works 
 on holy days by the reformed Church, and the subsequent retrench- 
 ment of several holy days by the Catholic Church, in consequence 
 of the necessity imposed on the people of many districts to work oa 
 those days. 
 
" ST. COLUMBKILLfl. 
 
 25 
 
 The people will not associate affectionately with each other, 
 Daring the great festivals of the seasons ; 
 
 They will live devoid of justice and rectitude, 
 
 Up from the youth of tender age to the aged. 
 
 The clergy shall be led into error, ^ 
 
 By the misinterpretation of their reading ; 
 
 The relics of the saints will be considered powerless, 
 Every race of mankind will become wicked ! 
 
 They will construct islands 
 
 Upon the pools of clear water (lakes) ; 
 
 Numberless diseases shall then prevail, 
 
 When Ath-na-cuilte shall be drained.f 
 
 Sons of kings will not have sureties of kine. 
 
 Fortifications will be built narrow ; 
 
 During those times of dreadful danger, 
 
 Persons born to inheritances shall be sorrowful, 
 
 Young women will become unblushing. 
 
 And aged people will be of irascible temper ; 
 
 The kine will seldom be productive, as of old ; 
 
 Lords will become murderers 
 
 * Evidently alludes to the various versions of the Scriptures in- 
 troduced by the reformers and their followers, if not to the abuse of 
 private interpretation of the sacred volume. Jfionn here means the 
 head, or other holy relic of a saint, and also an oath ; because peo- 
 ple used to swear by the head or other relic of a saint. The versa 
 may also be read — shall nolhs considered, binding qn conscience, 
 t Aih-nonCVriUe, In one copy Ath-na-heliU, Most commentators 
 suppose this place to be the present Annahilt, near Hillsborough, 
 county of Down, contiguous to which is now a bog, probably the 
 state of drainage to which reference is made in the text. 
 
26 
 
 THE PROPHECIES OF 
 
 Young people will decline in vigor, 
 
 They will despise those who shall have hoary hair ; 
 
 There shall be no standard by which morals may be re§ 
 ulated, 
 
 And marriages will be solemnized without witnesses.* 
 
 Troublous shall be the latter ages of the world, 
 
 According to the Book of Truth : — 
 
 The clergy shall become ignorantf 
 Concerning the real festivals of the church. 
 
 The dispositions of the generality of men I will poin^ oal| 
 From the time they shall abandon hospitable habiU- • 
 With the view of winning honor for themselves, 
 
 They will hold each other as objects for ridicule. 
 
 I am Columbkille, 
 
 A prophet that speaks with peispicuity; 
 
 I can discern in my little book 
 
 The clear explanation of all knowledge. 
 
 The possessors of abundance shall fall 
 Through the multiplicity of their falsehoods ; 
 Covetousness shall take possession of every glutton. 
 
 And when satiated, their arrogance will know no bounds. 
 
 * And marriages shall be^fiolemnized without witnesses. FiaghcUn^ 
 In the text, seems to mean testimony, &c., though in many parts of 
 Ireland it signifies issue, posterity, <fec. Ex. FJ fern ague a fkiadr- 
 hain 'na dhiaigh?’' (he himself and his posterity after him). If wo 
 adopt the latter meaning, the reading then is : — And marriages 
 $hall not he hUssed with an issuey 
 t Vide note, p. 24. 
 
ST. COLTJMBKILLE. 
 
 27 
 
 Between the mother and daughter, 
 
 Anger and bitter sarcasms shall continually exist ; 
 Neighbors will become treacherous,* 
 
 Cold, and false-hearted towards each other. 
 
 The gentry will become grudgeful, 
 
 With respect to their trifling donations ; 
 
 And blood relations will become cool towards each other; 
 Church livings shall become lay property. 
 
 All classes of people will be addicted to robbery, 
 
 Lords will become cold-blooded murderers ; 
 
 Ill-will and exclusive dealings 
 Shall subsist between father and son. 
 
 Such is the description of the people, 
 
 Who shall live in the ages to come ; 
 
 More unjust and iniquitous shall be 
 Every succeeding race of men ! 
 
 The time shall come, <fec. 
 
 SAINT COLUMBKILLE CECINIT. 
 
 Hearken thou, Boithin,f with attention. 
 
 To the chime of my bell in chilling Hy ! 
 
 ♦ A true picture of the present state of social intercourse, 
 f This St. Boithin was a contemporary of St. Columhkille ; it wa* 
 he that founded Jfainis^ear Boithin^ now Monasterboice, in the 
 county of Louth, A raving, ignorant antiquary asserts that St. 
 Boithin was no less a personage than the river Boyne I and there- 
 fore imaginary. But there is a wide difference between the names 
 Boithin and Boinn, 
 
28 
 
 THE PROPHECIES OP 
 
 Until I relate, after having finished my psalmody, 
 
 Things that shall come to pass in the latter ages of the 
 world. 
 
 Great carnage shall be made, justice shall be outraged, 
 Multitudinous evils, great suffering shall prevail, and many 
 unjust laws will be administered ; 
 
 Leath Cuind is causing great apprehension to me, 
 
 Above all other people upon the fair surface of the earth. 
 
 'Jliough they shall be a pious, noble race. 
 
 They shall be reduced to a state, of distress in latter times ; 
 A haughty clergy, and powerful kings, 
 
 Will cause their complete thraldom and lasting sorrow. 
 
 Every act that shall cause their dispersion is decreed. 
 According to the will of the Son of the Blessed Virgin 
 Mary, 
 
 % * * * * ^ great event shall happen, [tive* 
 
 I fail not to notice it : — rectitude shall be its specious mo- 
 
 But if ye be not active pure, 
 
 A more sorrowful event cannot possibly happen : 
 
 Outside (despite) of Alba the mediatrix, , 
 
 There shall be a defeat in the battle of^e Lagenians. 
 
 There shall be a son of youth, a successful king,^ 
 
 He will be a noble personage, and an Archbishop ; 
 
 On a Tuesday Cormac the gentle shall be slain. 
 
 Justice will be his object, and sincerity his pursuit. 
 
 ^ This stanza relates to Cormac Mac CuUlenau, Arehl^hop' of 
 Cashel and king of Munster. 
 
ST. COLTJMBKILLE; 29 
 
 Notwitiistanding all circumstances, it shall be on Thursday 
 The vital spark shall depart from the king’s body : — 
 
 After that an illustrious person will come 
 From Meath, with a strong body of forces. 
 
 His power shall extend from shore to shore : 
 
 A fleet will arrive in Loch Ribh, 
 
 That fleet of Loch Ribh,^ 
 
 Shall prove advantageous to the stranger race. 
 
 The abbacy of Armagh shall be subject to them,f 
 Their career shall be similar to that of sovereign princes 
 Thirty years after that shall last 
 The sovereignty of the Adulterer. 
 
 All will adhere to him to their disgrace, 
 
 Until he shall depart this life at Cloyne of Kiaran ; 
 
 After that the CairneachJ will assume the sovereignty, 
 
 Of Eire without interruption. 
 
 Fifteen years, in vigor and purity, 
 
 Shall the CAIRNEACH reign as supreme King ; 
 
 Should the CAIRNEACH be counselled by me. 
 
 He, the liberal, the hilarious, the pious, and the hopeful, 
 
 * Loch Rihh, This stanza evidently alludes to the fleet of th« 
 Norsemen that landed in Connacht. 
 
 t This stanza gives the desecration of Christian Churches by th* 
 Danes, who placed lay abbots in them, and the career of the wicked 
 Tuigesius, their king. 
 
 t Cairneach means a sacrificing priest, but is put here for a hero 
 who made a great slaughter on his enemies ; no doubt, Maelseach- 
 lain, king of Meath, is meant, since he succeeded the adulterer Tur- 
 gesius. The subsequent stanzas show that Brian Boroimhe, wha 
 iacceeded Maelseachlain, is also caUed a Cairneach. 
 
so 
 
 THE PROPHECIES OF 
 
 He would avoid joining in the terrific struggle, 
 
 Jn which he will engage on Clontarf ; 
 
 Clontarf, the field whereon shall be fought, 
 
 The very terrific, gory, tumultuous battle. 
 
 In consequence of which multitudes of men shall be laid 
 prostrate in gore, 
 
 Upon the field possessed by the wily man ; 
 
 The Mael will afterwards appear. 
 
 He shall spring from a tribe in South Leinster. 
 
 Brilain shall be tributary to him, — * 
 
 A matter of fact that cannot be controverted, — 
 
 That same Mael of the unsheathed swords. 
 
 Will break the battle of Silabh Grot. 
 
 That Mael, without either struggle or prohibition, 
 
 Shall repel the king of Munster ; 
 
 That king shall be the valiant CAIRNEACH, 
 
 Who will break the battle of Glen Madhma.f 
 
 He will immure the foreigners in their fortresses, 
 
 And will operate a change to their disadvantage ; 
 
 Yet that same Mael,J the son of Donn, 
 
 Shall prove injurious to Leith Guinn, the seat of literature. 
 
 ♦ This stanza is not easily understood, unless we adopt the tra- 
 dition often heard, that an Anglican king solicited aid from Brian, 
 Boon after he assumed the supreme government of Ireland, as genu 
 ine history. 
 
 t The battle of Glen Madhma was fought by Brian Boroime against 
 the Danes and their allies. 
 
 X G'i an Mael sin mac an Damn, Mael, in Irish, signifies a ton- 
 
ST. COLUMBKILLE. 
 
 31 
 
 He will bo hospitable and kind towards hk fri^ds, 
 
 But unfriendly towards strangers ; 
 
 If this son of Donn would be advised by me, 
 
 He would not persecute Leath Cuinn.^ 
 
 Leath Cuinn renowned for warlike feats shall suffer, 
 Through the machinations of the treacherous murderer ;f 
 Though this sanguinary man will clearly discern 
 The consequences both near and afar. 
 
 This murderer, though a man of clear judgment/ 
 
 Shall be slain by the hand of another murderer ; 
 
 After that time the Fionn BanJ will appear 4 
 He will come from Munster — a great pest. 
 
 After hard struggles, and protracted warfare, 
 
 He will assume the sovereignty of two thirds of Ireland ; 
 
 Bured person, dedicated to the tutelage of a certain saint, or baptized’ 
 under his or her special protection, as for instance, Mael-patruicc, 
 servant or proteg6 of St. Patrick, Mael-Columb, the servant or pro- 
 teg6 of St. Columbkille, Mael-Brighite, the servant of St. Bridget, 
 &c. ; these cognomens became family names in after-times, as Mul- 
 patrick, or Fitzpatrick, Mael-Columb, or Malcolm, Mael-Bride, or 
 Mac Mael Brighide, Mac Bride, <fec. Donn signifies brown-haired. 
 We are not aware whether Cincide, father of Brian, was or was not 
 brown-haired ; however, donn means also a valorous man ; possibly 
 this is the true meaning of the text. 
 
 * Leith Ouinn^ Conn’s half, the northern part of Ireland. Levth 
 Moghay the southern portion, or Mogha’s half. 
 
 t FealUach fionngaUdchy treacherous murderer. This epithet is not 
 applied to Brian Boroime, but to his brother-in-law, Murehadh, king 
 of Leinster, who richly deserved it. 
 
 X Fionn hany Fionn the fair-haired. It is hard to guess who 
 meant by this Fionn, except Donogh son of Brian. He is said 
 eome from Carricklea in Munster. 
 
 5 
 
 .a 5 
 
S2 
 
 THE PROPHECIES OP 
 
 This furious Fionn from Garrick Leith, 
 
 Shall possess a spirit neither hesitative nor timid. 
 
 This person shall not meet a violent death — a great 
 But shall die at Cinn-coradh ; [matter—* 
 
 After him, the son of Dali will assume^ 
 
 The sovereignty of Meath — the son of Flann. 
 
 Seven years in full power, 
 
 Shall the span of his sovereignty extend ; 
 
 The son of Dali will be fortunate to meet friendship, 
 
 In the country of the strangers who afford only an un- 
 friendly reception. 
 
 Though their arms shall be powerful in the north and south, 
 Maelgarbh will break down their confederacy ; 
 
 Maelgarbh shall then obtain possession of Ireland, 
 Through the strength of his army. 
 
 During the life of his partner, he shall hold 
 Ireland without interruption in peace ; 
 
 This same Maelgarbh the handsome shall be 
 The Maelgarbh who will disperse my pupils. 
 
 He will take the opportunity of a favorable time to dis- 
 And will depredate my Derry ;f [perse my pupils, 
 
 * This poem contains a prophecy, as may be seen, of the most re- 
 markable kings who should hold principal sway in Ireland, but it is 
 to be regretted we cannot enter on the history of the reign of those 
 jf^rinccs, in consequence of the cheapness of this edition, which we 
 purpose for the use of the millions. 
 
 t Mo Dhoire! St. Columbkille, though in the island of Hy when 
 he wrote this, could not forget his favorite Derry ; and, foreseeing 
 
ST. COLUMBKILLE. 
 
 33 
 
 Oh, my Derry ! my beloved little Derry 1 
 My place of abode, and the solace of my existence ! 
 
 Woe betide the man, 0 God, thou whose ways are um 
 Who is destined to despoil my Derry ! [searchable,^ 
 There shall not be ^ ^ ^ ^ 
 
 % * % «r ^ * 
 
 After the despoilment of my beloved Derry, 
 
 And the dispersion of my pupils ; 
 
 A Dalcassionf shall not obtain possession of Ireland, 
 
 Ever again — a long period of time. 
 
 The king who will cause a lasting change, 
 
 Shall be from Desmond — the prediction is correct — 
 Goodness forever after that time ; 
 
 And the sovereignty shall fall to the lot of Hugh Beanan. 
 
 This Maelgarbh, with a powerful body of forces. 
 
 Will depredate Tir-Eoghan, renowned for arms ; 
 
 Every tenth individual in Ireland 
 Shall die of plague during his reign ! 
 
 the expulsion of its students and final despoilment, could not avoid 
 exclaiming in the bitterness of his soul, “ Oh my Derry ! my beloved 
 Derry,” Ac. 
 
 * The saint denounces heavenly vengeance upon the despoiler of 
 his beloved Derry. Here the MS. was illegible, and the omission is 
 not supplied in any other that has come to hand. 
 
 t A Dalcascian shall never from the date of the destruction of the 
 monastery of Derry obtain the sovereignty of Ireland, because they 
 have proved bad and degenerate monarchs, since the time of Brian. 
 It should be observed before that Maelgarbh literally means Rough 
 Mae\ so called, probably, because those monarchs thus designated 
 were bad and cruel men. 
 
THE PROPHECIES OF 
 
 84 
 
 This same Maelgarbh shall be seized on by the dh*eas«, 
 
 It shall be a terrific severe epidemic ; 
 
 The prince shall die of that sickness 
 In the centre of Limerick of the fair plains. 
 
 A man devoid of fear shall come from the north, [arms ; 
 He will be vigorous, valiant, and renowned for feats of 
 He will obtain possession, though difficult to accomplish it, 
 Of Cruachan,^ Emania, and Oileach. 
 
 The DONNf will come from beyond Loch Leipheann,J 
 If is he who shall obtain the sovereignty of Ireland ; 
 
 Until he shall fall in a battle in Leinster, 
 
 On the eminence of Dun Saileach.§ 
 
 Multitudes of men in dense ranks will there attend. 
 
 On the day that my pupils shall be avenged ; [gent pupils, 
 From the time of the dispersion of my admirably intelli- 
 To that day, shall number six score and fifteen years, 
 
 * Cruacha, written in English Cruachan, was the residence of th« 
 celebrated Meidhbh, queen of Connacht; it was the residence of the 
 kings of that province for many centuries. The word is often used 
 to denote the whole province. Emhan, situated near the present 
 town of Armagh, was the royal residence of the TJltonian kings. 
 Ailcach was the royal residence of a branch of the family of O’Neill. 
 Hugh O’Neill, the great Earl of Tyrone, is still believed to remain 
 enchanted in the rock of Aileach, whence he, with his troops, who 
 are also supposed to be enchanted there, will rush upon the fbrcea 
 of the English, in their last struggle against the Irish people. A 
 similar notion prevails respecting Gerald the fairy, Earl of Desmond. 
 
 f Bonn. The name Donn is applied to a brave man, while that of 
 Maelgarbh distinguishes a treacherous and cruel ruler, 
 
 X ZocJi Leipheann or Leiphinn. Loch Leane, situated about a milo 
 from-Fore, in the northeast of the county of Westmeath. 
 
 § Dun JSaileach, properly Drum Saileach, an old name for Armagh. 
 
ST. COLXTMBKILLE. 
 
 35 
 
 He wlio will there avenge the wrongs inflicted on my pupils, 
 Shall be he of the glossy riugletting locks from Fanat, 
 Hugh the magnanimous, the brown-haired, the irresistible, 
 The smooth-going chariot without blemish. 
 
 He of the ruddy countenance it is long until he is heard of— 
 The Defender, who will break down his enemy ; 
 
 The expert man of the race of Conn ; 
 
 The successful hero, and the subduer of the Galls. 
 
 This will be Hugh the undaunted. 
 
 To whom the pillars of Tara shall submit ; 
 
 He shall be remarkable for energy and wisdom, 
 
 He, the corner-stone (support) of every province in Ireland. 
 
 CATHAIR CONROP (the city of Conroi) shall be 
 ruined ; — 
 
 It is a fact devoid of deception— 
 
 What a misfortune this to the hosts of Munster of the 
 plains. 
 
 As well as to those of Limerick and Ceann-Cqradh !f 
 
 Seven and twenty years, without error, 
 
 Shall the campaigns of HughJ of the wondrous exploits 
 continue ; 
 
 * Gathair Chonroi, The city or residence of Conroi, son of Dairo 
 (see his story in Keating). Its remains consist of a circle of large 
 stones, heaped up without mortar ; it is situated on the summit of a 
 mountain in the barony of Corkaguiny, county of Kerry. 
 
 t Cmn CoTddh, Kinkora, the residence of Brian Boroime, near 
 Killaloe, in the county of Clare. 
 
 X Aedh, Hugh. Probably Hugh O’Neill, the great Earl of Ulster, 
 who waged a successful war against Elizabeth, the virago of England. 
 
 5 * 
 
86 THE PROPHECIES OF 
 
 According to arrangements made in the north and south. 
 He will break a battle every year. 
 
 One and twenty years with eclat, 
 
 Hugh shall reign as supreme king ; 
 
 Hill and dale shall be subject to his sway, 
 
 And Ireland shall enjoy peace under his government. 
 
 The countenance of Hugh is familiar to me, 
 
 A face overshadowed with tressing locks of soft hair : 
 
 My intellect is confused, 0 Boithin, 
 
 If I thus sufficiently describe him. 
 
 Hugh will lead a body of troops from the north, 
 
 He, the king of Clann Connell of the well-tempered swords} 
 They will march to Dublin to force tribute. 
 
 From a young lady^ of the Galls of bright shields. 
 
 Against them shall come from the east. 
 
 The king of the sea, the son of Godfrey ; 
 
 He will pour a dreadful havoc upon them 
 From that place to the lake of Tir-da-bhan.f 
 
 Throughout that battle, in which Hugh shall fall, 
 
 I assure you, though the information is sorrowful, 
 
 That when the Galls shall break forth. 
 
 Inevitable destruction shall stalk before them. 
 
 * Oigbean Gall. This jonng lady of the Galls is unquestionably 
 Queen Elizabeth, since we find by the text that Clann Conaill, or th« 
 jfreat northern septs, were led against her by Aedh, or Hugh, 
 t Li probably Smerwick, in Kerry, is meant. 
 
ST. OOlTTMBKtLLE. 37 
 
 It IS a cause of incessant pain to me — 
 
 And let all who hear it be convinced of its truth— 
 
 That Hugh the extraordinary shall fall,^ 
 
 * % * * m 
 
 Thirty years after the reign of Hugh, 
 
 In the enjoyment of plenty and freedom, 
 
 Shall the country of hospitable houses remain — long till 
 it is heard about — 
 
 Until Cliabh Glas shall come into possession of it. 
 
 This Cliabh Glas will cause severe trials, 
 
 \s he will be the cause of great disunion ; 
 
 Be that as it will, the warrior will not be pusillanimous, 
 He who will kill the hoary man deprived of one eye. 
 
 Seven kings, after Cliabh Glasf the upright, 
 
 Shall hold possession of the island of Heremon ; 
 
 Seven and twenty years, without error. 
 
 Shall pass between the sovereignty of each supreme king. 
 
 ♦ The vellum MS. was illegible here. 
 
 t Oliahh Glas, Gray chest ; a name evidently given to the English 
 invaders or their captain, probably on account of the color of the 
 suits of mail they wore,— green or gray— or because they came 
 from the country of the Piets. Though it would seem to have refer- 
 ence to the Norsemen, whose sway over Ireland lasted about tlie 
 period which is assigned to it, 189 years ; still there are reasons for 
 believing that the English invasion is meant, as in the language of 
 prophecy time is seldom intelligibly defined, and though it mentions 
 Clontarf in plain terms, the Eotha Eaniha^ rowing wheels, manifestly 
 alluding to steam paddles^ did not arrive in the time of the conflict 
 with the Danes on Clontarf. In all probability the text has allusion 
 to a second battle on Clontarf, on which occasion the city of Magh 
 Dublhi, shall be burned. 
 
88 
 
 THE PKOPHECIES OF 
 
 Thd last of those kings, who shall hold sway, 
 
 Ovef proud Ireland of the elevated mountains, 
 
 The country renowned for poetry and prosperity, 
 
 Flaun Oiotach* ** (blood-showering) will come upon them. 
 
 Foi a long time every king will be a Flann Ciothach, 
 
 Who shall assume the sovereignty of Eirin ; 
 
 It is in his time the garment of death will descend, 
 
 And the rowing wheelsj will arrive. 
 
 Ten j^undred compartments shall be in the fleet ; 
 
 It shall contain a number of true friends who cannot b« 
 repelled ; 
 
 The number of sincere friends shall be extraordinary, 
 Each compartment shall contain ten hundred men ! 
 
 The armament will spread its forces over sea and land, 
 The men composing this strange hostile fleet ; 
 
 Nor will it (the fleet) divest its bosom of garments, 
 
 Until it will rear up mounds with mangled bones ! 
 
 They will inflict on their enemies without deception, 
 
 A severe llesh-hewing course of warfare. 
 
 To such a degree that scarce a man of them shall escape 
 Across the wide-extending sea. 
 
 * Harm Gioihachy a name hy which a savage, blood-stained tyrvit 
 U designated. 
 
 ** For a long time every king shall be a Flann Ciothach, 
 
 'Wbo shall assume the sovereignty of Ireland.” 
 t Eowing wheel, evidently the paddle of a steam vessel — si ice the 
 peculiar description of the fleet is given in the following stanza, 
 ibis is ample proof that the past battle on Cbntarf is not the one el« 
 hided to. 
 
ST, COLUMBKILLE. 
 
 39 
 
 The Galls will muster on Magh Nealta,^ 
 
 Exulting in the valor of their arms ; 
 
 A keen-edged sword, their weak policy, 
 
 The Gael will cleave the head of the Gall. 
 
 The fleet of rowing wheelsf will remain aftei that, 
 
 Two short years and a half ; 
 
 It is evident that a more respectable race never existed, 
 Than that of the fleet of Inbhir Domhnain.J 
 
 This fleet that will come across the sea shall consist 
 Of ten ships, ten hundred fairy barks ;§ 
 
 Ten hundred boats ; ten hundred cock-boats ; 
 
 And ten hundred capacious skiffs ! 
 
 It (the fleet) will twice circumnavigate Eirin, 
 
 A truth devoid of any deception ; 
 
 The principal seaport belonging to the country abroad, || 
 Shall look to the west of Inbhir Domhnain. 
 
 They will gather together, a bold piece of policy, 
 
 The herds and women of the Gaedhal ; 
 
 Prosperous shall be the career of their forces, 
 
 Until they arrive near Tara. 
 
 * The ancient name of Clontarf. 
 t The rowing wheels, or steam fleet shall arrive. 
 
 X Inbhir Domhnain, or bay of Sligo. This fleet shall remain la 
 this country during two and a-half years. 
 
 § Fairy barks, another name given to this strange fleet of steam 
 vessels. 
 
 I The principal seaport belonging to the country abroad, <fec. This 
 clearly points to America, whence the steam fleet of Inbhir Domh- 
 nain shall saU. 
 
40 
 
 THE PROPHECIES OF 
 
 Flann CiotKach will there overtake them, 
 
 And the degenerate will not be timid ; [struggle, 
 
 He will pour out upon them battle and a hard-contested 
 At a place contiguous to the Rath of Cormac.* 
 
 They will all engage in a battle on the plain, 
 
 The Galls and the Gaels, 
 
 Close to the ford in the valley, 
 
 The battle shall fall but little short of a mutual carnage. 
 
 O Boithin the amiable devoid of harshness, 
 
 They will all burn with a flame of mutual affection ; 
 
 It is a consolation to my heart without any disappoint- 
 That the Galls shall be worsted in the battle. [ment, 
 
 They will pursue them with their ships, 
 
 Over the mountain-billowy ocean j 
 So that no more shall escape them with life. 
 
 Except the crew of one bark,f 0 Boithin 1 
 
 The issue shall be that during the seven-score years,t 
 The sovereignty of this people shall continue ; 
 
 * An old name of the hill of Tara, where the English forces shah 
 
 to Jhetext^“‘““'’^ ^ ^“oribed 
 
 ^ + So complete shall he the defeat of the English, that the jemain- 
 cer of their forces will take flight to one ship only. St. Ultan, in 
 reference to this signal defeat, graphically describes it thus 
 None of them shall remain after that 
 
 But so much as Urds should he able to carry cff in their claws P' 
 
 X During these seven-score years. Prophetic dates cannot he other 
 t lan mystical. See, for instance, the days of the Old Testament m 
 • propnitical olironology. 
 
ST. COLUMBKILLE. 
 
 41 
 
 They shall be exceedingly prosperous during that period, 
 Until the fires on St. John^s eve be lighted.* 
 
 The festival of St. John shall fall on a Friday, 
 
 When the young men of many races shall be expelled ; 
 They will settle eastward in the Tyrian sea,f 
 They shall obtain only a fourth part. 
 
 I concede as a favor to them without deception, 
 
 And St. Patrick also did concede the same ; 
 
 ♦ Until the fires on St. John’s eve be burned. It must be con- 
 fessed that this expression much favors the general traditional his- 
 tory relative to the discomfiture of the Danish power in Ireland. It 
 is recorded that when the Irish, after the death of Turgesius, re- 
 solved on a general massacre of their enslavers, that they, by a pre- 
 concerted signal, agreed to light fires upon every rath and hill 
 throughout Ireland, which incident was a warning that all the peo- 
 ple were to massacre the honachts^ or Danish soldiers cantoned upon 
 them. This was done, and in commemoration of the event, the fires 
 of Beal tine, or the eve of May-day, had been ever since that period 
 held on the eve of St. John’s day, the eve on which the event took 
 place, except in Dublin and its vicinity, which was then the strong- 
 hold of the Danes. Hence the May fires are still held on that eve 
 and not on that of St. John. This tradition is, indeed, a very plausi- 
 ble one ; but beyond tradition we find no written account of any 
 such massacre of the Norsemen having taken place ; and more, there 
 are reasons for thinking that the fires lighted on the eve of St. John 
 the Baptist’s day had been lighted in honor of the sun long before the 
 light of Christianity dawned upon this country. At all events, ii 
 the text has any reference to the expulsion of the Danes from Ire- 
 land, it is certain that the stanzas have been disarranged ; and, i* 
 they have, such disarrangement must have taken place many cen- 
 turies ago. In any event it is more than probable that present bel- 
 ligerent parties will adopt different interests to these advocated by 
 them at present. 
 
 t Muir Torrian, A part of the Mediterranean aea lo called. 
 
42 
 
 THE PROPHECIES OP 
 
 That seven years before the last day, 
 
 The sea shall submerge Eirin by one 'nundation.* 
 
 The angels in Heaven will celebrate 
 
 The vespers of my festival on a Thursday ; — 
 
 I with sincerity offer to the King of the heavenly lumina- 
 ries 
 
 These predictions, which I leave to posterity. 
 
 Though another may feel a commotion similar to mine, 
 
 I shall suflfer the penalty of the dread : 
 
 * Do bhearsa doibh, is ni goidk. This stanza alludes to one of the 
 petitions granted by the Almighty to St. Patrick, after having ex- 
 pelled the demons from Ireland, namely, that the surrounding ocean 
 should submerge Ireland seven years before the day of doom, so 
 that Antichrist could possess no power over the people. This wris 
 considered a great blessing, and is mentioned in the Leabhar Breac, 
 fol. 14 b. thus : — ** Acus co ti muir tarsa uii. m-bliadna ria> m-braV* 
 And the sea shall overwhelm it (Ir.eland) seven years before the 
 judgment. The same is recorded as the final doom of Ireland in 
 the Irish Nennius^ edited by Rev. Dr. Todd for the Irish Archaeo- 
 logical Society, p. 218, in nearly the same words : — “ Muirtairsi uU, 
 m-bliadna re m-brath^^ translated thus : — “ The sea will come over 
 it seven years before the day of judgment,” p. 219. John O’Connell, 
 in his Poem on Irdandy alludes to that event in the following terms 
 “ Lest the deceptions, snares, and danger 
 Of Antichrist should fall upon the Irish ; 
 
 He (the Almighty) promised to send a deluge over Ireland, 
 Seven years previous to the burning of the spheres (globes.) 
 
 “ Ralph Higden (Polychron. lib. 5, cap. 4) has recorded the tra 
 dition, that St. Patrick obtained for the Irish the singular privilege^ 
 that no Irishman shall be alive during the reign of Antichrist. Thii 
 serves to explain the expectation that the sea shall cover Ireland 
 seven years before the day of judgment. Vide Irish note^ 
 p. 219. 
 
ST. COLUMBKILLE. 
 
 43 
 
 Thus shall be without doubt or folly, 
 
 The world and the King of heaven. 
 
 I am Columb, a descendant of t^he iliustrious NialU 
 O Boithin of the pure life ; 
 
 (Those things) were clearly manifested to myself, 
 A. week from this day (on which) you hear them, 
 HEARKEN THOU. 
 
 THE THREE CONNS. 
 
 St. Columbkille cecinit. 
 
 The three Conns,^ the descendants of Ruadh,f 
 Of the race of Conall of great power ; 
 
 It is from the paternal stock of that man. 
 
 The magnates of that stock shall derive their worth. 
 
 * The Three Conns. The great men who sl^uld hold the supteme 
 power in Ireland are predicted in this proplietical poem. It is indeed 
 difficult to give any correct comment upon it, but it is evident that 
 Brian Boroime was one of the three Conns, and Hugh O’NeiU, earl 
 of Tyrone, another. Many a leader of the olden time fancied that 
 he was one of the Conns, whofee career had been predicted by the 
 saint ; and a celebrated warrior of the invading Saxons used to carry 
 the poem with him, believing himself to be the third. It is evident, 
 however, that two of those great men have passed away, and theif 
 achievements are now matters of history ; yet some few learned in 
 native lore think that one great warrior shall come forward in tim 
 to come, but it is to be feared that they are mistaken. 
 
 t Buadh^ a red-haired person ; the word also means famous, re- 
 nowned. Clan Conall^ race or descendants of Conall, the O’Don- 
 nells, and other families of distinction in Tir-connell, so called after 
 Conall Gulban. The idea of a great liberator of Ireland arising from 
 th# fiiinily of the O^DoSnells in the person of BaU-Vearg 0 Domk^ 
 
 ft 
 
44 
 
 THE PROPHECIES OP 
 
 The first Conn of tliese shall be, as I opine, 
 
 A king whose race shall be troublous and short; 
 
 His career shall be productive of little advantage to himself, 
 Though he will be prosperous while heir presumptive to 
 the crown. 
 
 In a derout, though a matter of great consequence, 
 
 He himself and his troops shall fall, 
 
 At a small isthmus between two arms of the sea, 
 
 About noontide, by the clann of Eoghan.^ 
 
 The second Conn, though he shall be tardy. 
 
 Shall be a prince in every respect ; 
 
 By his stolid crazed paternal people. 
 
 He, together with his power, shall fall. 
 
 The third Conn, a man of unimpeded career. 
 
 The honest, liberal Fionn (fair-haired,) from Fanat,f 
 Will promote the extent of his dominions by sea and land. 
 Up to Carn-Ui-Ne»d in Munster. 
 
 During three years with successful sway. 
 
 Shall he reign monarch of Ireland from south to north ; 
 
 naill (Red-Spot O’Donnell), because tradition states that a branch of 
 that fanaily had an hereditary red spot on their persons, so popular 
 in the north, may have originated with this poem. It is indeed the 
 most hard used up, and variously interpreted of* any of the prophetic 
 poems of our saint. 
 
 * Cmeal JEoghain, The Momonians ; so called from Eoghan NCor, 
 who forced Conn of the Hundred Battles to divide the kingdom aith 
 him by a line or boundary made from Dublin to Gahray ; the north- 
 ern half being Conn’s and the southern Eoghan’a. 
 
 t Fanatf Fanet, a district of considerable extent in the north, onot 
 the patrimony of the Mac Sweonys. 
 
ST. COLUMBKILLB. 
 
 45 
 
 A bright crozierwill not be unveiled against him^ 
 
 Nor a peal of bells uninuffled. 
 
 lie will form an alliance with another people, 
 
 Frc^u the northwards of Cantire ; [banquets, 
 
 They will make a descent upon the Isle of Man, of the 
 To wreak vengeance upon that people for their ancestors. 
 
 He will break down their bulwarks, 
 
 And raze to the ground their fortified places ; 
 
 The news of which shall be carried across the sea, 
 
 To the king of the Saxons in London. 
 
 That king will dispatch a great body of forces 
 
 Against them, without any deception ; 
 
 lie will force his tributes, with relentless might, 
 
 From the noble Galls of Ireland. 
 
 That expedition from the east will rendezvous 
 On the old Magh Ealta of Binn-Eadair ; 
 
 The Galls of Meath and of the great towns, 
 
 Will come and join their muster. 
 
 An alliance will be there entered into, [erlii/gs) ; 
 
 Between the Galls of this country and the Danair (East- 
 They w*ill then proclaim war without any pretext, 
 
 Against the men of Ireland and Alba (Scotland). 
 
 That proclamation of war shall be unwise ; [themselvei, 
 For in (jonseqtience of it battle shall be broken upon 
 And they shall not afterwards regain prosperity. 
 
 Until the time of their final reduction. 
 
THE PROPHECIES OP 
 
 i6 
 
 l^ucli a large assemblage of men 
 
 Never before met either in the east or west ; 
 
 And never again shall such a muster congregate, 
 
 While Ireland is a seagirt Island. 
 
 Though one may there meet his next akin, 
 
 He will, alas 1 forget the ties of kindred ; [getfalnes«| 
 And they too shall be there affected with the same for- 
 The pure Danair and the Geraldines 
 
 Neither will Conn be mindful of his kindred race, 
 
 * % % means of them, without error ; 
 
 The carnage shall be almost general. 
 
 On Magh Ealta (Clontaif,) of the garments. 
 
 They will be slain by the clanns of Conn, 
 
 And by the people descended from Oilioll Olnm ; 
 
 The descendants of Labhra Lore will aid in their de 
 struction. 
 
 On Magh Ealta contiguous to their encampment. 
 
 The city of Magh Ealta will be set on fire, 
 
 A most lamentable spectacle to behold ! 
 
 The Galls renowned for their fleets shall be broken dowi^ 
 And my Liberator Conn shall fall ! 
 
 I cannot observe, after the death of Conn^ 
 
 Aught but a sameness among his kindred clans,— 
 
 Until the so® of Ruadh (red-haired,) from the glen appeal 
 The span of the kingly reign shall be but brief. 
 
 After the blameless son of Ruadh, 
 
 Cathbarr from Cruachin shall assume the sovereign powerg 
 
ST. COLUMBKILLE. 47 
 
 Though many fraudulent acts shall be committed during 
 his reign, 
 
 He will be upon the whole a friend to the Church. 
 
 The celebrated race of Heber will arrive there, 
 
 And the clann of IR of the gold-decked accoutrements, 
 Grecians^ will afterwards arrive, 
 
 And the people descended from Ith, the son of Breogan. 
 
 It is thus the tide of affairs shall principally flow, 
 O’Boithin of the most amiable countenance, — 
 
 They were the angels of the living God, [(Conns), 
 
 Who made manifest to me the history of the three 
 THE THREE CONNS. 
 
 THE FALL OF TARA. 
 
 CoLUMBKILLE CECINIT, 
 
 Tara| of Magh Bregia which you now see so prosperou§| 
 Shall be covered with grass — all its buildings as well as 
 its elevated site, 
 
 It shall not be long ere it becomes a desert, [affluence ! 
 Though it is to day in the enjoyment of prosperous 
 
 * Who those Grecians may be, it is difficult to conjecture ; it may 
 be one of the many results which spring from war. By the people 
 descended from Ith, son of Breogain, the Spaniards and Portuguese 
 were evidently meant. 
 
 t Fall of Tara. This poem was composed by our saint on the oc- 
 casion of his pleading before Aedh, monarch of Ireland, to free 
 Aidan, king of the Albanian Scots, from the tribute long imposed 
 6 * 
 
is 
 
 THE PE0PHKCIE3 OF 
 
 I assure you in serious verity, 
 
 O Tara, the flourishing seat of monarchy, 
 
 That there is not to-night on the wide expanse of Banba 
 A place, alas ! fated to enjoy such brief stability. 
 
 The repulsive denials there met from day to day, 
 
 Strongly excite, my charitable complement; 
 
 Prosperity will forsake its hills, [there prevails. 
 
 In consequence of the rudeness and inhospitality that 
 
 To a place where neither people nor dwellings are found 
 None will resort to solicit a favor ; [means, 
 
 Sorrow must await those who make bad use of their 
 And share not with the necessitous. 
 
 Woe betide those who practise repulsiveness and refusals, 
 Who repel the peasant and the prince alike ; 
 
 It is the penalty which the acts of princes earned. 
 
 That Tara shall be devoid of a house forever. 
 
 Oileach and Tara, now seats of power, 
 
 Rath-cruachain, and Emania the lofty ; 
 
 upon his people, when the Irish monarch refused to remit that gall- 
 ing tribute imposed upon the Irish who colonized a portion of Alba 
 or Scotland. On the stern refusal of the monarch, Aedh, to grant an 
 indemnity of the tribute, the saint arose, and 'before the kings and 
 chiefs assembled, foretold the downfall of Tara, then the most mag- 
 nificent seat of royalty in Europe, confuted the haughty monarch to 
 his face by showing the vanity of the pomp of the world, especially 
 in the downfall of Tara, and the total instability of human affairs. 
 His address had the desired effect. Some centuries after this Tara 
 was cursed by St. Raadan, and was therefore abandoned, so that, ac- 
 cording to the prophecy of our saint, Tara was no more the seat of 
 a king or chief. 
 
ST. COLUMBKILLE. 
 
 49 
 
 Shall be deserted, though now so replenished, [raths. 
 To such an extent that a roof-tree shall not remain on the 
 
 The chief cause of this downfall shall be — 
 
 As the King of kings hath assured to me — 
 
 Because the chiefs of Ireland of the slender towers, 
 
 Do not believe in CHRIST without hesitation. 
 
 It shall not so happen to the saints, 
 
 Who are in compact with Him of the benign countenance ; 
 The joys prepared for them will increase each day, 
 
 In Heaven, without any dee’eption. 
 
 I assure you, without fear of contradiction — 
 
 For I have the information from my Heavenly King— 
 That no one shall find either a king or prince. 
 
 Or obtain food or drink within the walls of Tara. 
 
 TARA OF MAGH BREGIA. 
 
 EIRE THIS NIGHT. 
 
 COLUMBKILLK CECINIT. 
 
 How prosperous Eire^ is this night ! 
 
 Her immense substance is free from taxation, 
 
 Her princes are hospitable, her palaces are full. 
 
 Her people numerous, and her crops productive. 
 
 * This stanza gives a true description of the prosperous state of 
 Ireland, while governed by her own kipgs, and in the ergoyment of 
 her proper iberties. 
 
50 
 
 THE PROPHECIES OP 
 
 rhough this Eire is so prosperous this night, 
 k time will come when she will be reduced to de®tilution ; 
 A powerful force of strangers will invade her, 
 
 From Lochlan to the sea-faring Galls.^ 
 
 They will entertain kind feelings towards no person, f 
 Their hordes will take possession of every house ; 
 
 Prolific shall be the race that will come across the seas, 
 The Dan air (Danes) will be resolute fierce warriors. 
 
 Long shall their sway continue over the island of Conn 
 They shall be the less benignant of any race of people ; 
 They will prevail both by sea and land, 
 
 And will destroy the navy of our enterprising kings.J 
 
 The time shall come, it is no tribulation to me, 
 
 When their doom shall be sealed, and their further careei 
 impeded ; 
 
 (For,) on Clontarf§ of the blood-stained garments, 
 
 Battle shall be broken upon them in one day. 
 
 * Gallf a name for all foreigners ; Gael, for Irishman. 
 
 + A true picture of the barbarous pagan Norsemen is given in this 
 stanza. 
 
 t It little signifies what has been said and written to the contrary, 
 our monarchs maintained a splendid fleet. The Irish fleet was found 
 in Gaul, Britain, Lochlan, &c., conveying troops, and the Irish were 
 the first discoverers of Iceland, where they resorted to fish for o|[d, 
 and it was by the Irish America was first discovered and, most prdl>- 
 ably, partly peopled, vid. Crymogea^ Johnston^ Norse Antiq., and MS, 
 edition of the Battle of Clontarf in the library of the Royal Irish 
 Acadeiny. 
 
 § Ic Cluan^da-thai'bh^ dhc. The Norsemen were worsted and their 
 power broken down by Brian Boroimhe in the Battle of Clontarf, 
 fought on Good-Friday, A. D. 1014, vid. MS. Battle of Clontarf anel 
 Irish history^ dbc. 
 
ST. COLUMBKILLE. 
 
 51 
 
 Another race of invaders^ will come hither across the seaa. 
 Their number shall be few, though their power prove great 
 Six hundred years and ninetyf more in full, 
 
 Shall they impose their tributes upon us. 
 
 They will take possession of a portion of Ireland, 
 
 Their progress shall be but slow in the beginning ; 
 
 But they will forcibly extend their supremacy, 
 
 With a lubriciousness similar to that of a mist stealing upon 
 a headland. 
 
 ♦ Ticcfa dreniy dbc. This alludes to the English inv’-asion. The 
 number of invaders who first landed in Ireland were few indeed, 
 but they imperceptibly spread themselves over the country, like a 
 mist stealing in from the sea upon a mountain. 
 
 t Se ced hliadain^ dtc. According to the text the Saxons will hold 
 sway in Ireland during 690 years. According to the best authorities 
 the invaders landed at Bag-an-bun, a creek near Banriow, Co. Wex- 
 ford, A. D. 1170. So if 690 years be added to that date we shall have 
 the year 1860, as that in which their power shall terminate in this 
 country. It is, however, more probable, that the date should be ex- 
 tended to that in which Henry II. landed, namely, 1172. I am well 
 aware that up to that period their power was very limited, though 
 there is a popular phrase, or rhyme, which concedes to the invaders 
 the sovereignty of Ireland on their first landing : 
 
 “ At the creek of Bag-an-bun, 
 
 Ireland was lost and won.” 
 
 If to 1172 be added 690, we shall then have 1862, which is, proba- 
 bly, the more correct date. Prophecy-men assert, perhaps on the au- 
 thority of some old prophetic piece now lost, that the term of the 
 Saxon dispersion shall be prolonged for three years afte** t^^he date 
 allowed for the termination of their misrule, in consequence of “ Beari 
 Sacsanachy micaingean Eirionnaich^ agus feall AWanacE'' (the cun- 
 ning plotting of Englishmen, the internal dissensions of Irishmen, 
 and the treachery of Scotchmen). At all events all our predictions 
 agree that English power in Ireland shall have a termination, and 
 that the Irish shall once more rule over their own dearly-beloved 
 green Island. 
 
52 THE PROPHECIES OP 
 
 They will persecute the Gaels with galling ferocity ; 
 
 Their petitions for restitution will be disregarded, 
 
 This grievance shall stir up the descendants of Conn, 
 With the descendants of Eoghan of the diadems of gold. 
 
 The native Irish shall be reduced to the condition of so- 
 journers during their sway, 
 
 They shall be deprived of their rights, instead of enjoy- 
 ing their dignities, 
 
 Whole tribes will be annihilated ; their laws shall be unjust^ 
 Plotting shall constitute the main features of their career. 
 
 They will erect lime-built towers^ upon every headland, 
 Their kings will be treacherous, their nobles powerful ; 
 They will noose halters around the necks of every person ; 
 Such shall be the results of the injustice and litigiousness 
 of the stranger. 
 
 An uninterrupted course of warfare will mark their career. 
 While their keen-edged swords shall be ever reeking with 
 blood ; 
 
 Fire, robbery, and every species of infliction will prevail, 
 They will persecute the Gael into exile. 
 
 Hard-fought bloody wars will be waged, 
 
 But the Gael shall be the most frequently discomflted ; 
 To their degenerate spirit and internal dissensions. 
 
 Their downfall and subsequent sufierings may be attributed. 
 
 * This has allusion to the castles and other fortifications built by 
 the English settlers for the purposes of securing their conquests, oi 
 robberies, and of awing the natives into some sort of submission. 
 
BT. COLUMBKILLE. 
 
 55 
 
 An uncultivated language^ will be found in every person’s 
 mouth, 
 
 Proud abbots (clergy) will rule over every sanctified church ; 
 In both north and south iron wheels shall support 
 Fiery chariots, f which shall resemble druidical deception. 
 
 In the last ninety years of (Irish) bondage, J 
 A man from Munster will start into notoriety ; 
 
 Though he shall be neither a prince, a soldier, nor a lord, 
 Every person will send him tribute to Dublin. 
 
 During his career power will be measured with power. 
 
 He will relieve the families belonging to high septs ; 
 
 He will afterwards cross the boundless sea, 
 
 And he shall fall in a foreign country ! 
 
 After his decease deception will prevail over the land of Fail, 
 To such an extent that no friendly associations will exist ; 
 No man can calculate upon the support of a friend. 
 
 Any more than he can rely upon that of his sworn enemy. 
 
 * The English tongue has been condemned by all Irish writers, 
 and considered a mere jargon, which it really is when compared to 
 their own copious, sweet, polished language. Ah uaihhreach, proud 
 abbots — the protestant clergy who took forcible possession of the ab- 
 beys and churches are here meant,. 
 
 t Modha iarna. Our railway carriages, “ fiery chariots that would 
 resemble the deception caused by the operation of magic.” It was 
 always traditionally recorded that chariots without the aid of horses 
 would traverse the country. 
 
 X This and the following two stanzas plainly describe the life, 
 career, and death of Ireland’s Liberator, Daniel O’Connell ; also the 
 state of parties after his demise — extraordinary — I did not well under-* 
 stand this when I made this translat'on more than eight years ag^ 
 
64 
 
 THE PROPHECIES OF 
 
 A pure Cleric without reproach will appear,^ [drinks; 
 Who will prohibit the use of darkening (intoxicating) 
 Like the full moon amidst the lesser luminaries, 
 
 Shall the dignity of this foster-father appear. 
 
 Storms, plagues, and gnawing famine shall prevail. 
 
 The seasons will not observe their regular course ; 
 
 Plague will consume the powerful as well as the weaK, 
 With painful cramps of one half-day’s duration !j* 
 
 Dearth will become oppressive throughout the land, 
 Though there shall be abundance of food on one part (side), 
 Thousands shall die of starvation — houses shall be full,J 
 Afterwards the land shall become a barren waste. 
 
 Persons of substance shall be reduced to a state of insot 
 vency, 
 
 No bankers will supply them with the necessary funds ; 
 
 A fraudulent system of trade will enhance their ruin, 
 
 And they shall afterwards be left to weep in sorrow. 
 
 The pure fair Gael will fly away§ [world ; 
 
 Into exile into both the eastern and western regions of the 
 The scantiness of land, and oppressive debts, without a 
 falsehood, 
 
 Shall bring decay upon them day by day. 
 
 * This is Father Theobald Mathew, without any doubt, 
 t The cholera morbus. 
 
 X The houses shall be filUd. This means, either that stores shall 
 be filled with provisions, though the people shall perish of famine 
 by thousands, or that poor-houses shall be filled with agricultural 
 laborers and their families. 
 
 S The wholesale emigration of the oppressed Irish. No furthe* 
 comment is needed. 
 
ST. COLUMBK.ILLE. "55 
 
 Th6 dignities assumed by nobles and great men shall b« 
 subverted, ^ 
 
 The nobility shall sink into humble life before the great 
 war 
 
 That war that will be proclaimed against them from bt- 
 yond the seas, 
 
 By means of which the franticly-proud race shall be sub- 
 dued. 
 
 Legislators will enact fatal and unjust statutes. 
 
 To deprive the rightful clergy of church dignities ; 
 
 (For) they will look upon their fame as an impediment in 
 their way, 
 
 Misfortunes and mortifications shall afterwards becom# 
 their portion. 
 
 The laws will be enacted in a spirit of gross injustice ;f 
 The clergy of the holy church will be persecuted 
 
 * Morgliad, All our saints foretold that this great war, which 
 should ruin England, shall be proclaimed by some powerful foreign 
 potentate ; some people say that it shall be a religious war. Tim« 
 shall tell more than we can at present. 
 
 f The injustice of England in all her relations, more especially 
 those respecting Ireland, shall arouse foreign nations, both in the 
 eastern and western parts of the globe, to put a final end to her in- 
 termeddling, domineering career {vide note^ page 39). Here is a frag- 
 ment of a song written on our propheeies by the celebrated Irish 
 bard, Peter O’Dornin, on the occasion of Arthur Brownlow, Esq., of 
 Lurgan, ancestor of the present Lord Lurgan, having eontested the 
 representation of the county of Armagh with the Achesons of Mar- 
 kethill, and other powerful opponents. The bard states the final 
 downfall of England, and more particularly the puerility of support- 
 ing any one candidate in preference to another. It has been stated 
 by persons deserving credit, that the Bev. William Neilson, D. D.« 
 
 n 
 
m 
 
 THE PKOPHEGIES OF 
 
 By the false-hearted Galls, both here and abroad, 
 
 Which event will cause great excitement in every place. 
 
 The leading men and clergy shall be aroused in conse* 
 quenee of those enactments, 
 
 They will make a noisy remonstrance ; 
 
 Nothing they will do shall avail themselves, 
 
 Except to the detriment of the enemy. 
 
 The enemies of the Galls shall be aroused into activity, 
 They who reside in the eastern and western parts of the 
 world ; 
 
 a Catholic clergyman, offered forty guineas for a perfect copy of thii 
 ballad, but it could not be had. The following fragment is all wi 
 have been able to collect, and it may be worth preserving. 
 
 THE INDEPENDENT MAN. 
 
 “ When powers agree, ’tis then you shall see, 
 
 That with sudden career on Britain they’ll come ; 
 
 They’ll pell-mell all three, not sparing degree, 
 
 The gray and the green with bullet and drum. 
 
 While on their career, I’ll laugh and I’ll sneer, 
 
 Enjoying good cheer, I’ll sip of my rum ; 
 
 Yet devoid of all fear. I’ll sit like a peer. 
 
 With my bottle of beer t^/i-under my thumb.” 
 
 ON ELEcnoNEERiNo, he says : 
 
 “In Heaven’s great naine! how can they blame 
 The poor man, or shame him, in the long run ? 
 
 Ambition’s their game, what el»e do they mean. 
 
 But purchase high fame, great power, and fun ? 
 
 They may swear a big oath, that never they’ll loath 
 The poor dupe that votes for them : ’tis their plax^ 
 
 But I’ll keep my own vote ; I’ll give it to none. 
 
 Then what need I care for a parliament-man !” 
 
ST. COLUMBKILLEi 
 
 57 
 
 So that they will engage in a battle on the circumscribed 
 sea, 
 
 In consequence of which they (Galls) shall be scattered 
 (defeated). 
 
 A fleet belonging to a foreign country will come hither, 
 Manned by the descendants of Golimh^ of the gold-em 
 broidered garments ; 
 
 They shall lay prostrate the Galls of the ships, 
 
 And liberate the people who have been held in bondage. 
 
 This fleet that will arrive here from the. east, 
 
 Cannot be impeded on the mighty ocean; 
 
 Through the impetuosityf of its noisy breathing, 
 
 Its strange appearance shall be marked by flaming mouths,. 
 
 They will engage in a serious conflict, 
 
 Who compose the fleet of Balina;J 
 
 * Golimh. Golamh was the great ancestor of the Milesian race , 
 the Spaniards, Portuguese, &c,, were considered as the kinsmen of 
 the old Irish. 
 
 t La aidhheal neart^ <&c. Through the impetuosity of its noisy 
 breathing. Probably the rumbling noise of esQaping steam. Flaming 
 moutJiSj the chimneys or engineering departments of steamships. 
 
 X Lu<M in luingU Bel-an~aih. Beal-an^atka may be the name of 
 any port where a river empties itself into the sea ; but it also is tl^ 
 name of Ballina, in the Co. Mayo. There can be no reason for aa-. 
 Bociating this expedition with that of the French fleet in 1798, inas- 
 much as that fleet was not composed of steam- vessels. In another 
 place St. Columbkille says, “This battle shall be fought in the morn- 
 ing by the men of Connacht.” That battle is not yet fought — D'tU 
 cat coffgair maru gorh. After the hard- contested sea-fight. All the 
 authorities we have been able to consult, agree that the English 
 shall sustain a great defeat by sea, not in the English Channel or 
 Irish sea, but in some narrow eastern sea, perhaps in the Mediterra' 
 
58 
 
 THE PROPHECIES OP 
 
 It shall be a wonder that it will not be a mutual slaughter, 
 The conflict of those who will come hither to sever the in- 
 tricate knot. 
 
 The Galls will muster their ruthless forces with resolution, 
 After their bloody, hard-contested sea-fight ; < 
 
 On Magh-dair^ of the Druid, 
 
 oean. The English fleet has suffered considerably in the eastern 
 praters already. It is clear that, though the fame of the English 
 maritime power was great, and deserved unbounded praise for its 
 •fficiency, its day has past over, and its old hulks cannot now com- 
 pete with the ships of America, or even of France, as they are newly 
 built, on the most approved systems invented in ship-building. 
 
 * Ar mag daru^ drai, It appears from the text that Kildare 
 had been called Dara^ or Daru^ from a Druid of that name, and not 
 fVom dair^ an oak, as is generally supposed. There has been a very 
 prevalent tradition that the Curragh of Kildare shall be the scene of 
 bloodshed, in consequence of the Irish army refusing to go abroad. 
 'Whether the prediction about the present encampment there, which 
 we heard foretold a thousand times over, has been founded on this 
 text, we cannot tell, but if we give credit to many other texts, wo 
 can see that the English, as a last resource, shall muster their forces 
 some place near the Curragh, and will come to the determination to 
 conquer cr die. This determination is laconically expressed in tra- 
 dition thus: “It shall be much easier to hew an oak with a pen- 
 knife, than displace the son of a Gall from his saddle,” so resolute 
 will they be. But when the enemy shall appear, the tradition adds : 
 “They shall become as weak as a woman in travail before their 
 €«iemy.” It may as well be said here, that this tradition respecting 
 the resolute bearing of the English troops, and their subsequent dis- 
 may, is much localized ; for instance., it is said that their courage 
 shall be wound up to the highest pitch in the streets of Ardee ; but 
 that courage shall die away when they proceed some short distance, 
 and discern the great strength of the enemy, augmented by the en- 
 chanted troops of Gearoiii Jatla (Garrett or Gerald), who is said to 
 have been enchanted in a small hill near Ardee, called Mallagh Elitfu 
 This Earl is now generally supposed to have been of the Kildare 
 
ST. COLUMBKILLE, 
 
 59 
 
 It is then the battle of Mullagh-mast^ will be fought. 
 
 After the Galls shall be defeated in this battle, 
 
 They shall be harassed from every quarter ; 
 
 Like a fawn surrounded by a pack of voracious hounds, 
 Shall be the position of the Saxons amidst their enemies.f , 
 
 branoh. This is an error; he was Garrett, great Earl of Desmond, 
 commonly called the fairy earl, because he was supposed to hare 
 been skilled in magic. He governed the Earldom of Desmond 30 
 years, and died a. d. 1339, vide Dom. JKosari, O’Daly’s work, trans- 
 lated by Eev. C. P. Meehan, p. 35. In a fairy poem in my posse#- 
 sion, the raid of Gerald Jarla and his troops is thus recorded ; 
 
 ** When the bloody mills operate. 
 
 Without a drop of aught but blood, 
 
 Earl Gerald, mounted on his bald black steed will arise, 
 
 And take revenge for the blood that was spilled, 
 
 On the eve of Sunday, at Aughrim — 
 
 It is then the war will come to Ireland.” 
 
 y* 
 
 This, however, deserves but little credit, as it is a piece ot py- 
 Ihonic faticination, and not genuine prophecy, though there are hun- 
 dreds,' in the memory of persons still living, who used to assert that 
 they had many audiences with the fairy earl. 
 
 * Maistean, An ancient moat, constructed on a hill about five 
 miles east of Athy, county of Kildare. {Vide Seward.) It is now 
 called Mullaghmast, noted for a treacherous massacre of Irish chiefs 
 by the hands of the English, in the reign of Elizabeth. It appears 
 that another great battle will be fought near this place ; perhaps the 
 battle of the plains of Kildare is meant. Allusion is elsewhere made 
 to this battle. 
 
 t This stanza contains a fearful description of the state to which 
 the English will be reduced they will, no doubt, be paid home a 
 long reckoning by their oj. pressed colonies, &c., in the time of their 
 weakness. The great rain immediately following this stanza laconi- 
 cally depicts the condition of an arch-tyrant in the last stage of hia 
 existence, w-. 
 
60 
 
 THE PEOrnECY* OF 
 
 The Saxons afterwards shall dwindle down into a disreputa- 
 ble people, [perity : 
 
 And every obstacle shall be opposed to their future pros- 
 Because they did not observe justice and rectitude, 
 
 They shall be forever after deprived of power ! 
 
 Three warnings^ will be given them before their final fall, 
 The burning of the Tower of the great kings, 
 
 The conflagration of the Dock-yard of the Galls, 
 
 And the burning of the Treasury where gold is deposited. 
 
 This new Eire shall be Eire the prosperous, 
 
 Great shall be her renown and her power ; 
 
 There shall not be on the surface of the wide earth, 
 
 A country found to equal this fine country ! 
 
 EIRE THIS NIGHT, Ac. 
 
 MAELTAMHLACHT CECINIT. 
 
 Relate, O Maeltamhlacht,f 
 
 The history of the latter ages of the world ; 
 
 The fate of the nations of the earth. 
 
 Since it is you that see, and have seen it. 
 
 * Three warnings will be conceded to the English to prepare them 
 for their final downfall, namely, the burning of the Tower of Kings, 
 or Tower of London, the burning of the Doch-yard, and the destruc- 
 tion of the Treasury, or Bank ; the two former have already been 
 given, but the third is yet to come. 
 
 t It is impossible for us to enter upon any thing like a full account 
 of our sainted prophets in the present edition, for the rerwona betora 
 
61 
 
 ST. MAELTAMHLACHT. 
 
 Relate, if it be not an improper request, 
 
 Since you are skilled in solviog all queries. 
 
 How the times shall be, 
 
 That are to come upon us, 0 Cleric. 
 
 I will not aspire to prophecy. 
 
 Except thus far, O Maeldithrith,* 
 
 That in the latter ages. 
 
 Destitution will fall upon many people. 
 
 Bearla\ will be found in the midst of every family. 
 
 And tillage in the bosom of every wood ; 
 
 assigned, Maeltamlacht was one of those whose prophetic writing* 
 were held in high esteem by the old Irish. This may be learned 
 from file following quotation respecting the prophecy of this saint, 
 extracted from Philip O’Sullivan Beare’s Catholic History. Speak- 
 ing of the sufferings of the Irish, the historian says : “ Ita peccata 
 nostra meruerunt, ita fuit Numini visum : ita Deus sivit non propter 
 Anglorum meritum, sed ob Ibernorum culpam, ut olim in vaticmio 
 Divus MeUamlachtus pro^dixiV'' Tom, IL Cap, VI, p, 65. That is, 
 our sins deserved this scourge ; and God willed It, and permitted it 
 to happen, not on account of any merit possessed by the English 
 people, but on account of the crimes of the Irish, as the sainted MaU 
 tamlacht long since foretold. Hence we see that saint Maeltamlacht 
 was a prophet held in high estimation by the old Irish, though w'e 
 seldom meet his name in historical documents. 
 
 * Maeldithnth, Who this personage had been, we are unable at 
 present to tell ; it is clear, however, that he was a man eminent for 
 sanctity, since St, Maeltamlacht condescends to enter into a colloquy 
 with him on this subject. It would require much time and lab*r to 
 give a detailed history of pur saints in the present state of 
 documents and authorities. 
 
 t Berla^ is the name for any language, but is for some c»ii*urliM* 
 applied to the English tongue by the Irish, while tt\ey debigiiate fh* 
 vernacular by the term GaedhUig,. No Irish peasant #ocM fiow ap- 
 ply the term hearla to bis native tongue. It is surely tlie dearest 
 
62 
 
 THE PROPHECY OF 
 
 Galls will become Gaels, 
 
 And Gaels will become Galls. 
 
 Witb arrogance and oppression — 
 
 The descendants of Milesius will be persecuted ; 
 
 Until they perform penance 
 
 For the crimes that caused their dispersion. 
 
 The Danair (strangers) shall be permitted to rule,* 
 
 For some time over the Island of Feidhlim (Ireland) ; 
 
 mark of the utter degradation of any nation the abandonment of thi 
 native language, no matter how barbarous soever, for that of th« 
 conqueror. Such, sorrowful to relate, is the present condition of our 
 people with respect to their native language ; it was of this degen- 
 eracy the prophet complains. And tillage in the hosom of every 
 woody The old Irish were by no means the barbarous wretches the 
 English were wont to represent them : they could enjoy the beauties 
 of nature as fully as any other refined people ; they kne w how to con- 
 struct artificial islands on their lakes as spots for recreation^ amuse- 
 ment, and health ; ^nd their woods and groves were considered by 
 them as ornaments to the face of the country. They had no neces- 
 sity for hewing them down to make room for cultivation, for, living 
 on the resources of the country, and entirely within themselves, they 
 were not forced to supply the greedy maws of strangers, like their 
 enslaved descendants. 
 
 * Leigfer do Danaraihhf <jbc. The strangers will be allowed^ <jke, 
 Ireland unquestionably was an island of saints since she received the 
 light of the gospel until the arrival of the barbaious pagan Danes, 
 who prostrated religion, and trampled all sacred things under foot. 
 The people unfortunately imbibed bad habits after the example set 
 before them, and continued in this deplorable state for several cen- 
 turies. St. Bernard, in his Life of St. Malachy, Archbishop of Ar- 
 magn, gives a frightful picture of the Irish about the middle of the 
 12th century ; wicked indeed must they have been, since the holy 
 prelate found the following reformation necessary : “ Cessavit duritia, 
 quievit barbaries, at domus exasperans paulatim leniri coepit, paula- 
 tim correptionem admittere, accipere disciplinam, fiunt de medio bar- 
 
ST. MAELTAMHLACHT. 
 
 63 
 
 KTot through favor to the Saxons, 
 
 But through enmity to the Irish. 
 
 Inform us, O sainted Cleric, 
 
 If you have had the information ; 
 
 Shall the free race of Heber 
 Remain alwavs in thraldom ? 
 
 Whenever the strangers^ will become guilty [Milesius ; 
 Of crimes as great as those committed by the children of 
 The bulwark of the strangers will be destroyed, 
 
 And Eire become the property of the original owners. 
 
 It is long until these things shall come to pass, 
 
 Concerning which I have been speaking — 
 
 bariase leges Komanae introduciintur, recipiuntur ubiqiie ecclesiastio* 
 consuetudines, contrariae rejiciiiiitur, reaedificantur basiliciae, ordina* 
 tus clerus in illis, sacraraentorum solemnia rite celebrantur, confesio- 
 nea fiimt, ad ecclesiam conveniunt plebes, conciibinatus honestat cele- 
 britas nuptiarum, postreino sic in melius mutata omnia, ut hodie illi 
 genti conveniat quod Boniinus per prophetas dicit ; qui ante non. 
 populus mens, none populus meus,” vid, Div. Bernard^ in vit. Mal- 
 achicB, When St. Bernard gives so horrid a picture of the morals of 
 the Irish people it is no wonder that our saint would use the words 
 of the text in reference to them. It appears evident from this stanza 
 that the Irish, like every nation that fell into crime, were handed 
 over to foreign bondage to be lashed with rods of iron for their 
 crimes ; it is, however, consoling to learn that this slavery shall have 
 % termination. It is of this stanza O’Sullivan Beare speaks. 
 
 * There is another version of this stanza, as follows 
 
 “ Whenever the strangers will commit greui evils. 
 
 Against the children of Milesius, 
 
 The Saxons shall be expelled, 
 
 And Eire become the property of her rightful owne/ii 
 
64 
 
 THE PROPHECY OP 
 
 May the Son of supreme power (God) grant, 
 
 That we may not see those days ! 
 
 EELATE, Ac. 
 
 ST. ULTAN^ CECINIT. 
 
 The force of this wind from the east, 
 
 Shakes the prow of my bark ; 
 
 Sad to my heart is the time, 
 
 When persecutions come upon the Church. 
 
 I will tell, ^ * * *1 
 
 That will reduce youth to degeneracy ; 
 
 Is the meaning of that significative wind. 
 
 Intelligible to you ? 
 
 Its meaning has not been made manifest to us, 
 
 0 TJltan of the most upright intentions ; 
 
 Inform us, then, for sake of the Heavenly God, 
 
 Since it has been manifested to you. 
 
 In consequence of matters made manifest to me. 
 
 Through the tears I shed for my errors ; 
 
 * St. Ultan was suooesspr of Braccan in the abbey of Ardbra jcan, 
 near Navan, in the County of Meath ; our Saint wrote a Life of Saint 
 Patrick, and some other pieces, besides his prophecies. lie died A. 
 D. 656. 
 
 t This portion of the verse, illegible in the vellum MS., is unintelli- 
 gible in another more modern one which has come to hand ; even in 
 the Maynooth copy it is unsatisfactory. 
 
ST. ULTAN. 
 
 65 
 
 My eyes continued shedding tears, 
 
 Until the close of that week 1 
 
 I will unfold unto you 
 
 The history of the latter ages of the world ; 
 
 How the forces of the Galls will come over the sea, 
 
 To subjugate the Gaels (the people of Ireland). 
 
 Kuadhrighe^ (Roderick) son of Torlough the brave, 
 
 Will then be monarch of all Ireland ; 
 
 In his time Danair (strangers) will arrive 
 From the east; they will be clad in armor. 
 
 There will be a certain woman, who will spoil. 
 
 The plains of.Meathf and of Bregia, 
 
 Together with Connaught and Cashel of Core ; 
 
 She will spoil them on account of her paramour. 
 
 A Ruadh (red-haired person) shall be born in the province 
 Who will be esteemed a good man ; [of Leinster, 
 
 But, alas ! though this shall be his character. 
 
 Better for the Irish he was never born. 
 
 This wind, which will blow over us for a time. 
 
 And which will force us to deviate from our true course ; 
 
 ♦ Ruaidre, Euadhrigh, or Eoderick O’Connor, was monarch of 
 Ireland when the Saxon invasion took place. 
 
 t Magh Midhe^ dto. Plains of Meath, Bregia in Meath, Oruachin^ 
 and Oashel. The woman here mentioned is generally supposed to 
 have been the frail queen of O’Rourke, king of Briefne, who eloped 
 with the king of Leinster, which Circumstance was the main cause 
 of the Saxon invasion. Tocmic, gen. tocmac^ nom. Some copiei 
 read Tocmurcj dowry. 
 
86 
 
 THE PROPHECY OF 
 
 # 
 
 It is through the influence of this same wind from the east^ 
 All the Gaels shall be ruined! 
 
 I think it long until the King of Saxon’s son,* 
 
 AVill come over the sea, and not for love of him ; 
 
 But in consequence of his coming, 0 CHRIST, 
 
 The strangers shall be expelled by my kindred from Eii*e. 
 
 On a Friday they will leave their home. 
 
 On a Wednesday they will come into harbor ; 
 
 Three half years, I retain in my recollection, 
 
 Shall his reign sway over Ireland. 
 
 Three nights will he spend in Ireland at the time, 
 
 Until he come to this place ; 
 
 The circumstance is a pain to my heart, — 
 
 The city will be in a blaze of fire. 
 
 * The King of Saxon’s son, who is here foretold should visil 
 Ireland, is supposed by many to have been the voluptuous Georgt 
 IV. If he be the person foretold, we cannot clearly see how the ex- 
 pulsion of the aliens came about, in consequence of his idle mean- 
 ingless visit, though it is evident their power in this country is not 
 augmenting since 1821. It is, however, more probable that this royal 
 personage is not yet come, since St. Seandan, apparently treating 
 about the same individnal, says : — 
 
 The king of the Saxon’s son will ocme 
 To them across the sea ; 
 
 He will part with the sovereignty 
 
 Of the Galls of the country whence he came." 
 
 It is very likely that one of the English princes may be seul over 
 here with the view of gaining the affections of the people, and pre- 
 serving the possession of the country for England ; for a more par- 
 ticular account of this prince, see the Prophecy of St. Seandan^ or 
 Sonanuo, 
 
67 
 
 ^ 8T- ULTAK, 
 
 A battle will be fought at Dubh-ath, near Maistean,^ 
 
 The strangers will leave their inclosures ; 
 
 I prefer that it (the battle) be given thenij 
 For they shall be after that in long affliction. 
 
 I decree oppressrive taxesf 
 To be demanded every hour (frequently), 
 
 A scrapal upon each individual, though oppressive, 
 
 And an unga of gold upon every hearth. 
 
 After this Kiaran the mild will ask, — 
 
 He the pure, the celebrated cleric, — 
 
 What shall Saint Bridget do on the occasion, 
 
 Her aid will be with Kiaran. 
 
 Saint Kiaran, I perceive, is with the Connaughtmen, 
 
 I seldom hear his real merit recorded ; — 
 
 And Bridget, in every condition ever-powerful. 
 
 Assisting the forces of Leinster. 
 
 A battle will be fought at Balina,;]; 
 
 In which a very imperious king shall be worsted ; 
 
 * Keally this battle thus predicted is not the treacherous massacre 
 of the Irish chiefs on the Hath of Mullaghmast, but one yet to bo 
 fought between the English forces and the natives, assisted by the 
 foreigners, who will assemble on the Curragh of Kildare. Those 
 foreign forces shall be carried hither by rowing wheels^ vide St. Col- 
 umbhille^ pages 37, 38, 39. 
 
 t Mighimsi cisa cruaidhe, I decree oppressive taxes. Those 
 heavy taxes to be imposed upon the people constitute one of the 
 special themes of prophecy-men throughout all parts of the island ; 
 if the poor-rates, war-taxes, &c., are not those meant it is difficult ta 
 conjecture what the prophet’s meaning may be. 
 
 X Beal-an, atha. Balliua, vid. St. Golarnblcille. 
 
68 
 
 m 
 
 THE PROPHECY OF 
 
 That battle will be made gory 
 
 In the morning by the men of Connaught. 
 
 The king^ of Ulster shall be slain ; 
 
 It shall not prove favorable to the king of Munster, 
 
 Nor shall it be advantageous to the king of Meath ; — 
 The Red Branch will be wounded. 
 
 Then the Ruadh\ (Red-haired person) will proceed to the 
 south, 
 
 He will offer much opposition to the Galls ; 
 
 My confidence in the Ruadh for valor — 
 
 He will free Eire from her difficulties. 
 
 In a month after that hard-fought battle, 
 
 Another king will come from the north ; 
 
 I assure you, w^ithout the least deception. 
 
 That three battles will be broken in one day. 
 
 The battle shall continue during a whole week. 
 
 It will be fought by the sons of a sovereign prince ; 
 
 It is at the termination of the week, after that 
 The aliens shall be dispersed. 
 
 * BigJi. King. The titles prevalent amongst the ancient Irish 
 were Ard-righ^ Righ^ Righ-damhna^ Flaith^ Triat\ dbc., i, e. supreme 
 king, king, king elect or presumptive, prince, lord, &c. The mili- 
 tary degrees were, TaoUeachy Fear cead com-plainn^ Fearnaonmhair^ 
 Taoiseach -mar a ^ d&c., i. e. Commander of a division, centurion, chief 
 of nine men, admiral, <&c. Kings were wont to lead their forces in 
 person, hence, king is the designation of the chief commander cf an 
 Rrmy, or the leadeo* of a province or district, 
 t Ruadh meant celebrated, renowned, as well as red-haired. 
 
St. SENANtrs; 69 
 
 Wednesday will be the day of the battle 
 
 By which the aliens shall be driven from thdr strongholds 
 
 None of them shall remain after that 
 
 But what birds would be able to carry in their claws ! 
 
 I am Ultan, of the province of Ulster, — 
 
 I narrate the truth, though it is painful to me ; 
 
 Bitter indeed to my heart 
 
 Is the violence and power of that wind. 
 
 THE FORCE, &c. 
 
 SENANUS^ CECINIT. 
 
 Impart to me, O Senanus (Sedna), 
 
 Information concerning the latter ages of the world ; 
 
 What shall be the condition of the race of people 
 Who will not observe rectitude in their judgments. 
 
 What shall be the condition of the people 
 
 Who will entertain false and treacherous intentions ; 
 
 Shall any individual of them be admitted 
 Into the regal mansions of heaven ? 
 
 * Seadnan, Seandan, and Senanus, was abbot of Inniscatliy some- 
 times called Catlmigh-innis, now Scattery Island ; St. Patrick. found- 
 e<l a monastery on this island, and made St. Sednan, or Senanus, 
 abbot thereof. The island is situated in the mouth of the Shannon, 
 between the counties of Clare and Kerry ; it was celebrated for the 
 sanctity of its religipus fraternity, and also for the number of its 
 churches, 11 of whicfr were standing at the time of the suppressioii 
 of religious houses. 
 
70 
 
 THE PROPHECY OF 
 
 I take leave to assure you, 0 Cleric, 
 
 That every king who will invade this country, 
 
 Every race that will rule over Eire, 
 
 I view with perspicuity. 
 
 Falsehood will characterize that class of men [law . - 
 Who will sit in judgment to pass sentence aceordii^g Ui 
 Between the father and his son 
 Litigations will subsist. 
 
 The clergy of the church 
 
 Will be addicted to pride and injustice ; 
 
 The advantages they will aim at 
 
 Shall be the possession of worldly substance 
 
 Women will abandon feelings of delicacy,^ 
 
 And cohabit with men out of wedlock ; 
 
 They will follow those practices without 
 
 And such habits will become almost unsupprcssible* 
 
 The earth will not produce its fruits 
 For the race of people to whom I allude ; 
 
 Full mansions will be deserted, 
 
 And unpleasant will be the tidings concerning them. 
 
 Dreadful plagues will come 
 Upon all the race of Adam ; 
 
 All will rush into iniquity 
 
 Against the will of the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 
 
 * For further accounts concerning the state of immorality caused 
 by the Norseman invasion, see St. Columbkille, St. Bernard's Life of 
 Bt. Malachy, Arclibkhop of Armagh, 
 
ST. SENANUS. 
 
 71 
 
 rhe Clann Cartha and Clann Eoghain 
 Shall be expelled from Cashel ; 
 
 So none shall hold princely inheritance, 
 
 Except aliens and sojourners. 
 
 The free race of the O’Brien 
 
 Shall be expelled beyond the clear waters of the Shannon ] 
 I can recognize, in my present position, 
 
 The decline that will come upon their families. 
 
 Who shall destroy the people 
 
 Who reside in this country of numerous habitations ? 
 
 Unfold unto me, O Senanus, 
 
 The information that is unpleasant. 
 
 A strange people will arrive and take their place,* 
 According to the knowledge I possess ; 
 
 They will take possession of the maritime parts, 
 
 This very formidable host of aliens. 
 
 The fleet of the Saxons will arrivef 
 In the commodious harbors of Eire ; 
 
 Their mild deeds will be few ; — 
 
 Their kings will be persecutors. 
 
 They will rule * * ^ * yearsf * • 
 
 As sovereigns of the land of Fodhla (Ireland) ; 
 
 Until they will commit murders 
 Without warning their enemies (victims). 
 
 * The Danish invasion. f The English invasion. 
 
 X We found no intelligible Words in modern MSS. to supply tbOM 
 illegible in the old copy. 
 
 8 * 
 
72 
 
 THE PKOPHECY OF 
 
 They themselves will betray each other, 
 
 In consequence of which their sovereignty will be broken ; 
 They will stain their swords and battle-axes with blood;— 
 They will be a selfish race, devoid of benignity. 
 
 The son of the King of Saxon will come^ 
 
 To join them across the sea ; 
 
 He will part with the sovereignty 
 
 Of the Galls in the country whence he will conae# 
 
 The Galls and the Gaels of Ireland 
 Will unite in one confederation ; 
 
 Against the forces of the Saxons, 
 
 Their confederacy cannot be dissolved. 
 
 The king of the Saxon’s son will comef 
 At the head of his forces ; 
 
 In consequence of the protection he will extend to them, 
 Ireland shall be freed from her fears. 
 
 One monarch will rule in Ireland, 
 
 Over the Galls and the pure Gaels ; 
 
 From the reign of that man 
 
 The people shall suffer no destitution. 
 
 * Vide note, St. Ultan’s prophecy, page 66. 
 t Tic/adh mac Hi Saxan, The King of Saxon’s son will come. 
 From the text it appears that some English prince will come hithef 
 on a martial expedition, but it is impossible to conjecture how this 
 union and fusion of the Saxons and Gaels may happen ; true it is, 
 however, that the foregoing English princes and kings are not 
 meant, because the nations were never yet united; and the Irish 
 never enjoyed happiness under any one of the English kings. 
 
COIREALL, SON OF CRON AN. T3 
 
 COIREALL, SON OF CRONAN^ CEOINIT. 
 
 How wretchedly it fares in Erin this night, 
 
 The Galls and Gaels in vexatious contention ; 
 
 The Gaels shall be worsted in the dispute, 
 
 Until the time that Sriangallaf will come from Derry. 
 
 Their people (the aliens) will be powerful 
 Upon the boundless ocean ; 
 
 The Gaels wdll sink down into degeneracy 
 They shall become beggars, wretches, and slaves. 
 
 The condition of the Gaels shall be sorrowful-. 
 
 They will be bad themselves, and their history disreputable 
 Wickedness and deceit, falsehood and treachery, 
 
 Shall affect the clergy continually. 
 
 All the Gaels shall be held in thraldom 
 
 To the Easterns, their substance as well as their people ; 
 
 * Coireall, son of Cronan, is written Coireall, son of Ronan, in soma 
 MSS. Nothing has come as yet to hand to warrant us in stating 
 precisely who he was, or the age in which he lived ; but from tho 
 first stanza, wherein he describes the very wretched condition of 
 Ireland at the^time, it may be pretty safely inferred that he lived at 
 the commencement of the Danish invasion, and, from the concluding 
 portion of his prophecy, that he belonged to the great Abbey of 
 Bangor, Co. Down. The language in which the prophecy is written, 
 is clear evidence of its being a more modern composition than those 
 of other saints. We say this in the absence of reliable documents. 
 
 t Sriangalla literally signifies the curh^ or bridle of th^ Galls or 
 strangers: some have thought that Strangwell, or Strongbow, Earl 
 of Pembroke, who led the first Saxon invasion, is meant, but he 
 cannot be this person, as it appears more reasonable that Brian 
 Boroimhe is the of the strangers mentioned. He may, never* 
 thelesp, be one not yet come. 
 
74 
 
 THE PROPHECY OF 
 
 For seven-score years* in full, 
 
 Shall the clergy suffer persecution. 
 
 At the termination of seven-score years in full, 
 
 Sriangalla will come on the late of ships ; 
 
 A bold expedition, from which sorrow shall proceed. 
 
 Will be the engagement of those speckled ships. 
 
 This struggle will be a hard one, 
 
 There shall be many more left dead than alive ; 
 
 So great will the carnage of warriors above Glasdruim be, 
 That with the exception of a small remnant, it will be a 
 general slaughter. 
 
 The people composing the armament shall be there de- 
 spoiled ; — 
 
 The power of the Galls shall diminish to nothing. 
 
 Upon the armed men above Drum-cro,f 
 Pestilence and anguish shall descend. 
 
 It is by this fleet, that wdll come across the sea. 
 
 The transgression will be committed ; 
 
 The Gaels will be from darkness to darkness, 
 
 Duriug three days, engaged in slaughtering t^em. 
 
 The fate of the women of this fleet will be pitiful. 
 
 They shall deliver their progeny to wretchedness ; 
 
 They shall remain in bondage in the country. 
 
 Except a few, who will effect their escape over the sesL 
 
 * ISeven-sccyre years must have a prophetic meaning difficult to ex* 
 plain. Sriangalla is the person who shall restore liberty to the op« 
 pressed Irish. Hence the Hanes can by no means be alluded to here. 
 1 Drom-ero^ the hill of blood. 
 
75 
 
 COIREALL, SON OF CRONAN. 
 
 That shall be the doom of the forces composing this expo 
 dition, 
 
 Concerning whose fate I indulge in lamentation ; — 
 Sriangalla will be the king 
 
 Who will reduce the power of the Galls to naught. , 
 
 From that time Sriangalla will be 
 Engaged in contention and battle ; 
 
 It is a fact, devoid of any falsehood, 
 
 That he shall be slain in a bloody battle. 
 
 The cemetery^ which the king will choose, 
 
 On the occasion of his corpse being laid in dust, 
 
 Shall be a cemetery renowned for being frequented by 
 crowds. 
 
 Where souls shall be much benefited. 
 
 Aedh (Hugh)f the pure, and Hugh the sincere, 
 
 Flann of Tara, and Flann Ciotach ; 
 
 It is long until one of those kings will come,J 
 Until then a sound shall not be heard in the cemetery. 
 
 The son of Bonn shall be expelled. 
 
 From his territories on this side of the Shannon ; 
 
 Three kings of Ireland will be recorded, [cemetery. 
 To have directed their remains to be interred in this 
 
 * Boileag. Cemetery. If Brian Boroimhe be the person to whom 
 allusion is made, Armagh, then, is the cemetery, as that monarch 
 by his will ordered that his remains should be deposited in the ca- 
 thedral of Armagh. 
 
 t St. Columbkille’s prophetic poem on the celebrated Aedhs. 
 
 X Fada, dbc. This proves clearly that one of those great warrior* 
 ealled Aedh has not yet appeared. — Vide Golamb. on the Aedhs^ et alibU 
 
76 
 
 THE PROPHECY OF 
 
 Did the Gaels only learn the truth of the fact, as it is,— 
 All their men, youths, and women, — 
 
 (Did they know) the extraordinary privileges attached U 
 this smooth cemetery. 
 
 It is in it they would arise to the general Judgment. 
 
 Were all the Gaels that ever lived and shall live, 
 
 Interred in the mould of this cemetery. 
 
 Murky demons should not have power to carry away 
 The least among them from Beanachoir."^ 
 
 Consecrated from this day henceforth forever. 
 
 Is this spot which will prove beneficial to all ; 
 
 There is no place similar to it in point of importance 
 This level spot is the third Rome 1 
 
 HOW WRETCHEDLY ! 
 
 SAINT BEARCANf CECINIT. 
 
 Bear back my blessings for prosperity to Ireland, 
 
 On my arrival in chilling Arran ; — 
 
 * Bennachur, Bangor in the county of Down. The great celeb* 
 rity attained by the monks of Bangor is beyond belief. It is im- 
 possible to give a description of the holy Bangor, or of the sanctified 
 customs of the place here, because we would go largely into history 
 instead of prophecy. 
 
 t St. Bearcan was abbot of the monastery of Glasnevin ; he died 
 on the 12th day of October, 544 ; he wrote a poem in praise of St. 
 Bridget, according to O’Reilly’s Irish writers ; he was a person of 
 great sanctity, and is said to have wrought mauy miraeles. In a 
 
ST. BEAKCAN. 
 
 77 
 
 Ireland shall remain without order or prosperity, 
 
 Until she will be relieved by Hugh (Aedh) the sincere.* 
 
 After the man whose cognomen will be Ruadh (red),f 
 A spirit of fire will come from the north ; 
 
 poem said to have been an extract from the Psaltey of Cashel, the 
 following notice of his prophecies is found. It commences^ 
 
 “ A Saxon invasion from the east, 
 
 Will come upon green Eire ; 
 
 Mael-ua-mbo and his clann, 
 
 Will lead them into the territory. 
 
 Until a battle shall be fought at Sin gland, 
 
 They (the Irish) shall possess no fortress ; 
 
 After the battle of Singland the Galls shall not be 
 Long in possession of the strongholds of Eire, 
 
 They will drive the Saxons across the sea, 
 
 And separate them from their possessions ; 
 
 I rejoice at their downfall— 
 
 It is in the Book of the Ancients I found it. 
 
 The Albanians (Scots) will then arrive. 
 
 They will behave bravely at the battle of Singland ; 
 Powerful shall tlie men of Alba be. 
 
 In banishing the Galls (strangers). 
 
 I think the time long, by my hand, 
 
 ’Till the prophecy of Bearcan he fulfilled / 
 
 So that I might behold Aedh the dauntless, . 
 
 In the sovereignty of the noble Tara.” 
 
 This extract of a poem, said to be found in the Psalter of Cashel, 
 nhows the estimation in which the prophecy of St. Bearcan was held 
 by the ancients, and confirms an opinion expressed in a note on the 
 prophecies of St. Columbkille, namely, that the third Aedh, or Hugh, 
 of whom that saint treated, is not yet entered on his career of mili- 
 tary glory. 
 
 * Aedh aengach. Aedh, or Hugh the fearless, vide preceding fu>t\ 
 nnd St. Columbkille, page 35. 
 
 t Ruadh. Bed-haired, or renowned. This prophecy to all ajr 
 
Y8 THE PROPHECY OF ST. BEARCAN. 
 
 He will marcli towards Dublin ; — 
 
 There will be but one lord over all Ireland. 
 
 [nform us, 0 amiable Bearcan, 
 
 What Kiaran^ the pious foretold ; 
 
 How shall Ireland continue without prosperHy 
 Henceforth, until the days of that Hugh ? 
 
 She will be situated like a soul in torture, 
 
 For a long time awaiting a cooling relief ; 
 
 Ireland shall bend under the thraldom of the great, 
 
 And her people will submit to the yoke of aliens. 
 
 Wretched shall be the state of that Eire we are about to 
 Until a friend will arrive at the Port of Patrick; [have, 
 The son of the vigorous Dearg^ with great- renown, 
 Patrick will be by his side in battle. 
 
 He will deal favorably with your Cloyne, 
 
 O Kiaran of the pure voice ;f 
 Twice thirty years will his might last. 
 
 During that period his power shall not decline. 
 
 It is he that will bring affliction on the Galls,J 
 By which their savage hordes shall suffer ; 
 
 Until he will sail across the azure sea to Rome, 
 
 He will be a great king renowned for feats of arms. 
 
 pearance refers to Hugh O’Neill and Red Hugh O’Donnell, yet 
 think some other person is meant. 
 
 * St. Kiaran wrote some prophecies, but we have not seen them 
 they are probably lost, 
 f Cluain. Clonmacnoise of St. Kiaran. 
 
 X This stanza appears to be an interpolation. I remember that it 
 was written in different handwriting to t' c rest of the MS. from 
 which 1 have copied it. 
 
79 
 
 LIFE OF SAINT MALACHY, 
 
 ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH, A. D. 
 
 Having been requested by Mr. O’Kear&ey tc pifyaoe 
 the transcript of Pere Gorjeu’s interpretation of Si. Ma- 
 lachy’s prophecy with a short sketch of his life, we beg 
 in limine to state, the following pages are compihd from 
 Baronins’ Annales JEcclesiastici^'* (xii. p. 305), Kohr- 
 lacher’s Histoire de VEglise Catholique (xv.), Butler’s 
 “ Lives of the Saints^’* and Lingard’s “ History of Eng* 
 landr 
 
 It is with no ordinary feeling of timidity that we ven' 
 ture to take up our pen to write a few words respecting a 
 Prelate who rendered Ireland the Island of Saints, illus- 
 trious as well by his sanctity and learning as by his close 
 intimacy with the great St. Bernard of Glairvaux, in 
 whose monastery and under whose spiritual direction lie 
 confided his soul to the care of his God and Redeemer, 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 St. Malachy (called in Irish Maol-Maodhog O’Morgair) 
 was born at Armagh (the Archiepiscopal See of which 
 he was destined to adorn in after years), in 1094 ; his pa- 
 rents were of high rank and very virtuous withal, so that 
 they were anxious to train him in the fear of the Lord. 
 He was ever distinguished for his meekness, humility, 
 obedience, modesty, and was truly diligent in his studies. 
 
 St. Malachy was recommended for Holy Orders by a 
 saintly recluse (Imarus), whose cell was in the vicinitj of 
 9 
 
to 
 
 THE LIFE OF -ST. MALACHY. 
 
 tLd Cathedral Church of Armagh, and whose disciple he 
 ha J long been, notwithstanding the jeering of his friends, 
 who could not bear the thought that one of so delicate 
 a constitution, and such fine accomplishments and disposi- 
 tion for the world, should embrace so mean and con- 
 temptible a state of life. He was ordained Deacon by 
 Oelsas, Archbishop of Armagh, and in his twenty-fifth 
 year was raised to the Priesthood. Celsus appointed him 
 his Vicar, when St. Malachy made “ several regulations 
 in ecclesiastical discipline, which were authorized by the 
 Bishop, and settled the regular solemn rehearsal of the 
 canonical hours in all the Churches of the Diocese, 
 which, since the Danish invasion, had been omitted, even 
 in the Episcopal cities ; he had learned chanting in his 
 youth, and had preserved it in his Monastery, even at a 
 period when there were more who could not or would not 
 say, either in the city or Diocese (lorsquil rHy avail 
 encore personne qui silt on vouliit chanter^ soil dans la 
 itle^ soil dans la diocese) ; what was yet of much greater 
 importance, he re-established the use of the Sacraments, 
 of Confession or Penance, Confirmation, and the regular 
 performance of Matrimony.^ 
 
 Our Saint, being apprehensive that he was not sufficient- 
 ly acquainted wdth the canons of the Church to effect a 
 thorough reformation of discipline, betook himself, with 
 the consent and approbation of his Diocesan and director, 
 to Malchus, Bishop of Lismore, who was regarded, on ac- 
 
 * Kecipiuntur ubique Ecclesiasticse consuetudines contrari80 reji 
 ciuntur sacramentorum rite solemnia celebrantur confessiones flunt 
 lid ecclesiam conveniunt plebes, concubinatus hoiiestat celebritai 
 Quptiarnm. 
 
THE LIFE OF ST. MALACHT. 
 
 81 
 
 count of his sanctity and learning, as the oracle of all 
 Ireland, and was by him diligently instructed in all thingi 
 belonging to the divine service and the care of souls. 
 
 After Malachy had resided for some time at Lismore 
 he was recalled by his Diocesan, and returned to Armagh, 
 when he was placed over the Abbey of Benchor,^ th« 
 revenues of which were enjoyed by one of his uncles. 
 This religious house had been founded by St. Com gall, 
 in 555, and was the parent of numerous colleges, as well 
 in Ireland as in England and Scotland, and of several illus- 
 trious Saints ; among them we need only mention Saint 
 Columbanus. While Abbot of Benchor, St. Bernard in- 
 forms us that our Saint performed many miracles, and 
 was favored with some visions ; but our space being limit- 
 ed, we can only refer to these circumstances en passant 
 
 When in the thirtieth year of his age, he was consecra- 
 ted at the express command of his director, Imar, Bishop 
 of Connor. He remained there for some time, until the 
 death of Celsus, who appointed him his successor to the 
 See of Armagh, an office he was unwilling to take on him- 
 self, until threatened with excommunication by the Papal 
 Legate, Gillibert, Bishop of Limerick ; but he did not ex- 
 ercise his episcopal functions until the death of Maurice, 
 who had been elected by the relatives of the deceased 
 Prelate Celsus, when he was installed by King Cormac 
 and the Bishops of the province, and acknowledged as 
 the sole legitimate metropolitan of Ireland, a. d. 1133. 
 
 St. Malachy, on his way to Rome, whither he went to 
 obtain the Pallium, as well for the Diocese of Armagh as 
 that of Tuam (a See lately erected by Celsus), visited 
 
 * Benefiw, from Benedictus-choru9, 
 
82 
 
 THE LIFE OF ST. MALACHY. 
 
 Clairvaux, where he foimed the acquaintance of St. Ber- 
 nard. At Kome he was received with honor by the 
 Sovereign Pontiff, Innocent IL, who would not hear ot 
 his petition for spending the remainder of his life at 
 Clairvaux. On his return, he again called on St. Bernard, 
 and left four of his companions there, who, “taking the 
 Cestercian habit, afterwards came over to Ireland and in- 
 stituted the Abbey of Mellifont, in 1139.” 
 
 The Pallium not having been sent to St. Malachy, as 
 promised by Pope Innocent IL, the Archbishop deter- 
 mined to visit Kome to see Pope Eugenius IIL, and 
 on his way called at his beloved Clairvaux, in Oc- 
 tober, 1148. Having celebrated the Conventual Mass 
 with his usual devotion on the feast of St. Luke, he was 
 seized with a fever, which obliged him to take to his bed. 
 The good monks were very active in assisting him ; but he 
 assured them that all the pains they took about him were 
 to no purpose, as he would not recover, for he well knew 
 that his end was at hand, and was certain that if he died 
 that year i| would boon ihe festival of All Souls ; as he 
 had no slight confidence in the assistance which the de- 
 parted received from them on that day. He had also 
 said, that if he died while travelling, it would be at Clair- 
 vaux. He asked for the Holy Oil ; and as the Commu- 
 nity were preparing to bring it to him in solemn pro- 
 cession, he descended from his room to the Church, and 
 received Extreme Unction and the Viaticum, lying on 
 ashes strewed on the floor. It was easily perceived ob the 
 festival of All Saints that he was dying, and the whole 
 Community ’were summoned to his bedside. Looking at 
 them he said, “ I have most earnestly desired to eat this 
 
THE LIFE OF ST. MALACHY. 83 
 
 passover with you, and have not been disappointed.^ 
 Then he added : “ Take care of me, I will not forget you 
 if I be allowed ; bu't I doubt it not, for I have believed in 
 God, and every thing is possible with Him, in whom I be- 
 lieve ; I have loved God, and have loved you, and charity 
 will never cease and looking up to heaven, he said, “ O 
 God, preserve them in thy name, and not these alone, but 
 all those who by my word and entreaty have been conse- 
 crated to thy service.” Then each one of the Communi- 
 ty passed him individual!}?’, and he bade them rest them- 
 selves, as his hour was not yet come. The Community 
 returned about midnight, and accompanied with psalms 
 and spiritual hymns the holy soul who was returning 
 home : all had their eyes fixed on the dying Prelate, but 
 none perceived that he had breathed his last ; so calmly 
 did he fall asleep on the festival of All Souls, 1148. 
 
 His Life was -written by St. Bernard, at the request of 
 the Abbot of Mellifont (Corgan). 
 
 It may be deemed superfluous, if not arrogant, in our 
 calling the reader’s attention to a controverted subject, 
 so shortly after perusing the departure of a Saint to his 
 Father-land — so shortly after witnessing the cheering 
 effect of the exit of one from this world of woe to that of 
 eternal happiness, it may be that feelings of holy calm 
 and sorrow, tempered by the sweet consolation that an- 
 other protection was now in the world of spirits to protect 
 us by his merits, and feeling such as possessed St. Ber- 
 nard and his brethren at Clairvaux, may possess the read- 
 er’s soul, yet it is our duty to refer to the accompanying 
 Prophecy, attributed to St. Malachy. 
 
 9 * 
 
84 
 
 THE LIFE OF ST. MALACHT. 
 
 The Breviary in its oflSce for the festival of St. Malachy 
 speaks of his having been enriched with the gift of proph* 
 ecy ; and of this, who can doubt, when St. Bernard tells 
 us that he had a foreshadowing of his death ? 
 
 The objections to the foil:) wing prophecies are, as far as 
 we can learn, threefold : — 
 
 1. The silence of St. Bernard. 
 
 2. The tortuous method adopted by the interpreters, in 
 applying them to the various sovereign pontiffs. 
 
 3. The introduction of the Anti-Popes, as in Nos. 6, 7, 
 8, 36, 42, 43, 44, and 53. 
 
 1. The silence of St. Bernard. It is contended by 
 those who are skeptical as to the geuineness of these 
 prophecies, by men who would, alas ! require almost a 
 visible miracle, to enable them to believe in Christ Him- 
 self, that St. Malachy’s own biographer was ignorant of 
 their existence ; and hence, they deem and hesitate not to 
 call these prophecies a forgery, &c. &c. They forget 
 that in all probability St. Midachy, from his excessive hu- 
 mility, lest he should be too proud of the gifts of God to- 
 wards himself, might never have mentioned these prophe- 
 cies to St. Bernard. But, say these skeptics, 
 
 2. “ The tortuous methods adopted by the various in- 
 terpreters in applying them to the Sovereign Pontiffs, is 
 a second convincing proof.” 
 
 We would fain ask the objector, if all unproved pro- 
 phecies are so plain that no “ tortuous method” is re- 
 quired to explain them. Methinks any one acquainted, 
 no matter how superficially,, with the writings of the day, 
 would see the folly of this objection ; but what “tortuous 
 methods” are applied by our interpreter, Pere Gorjeu, the 
 
THE LIFE OF ST. MALACHT. 85 
 
 only one we have met with, in his application of the pro- 
 phecies. Take for instances, No. 5, “ De rure Did 
 
 it require much ingenuity to apply these words to Adrian 
 IV. ? Or again, No. 11, sus in crebro — what plainer than 
 its application to Urban III ? Or what ingenuity is shown 
 in 27, “ Rosa Composita Are not the prophecies No. 
 96, 100, and 101, equally clear? Might it not be said 
 with truth of Pius VI. that he was Peregrinus apostoli- 
 cus ? Did not Gregory XVI. come from De Balneis 
 Etruvioe ? And of Pius IX. who is there that will deny the 
 applicability of the words “ Crux de Cruce were they 
 not universally used during the revolution of 1848, when 
 a lawless band of ruffians and marauders possessed the 
 Eternal City, and compelled the Lord’s anointed to flee 
 to Gaeta ? It may be said that Crux de Cruce, could be 
 applied with equal truth to Clement VII. and Pfcs VI. as 
 to Pius IX. ; but, though Rome was sacked in the days of 
 Clement VII., still, with that solitary exception, it could 
 not be said that his life was Crux de Cruce. So also with 
 Pius VI. : to none, then, can these words apply with greater 
 force, than to that wonderful man, raised up — providen- 
 tially raised up — to sit in the chair of St. Peter, in these 
 troublous times. ' Let one read the history of the last 
 few years, and every act of Pius IX. brings before the 
 mind of the reader the words Crux de Cruce, with aw- 
 ful solemnity. Clement VII. was not compelled to quit 
 Rome ; Pius VI. was conducted as a prisoner to Fontaine- 
 bleau ; whereas, Pius IX. was obliged to flee for his life to 
 Gaeta, and throw himself on the protection of a foreign 
 lovereignj but neither time nor space will allow us to en- 
 ter further into this point. 
 
86 THE LIFE OF ST. MALACHY. 
 
 The third objection is — The introduction of the Anti- 
 Popes. 
 
 The sacred pages recording the children of Israel, men- 
 tion the names of usurpers and bad sovereigns, so also 
 does profane history ; and therefore why should not St. 
 Malachy have had the schismatical Victor IV. in his 
 mind, Avhen he inserted the words Ex tetro Carceref to 
 whom can they be so well applied ? who so blind as one 
 deprived of the successors of St. Peter ? 
 
 Bitterly, aye most bitterly, do we regret that it is not in 
 our power to apply the various prophecies to the sovereign 
 Pontiffs, from Clement IX. (IGG^) to Pius IX., as we feel 
 assured that one well versed in Italian literature could 
 know how Canis et Coluber applied to Leo XII. ; or Aquila 
 rapax, to his predecessor Pius XII. ; or Animal rapax, to 
 Benedict XIV. 
 
 One who boasts that he *8 a son of St. Jarbatk* 
 Moate^ 
 
 fntival of cw Lad/ye of SdUtUf 185& 
 
THE PROPHECY OP ST. MALACHY. 
 
 6T 
 
 ATTRIBUTED PROPHECY OF ST. MALACHY, 
 ARCHBISHOP OP ARMAGH, 
 
 RELATIVE TO THE SOVEREIGN PONTIFFS FROM 1143 TO THB 
 END OF THE WORLD. 
 
 I. Ex Castro Tyhris — Frora the Castle of Tiber. 
 
 CELESTINE II.— 1143. 
 
 Celestine was a Tuscan by birth—being a native of 
 Fort S. Felicita near the Tiber, now called Cita S. 
 tello. 
 
 II. Inimicus Expulsus — The Enemy Expelled. 
 LUCIUS II.— 1144. 
 
 Lucius II. was called chasse-enemi from his crest* — the 
 Bear. Lucius II. was a Regular Canon of the Monastery 
 of Sancta Cruce, and the Cross puts to flight the devill, 
 the true enemies of our Lord. 
 
 III. Ex magnitudine montis—From the magniiudje of the 
 r mountain, 
 
 EUGENIUS III.— 1145. 
 
 Patria Hetruscus ex oppido Montis Magnu 
 Hence he was called by our prophet Ex magnitudine 
 mentis, ” from the magnitude of the mountain. 
 
88 
 
 THE PROPHECY OF 
 
 ly. Ahbas Suburranus — The Suhhurran Abbot. 
 
 ANASTASIUS IV.— 1153. 
 
 De famine Suburra. 
 
 Aiiastasius was Abbot of St. Eufiis, Suburranus is used 
 in reference to one steering a great vessel, which Anasta- 
 sins certainly did as sovereign. 
 
 V, De rure albo — Of the Alban {white) country. 
 
 ADRIAN IV.— 1154. 
 
 Adrian IV. was the only Englishman that has ever suo 
 ceeded to the chair of St. Peter : he was born in the vicin- 
 ity of St. Alban. 
 
 I. England was called Albion on account of her whiU 
 rocks and white cliffs. 
 
 II. Adrian was born at Malmesbury, a village depend- 
 ent on St. Albans. 
 
 III. He was consecrated Bishop of Alba. 
 
 IV. He was sent as legate to Norway, a country where 
 there is almost, perpetual snow. 
 
 V. The holy candor and innocence of his soul, ac- 
 knowledged by Eugenius III., who sent him to the North 
 to convert souls to Jesus Christ. 
 
 VI. Ex tetro car cere, 
 
 VICTOR IV. {Anti-Pope)—\lb^. 
 
 Victor fuit Cardinalis Sti. Nicolai in Carcerb Tul- 
 liano : — 
 
 The words Ex tetro carcere prove that Victor ascended 
 the chair of St. Peter schismatically, and that he had not 
 the light of the successor of the Vicar appointed by Jesus 
 Christ 
 
ST. MALACHY. 
 
 89 
 
 VII. Via Transtyherina^ 
 
 PASCHAL III. {Anti-Pope)— 
 
 Guido Cremensis Cardinalis St. Mariae trans Tyberini, 
 Cardinal of St. Mary’s beyond the Tyber. 
 
 VIII. De Panncmidk Tuscice. 
 
 CALLIXTUS III. {Anti-Pope)— 
 
 Hungarius natione episcopus Cardinalis Tusculanus. 
 Tlie two nations, Italy and Hungary, are ever mingled in 
 an evil augury, 
 
 IX. Ex Ansere Custode — Of the Guardian Goose. 
 
 ALEXANDER III.— 11Y5. 
 
 Ex familia Paperonana. 
 
 Our readers will recollect, that when Brennus attempted 
 to sack the Capitol, he was prevented by the cackling of 
 some geese ; the family of Alexander HI. descended from 
 one of those who, aroused by the geese, repulsed Brennus. 
 
 f 
 
 X. Lux in Ostio — The Light in Ostium. 
 
 LUCIUS III.— 1181. 
 
 Cardinalis Ostiensis. 
 
 “ Luca dedit lucem tibi Luci pontilicatum, 
 
 Ostium papatum. Verona niori ; 
 
 Imo Verona dedit tibi Lucis gaudia, 
 
 Exitium curas Ostii Luca mori.” 
 
 XL Sus in crehro. 
 
 URBAN III.— 1185. 
 
 Ex famine Crebell^ quae suem pro armis gerit. He 
 was a native of Milan — from Mediolanus, so called in con- 
 
90 
 
 THE PROPHECY OF 
 
 sequence of a tradition of a sow covered half with wool 
 and half with , silk, and hence Urban was called sus in 
 crebro, being a native of Milan. 
 
 XII. Ensis Laurentii — Sword of Laurence. 
 GREGORY VIIL— 1187.. 
 
 Cardinalis Sti. Laurentii in Lucina ciijus insignia 
 falcatil His armorial bearing was a drawn sword— wa* 
 Cardinal of St. Laurence. 
 
 XIII. De Schola Exiit — Departed from S^ool (Schola). 
 CLEMENT III.— 1188. 
 
 Romanus Ex domo Scholari. 
 
 XIV. Ex rure Bovensi — Erom the Bovensian territory. 
 CELESTINE III.— 1191. 
 
 Ex familia Bovensi. He was descended of the Boven- 
 sian family. 
 
 XV. Comes Signatus. 
 
 INNOCENT HI.— 1198. 
 
 1. liis motto was, Fac mecum Domine signum in bo* 
 num. 
 
 1. He was Ex familia comitum signise. 
 
 3. The dove, which on his being elected Sovereign 
 Pontiff, flew over his head and perched on his left hand. 
 
 XVI. Canonicus de Latere--- Canon of Later an. 
 HONORIUS IIL— 1198. 
 
 Ex famine Sabellia, Canonicus St. Joannis Lateranensis. 
 He was Canon of St. John Lateran. 
 
ST. MALAOHT. 
 
 91 
 
 XVII. Avis Ostiensis — The Ostian Bird, 
 GREGORY IX.— 1227. 
 
 The arms of Gregory IX. were an Eagle. He was 
 Cardinal Bishop of Ostia, in the Diaconate of St. Lucy, 
 situated in the east of Italy and celebrated for its eagles. 
 
 XVIII. Leo Sabinus — The Sahinian lAon. 
 CELESTINE IV.— 1241. 
 
 Mediolanensis cujus insignia Leo: Cardinalis Episcopus 
 Sabinus. 
 
 His arms were the Lion : he was Cardinal Bishop of 
 Sabina, 
 
 XIX. Comes Laurentius — Count of Laxorencem 
 INNOCENT IV.— 1243. 
 
 Comes Lauvanise Cardinalis S. Laurentii in LucinA.. 
 
 1. His title as Count of Lauvania. 
 
 2. His zeal and ardor for religion, against Frederick II., 
 was similar to that of S. Laurence against Valerian. 
 
 3. He ordered the Cardinals to wear a red hat, not only 
 as a mark of their dignity, but to show that they were 
 ever ready to shed their blood for God. 
 
 XX. Sigrium Ostiense — The Standard of Ostia, 
 ALEXANDER IV.— 1254. . 
 
 De Comitibus Signise Episcopus Cardinalis Ostiensis. 
 
 1. The name of Signy. 
 
 2. The title of his Diocese. 
 
 -3.* His proclaiming a crusade against Manfred and hia 
 
 adherents, who persecuted the Church. 
 
 10 
 
92 ^ 
 
 THE PROPHECY OF 
 
 XXL Ilierusalem CampanioB — The Jerusalem of Cham 
 paigne, 
 
 URBAN IV.— 1261. 
 
 Trecensis in Campania, Patriarclia Jerusalem. 
 
 Urban wa-s born at Troyes (Champaigne) ; and taking 
 the part for the whole, the application of this prophecy 
 can (despite the sneers of unbelievers) be applied to non^i 
 other but him. 
 
 XXII. Draco Depressus — The dragon crushed. 
 
 CLEMENT IV.— 1265. 
 
 Cujus insignia Aquila unguibus draconom tenens. 
 
 1. His change of life after his wife’s death. 
 
 2. His courage against the English who had rebelled 
 against their King and the Holy See. 
 
 3. The interdict and excommunication he fulminated 
 against those who, instead of obeying like angels, had 
 risen against him like dragons from hell. 
 
 4. His great moderation in not selecting any of his 
 own family for ecclesiastical preferment. 
 
 XXHI. Anguinus Vir. 
 
 GREGORY X.— 1271. 
 
 Ex familia vice-Comitum quae anguem pro i.usigni gerit. 
 
 He was descended from a noble family who bore the 
 serpent on their standard. 
 
 XXtV. Concionator Gallus. 
 
 INNOCENT V.— 1276. 
 
 Ex ordine Predicatorum. Innocent V. was ^ French* 
 man, and of the Order of Preachers. 
 
ST. MALACHY. 
 
 9S 
 
 XXV. Bonus Comes, 
 
 ADRIAN V.-~12'76. 
 
 On bonus familia Flescid ex comitibus Lauvanije. 
 
 His goodness of character was depicted by his saying, 
 that he would wish his enemy no greater harm than to 
 become Pope. 
 
 XXVI. Piscator Thuscus — The Tuscan Fisher. 
 JOHN XXL— 1274. 
 
 Antea Johannes Petrus Episcopus Cardinalis Tuscula- 
 nus. 
 
 John was a good Physician, and a native of Portugal. 
 The appellative Piscator from his name Peter and from 
 his See. 
 
 XXVII. Rosa Composita — -The Rose Composite. 
 NICHOLAS III.— 1277. 
 
 Quae rosam in insigni gerit dictus composita. 
 
 This Pontiff was the first of his family (Orsini) Tsho 
 changed the family crest, a bear, to a rose, in consequence 
 of one of his cousins having been delivered of an abortion 
 similar in appearance to a bear. 
 
 XXVIII. Fxteloneo Litiacei Martini. 
 
 MARTIN IV.— 1281. 
 
 Cujus insignia lilia, Canonicus et Thesaurarius S. Mar- 
 tini Turonensis. 
 
 The term Liliacei means not so much his crest, as to 
 show that the Pontiff to whom it refers must be Martin 
 IV., who was the Treasurer of S. Martin of Tours ; the 
 
94 
 
 THE PROPHECY OF 
 
 fleur-de-lys is a well-known emblem of the Blessed ViigiB 
 in France. 
 
 XXIX. Ex Rosd Leonind. 
 
 HONORIUS IV.— 1285. 
 
 Ex £amili5, Sabella cujus insignia rosa a lenibus gestatn. 
 
 XXX. Picus inter Escas, 
 
 NICHOLAS lY.— 1288. 
 
 Picenus patria Esculanus. 
 
 1. The inhabitants of Ascoli are called Pici and indi- 
 vidually Picus, because, when their ancestor went to that 
 country, a little bird, called Picus Martius, perched on hia 
 standard : hence the name Piceni. 
 
 2. Esca for Esculum. (Ascoli) the native city of Nicho- 
 las lY. 
 
 XXXI. Ex eremo celsus, 
 
 CELESTINE Y.— 1294. 
 
 Vocatus Petrus de Morino Eremita. 
 
 XXXII. Ex undarum henedictione, 
 BONIFACE YIIL— 1294. 
 
 Yocatus prius Benedictus Cetanus cujus insignia undae. 
 
 From Gaeta, whence their crest.^ 
 
 * As this Pope has been severely censured by Protestant writers, 
 wa are induced to state a fact mentioned by Spondanus, that hia 
 body was found intact and uncorrupted, such as his nose lips, in 
 .1605, about 302 years after his death. 
 
ST. MALACHY. 
 
 95 
 
 XXXIII. Concionator Patercus — The Orator of Patera. 
 
 BENEDICT X.— 1303. 
 
 Qui Vocabatur Nicbolaus oidinis Predicatorum. 
 Paterius, from his native city Patara. 
 
 XXXIV. De Fessis Aquitaniis, 
 
 CLEMENT V.— 1305. 
 
 Natione Aquitanicus cujus insignia fissse erant. 
 
 XXXV. De Sutore Osseo — Of the Shoemaker of Ossea. 
 
 JOHN XXII.— 1316. 
 
 Ex familia Oss^ Sutoris filius. 
 
 John was the son of one Arnauld, a cobbler (sutor), and 
 formed one of the suite of Pierre Perrier, Archbishop (A 
 Arles. 
 
 XXXVI. Corvus Schismaticus — The Schismatic Raven ^ 
 NICHOLAS V. {Anti-Pope.)— 
 
 Petrus de Corbavio contra . Joannem XX. Antipapa 
 Minorita. 
 
 XXXVII. Frigidus Ahhas — The Frigidian Abbot. 
 BENEDICT XII.— 1334. 
 
 Abbas Monasterii Fontis Frigidi. Abbot of the mon- 
 latery of Fontis Frigidi. 
 
 XXXVIII. De Rosa Atrebatensi. 
 
 CLEMENT VI.— 1342. 
 
 Episcopus Atrebatensis cujus insignia Rosae. 
 
 He was born at Hosiers, and was Bishop of Arras, 
 
 0 * 
 
 X 
 
96 
 
 THE PROPHECY OF 
 
 XXXIX. De Montihuss Pammachiu 
 INNOCENT VL— 1352. . 
 
 Cardinalis SS. Joannis et Pauli tituli Pammachii'cujui 
 insignia montes. 
 
 XL. Gallus Vice Comes-— The Gallic Viscount 
 URBAN V.— 1362. 
 
 Nuncius Apostolicus ad Vices-Comites Mediolanensis. 
 
 Urban V. was a Frenchman {Gallus\ and had a right 
 to the title of Viscount, on account of his being one of the 
 Legation to Milan. 
 
 XLI. Novus de Virgine Forte, 
 
 GREGORY XL— 1370. 
 
 Qui vocabatur Petrus Belfontis Cardinalis stce Mariso 
 novae. 
 
 This motto, by the figure called Metalepsis, should be 
 novd de virgine fortis — whence novA would apply to the 
 <v.tle, and fortis to his name. 
 
 XLII. Be Cruce ApostolicA, 
 
 CLEMENT VII. {Anti-Pope.)-^Ul^. 
 
 Qui fuit Presbyter Cardinalis SS. XII. Apostolorum, 
 jujus insignia Crux. 
 
 XLIII. Luna Cosmedina, 
 
 BENEDICT XIII. (Anti-Pope)— IZU, 
 
 Antea Petrus de Luna Cardinalis Stae Mariae in Cos- 
 medino. 
 
ST. MALACHY. 
 
 97 
 
 1 . By his prenomen de Luna. 
 
 2. By his arms. 
 
 3. By the name of the city, whence his title de Lunl. 
 
 4. By the fickleness of his disposition, at one time de* 
 siring, and at another opposing the union of the Church, 
 
 XLIV. Schisma Barchinonicum, 
 
 CLEMENT VIII. {Anti-Pope)—lA2i. 
 
 Qui fuit Canonicus Barchinonensis. 
 
 XLV. De InfirncB Prcegnanti, 
 
 URBAN YL— 1378. 
 
 Neapolitanus Praegnanus natus in loco qui dicitur In- 
 fernus. 
 
 Urban was moreover Archbishop of Cuenza, Acheron- 
 tine, which is also Infernus, according to the Poets. 
 
 XL VI. Cuhus de mixtione, 
 
 BENEDICT IX.— 1389. 
 
 Ex familia Tonacalla a genua Ligurne cujus insignU 
 cubi. 
 
 XL VII. De Meliore Sidere, 
 INNOCENT VIII. — 1404. 
 
 Vocatus Cosmatus de Melioratis cujus insignia sidus. 
 
 XLVIII. Nauta de Ponte Nigro — The Navigator of 
 Ponte Nigro, 
 
 GREGORY XII.— 1406. 
 
 Venatus, Commendatarius Ecclesige Nigri Pontis. 
 
98 
 
 THE PROPHECY OF 
 
 }fe was a Venetian by birth, and a dignitary of tha 
 church of Nigropont. 
 
 XLIX. Flagellum Solis — Lash of the Sun. 
 ALEXANDER V.— 1409. 
 
 Graecus; Archiepiscopus Mediolanensis cujus insignia 
 BOl. 
 
 He was a Greek ; was Archbishop of Milan ; his crest 
 was the sun. 
 
 L. Cervus Syrence. 
 
 JOHN XXIL— 1410. 
 
 Diaconus Cardinalis S. Eustachii qui cum cervo depin- 
 gitur Bononiae legatus Neapolitanus. 
 
 Naples was originally called Parthenope, from a tra- 
 dition that Parthenope, one of the Syrens, was buried at 
 Naples. 
 
 LI. Corona Veli Aurei. 
 
 MARTIN V.— 1417. 
 
 Ex familia Columna, Diaconus Cardinalis S. Georgii ad 
 velum aureum. 
 
 LII . — Lupa Ccelestina. 
 
 EUGENIUS IV.— 1431. 
 
 Canonicus antea regularis Caelestinus et episcopus 
 Senecsis. 
 
 The Amice worn by the Cardinals was formerly made 
 of the wolfs skin, as a mark of humility. 
 
ST. MALAOfirr. 
 
 99 
 
 ‘ LIIL Amator Crucis. 
 
 FEUX V. {Anti-Pope)— 
 
 Qtii Vocabatur Araedeus dux Sabaudise cnjiis insignia 
 0*ux. 
 
 The signification of Amedeus is a lover of God. 
 
 LIV. Pe modkitate Lunm, 
 
 NICHOLAS V.— 1447. 
 
 Lunensis de Sarrana. 
 
 LY. Bos pascens — The Ox grazing. 
 CALIXTUS III.— 1455. 
 
 Hispanus cujus insignia Bos pascens. Calixtus III* wat 
 a Spaniard by birth : an Ox grazing was his crest. 
 
 LYI. Pe Cuiprd et Alhergo. 
 
 PIUS IL— 1458. 
 
 Senensis qui fuit a Secretes Cardinaii Cupranico et A1 
 bergato. 
 
 LVII. De Cervo et Leone— Of the Stag and lAon. 
 PAUL IL— 1461. 
 
 Venetus Qui fuit Commendatarius Cervinensis et Cardi- 
 nalis tituti St. Marci. 
 
 St. Mark is represented by the lion. 
 
 LVIII. Piscator Minor ta — The Minorite Fisherman. 
 SIXTUS IV.— 1471. 
 
 Piscatoris filius Francis canus. Sixtus IV. was the sou 
 of a fisherman. 
 
100 
 
 THE PROPHECY OP 
 
 LIX. Precursor Sicilice — The Precursor of Sicily, 
 INNOCENT VIIL— 1484. 
 
 Qui Vocabatur Joamiis Baptista, et vixit in Curia At 
 fonsi, Regis Sicilise. 
 
 1. The Precursor of the Saviour was called John the 
 Baptist, and so was this Pontiff. 
 
 2. St. John was called the angel of the Lord (Malach. 
 iii. 1), and all wh« have spoken of Innocent VIII. say that 
 he was as beautiful as an angel. 
 
 3. St. John was remarkable for his innocence, and this 
 Pontiff took as his motto, the text, “ Ego autem in inno~ 
 centia mea ingressus sum^'^ to which we may add that he 
 has been unanimously praised by all historians for the di- 
 vine innocence of his morals and piety. 
 
 How was he precursor Sicilioe since he was of Genoa ? 
 because he was in the service of Alfonso, king of Sicily. 
 
 LX. Bos Alhanus in Portu, 
 ALEXANDER VI.— 1492. 
 
 Episcopus Cardinalis Albanus et Porticensis. 
 
 The Ox was in the arms of Borgia, given by Calixtua 
 III. to the Papal see. 
 
 LXI. De Parvo homine, 
 
 PIUS III.— 1503. 
 
 Seenensis d-e familia Piccolomene^. 
 
 LXIL Fructus Jovis jurabit, 
 
 JULIUS II.— 1503. 
 
 Lignr cujus insignia Quercus, Jovis arbor. 
 
 “ Sicubi magna Jovis antique robore quercua, 
 Ingentes tendat ramos.” Virgil, Georg. IIL 
 
ST. MALACHT. 
 
 lOi 
 
 LXIIL De Craticula Politiand^ 
 
 LEO X.— 1513. 
 
 Filius Laurentii Medices et scliolaris Angli Politiani. 
 
 LXIV. Leo Florentioe — The Lion of Floreme, 
 
 ADRIAN VL— 1522. 
 
 Florentii filius cujus insignia Leo, 
 
 His crest was the Lion. 
 
 LXV. Flos Pilei Aegru 
 CLEMENT VII.— 1523. 
 
 Florentius de domo Medicea cujus insignia flos et lilia. 
 
 LXVL Hyacinthus Medicorum — The Hyacinth of Phy^ 
 sicians. 
 
 PAUL IIL— 1534. 
 
 Farnesius qui lilia pro insignibus gestat, et fuit Cardi- 
 nalis St. Cosmae et Damian. 
 
 The purple hyacinth, which had a place in the arms of 
 this Pontiff, is used for medical purposes ; the martyrs 
 SS. Cosmas and Damianus were physicians, hence the ap- 
 plication of the prophecy is evident. He was Cardinal of 
 SS. Cosmas and Damian. 
 
 LXVII. De Corond. montana — Of the mountain crown 
 
 JULIUS III.— 1550. 
 
 An tea Vocatus Joannes Maria de Monte. 
 
 His arms were laurel crow^s and mountaiuB. 
 
102 
 
 THE PROPHECY OF 
 
 LXVIII. Frumentum floccidum. 
 
 MACELLUS IL— 1555. 
 
 Cujus insignia cerves et frtitneiitum ideo floccidum qaod 
 punco tempore vex est in papatu. 
 
 LXIX. Fe Fidets Petri, 
 
 PAUL IV.— 1555. 
 
 An tea Vocatus Joannes Petrus Caraffe. 
 
 1. The name Caraffe is derived from cara fides^ in con- 
 sequence of those words having been addressed by an 
 Emperor to one of the house of Caraffe, who had shed his 
 blood to save his Imperial master’s life. 
 
 2. The founder of a new order of regular clerks, called 
 Theatines. 
 
 LXX. jEsculajpim pharmacum — The jEsculapme of 
 doctors, 
 
 PIUS IV.— 1559. 
 
 An tea Vocatus Joannis Angelus Medices. 
 
 1. His family, 
 
 2. His father was Bernardine de Medici. 
 
 3. His having studied medicine while young, 
 
 4. His being introduced to the Papal Court by one of 
 the Medici. 
 
 5. His election to the Pontificate by a sign of a dove 
 perching at the door of his cell. 
 
 The Church, the true temple of .^culapius, has ob- 
 tained no little profit from his teaching. 
 
ST. MALACHT. 
 
 103 
 
 LXXI. Angelus Nemoroms — Angel of the groves. 
 PIUS V.— 1566. 
 
 Michael Vocatus natus in oppido Boschi. 
 
 Angela from his name, Michael. 
 
 Nemorosus^ from Boschi, his birthplace. 
 
 LXXII. Medicum Corpus pilarum. 
 GKEGORY XIII.— 15^2. 
 
 Cujus insignia medicus Daco Cardinalis creatus a Pia 
 IV. qui pila in armis gestabat. 
 
 LXXIII. Axis in medietate signi. 
 
 SIXTUS V.— 1583. 
 
 Qui axem in medio Leonis in armis gestat. 
 
 Axis^ the northern star. 
 
 In medietate signi, his crest the Lion, one of the 12 
 signs of the Zodiac ; he made the kings of both hemi • 
 spheres tremble. 
 
 LXXIV. De Bore coeli. 
 
 URBAN VII. — 1590. 
 
 Qui fuit Archiepiscopus Rossanensis in Calabria, ubi 
 manna colligitur. 
 
 LXXV. ])e antiquitate Urhis — Of the Antiquity of the 
 City. 
 
 GREGORY XIV.— 1590. 
 
 Senatores Mediolanenses filius. 
 
 Milan was I)uilt 359 A. C. D,, was converted 17 A. D. ; 
 so it may well and truly be called {ancient)* 
 
104 
 
 THE TROPHECY OF 
 
 LXXVL Pia civiias in hello, 
 
 INNOCENT IX.— 1591. 
 
 E. Bononia Etruriae orundus patriarcha Jerusalem, sul 
 Gregorio XIII. 
 
 Rome was engaged in the league against Henry IV, 
 and therefore pia civitas in hello. 
 
 Jerusalem may be truly called pia. 
 
 Benenan, otherwise Bena colonia. 
 
 LXXVII. Crux Romulce — The Cross of Romulus, 
 CLEMENT VIII.— 1592. 
 
 Cujus insignia tenia bipennata crucem Papatum quo 
 dummodo imitantur. 
 
 The Adobrandini (of which family he was a member) 
 were descended from Romulus. 
 
 LXXVIII. Undosus Vir. 
 
 LEO XL— 1605. 
 
 MedicsBus cujus eminentia insignia lilia sphserae ceruiloeas 
 (Velut mare) immersa. 
 
 LXXIX. Gens Perversa — The ohstinate race, 
 
 PAUL V.— 1605. 
 
 Cujus insignia Draco et Aquila. 
 
 1. The eagle is most dangerous on account of its dread- 
 ful enmity to other birds. 
 
 The Dragon, inasmuch as it infects the air with a fetid 
 imell. 
 
 2. The war between the Ghibelines and Guelphs, whose 
 crests were the Dragon at i the Eagle. 
 
ST. MALACHY. 
 
 10$ 
 
 LXXX. In Trihulatione Pacts, 
 
 GREGORY XV.— 1621. 
 
 Qm sicuti punicoei capnt tribus linnesies sen viitis au* 
 reis oblique dispositis vittendit. 
 
 The quairels between Charles Emmanuel I. Duke of 
 Savoy, Ferdinand Duke of Milan, and Pope Paul V., 
 sending Gregory to Piedmont and Lombardy, to confer 
 with the ambassadors of France and Spain respecting 
 peace, and, having discharged his mission, he was elected 
 Cardinal. - 
 
 LXXXI. Lilium et Rosa— The Lily and Rose. 
 
 URBAN VIII.— 1623. 
 
 Cujus insignia Apes currse in scuto caeruloeo. 
 
 On account of the dispensation he granted for the mar- 
 riage of Henrietta of France (the lily) with Charles of 
 England (the rose). 
 
 LXXXIL Jucunditas Cruets. 
 
 INNOCENT X.— 1624. 
 
 Electus summus Pontifex ipso die exaltationis sancta 
 Cruci. 
 
 LXXXIII. Montium Custos — The Guardian of Moun- 
 tains, 
 
 ALEXANDER VIL— 1655. 
 
 Qui stellara montibus irradiantur et praedominantem in 
 nrmis sex gestat. 
 
 Here terminates the interpretation of the Rev. Pere 
 Michel Gorgeu, 0. C. C., of the Monastery of our Lady of 
 Moiuit Carmel, at Dieppe, published in 1659. 
 
106 
 
 PROPHECY OF ST. MALACHT. 
 
 The remainder of the prophecy is as follows : — 
 LXXXIV. Sydus Olorum. CLEMENT IX., 1667. 
 LXXXV. De Flumine Magno\ CLEMENT X., 1670. 
 LXXXYI. Belluainsatiahilis, INNOCENT XL, 1676. 
 LXXXVII. Penitentia gloriosa, ALEXANDER VIII., 
 189. [1691. 
 
 LXXXVIII. Rostrum in p(rrtu. INNOCENT XII., 
 LXXXIX. Flores circumedati. CLEMENT XL, 1700. 
 XC. De Bona religione. INNOCENT XIII., 1721. 
 XCI. Miles in hello, BENEDICT XIIL, 1724. 
 
 XCII. Columna excelsa, CLEMENT XII., 1730. 
 XCIII. Animal rurali, BENEDICT XIV., 1740. 
 XCIV. Rosa Umbrice. CLEMENT XIIL, 1758. 
 XCV. Ursus Velox, CLEMENT XIV., 1769. 
 
 XCVL Peregrinus Apostolus, PIUS VI., 1779. 
 XCVII. Aquila Rapax, PIUS VIL, 1800. 
 
 XCVIII. Canis et coluber, LEO XIL, 1823. 
 
 XCIX. Vir Religiosus. PIUS VIIL, 1829. 
 
 C. De Balneis Etrurice. GREGORY XVI., 1833. 
 
 CL Crux de Cruce, PIUS IX., 1846. 
 
 TO BE FULFILLED. 
 
 OIL Lumen in ccelo, CVII. Pastor et nauta. 
 
 cm. Signus ardens, 
 CIV. Religio depopulata, 
 CV. Fides intrepida, 
 CVI. Pastor angelus. 
 
 CVIII. Flos florum, 
 
 CIX. De medietate Lunas, 
 CX. De labor e solis, 
 
 CXI. Glorioe Olivce, 
 
 In persecutione Extrema Sanctae Romanse Ecclesiao 
 sedebit Petrus Romanus qui pascet oves in multis tribula- 
 tionibus, quibus transactis, certus septi collis dirurtur et 
 pie ex tremeadis prodioabit populum suum. 
 
107 
 
 It is considered necessary to inform our readers that 
 we close our present collection of the writings of our 
 sainted seers with the prophecy of St. Malachy. We 
 must, however, take leave to remark, that all the prophe- 
 cies written by our Saints are not contained in the present 
 edition, though we have contrived to give the most re- 
 markable ones. Besides St. Patrick and St. Bridget, the 
 following Saints are said to have written prophecies, viz. : 
 St. Cailin, first Bishop of Down, who flourished about A. 
 D. 500. St. Cairneach, a Priest, who flourished about 
 535. St. larlach, Archbishop of Tuam, in 538, and seq. 
 Beg Mac De, the prophet, who died in 551, according to 
 T^-hernach. St. Baoithin, successor to St. Columbkille in 
 the Abbey of Hy, who died on the 9th January, 559. 
 Eochadh Eicceas, commonly called Dalian Forguil, who 
 flourished about 597. St. Bracean of Ardbracean in 
 Meath, who flourished about 650. St. Fursa, or Fursey, 
 who died 16th January, 653. St. Moling of Teach-mo- 
 ling (Timolin) county of Kildare, who died in 697, and 
 St. Samhtand, virgin, who died in 734. It is to be re- 
 gretted that small portions only of the prophecies of the 
 above Saints have come as^t to hand, and that even 
 these fragmentS'xare.lo'ted^^^ in language and orthog- 
 raphy of so ^ standard that it would be 
 
 absurd to thf^^^fc^llishing them before genuine copies 
 can be pro^pi!?^^^ere ar^many fragments of those 
 prophecies fouftd^iy the wor]^ of Colgan and others, but, 
 most probably, tlm only pl^ce where genuine copies can 
 be had is in the libraries of the continent. Though the 
 greater portion of those prophecies be uninteresting to 
 the majority of the people, they are, notwithstanding, val- 
 uable, and are worth the pains of collecting them, as being 
 ancient documents that should not be suffered to fall into 
 decay and final destinction. 
 
 11 * 
 
108 
 
 Having finished the prophecies of the Irish Saints, W6 
 beg to introduce another species of prophetical documents, 
 which, although they have not been written by persons 
 remarkable for the sanctity of their lives, or even ecclesi- 
 astics, still deserve to be rescued from oblivion, and may 
 have some claim to respect and credence. 
 
 It is clear that those prophecies have been originally 
 selected from the works of several prophets, as we find in 
 them some few incidents recorded in the writings of St. 
 Columbkille and other Saints, whose works we publish. 
 Even in the absence of this evidence, it is clear they are 
 composed of extracts from the works of various authors, 
 which, in fact, the diversity of metre will show beyond 
 contradiction. It requires no logical argument to prove 
 that they are none of the compositions of pythonists or 
 wandering impostors, and, therefore, deserve some public 
 attention. The attention and credence to which they are 
 entitled should, however, be given with caution under a 
 certain degree of limitation, because they do not profess, 
 as we find them just now to have been written not by 
 Saints, but by bards, or other learned persons who com- 
 piled them, and reduced them to the level of the language 
 then spoken by the people. Though we can, by no means, 
 approve of this course, as it is localized less or more, still 
 the predictions should not be rejected for the reasons al- 
 ready adduced, but the whole should be received with 
 much caution, and compared with, not only the docu- 
 ments we now publish, but with the traditions prevalent 
 among the people, which are, for the greater part, genuine. 
 Hence we venture to give them to our readers. 
 
THE I^REDICTIONS OF DONALL CAM. 
 
 Domhnal Cam, the crooked^ to wliom the following Pro- 
 phetic lines are generally ascribed, lived about ninety years 
 ago : he was an ubiquitarian, or a sort of mysterious wan- 
 derer, about whom no person knew any thing, except that 
 he was a great prophecy -maUj'* and used, on the eve of 
 the American War of Independence to deliver his prophecy 
 with an earnestness that astonished his hearers. His fa- 
 vorite haunt was near Balina, Tyrawly, though he was 
 known to most people in every part of Ireland. Donall 
 was generally supposed to be inspired, and his predictions 
 were believed to have been all his own making, but this 
 evidently is a mistake, because the present copy has been 
 made from a manuscript which must be much older than 
 his time, and thetefore a compilation made from the 
 prophecies of some of our saints, by some other writer, 
 and not by Donall. The more modern copies are all 
 styled the “ Predictions of Donall Cam,” but this one al- 
 luded has no title, evidence sufficient, in the absence of 
 even a date, that it was written long before Donall ex> 
 isted. 
 
 It is to be regretted that the real author’s name has 
 not been as yet discovered. It is possible he was one of 
 our modern bards, who compiled it from older documents 
 now lost or unknown. Traces of some fragments of lost 
 Prophecy attributed to some of our saints are found in the 
 piece, and, as it appears not to have been a pythonic com- 
 position, it is therefore well worth being preserved. There 
 
110 
 
 THE PEOPHICCY OP 
 
 is another copy of this prophecy in the Royal Irish Acado^ 
 my ; it may be seen in the Hudson collection of Irish 
 MSS. 
 
 In the year^ whose date shall be three sevens, 
 
 A disturbance shall arise at a distance,! of three calls from 
 Europe ; 
 
 This trouble will never have an end, 
 
 Until Christendom J will embrace a similar course of rec- 
 titude. 
 
 From the time two Galls§ (strangers) will fight, 
 
 For the supremacy of a country in the new division of the 
 earth ; 
 
 A man whose sway was potent shall become powerless. 
 And misfortunes in succession shall follow him. 
 
 Through blind madness they will enact laws,|| [sion ; 
 With the intention of forcing subjects' into further submis- 
 
 * Ag data^ <S:c. The year 1777. Though the American war of in- 
 dependence commenced before this date, the groundwork of free- 
 dom was not firmly laid until this year. 
 
 t Fad thri »gairt. This was a favorite form of expression to denote 
 a far distance ; the old bards frequently used it. Ex. : 
 
 “ At the distance of a call from this place dwells the love of my heart, 
 And it is certain I never shall see her again.” Old Song, 
 
 X Go m-beidfi, dto. It is not meant the American war should iic<t 
 have an end before Christendom would gain freedom, but, only th'»t 
 the principles which gave rise to that war should still live. 
 
 § The two Galls or strangers here meant, are evidently the En</Ush 
 and American colonists. The war of the two Galls is a topic of UMich 
 interest with prophecy-mongers. 
 
 8 Those were the oppressive laws enacted by the English to ^rush 
 the rise of the American colonists, and against which the Bostoniani 
 made a noble resistance. 
 
DONALL CAM. 
 
 Ill 
 
 This proceeding 'will cause a flame to be kindled, 
 
 Which will be fanned by the enemy in the vicinity. 
 
 This blaze will not pass across the ocean, 
 
 Until a potent King afflicted with madness* shall be sub- 
 dued ; 
 
 The fraud of barter will characterize the struggle in those 
 countries, 
 
 And penury created by monopoly shall be the substance of 
 that law. 
 
 The Biscayansf will descend the Alps, 
 
 In a body that will subdue all the northern tribes ; 
 
 They will liberate countries from slavery and suffering, 
 And will be observant of peace till their forces be aug- 
 mented. 
 
 A small shootj will spring up from the true germ 
 Of a wood that has been withering down to a worthiest 
 shrubbery, 
 
 It will depose Kings from their usurped dignities, 
 
 And countries shall enjoy freedom under its sway. 
 
 When nations shall be reduced to the level of republics,§ 
 And monarchs deposed from their usurped dignities ; 
 
 * This king was George III. Whether his political madness in op- 
 pressing the Americans, or his subsequent insanity i.s meant, we de- 
 cline to decide. 
 
 t This stanza alludes to the broils which succeeded the American 
 war, on the continent of Europe. 
 
 X The personage here indicated as a small hranible appears to hava 
 •een Napoleon I., but prophecy-men assert he has not made his ap- 
 pearance as yet. 
 
 i Whether or not this stanza refers to the commonwealth est%l> 
 
112 
 
 PROPHECY OF DON ALL CAM. 
 
 Destruction shall come upon the sages of the countries so 
 afflicted, 
 
 And they who offer sacrifice to God shall be exiled for a 
 time. 
 
 The lion^ will extend his limbs far beyond his crown, 
 And will bestow gold in abundance to purchase victory 
 in battle ; 
 
 In great Germany, France will spill out her power, 
 
 And affliction shall be the portion of every race that per- 
 petrates injustice. 
 
 The people of Fodhla (Ireland) shall suffer grievously in 
 consequence of their connections. 
 
 Throughout Europe they shall be oppressed by foreigners ; 
 
 lished in France by the revolution of 1793, it is difficult to say. It 
 is well known that there still is a sort of hankering after republican- 
 ism all over the Continent of Europe, though the difficulty of shap- 
 ing the debris of a monarchical government into a republican form, 
 so as to work successfully for any length of time, is apparent. Since 
 republican revolutionists are, for the most part, lukewarm Christiana 
 who have neither character nor property to lose by a change, it needs 
 not be wondered that the priests of the Church and all good men 
 would suffer, under the rule of lawless plunderers and desperadoes. 
 
 * Spreadhfadk an leomhan^ dbc. The lion is emblematical of Eng- 
 land, the thistle of Scotland, and the harp of Ireland. The follow- 
 ing is an old saying — vide Mac AuUffe''s Prophecy : — 
 
 “When the lion shall lose his strength, 
 
 And the speckled thistle its power ; 
 
 The harp will sound sweetly. 
 
 Between the eighth and ninth hour.” 
 
 The remainder of the stanza clearly and truly depicts the fictitious 
 power acquired by England through the agency of her wealth — a 
 power and extent of dominion that must ever be proportionate with 
 her means of purchasing both. 
 
PROPHEOT — A FRAGMENT. 113 
 
 But when Rome^ and the countries adjacent shall be sub* 
 dued, 
 
 Ireland the Young, after that, shall remain in sorrow only 
 one year. 
 
 PROPHECY— A FRAGMENT. 
 
 Some suppose the following fragment to have been com- 
 posed by St. Columbkille, others attribute it to St. Kiaran. 
 
 A gentilef race will come across the sea, 
 
 That will mingle with the people of Eire ; 
 
 They will place one AbbotJ in every abbey, 
 
 And will impose a King over Eire. 
 
 * Acht troth chuiriod an Boim\ dbc. Tiie court of Rome has long 
 been made the butt for republican darts j no wonder, then, that our 
 republican prophet, whoever he had been, has made allusion to the 
 fall of Rome. The English government are supporters of monarchy 
 with its intolerable expenditure and oppressive taxes at home, while 
 they are made red republicans abroad ! It is not, however, for love 
 of the principles of freedom they squander the wealth of the nation 
 in subsidizing desperate men to work the ruin of Catholic dynasties, 
 but in enmity to the religion they profess ; all this is only the means 
 ahned at to accomplish the downfall of the Pope. It is evident that 
 if Catholicity continues much longer to make the rapid progress she 
 lias been making for some years, the reformed churches must sink 
 into obscurity, and, as a consequence,' the enormous revenues of that 
 establishment must be taken away from those who now enjoy it, and 
 be converted to more useful purposes. Hence Rome, the head of the 
 Catholic world, should necessarily be destroyed, in order to carryout 
 effectually those base views. 
 
 t Those gentiles, or pagans, were the Norsemen. 
 
 X History informs us that the Danes placed laymen as abbots in 
 ^6 various churches throughout Ireland. 
 
THE PROPHECIES OF 
 
 m 
 
 One of them shall do the abbot in my church, 
 
 And he will not sing matins ; 
 
 Neither the Pater nor Credo shall be there recited. 
 No scientific language spoken, but a foreign jargcn* 
 
 For seven years, shall this invading race 
 Hold the supreme sovereignty of Eire ; 
 
 Having a false abbot in every abbey, 
 
 Of the gentiles of Drum-duibhlinne,^ 
 
 They will reign in joy until the young man come, 
 Who will wrest Eire from their custody ; 
 
 The power of the stranger shall not exist 
 Ever after that in Dun-da-leithglas.f 
 
 This young man who will save Banba (Ireland) 
 Shall not be a king, though a king apparent ; 
 
 There shall not be found in Tara of Bregia 
 A host of sea-pi rates J governing Eire. 
 
 THE PROPHECIES OF MAC AULIFFE. 
 
 The following Prophecies, vulgarly attributed to the 
 inspired genius of a Mac Aulifie, of Duhallow, Co. Cork, 
 
 * The pagan Danes of Dublin. Druim-duibhlinne^ 
 
 t Downpatrick. 
 
 X Formorach signifies a pirate as well as a person of gigantic stat 
 nre. The name was appropriately given to the Norse Vikings, in 
 consequence of their piratical habits. The early invaders of the 
 coasts of Ireland were called Formorians ; they, too, were settled at 
 that early period in Lochlann, or J utland, and the iurpounding dltr 
 tricta. 
 
MAC AULIFFE. 
 
 115 
 
 are very curious, and deserve to be rescued from the 
 oblivion of ages. The one we present is usually styled^ 
 Mac Auliffe’s Aonta, units, but as he seems to have 
 divided time, beginning at some indefinite period into 
 one, two, three, four, <fec., the best translation that can be- 
 given to his division of time is, period. The Prophecies 
 of Mac Auliffe are so plentiful in the south of Ireland, 
 and held in such high esteem by the people, that it ap- 
 pears many of the copies now extant had been made from 
 oral recitation. Many copies of Mac Auliffe’s prophecies 
 have come to hand, but collation was out of the question, 
 as one differed so much from the other; therefore, the 
 most prudent course to be adopted, was to give the two 
 best copies we had in our possession. -Mac Auliffe’s 
 prophecies are not to be rejected, since they contain much 
 of the scattered fragments of the prophecies of our saints, 
 found in other works, the originals of which are now lost, 
 or lie neglected and unknown in some of the continental 
 libraries. That the prophecies attributed to Mac Auliffe 
 are not really his own composition we need only remark, 
 that in all parts of Ireland, the north in particular, where 
 his name is not so much as known, snatches of those 
 prophecies are frequently heard quoted by the Irish-speak- 
 ing portion of the people. Some persons assert that the 
 prophet Mac Auliffe was a blacksmith, who flourished 
 about the middle of the l7th century. O’Reilly, in his 
 “Irish Writers,” mentions a blacksmith named Mac Au 
 liffe, who lived near Glanmire, County Cork, was author 
 of some poems, and whom he makes contemporary with 
 Art Mac Cooey of the Fews, who lived in 1774. There 
 are strong reasons for believing that neither he of the l7tli 
 12 
 
116 
 
 THE PROPHECIES OF 
 
 century, nor the poet of the 1 8th centuiy, had been the 
 compiler of the prophecies we give ; because they might 
 have then witnessed many of the improvements foretold, 
 and it may safely be supposed that neither of the disciples 
 of Vulcan had been in the possession of a manor, as de- 
 scribed in the text. Hence it may be inferred that the 
 compiler was a chief of Duhallow, who flourished in the 
 14th century, as we have some reasons to believe. 
 
 In the first period,* the literati shall have no place ot 
 safety ; 
 
 In the second period, no valor shall be in the Geraldines ; 
 In the third period, my race shall possess no power in 
 Duhallow ; 
 
 In the fourth period, Eire shall be possessed by the Saxons* 
 In the fifth period, their crimes will be treacherous and 
 deceptive ; 
 
 The sixth period shall be dangerous to the clergy ; 
 
 In the seventh period, they shall be feeble and destroyed 
 at sea ; 
 
 In the eighth period, the Gaels will be keeping the hills 
 In the ninth period, the land shall then be dear ; 
 
 In the tenth period, each man will be contending for his 
 right. 
 
 Each succeeding race shall become more prone to false- 
 hood, 
 
 And each succeeding year shall become more wet and 
 stormy ; 
 
 * An chead aen. As it seems an impossibility to fix a precise date 
 to these periods of time just now, it may be that some of our Mun« 
 Mer frieadfl oeu reflect some light on the matter. 
 
MAC AULIFF*. 
 
 117 
 
 Old shall not be loved, and young women will lack modesty ; 
 The English tongue will be used by every race, and a 
 chariot under each foot.^ 
 
 The hoary will become active, f and piles of battles will 
 ensue : 
 
 '{'he daughter will take advantage of her mother, 
 
 And the son will play tricks upon his father ; 
 
 The neighbor will circumvent his neighbor, and the sister 
 her sister. 
 
 The people of the world will rush into crime, wretched- 
 ness, and penury ; 
 
 In the year of poverty the furzej shall be without seed or 
 blossom, 
 
 In the year that shall follow, thousands shall die of star- 
 vation ; 
 
 In the year seven^ the world shall be prosperous and happy. 
 
 The French will undoubtedly be in Eire some time, 
 
 And the English fat bears shall be forced to growl and groan ; 
 
 In allusion to the pomp of the people, 
 t Tiocfa na licdha^ dbc. This verse indicates that the demand for 
 men will be so great that the aged will be forced to become active 
 once more. The Irish proverb has it: *‘When the old woman is 
 pressed hard she runs.” So it will happen with the old men at a 
 future time, very likely not far distant, llie remainder of the stanza 
 is found in St. Columbkille in nearly the same words. 
 
 J We are not aware whether or not the furze produced blossom 
 and seed the year before the famine. We, however, heard old per- 
 sons make the remark. If the furze appeared in its wonted dress 
 that year, it is presumed that some future year will usher in increased 
 distress. 
 
 § In the year Mac Aulifie must have meant the year ; 867. 
 
118 THE PROPHECIES OF 
 
 The old tithes shall be possessed by the priests as their 
 lawful due, 
 
 And old Latin and the copious Irish will be used by them. 
 
 Much news will be heard that will trouble us all, 
 
 And hundreds of Heber’s race shall be banished acrosi 
 the sea ; 
 
 The perch will be laid against the face of the hills, 
 
 And the mountains will be meted out as pasture-lands. 
 
 An impetuous torrent will sweep from the mountain’s side, 
 And Peake shall be in bondage, deprived of all his sub- 
 stance ; 
 
 The poet shall have no Irish text, and your poems shall 
 be weak ; 
 
 While only one in the hundred of the Irish will remain 
 my woe ! 
 
 A Captain will dwell at Cloch-meine, 
 
 A Captain will be in Purcell’s halls, 
 
 A Captain will be in the city of Sir Edward, 
 
 And a kind-hearted Captain will be in my manor. 
 
 There shall come a gray summer, a sunny harvest, 
 
 A misty winter, a favorable spring, 
 
 A fine Christmas, and fat graveyards ; 
 
 Half the winter shall become like summer,* 
 
 And half the summer like the winter. 
 
 * Leith an gheimhridh^ dbc» Could the old chief have borrowed 
 from Nixon’s, prophecy ? Nixon says : — 
 
 “ WheQ summer in winter shall come, 
 
 And peace is made in e ery man’s home, 
 
MAO . ATJLIFFEl. 
 
 119 
 
 Then shall come gory war, by means of which the haugl»ty 
 race shall be subdued, 
 
 With three great assessments, and no boasting victory for 
 the Saxon ; 
 
 A snare^ (spy) will be set on the road, and the stones will 
 speak. 
 
 And every man in the field will have a sword in his hand 
 
 Dublin shall be without the voice of the Galls ; 
 
 Kilkenny shall have a college in it ; 
 
 The boy will say, as he passes along the road. 
 
 Is this the place where Kilmallock stood !” 
 
 Bogs shall be locked, and the mountains fenced ; 
 
 The gray horse will leap over the lion ; 
 
 Then shall there be danger of war ; 
 
 For, though at night with peace the nation rings, 
 
 Men shall rise to war in the morning, 
 
 There shall be a winter council, a careful Christmas, 
 
 And a bloody lent ” 
 
 There is, in any event, much truth in the prediction ; our saints 
 have foretold the changes of the seasons, and we are all old enough 
 to notice something of the sort. 
 
 ♦ Bddh Suil/reibe^ d:c, Suilreibe, in some parts of Ireland, is the 
 name of a snare or noose ; it also signifies a spy or cunning person. 
 Hence it is presumed that the establishment of the constabulary on 
 the roads is here alluded to ; the following tradition respecting this 
 force is frequently heard : — Black posts will be on every cross-road. 
 Some were of opinion that the phrase had allusion to the finger-posts 
 set up at cross-roads, but it is absurd to suppose such had been the 
 meaning of the phrase, since the above quotation explains it clearly 
 enough. The speaking stones mean either the milestones, or the 
 strict system of espionage that will be carried on at this period* Wo 
 are well acquainted with the spying system adopted by England in 
 Ireland in cases of the slightest emergency, which, in a proportionate 
 ratio, must necessarily increase when real danger impends. 
 
 12 * 
 
im 
 
 THB PRQPHECm OF 
 
 Eibbons si all grow on the alder-tree, 
 
 And incessant frost and evil shall ensue.* 
 
 After the year of goldf the year of weeping will follow ; 
 In the year one thousand eight hundred five tens and 
 nineteen 
 
 The Frank will come from the south, and the Spaniard 
 from the esist, 
 
 The Saxo*n King will say that he has neither a son nor 
 cousin-german. 
 
 Eighteen hundred besides one thousand, 
 
 The feast of Mary (Annunciation) shall reach towards 
 May ; 
 
 And the feast of St. John (Baptist) shall fall on a Friday ; 
 Three Saturday’s moon, and a rainy grassy harvest. 
 
 * Storms are always considered by the Irish as omens of war and 
 Woodshe^, according to the proverb :—Bam and constant winds ars 
 the true omens of bloodshed. 
 
 t There is, an Irish phrase in common use in which are recorded 
 three events, said to denote the approach of the expected war of 
 liberation, namely : — The year of the goJd^ the year of the great crop^ 
 and the year of sorroiQ will come. These events arc not easy of ex- 
 planation, if w'e do not understand a series of years instead of one, 
 and consider the discovery of the Californian and Australian mines 
 as the year of gold. True it is that this phrase was in use long before 
 the discovery of gold-fields in either country, bat the year of gold, the 
 meaning of which nobody knew, was expected, so was the year of 
 the great crop, and, following in succession, the year of sorrow or 
 walling. It is not very likely, indeed, that either the prophecy or 
 proverb shall be falsified. 
 
 X The year 1869. In this year the French will come from the 
 south, and the Spaniards froni the east to Ireland; it is difficult to 
 guess what positions those nations will assume in fourteen years 
 hence, but it does not ro^uire the gift of prophecy to foresee that the 
 
MAC AtJLlFFE. 
 
 121 
 
 There shall come a /ear of joy, a year of sorrow, 
 
 A year of famine, and a stormy summer ; 
 
 A heavy harvest that will be saved with care, 
 
 And a spring when there shall be but few people. 
 
 To one thousand whole, and eight of hundreds, 
 
 Conjoin without fear, five tens and nine, 
 
 The age of Mary’s Son, to which also add seven and nine. 
 From that time prostrate shall be the English speaking 
 race forever.^ 
 
 We have been favored by a gentleman, who is an emi- 
 nent Irish scholar and poet, with the following metrical 
 translation of Mac Aulifie’s periods ; we beg to present it 
 to the reader, as a specimen of such form of translation. 
 
 THE PROPHECY OF MAC AULIFFE. 
 
 INTROntJCTION. 
 
 I. 
 
 When the mind is sad and weary : when the times are 
 passing dreary, 
 
 present belligerent parties, probably the powers now neutral, will as- 
 sume positions in the great war different to those they now occupy. 
 No sane man can for a moment think that the best Christian blood 
 of Europe is freely shed for the mere purpose of supporting Moslem- 
 ism. St. Columbkille does not extend the termination of English power 
 in Ireland to so remote i\ date, and in this very same poem it is as- 
 sumed that 1867 shall witness the discomfiture of the English. One, 
 iowever, may be the date of the commencement and the other of the 
 termination of the struggle.— Vide St. Columb. 
 
 * The date here given is 1867, the year in which the English* 
 speaking race shall be finally expelled from irela*id. Vide alibi. 
 
122 THE PKOPHECIES OF 
 
 And the heart withia is sinking : thinking of the days oi 
 yore; 
 
 Get and read those books of wonder. Open wide the 
 leaves asunder ; 
 
 Where the Sibyl’s voice of thunder to the Future opes 
 the door, 
 
 With awe, and reverence meet, then listen when the Sibyl 
 opes the door 
 
 On the Future’s shadowy shore. 
 II. 
 
 Hear Mac AulifFe of the Ealla. Myst’ries will the chief- 
 tain tell ye, 
 
 If you hear those olden voices — voices of the mighty dead ; 
 
 Foremost of the Seers prophetic : yet no barbarous Ascetic, 
 
 Words he hath so strange, electric, as would fill the world 
 with dread, 
 
 Could they hear and know the mystery written where the 
 Ella led; 
 
 0 ! ’twould fill the world with dread I 
 
 THE PROPHECY. 
 
 HI. 
 
 Time of Times : the first despised are the bards that first 
 we prized. 
 
 In the next the Geraldine like a vine shall faae away. 
 
 The third shall make the churchmen stagger. Next the 
 Saxon proud will swagger. 
 
MAC ATJLIFFE. 
 
 123 
 
 Fifth : my race tv ill fail by dagger — dagger, sickness, or 
 decay. 
 
 0 1 the next, the Saxon conquers ; sateless still with land 
 and sea ; 
 
 Lord of land, and Lord of sea ! 
 
 IV. 
 
 Seventh : the Saxon’s crimes are stinking. Eighth : the 
 Gaels have hills. I’m thinking : 
 
 Will they hold those beauteous mountains ? Mountains 
 over valleys fair ! 
 
 Ninth : the land shall all be rented. Tenth : each man 
 be discontented ; 
 
 Each with broken vows tormented, Sorrow^’s rain is fall- 
 ing there ! 
 
 O I what misery, woe, and sorrow, while that rain is fall- 
 ing there ! 
 
 All are covered with despair. 
 
 V. 
 
 Then— Oh ! strange and dark the story — Active are the 
 old and hoary. 
 
 And the battle red is raging— raging ’mong the young 
 and old ; . 
 
 Daughter cheats the mother bore her. Sons will treat 
 their fathers sorer ; 
 
 Neighbors rob their neighbor’s store, or on their cattle lay 
 a hold. 
 
 Age no more shall be respected — women sell themselves 
 for gold. 
 
 Virtue, beauty, all be sold < 
 
124 :' THE PBOPHEOiKS OF 
 
 VI. 
 
 Listl the people’s Saxon speaking — still their wicked 
 courses keeping : 
 
 Wonder not the furze don’t blossom — blossom not pure 
 flowers for crime. 
 
 Follows then a dire starvation. Seven alone will bring 
 salvation 
 
 To the prosperous happy nation — nation formed for hap- 
 pier time ! 
 
 Changing still, comes lurid summer. Harvest voices 
 sweetly chime : 
 
 Through the glad air sweetly chime ! 
 
 VII. 
 
 1 hen a mist)" winter cometh, and a sweet spring smiling 
 bloometh. 
 
 Child born of a Christmas greener — greener than the 
 healthy frost. 
 
 Graveyards fill, and homes grow sadder : mothers weep 
 and death gro'ws gladder. 
 
 Summer stingeth like the adder. Many a life on roads is 
 lost. 
 
 Stones have tongues, and men bear falchions where the 
 fields rich harvests boast, 
 
 ’Mong the swarthy reapers host, 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Now Eblana knows no danger — hears not now the voice 
 of stranger. 
 
 A college stands near Old Kilkenny— Old Kilkieuuy once 
 
MAO AULIFFE. 
 
 125 
 
 Mark a place, the ivy blotting: a boy goes past with 
 satchel trotting, 
 
 Asks : — “ those ruins slowly rotting — was Kilmallock those 
 among?” 
 
 Only rushes, weeds, and willows grow where Bards have 
 lived and sung : 
 
 Where the Fenian Bards have sung ! 
 
 IX. 
 
 See streamers on the elder growing. The gray horse o’er 
 the lion going. 
 
 Frosts incessant, winds unpleasant — winds unpleasant con- 
 - stant blow. 
 
 A golden year will end in weeping : years full eighteen 
 hundred keeping, 
 
 To them sixty-nine more heaping, and the Saxon wib’ 
 rank low, 
 
 Franks and Spaniards coming over, then will meet a 
 shrinking foe : 
 
 Then will lay the Saxon Idw. 
 
 X. 
 
 Thousand to eight hundred linking — eighteen too in 
 Time’s sea sinking, [Isle ! 
 
 May shall have the feast of Mary — Mary, guardian of our 
 
 John’s great feast falls on a Friday, spoiling the old forms 
 of my day ; 
 
 Three moons have Saturdays at high day : Harvest cornea 
 in sickly style : [smile! 
 
 And the spring has few to greet it — few to meet it with a 
 
 All are sick and cannot smile I 
 
126 
 
 THE PROPHECIES OF 
 
 XL 
 
 Again I count the years contrary since the hour the Son 
 of Mary 
 
 Brought the glad, the blessed gospel — gospel spread from 
 shore to shore ; 
 
 Add a thousand to eight hundred ; join five tens, nor nine 
 be sundered, 
 
 Seven and one ’twill not be wondered I should add to 
 make it more, 
 
 When I tell ye from that moment that the Saxon’s powei 
 is o’er 
 
 Euling from that hour no more. 
 
 John T. Rowland. 
 
 MAC AULIFFE’S PROPHECIES. 
 
 It has been suggested by some friends that the fore- 
 going poem of Mac Auliffe is the same as the one given ; 
 but a minute inspection will at once convince the reader 
 that they are not really and substantially the same — the 
 style, the language, and the incidents are quite different 
 Hence it is thought prudent to give it, as it may be that 
 some other documents may turn up which may enable us to 
 authenticate the origin whence the piece has been derived. 
 At the same time we must receive the whole with caution, 
 in the absence of more clear and certain authorities, though 
 we find many snatches contained in the piece in the writ- 
 ings of our sainted seers : this is the reason we are inclined 
 to give them to the public in the present shape. 
 
MAC AULIFFE. 
 
 137 
 
 THE PROPHECIES OF MAO AULIFFE, 
 
 CHIEF OF DUHALLOW. 
 
 A ROUT of shoeless horses will come,* 
 
 Unbridled will their numbers go forth, 
 
 In dense, hot, fair, a'ctive, earnest divisions. 
 
 To depredate the green district of Conn. 
 
 Ye shall be punished by the laws w^hich ye yourselvei 
 have made; 
 
 Your fathers shall become subservient, and discord sown 
 among the Gael ; 
 
 People will wax in iniquity, and become poorer. 
 
 While rents shall increase, and task-masters multiply. 
 
 Hospitality shall flee, and cordial affection. 
 
 And those parties will prostrate the faith under foot , 
 None shall be prevalent without exterior support. 
 
 And none will acknowledge the wretched as his kindred. 
 
 Torturing will be the news we shall have at this time, 
 Hundreds of the race of Heber will go in exile over the 
 seas ;f 
 
 Perches (measures) will be laid in the face of the hills. 
 And the mountains with cords divided for the herds. 
 
 ♦ By this simile the ruthless hordes of invaders are meant. It 
 is quite evident from this an^ the stanzas that follow, that the pre- 
 dictions were written long before the time when Mac Auliffe lour- 
 /shed. 
 
 t Is ceobsta^ c&c. This stanza shows clearly that the Irish would 
 be forced to fly into exile, in order to make room for bullocks and 
 sheep 
 
 18 
 
128 
 
 THK PROPHECIES OF 
 
 Flocks of sheep shall occupy the arable land, 
 
 Stewards will be placed on every farm ; 
 
 The mountain will bellow with the lowing of the store ox^ 
 And, 0 good God, what will the poor then do ! 
 
 Waters will dry up, while many mills v/ill need them. 
 
 The blossom of the wood shall fall, and the grass wither. 
 Rape and cresses shall take the place of the mountain 
 berry, 
 
 From Blarney to the Shannon, where boats are wont to saiL 
 
 Through mad folly ye will abandon all your towns 
 To men wearing white trousers and lace on their breasts, 
 Who will pledge toasts in taverns from night till morning, 
 Oh, grief of my heart ! it will give reason for repentance. 
 
 Green grass shall grow at gates and strongholds ; 
 
 Every precious thing will be carefully concealed ; 
 
 Every worthy young man in Munster suspected to possess 
 wealth, [law. 
 
 Shall be solaced by being entrapped in the quirks of the 
 
 When the oats^ shall begin to ripen, ye shall hear a 
 sound approach ; 
 
 They who profess the foolish faith in Cork, on the Lee, 
 shall be on the retreat ; 
 
 The sea shall be heaving with the power of a noisy fleet, f 
 While the evil-hearted churls, devoid of power, shall be 
 leaving in sorrow. 
 
 * When the oats begin to ripen, or change their color, in the bo 
 ginning of harvest. 
 
 t For an aeoeunt of the powerful invftding fleet that will come to 
 Ireland, see pp. 88, 89, et alibi. 
 
MAC AULIFFE. 
 
 129 
 
 There sliall undoubtedly come a summer in which the sun 
 will not shine, 
 
 And the French, who never violated their covenant, wiU 
 arrive ; 
 
 The alien fat bucks who were accustomed to devour food, 
 Shall surely meet a change as hurtful as the blaze on a 
 mountain. 
 
 Kinsale is strong, prosperous, and powerful, 
 
 And Cork of the shipping shall bear the palm for success; 
 The shorn holy friars will come hither, [here. 
 
 And the Spaniards will occupy the place of the Saxonj* 
 
 He is a treacherous man* who would falsify a letter in a 
 lay — 
 
 For a great battle will be fought that shall draw sighs 
 from your hearts ; 
 
 A fire without embers (look before yon) each shall meet 
 in his path. 
 
 Confusion ! the ti*eacherous churls will fly away. 
 
 When the cuckoo will sing on a tree without a leaf, 
 
 Sell your cow and buy corn ; 
 
 War without fear shall come, and famine without want, 
 Covetousness will increase, while a double ledge of corn 
 shall be on the ridge. 
 
 The Spaniards will come over and fill our bays. 
 
 They will leave the common residents of Galway headless ; 
 
 * This verse clearly shows that Mac Auliffe was engaged in ex- 
 tracting those prophecies from the works of some saint; when he saye 
 that he would bo a treacherous man who would falsify a lay or poem. 
 
130 * THE PROPHECIES OF 
 
 Waterford shall be very poor, afflicted, and weak, 
 
 And all that can be said is that the Saxon hordes had 
 been there. , 
 
 A battle will be fought at Dun-na-sgiath, 
 
 Dublin will fall into decay ; 
 
 The Representative of the king will be slain 
 By the Lord of Tralee, at Athcru ! 
 
 My cause of tears ! my cause of tears ! my cause of tears 
 my grief! 
 
 My sorrowful, scorching, sickening grief! 
 
 Blood and entrails shall strew the field of Saingil ; 
 
 Woe to him who cannot run the day of the battle of Sain 
 gil’s field ! 
 
 It is then Limerick shall be burned to ashes. 
 
 When the yellow lion will resign his strength, 
 
 And the speckled thistle its power ; 
 
 The harp will sound most sweetly 
 Between eight and nine. 
 
 In the year one thousand seven hundred,* 
 
 Six tens, and fourteen ; 
 
 In the northwestern part of the world. 
 
 There will be war and hard skirmishing. 
 
 The warf of the two Galls will come. 
 
 The two heads of the Church shall fall by one another } 
 
 * Cannot understand tliis date, 
 t Hee the Prophecies of Domhnall Cam. 
 
lilAC ATJXiIFFE* 
 
 131 
 
 A war will be waged in the eastern world,* 
 And it is the Saxons who shall pay the piper. 
 
 The foregomg is another of the abstract propheciss at- 
 tributed to the pen of Mac Auliffe, the Duhallow Chief, of 
 which the following metrical translation, by a gentleman 
 eminently skilled in his native language, is annexed. 
 
 THE PROPHECIES OF MAC AULIFFE. 
 
 Shoeless and unbridled there shall pass our island o’er, 
 
 A rout of horses trampling her plains from shore to shore , 
 Shedding sorrow, and amazement, and bitter woe upon 
 The waning tribes and kindreds of the beauteous land of 
 Conn. 
 
 Ye shall smart beneath the laws that yourselves were 
 pleased to frame. 
 
 Your fathers shall be scoffed at, the Gael a hated name ; 
 Then shall each day grow harder, all poverty increase. 
 More task-masters and tributes must ever mar your peace. 
 
 Generosity shall vanish, and sickening lore shall die, 
 
 Those holy duties darkly, by all forgotten, lie; 
 
 * It may not be very unlikely that the present war is the one fore- 
 told here ; it little matters who will be the conquerors or conquered ; 
 it can be easily seen that England will be obliged to pay dearly for 
 lier share in the transaction. It may happen, according to tb* 
 English phrase— 
 
 “ The unicorn and lion 
 Fought for the crown, 
 
 But little coaly started up, 
 
 And knocked both down.” 
 la* 
 
132 
 
 THE PKOPHBCIES 05 
 
 No man shall then avail, but so he keep him with his hantl,‘ 
 Alone and undefended the weak will have to stand. 
 
 Tho’ it wring me as I see it I must shape the future’s tale, 
 Hundreds of the race of Heber on the exile’s race must 
 sail ; 
 
 Measures will be laid against the rugged hills and rocks, 
 And the heathery mountain’s freedom be subdued to feed 
 the ox. 
 
 Each clan in its own limits shall by sheep supplanted be, 
 On each man’s land a steward shall be set to oversee ; 
 
 The mountain shall give hack but the lowing of the steer, 
 Thou, God, art wise, and knowest what the poor will have 
 to fear. 
 
 The water-brooks shall parch, no sound of mills be made, 
 The forest-blossom drop, and the meadow grasses fade; 
 The water-cress must grow where the daisy springeth now, 
 From Blarney to where Shannon laves the sailing vessel’s 
 prow. 
 
 Ye shall leave your fenced cities, and yield them to a race. 
 With white garments on their legs, and good store of 
 golden lace ; 
 
 Drinking healths and making merry thro’ all the hours of 
 night, [light. 
 
 And, alas, from all your sorrows ever quaffing their de* 
 
 Desolation shall clothe gateways with green herbs like 
 the field. 
 
 All precious things and jewels will be jealously concealed ; 
 
UAG ^ULlFm. 133 : 
 
 Eack youtk c>f name in Munater, that rumor saitb hath 
 aught, 
 
 Shall, by the cunning tricksters, be lightly sold and bought. 
 
 At the turning of the oats, ye shall hear a growing sound, 
 
 The fanatics of Cork by the Lee shall lose their ground ; 
 
 The foaming sea shall bellow ’neath the ploughing of a 
 fleet, 
 
 And the false churls in sadness be driven to retreat. 
 
 There shall doubtless be a summer when the sun won”l 
 brightly shine. 
 
 And the Frank, who ne’er broke faith, shall come east 
 ward o’er the brine ; 
 
 Then the glutton stranger towns, where food was never 
 rare, [glare ! 
 
 Woe, woe to them, shall kindle with the fixed mountain’s 
 
 I foresee Kinsale all prosp’rous, increasing day by day 
 
 And Cork’s fair port that merits the palm from ev’ry bay ; 
 
 The blessed shaven friars shall come across the sea, [be. 
 
 And where the Saxon has been, there shall the Spaniard 
 
 He would be a treach’rous man who would falsify a lay. 
 
 Your hearts shall grieve to witness the battle of that day ! 
 
 See, a fire without embers impede your path along, 
 
 Wigs on the green ! the churlish horde shall join the ex- 
 ile throng. 
 
 When the cuckoo shall be heard on a tree without a leaf; 
 
 Bell thy cow, and buy: the© corn, so shalt thoa miss the 
 
134 
 
 THE PROPHECIES OP MAG ArLIFFB. 
 
 War without fear shall come that time, and famine with 
 out need, 
 
 The furrow shall bear double, but double each man’s greed. 
 
 Tlie Spaniards shall come over and fill our ev’ry bay, 
 
 And the ruler of fair Galway shall perish from their way ; 
 
 Waterford will feebly sink, conquered by despair, 
 
 And ’twill be but a legend that the Saxons have been there. 
 
 At Dunnaskie how bloodily a fight must yet be fought ! 
 
 Proud Dublin shall be overthrown, and lowly turned to 
 naught ; 
 
 The king’s lieutenant too must fall, believe I read you 
 true. 
 
 And by the good Lord of Tralee it shall happen at Athcru. 
 
 Alas, alas, alas again ! an hundred times alas ! 
 
 Alasi my spirit telleth me this too must come to pass, 
 
 Blood shall be spilled on Singland’s field, and entrails 
 strewed about; 
 
 Woe to the lame or slow of foot the day of Singland’s rout 
 
 Then Limerick shall be burning in spite of tow’r and 
 moat — 
 
 Twixt eight and nine your ears shall hear the harp’s be- 
 witching note ; 
 
 The yellow lion’s strength shall fail, and the speckled 
 thistle’s green. 
 
 In the year one thousand seventeen, seven hundred and 
 fourteen. 
 
 In the northwest regions of the world’s extensive stage, 
 
 In bloody wars and struggling conflicts they’ll engage. 
 
PREDICTIONS OP FIONN MAO CUMHAILL. 185 
 
 Two potent Galls shall vigorously wage war with vengefhl 
 greed, 
 
 And the heads of both their churches shall lose power as 
 their meed ; 
 
 In the eastern world a war shall rise, and hear it truly 
 said, 
 
 That the piper by the Saxons shall there he amply paid» 
 
 THE PREDICTIONS OF FIONN MAC CUMHAILU 
 
 [The following prophetic verses are usually attributed 
 to Fionn Mac Cumhaill, the celebrated Druid and chief 
 commander of the Fenii, or Irish National Guards. There 
 can be no doubt but the Druids, like the Magi, and other 
 pagan priests, delivered the oracles of their deities, and 
 predicted, in a certain obscure way, future events, since 
 we find some very ancient predictions attributed to them. 
 Fionn Mac Cumhaill is celebrated in popular tradition and 
 legends for the gifts of foreknowledge he possessed. Yet, 
 though he may have left the substance of these predic- 
 tions to the world, it was not in its present shape, for, it 
 is clear, his predictions have been reduced to metre by a 
 much more modern sage, as the language and versification 
 amply testify. The poem goes in the usual style of Fen- 
 ian pieces ; St. Patrick requests the royal bard to relate 
 what Fionn foretold concerning Ireland. Oisin replies. 
 But since we find the substance in some instances similar 
 to the events predicted by other Irish seers, we muiil 
 
136 
 
 THE PREDICTIONS OF 
 
 necessarily conclude that the whole is a compilation ex- 
 tracted both from the works of Christian as well as pasTAii 
 writers.] 
 
 PatHcJc, Oisin, please to relate to us 
 Some portion of Mac Cumhaill’s predictions, 
 
 And on what occasion they have been predicted, 
 
 Thou angelic man who has adored the true God. 
 
 Oisin. I will tell you a tale full of seriousness, 
 
 O chaste Patrick, son of Arpluinn ; 
 
 It will grieve your heart to hear 
 
 The various changes unfolded by prediction. 
 
 As Fionn once sat facing towards the east. 
 
 On a cliff overlooking a glen on Bineadair (Howth), 
 
 He saw a dark cloud approach from the north, 
 
 Which covered Ireland in an instant. 
 
 They who sat next Fionn Mac Cumhaill, 
 
 The great king of Almhain (Allen in Kildare) ; 
 
 Were I myself, and Osgar the serious. 
 
 With Caelte, the son of Ronan. 
 
 We three with one breath said 
 To the renowned king of Almhain ; 
 
 Tell us the meaning of this dark cloud from the north, 
 Which has enveloped Ireland in an instant. 
 
 Caelte the beloved then said 
 To the renowned king of Almhain ; 
 
 “Place your thumb of foreknowledge under your tooth, 
 And let Us remain no longer in ignorance of its meaning." 
 
FIONN MAO CrrMHAILL. 
 
 137 
 
 Fionn, “ Alas ! 0 Caelte the beloved, | 
 
 It is long until the meaning predicted will jBome to pass — 
 Aliens from beyond the raging ocean | [land. 
 
 Will come hither to inflict great evils on tpe people of Ire- 
 
 K K 
 
 They will devastate all Ireland, \ ; 
 
 Her fertile plains and verdant mountains / 
 
 For two hundred years in full, \ / , \ 
 
 Shall the surface of Ireland remain Wbjec t to them. 
 
 They will not leave the least germ of pr^^erity after them, 
 So that it will be difficult for the pe^e^to bear ip against 
 their oppression, I 
 
 The numbers who shall be slain ^|r|their inachinations 
 Shall remain as a stain upon tteir sovereignty. I ^ 
 
 / ' / ■ ’ \ ^ 
 
 On a Wednesday a man wilFgo/on a ^distant journey, 
 
 The consequence shall pro^ ruinous to Ii|j|an4 ; | 
 
 Mac Murchadh, the obst^ate demoi^^ ^ 
 
 And be-demoned shallj^ became o^ hi%^^P 
 
 The career of that kiw shall ' " - 
 
 His residence shall be unprot 
 
 He shall not leave IphinJW^fm^ sop^r | in repute^ 
 
 Though the recital |^ainful to 
 
 Leinster shall^^fst % seized by this^je^Ie ; 
 
 The accomplish men to my heart ; 
 
 No kin^will rule over them, but murky demons, 
 
 No Fenian^Band shall then exist to release the people. 
 
 ITiey will destroy Meath, and beautiful Munster, 
 
 Their afiSliction of iryjustiee will not even then be abated* 
 
138 
 
 THE PREDICTIONS OT 
 
 They will then commence to erect dark towers 
 Oh ! how difficult it will be avenged on them ! 
 
 Orgial and Ulster the prosperous, 
 
 They will reduce under tyrannous bondage ; 
 
 Under their relentless government, 
 
 All Connaught will submit to its final destruction. 
 
 The posterity of Conall and Eoghan the hospitable, 
 
 Shall be reluctantly forced to bend under that yoke ; 
 
 They shall groan under that dark, unjust bondage. 
 
 For three hundred years in full. 
 
 Their first battle will not be met with vigor and resolution, 
 It shall not be a battle, but the derout of a timid multi- 
 tude ; 
 
 The battle of Cnuca on three other battles. 
 
 According as the King of Heaven ordained. 
 
 The king of the Saxons will come to them in high spirit*; 
 To reprehend and interrupt them ; 
 
 Until a battle will be fought on the boisterous main. 
 
 Their animus will be inimical to the men of Ireland. 
 
 He (the king) will appoint a man to hold his place (a 
 locum tenens)^ 
 
 By whose authority laws and ordinances shall pass ; 
 
 He will be said to be a man of truth. 
 
 But he will be, indisputably, a circumventor. 
 
 In the midst of very troublous times, 
 
 When their cares will be brought up to the highest pitch, 
 A man afflicted with a leprosy shall rule 
 Tb.c kingdom of Ireland for seven years. 
 
FIONN MAC CTJMHAILL. 
 
 139 
 
 Another raliant man will come hither, 
 
 By aJvice of the leper ruler ; 
 
 To fight a battle with apparent vigor, 
 
 With the Donn, single-handed. 
 
 A certain man shall fall in the conflict, [most pitch ; 
 In which his power and value shall be extended to the ut* 
 After this event the leper shall be subject to deep sorrow, 
 In consequence of the fears he will entertain for the safety 
 of his people. 
 
 The Donn of the rings will then start into power. 
 
 He, the furious, the cautious, the compact-keeper. 
 
 Will fight three battles, without the least timidity, 
 
 During his career, in Ireland. 
 
 A battle will be fought at Ath-seanaich (Ballyshannon), 
 In which the Irish shall labor under a deception ; 
 
 The deceiver of the Irish shall be slain in the battle, 
 
 And one of the foreigners. 
 
 TTie Donn (brown-haired) man without rashness, 
 
 A pillar in battle and conflict. 
 
 Shall die through the virulence of one hour’s illness 
 Without remedy, or an individual to compassionate him. 
 
 Nine years after that period, 
 
 There shall be a general slaughter of the Irish people , 
 
 So that none shall be supposed to survive, [sacre 
 
 Though all the Irish shall not be slain in the great mas- 
 
 That carnage will afterwards be avenged, [supineness, 
 
 When the people of Munster will grow ashamed of theix 
 
 14 
 
140 
 
 THE PREDICTIONS OP 
 
 In the excitement of the warriors of the Galls, 
 
 In their excited state abroad they shall be overreached. 
 
 Two battles will be fought in Munster, 
 
 The third will be fought on the side of a hill ; 
 
 A battle will be fought in beauteous Meath ; 
 
 The King of Heaven will shield them. 
 
 The son of the king of Saxon will come over the sea, 
 
 I long for his arrival, though not for love of him ; 
 
 The manifest consequence of his coming shall be, 
 
 That the strangers shall be expelled beyond the sea. 
 
 This prince who will come hither across the sea [eigners ; 
 Shall be shamelessly accompanied by a great force of for 
 He shall not effect a pacification in the country. 
 
 But will augment the previous disturbance. 
 
 His sovereignty shall extend over the eastern country and 
 here. 
 
 He will rule both nations by the same code of laws, 
 
 The same measure of line and foot shall prevail. 
 
 But after that shall injustice be dealt. 
 
 One half of the people of Ireland will muster 
 Against those forces who will come hither across the sea; 
 These here will wreak severe vengeance 
 Upon them for their jouniey hither. 
 
 Like a flame of love and grateful friendship they will unite, 
 The Galls and the Gaels with pure hearts. 
 
 Against the obdurate strangers ; 
 
 Hew pleasing it is to me that they will change their policy ! 
 
FIONN MAC CUMHAILL. 
 
 141 
 
 They will CDgage them in a vigorous unflinching battle, 
 And their exertions will be marked with determination ; 
 lie and his forces shall be slain, 
 
 Contiguous to Mullach-maistean. 
 
 Another powerful king will come. 
 
 Who will join the struggle with vigor ; 
 
 He and his men shall then be slain. 
 
 In the battle of Mullaghmast of the great feats ; 
 
 Thirty years in full shall pass. 
 
 Without either battle or conflict ; 
 
 Hone under the canopy of the sky will oppose them, 
 And no people will be equal to them. 
 
 Until strangers will come from the east, 
 
 To take revenge of them for the carnage made by them 
 These will come from Spain in the South ; 
 
 It will be improper to remain in their vicinity. 
 
 Then, the battle of Saingil will be fought, 
 
 Saingeal the site of numerous violent contentions; 
 
 Neither the Galls nor the Gaels 
 
 Never fought so hard contested a battle in Ireland. 
 
 In this battle, concerning which I speak to you. 
 
 The Ruireach (champion, &c.) of Saingeal will join | 
 The strangers shall be plunged in sorrow after it, 
 
 And their forces shall be disheartened. 
 
 A man of low condition of the family of O’Brien 
 Shall command in that battle with great eclat ; 
 
143 PREDICTIONS OP FIONN MAC CUMHAILL. 
 
 He will expel out of extensive Munster, 
 
 Very properly, all the race who use a foreign jargoBe 
 
 Three days shall the battle last, 
 
 Fought against the son of a sovereign prince; 
 
 At the end of three days he shall be victorious, 
 
 After having slain their chief men. 
 
 The five provinces of Ireland will then rise up, 
 
 And join him with irrepressible resolution ; 
 
 May the beloved Ruler of the universe. 
 
 Support the people of every province ! 
 
 The plundered descendants of kings will rise up. 
 
 Who have been groaning under the Saxon race, 
 
 To take revenge of that wicked people ; 
 
 It will be just they should do that. 
 
 Sriangalla of Derry will rise up. 
 
 To spill their blood without intermission ; 
 
 During a month after that battle 
 
 He will continue to hue them down with earnestneit, 
 
 Sriangallach from Derry in the north, 
 
 And Hugh the pure with great success ; 
 
 Though the time of their career is far distant. 
 
 They shall associate with angels in Heaven ! 
 
 I will continue my discourse no longer, 
 
 Since hardships and adversity shall be the portion of th« 
 Galls after that time ; 
 
 Though their crimes shall be dreadful to record, [guilt !” 
 The pity for their condition shall exceed the horror of their 
 
iL PROPHECY. 
 
 143 
 
 Oistn. 0 Patrick, son of Arpluin the renowned, 
 Thou courageous guide of fair fame ; 
 
 Supplicate your King to grant pardon 
 To Osgan, and to myself, Oisin, 
 
 PROPHECY. 
 
 ^ FIONN MAC CUMHAILL CECI5IT. 
 
 Thou woman who speakest to me from the calf, [moie 
 There is another matter which troubles my mind muck 
 An important vision has happened to me, 
 
 Which has deprived me both of sense and power. 
 
 A Tailgin will come hither across the stormy sea ; [rae ^ 
 I do not look upon the event as bad, nor shall it be bad foi 
 He will bless Ireland seven times, 
 
 And great dignity shall attend his advent. 
 
 They will have churchyards and royal mansions in great 
 splendor. 
 
 His deeds shall be excellent in every instance ; 
 
 It shall be a fortunate occurrence for every person who 
 may see him. 
 
 For he wdll lead great numbers of people into the house 
 of God. 
 
 There shall be buildings raised with stone and lime. 
 
 They shall be built strongly and substantially ; 
 
 Herbs and esculent roots will be planted, 
 
 And will vegetate from their roots. 
 
 14 * 
 
A PKOPHECY. 
 
 IM 
 
 All Ian Is shall be measured with nicety, 
 
 And heavy rents imposed upon them with injustice; 
 
 They will cultivate their gardens after the fashion of the Galls, 
 And they will plant great numbers of trees in them. 
 
 It is not, however, on that account I feel most grieved, 
 But on account of the countless hordes of green Gall? 
 who will be here ; 
 
 And that I myself and my Fenii shall not be then here, 
 To have the pleasure of expelling those strangers. 
 
 The Ardrigh (Supreme King) will come from the north, 
 And will engage in a hard course of warfare ; 
 
 He will make a public proclamation of his anger. 
 
 In consequence of which the warfare shall be bloody. 
 
 Near Sligo the warfare shall take place, 
 
 From which shall result advantage to the Gaels ; 
 
 0 woman, believe in the King of kings ! 
 
 From whom you can acquire greater power. 
 
 1 am the principal sage among the Gaels : 
 
 Tiie SON OF GOD will bring me to Heaven : 
 
 Though I have had a great deal to do with women, 
 
 Their connection has been productive of no advantage to nse 
 
 Your calf is outside under a white thorn-bush. 
 
 Contiguous to your house, for some time ; 
 
 Though I have had much dealings with women, 
 
 Their coni:ection has been of no advantage to me. 
 
 TBS END. 
 

 
 ■ jf 
 
"'^'V ■' 
 
 . - 0 :. ■ ' ■ ' ^ - ^ •" ■ 
 
 
 >-,i .' ; ! " ' /.v: '■ ■ S. ♦il ’