Some Characteristics of Irish Folklore. 257
a cow doctor had been summoned to treat a sick cow — this was in Munster a few years ago — two sceptical young people came to see the performance. When the charm, a small leather bag, had been passed over and about the animal and left on its back, an excuse was made to get the cow doctor away for a moment. During his absence they opened the bag, and found it contained only three small stones. Despite the interference with the charm the beast recovered.
Mention should be made of the supposed curative powers of certain wells, springs and pools. There is the famous well of Doone in Donegal, surrounded by votive offerings of rags and crutches. In Co. Tyrone, at Altedavan (Ordnance spelling of the Irish Alta dhioull — the Devil's glen) is a well which I remember long ago was filled with pins and buttons, and is still resorted to by the sick in firm belief that dropping a pin or a button in it will relieve them of disease. The so-called " well " is a hollow basin in an out-jutting rock, and is filled with rain water only. It is, however, " holy water " in the country people's eyes. Besides curative, it used to be credited with magical powers, and I remember I dropped a pin in with my eyes shut, and wished a wish — to this day not accomplished !
A point that calls for some comment is the prevalence of cattle-folklore. This is especially noticeable when one examines into Irish Calendar Customs. On the other hand, though it might be expected, in view of the import- ance of Irish herbal lore, that agricultural customs would bulk largely in the Irish Calendar, so far as I am aware this is not the case. There are, of course, references in plenty to the time or season of gathering herbs ; and flowers and branches enter considerably into folk customs ; but of purely agricultural hardly any seem noted. A stone from the bonfire on St. John's Eve should be thrown for luck over on the potato field.^ Parsley should be sown on Good
- Daniel Deeney, Peasant Loj-e, p. 1 8.
