for fifteen days before and fifteen days after the 1st of August, and young persons were given in marriage.—(Vol. i. p. 95.)
Multitudes of the pious assembled at St. Bridget's Cross, on the lands of Martry, on the 1st of February, to offer up their supplications to this holy personage. This custom has been for some years discontinued; however, a considerable number of the Popish clergy continue to assemble and to perform the rites of their religion on the saint's day (1st February) at a farmer's house near the place where the cross was situated.—(Vol. i. p. 96.)
3. Parish of Ardstraw.
The castle above Newtown Stewart belonged to Henry O'Neal, who, according to tradition, was King of Ulster in the fifth century; he had a sister who is represented as having an elegant person but the head of a swine: and hence called the female monster. Henry, anxious to get rid of an object that mortified his feelings and his pride, adopted the plan of offering her in marriage to any person who should seem inclined to propose for her, but on condition that after having seen her he should either marry or hang. Accordingly nineteen persons, among whom was a captive prince, who had agreed to the condition, were all executed on the platform before his castle; and tradition says the twentieth and last person who proposed for her was the son of his own cowherd, who was tempted by the magnitude of her dowry, but who on seeing her immediately exclaimed, "Cur sous me! cur sous me!"—that is, "Hang me! hang me!" The young man, however, was spared, and the unfortunate princess put to death.—(Vol. i. p. 116.)
With respect to customs, among the lower orders, the married women are generally called by their maiden names; strolling-beggars will enter the house of a farmer or gentleman with as much ease and freedom as if they were part of the family.—(Vol. i. p. 123.)
There are no patrons nor public sports except playing at common—this diversion resembles hurling in the south. The ball they play with is a small wooden one, which they strike with sticks inflected at one end. In the south of Ireland the curve of the hurl is broad, and the ball large and of a soft substance covered with leather.
