money enough for the occasion takes down the cake at any time of the evening he thinks fit, throws it into the lap of any girl he chooses to mark as his favourite, carries her and the cake into the public-house contiguous to which these dances are always held, where he treats the company after dividing the cake, and getting as many to join him as the strength of purse, inclination for drinking, and other sports or vices have attraction for; these spend the night in carousing to intoxication, and all the consequences of such uncontrolled dissipation.—(p. 107.) The production of illegitimate children [is] one of the lamentable consequences which flow from such Sunday meetings.—(p. 108.)
Ballyvoorney, county Cork.
The patron saint of this parish is called Abigail. The day appointed to be held in honour of her memory is 11th February, on which day a vast concourse of people assemble to form their religious or rather their superstitious rounds; they also meet here on WhitSunday and the day following to perform the same silly and absurd ceremonies. There are traditionary reports that many have received great benefit from the prayers and orisons offered at these times to the patrons.—(p. 116.)
Errigall-keroge, county Tyrone.
The custom [obtains] of lighting fires on the eve of St. John the Baptist. That of hanging rags on some wells is rather a general superstitious usage than a local custom.—(p. 161.)
The generality of the inhabitants attribute the building of the old parish church to a St. Kieran. They acknowledge three holy men of this name. The festival of one is on the 5th of March, of another on the 9th September, and that of the third undetermined. The extra-ordinary powers of that St. Kieran who built the church were little inferior to those of Orpheus and Amphion. Their influence extended to the moving of the very stones and arranging them into architectural order; while his only went so far as to provide the means of doing so. The saint possessed only one ox, which during the day drew the materials for the building, and in the evening was slaughtered to feed the workmen. There is a well at the foot of the hill on which the building is erected which still retains its character for miraculous
