Ossian Collection > Druidism

lo DRUIDISM
" Milesius, son of Bille, son of Breogan, son of Bratha, son of
Deaghatha, son of Earchada, son of Alleid, son of Nyagath, son of
Nannaille, son of Feithricglas, son of Heber Glunfionn, son of Heber
Scotson of Sree, son of Easree, son of Gadelas, son of Niul, son of
Feniusa Farsa, son of Baath, son of Magog, son of Japhet, son of
Noah, son of Lamech."
It has been suggested that Ireland obtained her ancient name of
" the sacred island " from the fact of the country having become the
chosen depository of the Phoenician worship in that part of the world.
With reference to Ireland, the ground is more certain when dealing
with Druidism than in the case of Britain or Gaul, inasmuch as the sole
source of information relating to the Irish Druids is derived from Irish
documents and writers, whereas the greater part of the information
concerning British and Gallic Druidism is derived from Latin and Greek
writers. According to some of the ancient Irish writers, Parthalonus
made his advent into Erin about three hundred years after the date
assigned to the Deluge. He came from Middle Greece, and brought
with him three Druids : Fios, Eolus, and Fochmar, names which mean
" Intelligence," " Knowledge," and " Inquiry." Three hundred and
thirty years later there came another colony of immigrants, led by
Nemid and his sons, who entered into a conflict with the Druidical forces
they found established on the island. From that time there is some
record or chronicle of the acts of the Druids in Ireland. They were
referred to frequently as " men of science," and extraordinary powers
were attributed to them. They were credited with the power to raise
storms and atmospheric disturbances. The following translation of an
incantation used by them is taken from the Book of the Invasions of the
O^Clerys in the Royal Irish Academy :
" I pray that they reach the land of Erinn, those who are
riding upon the great, productive, vast sea.
" That they may be distributed upon her plains, her mountains
and her valleys ; upon her forests that shed showers of nuts and
all other fruits ; upon her rivers and her cataracts ; upon her lakes
and her great waters ; upon her spring-abounding hills.
" That we may hold our fairs and equestrian sports upon her
territories.
" That there may be a king for us in Tara and that it may be
the territory of many kings.
" That the sons of Milesius may be manifestly seen upon her
territories.
" That noble Erinn may be the home of the ships and boats of
the sons of Milesius.