Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

Sayings that kefer to prehistoric times.
The number of sayings that refer to Fionn or Fingal,
and the people of whom he was head, the Feinne, whom
we prefer not to call ' Fenians ' (see Note on ' Cha d'
thng Fionn,' p. 100), is considerable ; and there is no
class of sayings more frequently quoted in the High-
lands and referred to, since time immemorial. The
Fingalian f airplay, As strong as CuchuUin, Like Ossian
after the Feinne, Conans life among the devils, and
many others, are still among the familiar phrases in
every Celtic household in Scotland. Very curiously,
not one of them is included in the Irish Proverbs
hitherto published. This does not of course imply that
they are unknown in Ireland. It would be inexplicable
if they were not ; and Canon Bourke (who, it is to be
hoped, will yet publisli the collection of Irish Proverbs
of which he gave a specimen in his Grammar,) informs
me that he has been familiar with some of them from
his childhood. But it strengthens the belief that the
whole story and poetry of Fionn and the Feinne have
been more deeply implanted, and better preserved,
whatever the reason be, among the Scottish than among
the Irish Gael.
Of Druidism, which some excessively knowing and
critical writers, far in advance of the Venerable Bede,
and even of Julius Caesar, have treated as a mere myth,
there are at least two curious relics among these Gaelic
sayings : — As clever as Coivi the Druid. Though near
the stone be to the ground, nearer is the help of Coivi (see
Note, p. 143). Such sayings as ' Deiseal air gach nl '
belong to the same period.