CHAPTER IX.
St.Patrick visits Tara--Easter Sunday--St.Patrick's Hymn--Dubtach salute him--He overthrows the Idols at Magh Slecht--The Princesses Ethnea and Fethlimia--Their Conversion--Baptism of Aengus--St.Patrick travels through Ireland--His Success in Munster--He blesses the whole country from Cnoc Patrick--The First Irish Martyr--St.Patrick's Death--Pagan Prophecies--Conor Mac Nessa--Death of King Laeghaire--The Church did not and does not countenance Pagan Superstition--Oilioll Molt--Death of King Aengus--Foundation of the Kingdom of Scotland--St.
Brigid--Shrines of the Three Saints--St Patrick's Prayer for Ireland, and its Fulfilment.
[A.D.

432--543.] On Holy Saturday St.Patrick arrived at Slane, where he caused a tent to be erected, and lighted the paschal fire at nightfall, preparatory to the celebration of the Easter festival.

The princes and chieftains of Meath were, at the same time, assembled at Tara, where King Laeghaire was holding a great pagan festival.

The object of this meeting has been disputed, some authorities saying that it was convoked to celebrate the Beltinne, or fire of Bal or Baal; others, that the king was commemorating his own birthday.

On the festival of Beltinne it was forbidden to light any fire until a flame was visible from the top of Tara Hill.