Celtic ritual life centered on a special class, called the druides or "druids" by the Romans, presumably from a Gaulish word. The term "druid" itself is probably derived from dru-uid- "highly wise" - which might be the reason for why it was also used as a catch over term for all the religious functions.

The druids were the exclusive possessors of whatever learning was then known. They combined in themselves all the learned professions: they were not only druids, but judges prophets, historians, poets, and even physicians, There were druids in every part of Ireland, but, as we might expect, Tara, the residence of the over-kings of Ireland, was, as we are told in the Life of St. Patrick, "the chief seat of the idolatry and druidism of Erin2." The druids had the reputation of being great magicians; and in this character they figure more frequently and conspicuously than in any other. In some of the old historical romances we find the issues of battles sometimes determined not so much by the velour of the combatants as by the magical powers of the druids attached to the armies.

An important function of the druid was divination-forecasting future events-which was practised by the pagan Irish - like the Greeks and Romans - in connexion with almost all important affairs, such as military expeditions. Laegaire's druids foretold the coming of St. Patrick. The druids forecasted, partly by observation of natural objects or occurrences, and partly by certain artificial rites: and in the exercise of this function the druid was a fáith [faw] or prophet. They drew auguries from observation of the clouds, and of the heavenly bodies; and for purposes of divination they often used a rod of yew with Ogham words cut on it. They professed to be able to find out the lucky or unlucky days, and the period of suitable weather for beginning any business or enterprise, and to discern the future in general, from the voices of birds, from sneezing, and from the interpretation of dreams. The Druids taught the existence of one god, to whom they gave a name "Be' al," which Celtic antiquaries tell us means "the life of everything," or "the source of all beings," and which seems to have affinity with the Phoenician Baal. What renders this affinity more striking is that the Druids as well as the Phoenician

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St Patrick, Plain England, Germany1” Celtic, Sun Fire, Queen Maive, Greeks Romans, Lucetmail Lochru”3, , King Concobar, King Laegaire's, function druid, st patrick,