Crom Cruach
Crom Cruach (
He is also referred to as Crom Cróich, Cenn Cruach/Cróich ([ˈkʲɛnˠː ˈkɾˠuəx]) and Cenncroithi ([ˈkʲɛnˠː ˈkɾˠɔhɨ]). He is related to the later mythological and folkloric figure Crom Dubh.
The references in a
Name
Crom Cruach's name takes several forms. Crom (or cromm) means "bent, crooked, stooped" or according to O'Reilly is perhaps related to cruim meaning "thunder".[3] Cenn means "head", and by extension "head, chief". Cruach (or crúach) is a noun meaning "pile, heap, mound, stack", generally of grain, hay, peat or other gathered goods, booty, and so on, including slaughtered fighters. A common extension is its reference to hills or mountains that look like stacks or piles.
Crom Cruach is called the chief Celtic idol of Ireland by Michael J. O'Kelly, and was located on Magh Slécht (The Plain of Prostrations) in County Cavan, surrounded by twelve other idols.[4]
Literary references
According to an Irish
This incident figures prominently in medieval legends about St. Patrick, although it does not appear in his own writings, nor in the two 7th century biographies by
In the 9th century
Archaeology
A decorated stone known as the Killycluggin Stone (from Irish Coill an Chlogáin, meaning 'the Wood of the Bell-Shaped Stone') has been interpreted by some as the cult image of Crom Cruach. It was found at Killycluggin, County Cavan. It was discovered broken in several pieces and partly buried close to a Bronze Age stone circle (54.090773, -7.634122), inside which it probably once stood.[5]
The 14th century Book of McGovern, written in Magh Slécht, contains a poem which states that Crom was situated at Kilnavert beside the road and that the local women used to tremble in fear as they passed by. There is still a local tradition in the area that the Killycluggin Stone is the Crom stone.
There is another standing stone identified[12] with Crom Crúaich in Drumcoo townland, County Fermanagh. It has the figure of a man walking engraved on it, representing either Saint Patrick or a druid, depending on when it was engraved. A nearby street is named Crom Crúaich Way after it.
A large wooden idol from the 4th century AD has recently been discovered in Gortnacrannagh, County Roscommon.[13][14]
See also
- Cermand Cestach
- Crom Dubh
- Macroom
- Metrical Dindshenchas
- Annals of the Four Masters
References
- ^ Smith, Tom. "The Irish God 'Crom Crúaich of Magh Slécht' : a review of the sources"
- ^ "Celtic Gods, Crom Cruaich". Magic of Mythology. Archived from the original on 4 July 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
- ^ Fitzgerald, David (1880). Popular Tales of Ireland. Revue Celtique. p. 176. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- ISBN 0-521-33687-2.
- ^ a b Isaac, Ali. "The intersection of Saint Patrick and paganism in Ireland", Irish Central, February 16, 2020
- ^ Gwynn, Edward. The metrical Dindsenchas, vol. XI, Dublin, Hodges, Figgis and Co., Ltd., 1924
- ^ Gwynn, E. (ed.). The Metrical Dindshenchas. Vol. 4. E. Gwynn (ed & trans). poem 7;
Annals of the Four Masters. M3656;
Keating, Geoffrey. History of Ireland. 2.25. - ^ a b Bieler, Ludwig, ed. (1979). The Patrician Texts in the Book of Armagh. Ludwig Bieler (ed. & trans.). Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.
- ^ Bury, J.B. (1902–1904). "The itinerary of Patrick in Connaught, according to Tírechán". Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature. 24: 156.
- ^ O'Leary, James (1880). "Tripartite Life". The Most Ancient Lives of St. Patrick. James O'Leary (ed & trans). Part II.
- ^ O'Leary, James (1880). "The Life and Acts of St. Patrick by Jocelin". The Most Ancient Lives of St. Patrick. James O'Leary (ed & trans). Chapter 56.
- ^ Killinagh Church and Crom Cruaich by Oliver Davies and D. Lowry-Corry, in Ulster Journal of Archaeology, Third Series, Vol. 2 (1939), pp. 98-104
- ^ "Eight-Foot-Tall, 1,600-Year-Old Statue of Pagan Deity Found in Ireland".
- ^ "Gortnacrannagh Idol". YouTube.