Columcille and the Druid

transcribed at

Columcille and the Druid  [duchas:4360779]

At Columcille's time there was a druid to whom every one looked up because it was thought that he could perform miracles even bring the dead to life. One day he was demonstrating to a huge crowd what he could do. He had a woman told to lie down on the ground and pretend she was dead and when he'd have a half hours praying done she was supposed to rise up and thank him for working the miracle. The crowd of course knew nothing about this trick. Columcille happened to be passing the way, and he asked what was going on. When somebody told him he said " Mas marbh i go raibh beo agus mas beo i go raibh marbh". That was if she is living may she be struck dead and if she is dead may she be alive. The druid

Columcille and the Druid  [duchas:4360780]

prayed and prayed and in the end he got uneasy and lifted up the woman and he saw she was dead. From that out the people had no trust in him and the next time St Columcille came the way they all changed over with him.