(Vol. v., p. 121.)
SIR J. EMERSON TENNENT has accumulated many interesting particulars, but
by no means exhausted the subject. O'Brien, in his _Essay on the Round
Towers_, advocates the opinion of their being idolatrous
objects--remnants of Buddhism. The _Lia fail_ is celebrated in Irish
history. The episcopal city of Elphin has its name from a celebrated
pillar stone, which remained erect until Charles II.'s time, when it
fell in accordance with an ancient prophecy. This is attested by the
cotemporary evidence of O'Flaherty. Clogher has its name from another
celebrated stone, designated "The Golden Stone," which I believe was
oracular. There was in the city of Dublin, until recently, a curious
remnant of this veneration for stones, and in which we could probably
trace the transition from the Pagan to the Christian usage. At the base
of the tower of St. Audoen's Church was a rude-looking stone, something
like a spud-post, let into the wall, but so as to abut upon the street.
On the upper part of this stone was carved a cross in very low relief.
The stone was designated "The Lucky Stone," and the lower classes of the
people, especially hawkers and itinerant vendors of small wares,
believed that their success in business depended on their making a daily
visit to this stone, which they kissed; and thus a portion of the stone
became perfectly smooth and polished. There was a tradition, too, that
whenever the stone was removed, it was miraculously conveyed back to its
place. Thus it was said to have been stolen away to Galway, but to have
been restored to its original site on the following day. However this
may be, it remained attached to the church tower until about the year
1828, when some alterations being made in the church, it disappeared
from its place. The belief was, that one of the churchwardens, a man in
trade, had removed the stone into his own place of business, with a view
of engrossing all the luck to himself. Whether he succeeded or not, I do
not know; but after an interval of twenty years the identical stone
reappeared in front of a large Roman Catholic chapel lately erected near
St. Audoen's Church. It remained there, a conspicuous and
well-remembered object, near the donation-box, which it perhaps
assisted; but about six months ago it again disappeared, having been
removed, I know not where.