214. Killmoluag

A curious ceremony was current in the Island of Lismore. When several boys gathered together, two boys seized a third by the head and heels, and swaying him from side to side sang an eerie chant over him.

UILL! hill! uill! O! Co chill an teid seo?

FIRST BOY

UILL! hill! uill! O! In what kill shall this go?

Cill-Moluag an Lios-mor, Far an cinn na cnoimheagan!

Uill! hill! uill! O! Co chill an teid seo?

Cill-Moluag an Lios-mor, Loisealam na greine.

Uill! hill! uill! O! Co chill an teid seo?

Cill-Moluag an Lios-mor, Boid nach dean e eiridh!

SECOND BOY

In Killmoluag of Lismore, Where the maggots grow!

Uill! hill! uill! O! In what kill shall this go?

In Killmoluag of Lismore, Fairest 'neath the sun.

Uill! hill! uill! O! In what kill shall this go?

In Killmoluag of Lismore, I vow he shall not rise!

After more questions and more answers, the boy was carried round in procession sunwise to a wailing march, in which all the boys joined. The boy was then laid upon a rock or knoll for an altar. After more singing and more ceremonial the victim was laid in some convenient hollow for a grave, to the music of another eerie lament and the laughter of the boys. The writer was an actor in this boyish drama, but what the drama represented he does not know.