> From: Maeve B. Callan [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>
> Prophecy was a fairly common aspect of sanctity in Ireland.
>
This role was inherited from the pre-Christian seers who were
expected to be able to obtain knowledge from "supernatural" sources. The
accounts of their techniques are somewhat conflicting. The tradition is that
most methods were suppressed because they involved invoking "demons." Nora
Chadwick's essay, though not recent, continues to be the classic treatment
on the subject. It's on line at:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/4715/imbasforosnai.html
The types of knowledge that were sought included knowledge of future
events, the whereabouts of "lost" people or objects, the causes of illness
(often attributed to the influence of malicious forces), and insight into
confusing or unclear (such as how the "right" person to be chieftain would
be known). These same sorts of knowledge were still attributable in modern
times to those said to have "the sight" meaning the ability to see things
not known to most.
Francine Nicholson
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