THE LEGEND OF THE BOYNE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 14 July 1928, Page 9

THE LEGEND OF THE BOYNE

You have heard of course, about the. famous Irish river called the Boyne. Your history book has told you of the. battle fought near this river between William ill. and his father-in-law James 11., but I do not suppose it mentioned the curious legend of the Boyne. The legend says that at the beginning of time there, was no river, of this name in Ireland—only a sacred well surrounded by nine magic hazel trees. On these trees grew scarlet nuts, but no liuipan being was allowed to cat them, for if lie did he would immediately become possessed of all the. knowledge that was In the world, and this knowledge the strange gods who inhabited the mountains did not wish anyone to possess. The only creatures who could eat these nuts were the salmon who lived in the well, and they became known as the salmon of knowledge. Well, there was a woman called Boann who war. very anxious to know a number of tilings; therefore she crept up to tile 'veil determined to eat a nut, thinking that nobody but herself would be. any the wiser. But the well saw her coming, and the angry water rose up and swept down upon her tike a Hood, and she was obliged to run to escape it. However, she did escape, but the water never returned to the welt. It became a river, which was called after her. And the salmon of knowledge have, wandered over the world ever since, looking for their magic nut?.