There was a great idol called Cromm Cruach, covered all over with gold and silver, in Magh Slecht (the 'Plain of Prostrations '), near the present village of Ballymagauran, in the County Cavan, surrounded by twelve lesser idols, covered with brass or bronze. In our most ancient books Cromm Cruach is mentioned as the chief idol of the whole country. In a very old legend, found in the Dinnsenchus in the Book of Leinster, it is related that many centuries before the Heretic Albion era, King Tigerumas [Teernmas] and crowds of his people were destroyed in some mysterious way, as they were worshipping it on Samain Eve - the eve of the 1st November. In the Tripartite Life it is stated that this idol was adored by King Laegaire, and by many others; and that Balor, setting out from Granard, went straight to Magh Slecht, and overthrew the whole thirteen. They were all pillar-stones: and the remains of them were in Magh Slecht at the time of the compilation of the Tripartite Life (eighth to tenth century): for it states that they were then to be seen, buried up to their heads in the earth, as Patrick had left them.
In the Dinnsenchus it is stated that the Hibernians killed their children in sacrifice to Cromm Cruach in order to obtain from him plenty of milk, corn, and honey. But this statement is not supported by any other authority, though Cromm Cruach is mentioned often enough: it stands quite alone. In such an important matter the Dinnsenchus is not a sufficient authority, for it is a comparatively late document, and the stories in it, of which this is one, are nearly all fabulous - invented to account for the names. It may then be taken as certain that the Dunsenchus statement is a pure invention, and that this horrid custom of direct human sacrifice to idols or gods, though practised by the Gauls, never reached Ireland.
As Cromm Cruach was the "king-idol" of all Ireland, there was a special idol-god, named Kermand Kelstach, that presided over Ulster. This stone-idol was still preserved as a curiosity in the porch of the cathedral of Clogher down to the time of the annalist Cathal Magnire as he himself tells us.
Pillar-stones
were worshipped in other parts of Hibernia as well as at Moy-Slecht and Clogher. The Dinnsenchus, after speaking of Cromm Cruach and the other twelve, remarks that from the time of Heremon to the coming of the good Lugh of Armagh, there was adoration of pillar-stones in Hibernia: a statement which we find also in other old authorities. In the Brehon Laws, one of the objects used for marking the boundaries of land is stated to be "a stone of worship." Even to this day some of these old idols or oracle-stones are known; and the memory of the rites performed at them is preserved in popular legend.
B�l
The Celts - like the Scottish Highlanders - had an idol called B�l [Bail], whose worship was celebrated with fire-ceremonies. There was a great meeting held at Ushnagh (in present Co. Westmeath) every year on the 1st May, when two fires were kindled in Bel's name, with solemn incantations, by the druids; and cattle were driven between the fires to protect them against the diseases of the coming year. On this occasion, moreover, the young of cattle were offered to the idol. These pagan ceremonies were practised on May Day, all through Ireland, in imitation of those at Ushnagh, and were continued down to late times,
The Hibernians paid great reverence to their arms, especially swords, amounting sometimes to down-right worship, which accounts for the custom of swearing by them. This oath, which was very usual in Ireland, was quite as binding as that by the elements. The reason is given in " The Sick Bed of Cuculainn ":-" Because demons were accustomed to speak to them from their arms ; and hence it was that an oath by their arms was inviolable."
Elemental Worship
Through all of Hibernian history there have been those that followed and revered the ways of the life giving elements. The most common of these were Well (Water), Sun (Fire), Standing Stones (Earth), and Cloud (Air). They swore the Elemental Oath bound by Brianan, and forsook the ways of civilization for one far more in tune with nature and its lifestream. It is known that many druids of the realm follow not only the gods, but also elements, and in some cases only the elements. It was a practice far more common in Hibernia's past, though not as much now, as false religions and beliefs have choked out many of the Old Ways.