It is obvious that some uncertainty must exist in the chronology of this early period.
[134] _Oracle_ .-- It is said that, three years before St.Patrick's apostolic visit to Ireland, the druids of King Laeghaire predicted the event to their master as an impending calamity.

The names of the druids were Lochra and Luchat Mael; their prophecy runs thus:-- "A _Tailcenn_ will come over the raging sea, With his perforated garment, his crook-headed staff, With his table at the east end of his house, And all his people will answer 'Amen, Amen.'" The allusions to the priestly vestments, the altar at the east end of the church, and the pastoral staff, are sufficiently obvious, and easily explained.

The prophecy is quoted by Macutenius, and quoted again from him by Probus; but the original is in one of the most ancient and authentic Irish MSS., the Book of Armagh.
[135] _Died_ .-- O'Curry, p.

273.
[136] _Burial_.--"The body of Laeghaire was brought afterwards from the south, and interred with his armour of championship in the south-east of the outer rampart of the royal rath of Laeghaire, at Tara, with his face turned southwards upon the men of Leinster, as fighting with them, for he was the enemy of the Leinster men in his lifetime."-- Translated from the _Leabhar na Nuidhre._ Petrie's _Tara_, p.

170.
[137] _Always_ .-- National customs and prejudices have always been respected by the Church: hence she has frequently been supposed to sanction what she was obliged to tolerate.