In Ireland footmarks are very numerous, and are attributed by the peasantry to different saints.  Mr. and Mrs. S.C.  Hall, in their account of Ireland, refer to several curious examples which are regarded by the people with superstitious reverence, and are the occasions of religious pilgrimage.  Near the chapel of Glenfinlough, in King’s County, there is a ridge with a boulder on it called the Fairy’s Stone or the Horseman’s Stone, which presents on its flat surface, besides cup-like hollows, crosses, and other markings, rudely-carved representations of the human foot.  On a stone near Parsonstown, called Fin’s Seat, there are similar impressions—­also associated with crosses and cup-shaped hollows which are traditionally said to be the marks of Fin Mac Coul’s thumb and fingers.  On an exposed and smooth surface of rock on the northern slope of the Clare Hills, in the townland of Dromandoora, there is the engraved impression of a foot clothed with a sandal; and near it is sculptured on the rock a figure resembling the caduceus of Mercury, while there are two cromlechs in the immediate vicinity.  The inauguration-stone of the Macmahons still exists on the hill of Lech—­formerly called Mullach Leaght, or “hill of the stone”—­three miles south of Meaghan; but the impression of the foot was unfortunately effaced by the owner of the farm about the year 1809.  In the garden of Belmont on the Greencastle road, about a mile from Londonderry, there is the famous stone of St. Columba, held in great veneration as the inauguration-stone of the ancient kings of Aileach, and which St. Patrick is said to have consecrated with his blessing.  On this remarkable stone, which is about seven feet square, composed of a hard gneiss, and quite undressed by the chisel, are sculptured two feet, right and left, about ten inches long each.  Boullaye le Gouze mentions that in 1644 the print of St. Fin Bar’s foot might be seen on a stone in the cemetery of the Cathedral of Cork; it has long since disappeared.

In the Killarney region is the promontory of Coleman’s Eye—­so called after a legendary person who leapt across the stream, and left his footprints impressed in the solid rock on the other side.  These impressions are considered Druidic, and are pointed out as such to the curious stranger by the guides.  Near an old church situated on the southern slope of Knockpatrick, in the parish of Graney in Leinster, there is a large flat granite rock with the impression of two feet clearly defined on its surface.  Local tradition assigns these footprints to St. Patrick, who addressed the people on this spot, and left behind these enduring signs of his presence.  Allusion is made to them in St. Fiaca’s Hymn to St. Patrick—­“He pressed his foot on the stone; its traces remain, it wears not.”  Footprints in connection with St. Patrick are to be found in many localities in Ireland, as, for instance, on the seashore south of Skerries, County Dublin, where the apostle landed; and at Skerries, County Antrim, there are marks which are believed to be the footprints of the angel who appeared to St. Patrick.  In Ossory two localities are noted as possessing St. Patrick’s footprints.