The Bow and Arrow

From A Smaller Social History of Ancient Ireland 1906

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CHAPTER III....continued

Though the Irish had the Bow and Arrow, it was never a favourite weapon with them. They used only the long bow, which was from four to five feet in length, and called fidbac [feevak], signifying 'wood-bend,' from fid, 'wood,' and bac, 'a bend.'

Flint arrow-heads

FIGS. 9, 10 & 11. Flint arrow-heads. Fig. 9 shows arrow with a piece of the shaft and the tying gut as it was found. (From Wilde's Catalogue).

The arrow, which was called saiged [sy'-ed], was tipped with flint or metal. A supply of arrows was kept in a quiver, called saiged-bolg, meaning 'arrow-bag.' Arrow-heads, both of flint and of bronze, are constantly found in every part of Ireland, and may be seen in vast numbers in the National Museum. Those of bronze are usually made with a hollow cro or socket into which the wood was inserted.

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