Although I am Wiccan and have been since Beal Tain 1971, I was brought up on folk tales from the Irish-American side of my family.

One of these was about when Patrick was preaching and trying to convert the High King, Laoghaire, to christianity. It seems that Patrick was using his bacuill (which had a pointy end) to emphasise items in

his sermon, and put the bacuill through Laoghaire's foot.

The High King didn't even blink. (Like you wouldn't). When Patrick saw what he'd done, horrified, he asked Laoghaire what the score was ; and Laoghaire said that he'd thought having your foot pierced by

a bishop's bacuill was part of the christian initiation.

(I, too, am curious as to why this ritual had to be in a boneyard ; but perhaps Wiccans on that side of the pond do things differently.)