Sketches of Irish history, antiquities, religion, customs, and manners

Front matter

THE UNIVERSITY

OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY *

From "til© collection of James Collins, Drumcon&raj Ireland, Purchased, 1918.

Preface

is greater than any that we like to plead guilty to, in reference to the most remote, barbarous lands. In England it is wholly overlooked ; and even within the limits of the Green Isle itself there has been no lack of the same oblivious prejudice. I say deliberately, prejudice ; for what else could lead a people, a refined, educated people, to acquiesce in the monstrous anomaly of viewing their native country in the light of a terra incognita ; a land whose splendid rejics of by-gone architectural and other grandeur, were fitted only for some enterprising antiquary to grope about in ; and the stirring legends of ancient glory suitable but for the lips of those who, having never learned to despise their native language, might recount the deeds of other days over the dying embers of a turf fire, in the mud cabin of some dreary bog.

To these two parties — to the persevering antiquary, and the patriotic peasant, we do indeed mainly owe what has been preserved to us of Ireland’s early fame ; and the more attentively we examine them, the better they are found to harmonize in their testimony, respectively borne. The Christian will not under- value such helps to a right view of God’s dealings with this most interesting country : he will trace in her earliest conflicts, in her intestine wars, and fierce struggles of rival aspirants, the ever-changeful, yet always

PREFACE.

V consistent manifestation of the power with which the god of this world holds fast a captive prize. Always intellectual, enterprising, energetic, the ancient race of Ireland might have been led “ to feel after God, if haply they might find him,” had not the subtle enemy perpetually embroiled them in mutual quarrels, at once originating from? accompanying, and producing a thirst for conquest, and for revenge. At length the morning of truth dawned on the combatants : their swords were sheathed, and the powers of their minds being directed from above into the right track, they became a light to the surrounding nations, heralds of the gospel throughout Europe, so vividly did they reflect the day -beam from on high, alike in their lives and in their writings. Y et again, Satan, prevailed to draw a cloud over this brilliant sky, and Popery re-enacted with double fury, and more ruinous success, the part, performed by Paganism of old.

Upon this branch of the subject I do not now enter, since the design of the present volume does not embrace it ; but I view with deep interest the progress of this species of knowledge among the youth of the growing generation, earnestly hoping that they will turn it to account for the benefit of a country and a race, to which all we of English birth, and all of English descent now naturalized in Ireland, are bound by ties not to

VI

PREFACE.

be broken. We are bound by responsibilities too little heeded of men, but very distinct and very awfully strong in the sight of God. “ Brotherly kindness’’ lias, indeed, of late years, and among sincere Christians, taken place of that contempt with which the native race had been for centuries regarded, and which was retorted by them with ten-fold scorn and hatred against those whom they were taught to designate Saxon intruders. In no country under heaven, probably, was the command to “ honour all men” so universally set at nought as in Ireland ; and when we become a little better acquainted than we usually are with the records that every peasant is familiarized to from his cradle, we may more readily comprehend the root and the growth of that rancorous hostility and disdain with which they too generally regard us. Popery has unchristianized them, as she does every people enclosed in her net ; and the deeds of their pagan forefathers wear in their eyes no repulsive aspect : they accord well with the genius and spirit of the present race, who long to emulate their exploits, and to drive from the soil such as they are taught to regard as natural enemies ; and who are indeed the natural enemies of the evil spirit now working in the children of disobedience, inasmuch as they arc, or at least all profess to be, and very many are, the faithful soldiers and servants of Christ.

PREFACE.

Vll

We may turn a right knowledge of early Irish history to a far more practical use than the history of any other country* seeing to what purpose it is applied by the lineal descendants of those of whom it treats ; and by conceding a little to them on the point of ancestral pride* and realizing in ourselves what its fruits must be, where the humbling spirit of a pure faith has not cast down imaginations, and things that exalt themselves against Christ, we may discover a shorter and surer avenue to their warm hearts, than we have, generally, yet availed ourselves of.

The period of which my dear friend has principally treated, was anterior not only to the introduction, but to the very invention of Popery. The policy of those deadly enemies to Ireland, who lord it over the faith and the consciences of her aboriginal race, is to identify the two ; to represent all the famous warriors of old as fighting under and for the crucifix, and by the most impudent anachronisms to bolster up their assumptions. It is no small matter to be enabled to combat this formidable error : to shew, by means of a correct acquaintance with the real antiquities of Irish history, the falsehood of these tales — the utter disconnexion of such epoch with the modern innovations of Popery. On these grounds I am anxious to see my friend’s little volume in every family, every school, and its contents impressed

Vlll

PREFACE.

on the memory of our youngsters, while those of maturer age may privately acquire a lesson, perhaps too long deferred. I would fain apply to this beloved land, what is said of another afflicted race, “ It is the time of Jacob’s trouble ; but we shall be saved out of it.” Sure I am, that to lend a hand in any way to the blessed work of her country’s deliverance, or even to the amelioration of any among the numerous evils that oppress her race, would be to my Christian sister a reward far beyond what the poor fleeting breath of human applause, or all the hoards of worldly wealth could possibly bestow ; and to the blessing of God I feel it a privilege to commend this unobtrusive little volume, knowing that He can cause the weakest effort of a willing hand to prosper in the great work that His servants have to do.

CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH.

Introduction

In order to interest young persons in the past history of their country, the following Sketches have been prepared. The information is condensed into the smallest compass, that young readers may be saved from the toil and weariness of exploring long, uninteresting, and dubious narratives. The compilers of Irish history generally attempt nothing new ; they walk in the steps of those who have preceded them with little variation ; but there is still an unbeaten path — a wide and unexplored field open for investigation.

We would first take a glance at our country in the dark days of paganism, and then pass on to the time when the Sun of Righteousness arose and shed a glory over this little western island, while the greater part of the earth’s inhabitants were still involved in the midnight of heathenism. That there was such a day of brightness in Ireland, and that the Irish were then an enlightened people, there are too many concurring testimonies to render it any longer a doubtful assertion. The sacred Scriptures were readily received by the people ; and, reading them for themselves in simplicity and truth, they drew from their pages the

B

INTRODUCTION.

pure doctrines of the gospel. Romanism had not corrupted or biassed their minds — there was no false teacher to forbid the laity the use of that divine revelation, which God himself gave with an express command, that it should be perused by all, and taught, not to grown persons only, but to children, as they sat in the house, or walked by the way. The Irish shewed their veneration and love for the Scriptures by their care of them. The small boxes in which they preserved them still exist, as monuments of their respect for the sacred volume. This important fact is fully established, by means of the laborious researches of several well known authors whose works are before the public. The reader is particularly referred to the writings of the Rev. Christopher Anderson, and Henry Monck Mason, L.L.D., to whose instructive volumes, as well as to those of Sir W, Betham, the writer of these pages is much indebted.

Two of the principal historians of Ireland are Keating and Leland. Keating has commenced his history, which was written in Irish, at so early a period that it is impossible, from the obscurity in which they are involved, to substantiate or place implicit credence in all his details. In the preface to the edition of his history, which was translated into English by Dermod O’Connor, antiquary of the kingdom of Ireland, and published in 1809, it is stated that Keating studied in the college of Salamanca, in Spain, for twenty-three years. On his return to Ireland he was appointed parish priest of Tybrud. He was considered to be learned, very zealous in religion.

INTRODUCTION.

and of a patriotic spirit. In the zealous discharge of his sacerdotal duties he exasperated the temper of a man who became an inveterate enemy, and obliged him to take refuge from his persecution in the retired fastnesses of the wood of Aharla, which lies between the Galt ee mountains and Tipperary. In this concealment, he wrote his history, not for the desire of gain, but for the benefit of his countrymen.

His esteem for the Irish language is described in the following lines : —

The Irish language is completely sweet ;

In aid of it no foreign e’er did meet.

A copious, free, keen, and extending voice,

And mellifluent, brief ; for mirth most choice.

Although the Hebrew language be the first,

And that, for learning, Latin be the best.

Yet still, from them, the Irish ne’er was found.

One word to borrow, to make its proper sound.

He died in the year 1644 — at least that is the date of the inscription to his memory in raised letters over the door of the church at Tybrud,

There are many incredible legends in his history, for in those early times people believed in superstitions dreams and visions which at present would not be listened to. The reasons which Keating assigns in the preface to his work for writing his History of Ireland, were the means he possessed, from his knowledge of the Irish language, of becoming acquainted with public chronicles and ancient authors which enabled him to rescue his country from the fabulous relations which misrepresented the character of its

INTRODUCTION.

people, and to raise their memories from the oblivion in which they had been buried. He says, “ I trace the antiquity of the Irish much higher, and with better authority than other writers, and give a particular account of the most ancient Irish, the Gadelians ; and if any one should suppose that I bestow too large encomiums upon that brave and illustrious tribe, or speak with partiality of their exploits, let it be considered that I have no temptation to be unjust, being myself originally of English extraction.”

He then states that he is induced to write his history, because every modern historian who had written on Ireland, while they commended the country, despised the people ; and that he was led to pursue the untrodden path of searching the original records, in order to vindicate the character of his countrymen, and compile “ a true and impartial history.” After eulogising the character of the ancient Irish for their bravery and learning, he remarks that “ no people in the world took more care to preserve the authority of their public records,” and that these were usually presented in their public assemblies in the presence of “ the most learned and eminent antiquarians in the country.”

These records, written in the Irish language, he adds, “ contain particular relations of all the memorable battles and transactions that happened in Ireland from the first account of time, and give an account of the genealogies of the principal families in the island.” He considers these records as good authority, from the consideration that they were the production of

INTRODUCTION.

“above two hundred chroniclers and antiquarians, whose business was to preserve and record all actions and affairs of consequence.” These men had revenues and salaries settled upon them for their services ; and their annals and histories were submitted for examination to public assemblies, composed of persons of rank, and eminent for learning, who met for that very purpose.

These chronicles, he believed, from the number of the public registers in whose hands copies were placed, were never wholly destroyed by the Danish invaders ; and this, he states, was an advantage that no other country in Europe possessed ; for the Romans, Gauls, Goths, Saxons, Saracens, Moors, and Danes, generally suppressed or destroyed the public records of the countries they invaded ; but in Ireland this was rendered impossible by the multiplicity of copies, and the care with which they were preserved by the antiquarians. And as to the accuracy of the genealogies, Keating observes, that there were in Ireland a learned body of men called Druids or soothsayers, whose peculiar duty it was to take a strict account of them, “ and also to record the most memorable transactions that happened in the kingdom.”

The Rev. Dr. Leland, Fellow of Trinity College, published his History of Ireland about the middle of the last century ; but with the exception of a short “ preliminary discourse on the ancient state of that kingdom,” he commences his history from the invasion of Henry II. In this “Discourse,” he states, that “it is no part of his design to explore the antiquities of

INTRODUCTION.

the Irish to decide on the authenticity of their scattered records ;” and he further adds, that he “ is particularly disqualified for such attempts by being totally unacquainted with the Irish language”

Dr. Johnson has given his opinion of Leland’s history in the following words: — “ Dr. Leland begins his history too late ; the ages which deserve an exact inquiry are those ; for such there were, when Ireland was the school of the West — the quiet habitation of sanctity and literature. If you could give a history, though imperfect, of the Irish nation, from its conversion to Christianity to the invasion from England, you would amplify knowledge with new views and new objects.”

We have endeavoured to follow the advice of Dr. Johnson, in giving a history of our country until the arrival of Henry II. It is not designed, nor would it, indeed, be practicable, to give a closely connected narrative of early events in this country ; but in addition to the most important and best authenticated facts of Irish history, we have studied to introduce a variety of valuable information relating to its antiquities, and the religion, customs, and manners of its inhabitants, which, it is to be hoped, will prove interesting and instructive to many, especially to our young readers.

A continuation of the history from the period of the English invasion is now preparing for publication.

S. M.

Clapham Common,

February, 1844.

SKETCHES OF IRISH HISTORY.

Chapter I

Ireland’s first name in the native language — First inhabitants called Firbolgs — Institution of Tailtean, and tilts and tournaments— Famous Coronation-stone called Lia fail — The use made of it — Its removal to Scotland, and afterwards to Westminster — An account of the Milesians — The Scythian race of kings — Leaber Gabala — Fileas — Sir Isaac Newton’s account of the first settlers — Arts, navigation, and letters, introduced into Europe by the Phenicians — The Irish Bethluisnon — The Milesian invaders encounter a storm — One of their vessels wrecked on Scielg Mithill — Account of the island — Landing of three Milesian brothers — Battle of Tailtean— Death of Amergin — Ireland divided between Heremon and Heber — Contention between the brothers — Death of Heber.

Ireland’s first name, in the native language, was Inis na Bhfajdkbliuidhe, which signifies The Woody Isle. It was also called Inis Alga, The Noble Isle, and was inhabited by a race of Belgians called Firbolgs by the Irish which claimed the same descent as the Scythians or Gadelians, originally from Magog, the son of

SKETCHES OF IRISH HISTORY.

This wandering tribe (the sons of Nemedius) were driven from their former settlement in Greece by harsh treatment. In order to keep down their growing power, they were compelled to carry earth in leathern bags from the valleys to the tops of the highest mountains and craggy rocks, that those places which nature had made bare and barren, might be rendered fertile. From this employment their name is derived. Fir signifies men ; Bolg , bag. Ireland became their refuge and resting-place from hard labours and tyranny, until they were again driven from their strongholds. New settlers arrived from Greece by whom these older inhabitants were overcome and mostly slain.

Mention is made of one of the last of the Firbolgs, Lughaidh, (surnamed the Long-Handed), King of Ireland, as having instituted the assembly of Tailtean, and appointed tilts and tournaments resembling the old Olympic games which w^ere observed every year upon the first day of August ; a day still distinguished by the name of Lughnansa, now called Lammas.

Ireland was called Inisfail from a famous stone named Lia fail which derived its name from the city Falias, whence the Tuatha de Danans removed it to Ireland.

“ From this strange stone did Inisfail obtain Its name, a tract surrounded by the main.”

It was also called the fatal stone or stone of destiny. Hector Boetius in his history of Scotland calls it Saxum fatale. It was held in high veneration as an enchanted stone, and is mentioned by many historians as

ANCIENT CORONATION STONE.

having the peculiar property of making a terrific sound, resembling thunder, so loud as to be heard at a great distance when any of the royal Scythian race was crowned upon it ; but the stone was silent if the elect sovereign was not of that race.

“ Unless the fixed decrees of fate give way,

The Scots shall govern, and the sceptre sway,

'Where’er this stone they find, and its dread sound obey.”

All the different monarchs of Ireland, in succession, were crowned upon this stone, until the year of our Lord 513, in the reign of Murtough, (the son of Earca) whose brother Fergus the Great, having subdued the Scottish nation and obtained the crown, sent to Ireland for the stone of destiny that on it he might be crowned and thus secure the succession to the Scythian race. Upon so great a consideration, Murtough, willingly yielding to his brother’s wishes, parted with this treasure ; and although, as Keating observes, from the birth of the Redeemer the stone lost its great charm of sending forth solemn sounds, still it was held in high veneration for some innate virtue it was supposed to possess.

Some of our readers may have seen the old chair in Westminster Abbey in which this famous stone is now placed. In Rapin’s history of England we learn that in the year 1296, Edward the First, when he so easily obtained the title of Scotland’s King, took possession of the “ stone on which the inauguration of their kings was performed. The people of Scotland had all along placed in that stone a kind of fatality. They fancied

SKETCHES OF IRISH HISTORY.

that whilst it should remain in their country their state should remain unshaken ; but the moment it should be removed from thence great revolutions would ensue. For this reason Edward had it conveyed from Scone that he might make the Scots believe the time of the dissolution of their monarchy was come, and put an end to all hope of recovering their liberty.

“ Kenith, King of the Scots, having made a great slaughter of the Piets near the monastery of Scone, placed a stone there enclosed in a wooden chair for the inauguration of the kings. It had been brought out of Ireland into Argile and King Edward caused it to be conveyed to Westminster. On it was engraven this distich : —

Keating remarks that in its present position under the coronation chair in Westminster Abbey, the prophecy concerning it seems to be accomplished ; for the royal family of the Stuarts succeeded to the throne of England soon after the removal of this stone. This family was lineally descended from the Scythian race, from Maine Leamhna son of Core, King of Munster, son of Luighdheach, son of Oilioll, son of Fiacha Muilleathan, King of Munster, son of Eogan Mor, son of Oilioll Ollum, King of Munster, who descended lineally from Heberus Fionn, son of Milesius,* King of Spain, every prince of which illustri-

* In Paxton’s Illustrations, he tells us of a fragment of Milesius, the ancient historian of Phenicia, by Abydcnes — quoted by Eusebius.

THE CEREMONY OF THE ROD. 11

ous family, successively received the crown upon this stone.

Fergus the Great, a descendant from Heremon, was the first King of Scotland of the Scythian or Gadelian race. He subdued the kingdom and was the first absolute monarch of Scotland who acknowledged no foreign yoke. Some of the Piets had the title of Kings of Scotland ; yet they were no more than tributary princes to the Kings of Ireland from the reign of Heremon who drove them out of Ireland and compelled them to settle in Scotland.

According to the testimony of an Irish antiquary, “ the Irish kings of the line of O’Donell, sat upon the summit of a hill, surrounded with the principal nobility and gentry of their country ; one of the chief of them advancing towards him presented him with a straight white wand, and upon the delivery of it he used this form — ‘ Receive O King the command of thine own country and distribute justice impartially among thy subjects.5 55

The ceremony of the rod may appear trifling, but it contained “ an excellent moral ; it was straight and white to recommend uprightness in judgment, and to intimate that a prince should rule with clean hands unstained with the blood of his people.55

We shall pass over the details of the enchantments and spells by which the Tuatha* de Danans possessed themselves of this noble island. They are as absurd as Keating’s confused account of the first invasion of

The word Tuatha signifies leader.

Ireland before the flood. From mysterious and fabulous legends he must have taken them.

The next invaders and conquerors of Ireland, the Gadelians, seem to have been a branch of the same tribe, sprung from the same Scythian ancestor, Magog/) Josephus observes that^the Grecians call the Scythians by the name of Magogi because they were the descendants of Magog. Historians give them the character of a brave and generous people.

We come now to inquire who the Milesians were, since from various sources of information, we are taught to believe, that they were the true race which established themselves in Ireland.

Policronicon and other foreign authors call the Milesians, or posterity of Gadelas, Scyti, or Scythians. Sir James Ware says, “ The learned know how common the name of the Scythians is among ancient writers, and it is a received opinion of the most diligent inquirers into the antiquities of Ireland, that the European or Celto- Scythians, divers times sent colonies into Ireland.” From these Scythians came that race of kings in number 181, who ruled Ireland for so long a period. These were all of the same blood and descendants, in a direct line, from Milesius and Gadelas. According to the account of Walsingham in his Ilypodigma, (‘‘After the host of Pharoah was overwhelmed in the Red Sea the Egyptians drove out a Scythian prince who resided among them lest he should take advantage of the weakness of the government and make an attempt upon the crown. When he was expelled the country with all his followers, he

FIRST INHABITANTS OF IRELAND.

came to Spain, where he and his people lived many years and became numerous, and from thence they came into Ireland.”

Another account states that at a time of great scarcity, when by reason of a long period of drought a famine was produced in Spain, these people having great confidence in the bravery of their soldiers, resolved on seeking out a more plentiful land to dwell in and being directed by Caicer, the chief among their priests or Druids, who predicted that the posterity of Gadelas should obtain possession of a western island, they steered their course westward, and discovered our Emerald Isle called Erin, which signifies the island of the West3

There is an old book entitled Leaber Gabala, i. e. the Book of Invasions, the production of a very ancient author which contains the accounts given by the native Fileas who were the learned men or philosophers of those early times. Their accounts of the invasions and first inhabitants of Ireland generally coincide with foreign testimonies.

That Ireland was peopled by a colony of ancient Spaniards is a generally received opinion. There are many circumstances which corroborate the truth of the ancient records in this statement ; and the Irish character still partakes of that which the Universal History gives of the ancient Spaniards, — “ a brave, free, noble, and hospitable nation ; possessed of all the virtues of the old Celts and inheriting fewer of their vices than any other of their descendants.”

In Sir Isaac Newton’s Chronology (Dublin edit.) a

SKETCHES OF IRISH HISTORY.

colony of Spaniards is mentioned, by the name of Scots,* or Scythians, settled in Ireland in the fourth age of the world.

In the accounts of the native Fileas, nearly the same record is transmitted to us. The Fileas in their several departments, took in all the subjects of poetry and became not only the directors of the public taste, but also of manners. The Irish monarchs were ever attended by their Fileas, Bards, and Croteries, i. e. musicians, both in court and camp, from whom they received information, advice, and entertainment. A saying of one of these is transmitted to us. Teig Mac Darg, a Filea in the household of O’Brien of Thomond, thus reminded his patron of his own importance, or rather that of his profession, — “ Though it be every man’s duty to possess the ear of his sovereign with useful truths ; yet it is more particularly the duty of the Filea ; for to such alone it is that princes lend an ear.”

Newton, who in his Chronology quotes the best authorities, states, that soon after the dispersion of the Phenicians into the countries bordering on the Mediterranean, the great Egyptian, Sesostris began his conquests and subjected most part of the then known world, and Spain among the rest, to his dominion. This event took place, according to Newton, in the days of Solomon. Spain derived the knowledge of letters from the Greeks and also from the Phenicians, who occupied the sea-coast.

* Scuitsor Scots, in the Celtic, signifies restless wanderers.

ARTS AND LETTERS INTRODUCED.

The arts, navigation, and letters, it is well known, were first introduced into Europe by the Phenicians. Our ancient Irish bards celebrate Phenius as the instructor of their ancestors on the continent, and the Phenician alphabet is in part retained in the Irish Bethluisnon.

It is said that the Irish language is called Gaelic from Gadalas ; and from Eberus Fionn the island was named Hibernia, and from Ir, Irlanda. These names, together with Heremon and Amergin, we find among the Milesian invaders.

In approaching the western coast of Desmond, these Spanish invaders encountered a storm, and many of their vessels were foundered. That of Ir is particularly mentioned. There is a small island called Sceilg Mithill,* which is a solitary rock some leagues from land. Against it the impetuous waves dashed the vessel of one of the bravest of the Milesian princes, and he was lost with all his followers. Heremon, Heber, and Amergin with difficulty effected a landing, — the first at Inbherf Colpa, (now called Drogheda), the two others at Inbher Sceine, in the county of Kerry.

* The top of Sceilg Mithill is flat with little depth of earth. It measures three acres in breadth and is the resort of numerous wild fowl which fatten upon it. Round this islet are precipices, nearly inaccessible, which tower magnificently over the foaming surge beneath. Difficult and dangerous as the ascent is, there are many who expose themselves to the risk for the sake of the birds, which they contrive to ensnare, and their flesh affords a delicious repast. This island is still frequented by Popish devotees.

t Inbher signifies river.

SKETCHES OF IRISH HISTORY.

They had many successful encounters with the Tuatha de Danans ; and we find one record in particular of the Battle of Tailtean in which these last were totally defeated, and their kings, together with most of their forces, slain. All who escaped the general slaughter fled for concealment into the woods and caverns of the country, leaving the land to the conquerors. After some time they crept forth from their hiding-places and by degrees becoming familiar with the new inhabitants, obtained the liberty of subjects.