The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-08-02
Irish Antiquities.
AN INTER EsTINa DIscovERY AT sCArrERY
ISLAND.

We take the following interesting article
from the Limerick Reporter - ~
We have been favored by James Spaight
Esq, j. p, with a view of a very curious
Danish weapon of war, which has been re
Gently found in Scattery Island, and which
merits minute description at our hands.
Scattery Island was long time occupied
by the Danes, who used it for the purpose
of commerce and war, until they were final
ly ronted from it in the year 975 by Brian
Boroihme, the great monarch of Ireland.
Brian was then King of Munster, and at
the head of 200 Dalcassian troops, aided
by Domhnall, King of Ionmtacinein, he
recovered the island from the Danes, and
defeated Iomhar. the Norman, and his two
sons Amhlaib and Duibhehenanp, Staying
SoO Danes. The weapon under notice ia
wrought of the best possible steel, which
was once highly polished, all except the
handle, which is bound about by brass
wire, some of which is fiattened. Its blade
is enclosed in sheath, or, as the Irish
called it, a Teaghais, of brass or light
colored bronze, exceedingly tough and
Enthusiastically ornamented, as will be
seen as we proceed. The head of the wea-
pom closely represents the head of the ra-
ven. the favorite bird and heraldic cogni-
sance of the Danes, which they wore on the
crest of their helmets, and bore on their
standard. 1t is-that is, the head--eleven
inches one eighth long from the point of
the bill to the back OF the head or poll,
which is sharpened like the blade. Around
the upper and posterior edges of the blade
is slight ridge, which widens in the CEN
tire and towards the head, and which may
The eye of the raven is represented by q
triangle cut through in it's proper place
The breadth of the head is two inches and
five Fights the length of what we may
call the neck-which is curved, to the
handles four inches and five lights the
spur at the back of the handle for the pro-
lection of the hand is two inches long.
The handle itself is only three inches and
a.half in length, and one inch and one
eighth in breadth at the widest part, show
Ing the race to have been all-handed
like the Normans. The handle gradually
tapers to the end, where there is knob;
and it is bound around, as we have stated,
with brass wire, some of which is flattened.
Inc Ieaghais is eight inches and one
eighth in length and it's breadth in the
widest part is four inches and seven -eighths,
and in the narrowest part four inches. The
back of the Teaghais is made of the bark
OF oak, or some other equally hard and
durable wood. The front of the Teaghais
is plate of brass, or light -colored tough
bronze, as we have said, and is ornament
ed by perforations into lines of raised dots,
and VS., with raised dotted rib which
rises in the center and runs up the whole
length, and from which spring, at an
angie of forty-five degrees, eight dotted
branches, tianked on either side with loz.
enges, seven and a half in number. There
Is loop at the side of the Teaghais, which
SHOWS that the weapon was worn slung.
the weapon was also found
the head of dart, somewhat in the form
of harpoon, with the exception of the
edge not being serrated /; the length of the
blade to the back Of the barb is six inches
one fourth; and the length of the shaft
and enshafting at the base is seven in ches;
The breadth about one inch and half. The
Danes were ancient workers in steel, as
we're also the Keltiberians of Spain and
The Chelybui. These articles are extremity
we'll preserved. The ancient Irish wore
three kinds of arms, short lances and two
darts, as also broad axes, excellently we'll
stecled, the use of which they borrowed
from the Norwesians and Ostmen. With
these weapons, which were guided by the
thumb along the handle, neither the crest
81 helmet nor the iron cased armor were
1eotection sufficient for head and BODY.
md the weapon cleft it's way through till it
divided both head and body. The IRON axe
vas made to stab and cut and the English
out 1t into the hands of the gallowg glasses.
The halberdeers and beef-eaters now carry
t, but it is really of no use at all in those
lays. The Clochadh, the Gran -Tabhal,
and the Celt are seen in public museums
ana private collections, as we'll as the Cra-
alb or Club. AS to the spear, we are told
hat Oscar hurled mis- spear go great on
llgh that it struck Art to the ground as lie
was aiming his spear ut Oscar. Speaking
Dt the Irish, Tasso in the Orlando Furioso
says
To fight both and farrer aoic with all"
But of all the weapons we have seen, this
Danish Raven, as we shall call it, is one
of the most peculiarly national as regards
he Norsemen, and one as curious as any
hat we have met.
Let children grow Giva than, TINA ror