The Irish standard., 1886-12-11
where and WHEN ISSUED.
Catholic and Irish Books, and Something
About the Men Who Pub
lished Them.
RARE OLD IRISH MANUSCRIPTS.


The Decline Of the Publication Of Works Of
Irish History Literature Within
the Last Twenty live Years
From 1850 to 1872 very many books
were published in Dublin by Wo-
gan, Byrne, Fitzpatrick and others
in travels, history and biography;
some were also issued during that
period in Belfast and in Cork. But
the unsuccessful insurrections of
1888 and 1903 and the baneful ef-
fects Of the Union put stop to all
efforts in literary direction, and stag
nation settled onthe publishing trade as
well as on every other branch Of busi-
ness. After the Act of Emancipation
was passed in 1929 several publishers
started in Dublin Coyne, Grace and
otbers-but their productions were
principally prayer books and books OF
devotion. and were issued at such high
rates as to be practically out of reach
Of all but the wealthy classes.
The first man who gave real I'M
nat,,s to the publication of National
works in Ireland was James Duffy. He
was q native of Kingscourt, County
Meath. and had made little money by
pedaling prayer books, BEADS etc.
throughout the country. He was fortu-
na1e1v able to find hidden away in the
IA chests of the farm houses of the
country
RARE OLD IRISH MANUSCRIPTS
and looks, left there often in penal
Zines by wandering priests, and these
he either boughtor exchanged for his
avn stock in trade, and brought to
Dublin. where Bryan Geraghty, OF An
p2esza street, gave him ample profit Tor
his valuable discoveries.
Hs finally settled in Dublin, opened a
stare in Anglesea street, and com
mepced his successful career as pup
]is,,ar by issuing in numbers Abbe Nc
{3foyl,egan's History of Ireland, trans
la,ed by Miss Erina O'Kelley. Ihe
credit Of this young lady's work was
appropriated by her father.
THE work had a large sales "a-soal
har: come into Erin" and a thirst tor
national literature had sprung up'
which still continues and increases.
Du,9y followed up his first venture with
Sir ,!o1ah Barrington's Rise and Fall OF
tle irish Nation, and in 184S with
ulouaell's Memory of Ireland, and
nanq other national and religious
works. When the Nation began the
publication of the Library of Ireland,
MI. duffy was chosen as publisher ana
at his house every Wednesday evening
thar brilliant galaxy of young enshu-
sias:s met, dined, discussed and de-
cide<l ON the weekly issue. The names
of those who met there will surely be
borne an the roll of honor Of that land
into which they succeeded in inspiring
a new life. We need only mention the
moss prominent of the devoted band:
Thomas Davis, Charles Gavan Duffy
James Clarence Mangan, John Mitch
ell. John B. Dillon, Father Meehan,
Michaal Joseph Barry, Thomas D'Arcy
M,Gee, Thomas McNevin, William
Carleton, Denis Florence Mccarthy,
ste, II is needless to expatiate on the
success of the Library Of Ireland. 1t
was complete. and the works amply
F;JLF1LLED THEIR MISSION.
ME-, Duffy left large fortune, which,
witt, his business, descended to his
children and grandchildren.
Bryan Geraghty devoted his whole
time to the acquisition and sale Of Irish
books His manuscripts. acquired
from Duffy and many other sources, he
would not part with, but at his death
they were purchased from his heirs by
the Royal Irish Academy. In 1846 he
published translation of the Annals
of the -Four Masters, by Owen connel-
Ian. He wrote the Irish language ex-
quisitely, as many copies Of the differ
ent works now in the Royal Irish Aca-
DENY will testify.
In the meantime other firms were not
idle. From 1882 to 1886 Phillip Dixon
Hardy issued in weekly numbers the
celebrated Dublin Penny Journal, en-
riched with articles by John O'Dono-
van, George Petrie, Mangan and O. Cur
~. About this time was started the
Du5lin Review, which nowtin the al.
most universal stagnation Of national
publishing, has drifted to London.
Hodges & Smith, who were Tory
publishers, issued for the Government
+ the series Of Ordnance Maps. The
Government had sent an engineering
commission to survey Ireland, and the
result was the finest set Of maps that
probably ever was published. Some
Of them were not on the scale Of three
inches to the mile. which, of course,
& cook inssthe minutest details Of the
topographysof the country. Hodges s..
Smith also. ublished the Annals ofthe.