The Dickinson press., 1889-01-26
OLD DONEGAL.
A VISIT TO POINTS OF INTEREST
AND A LOOK At ITS PAST.

Tho Story Of Hugh Roe O'Donnell-Annals
of the -Four Masters-Sad History of tho
Mad Sweetheart Of Willy Reuly-Rare
Old Ballyshannon.
In the sunshine old Donegal town is cheery
and snug cnoryh, but when the fog winds
come up from tho sea like dingy winds slap.
ping 1t grewsomely in its face, tho half town,
half hamlet seems to shudderingly shrink
closer to the shores Of the noisy Esk. as il
seeking shelter at the bases Of the dark
mountains behind. Fort of the White
Strangers is the signification Of tho name.
Donegal, although one would have hard
time indeed to find what that meant Aside
from tho picturesqueness Of its charming old
sticets, an interest that is almost melancholy
attaches to its half ruined castle, at the river
SIDE near tho ancient arched bridge. Many
arago OF history would have to be scanned
to learn its haps and mishaps, and of its diff
feient lords, governors and rulers: for hero.
during ut least five centuries, was the center
of bloodicst struggles between Northern Irish
kings and their foes, and especially the con.
dicts between the ONeills and O'Donnells.
THE BOY CHIEFTA1N.
Tho life and adventures of Hugh Roe
| oDnnnell, or Red Hugh, properly depicted.
would alone surpass the most thrilling tale Of
Scottish borderland warfare During tho
| fcurteenth century the daring and heroic
| spirit of Hugh, when still but boy, attracted
tho notice of Sir John Perrott, lord Justice of
ireland. In order to get him within his
power. ferrott sent ship into Lough Swilly
laden with samples of tho finest Spanish
wines, and manned by his own seamen dis
gulsed us Spanish wine merchants. Hugh.
with others, was lured abroad, and, while
being fcastcd, tho matches were battened. and
tn" young chief carried to Dublin, where bo
was immurod i'll the tower.
| Though but l6, ho hero mado one of tho
most heroic prison escapes known to those
savage times. Flying to n supposed friend.
Sir Phelm O'Toole who had been his fellow
prisoner, ho was betrayed, again imprisoned
and subjected to every barbarity save down
| right murder In year ho again escaped,
ana He'd to tho mountains, where he
for months subsistcd like wild beast.
but finally regained his own country
and Kingdom about Donegal. Succeeding
his father as ruler, and being Joined by
tho valiant O'Neill, ho set about aveue-
ing his wrongs and ndignities against
tn" English, but quarreling with O'Ncill as
to which should lead tho attack against tho
intrenchcd foo ut Kinsalc, each contending
iof tho bloody honor, the battle, after great
slaughter, was lost Hugh's followers routed
anu dispersed, and tho bravo young chief
tain, himself wounded, compelled to fv tn
Spain. Here, after great labors, he succeed
cd in inducing King Philip to raise an ar,ny
of sur'or for tho recovery of his domain.
but. worn out with delay and effort. he died
| from grief and broken heart Mt Valladolid.
His character and noble qualities, ms thew
were then measured, and his wondrous
bravery, rendered his namo a luminous and
pathetic ono in tho Irish annals
| DONEGAL ANNALS"
| 10 lrlshmen, or, indeed, to all men who
aro earnest students Of tho history of any
race people or land, the dear old ruin on tho
coast below Donegal, near Ballyshannon,
must possess an absorbing fascination Hero
STOOD tho lone, scmi-monnstic castle of Kill
barron, an ancient fortalice and seat of tho
OClery chiefs. 1t was in this stronghold
that the brothers O'Clery, Hugh Ward and
John Cogan, known to all scholars as the
-Four Masters, i'll tho furious wars of clans.
chiefs. kings and whatnots, pursued their
| great historical researches and labors. result
ing i'll those monuments of industry called
tho donegal Annals" or the "Annals of
tho -Four Masters" which, despite all cnvil
or prejudice, stand out as great landmarks
| against tho ago Of darkness and blood in
which they wero produced.
Tho gruy old ruins stand at the very edge
of n prccipitous and almost nsuur cliff.
Furze and heather cover most of the fiat
tened escarpments Of tho onco mighty walls.
To tho east, tho south and southwest, save
where the misty coast line Of Sligo here and
there pushes through tho distance, nausht
can be seen but wild sweeps of upland moor,
white sand reaches and ghostly dunes, or
vast and dreary stretches of wind swept,
sh,ldderng heather.
10 tho north across Donegal Bay the great
headlands loom hard and savagely, as if
Some mighty impulse of nature were about
to topple them into the waves whilo to tho
west, where tho sun is ever setting in tho
ceaseless turbulence of the sea, but rising
upon happier lands beyond, there arc lust
tho meanings and thunderngs of the mighty
ocean. But down the coast, behind the sand
hills, is rare old Bullyshanhon upon tho
stately Ernc, where, as its waters leap with
u roar into the bay, was once ono of the most
splendid salmon fisheries in Ireland Three
miles above, where tho waters of tho noble
lakes OF Erne, after lettering in tho sandy
valley make n mad rush as if to engulf
Ballyshannon. forming the beautiful Falls of
Bellcek.
THE "CoLLEEN BAwN.n
On beyond the old town along the cir
cling bay IS Bundoran, where families of the
Irish gentry from the middle counties and
tho west como in summer to the glorious
Bundoran donkeys and the sea- Whilo back
along the beach from Ballyshannon, down
behind the old kibarron ruins, is tho tiny
hamlet Of Wardtown, the old seat of tho
Ffolliott family, where tho incidents of that
te1dcrest and most pathetic of Irish love
dramas, Colleen Bawn," had their mourn.
fui origin.
Here once really lived Squire Ffolliot,
whose daughter Helen, q lass of radiant
beauty, was enamored of bright Irish lad
servant Willy Reilly. In vain the stern old
squire sought to stem the torrent of their
love. Finally the couple stole away together,
tho girl taking with her her jewels They
wero pursued and overtakcn. The jewels
being found ON the lad, he was prosecuted
for felony and sentenced to transportation
for seven years, but from the moment poor
Rcilly's sentence was known Helen, tho
colleen bawn, the lovely maiden, the pride of
Donegal, became raving maniac. For seven
long years Reilly suffered the pains and deg
radiation Of penal servitude; for seven long
years Squire Ffolliott's daughter called
madly for her lost love- Nothing like the
excitement occasioned by the woe of these
two lovers was ever known in this blessed
land Of marvels. And what a meeting was
there when the lover true returned and
claimed his poor mad bride, and kind heaven
that instant gave her back her reason!-E.
L w. i'll Philadelphia Times
A Hint to Theatregoers.
notice that in leaving places of evening
amusement people almost always wrap up
their throats. This is great mistake, and
brings on the very evil they wish to avoid,
by making the throat hot and susceptible to
cold air, causing the voice to become hard
and harsh. When leaving crowded build
Ing the neck should be left uncovered and
the mouth kept closed for few minutes;
this will warm the air before it reaches the
orl