The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-28
THE RUIN OF ERIN.
The Norman Conquest Brought
About by Faithless Wife.
THE STORY OF DEARAeolL.
Like Kitty O'Shea, She Set the Yrishmen
Fighting, and Liberty Was Lost as
1t Is Being Sacrificed Today.


since her naughty conduct brought Eng
land into Ireland and all her woes. His
tory is little misty ON this point, but ira
dition is very positive and every patriotic
son of Erin believes it.
Dearagoil was the wife of O'Ruarc of
Breffni and daughter of O'Melaghlin. She
was not handsome, neither was she young,
but she took the part of Helen in those
days and Dermid, king of Leinster, was
her Paris.
There were kings in Ireland then--kings
galore-and such glorious times for hight
ing and treading on coat-tails as have
never been seen since. From the DAYS of
Brian Ard-Righ, and the rout of the fierce
northern sea kings at the battle of Clontarf
to the glorious Rory O'Conor, the land had
kings with opposition" and in the songs
of the bards we are told there was scarcity
OF peace" About 1857 the two most
powerful chiefs were Murrogh O'Brien in
the south and Donald, prince of Aileach,
the leader of the northern Hy-Nials.
These two great chieftains waged war upon
each other all their lives, and in the end
both were losers, for an O'Conor came out
of the west to lord it over both north and
south
year to march hve or ten thousand men
along thesShannon INTO Leitrim, north of
Sligo and across the Erne and Finn into
Donegal and Derry, while Donald COM
monty led his men along the Bann into
Dalriada and Ulidia across the Boyne. into
Meath and from Westmeath to North
Munster. These marches were distin-
guished by the sacking of cities, the levy
ing OF tribute aud the demanding of hos
tages. Despite the fecundity of the race
all these wars thinned the ranks of both
chiefs and made possible the rise of the
valiant and discrete Thorlogh More
O'Conor, son of Ruarc of the Yellow
Hound, son Hugh of the Broken Spear.
The whole country was arrayed against
him, for no one had heard of an ard-righ
coming out of Connaught. But in fifteen
years hlled with glorious doings in peace
and war he mastered all his enemies and
for twenty years reigned over Leath
MOCHA. The bards to the accompaniment
of their harps told how the ancient house
of kinkora was left without an heir, the
O'Brien himself banished into Ulster and
every house of North Munster mourned
its chief or its tanist dead on the field OF
Moanmore.
The world wagged pleasantly for the
house of O'Conor just then. The lands of
his opponents he parcelled off to suit him
self, and each of the grizzled warri ors took
what was allotted him or took nothing. In
all his doings the most faithful ally of the
0'Conor was Dermid McMurrough, king
of Leinster. No Drawer chieftain ever led
an army than this same Dermid.
1t was in q time of peace--or as much
peace as they ever had in those days--that
Dermid visited the court of Tiernan O'Ru-
arc, lord of Breffni, and was there most
royalty entertained. Every night the BAN
quet board groaned. The bards sang of
the valor and glory of the houses of Der
mid and O'Ruarc, and the great drinking
h. IN never paused in its rounds. One
nlght--a woful night for the house of
Breffni and for Ireland-Dermid was
missed from his place at the banquet, and
the great-hearted O'Ruarc sent messengers
to md him. The messengers were long in
returning. and when word was brought
that the Lady Dearagoil had also disap-
peared, suspicious glanceS were inter
changed, and whispered insinuations of a
great crime against an open-handed host
were confirmed. Dermid and Dearagoil
had flown together.
Such scandal had never been known in
Erin. Dermid was on the wintry side of
so and Dearagoil's charms were decidedly
mature What attractions she had of
face or form or voice the annals do not
state, but something there was which cap
tivated the heart of Dermid and made him
forget the sacredness OF hospitality and
the ancient honor of his name.
O'Ruarc and O'Melaghlin appealed to
O'Ccnor for redress for the disgrace
brought upon their houses, and the just
O'Conor responded. Dermid was defiant,
and, surrounded by his Saxon slaves, bid
dehance TO the king.
When, however, powerful force APP
peared on the borders and demanded that
he give up the partner of his guilt, he
sullenly yielded, and there grew up in his
heart an emnity for the aged king, which
lie extended with increased virulence TO
his son and heir.
Thirteen years afterwards Roderick
O'Conor sat on the throne of his father,
Thurlough More. Rathcrogan, the seat of
his jurisdiction, was in its glory, rlvaling
in strength and splendor ancient Aileach
and kincorra. Murtoch, of the north, died
and Roderick, on receiving the news,
marched from his castle and appeared be-
fore the walls of Dublin, which opened its
gates and gave hostages for its hdeiity.
Drogheda received him with open arms,
and O'Carroll, lord of 0riel, rendered him
! homage. Wheeling about he entered Lem
ster and demanded hostages of Dermid
/ McMurrogh. The hatred of Dermid for
( Roderick s father had been transferred to
/ the son, and sooner than submit he burned
| TO the ground his own fair city of Ferns
| and retreated into the Businesses.
| Roderick continued his victorious Jour
! ney southwark, and on his return TO
! Leinster found that Tiernan 0'Ruarc had
entered the province from the north.
| Thus surrounded and deserted by many of
| his own followers, Dermid sought safety
| in night beyond the seas.
! So ended the second chapter of Ireland's
| Helen.
! Dearagoil herself ended her days in peni-
1 tence and aims deeds in Mellifont abbey.
The story of Dermid's wanderings in
! foreign lands is told only in fragments.
Many courts he visited and many seas he
sailed brooding always of his restoration
/ and thirsting for revenge. When next
heard OF he had reached the age of three
/ score years and ten The hair which
/ streamed over his broad shoulders was
| like the foam of the sea, his stature
/ gigantic, his features stern and terrible.
| There was IRE in his eyes and thunder in
| his voice.
! From Henry H. of Aquitaine he re-
( ceived q letter authorizing all subjects who
f wished TO enlist under the banner OF the
( Irish prince. Armed with this he re-
traced his steps 10 England. He visited
many cities in his crusade, but met with
( little success till he reached the court of
/ Griffith ap Rys, prince of North Wales.
I Griffith was the nephew Of the famous
Nesta OF Wales. the most beautiful of sill
! the fair ladies of Cambria, but the tabled
/ nantel OF Tregnan, which fits none but
( the chaste, had not rested on her white
4 shoulders. Some of her children by many
/ fathers were Robert Fitz Roy. Henry Fitz
Henry, Maurice Fitzgerald. Robert Eitz
I Stephen and many Others whose names
/ and the names of whose children are
! famous in history. Kings and statesmen,
| warriors and great seanen are among her
descendants, and their cousins were famed
/ in ireland. Scotland. Wales and England.
/ Fearless and inscriptions, tall and shape