The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-11-19
CELTIC LITER I'UlRl;lE!.

f5f AnOngBIs tue 6uCl6lb 4Il6A Aos,leatuA0
was State institution; its character as
well as the status Of its literary mon is
peculiar to the race. Growing ont OF the
social eystem, the literature is 9 com
plete index Of its character the express
sion &c its intellectual life. Learning
constituted kind Of priesthood which
was Indispensable to the hereditary sys-
tenn and the bards, with their sub-divi-
sions OF Ollamhs, Shanachies and Files,
were as necessary to tho clan as were
the chieftain and tanlst. The Ollamh
was the highest position to which intel
lectual attainments might advance the
devotee Ct literature. In social status
yielding only to the chieftain, the o.
lamb was always independent Of him,
| and very often his master. Despite the
express orders OF the Ard Righ Leog
hare, we find the leader Of the bards ris-
ling to salute ST Patrick on his entrance
to Tara. Nor were his fellow-clansmen
indifferent to his worth. In these de-
generate days, when learning is very Of
ten forced to the wall, the position OF
the Ollamh, with his twenty-one cows
,and their grasses, his twenty -four at
ltendants, his two hounds and his six
horses, his powers OF temporary sanctu-
larry and his fxity OF tenure, cannot but
afford a very enviable contrast. Next in
frank to the Ollamh the Shanachi was at
ionce the poet and historian OF the local
TRIBES, and the File was but poet-his-
torian. Yet their Offices were by no
means insignificant, as the very life OF
1.-THE clan depended on genealogy, history,
and topography. The literature Was ira
ditional in cast, it's chief works relating
to the description of predatory and TO
mantle expeditions, genealogy and his
tory. Hence arose fondness for truth
and an aversion to utopias. Hand in
hand, with this love Of truth, was the
unique outburst Of fancy which is so
| characteristic OF the literature. Poetry
was everywhere 50 prevalent, indeed,
that we are told chat when St. Patrick,
in conjunction with the representatives
OF the cheiftains, had revised the ''Ssn-
chus Nor" the great digest of the laws
of tue Gael, Dubtach bard as we'll as
Brehon wound around it all thread OF
poetry"
Music has always been the handmade
of poetry, SO in country where poetry
was everywhere, it must needs follow
that music was, there too. The bard was
st once q poet and a minstrel. Irish
literature has often been despised, the
wisdom OF the Brehon repeatedly con-
demned, but our very enemies have
acknowledged the superiority, and adj
mired the plajntif melody of Irish music.
No nation in the world possesses such a
collection OF national music Germany
and Italy have been immortalized by the
greatest masters Of modern times, but
their best productions have all been
within comparatively recent period.
They possess no Evolutionary melody
handed down from generation to gener-
alton, and dating from the remotest
times. From time immemorial the Irish
possessed the harp. According to the
Four Masters, twas known and practis,
ed before the year 633 B. Q. At thetime
OF St. Patrick il was in universal use, nc
household was without one; and even in
| the twelfth century Giraldus Cambren
sis, in one Of his weak moments when
truth prevailed over bigoted prejudice
confesees "the attention OF these, people
to musical instruments is worthy of ali
praise, in which their skill is beyond
comparison, superior to all other people,
His Judgment has been the Judgment oi
those best competent to give an opinion.
| All composers have recognized in Irish
music peculiar character which marks
Int cut from the melody of other nations
aud Handel would have willingly fore
gone the authorship Of his grandest pro
auctions to have composed the enchant.
ing strains of "Eileen Aroon."
i There is a certain air ofgreatness and
withal romantic grandeur attaching te
the history of the bards. Every quality
that ennobles human nature, every viz.
tue and every passion, every impulse
that sways the Colt have found their no
| blest and pest examples amongst them
From the days when Ossian sang, they
have been foremost in the foremos,
ranks. Leaders of thought, they have
never ceased to proclaim the cause u
Justice. Lovers of their country, they
have loved her with an undying love
| The history Of the harp is the history Of
Erin-its melody the story of nations
heart. In pagan times the bards were
the moral guides Of the people. st. Pat
rick owed much OF his success to his in
huence with them. Dubtach rose in the
halls Of Tara and saluted him. Hence
forth, said he, this harp shall sing but
L 4 L n ~ Sr0s