The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-12-26
BOYS Of GALLANT WEXFORD.
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A. Traveller in ireland Tells what
He Sees in that
Vicinity.
pEopLE NOT or CELTIC ORIGIN.
But They Are Generally More Irish
Than the Irish
Themselves.

A traveller in ireland recently wrote in
the Catholic Journal:
1t may be permitted while on the
ground to say a word about the origin
of the people of Wexford. No obseryant
visitor can fail to see that in physique,
manner, customs and habits they differ
from the people Of most other parts of
Ireland. Even in language they differed
until quarter of century ago. They
had a distinct dialect of their own, called
the Forth dialect-a sample OF which
was shown me by Benjamin Hughes,
ESQ, editor of the Wexford Independ-
emit" may say, in passing. that Mr..
Hughes, who is veteran journalist. i'm
pressed me as most interesting per-
son. Modest, unassuming and gentle, he
IS possessed of fund Of historical and
other "reminiscences, which makes him
a living encyclopaedia in himself which
he is ever ready to enfold for the benefit
of stranger. But to return to the peo-
pie of Wexford. History states they are
the most mixed in blood Of any country
of Ireland. One sees evidences Of this
fact at every turn, and visitor needs
hardly consult books at all to get an
idea of this. It is a land replete with
Danish forts and Norman castles. this
county of Wexford. It's geographical po-
sition attracted both Danes and Anglo
Normans successfully, where both found
a foothold and planted themselves snug
ly by the Slaney's banks-where today
the many old ivy-clad ruins bear abun-
dant evidence of their existence. Tradi-
ton says that Strongbow and his asso-
ciates landed somewhere about Wexford
in 1172, and history tells us that Dermot
MacMurrough, the traitor king 'of Lein-
ster, received to his breast the future
enemies of his country. Well, the rest
is known, alas! too we'll. At all events.
Wexford did the beginning Of the job
for better, for worse, as he who gets mar
ried says. No wonder, then, if the char
acter of Dane and Norman impressed
itself on this part of the country and left
it's marks even to the present day. This
part of southwest Wexford is called
"baronies of Forth and Bargy." The
baronies Of Forth and Bargy, the first
English colony in Ireland, have pecu-
liar geographical formation. Shut off on
one side by the Forth hills and on the
other by the sea, it resembles a picture
in it's frame. What else did 1 observe
about Wexford? I noticed different
style of old women, although the young
er ones, many of whom are well-looking,
are coming into line with their sisters
elsewhere in dress and all the rest, a
different accent even a different style
of carts and vehicles. These and other
peculiarities strike the traveller and
plainly point out that the people are not
of Celtic origin. These differences were
much more marked, of course, quarter
of a century ago than they are today.
But as time goes on they are being worn
out, and uniformity in dress, manners,
and habits are becoming more general.
This is an age Of railroads, electric tel
egraph, rapid transit and printing press,
which are all bearing their fruit and
leaving their marks upon the civilized
world.
But II there Is one lesson more than
another to be learned from the history
of ireland, and especially in the study
Of the people of this part Of the island,
It is that they become more Irish than
the irish themselves. This fact was
borne out on many battlefield. but par
ticularly in 'sS, when Gallant Wexford"
rose in arms like brave men to hurl the
proud invader from the land. That the
effort failed does not detract from the
"Boys of Wexford" nor tarnish the glory
of New Ross and Vinegar Hill. Another
lesson conveyed by that memorable
event is that is five, two, or even one
other county in Ireland had Joined Wex-
ford heartily in the rising, the British
should have been driven completely
from the coantry. The glory Of Vinegar
Hill, as we'll as Limerick, Benburb, and
Yellow Ford, will ever illumine the
pages OF Irish history. There is only
one thing that sickens one while reading
of the "Ninety-eight" bustness--the
chickering's, burnings, wholesale
slaughters, and other outrages COM
mitted by the British soldiers on the
helpless people when they had crushed
the rebellion. After a hundred years
their barbarous acts won't bear the
light! Many Of the insurgents were
massacred on the old bridge of wexford,
and the leaders, Harvey, Grogan and
Colclough. were hanged, drawn and
ouartered, and their heads spiked In
front of the Tholsel- opposite the Bull
ring. So in the words OF the poet:
The Wexford boys were never slack
with the bold Tips at their back
And II Carlow Joined US in a crack
We'd drive the proud invaders back,
Far from the green shores of Erin!
Ada. Minimize bank in Caledonia,