The Republican., 1898-03-24
RARE BIT OF HIs-SoRY.
Belief That Lad frSm the Old 500
Discovered paEfs Country.

.be1et Thot a Lnd trSm the Ola 500
Discovered Ta9is Country.
Columbus must take a back seat.
John Cabot's fame is dimmed. Even the
rowing Norsemen who are supposed to
have left traces Of their early visit to
the western continent. in the shape of
round towers and such like, must sur
render their glory.
''Why so?" you inquire in surprise.
Ask Rev Robert McLarney, B. A.,
canon of Clonfert Protestant Episcopal
cathedral. Banagher, Ireland You've
heard of Banagher, perhaps, in connec-
ton with the familiar Irish saying:
THAT bates Banagher, and Banagher
bates the divil!"
That's what you'll say when you
learn that Canon McLarney, in cir
cular which he is scattering over the
face of the earth, calling attention to
the restoration fund for the renovation
of his church, announces in all serious
ness that the honor of discovering
America, instead of being credited to
Italy, Spain. the British or the Morse
men, should rightfully belong to st.
Brendan, the founder of the very church
IN which the good canon holds forth
every Sunday, and an adventurous son
Of the Emerald Isle, who, as far back
as the sixth century, set pace which
his fellow countrymen have kept up
ever since.
Il claim" says Canon McLarney,
'that St. Branden, the founder of my
church, Cionfert cathedral, County Gal
way, Ireland, in the year 55S, not only
colonized America 900 years before CO.
lumbus was born, but evangelical por-
ton of that country at the time. am
supported in this statement by no less
a person than the bishop of Iowa, and
also by the late Rev. DR.. Haughton,
senior fellow of Trinity college, Dublin,
and by many others.
"St. Branden, the Navigator as he
was called, is buried in my church.
When he was dying at Annaghdown,
near Galway, one of his last requests
was: Bury me in my dear city of
Clonfert.' His wish was granted. He
was buried in the place of honor-in
the chancel of the cathedral.
''The cathedral of Clonfert has ex-
listed as a place of worship for $40
years. It has suffered many viciss-
tudes during that long period. Six
times it was burned between the eighth
and eleventh centuries. Thrice was it
plundered between the tenth and
twelfth centuries. These depredations
were not all committed by the heather
Danes-who frequently sailed up the
River Shannon from Limerick and at
tackled the cathedral-but at times by
the Irish themselves.
''When an Irish chieftain on one side
of the Shannon had a quarrel with an
Irish chieftain on the other side of the
Shannon he tried to settle the dispute
by Immediately crossing the river and
battering down Clonfert 1t is wonder
full that anything ancient has remained,
so repeatedly has Clonfert been burned,
plundercd or destroyed.
''Clonfert cathedral is celebrated for
its magnificent doorway, one of the
finest specimens of Hiberno-Roman-
esque architecture in existence It
dates from the year 1166. 1t is also
celebrated for its east window, nearly
1000 years old. Speaking of the door
way, recent writer says: The orna-
mentation resembles the intricate and
delicate minutia of the Irish master
pieces in illumination rather than any
other fabric of stone
'Clonfert was at one time city and
celebrated for its schools. 1t is now
not even a village. In the reign of
Queen Elizabeth, before Trinity col
lege, Dublin, was founded. it was pro-
posed to found the university in Clon-
fert. In the year 1175. when Roderic
O'Connor, king of Ireland, carried on
his negotiations with Henry II. of Eng
land, the abbot of Clonfert was one
of the ambassadors sent by him to
Windsor."-N. Y. Herald.