Washington sentinel., 1898-02-19
America COlOnized Nine Hundred
Years before COIu m bus.

Saint Brendan. the founder Of CIonfert
Cathedral, County Galway, Ireland, says
Robert McLarney, rector Of Clonfert,
Bsnagher, Ireland, not only colonized
America nine hundred years before
Columbus was born, but also evangeI-
lied a portion of the country at that
time, and is buried IN the church. So
also says the Bishop ol low and also
the late Rev. DR.. Haughton, OF Trinity
College, Dublin. When the saint was
dying ct 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 theplace
of honor in the chancel of the cathedral
The Cathedral of Cloniert has existed
as a plac. of worship for thirteen hun
dred years, 1t has suffered many vicls.
studes during that long period SIX
times was 1t burnt between the eighth
and twelfth centuries Thrice was 1t
plundered between the tenth and elev-
enth. These depredations were not all
committed by the heather Danes, who
frequently sailed up the river Shannon
from Limerick and attacked CIoniert,
but at times by the Irish themselves.
When an Irish chieftain on one side Of
the Shannon had a quarrel with an Irish
chleltain on .he other side OF the Shan
non his usual mode of furnishing his
enemy was by crossing the river aud
ba.tering down Clonlert. It is surpris-
ing that anything ancient has remained,
so frequently has Cloniert been burnt,
plundered, and destroyed,
The Cathedral is celebrated for its
magnificent doorway-one Of the finest
specimens of Romanesque ar.
chitecture in existence. The doorway
dates from the year II66. Mr.. Brash, in
his work on "Irish Ecclesiastical Ar
chitecture," gives long description of
the doorway, and concludes by saying
Norman porches and doorways, OF
course, exist OF grander proportions,
but not exhibiting the fertility OF inven.
ton and beauty OF design that this does.
/ had to relinquIsh my intention Of
making a drawing Of It; nothing but
photography could accurately represent
the wonderful variety of ITS ornaments
The cathedral is also remarkable for
its beautiful east window, nearly thou
sand years old. Mr.. Brash gives a
drawing of the window IN his book, and
says: the design Of this window is
exceedingly chaste and beautiful, the
mouldings simple and effective, and the
workmanship superior to anything 1
have seen either Of ancient or modern
times. The mouldings are finely
wrought, and the jointiugs Of the stone
work so close that [ cannot believe they
we're ever worked by tools. The ashlar
must have been rubbed on their Joints
to make such close work"
When the ROYAL Society Of Autiquaries
of Ireland visited Cloniert scme years
ago, they expressed themselves eurap-
tured with its magnificent doorway.
They stood astonshed When they first
beheld this marvellous specimen Of
HibernO- RomanesQue work.
Clonfert at one time was a city, and
celebrated for its schools. It's now not
even village. In the reign OF Queen
Elizabeth, before Trinity College, Dub
lin, was founded, Clonfert was proposed
as a suitable site for the university, as )
was then celebrated as a seat OF learning
and being IN the centre Of Ireland, a
convenient place tor Irish students, but
this proposition was rejected, and Dub
lin obtained the charter. In the year
IT'S, when Roderic O'COnnor, King Of
Ireland, carried on his negotiations with
Henry H., King of England, the Abbot
OF Cloniert was one Of the ambass adors
sent by him te Windsor