The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1898-04-02
CAME BEFORE COLUMBUS.
An Irish Lad Said to Have Dis
covered America.
A Rare Bit of History from County
Galway, Irelnnd-''St. Bran
den, the NRvi-
gator"

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 SOP" you inquire in surprise.
Ask Rev. Robert McLarney, d. 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 rightfullv belong to St.
Brendan, the founder of the very church
in which the good canon colds 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.
81 claim" says Canon McLarney,
chat st. Branden, the founder of my
church. Clonfert 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.
est. Brandon, 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 1910
years. 1t has suffered many vicissi-
tudes during that long period. Six
times it was burned between the eighth
and eleventh centuries. Thrice was il
plundered between the tenth anC
twelfth centuries. These depredation'
were not all committed by the heather
r. 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 sid
Of the Shannon had a quarrel with az
Irish chieftain on the other side of tn,
: Shannon he tried to settle the disput
: by Immediately crossing the river ant
. battering down Clonfert. Tt is wonder
full that anything ancient has remained
so repeatedly has Clonfert been burned
plundercd or destroyed.
"Clonfert cathedral is celebrated TO
s its magnificent doorway, one of tn
8 finest specimens of Hiberno-Roman
8 esque architecture in existence. I
dates from the year 1866. 1t is ais
9 celebrated for its east window, nearl.
8 1000 years old. Speaking of the door
8 way, a recent writer says: The orna
q mentation resembles the intricate an
8 delicate minutia of the Irish master
3 pieces in illumination rather than an
= other fabric of stone
"Clonfert was at one time city an
q celebrated for it's schools. It is no,
8 not even a village. In the reign {
q Queen Elizabeth, before Trinity co
'' lege, Dublin, was founded, it was pre-
: posed to found the university in Clo1
:, fert. In the year 1175, when Roderi
:" O'Connor, king of Ireland, carried o
- his negotiations with Henry II. of Ems
: land, the abbot of Clonfert was or
of the ambassadors sent by him I
Windsor."-N. Y. Herald.