The Irish standard., 1899-04-22


have his coulin or his head cut off,
and maybe both. So, then it is not
to be assumed that the notable charac-
teristics Of Donnybrook, as handed
down, whether good or bad, are to be
attributed to the natural impulses of the
ancient Irish. Donnybrook's rcvels and
dcbaucherics were Norman and Saxon
rather than Celtic. 1t was maybe, be-
cause of these excuses at Donnybrook
Fair and the corruption Of the day
which was plotting to destroy the leg
islative independence OF Ireland that
pheasant Ned" wrote:
At St. Patrick's command
Vipers quilted our land
But he's wanted again in our island.
As the week OF the fair came round
each year all Dublin and much OF Ire
land was alive to the approaching fes-
tivities and prolonged spree. AS at
Christmas, the people were reminded
that
Donnybrook comes but once year,
But when it comes it brings good
cheer.
The people welcomed ii for its pass
ing and boisterous pleasures, but the
clergy OF all denominations denounced
it, and it was mainly through their ef-
forts and protests that the fair was abol-
ished. The week of merriment they
saw was followed by mesHhs of misery.
and the savings OF year were often
spent by the toiler in that single week
OF froic
The butchers and weavers OF Dublin
were hereditary foemen, and the latter,
who were like their -countrymen
in Spitafields, London. refugees from
France, suffered terribly when the muir
derous bright cleavers of the butchers
were brought into action. The weav-
ers, however, during Donnybrook week
frequently had their revenge. At one
time they swooped down upon the
butchers, and capturing number OF
them, they hung them up on the meat
hooks and left them there to wriggle
and suffer until relieved by their friends.
The Sunday before the fair was called
Walking Sunday" term still retained
for the Sunday before other fairs still
held in ireland. A parish priest near
Dublin once made this quaint announce
ment:
Next Sunday, l believe, is walking
Sunday. II l get behind any OF you
that don't behave yourselves and keep
sober, I'll turn the walk into a trot" For
in those days he we'll knew that drunk
and fight were supposed to be crown
ing glories OF the fair, and one was us
ually the consequence OF the other.
University students and the populace
among whom they lived were never on
good terms in those days, and are not
abroad so still. When wishing to pro-
woke what was called "town and
gown" fight, the boys OF Trinity College
would almost nightly during fair week
sally out and parade around the statue
Of King William, hourishing black
thorns and other clubs A slur cast
upon Orange Billy" or the mention OF
the Boyne, or Aughrim, or Castelar,,
or other battlefield that was taunt
to either side, was sure to provoke a
riot. People did not carry what was
known as deadly weapons then, and ell
thusiastic street fighters were satisfied
with the shillelah, for, as the boast had
it, "the shillclah never missed fire, and
it hops off the head and you are on
your guard in minute
1t is related that after a fight at Don
nybrook when man was killed the
coroner's jury brought in verdict OF
justifable homicide. The puzzled cor
oncr asked what they meant by such
all opinion, and the foreman replied that
"a man had no business to go to Donny-
brook Fair with head like an egg
she'll"
But the glory OF Donnybrook is past,
and now that the fame Of the historic
green is fading and the green field it
self about being obilcrated, it is not
amss to recall the fcastings, the carous-
ings and the pleasant rs well as bois-
ferrous scenes that are cntwincd with its
story. Some may regret its eclipse:
but for the alleged horse fair at Donny
brook the Royal Dublin society has
provided more fashionable and peace
able substitute in its annual great horse
show at Balsbridgc on the "Rocky
Road to Dublin" The world is not so
peaccable yet but that the Irishman who
regrets Donnybrook can find fighting
under almost any flag except his own.