The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1900-11-09
CAME BEFORE COLUMBUS.
An Irish Lad Said to Have Dis
covered America.
A Rare Bit of History from County
Galway, Ireland-"St. Bran
den, the Navi-
gator"

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, 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 divill"
That's what you'll say when you
learn that Canon McLarney, in a 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 Eolds forth
every Sunday, and an adventurous son
of the Emerald Isle, who, as far back
as the sixth century, set a pace which
his fellow countrymen have kept up
ever since.
81 claim" says Canon McLarney,
'that st. Brandon, the founder of my
church, Clonfert cathedral, County Gal
way, Ireland in the year $50, not only
colonized America 900 years before Co
lumbus was born, but evangelized por-
ton of that country at the time. I 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 1,340
years. 1t has suffered many vicissi-
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
Dancs-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 an6
battering down Clonfert. 1t is wonder
full that ANYTHING ancient has remained
so repeatedly has Clonfert been burned
plundcrcd or destroyed.
"ClonfNrt cathedral is celebrated foi
its magnificent doorway, one of the
finest specimens of Hiberno-Roman-
csque architecture in existence. I
dates from the year 1166. 1t is alsC
celebrated for its east window. nearly
1000 years old. Speaking of the door
way, a recent writer says: The orna
rentation resembles the intricate anC
delicate minutia of the Irish master
pieces in illumination rather than an,
other fabric of stone
"Clonfert was at one time city ant
celebrated for its schools. 1t is nov
not even village. In the reign o
Queen Elizabeth, before Trinity col
lege, Dublin. was founded, it was pro
posed TO found the university in Clon
fcrt. In the year 1175. when Roderi
O'Connor, king of Ireland, carried Of
his negotiations with Henry II. of Eng
land, the abbot of Clonfert was on
of the ambassadors sent by him t
| Windsor."1N. Y. Herald