The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-12-22
Very Interesting Historical Sketch Of the 0puent
Commercial Getty of the Tribes"
Though Situated Magnificent Bay, Yet 1t is One of
Most Stagnant Towns in Ireland.
Tho Trade and Commerce Of Galway Have Been Destroyed
the Instance Of British Competitors

monkey, so local tradition asserts,
saved the child when the house was
on fire.
Not far from Lynch's Mansion is St.
Nicholas Church, which of itself is
proof sufficient that Galway was in
habited by Normans at one time. The
Anglo-Normans always dedicated the
churches which they built in seaport
towns to st. Nicholas of Myra, the
patron saint of sailors. The style of
architecture is Norman, the tracery
around and over the front door is very
uncommon, as is also some over the
front windows. There are many
Lynch memorials in the south tran
sept Of the church. The immediate
surroundings, the square in front of
the church, are very similar to what
is to be found to-day in old towns of
the northwest of France. Unfortu-
nately st. Nicholas, though built by
Catholics for Catholic worship, is to-
day Protestant church, although
there are very few Protestants in Gal
way. A stone tablet hanging in the
outer walls of a ruin near St. Nicholas,
is pointed out as Lynch's monument.
On this stone there is a carved skull
and cross bones, and underneath the
following inscription: Remember
deathe; vaniti of vaniti, and al is but
vaniti.'
This quaint inscription has been
converted into more modern form
which makes the former more intel
ligible. This memorial is on the site
of the old prison where young Lynch
was incarcerated for having killed a
young Spaniard, the son of a merchant
who had entertained the merchant
mayor when in Spain. Jealousy, or
desire to remove witness of his evil
doing, was the motive of the crime.
The young mans mother, when he
was condemned, invoked the citizens
in favor Of her son; the usual place Of
execution being thus made inaccessible,
the ineXorable father, lest his boy
should escape from justice carried out
the sentence by hanging him with his
own hands from the prison window
This is supposed to be the origin of
Lynch law.
The next object of curiosity is The
Claddagh, the home from time i'm
memorial of the fishermen of Galway
Bay. 1t is net work of primitive
cabins. Formerly it was a district
community governed by an elective
king, and now, though the dynasty
is extinct, and the settlement is under
the ordinary city government, still
the inhabitants are most exclusive
refusing to make or allow any i'm.
provements to be made. Their houses
are low squatty cabins, with very
small doors, the windows being SO
small as to be almost imperceptible
There are no streets, properly speak.
ing, leading from house to house; the
houses being literally built in the cow
track, are most irregular in every con
ceivable way. They marry among
themselves, it being contrary to the
unwritten laws of the settlement to
intermarry outside the pale Of the
community. Even here in this small
settlement of fishermen, the custom
so prevalent all through Ireland Of
giving a fortune to the bride, is rigor
ously observed. The fisherman's
daughter receives as her dowry fish
ing boat or a share in a boat, accord
ing to the worldly circumstances OF
the parents. The marriage ring is al
heirloom passing from mother tc
daughter; so that the same ring has
served for the marriage Of many gen
erations. 1t is Of gold and often dec
grated with heart supported by two
hands. The wedding feast is partici
patcd in by the families of all the
fishermen of the restricted community
as it is usual to extend an invitation to
all of them. These reunions are much
enjoyed by them; there is great re-
joicing, the king presides at the feast
sanctions and encourages the merri
ment and hilarity. For although tho
kingly race is extinct, as already stat
ed, still the villagers go through the
mock ceremony of electing king ev
cry year, which usually takes place
the Eve of ST. Johns Day, and is ac
| companied with demonstrative rejoic
ings and great frolic. The authority
of this "King Of Claddagb," although
the settlement is now under munich
pal rule, is recognized as supreme ir
all local affairs. He settles all family
disputes and differences, he also arbi
1 ~ nn~nc ~ o.op,+aF$1nvn Arfo