Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1901-03-16
ANCIENT BLOOD.
Some Historic Irish Families
Traced From Chronicle
and Fiction.
Lines of Descent That Are Older
Than Those of the
Caesars.
Men Whose Ancestors Were
Kings Now Toiling in
America.
THE O'MALLEYS In FACT AND FICTION

Every now and then some one comes to
the fore in the pages of our great Sunday
journals intent on manufacturing new
order of aristocracy to suit the preten-
sions of certain class of citizens. These
for the most part are people who have
recently acquired considerable money
and, having acquired it, at once feel it
incumbent on them to set about the man
ufacture of famous ancestors. Here in
Kentucky few have simple pretensions,
claiming back merely to sturdy pioneers
who lived in the days of Boone and Ken
ton. Others, again, claim descent from
various Virginia cavaliers, and these dis
play crests and family notices, at least
on paper, when occasion affords oppor-
tunity, and straightway begin the pur-
chase of Colonial" furniture, at second
hand junk-shops, or buy it made to order
at factories created by the demand. In
this way at leas, pride greatly stimulates
trade. Already in this country the man
ufacture of furniture and family crests
mas become great INDUSTRY.
|, To great extent, however, the real
aristocracy in America exists as yet at
the bottom of the social ladder. There
are men driving huckster wagons today
in Cincinnati and Louisville whose an
cestors were reigning Kings when Charlie
magne was struggling to win kingdom.
There are others laboring on the streets
whose ancestors were Kings before the
Ccths, Huns, Vandals broke ia pieces the
power of pagan Rome; others whose an
cestors as strong Kings chased the legions
of Caesar out of Britain and pushed them
across the face of Europe aud back
through the Apennines before Patrick
preached in Ireland, and others, again,
who can trace their ancestry back beyond
the sitting of the first Pontiff upon his
chair. In the language of thinner, the
great Celtic scholar of Germany, "The
antiquity of the Irish race is one Of the
most astounding facts on EARTH" And
before his day Pere Thebaud had de-
clared, "If aristocracy be desired 1t can
be found among the Milesians of this
race. Theirs is line surpassed only by
the royal line of the tribe of Juda." In
this and the succeeding papers let us con-
slider records left by few families of the
many that exist.
In one of his most fascinating novels
of Irish life and character Charles Lever
says, "The O'Malleys have their chroni'
cles, wild and barbarous enough, without
the aid of Thor and Wooden" And
the observation is true. 1t is line
which can be traced back a thousand
years before the dawn of the Christian
era, If one is disposed to accept ancient
tradition, and back to Ammo Domini 35e
if we accept written history. 1t is curl
GUS fact that to one of their race credit
must be assigned that Christianity wa:
brought to ireland. According to unim
peachable written history they are de
scended from Eochaidh Muighmheadhoir
(pro. Eochy Moyvone), King of all Ire
land and father of the famous Mall of the
Nine Hostages. II was Mall, son o.
Eochaidh, who captured St. Patrick dur
ing one of his raids and brought him {
slave to Ireland. Mall himself had ar
elder brother, named Brian, whom hs
deprived of his throne by force early II
his career. Brian later became King o.
Connaught, and was killed in battle II
the year 403. Dathi, his son, became
King of ireland shortly after. and was thu
last pagan King of that country He i
was who pushed the retreating legions o.
Caesar across the continent after thei
evacuation of Britain, and was killed by I
falling thunderbolt in the Apennines
Heating declares that his death was du'
to Judgment of heaven upon him TO
having "plundered the sanctuary of I
holy hermit, Parmenius, who cursed hin
therefor" Davis, Mangan, Aubrey d.
We're and other famous poets have cele
brated his daring and death in imperish
able verse.
According to the Annals Of the Fou
Masters his successor, Conal Oirison, be
came King Of Connaught, and from
thence the line of descent is thus traced
by the same records: Conal Oirison
grandson of Brian; Armeadh, his SON
Cumuscrach, his son; Mortagh, his son
| MALL, his son from whom the sept tool
its. nancy; Seachnasacht. his son; Flani
! Abhraidh, his son; Dubhdara, his son
Mortagh, his son; Mortagh H., his sol
4.