The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-04-20
An Old Irish History.


Perhaps a most valuable, certainly a
most curious souvenir is a copy Of
Keating's History of Ireland, book
of which one copy is known to be in
PHILADELPHIA, and which gives the gen
ealogies of Irish families of eminence,
as well as a historical narrative relat-
ing to the land and the people. The
copy here is of the third edition, and
as the imprint states. was published IN
1888 it is illustrated with above one
hundred ana sixty coats of arms of the
ancient Irish, with particular geneolo-
Eies of many noble families engraved
upon forty-two copper plates. Also,
adds the fly page "a curious print of
Bryen Boiroimhe, monarch of Ireland,
in 1927"
The history appears to have been
published i'm London and is stated to
have been printed for b. Creake and
sold by Oliver Payne, at Horace's
Head, IN Round court in the Strand
And on the reverse of the title page is
a rather warmly worded ''recommenda-
ton" by John Warburton. Esq, Somer-
set Herald The work appears, more
over. to have been translated by Der
mod O'Connor from the Irish language.
In the beginning of the book appears
a lengthy pedigree of William O'Bryen.
earl of Inchiquin. which is carried back
10 Macarty More. and from him to
Noah. After sundry other predatory
articles. the history itself opens with
table of the kings Of Ireland. beginning
with Heber and Heremon, who ruled
Jointly ammo Mundi 2737." and con-
7inuing down TO Rodorick or Roger, the
last king.
4 map of travels of the Scythians
until they arrived in Ireland, followed
bv a map of Ireland, itself, is interest
ing. "The first name of Ireland which
we meet with" says the historian,
was Inis ma . bhflodhbhuidhe, which
signifies a woody isle and was so called
by a messenger that was sent thither
by Mon, the son of Pelus, to discover
this isle; and finding it all covered with
wood, except the plains of Mayne-alta,
gave il thar name
In "An Account Of the First Inhab-
itants Of Ireland After the Flood" the
autohr states that the first person who
set foot upon the island after the Del
uge was according to some antigua
ries) a messenger. whose name was
Adhna. the son of Beatha. sent by
Mon, the son of Pelus. to discover the
soil Of the country"
The history turns to the wars of the
Irish princes. When these are concluded
the history tells Of the Principal
branches of the ..ODle and Chlef Fam
ileis of the Irish OF Cadelian Race"
In this its main interest lies for mod
ern readers. Plates Of the family trees, !
each dedicated to some noble or gentle |
patron, occupy whole pages of the APP |
pendiX. The arms Of these families are !
shown, and many Of them bear names |
quite familiar. The Macartys. the |
O'Briens, the Carrills. Maginnesses, |
Berrys. O'Neales. O'ConnCrs, O'Nellys, |
Mageoghaghans. O'Rourks, MacDan- |
1els. O'Meaghirs, Brenons. MacLough- |
Inns. O'Hicllies, O'Dohertys. Germans,
Gradys. Cahills. Farrills. and others
quite recognizable despite the differ
ence of spelling. Others are the En-
erys, Pursells, Healys' Delaherns,
Whites. O'Flyns. Swynys, Cusakes,
Fahys, Ryans. Hartagans,
O'Sullivans. Moriartys. O'Malys. Clan
cys. Kennellys, Owens. Eustaces. joys,
Hanians. O'Keagans. O'Duanes, Foxes,
Walls, FitzCeralds and Sections, some
Of which will not be generally recog-
nized as exclusively Irish names.
The book is at least interesting and
in respect of its geneaologies is taken
10 be reliable. So far as known. the
copy is the only one in this country.