The Irish standard., 1907-11-16

but greatest charm OF all
Was her modest blue eyes beaming
meath her ould plaid shawl
courteously saluted her: God save
you. miss" says I;
God save you, kindly, SIR" said she
and shyly passed mo by.
OF went my heart along with her,
captive In her thrall,
Imprisoned in tho corner Of her ould
plaid shawl.
o, some men sigh for riches and some
men live for fame.
And some on history's pages hope to
win a glorious name.
Ny aims are not ambitious and my
wishes are but small
You might wrap the mall together In
an ould plaid shawl.
Ardrahan and Craughwell. ths latter
the seat Of most exciting events in the
Land League times, are passed through
before the traveller enters Athenry,
whore two lines Of railroad, the Mid
land Great Western and the Waterford
and Limerick lines, form a. junction.
Athenry is one of the most ancient
towns in Ireland. and was an import-
ant place even back as far as the Nor
man conquest. A castle was built there,
, the town was surrounded with walls
and 1t became the principal strong
hold Of the De Burgos and Berming-
4 hams. the leaders OF the Anglo Nor
man forces that invaded Connacht
=. Athsnry's Stormy History.
-; Ths walls were erected in 1911 and
for centuries afterward the town was
the center Of the fieroe battles which
RACED in Connacht between the native
Irish and the invaders. A Dominican
abbey was erected in 1851 and became
famous for the learning and sanctlty Of
the community established there that 1t
was chosen by the Earls of Ulster and
other principal families as their bi1ry-
ing place. The Earl of Kildare found
Cd Franciscan friary there in 1864.
More than a century later, in 1877,
when the Earls Of Clanricarde swept
through Connacht with fire and sword.
Athenrv took It's full share in the
fighting. -r.
1t was rebuilt, again destroyed by
Red Hugh O'Donnell, aud sacked and
burned when he invaded Connacht in
1896. 1t never recovered from that
blow. A considerable portion at the
old city wall still stands and one Of the
gates is in a good state of preservation.
The thirteenth century castle OF the De
Berminghams. with Its lofty sabled
keep, the Franciscan monastery found
ed by the Earl Of Kildare in 1884 and
the ruins OF the Dominican friary, dat
Ing as far back as 1241, containing the
bones Of some of the last monks and
tho curious coat t-of-arms Of Fanian the
Smith upon a. floor slab are still to be
seen.
Tho Birthplace Of Archbishop Mac
,e. Hale.
From Athenry the traveller has a.
choics of either of three routes, north
Ward to Tuan, westward to Galway the
old city Of the Tribes" or eastward, by
way of Ballinasloe, to Athlone.. Tuam
In which the Catholic archbishop of the
province resides, has an abbey founded
In 4s7. 1t was later converted into a
cathedral by st, Jariath about 5s1 and
was made an archiepiscopal see under
Edan O'Hoisan in 1152. An ancient cross
OF red sandstone bears the inscriptions
Of "O'Hoisan, the abbot" and Of Tur-
Tough Oconnor, king of Connacht, who
4 founded priority there in 114O. st.
Jarlath's College, Tuam, has educated
7 some Of the most learned Of the Irish
clergy, while the late Archbishop Of
Than1, Most Rev John McHale, who
was affectionately known among tho
Irish hierarchy as the Lion Of the Fold
of Judah" was a. Churchman whose
name was one to conjure with among
the Irish race while he lived,
Galway, the Capital Of connaeht.
Galway. the capital of connacht. is
situated on gently rising ground,
bounded on one side by Loush Alfalfa,
81 m arm Of the bay and on the other by
the river which forms the outlet Of
Lough Corrib. Previous to the British
Invasion the town and the adjoining
district were under tho protection of
1.-The chieftains Of the o'Flaherty clan.
Its earliest historical record is its de-
I struction in s35 by Tursesius the DAN
& ish commander. when he overran Con-
u nacht.
In, 1882 its castle was besieged and
81 tnlHn nv Cnrrnac Nfrcarfhv opa .H.s,,