The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-08-31
From Many Points of View There is No
Place in Ireland More Interesting
to the Traveller.
It Was Here That Father Tom Burke Spent
His Boyhood Days and Where Many
Relatives Now Reside.

De Burgos came and established their
name in the country. There are still to
be seen the ruins of many fortresses
and strongholds erected in these by
gone stormy periods for purposes of at
tack and defense. And as for castles,
there cannot have been many unem-
ployed in the land in those times, for
you may see half a dozen on looking
round in several stretches of country
here. In the comparatively small par
ish Of Castlegar, outside Galway, there
are twelve castles in various stages of
preservation or demolition. The "li-
oensed anventurers" and their success
sors Of Henry II established themselves
in the city and as much of the sur
rounding country as they could master,
and proceeded to organize an ascend
ancy campaign" over the Irish. A
few extracts from the bylaws of the
period accentuate the relations that ex-
listed between the marauders' and the
people.
"That none of the towne buy cattle
out of the country, but only of true
men,"
THAT no man Of the towne shall
lend or sell galley, botte, or barque to
an Irishman."
"That no person shall give ne sell
to no Irish any munition, or hand pow
ms, calivres, poulder, lead, nor sail
peter, nor yet long boves, cross boves,
crossbove-strings nor yearne to make
the same, nor no kind of weapon, on
payn to forfayt the same and an hun
dred shillings." ....
"If any man should bring an Irish
man to bragg or boste upon to the
towne to forfayt 12d."
THAT no man of this town shall
oste or receive in their houses at
Christmas, Easter, nor no feasts, elles
any of the Burkes, McWilliams, the
Kellies, nor yet cept elles without Ii
cence of the Mayor and council, on
payn to forfayt G5. that neither
o ne Mac shall strutte ne swagger
thro' the streets of Galway"
"That no Irish judge nor lawire shall
plede to no mans cause or matter
within the town or corte, for it agreeth
not with the Kings laws, ma yet the
emprors in many placis."
These quotations cannot be styled
very conciliatory to the Irish people
to whom the blessings Of paternal pro-
| lection were guaranteed by the pre-
dominant partner" over the Channel.
Among the many interesting sights
of Galway visitors never miss seeing a
dark stone slab let into portion Of a
ruined wall in Lumbard street. Its
bending justice" Of a father who was
Mayor Of the city in 1893, and who
executed his own son for murder.
I was privileged recently to have an
interview with family distinguished
for talent and virtue. and also by their
relationship to the famous Father Tom
Burke. the great Dominican orator and
champion Of the Irish cause. l refer
to his sisters, Miss Burke and Mrs. Fer
guson, and his niece, Mrs. ]. c.. Mac
Donnell. and grandniece. Mrs. Willis
Mrs. MacDonnelrs husband, promi-
nent citizen, gracefully retired from the
recent political contest in favor OF
Stephen Gwynn. A pinch Of SNUFF from
a beautiful silver snuffbox-a present
| to Father Burke, which he bequeathed
to his sister-introduced our conversa-
ton on his early life and great career
Their features strongly suggest those
of their world famous kinsmen, while
his oratorical and musical gifts have
a graceful exponent in his niece, Miss
Willis, withQ Qut whose aid big concer,
is never h42d in Galway. She yer,
kindly performed at Miss Bauer's con.
cert quite recently. There are iife-sizk
nhotos Of Father Burkers parents 81