Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-21


who was received into the Fianna was
obliged to fulfill.
The first was that he should not accept
any fortune with his wife, but select her
for her beauty, her virtues and her accom-
plishments.
The second was that he should not In
suit any woman.
The third was that he should never deny
any person asking for food.
The fourth was that he should not turn
his back on less than nine foemen.
Additional conditions introduced by
Finn Mac Cumhaill were attached to the
military degrees. which every man was
obliged to accept before he was received
into the Fianna:
No person was admitted to them at the
great meetings of Uisneach. nor at the
fair Of Taflten. nor at the feast of Tara.
until his father, mother and relatives
gave guarantee that they would never
attempt to avenge his death on another
person; that the candidate should not ex-
and no matter what evils he might COM
NIT. that his friends were not to be sued
for them.
The second condition was that the can
didate should have read twelve books Of
philosophy.
No man was received into the Fianna
until wide pit had been dug for him,
in which he was to stand up to his
knees, with shield in one hand and a
hazel stake the length of his arm in the
came within a distance of nine ridges Of
ground of him and threw their spears at
him all at once. Should he be wounded.
despite the shield and hazel staff he was
not received into the order Of the Fianna
No man was received into the Fianna
until his hair was first braided. He was
then chased by selected runners through
forest. the distance between them at
the start being one tree. If they came
up with him he could not be taken into
the Fianna.
No man was received into the Ffanna
If his weapons trembled in his hands
No man could be received II q single
braid of his hair had been loosed by q
branch as he ran through the forest.
No man was received into the Ffanna
whose foot had broken a withered branch
in his course. CThis to insure light and
careful as well as swift runners who left
no trail)
No man was received unless he could
jump over the branch Of a tree as high
as his head and stoop under one as low
as his knee.
No man was received unless he could
pluck thorn out of his heel without
coming to stand.
And, finally. no man could be received
until he had first sworn fidelity and obedi-
ence to the king and commander Of the
Fianna.
No Place for Visitors.
1t is a sin that there is no place for
visitors to stay at Tara. The nearest
hotel is seven miles away, and the lord
of the manor cannot entertain every
American tourist that comes along.
know Of no lovelier landscape or more
attractive site for summer hotel. but
suppose the patronage would be limited,
because we are a long way from the rail-
road, and an automobile. costs five guineas
day. with an allowance Of seven shil-
lings for the board and lodging of the
chauffeur and whatever gasoline may be
used
We were sorry to leave the historic
place One Is sorry to leave almost every
country. but the next stop will develop
something else quite as novel and inter-
esting as 1t did to us at Castle Dunsany
the ancient home Of the Plunkett family
The Annals Of the Four Masters, which
l quoted In letter about Sir Horace
Plunkett several weeks ago. relate that
there are fierce lords upon the road from
Dublin to Tara, and that II the traveller
was not robbed by the Lord OF Dunsany
Castle he would be robbed by the Lord OF
kiileen, and II he managed to escape Kill
leen he was sure to be robbed at Dunsany.
These two famous places stand on OPP
posfte sides Of the highway not more than
mile apart. and, although both have
been restored and remodeled for modern
occupants. they are still very old and as
ISOLATED with much interesting history.
Dunsany Castle was built by Hugh de
Lacy about the middle of the twelfth
century. Killeen Castle was the seat
Of the Earl of Fingal. Both are surround
ed by magnificent demesne or wooded
parks inclosed with high walls and filed
with game. according to the Irish custom.
Near by Castle Dunsany. in the midst Of
glorious grove of trees that have been
growing there for centuries. are the roof
less walls Of the ancient Church OF St.
Nicholas. rebuilt upon the site Of an
older sanctuary by Nicholas Plunkett
in the fifteenth century, and named
in honor of his patron saint. His
sarcophagus is in the center surrounded
by other tonbs of the Plunkett family
for several generations At Killeen is
another church of similar age and in
similar condition, and that also contains
the monuments of the founder and his
family for many generations.
Hugh de Lacy.
Hugh de Lacy was the original owner
and occupier of the Abbey Of Beehive
one of the finest OF the many ruins in
this section, and in its time a very i'm
portant establishment. He was Nor
man knight of ancient French family,
who came over with Strongbow at the
first English invasion of Ireland and was
given the province of Meathe for his pos
sessions. Although not the greatest
fighter. he was the wisest and the best
governor of all the barons who served
Henry II in Irelands He built strong cas-
ties in all parts of Meathe. including Cas-
tie Dunsany and Castle Killeen, and
greatly increased his power and influence
by marrying a daughter of the old king
Of this province, Roderick O'Connor. He
was accused Of conspiring to make him
self King of Ireland, and did not live to
clear himself of the charge. One day
while he was experimenting the building
of a new castle at Durrow young Irish
man drew a battle ak that was concealed
under his cloak and with one blow cut of
the great baron's head. The murderer
afterward explained that 1t was done to
revenge the dissertation Of venerated
oratory that had once been occupied by
St. COLUMBIA and had been torn away by
de Lacy.
Hugh de Lacys son and namesake,
after his fathers death, attempted to
seize the throne of Connausht and was
BETRAYED and killed in the Cathedral of
Don Patrick on Good Friday In the year
1904, where, barefooted and unarmed. he
was saying his prayers and doing penance
for his sons. When he was attacked
he seized the nearest weapon, a large
brass crucifix.s and dashed out the brains
of thirteen of his assailants with 1t before
he was overpowered.
When the elder Hugh de Lacy was MUIR
an-od t,tc hood WAS taken to tho Ahhov