Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-03-17
Factions and Inyasions Brought Her
Death, Disaster and
Ruin.
But SubJugators Never Succeeded in
ConqueIing the Sturdy
People.
DAWN FOR ERIN'S sUNBURST

Who we're the people that first in
habited ireland? Whence did they
come and when? These are ques-
tons that never have been settled.
OF course there are ancient stories
ebout the early settlement of the
country, but most OF them have been
proven 10 be purely legendary. These
legends recall the successive invasion
OF six different nations, the Parth-
alonians, the Dedannans, the Meme
dians, the Fomarians. the Firbogs and
the Milesians. Prior to the advent
OF St. Patrick II is known that the
natives Of Ireland had written laws
and were fond of literature, art and
music. The inhabitants were
Pagans, but the only God they wor-
SHIPPED was the sun.
About the time that st. Patrick
began his work in ireland the wild
hordes Of barbarians from the north
Of Europe began to sweep over the
south OF Europe. Ireland was off
the beaten track of these vandals
and became the western seat OF
learning, and for nearly four hum
bred years was known as the land
Of saints and scholars. None teries
and places of learning sprang up all
over the country, and learned men
from Ireland were welcomed with
distinguished honors at every court
and seat Of learning in Europe.
In the ninth century the Danes
Invaded Ireland and for 200 years
peace and learning were almost for
gotten In efforts to repel the saw
age invaders. At that time unfor-
tunately Ireland was governed by a
number of petty chiefs headed by
the Ard-Righ or Over-King. The
petty chiefs were constantly at war
with each other, and therefore be-
came an easy prey to the invading
Danes. In the eleventh century APP
peared Brian Boru, and he succeed
ed In reconciling all factions that
they might make common defense
against the Danes. He gained
signal victory over the Danes at
Clontarf In 1915. but lost his life
after the battle had been won. Next
to 81. Patrick. Brian Boru stands
out as the most colossal and striking
figure in Irish history.
Some years after the death OF
Brian Boru fsctional fights and
feuds in Ireland cropped out again.
Profiting by this condition Henry
II. of England set about the subju-
CATION Of Ireland. His efforts to
make Ireland a part of England
were undertaken In the twelfth cen
fury and for the next ESQ years the
history of the island is a black cat
alogue OF wars OF conquest and OBJ
stlnate resistance; Of confiscatioA
and plumber; of tyranny and in
Justice. The English invaders tried
to eIterminate the people, their
faith and their language.
In the reign of King Edward Ill
tho use OF the Irish language was
entirely forbidden; ancient Irish
laws were abolished, and the inter-
marriage of English ana Irish was
declared criminal. Then came the
apostasy OF Henry VIII. This King
of many wives suppressed Irish
monasterles and cut off Ireland's
tribute TO the Papal See. His
daughter, Queen Elizabeth. imposed
Protestant clergy on the Irish and
cOnfiscated all ecclesiastical prop
erty. As reward for favOrs Queen
Bess parcelled out the whole island
20 English courtiers and colonists.
SAN there were millions Of Gaels
living In Ireland. Then came Crom-
well, who announced that he would
drive the Irish to Connaught OF to
hell. The Irish preferred Con-
naught and they went. Charles IL.
and James H. made promises OF
amelioration OF laws. but the prom
ises ayailed naught. The penal
laws OF 1895 imposed further disa-
bilitles on the Irish race. Then came
the Irish Parliament and Burke.
Grattan and Flood. This was fol-
lowed by the act OF uniting England
and Ireland and the dissolution OF
the Irish Parliament. Still later
came Daniel O'Connell and his APP
peal for CATHOLIC emancipation.
Next Parnell appears as a leader
and latest John Redmond.
With such troublous history
Why should much be expected OF the
Irish people In learning. In ways OF
peace, In the realms OF art7 Yet
what. country has not profited by
the genius Of Irish men and Irish
women II seems now that Ireland
Is about 10 receive some slight |
amelIorations May God Will II 30.