The Irish standard., 1915-11-20
The Story Of Some Irish Towns

me Irish Towns
In 1888 the first Irish Parliament was
held in Dublin, but this assembly was
not representative of the people, as
only the barohs and mobiles were al
lowed to partake in its deliberations.
In 1405 the Office of City Sword Bear.
er was instituted, Henry Nv granting
to the Chief Magistrate the privilege
of having gilt sword borne before
him on occasions of state or civic
ceremonials. The title of Mayor was
introduced in 1409, holders of that Of.
flee being hitherto styled Provost. In
1449 the Dublin Parliament declared
that English laws or writs had no ef-
feet In Ireland. When Sir Edward
Poynings became Viceroy one Of the
first acts passed by the Parliament
was to declare that in future no act
could be passed by an Irish Parlia.
ment unless first sanctioned by the
King and Council in England. This re-
strictive law held good until 1882, when
1t was repealed, mainly through the ex-
ertions OF Grattan and the Volunteers.
In 1884, Lord Thomas Fitzgerald,
"Silken Thomas" made an ineffec-
tual attempt to besiege the Castle of
Dublin, but was forced to retire by the
citizens. During the reign of Eliza.
beth a great plague visited Dublin;
the Lord Mayor held his Court outside
the city, at Glasmonage (now Con-
stitutfon HID, and the Viceroy moved
the Government to Drogheda. In 1866
the Lord Mayor and citizens of Dublin
marched to the relief of Dundalk,
which was besieged by some of the
Northern Irish Chieftains. This spirit
of martial bravery did not always in.
spire the occupant of the Civic chair,
as two years afterwards, we read, that
the Lord Mayor was fined e10O for
neglecting to perform military duties.
The first constitutional agitation in Ire.
land had its origin in Dublin in 1877,
when deputation of the citizens pro.
ceeded to London to lay petition be.
fore the Queen, complaining of the &C.
ton of the then Viceroy in imposing
taxes without the consent of Parlia.
ment. Elizabeth received the worthy
petitioners with extraordinary cour.
tesy, and instructions were issued that
in future the consent of Parliament
should be obtained before new imposts
were levied. In 1891 the corporation
OF Dublin granted certain lands, the
sequestrated property of All Hallows',
for the establishment Of a college.
This was the beginning of Trinity Col
lege, an institution that in after years
was destined to exercise great influ.
ences for good and evil on the for
tunes of the Irish nation. The trade
of Dublin increased rapidly during this
period, and Custom House was built.
The civic government became wealthy,
and many reforms were effected. A
civic physician was. appointed, santa.
tfon was introduced, and band OF
trained musicians was engaged to per.
form at certain places on several days
during the week for the amusement OF
the citizens. In 1913 the first repre-
sentative Irish Parliament was held in
Dublin, but dissention arose over the
appointment OF speaker, and the
Viceroy found it advisable to dissolve
the assembly. During the great in
surrection of 164l, Owen Roe O'Neill
invested the city for several days to
the extreme terror of the inhabitants
In an extremely rare and valuable
pamphlet, entitled, "True news from
Ireland, or the state of Dublin as II
stood the 9th day Of December, 1641,'
there is a very quaint account of q
strange and unheard of flocking to-
gether of several kinds of birds over
the city of Dublin on Christmas eve
last" The writer, Tristum Witcome
thus describes the incidental most
strange and unwonted accident hap
pened on Christmas eve, as ever was
heard of. The Groves, Ravens, and
Sea Gulls, about foure of the clocke
in the afternoons, being duske, as
sembled in such a numerous manner
lowering, pewling, and croaking in
such a strange unheard of wise over
the City, that it amazed and affrighted
all the Inhabitants; especially they
continuing without departing in this
sort, until six of the said evening; a
strange. time Of night for such fowle
to be abroad at, at such time of the
yeare. And which is more strange,
that could not be frightened nor
scared away with all the reports of
muskets and some great peeces out
of the Castle that were shot off for
that purpose. What this strange acct
dent meanes or portends is not for me
to divine but surely by the knowledge
of the oldest men in Dublin, either
England or Irish, never the like was
scene. Concerning other matter OF
trade, it behoveth rather to think OF
calling in, if we can, than of sending