The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-11-11

stone placed in the northwest wall ION
the outside) of Barney Castle about
five feet from the battlement at dis
lance of 120 feet from the ground.
And on it runs the inscription: Cor
mach Mccarthy FORTS me fieri fecit
A. d. 1446" How did the stone in
McCarthys great castle come to have
the reputation of imparting the gift
OF eloquence to the man lucky enough
to press his lips upon it? The story
is long and interesting one. Luck
lily an exhaustive account comes to
hand. And before me lies a minia-
ture model of the stone accompanied
by the lines:
Its magnetic Powers are Great
So touch it il, you have occasion;
If you kiss it, they say
From that happy day
You'll have wonderful powers of
persuasion"
But to return to the origin of the
jovial legend. Blarney Castle was
built in 1446 A. D. In the fall of 1449
The Mccarthy invited to great
hunting party The O'Donovan, O'Sul-
livan Beare, O'Donoghue More, O'Don-
oughue of the Glen, the O'Mahonys,
the O'Keefes, the O'Callaghans and
other powerful mobiles, who brought
their retinues with them. At dawn
next morning the chieftains set out
with their followers and wolfhounds
to the chase of the large red deer
which then abounded in Erin.
Over hill and dale, over marsh and
river and lake sped the great party
that fine October day after a great
deer. Weary and covered with foam
the noble beast sped on till evening
until the hunters had fallen far be-
hind. The Mccarthy alone kept near
him, cheering on the baying hounds.
Down by the winding Lee fed the
deer, till near Gougane Barra he
plunged into the water and swan for
an island where the luxuriant under
growth offered him cover.
Into the tide The Mccarthy spurred
his jaded steed in pursuit. He had
just reached land" says chronicler,
land, tired and weary though he was,
his heart rejoiced at the certain glory
before him, when wild shrek for
help arrested his progress, and the
next instant the pity, the gallant brav.
cry of the Desmonds rose in his veins.
He called off his hounds, turned his
horses head and blew shrill blast
on his bugle, and left behind him the
prize for which he had ridden so far
and so fast the entire day. CHANGING
whence the cry proceeded, he beheld,
midway in the river. human figure
almost half covered by the rising
waters which were swollen from the
recent autumnal rains, and which
mounted far above the loose stones
of the ford placed for the accommo-
dation of pedestrian travellers. A few
moments sufficed to bring him to it,
and upon dismounting, he saw before
him woman, no longer young, but
pale and worn, clad in a dark habit,
amid the folds of which swung, partly
concealed from view, a large rosary.
Though swaying backwards and for
wards, she kept herself erect by lean
ing on pilgrims staff.
Without speaking he tenderly lifted
the frail creature on to his horse,
sprang up himself and once more
rode back to the main shore, passing
on his way the island, where probably
his stag was enjoying all the delights
of perfect security. When The Nc
Carthy once more felt the dry ground
beneath his horses feet night had
fallen, and as he dismounted, and as
sisted his companion to do likewise,
he saw by the moonlight that a face
bespeaking heartfelt gratitude was
raised to his
She called him her deliverer She
told him she was a pilgrim from Tar
bert to the shrine of ST. Finbar, which
was then where the handsome Pro-
testant Cathedral of Cork now stands.
She had attempted to ford the river.
but the tide rose ere she had reached
half way so that she could neither ad-
vance nor retreat. Then, giving her.
self up for lost, she commended her
soul to God and gave one last shrek
of despair. At that moment the gal.
liant Irish chieftain spurred to her res
cue.
And the woman pursued, the
great Maker of all will reward and
deal with thee as thou hast dealt
with others; thou who unlike the other
great ones of this earth. has left thy
pleasure to minister to the wants of
the weak, the poor of God. Cormach
Mccarthy, truly called the Strong
for strong and kind thou hast been
to me, know then that am not I'M
grateful. Know that l never leave
good deed go unrewarded. What
does thou wish for? What gift in
this world could render more happi.
ness to thy hearth"
And the chronicler says the great
earl feared the poor woman had be.