The Irish standard., 1916-03-18
THE FESTIVAL OF ST. PATRICK
Irish People Look With Anxiety Toward An
/ cestral Home. Preparedness in Irish History.
BEGINNING OF ANCIENT ORDERS

men. Each provincial king mad MS
seven legions, of three thousand men
to each legion. The chief commander
of each provincial army was called
"righ thine" or liking of the soldiery,"
and to him they swore fidelity and
allegiance. He, in turn, was bound by
the strongest bonds to obey in all
things the commands of the provincial
king or the central government. The
marshal was called the "tuargua
catha," and his pay was made out in
money, clothing and provisions as had
been established by the monarch Sed-
ma, who reigned over all Ireland about
seven centuries before the Christian
era.
From November to May the troops
were quartered on the country, certain
houses supplying the soldiers with
certain necessaries. In summer they
were obliged to support themselves by
fishing and hunting. From May to
November they were quartered in gar
risons in the different stations, or
duns, established to give proper notice
should an enemy approach. It is the
belief that many of the raths and
round towers seen in Ireland to this
day are the remains of the stations
used by the ancient military orders.
There was one of these old duns, or
garrison forts, in the bay of Tralee;
one at the mouth of the Casin in Ker-
ry; one at Innis Catha, or Scattery,
and other places in the county of Linn
erick. Rath Conan, in Limerick, still
retains the name of its governor, the
famous Conan Maol, and many SINH
lar instances could be quoted.
Such soldiers as were not required
for active service, or for garrison duty,
were employed in great hunting
matches, where the chase preserved
them in full health and vigor and sup.
piled part of their bodily wants. The
red deer were then numerous in the
mountains of Ireland, and were very
large, feet and fierce. We have still
in the original manuscripts many Of
the glowing accounts Of these famous
stag hunts about the romantic district
in which the lakes of Killarney are
situated, and Killarney itself is i'm.
mortalized in the books of old travel
eGS for its stag hunts
Neither ancient nor modern history
can furnish more complete and for
midable military institution than this.
Men arrived at the highest degree of
military perfection previous to their
reception into the army, securing rigid
discipline when regularly enrolled,
and being used for every purpose of
offense and defense. These ancient
soldiers were not only expert in at
tacking and annoying an enemy, but
thoroughly trained to defend them
selves with all the resources of the art
of war as then known. 1t is interest
ing to read of the accessories of an
army which were then cultivated, such
as bands of music containing trumpet
ers and drums. In the wars against
the Romans-in which the Irish arm.
les were actively employed for almost
a century-the legions in Albion were
called "fianna Albin," and those in
Gaul called "f1anna Gaul." 1t was as
a captive of one of these legions re.
turning from Gaul that the boy Patrick
was first brought into Ireland.
You will readily appreciate the need
for this kind of historical knowledge
at this time. AS members of the An
cient Order of Hibernians you will
more thoroughly understand the basic
cause of that military instinct which
impelled our men during long centur
les to resist invasion and defy Oppres
sion.
As American citizens you will fine
that it is duty, inherited from YOU
remote ancestors, to respond cheer
fully to all the calls of the state. Pa
triotism has never called in vain upol
Irishmen-and especially upon Irish
Americans-in the hour of Nationa
; peril. There are movements in sev
eral sections of the country to form
, Hibernian regiments and Hibernial
} companies or batteries. These move
, ments deserve every encouragement
, There has always been an Irish Br
gade in every great war of Wester
} Europe or America, and in the mex
, war in which America shall be er
: gagged our race and our Order mus
) take its accustomed place in the lin
. of battle.
+ Just as it is most appropriate tim
:. for Irish military activity, SO also
! Is the season of recurring outdoc
L games. In these games, whether the
are q part Of our National festivals {
r incident to our excursions, picnics {
& field days. the Irish features should I