THE WHENCE OF THE IRISH.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 October 1918, Page 6

THE WHENCE OF THE IRISH.

The Irish politicians and other misleaders aro again recalcitrant, and actively “agin the Gov’mint.” A study of the psychology of the Irish continue interesting. Wonder is often expressed over the great difference in the characteristics of the peoples of the north (Ulster) and the south of Ireland. An ancient geological explanation is that the north w;as at one time a part of Scotland But the historic fact is that Ireland is a mixture on account ' of so many invasions and con- ' quests Many .modern Irishmen feel very bitter towards England because of the brutal manner in which Oliver Cromwell trod upon’ Erin. But there were others. In the very early days there came a race of people from the Mediterranean, hunting the Irish elk with flint arrows and axes. Their stock still survive in the short, roundheaded dark people of the west of Ireland. Then from Spain came the forbears of the tall, dark, long-headed Irishmen. From the Haltic came that Germanic clement wffiich may be the evil influence in the Emerald Isle today—tall, golden-haired, blue-eyed. The fourth race in the olden days to mix in were the Gaels, from, Central Europe, via. France—taU, roundheaded, red haired and grey eyed. And in 1 1169 came Norman-Frcnch and Welsh, to join the mercenary army of the King of Leinster.