DIVORCE IN EARLY IRELAND.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 402, 14 September 1889, Page 3

DIVORCE IN EARLY IRELAND.

Divorce was easy under the old laws,\and the wife 1 took back with her the ' tindsora,' or mamaero portion given by her parents, as well a's the ''coibcho,' or reward for her, virginity, received from tho husband.' Hero are some of the reasons which, might be alleged by a quick-tempered 'or a frail woman as a causo for separation :, Ilefusai of her rights in domestic matters, misconduct of her husband with other women, abandonment, a public charge of infidelity, ridicule from hdr husband, a mark on her person showing maltreatment. If p. lovepotion had been administered it might be cited as a cause for leaving ' the man who gave it. In fine, divorce in heathen Ire* land was so easy, and tho laws were so favourable to the weaker sex, that the man; who • caught a tartar ' must have had every chance of continuing to regret. | Yet the lateness of date at which we find women fighting in battles is surprising. One of the gloiies of the church in Ireland was a Jaw passed by tho efforts of St. Adamnan, about a.v. 690, putting a stop to, the employment of women in war. The legend runs that he was once carrying his mother on his back near a battle when a wonlan was seen to thrust a sickle into the broast of another and drag her off tho field. Adamnan's mother bade him put her down, and refused to be carried farther until he should swear to free women from such services. This he promised, and at tho next grand assembly obtained a passage of the law.