THE STORY OF IRELAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLVI, Issue 18, 1 May 1919, Page 11

THE STORY OF IRELAND

(By A. M. Sullivan.)

XXIII;—THE STORY OF GODFREY OF

TYRCONNELL (Continued).

The army of Tyrowen meanwhile pressed forward rapidly to strike the Cinel-Connal, if possible, before their available strength, such as it was, could be rallied. Nevertheless, they found the quickly re-assem-bled victors of Credan-kille, awaiting them. But alas, sorrowful story! On the morning of the battle, death had but too plainly set his seal upon the brow’of the heroic Godfrey ! As the troops were being . drawn up in line, ready to march into the field, the physicians announced that his last moments were at hand; he had but a few hours to live! Godfrey himself received the information with sublime composure. Having first received the last sacraments of the Church, and given minute instructions as to the order of battle, he directed that he should he laid upon the bier which was to have home him ioHhe~grave; and that thus he should he carried at the head of his army on their march ! ; His ; orders were obeyed, and then was witnessed a scene for which history has not a parallel! The dying king laid on his bier, was borne at the head of his troops into the field ! After the bier came the standard of Godfrey-—on which was emblazoned a cross with the words, In hoc signo v/nces — and next came the charger of the. dying king, caparisoned as if foxbattle ! But Godfrey’s last fight was fought! Never more was that charger to bear him where the swordblows fell thickest. Never more would his battle-axe gleam in the front of the combat. But as if his presence, living, dead, or dying, was still a potential assurance of triumph to his people, the Cinel-Connal bore down all opposition. Long .and fiercely, but vainly, the army of Tyrowen contested the field. Around the bier of Godfrey his faithful clansmen made an • adamantine rampart which no foe could penetrate. Wherever it was borne, the Tyrconnell phalanx, of which it was the heart and centre, swept all before them. At length when the foe was flying on all sides, they laid the bier upon the ground to tell the king that the day was won. But the face of Godfrey was marble pale, and cold and motionless ! All was over ! His heroic spirit had departed amidst his people’s shouts of victory! A-- : , , • j ; Several poems have been written on this tragic yet glorious episode. That, ,from which I take the following passages, is generally accounted the best;

All worn and wan, and sore with wounds from Credan’s bloody fray, • In Donegal for weary months the proud O’Donnell lay; Around his couch in hitter grief his trusty clansmen wait, And silent watch, with aching hearts, his'faint and feeble state. ' -■ , ' v

The chief asks one evening to be brought into the open - air; - that he may gaze once more oxx the landscape’s familiar scenes:

“And see the stag upon the. hills, the white clouds, drifting V by; ’5 J VJ v--- v* y 7 And feel upon my wasted cheek God’s sunshine ere I die.” .......

Suddenly he starts on his pallet, and exclaims;

“A war-steed’s tramp is on the heath, and onward cometh ? fast, | And by the rood! a trumpet sounds! hark! ’tis the Red I Hand’s blast!” ** m

And soon a kern all breathless ran, and told a stranger train

Across the heath was spurring fast, and then in sight it came.

Go, bring me, quick, my father’s sword,” the noble chief- . tain said; . “ My mantle o’er my shoulders fling, place helmet on my head; r -^A-■ Vt*'-., And raise me to my feet, for ne’er shall clansman of my foe

VjrO UUaStilijT tell ill ftti TjrOiic li6 Saw O'Doiiii^ii •lo »v ~ }

The envoys of O’Neill arrive in Godfrey’s presence, and deliver their message, demanding tribute: “A hundred hawks from out your .woods, all trained their ■a , pr ey to get; j . ■ ysio.rwi; A hundred steeds from off your hills, uncrossed by rider . • .yet > :!■■ :• ...; ..... .... .... - v „.f ft .... . ; .. y « A hundred kine from off your hills, the best your land cloth know A hundred hounds from out your halls, to hunt the stag and roe. ”

Godfrey, however, is resolved to let his foes, be they Norman or native, know that, though dying, he is not dead yet. He orders a levy of all the fighting men of Tyrconnell:

“ Go call around Tyrconnell’s chief my warriors tried and true; " Send forth a friend to Donal More, a scout to Lisnahue; Light baa 1-fires quick on Esker’s Towers, that all the land may know 0 D foe o,l needeth - help and baste to meet his haughty

Oh, could I but my people head, or wield once more a spear, Saint Angus! but we’d hunt their hosts like herds of fallow deer. t

But vain the wish, since I am now a faint and failing man; 43 Yet, ye shall bear me to the field, in the centre of mv clan. ,

Right in the midst, and lest, perchance, upon the march" I die, . ; : i'i 3 . •% In my coffin ye shall place me, uncovered let me lie • f And. swear ye now, my body cold shall never rest in clay; Until you drive from Donegal O’Niall’s host away.” ;;

Then sad and stern, with hand on skian, that solemn oath they swore, ■ ■'■-: ■.■■-..- And in a coffin placed their chief, and on a litter bore. 1 Tho ebbing fast bis life-throbs came, yet dauntless in his mood, g He marshalled well Tyreonnell's chiefs, like leader wise and good. Lough Swilly's sides are thick with spears, O'Niall'sdiost is there, And proud and gay their battle sheen, their banners float the air And haughtily a challenge bold their trumpets bloweth free, jy^When winding down tho heath-clad bills, O'Donnell's band bey see! No answer back those warriors gave, but sternly on.they stept, . And in their centre, curtained black, a litter close^is kept; - :\"' And all their, host it guided fair, as did in Galilee Proud Judah's tribes the Ark of God, when crossing Egypt's" sea. - ■"••■•"• Then rose the roar of battle loud, as clan met clan in .fight; The axe and skian grew red with blood, a sad and woeful sight; ...... Yet in the midst o'er all, unmoved, that litter black is seen, ' . ' • -■■ Like some dark rock that lifts its head o'er ocean's war serene. Yet once, when blenching back fierce Bryan's charge before, y-. ■>■-.. gpgg 4 Tyrconnell wavered in; its ranks, and all was nearly o'er, Aside those, curtains wide were flung, and plainly to the view -. * |c Each host beheld O'Donnell there, all pale and wan in hue. ' • vt - ''-■■•; ■:■■■■■■ ;&.* ■,:■; ~-^-t. 1

And to his tribes he stretch’d his hands—then pointed im- to the foe, ; f.uO- Ini. t• s nj ...io,-.-: f S ■ J|When with a shout they rally round, and on Clan Hugh they go; | And back , they . beat their horsemen fierce,; and in a ■ column deep, *' -- * ■ v\r *■ With O’Donnell in their foremost rank, in one fierce charge they sweep. -viU.-V; ... .., n. i *'* * * *

Lough Swilly’s banks are thick with spears —O’Niall’s " host ’is there; 1 -"'-"' But rent. and tost like tempest cloxxdsClan Donnell in • the rear ! -~ T - ;

Lough Swilly’s weaves are red with blood, as madly in its tide

O’Niall’s horsemen wildly plunge, to reach the other £ oirl/1 • ■ . • »££ £&ft ii k? 4 0 M . - *4 £2 -V'

And broken is TyrowenVpnde, and vanquished ClannaA boy, - ■a- -A ■ v> V i- A’ And there is wailing -thro’ the land, from ’ Barm to Aughnacloy. ; The Red Hand’s crest is bent Jn grief, upon its shield a stain, ”■ « ■“->

For its stoutest clans are broken, its stoutest chiefs are slain. _ ?

And proud and high Tyrconnell shouts; but blending.on the gale. Upon the ear asceudeth a sad and sullen wail; For on that field, as back they bore, from chasing of the foe. The spirit of O’Donnell fled ! oh, woe for Ulster, woe!

Yet died he there all gloriously — a victor in the fight ; A chieftain at his people’s head, a warrior in his might; They dug him there a fitting grave upon that field of pride, - __ - And a lofty cairn raised above, by fair Lough S willy’s side.

In this story of Godfrey of Tyrconnell we have a perfect illustration of the state of affairs in Ireland at the time. Studying it, no one can marvel that the English power eventually prevailed ; but many may wonder that the struggle lasted so many centuries. What Irishman can contemplate without sorrow the spectacle of those brave soldiers of Tyrconnell and their heroic prince, after contending .with, and defeating, the concentrated power of the Anglo-Norman settlement, called upon to hurriedly re-unite their broken and wounded ranks that they might fight yet another battle against fresh —those foes their own countrymen ! Only amongst a people given over to the madness that precedes destruction, could conduct like that of O'Neill be exhibited. At a moment when Godfrey and his battle-wounded clansmen had routed the common foeat a moment when they were known to be weakened after such a desperate combatat a moment when they should have been hailed with acclaim, and greeted with aid and succor by every chief and clan in Ireland—they are foully taken at disadvantage, and called upon to fight anew, by their own fellow-country-men and neighbors of Tyrowen ! The conduct of O'Neill on this occasion was a fair sample of the prevailing practice amongst the Irish princes. Faction-split to the last degree, each one sought merely his own personal advantage or ambition. Nationality and patriotism were sentiments no longer understood. Bravery in battle, dauntless courage, heroic endurance, marvellous skill, we find them displaying to the last; but the higher political virtues, so essential to the existence of a nation—unity of purpose and of action against a common foerecognition of and obedience to a central national authority were utterly absent. Let us own in sorrow that a people amongst whom such conduct as that of o'N#ill towards Godfrey of Tyrconnell was not only possible but of frequent occurrence, deserved subjection—invited it—rendered it inevitable. Nations, like individuals, must expect the penalty of disregarding the first essentials to existence. "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." Factionism like that of the Irish princes found its sure punishment in subjugation. (To be continued.)

The anmlal Rugby football match between teams representing the Marist Brothers' Club, Christchurch, and the Celtic Club, Timaru, was played at the Show Grounds, Addington, on Saturday afternoon, April 19. After a somewhat one-sided game, Marists won by 35 points to 3. Tries were scored by Fitzgerald (3), Greenlees (2), Mullins (2), Flaherty, Flood, and Gregory. Mullins converted one try and Fitzgerald kicked a penalty goal. Per gin scored for Celtic. Mr. L. Guiney was referee. In a Third Grade match between the same clubs Christchurch won by 11 points to : nil. Mr. L. Hardie was referee. ~ '.

BARN-GRADUATES. - '■'-• - ; ------- ■■ ... «j rf W''C-si (For the N.Z. Tablet.) - /' Oh you from the walks of St. Omer and you from the - Bench and the Inn, Do you think on the school in the hay-loft, and the ferule of Phelim O'Flynn? When the schoolroom lay red in its ashes— a book or a desk in-the town Nimble Phil led his flock up the ladder and settled us . peacefully down. We couldn't hold school 'neath the hedge-row, dripping wet with the white of the May— The teacher forsook us for Dublin, but Phelim discovered a way.

The cattle below us in sunshine munched on till the daylight was, done, But we, in our learned exaltation, saw but a thin thread of the sun. In the long sombre shade of the barn-door a window shone out to the right, At the call of the masterful Phelim we crept out to read in the light. When each blinking owlet had finished, he joyous returned to the dark, J J To continue his spelling and fighting, intent, faith, on making his mark.

There was Johnnie, the humble and candid, who went forth a priest from this land Learned Phelim, -the foe of the rafters whose nearness forbade him to stand, There was Patrick, the merciless lawyer, and Katie the nun in her stall. And Peter, the doctor, the healer, and Christy, the flower of us all.

To-day, for the good of the pupil, they-have rules for the focus of sight. -. "' 'Tis essential for training they tell us to find out one's soul in the light. Put we of the land of the hedge-row, the land of the nettle and whin, Know the worth of the rod in the darkness and the classics of Phelim O'Flynn. . —E. D.

LANGUAGE AND NATION.

Father Augustine, 0.5.F.C., in an address m the .bather Mathew Hall, Dublin, said the Irish spirit was alive and the language was winning and spreading like fare upon the prairie. Within the last few weeks it had scored a great victory by the holding of an Irishspeakmg National . Assembly. That Assembly staggered and angered the Englishmen, it gladdened and rejoiced Irishmen by lifting Ireland into a position ot grand prominence as a distinct nationality, and it furthermore showed that Ireland was a nation in itself and had a language of its own. Dad Eireann was a glorious national language reality, and showed the fruits of the last 25 years of language endeavor. It proved that the Irish tongue is stronger than proclamations and intimidations, and even imprisonment; and that the men who were arrested and imprisoned for singing Irish songs, whistling Irish tunes, and giving their names in Irish, would be crowned to-morrow by an Irish-speaking Parliament in the very heart of the nation. 7