THE STORY OF IRELAND

New Zealand Tablet, 10 July 1919, Page 9

THE STORY OF IRELAND

(By A. M. Sullivan.)

CHAPTER XXVlll.—Continued. For 18 years subsequently the invincible Art reigned over his inviolate territory; his career to the last being ' a record of brilliant victories over every expedition sent against it. As we wade through the crowded annals of those years, his name is ever found in connection with some gallant achievement. Wherever else the fight is found going against Ireland; whatever hand falters or falls in the unbroken struggle, in. the mountains of. Wicklow there is one stout arm, one bold heart, one glorious intellect, ever nobly daring and bravely conquering in the cause of native land; Art, “ whose activity defied the chilling effects of age, poured his cohorts through Sculloge Gap on the garrisons of Wexford, taking in rapid succession in on© campaign (1406) the castles of Camolins, Ferns, and Enniscorthy. A few years subsequently his last great battle, probably the most serious engagement of his life, was fought by him against the whole force of the Pale under the walls of Dublin. The Duke of Lancaster, son of the King, and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, issued orders for the concentration of a powerful army for an expedition southwards against McMurrogh’s allies. But McMurrogh and the mountaineers of Wicklow now felt themselves strong enough to take the initiative. They crossed the plain which lies to the north of Dublin, and encamped at Kilmainham, where Roderick, when he besieged the city, and Brian before the battle of Clontarf, had pitched their tents of old. The English and Anglo-Irish forces, under the eye of their prince, marched out to dislodge them, in four divisions. The first was led by the Duke in person; the second by the veteran knight, Jenieho d’Artois; the third by Sir Edward Perrers, an English knight; and the fourth by Sir Thomas Butler, prior of the Order of St. John, afterwards created by Henry V., for his distinguished service, Earl of Kilmain. With McMurrogh were O’Byrne, O’Nolan, and other chiefs, besides his sons, nephews, and relatives. The numbers on each side could hardly fall short of 10,000 men, and the action may be fairly considered one of the most decisive of those times.- The Duke was carried back wounded into Dublin; the slopes of" Inchicore and the valley of the Liffey were strewn with the dying and the dead; the river at that point obtained from the Leinster Irish the name of A the roc, or the ford of slaughter; the widowed city was filled with lamentation and dismay.” This was the last endeavor of the English power against Art. “While he lived no further attacks were made upon his kindred or country.” He was not, alas ! destined to enjoy long the peace he had thus conquered from his powerful foes by a 44 years’ war! On January 12, 1417, he died at Ross in the 60th year of age, many of the chroniclers attributing his death to poison administered in a drink. Whether the enemies whom he had so often vanquished in the battlefield resorted to such foul means of accomplishing his removal is, however, only a matter of suspicion, lasting mainly on the fact that his chief brehon, O’Doran, who* with him had partaken of a drink, given them by a woman on the wayside as they passed, also died on the same day, and was .attacked with like symptoms. Leeches’ skill was vain to save the heroic chief. His grief-stricken people followed ; him to the grave, well knowing and keenly feeling that in him they had lost their invincible tower of defence. He had been called to the chieftaincy of Leinster at the early age of 16 years; and on the very threshold of his career had to draw the sword " to defend the integrity of his, principality. From that hour to the last of his. battles, more than 40 years subsequently he proved himself one of the most consummate military tacticians of his time. Again and again he met and defeated the proudest-armies, of England, led by the ablest generals of the age. : “He was?” say the Four Masters, , “a : man ..distinguished £ for his hospitality, knowledge, and "feats of arms ; a man full

of prosperity and royalty;, a founder of churches and monasteries by his bounties and contributions.” ? In fine, our history enumerates no braver ; soldier, no nobler character, than Art McMurrogh “Kavauagh,” Prince of Leinster. ■ .v ' >: i> (To be continued.)