Part 1

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Irish Historical Allusions

Curious Customs and Superstitions

County of Kerry

CORKAGUINY

by

Patrick Foley

1916

Printed in the United States Published by the Author

_Erin you are still Gra-Mo-Chree._

The Author reserves the rights of re-publication and translation excepting in the Irish language.

To

My Son

MICHAEL FOLEY

This book, the fourth of a series designated to present all essential historical information on this County is

Dedicated by his Affectionate Father, The Author.

PREFACE.

While these manuscripts were in the hands of Messrs. Sealy, Bryer & Walker, Printers, Dublin, the late Irish rising took place. During the fight, between the British military and the Irish Republican forces, a portion of the City of Dublin was destroyed by fire and artillery, including the printers' premises, together with the author's manuscripts for these books, and other works. Fearing the destruction of liners, by German submarines, the author held copies of his works until landed in Ireland. Believing that there they were safe, the copies were neglected and portions of them burned and lost. Therefore in the following pages the author presents to the reader but the remaining two parts of a book left after the Dublin fire, to which is added a brief account of Sinn Feiners and the outbreak.

AUTHOR.

Dated at Oakland, California, this 3rd day of July, 1916.

CONTENTS.

Page

Abduction 16

All Fools' Day 76

Ancient Cross Roads 76

Ancient National Dances 78

Ardnane 78

Bally-Ferriter Evictions 78

Banshee 78

Barking Disease 18

Battle of Boyne 18

Battle of Glantarf 19

Begrudging 79

Bellman 79

Black Death 19

Black Famine 20

Blind Fiddlers and Flute Players 80

Blood Money 20

Boats and Canoes Haunted 80

Bodach 80

Bone Fires 81

Bone Setters 81

Boycotting 21

Brack-an-Tobar 81

Brandon Mountain 81

Brehons 21

Brendon (St.) Feast 82

Brigid's Day (St.) 21

Cat Brack 22

Catholic Rent 23

Changelings 82

Charity Meal 23

Charms 82

Cholera Plague 24

Clanna-Gael 24

Cloghane Pattern Day 24

Cockfighting 25

Contracts with the Devil 83

Corkaguiny Magistrates Dislike Attorneys 25

Cross Thursday 83

Cromwell 25

Crowbar Brigade 26

Curious Customs--Introduction 69 to 75 inc.

Death Warning 84

Doon-an-Ore 26

Easter Sunday or Sun Dance 84

Eastern, Protestant and Catholic Winds 85

English Garrison 26

Enlisting Young Men with a Shilling 26

Excommunication with Bell, Book and Candle 27

Faction Fights 27

Fallen Angels 86

Fenianism 29, 64

Forty-Shilling Freeholders 29

Funeral Bells 86

Gates of Glory 87

Gaudy Ribbon Crosses 29

Ghosts Cannot Cross Running Water 87

Glas-Guineach 87

Glenbeigh Evictions 30

Gospels 88

Great Famine 30

Halley's Comet 30

Harrington and Esmond's Election 31

Haunted Houses 88

Head Act 30

Headless Coach Stories 88

History of Ireland--Introduction 3 to 15 inc.

Hold out the Hand and Split the Difference 89

Holy Water Bottles in Canoes 89

Holy Wells 89

Home Rule 31

Horn Dance 89

Horse Shoe Nail Over the Door 89

House League 32

Hurley 90

Influenza 32

Invisible-Blood-Jobbers 33

I Usga Bagha 90

Ivy Day 33

Judges Bringing Bad Weather to Kerry 90

Kennels and Hunting 33

Kerry Bonds 33

Kerry Cows Know Sunday 33

Kerry Election 34

Kissing the Blarney Stone 34

Lady Day 91

Landlords' and their Land Agents' Approval Necessary to Marriages 37

Land League and Irish National League 37

Land Purchase Act of George Wyndham's 29

La Varaha na Feir 38

Leith Broath 38

Leprachawn 91

Lycanthropy 91

Marriages and Weddings 91

May Day 92

Middlemen and the Conacre System 38

Mistletoe 92

Molly McGuires 39

Moonlighting 42

Mother Carey's Chickens or Stormy Petrels 93

Mug 94

Mugs 94

National School Teachers Slapping Children for Speaking Irish 42

Ogham Characters 43

Orangemen 43

Pagan Wells 95

Parnellite Splits 43

Patron Days 96

Peelers 45

Penal Laws 45

Penitent Pilgrims of the Cat-Brack 97

Phoenix Park Murders 46

Pitch Cap 47

Plan of Campaign 47

Poff and Barrett Hanged 47

Poor Scholars or Hedge School Teachers 47

Pope's Brass Band 47

Primrose League 46

Public Pilgrimage to Brandon Mountain 48

Racing at Weddings 97

Recantations (Public) 48

Red Coals of Fire Given Out of the House 98

Rounds 98

Saints' Birthdays 48

Sinn Fein 49

Skelligs 55

Shea-Hated by the Mermaids 98

Snap Apple Nights 99

Soupers' Campaign 55

Spanish Armada 55

Statute of Kilkenny 56

Steel-Pen Coats 100

St. Martin's Eve 100

St. Patrick and the Snakes 100

St. Patrick's Day 56

St. Stephen's Day 102

Sunburst of Erin 103

Tanistry 56

Tara 56

Tenants' Defense League 57

Tenant League 57

Thierna-Dubh's Raid 58

Thomas-an-Aehig 61

Tithes 61

Tithes Artificial Famine 62

Toothache Cure 103

Treaty of Limerick 62

Turn Coats 62

United Irishmen 62

White Boys 63

Wicker Baskets 63

Wild Geese 64

Wreck of "Port-Yorack" 64

Witches 103

INTRODUCTION.

According to leading Irish historians, close on three thousand years ago, Ireland was fairly well peopled. Of the several tribes that settled in the country, the most important colony was the Milesians. Dr. Keating, the Irish historian, says that race of people landed in Ireland thirteen hundred years before the birth of Christ, while McGeoghegan put this event down for 1029 B. C., and O'Flaherty, one thousand years before the Christian Era.

At the time of the landing of the Milesians, Ireland was governed by three Dedaanan Kings, viz: MacCull, MacKecht and MacGrena, whose Queens were Eire, Fodla and Banba.

_The Milesians._--There were many battles fought between invading Milesians and the older settlers. Probably the first notable battle ever fought in the country, was that which took place between the Tuatha-de-Danaans, who possessed Ireland for over two hundred years previously, and the invading Milesians. This battle is said to have taken place about one thousand years before the Christian Era, and was brought about by the following circumstances: The Milesians, having left Scythia, settled in Spain, where they lived for several generations. One of their chiefs, named Ith, having on one occasion sailed in the direction of Ireland, unexpectedly touched the country, where he landed, with the result that he was attacked and wounded. Although he was carried away alive in his ship, he died on sea, and his remains were conveyed to Spain. To avenge his death the sons of Milesius assembled a large force, and headed by their mother, Queen Scota, eight of them with a fleet of thirty ships, landed in Ireland.

Having marched into the country and demanded battle or submission, the De-Danaans complained that they were taken by surprise and treated unfairly, and if the invaders re-embarked and retired from the shore, and if the Milesians were then able to effect a landing, the country should be given to them. The very moment the Milesians were on the high sea, a great storm blew, which scattered and wrecked the fleet. Four of Queen Scota's sons perished on the coast of Kerry. When the storm ceased, Queen Scota and her two sons made good a landing in Tralee Bay, which in olden times was called "Lough-Foirdreamhuin," and marched inland to Slieve-Mish. Here Queen Scota met a part of the De-Danaan army, led by one of the De-Danaan Queens, called Eire, with the result that a great battle was fought on the mountain of Slieve-Mish, in the County of Kerry, in which the Milesians were victorious, but the Queen fell.

After this victory the Milesian army marched towards 'Tara, where they defeated and killed the three De-Danaan Kings, MacCull, MacKecht and MacGrena. The Milesians then took possession of the country, which they divided between them, and gave a long line of kings to Ireland, many of whom fell in battle and few died a natural death.

The Milesian kings, princes and chiefs ruled the country for over 2,140 years. Roderick O'Connor was the last High King of the Milesian race to rule the whole of Ireland. He reigned in 1168 A. D. The largest percentage of the Irish are descendants of the Milesians.

Christianity was established by St. Patrick, and judging by the way he handled the Pagan Irish kings and chiefs, he must have been a wise statesman.

From 432 to 812, Ireland was known throughout the world as the "Island of Saints and Scholars." Foreigners came from all parts of the Old World for education. The ancient language of the country then, as now, was Irish. In the Irish wars most of the fine Irish arts and buildings were destroyed by foreign invaders. Probably the "Book of Kells" is the finest production of its age in the whole world.

Latin was the written language of England in the 12th Century, or thereabouts.

_The Danes in Ireland._--About the year 795, Danish and Norwegian pirates appeared in ships upon the Irish coast. Here and there they sailed into harbors, landed, ran into the country, robbed the people, ravaged women, tossed children from lance to lance for pleasure, drank the blood of their victims, imitated the dogs in their wild ferocity, set houses on fire and successfully returned to their ships before their very presence in the locality became generally known. Year after year they increased in numbers. In the summer they came like swarms of flies. They robbed monasteries, tore up fine Irish arts, took ornaments off books and killed the monks. After some time parties of them settled on the seaboard. Their chief towns in Kerry were Ballinagaul, Ballylangford and Broadford. For two hundred and twenty years they held their criminal sway of rape, murder and robbery over the inhabitants of the seaboard of Ireland. In several engagements they were defeated and driven from Ireland by the Irish kings, chiefs and princes. However, in 1074, at the invitation of the Prince or King of Hinster, they attempted to conquer Ireland. On Good Friday, the 23rd of April, 1074, the Danes and their followers were completely defeated in battle at Glantarf, County Dublin, by the Irish, under Brien Borue, King of Munster. This day the Danish power in the whole of Europe was broken down, and their piratical expeditions ended. The same day Brien Borue fell while praying in his tent.

_English Invasion._--Fighting between petty Irish chieftains became common. Following the example set by the Danes, the rule of might, not right, was very much practiced. Just as the people were settling down in peace, the Prince of Linster induced the wife of another Irish prince or governor to elope with him. Ireland was now divided. There were circumstances in the case which in the opinion of many did not justify the marriage of the Princess to O'Rourke. The High King of Ireland and the Irish could not stand the disgrace of such an act to occur on Irish soil, and consequently declared war on the Prince of Linster. The Prince of Linster appealed to King Henry II of England for aid. The kings, princes and people of Ireland stood for virtue, while the English king and his barons under the color and pretense of restoring virtue to Ireland, stood for a licentious old man and introduced rape, plunder and murder into the country.

In 1170, Richard Clare, commonly called the Earl of Strongbow, on behalf of the King of England, landed in Ireland. In 1171 the King of England in person visited Ireland. He produced the Pope's Bull, showing that he had authority from Rome to establish virtue, settle and possess Ireland. The majority of the Irish chieftains refused to recognize the King of England, no matter from whom he pretended to possess the authority.

These are the circumstances which brought about the first Norman English raids on the peaceful valleys of Ireland. Little by little the English succeeded in establishing a foothold on Irish soil. It took the English over four hundred years to completely conquer the whole island. After some time the English in Ireland became more Irish than the Irish themselves, but they had to get the "fat" of the land; they even appointed their own clergy, although both at the time were Roman Catholics.

_The Protestant Reformation._--The most of the districts in Ireland were governed by their own independent native chieftains, although they were supposed to be under English rule. When the Protestant reformation burst forth, King Henry VIII of England hunted Luther and other Protestant reformers out of England. The Pope conferred upon him the title of "King Defender of the Faith."

This King Henry married his deceased brother's wife before the marriage of the latter was fully consummated. It is a settled doctrine of the Catholic Church that when both parties to a marriage enter into it of their own free will and accord, and that no moral objection is standing in the way of the ceremony, upon the consummation of marriage no priest nor power on earth can divorce and religiously remarry any of the parties while they both live.[1] Henry VIII knew this. After being for twenty years married, he pretended to feel frightfully uneasy because "it was wrong for him to marry his brother's wife" after the brother's death. He applied for a divorce to the Pope, and the Pope refused to grant him a divorce. He at once established his own ecclesiastical courts, declared himself head of the Church, and his courts at once granted him a divorce from his lawful wife. Immediately he married one Anne Boleyn, whom he divorced and killed for another wife. In all he had six wives, one of whom he caused to be ripped open on child's birth. He seized and confiscated the churches, chapels and all religious houses in England and converted them to his own use. Of course these acts were resisted with bloodshed.

The foundation on which the Protestant Reformation was founded in England, was born in lust, murder and plunder. The British sovereign declared himself supreme head of the Church on earth, and substituted the parson for the priest. Henry VIII attempted to introduce his new-made religion into Ireland. This religion was not Catholic nor was it Protestant. Ireland rejected it and Henry VIII was not able to enforce his orders there.

In the year 1553, Edward VI died, and Queen Mary, daughter of Henry and of Catherine of Aragon, became Queen of England. This Queen was a staunch Roman Catholic. Maddened at the ill-treatment of her mother at the hands of Henry VIII, his ministers, the ecclesiastical courts and reformers, she restored the Catholic religion, recovered Catholic churches, monasteries and like property, and tortured and burned Protestant leaders, especially those who refused to deliver up the property. By Protestant historians she is styled "Bloody Mary." As Ireland was always Catholic, her reign there did not cause much disturbance.

_Queen Elizabeth._--After her came Queen Elizabeth, called the "Virgin Queen" by Protestants, because she never married. However, she was the reverse of a virgin. She declared herself a Catholic, but when the Pope was notified that she ascended the throne by hereditary rights and the will of the people, it appears he made use of some language to the effect that he did not see how she could claim the Crown of England by hereditary rights, as she was the daughter of Henry VIII with Anne Boleyn while his first wife was alive. Queen Elizabeth, fearing the influence of Rome might deprive her of the crown, at once declared herself a Protestant.

During her long reign, Catholic Ireland became her greatest slaughter field. Although in the Protestant Bible she is said to be the "bright occidental star," "of most happy memory," the truth is that she did not care much for any religion, but used Protestantism as the most favorable one to gain her ends. Bad as "Bloody Mary" was, her reign was a mild one when compared with "virgin" Elizabeth. England became worse in those days than Mexico of today. The instruments of torture in the Tower of London bear silent evidence of many dark crimes.

_Charles I Beheaded._--After this hateful Queen dying, James I, son of Mary, Queen of the Scots, came upon the throne. He was followed by King Charles I, whom over a question of a little tax, Cromwell beheaded and established the Commonwealth. Cromwell did not confine his butchery to England; he landed in Ireland, took Drogheda, killed women and children and put the priests to the sword; he caused both the real and personal estate of the people to be seized and had the lands parcelled up amongst his officers or "gamesters." These, together with some of Queen Elizabeth's followers, became Irish landlords and tyrants of the worst kind. The people who reclaimed, tilled, improved and erected buildings on those lands, could not understand how a foreigner who never tilled or improved one inch of land could claim ownership of everything which the farmer raised. For two hundred and fifty years, war has gone on between the landlords and the tillers of the soil. Today the descendants of ancient occupiers of the holdings are repossessing same and Cromwell landlords are disappearing.

_Cromwell._--When Cromwell died, England did not become a Republic, and again a king in the person of Charles II ascended the throne.