Read the copy these stories were drawn from on the Internet Archive.
- 83
- stories drawn from it
- 83
- placed on the map
- 11
- counties: Kerry, Antrim, Cork and more
- 3,234
- words in the passages on this page
The stories, best first
page 2 of 2 · 83 in all
Each story keeps the passage it was read from. Open one to read the passage as the book has it, and, where the companion has written its own telling, that too.
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Faction fights at Ballinclare fairs
near Ballyclare · town · Antrim
The fairs of Ballinclare were noted for their faction fights. These fights were usually started by a hero follower of the Fitzgerald faction.
Read the passage
Faction Fights. — The fairs of Ballinclare were noted for their faction fights. The way these fights usually were started was a hero follower of the Fitz-
27
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 26
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Pilgrim offerings at Brandon Mountain holy wells
Brandon Mountain · mountain or mountain range · Kerry
Pilgrims visiting holy wells left rags, copper coins, and other valueless tokens behind when paying rounds at Brandon Mountain shrine and similar places. This was a widespread devotional practice in the district.
Read the passage
Holy Wells (See "His. Co. Kerry"— Corkaguiny). Pilgrims to holy wells leave rags, copper coins and other quite valueless tokens behind them in paying rounds, at Brandon Mountain shrine and other like places.
Horn Dance. — This peculiar dance was introduced into these parts by persons of foreign descent in gentlemen's houses, and it disappeared with them. In dancing, they wore horns and had bells on their feet.
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole
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Cromwell takes Drogheda
Drogheda · town · Louth · 1649
In 1649, Oliver Cromwell landed in Dublin and took Drogheda, putting priests and women to the sword. Pierce Ferriter held Kerry against the English for ten years, the last Catholic chieftain to resist Cromwell's forces.
Read the passage
Cromzvell. — Oliver Cromwell rebelled against King Charles I, beheaded the latter, and set up a Republic. In 1649, Cromwell landed in Dublin, took Drogheda,
25
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 24
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Tricks and fables told to Blarney Stone visitors
near Blarney · townland · Cork
Visitors to Blarney seeking to kiss the stone are told all sorts of tricks and fables. Feeble-looking visitors are directed to a broken stone on the ground said to have lost its virtue, while young and active ones are told they must hang upside down by the heels over the castle parapet.
Read the passage
If you will ever visit Blarney for the purpose of kissing the Blarney stone, you may be prepared for all sorts of tricks. The more earnest you appear about kissing it, the more fables you will be told about it. If a man is too feeble looking to climb, those in the Village of Blarney will most likely point out another broken stone lying on the ground belonging to the castle, telling him that a drunken blackguard dug it out of its place for carrying it away to make money by improving people's speech, and left it fall down and it was smashed, and then it lost its virtue.
If you are young and active, they will point out to you another stone about one hundred feet from the ground and tell you you must go up to the top of the castle and be held by the heels and leave your head and body hang downwards outside the parapet wall of the castle. Of course, you will say that is impossi-
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 34
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Bess Rice and Clara Hussey oppress tenants west of Dingle
Dingle · townland · Kerry
Bess Rice and Clara Hussey, Catholic landowners of the last century, held sway west of Dingle and caused extensive misery to their unfortunate tenants. The nature of their oppression was said to be their most fitting epitaph.
Read the passage
♦Bess Rice and Clara Hussey were Catholics and belonged to tbe last century. While they held sway to the west of Dingle they both caused so much misery to their unfortunate tenants that the tears which fell from mothers, wives, children and husbands would, I am told, water those ladies' whole properties. The way in which they oppressed their victims would, it appears, be their most fitting epitaph.
39
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 37
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Castlegregory rebels against landlord marriage approval system
Castlegregory · town · Kerry
Tenant farmers were required to obtain landlord or agent approval for their children's marriages, and custom demanded hat-lifting when landlords passed by. Castlegregory was among the first places the author noticed rebelling against this system, which declined with the Land League.
Read the passage
Landlords or Their Land Agents' Approval Necessary to Marriages.. — Within my personal recollection in this part of the country tenant-farmers had to go to the landlords or their agents or secretaries and get their landlord's approval of their sons' and daughters' marriages. If a farmer's son got married and the landlord or his agent was not consulted in his case, he would have to canvass for great influence when it would be time for him to become tenant, and even then he would stand great danger of never being accepted. The parents of the parties to be married would pretend to their landlord's agents that, owing to the holding being small or the quality of the land bad, they received a very small fortune. Castle Gregory was about the first place which I noticed to rebel against the system. Whenever a landlord, his agent or secretary passed by, the custom was to lift the hat off the head. Tenant farmers or any member
37
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 35
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McCarthy's Blarney Castle delaying tactics and origin of 'Blarney'
near Blarney · townland · Cork
McCarthy borrowed time by putting off the Lord President with fair promises and false pretexts while quietly strengthening his castle, until reinforced by the Spaniards. The Lord President's gullibility gave rise to the phrase 'He got Blarney,' making him the laughing stock of English, Irish, and Spaniards.
Read the passage
informing them that he "got Blarney" from McCarthy without much trouble. McCarthy, who was only borrowing time and quietly strengthening his castle, then set about and with fair promises and false pretext day by day put off the Lord President until he was reinforced by the Spaniards. Even then the Lord President was firmly assuring his countrymen that he "got Blarney" for them.
However, when the English found that instead of the Lord President having Blarney Castle he had nothing but McCarthy's honey and flattering speeches and they then had a hard fight before them, the Lord President became the laughing stock of both English, Irish and Spaniards, who mockingly would say of him, "He got Blarney."
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 34
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Cattle Fair moved from Goat Street to old Brewery on Spa Road
Dingle · townland · Kerry · 1891–1893
The Cattle Fair, which had been re-established in Goat Street by the National League, was carried back to the old Brewery on the Spa Road amid the turmoil of the Parnellite split in Dingle.
Read the passage
O'Sullivan, did the utmost in his power to force the electors to vote for Sir Thomas G. Esmond, Anti- Parnelhte, and against Edward Harrington, M. P. In this spHt a very fine brass band belonging to the Dingle Temperance Society was broken up and destroyed because it was to play at an Anti-Parnellite meeting, contrary to the wishes of the Parnellite members who were refused permission to take the band to one of Parnell's meetings. The Cattle Fair, re-established in Goat Street by the National League, was carried back to the old Brewery on the Spa Road. Lord Ventry was back again as Chairman of the Dingle Poor Law Board. It was a bad split for Ireland. Sir Thomas G. Esmond was declared elected, but as clerical intimidation was too fierce the result was more an unnecessary display of priestly power than a true representation of the choice of a free people.
Peelers. — This was the name given by the common people, in the Irish language, to the police force, because they were appointed in pursuance of the Peace Preservation Act of 1814, of which Sir Robert Peel was the proposer. In after years a like law was applied to England, and the English, to be different from the Irish, nicknamed their police "Bobbies," for Robert.
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 43
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Counselor Hussey of Farnakilla and the Blarney Stone
near Blarney · townland · Cork
A saying holds that Counselor Hussey of Farnakilla, known as the 'Silver Tongue' of Kerry, kissed the Blarney stone in Blarney Castle, County Cork, thereby securing his sweet, fluent speech. He is not the only person in the area said to have kissed it.
Read the passage
Kissing the Blarney Stone by the Silver Tongue of Kerry and Others. — There is a saying among some people that Counselor Hussey of Farnakilla, known as the "Silver Tongue" of Kerry, kissed the Blarney stone in Blarney Castle, County Cork, and thereby secured his sweet, fluent, silver-tongued speech. He is not the only person hereabouts who is said to have
34
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 33
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Dingle Temperance Society brass band destroyed in Parnellite split
Dingle · townland · Kerry · 1891–1893
During the Parnellite split, a fine brass band belonging to the Dingle Temperance Society was broken up and destroyed because it was to play at an Anti-Parnellite meeting against the wishes of Parnellite members.
Read the passage
O'Sullivan, did the utmost in his power to force the electors to vote for Sir Thomas G. Esmond, Anti- Parnelhte, and against Edward Harrington, M. P. In this spHt a very fine brass band belonging to the Dingle Temperance Society was broken up and destroyed because it was to play at an Anti-Parnellite meeting, contrary to the wishes of the Parnellite members who were refused permission to take the band to one of Parnell's meetings. The Cattle Fair, re-established in Goat Street by the National League, was carried back to the old Brewery on the Spa Road. Lord Ventry was back again as Chairman of the Dingle Poor Law Board. It was a bad split for Ireland. Sir Thomas G. Esmond was declared elected, but as clerical intimidation was too fierce the result was more an unnecessary display of priestly power than a true representation of the choice of a free people.
Peelers. — This was the name given by the common people, in the Irish language, to the police force, because they were appointed in pursuance of the Peace Preservation Act of 1814, of which Sir Robert Peel was the proposer. In after years a like law was applied to England, and the English, to be different from the Irish, nicknamed their police "Bobbies," for Robert.
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 43
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Lord Ventry restored as Chairman of Dingle Poor Law Board
Dingle · townland · Kerry · 1891–1893
Amid the Parnellite split, Lord Ventry was restored as Chairman of the Dingle Poor Law Board. The author judged the overall split to have been bad for Ireland.
Read the passage
O'Sullivan, did the utmost in his power to force the electors to vote for Sir Thomas G. Esmond, Anti- Parnelhte, and against Edward Harrington, M. P. In this spHt a very fine brass band belonging to the Dingle Temperance Society was broken up and destroyed because it was to play at an Anti-Parnellite meeting, contrary to the wishes of the Parnellite members who were refused permission to take the band to one of Parnell's meetings. The Cattle Fair, re-established in Goat Street by the National League, was carried back to the old Brewery on the Spa Road. Lord Ventry was back again as Chairman of the Dingle Poor Law Board. It was a bad split for Ireland. Sir Thomas G. Esmond was declared elected, but as clerical intimidation was too fierce the result was more an unnecessary display of priestly power than a true representation of the choice of a free people.
Peelers. — This was the name given by the common people, in the Irish language, to the police force, because they were appointed in pursuance of the Peace Preservation Act of 1814, of which Sir Robert Peel was the proposer. In after years a like law was applied to England, and the English, to be different from the Irish, nicknamed their police "Bobbies," for Robert.
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 43
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Military killing of civilians in Dingle
Dingle · townland · Kerry
A fierce encounter between soldiers and civilians took place in upper Main Street and Goat Street, Dingle, resulting in the deaths of several people. The author regretted having forgotten his grandmother's full account of the date, loss of life, and circumstances.
Read the passage
La Varaha na Feir, or The Killing of People in Dingle by the Military. — It appears a fierce encounter took place between soldiers and civilians in upper Main Street and Goat Street, Dingle, resulting in the killing of several persons. I regret I have forgotten grandmother's story in which was given the date, loss of life and circumstances that led to it.
Lieth Broath, or Ouirn. — This is a kind of hand millstone for grinding corn which formerly could be found in almost every house in the barony, but at present has almost entirely disappeared.
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 36
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Molly McGuires secret society formed in Farney, Monaghan
Farney · barony · Monaghan · 1833–1856
A secret society called the Molly McGuires was formed around 1833 in the Barony of Farney, County Monaghan, to co-operate with the Ribbon-Men and resist the distraining of cattle for rent. Tenants were often forced to pay multiple times for the same ground when their immediate lessor failed to pay landlords above them.
Read the passage
Molly McGuires. — This name was given to three secret societies The first was an Irish secret society, formed in or about the year 1833, in the Barony of Farney Co., Monogham, Ireland, to co-operate witli the Ribbon-Men, and was called after C. McGuire, a leader in the Irish wars of 1641. The object of thi^ society was to resist the distraining of cattle for rent, then common with landlords and middlemen. At that time very often a poor tenant had to pay five or six times for the same piece of ground, for which he had already paid his immediate lessor, because the immediate lessor, or landlord failed to pay one of the middlemen or landlords over him. (See Middlemen.) Distraining a tenant's cattle, impounding them, and
♦Bess Rice and Clara Hussey were Catholics and belonged to tbe last century. While they held sway to the west of Dingle they both caused so much misery to their unfortunate tenants that the tears which fell from mothers, wives, children and husbands would, I am told, water those ladies' whole properties. The way in which they oppressed their victims would, it appears, be their most fitting epitaph.
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 37
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Ogham pillar stones numerous in Corkaguiny
Corkaguiny · barony · Kerry
Ancient Ogham writings—marks and lines cut into upright pillar and monumental stones—are said to be very numerous in Corkaguiny. The term Ogham was first applied to the sacred writings of the Druids.
Read the passage
Ogham Characters. — These are a species of ancient Irish writings, marks and lines cut into upright pillar and monumental stones which are very numerous in Corkaguiny. It is said that the term Ogham was first applied to the sacred writings of our Druids.
Orangemen. — These are foreign Irishmen espousing the cause of William of Orange, who on the 1st of July, 1690, defeated dirty King James of England at the Battle of the Boyne. About the year 1795 Orangemen began to organize. Their first oaths and declarations were that they would never rest satisfied until they would be victoriously knee-deep in Papist blood, i. e., Catholic blood. In surpressing Irish societies, administering those oaths were also forbidden, and in 1857 the Lord Chancellor ordered that justices of the peace should not be members of Orange clubs. Orangemen in their 12th of July celebrations wrecked Catholic churches and police of the Orange type in our locality often celebrated the 12th of July by assaulting civilians, afterwards arresting them.
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 41
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Parnell and Davitt at monster meeting in Westport
Westport · town · Mayo · 1879
Following the founding of the Land League, Parnell and Davitt appeared together at a monster meeting held at West Port on 8 June 1879, rallying support for the new organization aimed at abolishing landlordism.
Read the passage
Land League and Irish National League. — On the 28th of April, 1879, the Land League was founded in Irishtown, West Mayo, by the late Michael Davitt. The object of this League was to abolish landlordism and make tenant farmers owners of their own holdings. Charles Stewart Parnell was placed at the head of this new organization, and on the 8th of June, Parnell and Davitt appeared at a monster meeting held at West Port. The Land League was suppressed by the Coercion Act, but the spirit was untouched. The name was changed to the Irish-National-League and Parnell chosen as its president. The Land League succeeded in its object.
Landlords or Their Land Agents' Approval Necessary to Marriages.. — Within my personal recollection in this part of the country tenant-farmers had to go to the landlords or their agents or secretaries and get their landlord's approval of their sons' and daughters' marriages. If a farmer's son got married and the landlord or his agent was not consulted in his case, he would have to canvass for great influence when it would be time for him to become tenant, and even then he would stand great danger of never being accepted. The parents of the parties to be married would pretend to their landlord's agents that, owing to the holding being small or the quality of the land bad, they received a very small fortune. Castle Gregory was about the first place which I noticed to rebel against the system. Whenever a landlord, his agent or secretary passed by, the custom was to lift the hat off the head. Tenant farmers or any member
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 35
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Parnell meeting at the Square, Tralee
Tralee · townland · Kerry
Edward Harrington, M.P. for West Kerry, addressed a political meeting held by Parnell in the Square at Tralee, declaring loyalty to Parnell ('no Chief but Charlie') and demanding full Home Rule.
Read the passage
♦Edward Harrington, M. P. for West Kerry, addressing a meeting held by Parnell in the Square Tralee, said: "We will have no half measures of Home Rule, and we will have no Chief but Charlie."
tWhen Jamisoa raid'ed South Africa the Boers did not shoot him, although his crime was the most serious one. Yet the English Government under Premier Asquith had James Connelly, a wounded, dying soldier, propped up against the wall because he was not able to stand on his limbs and shot dead.
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 51
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Primrose League meetings held at the Grove, Dingle
Dingle · townland · Kerry · 1883
Meetings of the Primrose League—a league of landlords, their ladies and followers—were held at the Grove in Dingle and other places in the barony, attended by the 'Shoneen' class.
Read the passage
Primrose League. — This is a kind of a league of landlords, their ladies and followers, putting forward three principles, viz. : Maintenance of religion, estates of the realm and imperial ascendency. It was founded in England in 1883. Meetings of the Primrose League were held in the Grove, Dingle, and many other places in the barony, which were attended by the "Shoneen" class. On the anniversary of the death of Lord Ba-
46
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 44
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Public pilgrimage to Brandon Mountain, 1868
Brandon Mountain · mountain or mountain range · Kerry · 1868
On Sunday, 28 June 1868, a public pilgrimage took place to the peak of Brandon Mountain, presided over by Dr. Moriarty, the Catholic Bishop of Kerry. Approximately twenty thousand people attended the religious services at the mountain peak.
Read the passage
Public Pilgrimage to Brandon Mountain. — This took place on Sunday, the 28th of June, 1868. The religious services at the mountain peak were presided over by Dr. Moriarty, the Catholic Bishop of Kerry. About twenty thousand persons attended.
(See Hist. Co. Kerry, Chapter V, page 39.)
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 46
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Captain Moonlight raids in Kerry, 1878
Kerry · county · Kerry · 1878
In 1878 an unknown leader in Kerry assumed the name 'Captain Moonlight' and wrote threatening letters with diagrams of a coffin, skull-bones and a rifle. Small armed, disguised bands raided houses of land grabbers and bad agents by night, partly in response to Coercion Acts that prohibited meetings and redress of grievances.
Read the passage
Moonlighting. — In 1878 this name was assumed by an unknown leader in this county (Kerry), who wrote threatening letters containing a diagram of a coffin, skull-bones and a rifle. He signed himself ''Captain Moonlight." Small bands of men, secretly armed and disguised, went by night and raided the houses of land grabbers, emergency men and bad land agents. Gladstone and Foster's Coercion Acts, prohibiting the holding of meetings or allowing the people any means whatsoever of seeking a redress of their grievances forced this regrettable but necessary evil. In some cases in those moonlighting raids lives were taken, and to satisfy the Government and the ascendency class many innocent persons were hanged and others sent to penal servitude. The police and landlord under-strappers manufactured many crimes for which moonlighters and land leaguers were wrongly blamed and punished."^
National School Teachers Slapping Their Pupils for Speaking Irish. — The movement for the preservation and revival of the Irish language put a stop to the National school teachers' habit of beating their pupils for speaking their native language.
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 40
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House-League fixes fair rents in Castlegregory
Castlegregory · town · Kerry · 1886
The House League was introduced around 1886 to check house owners from charging exorbitant rents. In Castlegregory, the League fixed fair rents and compelled owners to give clear receipts, though the League was never popular and courts ultimately held the receipts invalid.
Read the passage
House-League. — This league was introduced into those parts in 1886, through the Irish National League. The object of the House League was to check the owners of houses from charging exorbitant rents to the occupants. In Dingle, Castlegregory, and other places, the League fixed "fair rents" and compelled the owners to give clear receipts, on payment of the new rents. For various reasons, the House League was never popular. As intimidation was practiced by the House League upon the owners of houses, the law courts held the receipts given invalid, and the old rents were recovered.
Influenza. — This is one of the most contagious diseases known, and far more dangerous than most people believe. Its last serious appearance amongst the people was in 1889-90. Every time it started from China and traveled the world quicker than any other
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 31
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Hunting with half-starved hounds on the peninsula
Corkaguiny · barony · Kerry
Hunting was formerly carried on extensively in the peninsula, with packs of half-starved hounds kept by middlemen. Every Sunday during hunting season the mountains and valleys resounded with their yells, but with the disappearance of the middlemen class the hounds largely vanished.
Read the passage
Kennels and Hunting. — Formerly hunting was very much carried on in the peninsula. Every Sunday during the hunting season the sides of our mountains and valleys resounded with the yells of packs of halfstarved bagles kept by middlemen. With the disappearance of the latter class, the bagles also followed, save a few exceptions.
Kerry Bonds. — Persons who were unable to pay their tithes in full when demanded and overdue, gave a bond bearing interest. The system appears to be peculiar to the promontories of Kerry for some time, but finally became extinct. Many of these bonds were given for tithes illegally levied.
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 32
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Land League founded at Irishtown, West Mayo
Irishtown · population centre · Mayo · 1879
The Land League was founded on 28 April 1879 in Irishtown, West Mayo, by Michael Davitt. Its object was to abolish landlordism and make tenant farmers owners of their own holdings, with Charles Stewart Parnell placed at its head.
Read the passage
Land League and Irish National League. — On the 28th of April, 1879, the Land League was founded in Irishtown, West Mayo, by the late Michael Davitt. The object of this League was to abolish landlordism and make tenant farmers owners of their own holdings. Charles Stewart Parnell was placed at the head of this new organization, and on the 8th of June, Parnell and Davitt appeared at a monster meeting held at West Port. The Land League was suppressed by the Coercion Act, but the spirit was untouched. The name was changed to the Irish-National-League and Parnell chosen as its president. The Land League succeeded in its object.
Landlords or Their Land Agents' Approval Necessary to Marriages.. — Within my personal recollection in this part of the country tenant-farmers had to go to the landlords or their agents or secretaries and get their landlord's approval of their sons' and daughters' marriages. If a farmer's son got married and the landlord or his agent was not consulted in his case, he would have to canvass for great influence when it would be time for him to become tenant, and even then he would stand great danger of never being accepted. The parents of the parties to be married would pretend to their landlord's agents that, owing to the holding being small or the quality of the land bad, they received a very small fortune. Castle Gregory was about the first place which I noticed to rebel against the system. Whenever a landlord, his agent or secretary passed by, the custom was to lift the hat off the head. Tenant farmers or any member
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 35
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Lieth Broath quern stones formerly common in Corkaguiny
Corkaguiny · barony · Kerry
Hand millstones for grinding corn, known as Lieth Broath or querns, were formerly found in almost every house in the barony of Corkaguiny. By the time of writing they had almost entirely disappeared.
Read the passage
Lieth Broath, or Ouirn. — This is a kind of hand millstone for grinding corn which formerly could be found in almost every house in the barony, but at present has almost entirely disappeared.
Middlemen and the Conacre System. — Middlemen were landlords between the head landlords and the cultivators. Head landlords with large properties, wishing to live away in some other country, divided their properties and let them to persons called "middlemen." The middleman divided his portion and sublet the same at about treble the rent he was paying his head landlord. A third middleman would parcel his up into small divisions and sublet at an enormous profit. With a string of middlemen between the head landlord and the cultivator, an acre let by the head landlord to his immediate lessor for five shillings per acre might cost the cultivator five pounds. But that was not the worst. Very often a man was required to pay two or three times for the same patch of ground — even the man paying for his little ''hundred" of ground had sometimes to pay twice for his little patch of potatoes — because two men would be claiming title to the land. Then there was the usual staff of office
Internet Archive irishhistoricala00fole, Chapter 36
This book is in the public domain; how the books' rights are judged. The passages are quoted as the scan has them, spelling and all; a story's place is the gazetteer's best reading of the text and can be wrong.