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A Popular History of Ireland: from the Earliest
Period to the Emancipation of the Catholics

by Thomas D'Arcy McGee

PUBLISHERS' PREFACE.

Ireland, lifting herself from the dust, drying her tears,
and proudly demanding her legitimate place among the
nations of the earth, is a spectacle to cause immense
progress in political philosophy.

Behold a nation whose fame had spread over all the earth
ere the flag of England had come into existence. For 500
years her life has been apparently extinguished. The
fiercest whirlwind of oppression that ever in the wrath
of God was poured upon the children of disobedience had
swept over her. She was an object of scorn and contempt
to her subjugator. Only at times were there any signs of
life--an occasional meteor flash that told of her olden
spirit--of her deathless race. Degraded and apathetic as
this nation of Helots was, it is not strange that political
philosophy, at all times too Sadducean in its principles,
should ask, with a sneer, "Could these dry bones live?"
The fulness of time has come, and with one gallant sunward
bound the "old land" comes forth into the political day
to teach these lessons, that Right must always conquer
Might in the end--that by a compensating principle in
the nature of things, Repression creates slowly, but
certainly, a force for its overthrow.

Had it been possible to kill the Irish Nation, it had
long since ceased to exist. But the transmitted qualities
of her glorious children, who were giants in intellect,
virtue, and arms for 1500 years before Alfred the Saxon
sent the youth of his country to Ireland in search of
knowledge with which to civilize his people,--the legends,
songs, and dim traditions of this glorious era, and the
irrepressible piety, sparkling wit, and dauntless courage
of her people, have at last brought her forth like.
Lazarus from the tomb. True, the garb of the prison or
the cerements of the grave may be hanging upon her,
but "loose her and let her go" is the wise policy of
those in whose hands are her present destinies.

A nation with such a strange history must have some great
work yet to do in the world. Except the Jews, no people
has so suffered without dying.

The History of Ireland is the most interesting of records,
and the least known. The Publishers of this edition of
D'Arcy McGee's excellent and impartial work take advantage
of the awakening interest in Irish literature to present
to the public a book of _high-class history_, as
cheap as _largely circulating romance_. A sale as
large as that of a popular romance is, therefore, necessary
to pay the speculation. That sale the Publishers expect.
Indeed, as truth is often stranger than fiction, so Irish
history is more romantic than romance. How Queen Scota
unfurled the Sacred Banner. How Brian and Malachy contended
for empire. How the "Pirate of the North" scourged the
Irish coast. The glories of Tara and the piety of Columba.
The cowardice of James and the courage of Sarsfield. How
Dathi, the fearless, sounded the Irish war-cry in far
Alpine passes, and how the Geraldine forayed Leinster.
The deeds of O'Neil and O'Donnell. The march of Cromwell,
the destroying angel. Ireland's sun sinking in dim eclipse.
The dark night of woe in Erin for a hundred years.
'83--'98--'48--'68. Ireland's sun rising in glory. Surely
the Youth of Ireland will find in their country's records
romance enough!

The English and Scotch are well read in the histories of
their country. The Irish are, unfortunately, not so; and
yet, what is English or Scottish history to compare with
Irish? Ireland was a land of saints and scholars when
Britons were painted savages. Wise and noble laws, based
upon the spirit of Christianity, were administered in
Erin, and valuable books were written ere the Britons
were as far advanced in civilization as the Blackfeet
Indians. In morals and intellect, in Christianity and
civilization, in arms, art, and science, Ireland shone
like a star among the nations when darkness enshrouded
the world. And she nobly sustained civilization and
religion by her missionaries and scholars. The libraries
and archives of Europe contain the records of their piety
and learning. Indeed the echoes have scarcely yet ceased
to sound upon our ears, of the mighty march of her armed
children over the war-fields of Europe, during that
terrible time when England's cruel law, intended to
destroy the spirit of a martial race, precipitated an
armed torrent of nearly 500,000 of the flower of the
Irish youth into foreign service. Irish steel glittered
in the front rank of the most desperate conflicts, and
more than once the ranks of England went down before "the
Exiles," in just punishment for her terrible penal code
which excluded the Irish soldier from his country's
service.

It was the Author's wish to educate his countrymen in
their national records. If by issuing a cheap edition
the present Publishers carry out to any extent that wish,
it will be to them a source of satisfaction.

It is impossible to conclude this Preface without an
expression of regret at the dark and terrible fate which
overtook the high-minded, patriotic, and distinguished
Irishman, Thomas D'Arcy McGee. He was a man who loved
his country well; and when the contemptible squabbles
and paltry dissensions of the present have passed away,
his name will be a hallowed memory, like that of Emmet
or Fitzgerald, to inspire men with high, ideals of
patriotism and devotion.

CAMERON & FERGUSON.

[Note: From 1857 until his death, McGee was active in
Canadian politics. A gifted speaker and strong supporter
of Confederation, he is regarded as one of Canada's
fathers of Confederation. On April 7, 1868, after
attending a late-night session in the House of Commons,
he was shot and killed as he returned to his rooming
house on Sparks Street in Ottawa. It is generally believed
that McGee was the victim of a Fenian plot. Patrick
James Whelan was convicted and hanged for the crime,
however the evidence implicating him was later seen to
be suspect.]

CONTENTS

BOOK I.

CHAPTER I.--The First Inhabitants

CHAPTER II.--The First Ages

CHAPTER III.--Christianity Preached at Tara--The Result

CHAPTER IV.--The Constitution, and how the Kings kept it

CHAPTER V.--Reign of Hugh II.--The Irish Colony in
Scotland obtains its Independence

CHAPTER VI.--Kings of the Seventh Century

CHAPTER VII.--Kings of the Eighth Century

CHAPTER VIII.--What the Irish Schools and Saints did in the
Three First Christian Centuries

BOOK II.

CHAPTER I.--The Danish Invasion

CHAPTER II.--Kings of the Ninth Century (Continued)--
Nial III.--Malachy I.--Hugh VII

CHAPTER III.--Reign of Flan "of the Shannon" (A.D. 879
to 916)

CHAPTER IV.--Kings of the Tenth Century--Nial IV.--
Donogh II.--Congal III.--Donald IV

CHAPTER V.--Reign of Malachy II. and Rivalry of Brian

CHAPTER VI.--Brian, Ard-Righ--Battle of Clontarf

CHAPTER VII.--Effects of the Rivalry of Brian and Malachy
on the Ancient Constitution

CHAPTER VIII.--Latter Days of the Northmen in Ireland

BOOK III.

CHAPTER I.--The Fortunes of the Family of Brian

CHAPTER II.--The Contest between the North and South--
Rise of the Family of O'Conor

CHAPTER III.--Thorlogh More O'Conor--Murkertach of
Aileach--Accession of Roderick O'Conor

CHAPTER IV.--State of Religion and Learning among the
Irish previous to the Anglo-Norman Invasion

CHAPTER V.--Social Condition of the Irish previous to
the Norman Invasion

CHAPTER VI.--Foreign Relations of the Irish previous to
the Anglo-Norman Invasion

BOOK IV.

CHAPTER I.--Dermid McMurrogh's Negotiations and Success--
The First Expedition of the Normans into
Ireland

CHAPTER II.--The Arms, Armour and Tactics of the Normans
and Irish

CHAPTER III.--The First Campaign of Earl Richard--Siege
of Dublin--Death of King Dermid McMurrogh

CHAPTER IV.--Second Campaign of Earl Richard--Henry II.
in Ireland

CHAPTER V.--From the Return of Henry II. to England
till the Death of Earl Richard and his
principal Companions

CHAPTER VI.--The Last Years of the Ard-Righ, Roderick
O'Conor

CHAPTER VII.--Assassination of Hugh de Lacy--John
"Lackland" in Ireland--Various Expeditions
of John de Courcy--Death of Conor Moinmoy,
and Rise of Cathal, "the Red-Handed"
O'Conor--Close of the Career of De Courcy
and De Burgh

CHAPTER VIII.--Events of the Thirteenth Century--The
Normans in Connaught

CHAPTER IX.--Events of the Thirteenth Century--The
Normans in Munster and Leinster

CHAPTER X.--Events of the Thirteenth Century--The
Normans in Meath and Ulster

CHAPTER XI.--Retrospect of the Norman Period in
Ireland--A Glance at the Military Tactics
of the Times--No Conquest of the Country
in the Thirteenth Century

CHAPTER XII.--State of Society and Learning in Ireland
during the Norman Period

BOOK V.

CHAPTER I.--The Rise of "the Red Earl"--Relations of
Ireland and Scotland

CHAPTER II.--The Northern Irish enter into Alliance with
King Robert Bruce--Arrival and First Campaign
of Edward Bruce

CHAPTER III.--Bruce's Second Campaign and Coronation at
Dundalk--The Rising in Connaught--Battle of
Athenry--Robert Bruce in Ireland

CHAPTER IV.--Battle of Faughard and Death of King Edward
Bruce--Consequences of his Invasion--
Extinction of the Earldom of Ulster--Irish
Opinion of Edward Bruce

BOOK VI.

CHAPTER I.--Civil War in England--Its Effects on the
Anglo-Irish--The Knights of St. John--
General Desire of the Anglo-Irish to
Naturalize themselves among the Native
Population--A Policy of Non-Intercourse
between the Races Resolved on in England

CHAPTER II.--Lionel, Duke of Clarence, Lord Lieutenant--
The Penal Code of Race--"The Statute of
Kilkenny," and some of its Consequences

CHAPTER III.--Art McMurrogh, Lord of Leinster--First
Expedition of Richard II. of England to
Ireland

CHAPTER IV.--Subsequent Proceedings of Richard II.--
Lieutenancy and Death of the Earl of March--
Second Expedition of Richard against Art
McMurrogh--Change of Dynasty in England

CHAPTER V.--Parties within "the Pale"--Battles of
Kilmainham and Killucan--Sir John Talbot's
Lord Lieutenancy

CHAPTER VI.--Acts of the Native Princes--Subdivision of
Tribes and Territories--Anglo-Irish Towns
under Native Protection--Attempt of
Thaddeus O'Brien, Prince of Thomond, to
Restore the Monarchy--Relations of the
Races in the Fifteenth Century

CHAPTER VII.--Continued Division and Decline of "the
English Interest"--Richard, Duke of York,
Lord Lieutenant--Civil War again in England--
Execution of the Earl of Desmond--
Ascendancy of the Kildare Geraldines

CHAPTER VIII.--The Age and Rule of Gerald, Eighth Earl of
Kildare--The Tide begins to turn for the
English Interest--The Yorkist Pretenders,
Simnel and Warbeck--Poyning's Parliament--
Battles of Knockdoe and Monabraher

CHAPTER IX.--State of Irish and Anglo--Irish Society
during the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Centuries

CHAPTER X.--State of Religion and Learning during the
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries

BOOK VII.

CHAPTER I.--Irish Policy of Henry the Eighth during
the Lifetime of Cardinal Wolsey

CHAPTER II.--The Insurrection of Silken Thomas--The
Geraldine League--Administration of Lord
Leonard Gray

CHAPTER III.--Sir Anthony St. Leger, Lord Deputy--
Negotiations of the Irish Chiefs with
James the Fifth of Scotland--First Attempts
to Introduce the Protestant Reformation--
Opposition of the Clergy--Parliament of
1541--The Protectors of the Clergy
Excluded--State of the Country--The Crowns
United-Henry the Eighth Proclaimed at
London and Dublin

CHAPTER IV.--Adhesion of O'Neil, O'Donnell, and O'Brien--
A new Anglo-Irish Peerage--New Relations
of Lord and Tenant--Bishops appointed by
the Crown--Retrospect

BOOK VIII.

CHAPTER I.--Events of the Reign of Edward Sixth

CHAPTER II.--Events of the Reign of Philip and Mary

CHAPTER III.--Accession of Queen Elizabeth--Parliament of
1560--The Act of Uniformity--Career and
Death of John O'Neil "the Proud"

CHAPTER IV.--Sir Henry Sidney's Deputyship--Parliament
of 1569--The Second "Geraldine League"--
Sir James Fitzmaurice

CHAPTER V.--The "Undertakers" in Ulster and Leinster--
Defeat and Death of Sir James Fitzmaurice

CHAPTER VI.--Sequel of the Second Geraldine League--
Plantation of Munster--Early Career of
Hugh O'Neil, Earl of Tyrone--Parliament
of 1585

CHAPTER VII.--Battle of Glenmalure--Sir John Perrott's
Administration--The Spanish Armada--
Lord Deputy Fitzwilliam--Escape of Hugh
Roe O'Donnell from Dublin Castle--
The Ulster Confederacy formed

CHAPTER VIII.--The Ulster Confederacy--Feagh Mac Hugh
O'Byrne--Campaign of 1595--Negotiations,
English and Spanish--Battle of the Yellow
Ford--Its Consequences

CHAPTER IX.--Essex's Campaign of 1599--Battle of the
Curlieu Mountains--O'Neil's Negotiations
with Spain--Mountjoy Lord Deputy

CHAPTER X.--Mountjoy's Administration--Operations in
Ulster and Munster--Carew's "Wit and
Cunning"--Landing of Spaniards in the
South--Battle of Kinsale--Death of O'Donnell
in Spain

CHAPTER XI.--The Conquest of Munster--Death of Elizabeth,
and Submission of O'Neil--"The Articles
of Mellifont"

CHAPTER XII.--State of Religion and Learning during the
Reign of Elizabeth

BOOK IX.

CHAPTER I.--James I.--Flight of the Earls--Confiscation
of Ulster--Penal Laws--Parliamentary Opposition

CHAPTER II.--Last years of James--Confiscation of the
Midland Counties--Accession of Charles I.--
Grievances and "Graces"--Administration of
Lord Strafford

CHAPTER III.--Lord Stafford's Impeachment and Execution--
Parliament of 1639-'41--The Insurrection of
1641--The Irish Abroad

CHAPTER IV.--The Insurrection of 1641

CHAPTER V.--The Catholic Confederation--Its Civil
Government and Military Establishment

CHAPTER VI.--The Confederate War--Campaign of 1643--
The Cessation

CHAPTER VII.--The Cessation and its Consequences

CHAPTER VIII.--Glamorgan's Treaty--The New Nuncio Rinuccini--
O'Neil's Position--The Battle of Benburb

CHAPTER IX.--From the Battle of Benburb till the Landing
of Cromwell at Dublin

CHAPTER X.--Cromwell's Campaign--1649-1650

CHAPTER XI.--Close of the Confederate War

CHAPTER XII.--Ireland under the Protectorate--
Administration of Henry Cromwell--
Death of Oliver

BOOK X.

CHAPTER I.--Reign of Charles II.

CHAPTER II.--Reign of Charles II. (Concluded)

CHAPTER III.--The State of Religion and Learning in
Ireland during the Seventeenth Century

CHAPTER IV.--Accession of James II.--Tyrconnell's
Administration

CHAPTER V.--King James to Ireland--Irish Parliament
of 1689

CHAPTER VI.--The Revolutionary War--Campaign of 1639--
Sieges of Derry and Enniskillen

CHAPTER VII.--The Revolutionary War--Campaign of 1690--
Battle of the Boyne--Its Consequences--
the Sieges of Athlone and Limerick

CHAPTER VIII.--The Winter of 1690-91

CHAPTER IX.--The Revolutionary War--Campaign of 1691--
Battle of Aughrim--Capitulation of Limerick

CHAPTER X.--Reign of King William

CHAPTER XI.--Reign of Queen Anne

CHAPTER XII.--The Irish Soldiers Abroad, during the Reigns
of William and Anne

BOOK XI.

CHAPTER I.--Accession of George I.--Swift's Leadership

CHAPTER II.--Reign of George II.--Growth of Public
Spirit--The "Patriot" Party--Lord
Chesterfield's Administration

CHAPTER III.--The Last Jacobite Movement--The Irish
Soldiers Abroad--French Expedition under
Thurot, or O'Farrell

CHAPTER IV.--Reign of George II. (Concluded)--
Malone's Leadership

CHAPTER V.--Accession of George III.--Flood's
Leadership--Octennial Parliaments
Established

CHAPTER VI.--Flood's Leadership--State of the Country
between 1760 and 1776

CHAPTER VII.--Grattan's Leadership--"Free Trade" and
the Volunteers

CHAPTER VIII.--Grattan's Leadership--Legislative and
Judicial Independence Established

CHAPTER IX.--The Era of Independence--First Period

CHAPTER X.--The Era of Independence--Second Period

CHAPTER XI.--The Era of Independence--Third Period--
Catholic Relief Bill of 1793

CHAPTER XII.--The Era of Independence--Effects of the
French Revolution in Ireland--Secession of
Grattan, Curran, and their Friends, from
Parliament, in 1797

CHAPTER XIII.--The United Irishmen

CHAPTER XIV.--Negotiations with France and Holland--
The Three Expeditions Negotiated by Tone
and Lewines

CHAPTER XV.--The Insurrection of 1798

CHAPTER XVI.--The Insurrection of 1798--The Wexford
Insurrection

CHAPTER XVII.--The Insurrection elsewhere--Fate of the
Leading United Irishmen

CHAPTER XVIII.--Administration of Lord Cornwallis--
Before the Union

CHAPTER XIX.--Last Session of the Irish Parliament--
The Legislative Union of Great Britain
and Ireland

BOOK XII.

CHAPTER I.--After the Union--Death of Lord Clare--
Robert Emmet's Emeute

CHAPTER II.--Administration of Lord Hardwick (1801 to
1806), and of the Duke of Bedford (1806
to 1808)

CHAPTER III.--Administration of the Duke of Richmond
(1807 to 1813)

CHAPTER IV.--O'Connell's Leadership--1813 to 1821

CHAPTER V.--Retrospect of the State of Religion and
Learning during the Reign of George III

CHAPTER VI.--The Irish Abroad, during the Reign of
George III

CHAPTER VII.--O'Connell's Leadership--The Catholic
Association--1821 to 1825

CHAPTER VIII.--O'Connell's Leadership--The Clare Election--
Emancipation of the Catholics

HISTORY OF IRELAND

BOOK I.

CHAPTER I.

THE FIRST INHABITANTS.

Ireland is situated in the North Atlantic, between the
degrees fifty-one and a half and fifty-five and a half
North, and five and a quarter and ten and a third West
longitude from Greenwich. It is the last land usually
seen by ships leaving the Old World, and the first by
those who arrive there from the Northern ports of America.
In size it is less than half as large as Britain, and in
shape it may be compared to one of those shields which
we see in coats-of-arms, the four Provinces--Ulster,
Connaught, Leinster, and Munster--representing the four
quarters of the shield.

Around the borders of the country, generally near the
coast, several ranges of hills and mountains rear their
crests, every Province having one or more such groups.
The West and South have, however, the largest and highest
of these hills, from the sides of all which descend
numerous rivers, flowing in various directions to the
sea. Other rivers issue out of large lakes formed in the
valleys, such as the Galway river which drains Lough
Corrib, and the Bann which carries off the surplus waters
of Lough Neagh (_Nay_). In a few districts where
the fall for water is insufficient, marshes and swamps
were long ago formed, of which the principal one occupies
nearly 240,000 acres in the very heart of the country.
It is called "the Bog of Alien," and, though quite useless
for farming purposes, still serves to supply the surrounding
district with fuel, nearly as well as coal mines do in
other countries.

In former times, Ireland was as well wooded as watered,
though hardly a tree of the primitive forest now remains.
One of the earliest names applied to it was "the wooded
Island," and the export of timber and staves, as well as
of the furs of wild animals, continued, until the beginning
of the seventeenth century, to be a thriving branch of
trade. But in a succession of civil and religious wars,
the axe and the torch have done their work of destruction,
so that the age of most of the wood now standing does
not date above two or three generations back.

Who were the first inhabitants of this Island, it is
impossible to say, but we know it was inhabited at a very
early period of the world's lifetime--probably as early
as the time when Solomon the Wise, sat in Jerusalem on
the throne of his father David. As we should not altogether
reject, though neither are we bound to believe, the wild
and uncertain traditions of which we have neither
documentary nor monumental evidence, we will glance over
rapidly what the old Bards and Story-tellers have handed
down to us concerning Ireland before it became Christian.

The _first_ story they tell is, that about three hundred
years after the Universal Deluge, Partholan, of the stock
of Japhet, sailed down the Mediterranean, "leaving Spain
on the right hand," and holding bravely on his course,
reached the shores of the wooded western Island. This
Partholan, they tell us, was a double parricide, having
killed his father and mother before leaving his native
country, for which horrible crimes, as the Bards very
morally conclude, his posterity were fated never to
possess the land. After a long interval, and when they
were greatly increased in numbers, they were cut off to
the last man, by a dreadful pestilence.

The story of the _second_ immigration is almost as vague
as that of the first. The leader this tune is called
Nemedh, and his route is described as leading from the
shores of the Black Sea, across what is now Russia in
Europe, to the Baltic Sea, and from the Baltic to Ireland.
He is said to have built two royal forts, and to have
"cleared twelve plains of wood" while in Ireland. He
and his posterity were constantly at war, with a terrible
race of Formorians, or Sea Kings, descendants of Ham,
who had fled from northern Africa to the western islands
for refuge from their enemies, the sons of Shem. At length
the Formorians prevailed, and the children of the second
immigration were either slain or driven into exile, from
which some of their posterity returned long afterwards,
and again disputed the country, under two different
denominations.

The _Firbolgs_ or Belgae are the _third_ immigration.
They were victorious under their chiefs, the five sons
of Dela, and divided the island into five portions. But
they lived in days when the earth--the known parts of it
at least--was being eagerly scrambled for by the overflowing
hosts of Asia, and they were not long left in undisputed
possession of so tempting a prize. Another expedition,
claiming descent from the common ancestor, Nemedh, arrived
to contest their supremacy. These last--the _fourth_
immigration--are depicted to us as accomplished soothsayers
and necromancers who came out of Greece. They could quell
storms; cure diseases; work in metals; foretell future
events; forge magical weapons; and raise the dead to
life; they are called the _Tuatha de Danans_, and by
their supernatural power, as well as by virtue of "the
Lia Fail," or fabled "stone of destiny," they subdued
their Belgic kinsmen, and exercised sovereignty over
them, till they in turn were displaced by the Gaelic, or
_fifth_ immigration.

This fifth and final colony called themselves alternately,
or at different periods of their history, _Gael_, from
one of their remote ancestors; _Milesians_, from the
immediate projector of their emigration; or _Scoti_, from
Scota, the mother of Milesius. They came from Spain
under the leadership of the sons of Milesius, whom they
had lost during their temporary sojourn in that country.
In vain the skilful _Tuatha_ surrounded themselves and
their coveted island with magic-made tempest and terrors;
in vain they reduced it in size so as to be almost
invisible from sea; Amergin, one of the sons of Milesius,
was a Druid skilled in all the arts of the east, and led
by his wise counsels, his brothers countermined the
magicians, and beat them at their own weapons. This
Amergin was, according to universal usage in ancient
times, at once Poet, Priest, and Prophet; yet when his
warlike brethren divided the island between them, they
left the Poet out of reckoning. He was finally drowned
in the waters of the river Avoca, which is probably the
reason why that river has been so suggestive of melody
and song ever since.