The Burren and Beyond

Western People 14th October, 1911 p.9 (abridged)

Eileen-a-Riún (Eileen O secret)
The song Eileen a Riún was written in 1380. Eileen Kavanagh of Polmonty Castle, County Wexford, was the loved one. The lover was Carrol O’Daly, the chief composer of Ireland at the time and Ollave of Corcomroe. Although so distinguished, O’Daly was not like by Eileen’s parents, who forbade him to enter Polmonty Castle, or to speak with her. They engaged her to wed another but on the wedding day, when all was ready, an aged harper entered and craved the privilege of singing a song he had composed in honour of the bride. This was granted. The ‘old harper’ was O’Daly, and when he sang Eileen recognised his voice. Feigning an excuse to speak with the minstrel, she stole away with him and they married.

The song also defied the Statues of Kilkenny. Passed in 1367, these laws made it a penal offence for anyone to receive or entertain Irish bards, harpers, minstrels or rhymers. Many Irish families continued giving their patronage whenever they safely could. Henry VI (1421-1471)  gave an order that all Irish poets and musicians should be imprisoned and this order remained in force for nearly two centuries.

Southern Australian 30th June 1843 p.4

On 13th ult. a party of six attacked and hurt a man named H___,
at Loughrea, in the night. Their object was supposed to be the abduction of his daughter, but she went down with a scythe, which she used so effectually that the ruffians were put to flight.

After the Treaty of Limerick in 1691 20,000 Irish soldiers went to France with Patrick Sarsfield. A force of 5,000 had already gone there under the command of Justin McCarthy, Lord Mountcashel.  These soldiers formed the “Irish Brigade,” which, for the next hundred years took a leading role in every battle fought by the French army.  The Irish Government tried to stop young men enlisting as France was often at war with England, but every year, thousands were smuggled abroad in vessels sailing to French ports.  Ship Captains described these unauthorised passengers as “Wild Geese” in the ship’s books.

The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser 20th March, 1847 p.4

(abridged)
On Monday, as the Misses Crow, of Derriwillian, were returning from the sea-shore, to their lodge at Curranrue, they heard a shriek and, on turning, saw a little boy running towards them, exclaiming that his brother was drowning in the sea. Both young ladies hastened to the spot and arrived as the youth made his appearance a second time on the surface of the water. In a moment he was down again, and Miss Crow, throwing away her cloak and bonnet, rushed into the water to save him. The place being very steep, before she was able to reach him she got beyond her depth, and down she went also.
Miss Lucy Crow, seeing her sister in such imminent danger, plunged to her rescue.  She had not proceeded many yards when she found she could not go further without placing herself in the same perilous position and that then all would be lost.
In agonising suspense she stretched forth her hand to save her sister and the boy. Alas! it was useless; they were too far asunder.  Down her sister went again, overpowered by the weight of the little boy who was entangled with the grasp of the dying in her hair and neck.
But as if Providence would have it,  the force of the waves carried them on to a rock in the water.  Resting her foot upon it, the brave Miss Crow reached forward to meet the outstretched arm of her intrepid sister.  She eventually succeeded in bringing herself and her young charge in safety to the shore.

One is at a loss which to admire, the intrepid bravery of the one or the judgment and presence of mind of the other of these young ladies. On returning to Derriwillin they will carry with them the blessings of the parents and friends of the youth whose life they thus, at the risk of their own, providentially saved. Galway Mercury
(What a beautiful subject for the poet and the painter).