773.
AN GAOḊAL.
or arrest by carrying his and or having it carried
around or over the person or place to be protected.
His wife also enjoyed certain other valuable privi¬
leges, and similar privileges were accorded to all
the degrees of the legal, historical, musical and
poetic art below him, according to their rank.
Similar rank and emoluments again were award¬
ed to the Seanchaidhe, (now pronounced nearly
"Shanchie" who was the Historian or Antiquarian,
and in his character of Reciter also the Story Tel¬
ler) or Historian: so that in this very brief refer¬
ence you will already obtain some idea of the hon¬
or and respect which were paid to the national lit¬
erature and traditions, in the persons of those who
were in ancient times looked on as their guardians
from age to age. And surely, by the Irishmen of
the present day, it ought to be felt an imperative
duty, which he owes to his country no less than
to himself, to learn something at least of her his¬
tory, her literature and her antiquities, and as far
as existing means allow, to ascertain for himself
what her position was in past times, when she had
a name and civilization, a law and a life of her
own.
In the present course of lectures, then, it will be
my duty to endeavour to lay before you an outline
of the Materials which still exist for the elucidation
of our National History. For, it may be truly said
that the history of ancient Erinn, as of modern
Ireland, is yet unwritten ; though as we shall see
in the progress of this course, most ample materials
still remain in the Gaedhlic or Irish language from
which that history may be constructed. (The an¬
cient Irish called themselves Gaeidhil (now pro¬
nounced nearly "Gaeil") and their language
Gaeidhlig (pronounced "Gaelic"). In modern
English the word "Gaelic" is applied only to that
branch of the race which forms the Celtic popula¬
tion of modern Scotland. But the word refers to
the true name of the entire race, and in these Lec¬
tures accordingly it is always used to designate the
Milesian population of ancient Erinn). Amongst
the large quantity of MS records which have
come down to our times, will be found examples
of the literature of very different periods in our
history. Some, as there is abundant evidence to
prove, possess a degree of antiquity very remark¬
able, indeed, when compared with the similar re¬
cords of other countries of modern Europe. Oth¬
ers again have been compiled within still recent
times. Those MSS. which we now posses be¬
longing to the earliest periods are themselves, we
have just reason to believe, either in great part or
in the whole, but transcripts of still more ancient
works.
(To be continued.)
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sent by return mail.
The following letter from Father Mulcahy will
be read with interest by our Gaelic friends. Were
any considerable number of the clergy like Father
Mulcahy, the language would soon be beyond the
power of decay. We hope our reders everywhere
will be on the look for those matters to which
the Reverend Father adverts.
Ballintoy, Co. Antrim, Ireland,
Dec. 14th, 1887.
Dear Mr. Logan —
I am again reminded by the near ap¬
proach of the great festival of Christmas not to
forget yourself and the many noble sons of Ireland
who are upholders of the "GAODHAL," and of the
Irish language and literature which it sustains,
and therefore wish you all a happy, happy Christ¬
mas, and benedictions galore on your efforts to
keep the "AN GAODAL" afloat over the highest
billows, and on the efforts of all your contributors,
who are in my estimation noble indeed, and many
of them are of the highest class in scholarly abil¬
ity, as can be seen in the pages of the GAODHAL.
I must candidly confess I did not think there
were so many advanced folk in Gaelic literature.
The time of Xmas here is reversed as the present
English rulers send us prison fare of diet by day,
and plank beds by way of change at night. But
like every English incubus and nightmare it will
soon pass away. "Fainne geal an lae," will be
sung again, and that in a short time.
What is the Irish for Patience?
Let me offer my best thanks to those who have
noticed my queries — especially Mr. M. Heffernan,
Louisville, Ky. His answer shows that there are
Gaelic words living in some localities which have
become obsolete in other places. My inquiry refers
only to what has been heard, not to what is in books
I have heard it said in this part — "I wish you
were at máire ní Yeórnan's," that is
at the farthest off house in Ireland. Another call¬
ed it Molly Yeorman's. What does it mean?
A blacksmith cuts off a small piece from a bar or
rod to square or straighten it sometimes. Now
what was the bit called which was cut off?
What was the term for a needle that had lost
the eye ?
When a person sneezes what is the usual ejac¬
ulation ?
What is "the man in the moon" called in Irish?
Those are a few fireside nuts I beg to send to
the GAEL.
Many of your writers could send like fireside
stories about their native townland and locality,
such as its saints, old burial places and names.
Holy wells, and other wells, loughs or lakes, cur¬
ious forts or caves and many other interesting
things in Irish or English or both.
Again, a prosperous Christmas and a happy New
Year to all.
D. B. Mulcahy, P. P.
