774
AN GAOḊAL.
THE OLD IRISH CHIEFTAINS.
The Os and the Macs.
(Col. J. A. O’Neill, Franklin. La.)
Read the histories of the civilized nations for the
iast three centuries and you will see their pages
adorned with the names of the Os and the Macs.
In their own country alone that the descendants
of these ancient heroes are suffered “to blush un¬
seen, and waste their sweetness on the desert air."
How many of the descendants of these kingly
tribes are scattered over the world to-day, forgot¬
ten and unknown? We hear of the English How¬
ards, Stanleys, Mores, etc.; of the American
Livingstons, Smiths, Astors, etc., as ancient re¬
spectable families, What are they compared with
the kingly Os and Macs of ancient Ireland? As a
mushroom of a night's growth is to the venerable,
commanding oak of the forest!
These thoughts have been freshly brought to
mind by the following item which appeared in the
St. Mary Herald a few weeks ago. —
The many friends of Mr. J. A. O’Neill will be glad
to learn that he has recently been commissioned
Aid-de-Camp on the staff of his Excellency the
Governor of the State of Louisiana, with the rank
of Colonel. We but express the opinion of the en¬
tire community when we say that such an honor
could not have been bestowed upon a worthier
gentleman, and the people of our parish, without
regard to party or faction, will be gratified with
the appointment.
The GAEL compliments Colonel O’Neill (who is
a staunch supporter of the GAEL, and of every oth¬
er movement tending to resuscitate the ancient au¬
tonomy of his tribe aud nation), on this high hon¬
or, and hopes he will live long to enjoy it.
THE GENITIVE CASE.
The Genitive Case in Irish corresponds to the
possessive case in English. Bourke, O'Donovan,
Molloy and Joyce are one on this subject. We
take it for granted, then, that no noun can, by any
subterfuge, be put in the genitive case, if possess¬
ion, procession or generation be not expressed or
implied therein, and that he who would try to con¬
vince common sense men to the contrary possesses
a good deal of “brass.” Take for instance the sen¬
tence, “I shall go to the man." There is no idea
of possession here implied or expressed. Yet some
of our “brassy” writers would place “man” in the
genitive case, thus — Racfaiḋ mé ċum
an ḟir. The proper form is, Racfaiḋ
mé go d-tí an fear, or, Racfaiḋ mé aig
an ḃ fear.
Were the express on, I shall go toward the man,
or, in the man's direction, then ċum an
ḟir, would be proper. The fact is that
the word "ċum" governs the genitive
only when there is a genitive case to be governed.
Take the conjugation that in English. Every
school boy knows that that is not always a con¬
junction, that it is sometimes a relative as well as a
demonstrative pronoun. So with ċum
as well as various other words, in both languages —
now a certain part of speech, again, another, etc.
If ċum be employed when there is no
genitive or possessive to be governed, it cannot
change the construction. Learners should bear
this in mind. When ċum means “to,"
etc., it cannot govern the genitive case. So
wrote Archbishop McHale, Canon Bourke, Father
O’Sullivan, etc., and it seems to us that their au¬
thority is worth something.
When certain “brassy” writers are crossed in
their peculiar ideas, they would move heaven and
earth to gain their point, whether right or wrong.
Those "brassies" have been repeatedly instructed,
but instruction seems to be thrown away on them.
THE MILESIAN DYNASTY.
The Monarchs of Ireland of the Milesian line, from
the Landing of the Milesian Colony in That
Country, 1700 Years Before the Christian
Era, Down to the Anglo Norman Invasion in
the 12th Century, and the Year in Which
Each Began to Reign.
Before Christ.
1 Heber and Heremon began to reign
jointly.
A. M. 3501, or 1699
2 Heremon, sole monarch
﻿1698
3 Muimhne, “Muiv-ne,"
4 Luighne, “Luigh-ne,'
5 Laigne, "Lain-ne,"
3 brothers,
1683
6 Er,
7 Orba,
8 Fearann,
9 Feargna,
4 brothers,
1680
10 Irial Faidh,
1680
11 Ethrial, “Ethreeal,"
1670
12 Coumeal,
1650
13 Tighernmas, “Teeranmus,“
1620
14 Eochaidh, 1. Ead-dhatch. "Eohy Eady-
ahach."
1536
15 Cearmna, "Kearam-na,"
16 Sobairce, “Sowairkey,"
brothers
1532
17 Eochaidh, 2. Faobharghlas, "Fohy
Fhayarylas."
1492
18 Fhachaidh, 1. Labhrainne, "Lawreena"
1472
19 Eochaidh, 3. Mumha, "Eohy Moo-a,"
1448
20 Aongus 1, Oll-mhucaidh, “Oil-wakee.
1427
21 Eanna 1, Airgtheach. "Ay-na Airrig-hach"
1409
22 Rothacthach 1, "Rohachtach"
1382
23 Seadna, 1, “Shean-na,"
1357
24 Fiachaidh 2, Fionn-Scothach "Fiacha
Fewan Skohach,"
1352
25 Muineamhon, “Muin-neawon"
1332
26 Fai heargoid, "Fawilyearagowid"
1327
27 Eochaidh 4, "Eohy" commonly called
“Ollamh Fodla,“ “Ollav Fow la,"
1317
28 Fianachta
1277
29 Slanoll,
1257
30 Gedhi Oll ghuthach “Gay-ee Ollyuhac"
1240
31 Fiachaidh 3 "Flacha,"
1228
32 Bearngal, “Barrangal"
1203
33 Oilioll,
1196
(To be continued.)
Let every man push the Gael. Man¬
y hands make light work,
