AN GAODHAL.
21
SEANMHÓIR GHAODHALGE.
Leis an Athair Urramach P. I. Ua Cui¬
nibh i d-Teampull Naoimh Alphonsuis,
Eobhrach Nuadh, Oidh'l Pádhruic, 1895.
(Leanta.)
Fuair an námhaid buaidh air feadh
tamaill, & bhí rún aca, ní shé 'mháin Éire
do chur faoi n-a smacht, acht a n-iodhal¬
adhradh féin do chur ar mhuintir na h-Éi¬
reann, & creideamh beannuighthe Naomh
Pádhruic do dhíbirt as an n-oileán go
deo. Ar feadh na m-bliadhan so bhí 'n
t-Éireannach & an Lochlannach fastuighthe
in a chéile i dtroid an bháis, & is minic i
bhí cré na h-Éireann 'gha deargadh leis
an bh-fuil do b'fheárr 'san tír.
An raibh na h-Éireanaighe cúmhachtach
go leor le buaidh d' fhághail ar an námh¬
aid Lochlannach, no a raibh sé i g-cumas
na ndaoineadh míofhorúnach sin a ruag¬
adh amach as an oileán glas? Bidhead¬
ar; acht má bhí, cia 'n fáth ná 'r ndeár¬
nadar é? Freagramaoid ar g-ceist
ag rádh go rabh an míofhorún tíoramhla
sin orra, an t-eidirdhealughadh a sgap a
neart le cathaibh beaga suaracha an
aghaidh a chéile, & a chongbhaidh iad ó n-a
d-teacht le chéile in n-dluth-bhuidhean a
thiománfadh na Lochlannuidhe ó n-a d-tír
go bráth.
Ghlac na Lochlannuidhe buntáiste ar
an stáid eidirdhealbhtha sin a bhí 'measg
buidhean na hÉireann, & chuir siad róm¬
pa an t-oileán a chur faoi chois anis no
go deo. Mar sin de, rinneadar conn¬
aadh le taoiseachaibh págánacha a gcinidh,
a bhí go h-an-chúmhachtach thré tuaischeart
na h-Éorpa ins an am sin, & d'a réir
sin, ní rabh rogha ag ag an námhaid acht
arm mór do thógáil chum an obair uath¬
bhásach sin do chuir i ngíomh.
Chonnairc Brian Boroimhe, a bhí 'san
am sinn árd-righ ar Éirinn, an sdoirm
a bhí a teacht; chonnairc sé an neul dor¬
cha, an cich uathbhásach a bhí le linn a bhris¬
teadh ós cionn na h-Éireann, & d' ull¬
mhaigh sé a bhuidhne do 'n g-comhrac fioch¬
mhar, chum go nglacfadh sé an Lochlann¬
ach ar bhárr a phíce. D' fhuagair sé air
Since issuing the first insstallment of Rev Father
Cuniffe's Saint Patrick's Day Lecture, many Irish-
speaking persons (who are not able to read Irish
thoroughly) expressed a wish to see a close English
translation of it in The Gael, as it would help
them to read the Irish thoroughly and, thereafter,
Gaelic matter generally We have complied. We
give the "close" translation of the present install¬
ment in this parallel column, and we shall give the
subsequent installments in the same form; the trans¬
lation of the first installment will also be given be¬
fore it is completed, so that the reader will have a
valuable piece of Gaelic oratory for his library.
The enemy got victory for a time, and it was their
intention, not only to bring Ireland under their
sway, but to force their own idolatry on the people
of Ireland, and to banish from the island for ever
Saint Patrick's holy faith. During these years
Irishmen and Scandinavians were in each other's
grip in deadly strife, and often the soil of Ireland
was reddened by the best blood of the country.
Were the Irish powerful enough to gain a victory
over the Scandinavian enemy, or was that unfortu¬
nate people powerful enough to hunt them out of
the Green Isle? They were ; but if they were why
did they not do it? We reply to our question say¬
ing, they had home misfortune — that division that
scattered their strengh by petty little wars among
themselves, which kept them from coming togeth¬
er in one united mass that would drive the Scandi¬
navins from their country for ever.
The Scandinavians took advantage of the divided
state which obtained amongst the Irish hosts [that
is, the Irish chieftains], and they determined to
place the island in subjection to them now and for
ever. Hence, they made a compact with the pagan
leaders of their tribe who were powerful in northern
Europe at that time, and, accordingly, the enemy
had no choice but to raise a large army to compass
that terrible work.
Brian Boromhe, who was then supreme monarch
of Ireland, saw the coming storm; he saw the dark
cloud — the awful tempest, which was about to
break over Ireland, and he prepared his hosts for
the fierce contest, in order to receive the Scandina¬
vians on the point of his pike. He called on the
princes of Ireland to array themselves under the
Green Flag of their country.
They came in mighty hosts to give battle to the
