AN GAODHAL
51
SEANMHÓIR GHAODHALGE.
Leis an Athair Urramach P. I. Ua Cui¬
nibh i d-Teampull Naoimh Alphonsuis,
Eobhrach Nuadh, Oidh'l Pádruic, 1895.
(Leanta.)
Sin sompla de na sgiúrsaighibh a chuir
ar námhaid Sacsanach i bh-foirm le léigh¬
ean-sgrios a dheunadh ar fhoghluim & ar
mhaoin shaoghalta na n-Éireannach, ionn¬
us go reubfaidís ó n-a gcroidhtibh gach
beusa & gach mhian & gach mheas a chong¬
bhóchadh iad dílis do'n g-creideamh bean¬
nuighthe sin a chuir Naomh Pádhruic ar
bun.
An treas dlighe sgiúrsach a airighim
dhaoibh, a chríosduighthe, bhí sé mar chathugh¬
adh ar aos óg na h-Éireann iompógh an
aghaidh an fhómóir & an ghrádha a dlightear
do 'n athair & do 'n mháthair, & san da¬
ra h-áit bhí sé mar chathughadh orra iom¬
póg ó 'n g-creideamh fíor le bheith n-a b¬
Protestúnaibh. Cia 'n chuma ar chuir
an námhaid an cathughadh seo air aghaidh?
Mar seo: Bhí sé geallta do gach mac
nó ógánach dá n-iompóchadh sé chum a
bheith n a Phrotestún, nó dá n-iompóchadh
sé chum a bheith n-a spíodóir ar a athair
go bh-fuigheadh sé seilbh ar a eudáil & ar
a mhaoin. Budh chuma cia'n ghné no riocht
beusa a bhí aige; bídheadh sé in a mheisg¬
eoir, in a ghaduidhe, in a sgriosadóir,
nó in a dhrúiseoir dá n-iompóchadh sé
mar dúbhradh, d' fheudfadh sé a athair &
a mháthair a chur amach nó a bh-fágbháil
asthigh, mar shealbhadóraibh, ar a mhian.
Tugadh an cúmhachta ceudna sin do 'n
mhnaoi phósta anaghaidh a fir. Dá m-beidh¬
eadh sí cho fealltamhuil sin & go n-iom¬
póchadh sí le n-a beith in a Protestún
nó in a spíodóir anaghaidh a fir pósta,
nó anaghaidh a creidimh.
An uair i dhearcamuid ar mheud na
g-cathuighthe a chuir na diabhalóiridhe Sac¬
san ar bun le creideamh & cáiligheachd
a bhriseadh i g-croidhthibh na n-Éireannach,
is féidir linn a rádh go cinte gur b'iad
diabhail ifrinn do spriog na dlíghthe
maluighthe sin, & is dóigh liom nach bhfeud
fadh diabhail ifrinn féin cuibhreacha ar
Translation — We expect to finish
this lecture of Father Cuniffe's in the
next Gael. The reader never saw a
better piece of Galic composition, aye,
or a more patriotic one. Hence, we
have given it in instalments for the
benefit of students. All should pres¬
erve it. We have kept back num¬
bers for those whose copies may have
gone astray.
That is a sample of the scourging
which the English enemy formulated
to ruin the learning and worldly means
of Irishmen in order that they might
tear from their hearts every virtue and
every desire, and every respect which
would keep them true to that holy re¬
ligion which St. Patrick founded.
The third scourging law which I re¬
count to you, dear Christians, was as a
temptation to the youth of Ireland to
discard the love and respect which was
due to the father and mother; and in
the second place it was a temptation
to them to turn from the true religion
to become protestants. In what way
did the enemy promote this tempta¬
tion? In this way: It was promised
to every son or youth that if he turned
to be a protestant, or if he turned to be
an informer on his father, he would
get possession of his (his father's)
means and riches. It made no matter
what his character or manners were,
let him be a drunkard or thief, a dev¬
astator or a fornicator, if he turned, as
said, he could turn out his father and
mother or let them remain in possess¬
ion at his will. That same power was
given to the married woman against her
husband, if she were so false as to turn
protestant, or informer against her hus¬
band, or against religion.
When we view all the temptations
the diabolical Englishmen set on foot
to eradicate religion and virtue from
the hearts of Irishmen, we can surely
say that the devils of hell promp¬
ted these devilish laws, and it is my
opinion the devils of hell themselves
