Sullivan Forgotten Facts of Irish History

1. Auflage 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5439-8992-2
Verlag: BookBaby
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 184 Seiten

The Forgotten Forgotten Facts of Irish History' captures the essence and spirit of the six century long quest by the brave and selfless Irish patriots to secure Ireland's independence. This fight for freedom is known as 'The Cause'. The work flows easily from Ireland's first settlers, the Milicans, through the brutal English occupation, and ending with Irish independence, and the tragedy that was the Irish Civil War. Often history is not lost, perhaps just forgotten. So has been the case with some of the history of Ireland. The author, Thomas 'Tom' Sullivan, provides the reader with vivid and graphic descriptions and insights of the bloody battles and major events. This includes the early 20th Century final fight for Irish independence which are based on his first hand accounts as a young soldier fighting for The Cause. The author's manuscript was his life's work. He wanted to ensure future generations in Ireland will never forget the centuries of sacrifices made by brave Irish patriots to provide Ireland with the freedoms the nation and its people now enjoy. 'The Forgotten Facts of Irish History', completed by the author seven decades ago, was never published. It is now available to anyone interested in a unique insight into Irish history as told and lived by a young soldier for The Cause, Tom Sullivan, himself!

Autoren/Hrsg.

Sullivan, Thomas

Leseproben

C H A P T E R . 1

Before the Occupation

It is a known fact that during the third and fourth centuries kidnapping of young boys in Europe was an everyday occurrence. Saint Patrick and several other boys were shipped to Ireland as slaves. Saint Patrick was born in Gaul in France. He was about twelve years old when he was sold to a farmer in the township of Down Patrick.

Saint Patrick was raised as a Catholic. The Irish of that time were pagans and idolaters and had been for hundreds of years. Saint Patrick believed he could convert the heathen Irish to Christianity. He spent the days praying for a chance to escape slavery. Finally, his prayers were heard when he was approached by a stranger who led him to the seashore.

Saint Patrick finally made his way to France and contacted a bishop to whom he revealed his mission. He was advised to go to Rome. After his exhaustive studies he was ordained a priest. After his ordination he contacted the pope and informed him of his mission to convert the pagan Irish to Christianity. The pope gave his consent but advised him that it was a very dangerous mission. Saint Patrick returned to the land where he was once a slave and proceeded in the conversion of the Irish. Although his life was threatened at several times, his mission was successful. He proceeded to build churches and monasteries. During his ministry hundreds of priests were ordained. He also assisted in the teaching and training of Irish monks.

Saint Patrick and his followers traveled throughout the country converting thousands to Christianity. People of all walks of life flocked to hear him preach. At the end of his life he returned to the scene of his slavery days at Down Patrick. On March 17, 486 he passed from this world and was buried there in Down Patrick. His last words were that his work was now done, and that he had converted a nation from paganism to Christianity

After Saint Patrick’s passing monasteries continued to be built until the sixth century. In this newly converted Ireland is where the monks wrote countless books, amongst them the Book of Kells. It is considered priceless and one of the great masterpieces of its time. The Book of Kells can be inspected at any time in Trinity College, Dublin. Furthermore, for those who cannot get there to inspect it, a Swedish press has made twenty-five copies of the book, half as large as the original. One of those copies is on display at the Springfield Library on State Street, in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The monks also wrote a history of the different tribes that invaded Ireland. According to this very ancient history, the first invaders were the Nemedians and then the Femonians. It is not recorded from whence they came. Then came the Phoenicians from the Grecian Islands. The Firbolgs were next and were supposed to come from Greece. The last were the DeDannans, who according to the writer were from Finland and Latvia. Each of those tribes conquered the previous occupants and retained supremacy for their own tribe.

The Irish of today were then known as Milicians. They were living in Spain and were known as gypsies. Prior to their coming to Spain, they lived in the Nile Valley in Egypt. They were supposed to be a part of one of the twelve lost tribes of Israel that lived in Egypt at the time of Moses. The tribe’s chief at that time was named Gaedel. His son Gaedel the Second was bitten by a poisonous snake. The father took the boy to Moses and the snake bite was cured. He assured Gaedel that his descendants would live in the land to be known as Ireland. Moses added snakes were not a problem there thanks to a certain chemical in the Irish soil.

The tribe’s moved to Spain and they continued living there as gypsies for several hundred years. The gypsies brought with them from the Nile Valley what is now known as the Coronation Stone and is at present in Westminster Abbey underneath the Coronation Chair in which the kings are crowned. This was also known as the Stone of Scone, but to the Milicians it was known as the Lia Fail (or Stone of Destiny) . This stone on which all the Irish kings were crowned. The Scots requested it at one time for the crowning of a king, and it was never returned to the Irish.

With the discontinuance of kings in Scotland, the English government ordered the stone was taken to Westminster Abbey where it now remains. However, on Christmas Day 1950 the Scots, who believed they were entitled to the stone, stole it from beneath the Coronation Chair and returned it to Scotland. It took the combined forces of the Scotland Yard detectives to have it returned to Westminster Abbey.

(Note to the reader - The manuscript was completed in the 1950’s. As an update the Stone of Destiny as of 1996 is held in Edinburgh Castle in Scotland. Under agreement with England it can be used in the coronation ceremonies of the English monarch.)

After several hundred years in Spain, the gypsy population became very large and was a threat to the Spanish government. The government thus started to curtail the gypsies’ activities. To avoid further conflict with the Spanish, the gypsies decided to call a meeting of the tribal chiefs. The head druids were also assembled. The druids were supposed to foresee and foretell past and present events. The chief druid informed the gypsy king, whose name was Scocia, that several days sail to the east there was an island that could be easily conquered by the tribe.

The king, his six sons, and the chief druid set sail. After a long search, the druids finally located the island where they all landed in what is now known as Ventry Harbour in County Kerry in the vicinity of the Town of Dingle. The king’s troubles had just started, for the native DeDannans had seen the landing and raised an alarm. The king and three sons were killed by the DeDannans while the other three sons escaped. They returned to Spain to inform the queen of their tragedy. Queen Scocia called a council of chiefs and decided to avenge the death of the king and his three sons. They assembled a large fleet, and the whole tribe set sail. After an eventful voyage, they landed at what is now known as Smerwick Harbour.

They sent word ashore that they intended to take over the island. The cunning DeDannans seeing they were hopelessly outnumbered decided to try and trick the Milicians into sailing again. The DeDannans, who were magicians, told the Milicians if they put out to sea for a distance of nine waves’ length and then made a good landing, the country would be given over to them.

So, they set sail and headed for the open sea. Once they were far enough from shore, the magical DeDannans raised a furious storm, and the fleet was scattered. A great number of the fleet were lost, but the survivors landed and defeated the DeDannans. The Milicians became the new rulers of the island.

The druid’s prophecy was fulfilled. The new land they called Innisfail, which was later called Hibernia, then Ireland, and now Eire. The descendants of the Milicians are now known as Irish.

There were no further invasions of the island until 1014 when the combined forces of the Danes and Norwegians intended to take the country by force. They landed on the plains of Clontarf on the outskirts of Dublin. The landing was made on Good Friday 1014. Brian Boru at that time was King of Ireland. He immediately sent orders to have his army assemble in the outskirts of Clontarf. The king being advanced in years decided to turn the leadership over to his son Murrough. Brian requested the Danes not to fight on that solemn day. The request was refused by the Dane’s leader Sitrick. Previously, the Danes had contacted one of their wizards (or fortune tellers) who informed them that if they fought on Good Friday, the three Brians would fall: the king, Murrough, and his grandson Forlough.

The Irish believed they had already won the battle. Murrough was at the head of ten thousand Galloglasses dressed in coats of mail, composed of heavy steel chains, and the old chronicle relates that they cut wide roads through the Danish ranks. Murrough wielded a sword in each hand and needed no second blow. The old king, Brian, remained in his tent praying for the success of his army surrounded by his guards and inquiring of them as to how the battle was going. In the afternoon, the guards reported to Brian that the Danes were in a headlong flight. They were fleeing from the field of battle to their ships. The fleet was anchored far out to sea as the tide had come in and cut off their retreat. During this time King Brian’s guards joined in the pursuit and the king was left alone in the camp.

The crowning tragedy of the bloody day of Clontarf was yet to come. A Viking fleeing from the battle passed Brian’s camp. Upon seeing the king without his guards attacked him and gave him a fatal wound. When falling, Brian wounded his assailant. The Viking was later captured and hanged by his guards. Unfortunately, the guards were too late for the king.

A massacre was now taking place as the fleeing Danes were caught between their ships and the sea. The king’s son was killed. Also, the king’s grandson, a boy of fifteen, was found drowned in the River Weir with his hands entangled in the long hair of a Dane. The prophecy of the wizard partly came true as all three of the Brians fell.

The result of the battle was a complete victory for the Irish. Thirty thousand Danes were killed along with twenty thousand Irish. Prior to the Battle of Clontarf, the Danes were making raids on churches and colleges along the coast of Ireland. They were stealing gold and silver ornaments and sacred vessels...