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T H E G A EL
A ST U D Y I N C ELT I C PSY C HO LO G Y
AND
M A N I F E ST A T I O N S
ITS
BY
SO PH I E BRY AN T ,
AUTHOR OF
D Sc
.
C ELTI C I R ELAND,
FI SH E R
L 1 TT D
.
ETC
U NW I N
T ER RAC E
LO NDO N
ADELPHI
L E I PSI C
I N S EL S T R A SSE
z o
h
r wh m t hy im m rt l t y
B r d lik t h d y
o u ov e
oo
a i
WO
20 6 0 9 6 6
SW O R T H
FOR EW O R D
G enius
of
Fo rew o r d
C ONTENTS
C HAPTER
II
I II
FO
REWO R
T HE
PS YC HO
T HE SOC I A L
EVO
VI I
II I
I TE
LO G
G
AE L I N
LU TI O N
T HE
VI
THE C O M PO S
T HE
V
PAGE
RIS
Y OF
EN I
PO
T HE
OF
EL
T HE
OF
TO DAY
IAL
1 23
N S TIT
TI O NS
U N D ER
T HE
G E
T HE
E LT I N R E S E
L I N LIT ERA T U RE
T HE
AE LI
P C
T H OS
AE L
N I EN T G AE L
I I
LITI C S
SO C
OF
A I ON
OF
SP
I R IT U A L
N I HT
S G
59
81
21
2 67
THE
C O M PO SIT E
I RI SH NATIO N
O F TO DAY
-
I t mu t
It
n t i n d r pr n t t h r
f I r l nd
t b C lt i
i t m u t t b S x n Th B r h n
mu t
f W tm i n t r t h
l u dy
L w
d t h m xim
lig h tn i ng g n i u f t h G l t h pl id tr n g th f t h
S n h t h m r h lli n g i n ig h t f t h N r m n
mp n n t
f u h
th
th
n t i n li ty
s
co
an
ac
e s e are
c,
s o
e co
a s
ese
a ss e
no
an
no
s o
an
C o
e a
ac
s e
es
ae ,
a c es o
IS
THO M AS DAV
C HA PTE R
THE C O M PO S I T E I R I SH NAT I O N
OF
TO DAY
-
'
T h e G en i u s
f t he Gae l
to
Nat i o n
C o m p o si t e I ri sh
f TO day
-
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
'
C o m p o si t e I r i s h
Nat i o n o f To day
I7
T h e G en iu s
f t he G ae l
C o m p o si t e I r i s h
Na t i o n
o f TO da
y
-
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
20
Nat i o n
C o m p o si t e I r i sh
T
O da
Of
y
21
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
'
22
C o m p o s i t e I r i sh
Na t i o n
f TO day
-
o ur
'
23
T h e G en i u s
t he
G ae l
24
Nat i o n
C o m p o si t e I ri sh
the I r i s h ba r d s
an d
whi ch
n o ur i s he d
i d e al i s m
Pa tr i c k d i d
m ay
n ot
be
t hat her o i c
T o d ay
o
ag e
thei r s
the i m ag i n a t i o n , i n t e l l e c t ,
t he
c r e a t ed
d i r e c t e d t he m i n t o
He
n ew
fo un d
c ha nn e l
They
t he m ,
and
i s s ue
an
t hes e q u a l i t i es
s u ch
to
c o un t ry
c r ea te
not
and
B a r d i c Hzstory
I r el a nd ,
I nt r du t i n
o
vi i
S t n di h
a
m in
i li
It r i
id i u h r b u t I n tu r t t hi n k t h t
if t h Pr t t n t m i n ri ty h d t h d t h E ng li h B ibl
dilig n t ly t h y w u ld b m r di t i n t fr m
d r d it
unt rym n th n t h y i n t h ki n d f li t r ry
t h ir
n whi h h r t ri b t h r i n Ir l n d Th
O G ra d y
2
The t a
so
co
se
ve
no
a ac e
e e,
o es a
ea
an
c s a re
e - ss
a se s a S
se
z es
ar e
25
o e
a c es
e a
e a
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
E n g li h l n g g i n Ir l n d k p
li n ; i t i h r t ri d fu rt h r
d m t ph r
G li idi m
s
es
on
ua
ae
a ac e
an
ee
e a
ze
e a
26
it s
an d
rig i n l Eli b t h n
n ri h d by dr f t
a
za
C o m p o si t e I r i s h
Na t i o n
f T O da y
-
Iri h T xt S i ty l ii Th B k f
I n tr d u t i n p xxx E i n M N il
Fi on a ,
oc e
vo
27
oo
ac
t he Lay s
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
Sp
ill
th
h
Third R d i n g
3 by M j h n R d m n d
eec
on
ea
28
of
t he
om e
R ul
II
THE
PSY C HOLO GY
O F THE
C ELT
im pul
L i by t hy li g h t
TO i t s
ve
ow n
se
e ve
an d
ry r tu r tir ;
r t h will li by h r
c ea
e s
ve
ea
T TH EW
MA
e s
ARNO
LD
C H A P TER I I
TH E
PSY C HO LO GY
OF
T H E C E LT
31
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
f
psych o l o gy o the Te ut o n that marked variety
We kn o w the Teut o n
o f the human s pecies
.
32
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
f t he
Ce l t
33
T h e G en i u s
t he
G ae l
'
'
34
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
f t he
Ce l t
35
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
36
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
f t he
Ce l t
37
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
to
38
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
f t he
Ce l t
g o o ds o f the b o dy g oo d merely as a me an s
t o the m
that the life i s m o re th a n meat
39
T h e G en i u s
f t he Gae l
40
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
f t he
Ce l t
41
T h e G en i u s
f t he Gae l
c l in g in g sense o f servility
I t w o ul d seem
thi s c a n o nly be because the pressure rem o ved
his nature sprang back at o nce t o the expres
si o n o f that sen s e o f the freeman which the
persistence o f his primitive nature had pre
served inb o rn i n him thr o ugh o ut the servile
times
The O b s ervati o ns made in this sense might
be summed up briey in the statement that the
G ael is c o nse rvative in his ideas and rema ins
primitive in his instincts while he gr o ws
With all new ac qu i s i t i o ns he is unf o rgetful o f
the O l d
And th a t reminds o n e o f o ther things ab o ut
him The unf o rgetful G ael s h o ws himself as
in the faithfulne s s o f his a ffecti o n s t o
s uch
friend and s weetheart family and native land
Whether o r n o t he be wax t o re c eive he is
certainly marble t o retain
As unf o r g etful
t o o in the wi d er sense o f a pers i stent physical
psychical nature the civilized G a el o f
and
uni ve rsities ball ro o m s clu bs pa rliaments
and c o mmercial s yndicate s o f manufacturing
.
42
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
f t he
Ce l t
s po n d i n g
'
43
T h e G en i u s
f t he Gae l
'
44
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
f t he
Ce l t
45
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
46
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
f t he
Ce l t
O f thesis and
t e n a n c e o f O pp o sites in m o o d
anti thesis in meditati o n
I t c a n hardly be
said that he has any C haracteristic m o ral trait
with o ut the s u g gesti o n Of its o pp o site a s als o
characteristi c
The I ri s hman is self assertive he is als o
instin c t with c o nsiderati o n fo r the selfness
o f an o ther
H e may t a lk much but he seld o m
l o ses his p o wer o f listening
I f he all o ws
himself t o b o ast unduly his g o o d manners wil l
presently pres cribe a pause t o let y o u have
y o ur turn H e has a vivid sense O f respect
due t o himself but it seld o m extinguishes his
sense o f respe ct as e qually due t o o thers H e
is self c o nsci o us and easily o ffende d ; he is
o ther c o ns c i o us
als o and n o t hard t o b e
H i s quarrels o meness and his
rec o nciled
-
47
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
48
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
f t he
Ce l t
of
'
..
49
T h e G en i u s
of
to
his
be
to
f t he Ga e l
P itiveness
os
50
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
f t he C e l t
51
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
'
52
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
f t he
Ce l t
the w e b
G a el i c
c h a r a c t er
f
i
these po int t o s o me characteristic
o
n e g at o n
o ther than po s itiveness
p e r s e even if o nly
fo r the pre s ervati o n o f s uch p o sitiveness
The lightning genius o f the G ael s o
Th o ma s D avis named it As we p o nder o n
the metaph o r its truth gr o ws o n U S
Bu t
'
The
All
lig h t br k
ky
t hi n g
s
ea
on
o ut o ve
an d
r t h ky
rt h b
ea
e s
ec o m e
i ibl
v s
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
54
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
f t he
Ce l t
'
55
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
56
The P sy c h o l o gy
f t he
Ce l t
i mplies
57
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
co
58
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
f t he
Ce l t
k
C o r i s a direct sign o f the lightnes s with
which c o nsci o usness slumb ers in him What
ever is i n him o r c a n be in him awaken s o n
slight pr o v o cati o n and sits up at o nce H ence
his peculiar gifts o f which en o u g h has been
S aid hence als o certain we aknesses H e is
m o re easily distra c ted fr o m the particular w o rk
which he has in hand by the myriad life o f
feeling and th o ught ever ready t o surge up
within him I n a new s ituati o n he disc o ver s
practical genius ( as already n o ted ) because
th a t in him which c a n master the situati o n
sprin g s t o light in time H e is res o urceful
swift t o see the f a cts an d n o less swift t o
s trike
O n the o ther h a nd he is inferi o r in
the Teut o n s gift o f d o g ged executive the
G erman industry whereby
o
T k i n h u r f i n ig h t will d
r f gl m
C
b t hr u g h h
as
an
ou s
59
oo
ful l l d
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
I
Teut o n
mean particularly the G erman will
always s c o re
M o re o ver the energy which
is n o t used fo r c o nsci o u s ness i s all t o the g o o d
t o be u s ed o therwise
The E ngli s h pe o ple
fo r the m o st part resemble the G ermans in
their gifts
H o w s hall we name in b rief and po pular
terms this character i st i c o f t he G aelic mind t o
bec o me ea s ily w ha tever it ha s in it t o bec o me
Y o u may describ e it in metaph o r s o far a s
metapho r is helpful The mind o f the G ael
is as a ph o s ph o rescent s e a m o st pa rt O bscure
but all parts ready t o br e a k int o radiant light
I n dry p s ych o l o gical terms the best phrase I
,
60
T h e P sy c ho l o gy
f t he
Ce l t
can think o f i s fa ci l i ty of c o ns ci o us ne s s
M o bile
cl o sely knit and c o n crete are
als o g o o d descriptive w o r d s
H ere then i s the w o o f o f o u r web
It
explains the m o ral dialectic o f the po sitive
pers o nality the easy ada ptability o f the irre
pressible The reacti o n may be thr o ugh the
interventi o n o f reas o n o r it may be merely
by the suggesti o n o f o ppo sites bu t certainly
o n e quality in e x cess is a stimulus tendin g t o
N o w with facility o f
awake its o ppo s ite
c o nsci o usness this tendency gr o ws t o wards a
certainty The mean o f reas o n is easily pre
s erved by a natural balance O f instincts
each
o f which ev o kes the o ther
And a s regard s ada ptability t o circumstances
with o ut repressi o n o f pers o nality it is clear
that except t o a pers o n decient in the raw
material Of human na t ure t his s ame quality
makes adaptati o n easy and under g o o d c o n
d i t i o n s tends t o the perfect devel o pment o f
the natural human type Fo r if there be any
thing that c a n res po nd t o the circumstances it
.
61
T h e G en i u s
f t he G a e l
will d e c l a re itself
Educati o n is o f prime
impo rtan c e in such case
S O far we have c o nceived G aelic character
as the interweaving o f t w o primal charac
t er i st ic s
Fa ci l i ty o f c o n s ci o us n es s i s t he wo o f
of the we b
L o o king cl o se r there seems reas o n
t o think th a t it is the C e l t i c c har a ct er i s t i c per
se
and that the po sitiveness whi c h it thr o ws
int o such stro n g relief is j ust the f o rce Of
uni v ers al human nature preserved in all its
primal vitality by the skill o f the G ael in
mak in g thin g s suit his ends I t is pr o ba ble
that the Bee r o f the Transvaal and his
Eur o pean br o ther the D ut c hman o f Friesland
are as po sitive in pe rs o nality as any Western
G ael They t o o have preserved their primi
t i v e n e s s and have establi s hed a claim t o irre
B u t like the G ael as they
pr e s s ib i l i t y o f type
actually are in their primal vitality o n e s miles
at t he c o mpari s o n s o unlike are they a s a
wh o le ; and in particular the t w o type s are
co ntrasted by their manner o f maintainin g their
type in a h o s tile w o rld The B o er treks int o
.
'
62
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
f t he
Ce l t
63
T h e G en i u s
f t he Gae l
ti o n let us l o o k t o o urselves d o we n o t kn o w
that po sitiveness o f jud g ment and unhesitat ing
res o lve are in a rea s o nably cauti o u s mind
dependent o n the sens e that we have seen
all r o und the matter taken a c o ncrete view
an d thu s are guaranteed against err o rs o f o ver
s i g ht P
P ro b ably the least Celtic o f us have
had in o u r live s o n e expe rience at least o f
being ab s o lutely sure that a particular c o urse
was the c o urse t o take an d have kn o wn that
this surenes s was gr o unded in the certa i nty
that the wh o le o f us was awake at the instant
and c o ncurred in the d eci s i o n The c o nsci o us
ness o f b eing all there and with n o o b jecti o n
t o the c o urse pr o po sed
frees the
not
o nly
impulse fr o m ment a l check but gives that
peculiar sense o f inner freed o m and po wer
which marks t o hims e lf all the acti o ns Of the
p o s itive man I f I have n o d o ubt and feel
myself t o b e all there then I have n o fear o f
d o ubt and am quite sure Thus the m o re
as o n e wh o le m y mind r e
c o n cr e t e l y
acts the m o re po sitive am I whether right
,
64
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
f t he
Ce l t
t o m o bilize swiftly
i n acc o rdance with any
o b jective demand made up o n them
All that
i s relevant begins t o turn up at o nce
All
the c o gnate mental pr o cesses are in o perati o n
t o gether
or
65
T h e G en i u s
P resently it will be
f t he Gae l
t a sk t o fo ll o w o u t
the c o nsequences o f this central q uality in the
rec o gniti o n Of which a s co nf o rm a ble with
O bserved fact the evidence fo r the existence o f
the quality co nsists We infer the sympt o ms
fr o m the pr o perty a nd l o o k t o see whether
these are o u r G a elic I rishman s sym pt o ms I f
they are a nd there is no better hy po thesis this
o n e s tand s till a b etter is f o und
I f it stand s
there still remains the pr o blem o f the ultimate
physical and psychical fact t o whi ch it c o rre
s po n d s
in the p s y c ho physical life
The
f
i
r
h
i
n
sych
o
l
o
gical
invest
gat
o
r
o
s
o
l
o
c
o
p
v e s t ig a t o r s
w ho disc o v er the s o luti o n O f this
pr o blem will d o ubtless m a ke o ther valuable
disc o v eries o n t he ro a d
They will als o
disco ver s ome mu c h m o re accurate statement
in po pu lar langu age o f the b r o ad truth that
is set f o rth in these pag e s
The incidents o f life as perceived by a
rapidly m o ving cl o sely knit nature must
necessarily pr o duce m o re disturbance o f self
c o ns c i o usness th an the s ame in ciden ts a cting
,
o ur
66
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
t he
Ce l t
o ne
O B r i en
67
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
'
68
T h e P sy c h o l o g y
f t he
Ce l t
69
The G en i u s
f t he G ae l
70
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
f t he
Ce l t
71
The G en i u s
f t he G ae l
bec o me aw a re o f a n o ther
T he G ermans
Th e
are the s entimentali sts o f Eur o pe
E ngli s h man has an a ffecti o nate nature
I t is
that the Celt s kindness is so much m o re
skilful H i s sympathy ts y o u like a gl o ve
H e seems t o have a mir a c ul o us insight int o
y o ur wants
A s t o hi s spirituality a w o rd will su f c e
It
is o bvi o us that a vivid inner life must make the
materialistic estimate o f life s c o nditi o ns seem
ri dicul o us The m o re a man tin g les W ith c o n
s ci o us life thr o ugh all his being the less will
he b e m o ve d by the th o ught o f m ere p o sses
si o ns This o f c o urse wi l l make him a ppe ar
as unpractical fr o m the m o ney maker s p o int
o f V iew
I t may als o tend t o make him o r her
carele s s as t o the c ommo n c reature c o mf o rt s
of
o rder
neatnes s and punctuality while
keenly alive t o the pe rhap s n o t less impo rtant
creature advantages o f having what o n e wants
w hen and where o n e wan ts it rather than at
the c o nventi o n ally pro per time an d pla c e
P ro bably all healthy human nature has a
'
70
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
f t he
Ce l t
71
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
s
indeed d ream much but the s ense life
vibrates even thr o ugh his dreamiest m o ment s
And in like manner when his attenti o n is
c o ncentrated o n s o me Ob j e c t in the attitude
,
72
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
f t he
Ce lt
73
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
gre at
'
74
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
f t he
Ce l t
7S
T h e G en i u s
f t he G a e l
76
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
t he
Ce l t
77
T h e G en i u s
We n eed
f t he Ga e l
not
Se e
Ch p
a
78
t er
VI
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
Ce l t
t he
79
T h e G en i u s
f t he Gae l
80
T h e P sy c h o l o gy
t he
Ce l t
81
T h e G en i u s
f t he Ga e l
e ffo rt high
require sudden
jump l o ng j ump
thr o wing the weight and putting the hammer
I ri s h names h o ld the eld by a str o ng
maj o rity against the w o rld alm o st all the
t im e
I n o ther co ntests they merely main
tain their place H ere we h a ve in an o ther f o rm
c o ncentrati o n o f ener g y in a sin g le e ff o rt
Aufschwung a s the G erma ns c all it in their
expressive t o ngue
The lightning genius in its generic f o rm
as facility o f c o ncrete psych o physical life is
by n o me an s limited t o the I rish G ael an d his
S c o tti sh bro ther I t is an elemen t in the great
ness o f F r an ce I t is o bvio us and delightful
in Wales I t c o l o urs all the English Celtic
fringe
I t is the essential Celtic quality in
that m o re c o mplex creati o n the G enius o f the
G ael whi c h i s exp o unded in these pa g e s
,
'
Iri h C l ti n m
t S t h
W l h An g l I ri h Al i t h u ld b n t d th t t h
n t i n lity Of t h r rd br k r
h w n by r f r n
ri u t i m i v n m r t riki ng th n t h t
t
t t h li t
rd h ld r t y ti m
f th r
1
The
am e s
a re
o-
or
e s
s s a
ec o
va
e s a
so
ec o
ea
e s , as s
es ,
s e
an
one
82
e s,
o e s
no
o e
co c
or
e e e
ce
a
III
THE
SOC IAL G ENIUS
OF THE GAE
He
All
pr y t h b t w h l v t h b t
t hi n g b t h g r t
d m ll
a
es
ea
an
es
CO
L ERI DG E
C HA PTER I I I
T H E SO C I AL G E NI US O F T H E
EL
GA
E VEN
'
85
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
co
'
e e
so
co
s e,
o e
a ac e
e s
oo
an
86
co
e e
no
or
T h e S o c i al G en i u s
f t he G ae l
n
t
t
s
A decent
I rishman is
o
a y go o d
o
r s t o f all in s tinctively faithful in his pers o nal
a ff ecti o n s The so n o r daughter w ho pr o s pers
in America never f o rget s the O ld pe o ple at
h o me and s eld o m fails t o accept respo nsibility
o n behalf O f br o thers and sisters in need o f
m o ney fo r emigrati o n
As fo r the pea s an t
farmer at h o me he c o uld if he tried hardly
separate the idea o f his welfare fr o m that o f
H erself
Thi s is instinct
a n d the children
n o t j ust sheer sense o f duty
The r o o ts o f his
,
87
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
88
T h e S o c i al G en i u s
f t he G ae l
89
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
Th u
n
Th u
Th u
h lt n t rt i n t h g u t i n pr p rt i n t hi
d
h l t t r t hi m wit h h n u r wh t r hi t t
h l t t whi p r p k i n l n g u g un k n wn
n
t hi m i n hi pr
T h u h l t n t rt i n hi m wi t h p h d m u i
hi m i n p
l
i t m t h t t h i t h ll
pl hi m b t d t h u h l t t u dy hi wi h i n
d t h r r p t wit h
r
t hi
o
ee
ea
or s
es e
ce
s an
es
n
a
,
es
s es a e
e ac e , as
eav e
a eve
ea
ea se
no
es
s ee
ec s
an
eec
e
s c,
ee
or
es
ca e .
90
T h e S o c i al G en i u s
t he
G ae l
91
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
heart
There is o r was pr o bably s ome truth
in this allegati on but as my experien c e go es
n o t s o much
I t seems t o be in the I relan d
o f the P a le that incidents Of this s o rt chiey
o ccur
and the farther we st o n e g o es the m o re
accurate are the answers which the peasants
gi v e th o ugh anked o ften by w o rds o f eu
c o u r a g em e n t o r c o mpli m e n t
I o n ce cycled
acr o ss I reland fr o m e a st t o west and back
again and in that ride disc o vered as a
perfectly new idea t o me thi s s upe ri o r veracity
I n Meath it was alm o st
o f the Celtic I rish
imp o s s ible t o get an answer t o any questi o n
s o intent was every o n e o n s aying things agree
able I had taken s helter fr o m a sh o wer under
a h o s pitable Meath hedge A carman with
full freight came al o ng: and s heltered his
H o w far
charge under a neighb o uring tree
I called o u t
Ah % it s o nly
i s it t o Kells ?
a bit o f a sh o wer said he
B ut ho w many
miles is it t o Kells ? I again essayed
Sure
.
'
t he
I h t t d it i n
in r
ave
c e as e
es e
ce
Ve
r i ty i l t
92
ac
s a
og et
h r mu h
e
on
T h e S o c i al G en i u s
f t he G ae l
'
93
T h e G en i u s
f t he Gae l
o-
se
94
so
ar a s
T h e S o c i al G en i u s
f t he G a e l
95
T h e G en i u s
f t he Ga e l
'
o ne
T h e So c i al G en i u s
f t he Gae l
97
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
f
But en o ugh o this digressi o n I ap o l o gize
fo r the ap o l o gy s uspecting% as I d o that the
Sax o n tho u g h in a di fferent way needs it as
mu ch as the Celt The snare t o the Sax o n is
his pre o ccu pati o n his less v ivid sense and hi s
H e lies
liability t o o nesidedness o f view
when he lies o ut o f an intellectual c o nfusi o n
whi c h he has n o t the strenu o us c o n science t o
clear u p He thi nks himself m o re truthful
than he will take the tr o uble t o be The Celt
lies fr om excess o f tact t he Sax o n fr om defect
O f c a re I n b o th cases I s pea k no t o f the
delib e rate but o f the i n stinctive lie
I ri shm en like Frenchmen are fre quently
accused o f a tendency t o be wh a t i s called
d r am atic By this it is I think meant that
.
98
T h e S o c i al G en i u s
of
G ae l
t he
99
T h e G en i u s
f t he Gae l
1 oo
T h e S o c i al G en i u s
regi o ns
f t he Ga e l
f
m o ments O tempestu o us passi o n and if a new
s e t o f circumstances make it act in new and
unex pecte d way s it will in all pr o bability be
f o und t o have devel o ped by the act i t s inner
nature al o n g t ho se new and unexpe cted lines
I n the c o nict between the c o nsci o usness
and o f subjective tness much
o f Ob j e c tive
of
Fr n h i t m i x d r t t k i n id n
pr li it i whi h
h w n by G l
f C l ti
t
t g y I ri h m n i m tly An g l I ri h
C ym i ;
d th
1
The
e
an
oc
oo
es
e s a
ar e
IOI
ace
no
ev
ae
os
o-
ce
or
T h e G en i u s
f th
?
e
G ael
of
102
T h e S o c i al G en i u s
f t he G ae l
hi s
1 03
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
1 04
T h e S o c i al G en i u s
f t he G ae l
1 05
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
au
er
e e
or
ec o
e e
es e
e c a n ea
ea r ,
r s
ee
e ce
no
an
1 06
an
o
e se
or
a c
e.
co
as
ca ,
T h e S o c i al G en i u s
f t he G a e l
1 07
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
1 08
T h e S o c i al G en i u s
f t he G ae l
1 09
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
I IO
T h e S o c i al G en i u s
f t he G ae l
q u l ri g h t f t h t w p rti i n m rri g f i
i pl i n ly l id d w n by t h B r h n l w
I n th
t n
m rri g
f q u l r n k wh n t h w l t h
d S i l p it i n
f th tw
u h t m k t h m i l qu l th
l w d l r
wh t h g i t h t h r i q u lly
th t
f rf i t d h w lt h t hi m m u h d
m r
h
t h n hi t
O t hi pri n ipl i t i d r d t h t
n t r t m d by i th r p rty i t l wfu l n t r t
wi t h u t t h n n t O f t h t h r x p t i n
f
q u lly t t h w lf r f b t h I n t h
t r t t n di n g
f un q u l r n k t h t w p r t i
h
m rri g
t tu
d
rig h t pr p r t i n t t t h ir pr p r ty Th m
p
th
m f t ing
p r t d by t h w m n w l t h i
Af t r d
ribi n g t h
t h w m n u pp r t d by t h m n
t h w ri t r f t h l w t r t t u r n
rul f th l tt r
i m pl p n i n g t t m n t t h t i n
t t h f r m r wi t h t h
thi
i
th m
t h pl
d th
g
f th w m
The
c e,
s a
e o
s o
o ar e
co
ac
ac s
co
e o
a e
es
or
c as e
s c as e
an
woma n i n t he pl a ce
ac
c on
s an
su
an
oo
as
e sc
ac
s a e
e sa
e
ave s a
co
a ce o
t he ma n
oes
e S
s on
ea
ec ee
es
no
s e
c ase
a e
a s,
an
ce
no
os
se
as
oc a
e o
or
e,
so c a
an
v es
ea
ea c
as
ea
er
er
es
ec a es
an an
E n t h l w wri t r h w v r i t pr i B hi n d
t hi b tr t q u li ty h
r m nt i n t r t i n t h
id l whi h h b tr y n i ly i n t h d ri t i n g i n
f t h Iri h w rd f
wmn b
d f
m
f
Thu t h y
ll d h y fr m t h ki dl i
f
e
ve
s a
ea
ac
oma
t hey
and
ex i s t
La ws
are c a
t he dig n i ty
(See
La w
of a
of
an ,
e sa
o sa c
s no
a ve
or
e s ees
e e
s,
m an ,
an
and
co
as s
va
III
an
ec
s,
ve
er
ness o
r ea ch t hese
S i l C nn t i n
oc a
or
to
in
qua l i ti es
B rehon
T h e G en i u s
of
G ae l
t he
'
1 1 2
T h e S o c ial G en i u s
t he
G ae l
D rk G irl f t h V ll y D rk G irl t h t i l ly
D rk G irl t h t i r di n t d t n d r
H
t hr
t d h br w lik t h w n i n t h
h p ly f rm
l nd r
A d h
H
h n d h p d ri g h t wi th n g r ft whi t
T h t M ry g fr m b t h
Wh n m y w n l
h
t th
l
hi h t
A d th m
n d O b i n wi t h l t h
o
er s
er
oo
an
av e
er
an
oa
er
s e
so
e av e s
o es
ov e
e su n
e s so
ov e
er
sea
e sa
ce
e,
er ,
s un
o s es
o ve
ea
er
1 1
T h e G en i u s
f t he Ga e l
t o her
This is n o t a mere fan cy i g ht : it is the
ad o ring l o ver s expe rience o f the way real
pri t d t h fri r
r y d y i n n g r wi t h
m y b ing i n l
wi t h t h O m id n d t h u
m f
d d I w u ld pr t t t h fr m t h wi n d d h l t r
fr m t h r i n d t h bi tt r m l n h ly f m y h rt
th
i t i t h t b d wn b n th t h g r un d
Wh n m y p pl
rt i n t h t I m my b d
i t i t hy t m b t h t I d b t r t h d fr m n ig h t f ll un til
R n i n g u p n m y h rd hip d bi t t rly
m rn i ng
l m n ti n g d r ly f m y g n t l urt u g irl w h
b t r th d t m wh n hild
w
D t t h u r m m b r t h n i g h t t h t th u d I w r
d th
t f t h bl kt h rn t r
ig h t fr i n g
t th f
h rd ? A h un dr d t h n k t J u t h t w m d t t h
p ili n g d t hy r wn f m id n h d i w lik h ft
f li g h t ( hi n i n g ) b f r t h
The
es s a n
e
or
e,
ea
ee
ee
s,
oo
an
s
ac
c o
os
or
e c
e o e
es
ee
1 14
an
ea
on
co
an
eo
an
e e
ee , an
an
so e
an
e s
e a
ea
ce
are
ea s o
an
eo
as
s on
ee
o ec
ev e
ee ,
ove
a s are
oo
s no
e ez
e no
e a s
T h e S o c ial G en i u s
f t he Gae l
H ere
saw
mo
Lik
her
c om
unt i n
a
ing
w rd
to
t r g li m m eri ng t hr
e a s a
me
ug h
t he
o er
t he m
it
s
ac e
of
t he
in d
is
r u ppl
e s
e an d
Of
o ve ,
l
wif t th n bird
An d t he w i t
Is m o
1 1
my
a
ove
on
t he
wi n g
T h e G en i u s
t he
Gae l
pl
Ho w
To
C ose
No t t
hu
Ti s fa r
We
ll bird
to
th ir l
f r tun
e
o ve
l %
ry h rt d li g h t
p rt h m rn i n g
w k n t t h li g h t
o ur
ve
ea
ea c
e,
f ir r t h n t h lily
S u h b uty t h r i n n
Sh w t r t h n th i l t
M r li g h t m t h n t h
B t b tt r t h n ll b u t y
H
n bl h rt d fr
t in h v n
0 G d wh
R m
t hi p i n fr m m
Sh
e s
e s
ee e
so
er
ea
e s un
an
ea
e :
ea
ove
e v o e
o ar
e e
o e
ea
o ve ,
e sa
a as
s,
My
whi p r
To
sma
fo r t he
n in th g r
u p n t h m b ug h
wk
a
An d
nt
easa
ee
B a rd s
t he Ga el
a nd
Ga ll
1 1
Si g e rs o n ,
3 37
T h e S o c i al G en i u s
the last t wo line s
c o mm e nded
f t he G ae l
the f o ll o wing
of
m ay b e
ry H y n t h l m d y w m n
H
b u ty i n h m i n d d i n h f
If h un dr d l rk w r g t h r d t g th r
T h y uld t writ d wn h lf f h w y
It i s M a
er
ea
co
c e
no
e e
ac e ,
er
e e
eas
an
er
an
e ca
es ,
er
x
.
tr
The
s a s st a
The
s u n a nd
t he m o o
t he
ai r ,
a re set ,
bb d dry f i t t id
L
i ng l p bbl w t ;
uck k p yi ng h h u r
Th
T h t h my t r n i d
fr tr
0 g irl f t h br
b tt r h d y t r k m d d %
F
The
n d up i n
s ea
at
e aves n o s
ea c
Thr thi ng h
av e
ou
s sa
s o ee
ar
ee
e,
oo
e c
ee
e ss es ,
uc
ea
I l r n d t hr ug h l
S rr w d d t h d p i n
M y m i n d r m i n di n g m d ily
I h ll n r
g in
y
s
ee
a ve
ea
an
ea
an
ev e
ou a
s ee
ove ,
Fr m p m by An t h ny R ft ry t r n l t d by L dy
P m B k f th G l E H ull p 3 3
G r g ry
I
s ee
oe
oe
oo
1 1
ae :
a s a e
T h e G en i u s o f t he G ae l
Y
l ft m
ur f my i kn
Y t I pr y t h u g h m y n i g h t b l n g
M y h rp g ri f %
d m y h r t i br k n
T h t G d m y f r g i y u r wr n g
Sh w
w t r t h n ddl
d lut
O th
hi n i ng f g r t hr ug h t h d w
Sh w
ft t h bl kbird u t
Wh n t h lig h t O f t h d y i w ;
Fr m h f t t he l n hill t p
I h h rd t h h n y drippi n g ;
Why g irl did y
m t my d r ?
O r why u ld y
t ppi n g ?
t b
ou
e no
an
as
ve
ee e
e s
ea
as s
as
ave
ea
ou
e,
ne
-
co
ou no
co
ac
on
ee
er
e an
as s
so
ess ,
s c
or
oo
s o
oem
B ook
t he Ga el ,
1 1
E H u l l pp
.
1
3
6
17
T h e S o c i al G en i u s
f t he G ae l
Y ou
hv tkn
th W t
h tkn
i b hi n d
a e
Y ou
es
a ve
The m o o
t he
as
E t fr
t he
a e
I g r t ly
om
d fea d t
ea
wy
e o e
d ay ;
A as,
me
p th b f r
n fr
ha s g o
om
me
ht
a
and
me
yo u
ln
hv
st o e
a e
kn
e
p th th
a
t he
and
ta
av e
t he
and
by n i g h t
y ou
at
by
s un
my G o d
Th
at
my
yo u
h rt
is t
u rn d t
Wh t w r
a
ea
e e
yo u
ca
ri n g
B est
fo r
st o
b ut
n wh t m
a
t o g et
r d th t
att e e
cow
to
two ?
or
R i i n D u bh
L ittl D rk R
G l D u bh
m n t h F ir D rk R
u d
n m f Ir l n d d u ri ng t h P n l ti m
I
o s
ea
ea
or
e a
m ea
e
t he
1 19
os e ,
es
se
ose
Ro s
as a
o ve
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
Th r bl k g ri f h pl i n d m i t t h hill
T h r i f ury t h m un t i n d t h t i w n d r
I w uld mp ty t h wild
n wi th t h h ll f g g
If I u ld b t p
wi th t h my R g l d ubh
e e
on
an
on
o c ea
ee ,
an
os
no
e s
ea c e
e a
co
s an
Th r
on
ac
e e s
ea
ru l i n my h r t f t h f t h p ing
y r
f
L
l
l m nt ing h y l
th t
t rm nt i n g
w ri m
L
t h t l ft m w i t h u t h l t h wi t h t p t h g n
ll
tr y
r r I did t g t m y R g l d u bh %
A d f
e e
o
ove
is t
a
ea
ov e
or
ov e
ea
ev e
eve
no
e av
ove
OS
ee
s e
an d
t he
ea
wi n di ng w y
s,
ass
or
ou
I w uld w lk M un t r wi th t h
f t h hill
I n h p I w uld g t y u r r t
l ;
o
ee
as
or
es
ea
ea
o ve
sec e
ove
1 20
a nd a s
hr
a e
of
y ur
o
ThC\ SO C lal G en i u s
O fr g r n t B r n h I h
a
w r bl
The o
d u bh
The
s ea
oss o m
k wn
wi
of
se
l d
oo
will
be
red
is
uh tl
as
o ve
m y Ro s
s,
an
es
on
s,
e o e
g ea
d d t h ki lik bl d
w rld will h w t h ridg O f
o o
e
ar
re d
th t th
om e
in w th
t h hill
Th m un t i n g l n t hr u g h Eri n
will b q u ki n g
B f r th d y h
ink i n d th
B
f t he G ae l
it
no
av e
fo r m e ,
e s
an d
t he
oo
es
br wn b
o
og s
ea
I% I
m y Ro s g ea
l d u bh
IV
TH E
GA EL IN
LI TI C S
PO
T h r i n t i n un d r t h
qu l
th t d th l v
i n di ff r n t j u ti m r t h n t h Iri h ; will r t
b tt r t i d wi t h t h x u t i n t h r f l t h u g h i t b
g i n t th m l
S
D
E ( n t nt h n t u ry)
JO
%
or
e e
s no
e e
sa
ce
o e
e e
s e ve s
ec
e sun
o e e
e eo
or
es
IR
HN
AVI S
seve
ee
ce
C HA PTER I V
TH E
EL
GA
IN
POL I T I C S
no t
even a p o tential cap a city fo r s elf
go vernm ent in any f o rm
They were
su ppo sed t o b e a ficte d with a p o litical i n
e f c i e n c y
either mental o r m o ral and t o nly
t o be guarded and ruled by a wiser and better
f o lk I t was admitted in tho se days that the
Engli sh go ve rnment had been s o mething o f a
failure but it w a s s t o utly maintained that I rish
s elf g o vernment w o uld certainly be far w o rse
All this has been changed
In later days
the sympathetic English visit o r has returned
fr o m I reland deeply im pressed by the p o litical
intelligence the civi c sense and the talent fo r
FOR
1 25
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
1 26
T h e G ae l i n P o l i t i c s
urce s ho w the I rish all o ver the States take
a leading pa rt in po litical w o rk and inuence
The D em o cratic P arty with Free Trade pr o
gramme n o w triumphant depends much o n
their ass istance ; and their value in l o cal
administrati o n is well re co gni zed I think it
was at the I rish N ati o nal C o nventi o n 1 9 1 2
that I heard Mr J o hn O C a l l a g ha n say : Y o u
so
1 27
T h e G en i u s
t he
Gae l
fo r
1 28
T h e Gae l i n P o li t i c s
nineteenth century The immigrants o f th at
date entered int o it with all its defe cts fo r
better and fo r w o r s e : and they stand t o day
fo r a great p o litical inuence Of which at
least this much mu st be said that it is steadily
thr o w n tim e after time int o the scales in fav o ur
o f the
claim s o f humanity a s against th o se
o f the m o n o p o lists and o ther p rivilege seeking
classes
The present P rime Minister M r
B ryan represents in this respe c t and o thers
the race fr o m which he springs
B e f o re the American Rev o lut i o n h o wever
I reland had sent a sub s tantial c o ntingent o f
citizens t o the Br itish C o l o nies in t he N ew
W o rl d I n the g ht fo r Am erican freed o m
and afterwards in the framing o f the C o nsti
t ut io n
I rishmen played a w o rthy part The
r s t daily pape r published in the U nited States
the Penn sy l va ni a Pa c k e t was i s sued by an
I rishman In the Pa c k e t O f ce the D eclarati o n
o f I ndependence was signed
Eight o f the
s ig n at o ries o f the Declarati o n were
I rish o r
o f I rish descent
An I rishman C o l o nel J o hn
.
1 29
T h e G en i u s
G ae l
t he
N ix o n ,
I
.
'
'
D i pp
S G r n pp 8
Se e The I r i shma n i n Ca na d a ,
I r i sh Na ti ona l i ty , A
I 30
ee
av es ,
0- 1
5 9 , 66
25 1
T h e Gae l i n P o li t i c s
name o f P resident M c Kin l a y wh o se g rand
uncle su ff ered d e ath as a rebel o utside the
church o f C o leraine and w ho has relatives
living in Antrim t o day and the name o f Mr
B ryan wh o se family settled in Virginia at an
early d a t e
The I rish in America have so it is n o w
I r i sh Amer i ca n H i story
pp
28 3 ,
65 0
31
Ha n l o n ,
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
fo r
Life
an e
a nd
x m pl
a
r o ress
i n Austra l a si a , M
2
3
i h l D i tt p
c
ae
av
97
T h e Gae l i n P o li t i c s
were ch o sen s o lely o n their merit s appear s fr o m
the fact that in every case the m aj o rity o f the
Assembly was c omp o s ed o f E ngli s h and S c o tch
The I rish p o pulati o n at
representatives
one
that time in Vict o ria w a s ab out
ft h o f the wh o le
There i s m o re t o s a y even in thi s brief
ab o ut Vict o ria but l n the hist o ry
s umm ary
o f the sub ject N e w S o uth Wales c o mes rst
As far b ack as the end o f the eighteenth
b eginnin g o f the nineteenth centuries
a nd
th o usands o f I rish peasants were trans
po rted bey o nd the s eas fo r the po litical crime
illegal b o die s in o ppo s iti o n
o f bel o nging t o
t o tithes and o ther s o cial grievances
In s o me
o f the early s hipments t o B o tany B ay there
these
w a s am o ng the c o nvicts a leaven o f
humble I ri s h ref o rmers w ho helped t o lay the
f o undati o n s o f Sydney
S i r R o ger The r r y
in hi s H i s t ory of Ne w S o u th W al es bears
witness t o the after gr o wth and pr o sperity o f
the I rish element Ab o ut half a ce ntury later
The I r i sh i n Austra l i a ,
I
33
F H
.
np
og a
1 2
T h e Ge n i u s
f t he Gae l
'
34
T h e Gae l i n P o lit i c s
Ju s tice and later Lieutenant G o vern o r o f
Vict o ria S ir Redm o nd B arry s ub sequently
Judge o f the Supreme C o urt Sir F Murphy
fo r many years S pe aker o f the Legislative
Assembly and Sir J o hn O Shan a ssy c o n
s pi c u o u s f o r his unique services o n the c o m
H e it
m i t t e e that drafted the C o nstituti o n
was w ho b ecame the rst P remier and held
that o fce in three s uc cessive G o vernments
We have already seen ho w S ir
Mur phy
the rst S pe a ker o f the Vict o rian Parliament
was suc c ee ded by three o ther I rishmen in
O n e o f these S i r Charles G avan
s ucce s si o n
Du ffy fam o us am o ng I r i shmen as edit o r o f
the Na t i on in the Y o ung I reland days
came t o Melb o urne in 1 8 5 6 H e w a s greeted
with enthu s iasm by the I rish c o mm unity w ho
sub scribe d
in o rder t o be rea d y fo r
him with the gift o f an estate t o qualify him
fo r entry o n electi o n int o the Le g islative
H e j o ined the Ministry o f S ir
Assembly
J ohn O Shana s sy and su c ceeded him as P rime
Mini s ter in 1 8 7 1 At a later d ate he became
-
3S
T h e G en i u s
f t he Ga e l
Speaker
Sir B ry e n O Lo g hl en o f C o unty
Clare made the third I rish P rime Minister in
88
36
T h e Gae l i n P o li t i c s
Cath o lics did N o r i s t his because either ha s
bec o me indi fferent t o religi o n
O f West Australia
S o uth Australia and
Mr
% ueen s land a similar tale might be t o ld
W Redm o nd is amply justied by the facts
fo r the general statement in cidentally made in
the c o ur s e o f hi s interesting b o o k Thr o ug h
t he N e w C o m m o n w e al t h
Au s tralia he
s ay s
has been largely m o ulded by I ri s hmen
and I rish names are h o n o urably c o nn ected wi th
every phase o f Au s tralian life
I n Australia
a s a wh o le ab o ut o n e quarter o f the pe o ple are
either entirely o r partially I ri s h There are
three Judge s in the H igh C o urt o f the
C o mm o nwealth and o n e o f these is an I ri s h
Au s tralian
The Chairman o f C o mmittee
by wh o se casting v o te the Wes t Australian
C o n s tituti o n was pa s sed b o re the name o f
O Kelly ;
S o uth Australia has had an I rish
P remier in the per s o n o f Mr C C King s t o n :
the late P remier o f % ueensland Mr T J
B yrnes was an I rishman and I rishmen are
l
n o t few o n the Bench in
ueens
and
an
d
in
the
%
P arliament
.
T h e G en i u s
f t he G a e l
W rd p h t t h I ri h N ti n l
m
w
hi
h
i
n
l
M
H
l
n
B n qu t
3
9
f N w S uth W l
d lib r t ly
t h Att r n y G n r l
l im d M R dm nd
l d r t hr ug h ut t h
f
ry m wh l u t h rig h t f
B ri t i h E m pir
lf g v r n m n t
I
See
S ir
J o se ph
1
ac c a
se
o e
e a
e
on
ev e
eec
o c c as o
a so
as
an
I 38
a es ,
ea
va
es
e a e
T h e Gae l i n P o li t i c s
the p o pular m o vement s o f th o ught and feeling
H e kn o w s hi s o w n mind m o re o ver ab o ut the
p o litical o bject s t o be attained because he i s
in general a man o f ideas o riginal o r acquired
Al s o he is a man o f acti o n an d theref o re he
i s a pr a c t i c a l idealist
Further besides kn o w
ing the mind s o f his fell o w s he i s sympathetic
and respo nsive in dealing with them thus he
gives the impressi o n o f being the man w ho
understands Therefo re if he is st r o ng and
clear en o ugh he is the man w ho leads I f
there are o ther I rishmen e qually e ffe c tive
they settle it b etween them They are well
able t o weigh o ne an o ther with s u fcient
They h a ve a turn fo r c o o perati o n
a ccuracy
t o o and believe in the elective princi ple
I t is pr o b able that the p o litical gift rst
n o ticed with admirati o n by the o bservant
Englishmen o f the e ighties was the ability
fo r c o heren c e sh o wn b y the I ri s h P arty under
M r P arnell in the H o use o f C o mm o ns and by
the I rish race be hind it s cattered thr o ugh the
w o rld That tremend o u s fact remain s t o day
.
39
T h e G en i u s
Gae l
t he
4o
T h e G ae l i n P o li t i c s
The P a rnell m o vement revealed many
p o tentialities in I rish p o litical nature but ab o ve
41
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
f
f
o
o
reatness
the
pers
nality
t
the
head
o
a
g
the h o st centre d in n o thin g less but in n o thing
else than his abs o lute trustw o rthiness as the
serv ant o f the idea The pe o ple o be yed him
be c ause they truste d him an d they truste d him
because he w a s the in c arnati o n o f the idea
t he
42
T h e Gae l i n P o li t i c s
it Supp o se twenty m illi o n min d s have
amid a th o usand d i fferen c es o n e idea in
c o mm o n and supp o se that s o me man o r gr o up
feeling this take it as the basi s o f a
o f men
practical p o licy and s o pro claim it The quick
ness and c o mpleteness with which the twenty
milli o n fall in line behind their standard
bearers d epends o n the degree o f m o bile c o n
c r e t e n e s s in the racial intellectual character
The min d that m o ves with swiftness and unity
easily rearran g es its ideas at least tentatively
r o un d the c o mmo n idea as centre
I f that
c o mm o n idea has any h o l d o n su c h a mind
then the h o pe o f nati onal unity which go es with
this idea will make it str o ng and s o with m o re
acc o rdin g t o
o r les s ease and c o mpletenes s
its ran g e o f o ther ideas the swift and singly
m o ving mind thinks itself int o a new attitu d e
characterized b y the a cceptance o f the ideal
pr o p o sed as the basis o f at least an imm ediate
pra c tical p o licy The stalwart ex F enian J o hn
O Lea r y I supp o se never preferred c o n s t i t u
an d all the
t i o n a l t o rev o luti o nary met ho ds
of
43
T h e G en i u s
f t he G ae l
I 44
T h e G ae l i n P o l i t i c s
men under em o ti o nal excitement think the s ame
th o ught and d o the same deed simultane o usly
there is a quick play o f sympathetic imagina
ti o n as well as o f individual th o ught They
n o t o nly a g ree
they kn o w als o that they are
agreed
The fact that indivi dual swiftness o f th o ught
an d s o cial simultaneity are thus c o nne c ted i s
illustrated by the f o ll o wi n g acc o unt o f t he
average hist o ry o f a Ho use o f C o mm o ns j o ke
o nce t o ld m e by an Engli s h member
When
a j o ke is made o r a hum o r o u s incident o ccur s
it takes e ffect rst o n the I rish ben c hes : a
burst o f s i m ul t a n eo us laughter issues fr o m that
part o f the building Then c e it is taken up
by the neighb o uring benches and r o l l s
I have n o ticed this
g r a d ua l l y o ver the Ho use
very o ften An I rish repartee t o the Minister
o f the Cr o wn will s o metimes b e sh o uted acr o ss
the Ho use i n uni s o n while the wo rds are
s c a r c ely ou t o f hi s m o uth
Ability t o m o bilize in a g r o up t urn s o n
the inner ability o f its me m bers t o readjust the
attitude o f mind and c o ncentrate it at a new
,
1 45
The G en i u s
of
t he
G ae l
46
T h e G ae l i n P o l i t i c s
in him and if his p o wer o f intellect i s no t hi g h
may carry him far int o the insanitie s o f e x a g
gerated and m o rb id individuality This i s the
danger o f pr o l o nged s o litude fo r the Celt Fo r
o n e o f the o pp o site type the danger is s i mple
stagn ati o n and dullness this is the lesser evil
surely o f the t w o M o derate iso lati o n leaves
the o n e stable and fairly n o rmal while it makes
the o ther eccentric m o re sepa rate fr o m hi s
kind than bef o re
B ut let t he mo b ile Celt live in s o ciety even
th o ugh it b e o nly in that imaginati o n o f s o ciety
which i s maintained by letters and newspaper s
I 47
T h e G en i u s
t he
Gae l
T h e Gae l i n P o l i t i c s
But the same m o bility make s fo r the stability o f
th o ught and o f character s o l o ng as c o ntact
with its pr o per medium i s maintained E asy
m o vement is a s fav o urable t o the s o cial f o rce s
o f restituti o n a s it is t o the indi v i d ual f o r c es
that make fo r change
In every life there are h o we ver intervals
during which the central
s o cial ) f o rce
is n o t pr o d ucin g any new impressi o ns either
by restituti o n o r o therwise on the mind The
self is left t o itself and t o the w o rkings o f its
o w n imaginati o n
The salt o f its s anity in
such days is the s o ci a l imagin a ti o n B y this
is kept alive the byg o ne t o uch o f o ther mind s
and thus are maintained the m o o rin g s which
bind it t o its kind In temp o rary s o litude o r
absen c e fr o m h o me the o ther co nsci o us mind
has s till the feelings o f the o thers their
th o ughts their wishes A ffecti o n makes these
int o sacred ties and lls the pers o nal life
with the sentiment o f l o yalty This sentiment
gr o unded as it is in imaginati o n o f the a ffecti o ns
and sym pathies be co me s fo r the m o bile Celt
the permanent safe g uard o f his s o c ial attach
,
49
T h e G en i u s
of
t he
G ae l
'
50
The G a e l
i n P o l it i c s
51
'
52
T h e G ae l i n P o l i t i c s
c o nsci o us o f its nat i onh o o d is t o each o n e o f
its members the c ounterp o ise o f excessive racial
accessibility t o new p o litical ideas
I t may
well be said that the I ris h p o litical g enius has
sh o wn it s elf at its best in o u r ge nerati o n
becau s e never un til n o w has the s o cial instinct
o f nati o nh o o d f o un d fo r itself su fcient o ppo r
t u n i t y t o o utweigh the C e ltic fertility o f ideas ?
Even t o w a rds enemies the s o c ial nature has
its instinctive play W hen the F o under o f
Christianity laid it d o wn as a principle that
we sh o uld l o ve o ur enemies He imp lied that
it was p o ssible t o regard a man as an enemy
and nevertheless treat him with kindly human
regard The psych o l o gy o f this Christian prin
it lies in the fact that
c i pl e is plain en o ugh :
even in the h o ur o f deadliest strife each o f
the t w o Opp o nents is capable o f respect ing
the f e elin g s o f the o ther and treating them as
sacred t o him e qu a lly with hi s o wn G ae lic
her o ic literature is rich in pagan illustrati o ns
i
p
int
Celtic nature i s instinctiv ely
o
t eri st c
Christian I reland ha s been a battle gr o und
,
S3
T h e G en i u s
t he
G ae l
No
centurie s b o th pa g an and Christian
c o untry has su ffered m o re terribly fr o m erc e
internecin e strife B ut I rish s o cial nature has
been able t o maintain i t s s ymp athies i t s sen s e
o f a c o mm o n nature and a c o m m o n c o n s ci o us
ne s s in the face o f the m o s t persistent enemies
There i s a c o ntra s t here between French and
I ri s h hi s t o ry which argues fo r the pre sence
o f s o me g l o o m i e r racial e lement in the F rench
Thi s I rish quality explains at o nce t w o mark ed
features o f I rish hist o ry O n e is the capaci ty
o f the I rish race t o abs o rb all stra n g ers and
enemies int o itself The o ther is that s o cial
in c o herence o f medi aeval I reland already
n o ticed which pr o ceeds in actual fact
as we
s e e when we study it
a s mu c h fr o m the ten
d en c y o f all men t o fraternize with each o ther
as fr o m their e qually indi s putable tendency t o
quarrel I t rem a in s that in the l o ng run this
G aelic gift fo r realizin g human br o therh o o d
in any f o rm m a y pr o ve t o be the m o st p o tent
element fo r I reland s weal in the I rish nati o nal
genius fo r p o litics
H i s emphatic pers o n ality makes the Irish
fo r
'
T h e G ae l i n P o l i t i c s
man ery in dispute hi s s o ciab ility disp o s es
him during the intervals o f warfare t o expand
in friendly s ympathy t o wards his enemies
B o th e ffe ct s ten ded t o pr o duce in the o ld
s t o rm y
times s o c ial inc o herence within the
nati o n The peculiarly s hifting character o f
the E nglish s ettlements m o re o ver and the
caprici o u s meth o d o f E ngli s h g o vernment in
all the centurie s enc o ur aged the tendency t o
alternate bursts o f war and friend s hip between
the t w o races in I reland The remarkable
fact h o wever is that there w a s even in the
m o st cha o tic time s an extra o rd inary am o unt
o f kindly feeling between hereditary f o es mixed
with a m o st extravagant pas s i o n fo r warfare
W e nd n o thin g like the erce steady feuds
between the S c o tch clan s which are the
c o unterpart of the magnicent l o yalty and
c o herence within the clan The I rish tribe
was less c o herent but as a c o mpensati o n the
I rish race by H ibernicising the aliens saved
I reland fo r the I rish t o a c onsiderable extent
The G ael o f S c o tlan d is the H ighland S c o t
t o day : the G ael o f I relan d is the I rish type
,
55
'
en i u s
G ae
56
T h e Gae l i n P o li t i c s
the m o re because he d oes n o t easily make new
The genial man is faithful o nly becau s e
o nes
there is a po sitive f o rce o f faithfulness in him
This i s the c o nservative virtue which keeps
balance against the ex pansive virtue o f
eniality
g
To be faithful is the same thing as t o be
c o nservative in a ffecti o n I rish instinct ten ds
thus direct t o faithfulness Bu t let an I rish
man reas o n himself away fr o m his instin c t in
this respect and the chances are that he will
S7
T h e G en i u s
of
G ae l
t he
58
V L I
SO CIAL I NSTI TUTIONS
E O UT ON O F
UNDER TH E
r n i nt lif lm g w
F rth fr m hi p r n t t m
A d bl n d t h ir bl d
th
O f t h ir
bl n t i n th m ;
h w m trik r t i n t f f r ti m
Bo
So
eac
ne
a e
s a re
an
an
oo
es
ro
s e
as
s,
ose
oo
o a
ar
o e-
M ATTH W ARNO L D
C H AP TER V
EVOL UT I ON
is
SO C I AL I NS T I T UT I O NS
T HE AN C IE NT GAE L
OF
UN
DE R
1 61
T h e G en i u s
t he
G ae l
fo r
C m p r pr i i n
l aw
a e
ov s o
to
i m il r ff
1 62
ec t
in
t he
H br w
e
E vo l u t i o n
S o c i a l I n st i t u t i o n s
f
tribe o r s o me o ther pers o n o weight by
which he b o rro wed cattle fo r hi s use in agri
culture and undert o o k t o pay intere s t in
service h o mage and materi al g o o d s Thi s i s
the o rigin o f rent in I reland and pr o b ably in
E lsewhere
o ther E ur o pean c o untries as well
it w a s the beginning o f feudalism
The
peculiarity o f I reland lies in the fact that the
B reh o n land law was devel o ped side by side
with the c o nditi o ns leading t o feudalism t o
-
1 63
T h e G en i u s
t he
G ae l
64
E vo l u t i o n
S o c i al I n st i t u t i o n s
65
T h e G en i u s
Gae l
t he
fo r
66
E vo l u t i o n
S o c i a l I n st i t u t i o n s
i t s i d e a s ha ve
no t
di e d
o ut
I t i s indeed striking t o n o te
ho w the ancient practical ideas cru s hed bel o w
the s urface by new instituti o ns and o pp o s ed
fr o m the o utside in later times have survived
and s o make their r s t r e appearance in the
m o dern w o rld o f the B riti s h I s les fr o m the
m ind o f the nati o n that invented their practice
hundred s o f years a g o I n fact t he i d e al i s ti c
e ve n
t o - d ay
r a ce
is
bl i n d ly
or
n e c e s s a r il y
so
as
t h o ug h
co n s er va ti ve,
t o wa r d s
t o ward s m er e
c us t o m
a
a
r
t
i
c
l
r
u
p
in
a ny
no t
i n s t i t u ti o ns
g ui s e
Pr o
g re s s i v e
67
T h e G en i u s
t he
G ae l
68
E v o l u t i on
S o c i al I n st i t ut i o n s
69
T h e G en i u s
t he
Gae l
70
E vo l u t i o n
S o c i al I n st i t u t i o n s
H o wever
teacher the literary f o ster father
it may s urprise us s ay s Sir H enry Maine
that the c o nnecti o n between pupil and teacher
was regarded a s peculiarly sacred by the
ancient I ri s h and a s C l o sely resemblin g natural
fatherh o o d the Breh o n tracts leave u s n o r o o m
fo r d o ubt o n the p o int
I t is expressly lai d
d o w n that it created the same pa t r i a p o t es t a s
a s actual paternity ;
and the literary f o ster
father th o ugh he teaches gratuit o usly has a
claim thr o ugh life up o n p o rti o ns o f the pr o pe rty
o f the literary f o s ter s o n
Thu s the breh o n
with hi s pupil s c o n s tituted n o t a s ch o o l i n o u r
s en s e
but a true family While the o rdinary
f o ster father was b o und by the law t o giv e
educati o n o f s o me kind t o hi s f o ster C hildren
t o the s o ns o f chiefs instructi o n in riding
sh o o tin g with the b o w swimming an d chess
playing t o their daughters instructi on in sew
,
I7 I
T h e G en i u s
f t he Gae l
'
S ir H n ry
L t u r VI I I p
I
ec
Ma
24 2
in
e s
Ea r ly
72
Hi story
I nst i tu ti ons,
E vo l u t i o n
S o c i al I n st i t u t i o n s
O C u rr y
vo l
ii p
.
M a n ners
79
a nd
Customs
t he Anci en t I r i sh,
T h e G en i u s
Gae l
t he
I 74
E vo l u t i o n
S o c i al I n s t i t u t i o n s
t uti on s
I r i sh
and
e m bo d y
whi c h
s o ci al
li
fe t he
v o l un t a r y ,
a nd
n es s
as
i dea
t he
the
en o r c e
l aw
s o ur ce
o i n t r e s p o n s i bi l i t i e s ,
o
k i ns hi p,
o
n a t ur a l
f m u t ua l
d ut i es
whi c h i t i s t he bus i
d efi n e
to
i d ea
e s s en ti a l
t he
ra t her
t ha n
to
indicate that
there is evidence and the nature o f the
evidence in supp o rt o f the fact which I set
that the tenden cy o f G aelic
o u t by asserting
civilizati o n was t o pr o gre s s by c o nserving
t o nd ever in the o l d ideas a means o f
envisaging and adapting new fact s E very
where m o re o r less the o l d disappears an d
gives place t o the new Everywhere m o re o r
less the o l d d evel o ps an d is preserved in the
o
to
7S
T h e G en i u s
G ae l
t he
76
E vo l u t i o n
S o c i al I n st i t u t i o n s
pre v i o us chapter
The m o bile mind think s
it s elf int o its situati o n it is reective idealistic
fo rms stable ideas o f its life and surr o undings
I deas persist as cir cumstan c es change : thu s
the i d e a l i s ti c r a c e i s c on s e r va t i ve o f i ts i d e a s
So cial s o lidarity m o re o ver so far as realized
makes str o ngly fo r the persistence o f s o cial
and indeed o f all c o mmunicated ideas H ence
the c o n s erv ativ e instinct whic h is the guiding
wheel o f Celtic civilizati o n i s a natural pr o duct
o f that s wiftly m o vin g
c o n c rete mind which
pr o duces als o the driving wheel o f its pr o
g r e s s i v e activity
I n all dep a rtments o f th o ught and feeling
in art in literature in d o mestic habits in
religi o us Observances i n the wh o le r o un d o f
th o s e activities t o which the idea o f pro g r es
sive civilizati o n applies the Celt changes hi s
way s but changes c o nservatively B o th hi s
Liberali s m and his C o nservatism have o ften
been n o ticed The f o rmer when d o minant is
the latter always centres
s o ftened by reverence
in the life n o t the stagnati o n o f ideas This
,
I77
T h e G en i u s
t he
G ae l
1 78
E vo l u t i o n
S o c i al I n st i t u t i o n s
79
T h e G en i u s
o f t he
G ae l
VI
THE
G AE
IN
LITERATURE
An
ai r
w rd
o
r l t i n g th n t h i
m r l t i n g t h n t h ri h
is m o
is
o e
as
as
e vo c e o f
t he
bird
w rld
es of
t he
ISH
PR O V
IR
s,
RB
C H A P T E R VI
THE
EL
GA
IN
L I T E R AT UR E
83
T h e G en i u s
t he
Gae l
v i dualit y
84
T h e Gae l i n
Li t e rat u r e
ld
w
o
man
herself
transf o rmed th o u g h we
o
see
her n o t int o that gl o ri o us shape o f
beaute o us y o uth rebo rn o f I ri s h l ov e and
I rish h o pe at every climax o f the nati o n s
st ruggle upw a r d s
'
P t Did
e er
p th ?
u
o
y
see
an
old
oma
go
i n g d wn
o
t he
s he
a tri ck
ha d
I did t b u t I
w lk lik
qu n
no
saw
e a
ee
ung w
o ma
and
85
The G en i u s
t he
G ae l
D ug l
w rd f m
R mm p pl w h u ld i th
d
wri t
t u lly i
d h thi k h f ll h r t f t h v c b u l y
H
by
w rd m
ug g t t h t i K y t h
v g v c b u l y u d by I ri h p k i p b bly
I
Dr
o sc o
an
er a e
as
on
eo
o a
u se
a
H yd w t d w
ar
ore
ro e
co
ne
e s
se
86
er
o a
es s
ea
e rs
ro
no r
r ea
ar
ac
e,
err
ro
The G a e l
i n L i t erat u r e
or
s s
f m
ro
0
3 0
ro
'
of
or
an
e en
t o 500
or
ea
87
ers
eas a n
w d
e r se n
oo
ra n
ar
s an
ons s s
The G e n i u s
I n his pre f a c e
of
The
to
t he
G ae l
Pl ay boy
Wes t em W o r l d J M Sy n g e t ell s
the
th a t in
this as i n a l l his oth e r pl a y s
I h av e u sed
o n e o r two wo r d s o n ly that I h a v e n o t h e a r d
a mo n g t he cou n t r y p e opl e o f I r el an d o r s po k en
in m y o w n n u r se r y b e fore I could r ea d the
n ew s p a p er s
A c e r t a in numb e r o f t he phr ase s
I e mploy I h a v e he a r d a l s o from h e rd s a n d
sh e rm en a lo n g t he co a s t from Ke r ry t o M ayo
or
from b eg g a r wom e n a nd b a ll a d s in g er s
n e a r e r D ubli n ;
a n d I a m g l a d t o a ck n ow
l e dg e how much I o w e to t he folk im ag i n a
ti o n o f the s e ne p eopl e Any o n e w h o ha s
liv e d i n r e a l i n tim a cy with t he I r i sh p e a s an t ry
w ill k n ow that t he wild e s t s a yi n g s in this pl a y
a re t a m e inde e d comp a r e d with the f a nci e s o n e
m ay he a r in a n y hill s id e c ab i n in G e esa l a
And o f t he
C a r r a r oe o r D in g l e B ay
or
'
'
'
'
88
The G ae l i n
L i t erat u r e
T hi
i s t he
p imi tic n
ess
89
ot e
in Sy
ng e .
The G en i u s
of
t he
G ae l
pe r f e ct ph r a s i n g could n o t w e ll b e
s u rpa ssed
By fa r the mo s t b ea utiful o f a l l Sy ng e s
H er e we
pl a y s is D ei rdre o f the So r r o ws
h a v e an a n tiqu e s ub j e ct o f the hi g h e s t di g n ity
a n d y e t t he l a n g u a g e wov e n i n to t he di a lo g u e
by t he g en iu s of t he dr am a ti s t i s as he t e ll s
us found in the t a lk o f o u r tw enti e th c e ntu ry
p e a s a nt I r e l a n d Th e r e is s om e thi n g i n t he
mu s ic a l s wi n g o f t he phr a s e in a l l the s e pl a y s
which m a k e s o n e think o f t he ch an t s th a t are
s u n g by t he wind s o n the hill a n d t he w a v es
on
but t he domin a nt fo r m a tiv e
t he s hor e ;
i n u e nc e e a ch ph r a se b es p ea k s is th a t o f a n
inte n se und e r lyin g i n t e r e s t in t he probl e m o f
s a yi n g
b r i e y a ll that is in o n e s mi n d as
u n mi s t a k a bly as co n vinci n g ly a n d a s pe r
Fo r a n e x a m pl e t a k e
s u a s iv e ly as po s s ibl e
this n e di a lo g u e between the b e a utiful p r i n c e s s
a n d t he fo s t e r moth e r w ho lov e s he r d e vot e dly
an d
h m
I m i n d d f g i g t yi g L
l
m thi pl h vi g h pp i
lik u till
It
I m ki g ch d y will thi d y m tch y t d y d
Dei r d r e
r ea
o n e so
as
ea
ac e ,
o n
or
I 9O
s a
n e ss
ava r c
es e r
rs ,
an
The G a e l i n
w rll t o -
wt k
o r ro
y th t g
w t h p l yi g livi
t he
e ar
or
on e,
our j oy
d pl c b id t h
w d i g ll tim
u til y u d i d
goo
and
on
a
ng
es
er n
on
m
i it
e sa
ga
o ld , a n d
and
r e
re
in
m
d ay
es
i s g o n e fo r e e r
La va rcha m
it s t a
If
tti g
L i t e rat u re
h t il y I t ll y th
li t tl h u t g
ld th u g h y u g g i l
d p t d
b
t mi g t t h h p f g (P i t ly) T h
li ttl h u t g tti g l d vi g wh n y u l ki g b ck
th w y I m l
ki g t hi d y d i g t h y u g y
h v l v f b ki g u p th i h t wi th f lly T k
my w d d t p N i i d t h d y l l m y u ll h v
d y
m j y h vi g t h
ld w m
f
with y u li ttl g d
h i ki g u d y th I d
h v thi ig h t p utti g t h d m u t h d t h whit
m y h v t g w l ki g l
m byw y wi th
g m y ki g
e
e s or
ar
or
an
or
r an
an
so n s
on
an
er e s
o n es o
an
an
an
ou
ou
an
ou
co
ro
e re
r e
oe s
oo
s ee n
s en s e s
re
ea r s
e r
an
an
a ss on a e
sa
a s
r s
e re s
ou
es o
s n
r ea
ou
s o
oo
or e
a e a
ou
Tu rn in g to t he s a m e w r it e r s r e co r d s o f his
w a lk s th r ou g h I r e l a n d we n d c a r e ful r e po r t s
o f t a lk s with t r a mp s a n d p e a sa n t s
Th es e a r e
what t he wo r ld c a ll s i g n or a n t p e opl e with littl e
k n owl e dg e prob a bly o f t he E ng li s h B ibl e a n d
l e s s if a ny o f Sh a k es p e a r e s pl a y s Thi s i s
ho w th e y t a lk
I t i s an o l d m a n with a
white poi n t e d f a c e a n d a ho a r y b ea r d who
pull s him s e lf o u t o f the ditch to w a lk with
and
p r e s ently b eg i n s t a lki n g
t he s tr a n g e r
91
The G en i u s
of
t he
Gae l
1 92
The G ae l
i n L i t erat u re
it
o
t wn of Sli g
s in Sli g o I w a s r ea r e d
a n d you could w a lk th r ou h t he s t r e e t s a t
g
the n o o n of d a y an d n o t s ee a p e r s o n a n d y o u
coul d k n ock at o n e do o r an d a n oth e r d o o r a n d
n d n o o n e t o an s w e r y o u
The p e opl e were
t r a v e lli n g o u t n o r th an d s outh a n d ea s t with
the terr o r th a t w a s o n th e m ; a n d t he c o u n t r y
p e opl e were di g g i n g ditche s a c r o ss t he r o a d s
a n d d r i vi n g
t h e m b a ck where they c o uld fo r
th e y ha d g r e a t d r e a d o f the di s e a s e
I a m but o n e o f t he commo n c r owd with
o u t t he s kill t o n ot e a n d m e mo r y to retain that
m a r k s th e s e g ift e d o b s e r v e r s N e v e r th e l es s
I h a v e s ee n n o t a littl e of the I r i s h p e o pl e i n
a l l p a rt s a n d li s t e n e d to the i r ch o ic e a n d r e a dy
t a lk Thi s qu a lity of c ho i c e ne s s i n t e r e s t s m e
much
S om e ch o o s e word a n d ph r a s e by
i n s ti n ct s om e by d e libe r a t e a c t o f s e l e cti o n
The t r a mc a r co n duct o r i n D ubli n m a y b e
h e a r d a n y d ay di s c a r di ng a mod e r a te ly s uit a bl e
w o r d t o s ub s titut e a n o th e r mo re a pt o r
I t i s n ot ewo r thy th a t s y n o n ym s
e ff e ctiv e
s hould in r a pid s ucc e s s io n o ccu r t o hi s mi n d
t he
'
93
The G en i u s
of
t he
Gae l
I 94
The G ae l
i n L i t erat u re
I%
The G en i u s
of
G ae l
t he
h a vi n g th e i r me a su re of t he s am e f a cility
e s tim a t e it a t i t s v a lu e th a t i s
very li g htly
The e duc a t e d I rishman l e a r n s i n a doubl e
s e n s e t o di s tru s t hi s o w n u e n cy ;
hi s ch o ic e
ness a s to wo r d s hi s comp e lli ng s e n s e o f s tyl e
w a r n him t o weigh w e ll a l l his s e n t e n c e s An d
thi s is p r ob a bly t he r e a s o n why t he e duc a t e d
I ri shman a lth o u g h he s pe a k s b e tt e r th a n hi s
E n g li sh pe e r d o e s s o o n t he a v e r a g e a s I
b e li e v e with m o r e a n xi e ty H e d o e s n o t f e a r
th a t he will fail to g e t th ro u g h but he do e s
f e a r that he m ay f a il t o sa y the thing he m e a n s
o r f a il to sa y it t o hi s liki n g
St a r ti n g with
f a cility he s ets hi s s t a n d a r d by s i g nic a n c e
In a pl ea sa n t imp r omptu to
a nd s e t s i t hi g h
ll u p tim e he s ucc e e d s e a s ily Too much o f
thi s r ui n s him fo r b e tt e r thi n g s
B e thi s as it m a y it will n o t be de n i e d that
co n t r ol o f l a n g u a g e a r e a dy c o op e r a tio n o f
r
thou g ht a n d wo d i s ch a r a ct e r i s tic o f t he
G a e lic m e n t a l m a n if e s t a tio n a s s een in t he
I r i s hm a n
T r u e the l a n g u a g e g ift i s n o t
limit e d t o t he G a e lic I r i sh
I n Ang l o
,
'
96
The G ae l
i n L i t e rat u re
I rish circl e s a l s o to ng u es w a g f re e ly a n d
to
f
e
ood
f e ct
B ut t he m o r e Gaelic t he
g
An d
ci r cl e the m o r e s t r iki n g the g ift
here it m a y be r e m a r k e d in p a s s i ng th a t
the I r i s h qu a lity o f t he Ul s t e rm a n who i s
h a lf a S cotchm a n m a y b e t ra c e d in p a r t to
the r a ci a l f a ct th a t i n so fa r a s he i s S cotch
which i s n o t a lto g e th e r he is l a rg e ly H i g h
l a n d S cotch i e of the s a m e race a s t he
G a e lic I r i sh There i s little t o ch o o se in t he
w ay
r a c e b e tw e en t he P r e s byt e r i a n
of
M a cdo n a ld of t he no r th a n d t he C a tholic
O D o n n e ll o f t he w e s t e r n p r ovi n c e
Mo r e
o ver
t he qu a liti e s th a t di s ti n g ui s h the C e lt a r e
qu a liti e s that can be m a d e t o g r ow by u s e
a n d a s s oci a tio n
P ow e r o f l a ng u ag e impli e s the t en d en cy o f
w o r d s t o r i s e with t he thou g ht s to thi n k i n
l a n g u a g e s o th a t th o u g ht a n d t he s p e e ch of
it a r e p a r t s of a s i ng l e m e n t a l a c t The m an
who e xpr e s ses him s e lf with di fculty thi n k s
h a b itu a lly without owin g o u t into word s He
i s e ith e r c e n t r e d in t he s o urce o f thou g ht
.
'
I97
The G en i u s
t he
of
Gae l
T hi
u
t
i
q
es
xp
rea
is
o n as
re s s o n
dy
to
pl c t g u t h p y h l g ic l
h w t h ug ht i p
ibl wi th u t c mpl t
t
I hv
d u b t th t i t i d m q u i t
t
h
t
u
i
t
pp
l
p
i
c
g
ar
n ot
o
t he
on
no
ar
a e
a e
o ss
e a
98
ex
an
e r en e
o o
s,
ea
e e
The G a e l
i n L i t e ra t u r e
ki n d P hy s ic a lly w e m a y su pp o s e
th a t t he cur r e nt s o f a ctio n mov e quickly s o
th a t a l l p a rt s o f t he b r a i n are more r ea dily
rou se d to a c t to g e th e r
M e r e u e n cy o f wo r d s i s a v e ry sm a ll p a r t
o f the ch a r a ct e r i s tic a s a whol e
O f fa r g r ea t er
impo r t a n c e fo r lit e ra r y e xc ell en c e i s the cl o s e
nes s with which the picto r i a l im a g i n a ti o n r u n s
a lon g s id e thou g ht
pl a yi n g int o it g ivi n g v e n t
t o it
illu s t ra ti ng it with im ag e s th a t pi e r c e
the mind o f t he li s t e n e r a do r ni n g it with a
w e a lth o f g r a phic f an cy th a t r ea ct s as s timulu s
on
it se lf
G r a ph ic pow e r is o f t he v ery
e s s e nc e o f lit e r a ry e xc e ll e nc e
N o w r it e r o r
s p e a k e r m a k e s oth e r s see e xc e pt in s o f a r a s
he him s e lf s e e s ; a n d u n l e s s he i s d e ci en t
in wo r d s o r they b elow t he no rm a l in vi su a l
im a g in a tio n what he s ee s they s e e a l s o a n d
t hr ou g h s i g ht by w ay of im ag e s an e n t r y is
m a d e int o thou g ht He w ho u se s m et a pho r s
with o ut him se lf h a vi ng im ag e d their cont ent
A n o r i g in a l m e t a phor
i s curiou s ly i n e ff e ctiv e
c a nnot come into b e i n g a t a l l without t he
c i pr o c a t i n
'
I 99
The G e n i u s
of
t he
G ae l
m e t a phor
A s tr a nd e d v e s s e l
a r u d d er
l e ss b ar k
m et a p h or s lik e
t he owin g ti d e
th e s e in a s uit a ble cont ext a re a pt by lon g
u s e t o s u g g e s t th e i r m e a n i n g
i n t he c o n t e xt
o n ly without e v e n a b a ck cu r r en t o f im ag i n a
tion for t he im ag e s th em s elv e s
N ow t he t r u e lit e r a r y mind d ea li ng with
e v e n su c h s impl e m a t e r i a l as
this is a lwa y s
a ctiv e o n
it a s im ag i n atio n
I t n e v e r uses
a m e t a phor without f e e li n g
the lif e th e r eof
Thi s is t he s e cre t o f u s i ng o ld me t a pho r s i n
a n o r i g in a l m a n n e r
When u se d by o n e who
200
The G a e l
i n L i t e rat u r e
im a g e b e f o r e him t he im a g e i s e x a ctl y
tt e d to t he c o n t e xt with subtl e n a tur a l m o di
c a t i o n s th a t m a k e t he whol e o n e a n d u n i qu e
Thu s t he dyi n g m e t a pho r h a s g iv e n to it a
n e w l e a s e o f lif e
A m e t a pho r to b e a liv e
must in a s en s e be n ew bo rn wh en it i s u s e d
I t s n ew bi r th in t he s p e a k e r s mi n d i s e x
p r e s s e d b y t he a pt n e s s of i t s r e s e tti n g i n t he
co n t e x t of hi s s p e e ch
Th e r e i s a m e t a pho r f r e qu e n tly u s e d in t he
o l d I r i s h s to r i e s
I n i g ht o r pu r s uit t he h e r o
r id e s s o s wiftly th a t t he M a r ch wi n d c a n n ot
ove rt a k e him
P e r h a p s t he fo r m o f this
m e t a phor h e lp s to m a k e it mo r e than o r di n a r ily
v i v id I a lw a y s s e e t he r id e r u n t o uch e d b y
any w i n d e xc e pt t he d r a u g ht o f hi s w a y a nd
n
m
e
t
r
o
I
f
l
the
keen
p
i
w
i
d
blow
e
ee
s
n
n
y
g
out of the quarter b e hi n d him a n d see t he
bow e d clump s of h e a th e r o n t he win d s w e pt
hill s But i n the main it s t r ik es fr e s h b e c a u s e
u s e d fr e s hly
Thi s qu a lity o f r e a lity i s in g e n e r a l v ery
m a r k e d in t he m e t a ph o r s of t he G ae lic t a l e s
ha s t he
20 1
The G en i u s
of
t he
Ga e l
20 2
The Gae l
i n L i t e rat u re
'
20 3
The G en i u s
G ae l
t he
c e n tr e it se lf i n i ma g ery t o such a n e xt en t th a t
im a g i n a tio n ceases to b e r es po n s ibl e t o i t s
a
s
r
e
s
t o s e n s e o n t he o n e h a n d t o t he unity
m t
o f th o u ht o n the oth e r
Thi s i s lik e t he s t a t e
g
o f the d r e a m e r i n s l ee p ;
a n d it c a n e a s ily
h a pp e n u n d e r the e xhil ar a ti o n o f g re a t im a g in a
tiv e a cti v ity In s uch c a s e o b se r v a tio n i s in
a ccu r a t e im ag e r y f a n ciful id e a s f a l s i e d r a th e r
th a n pa r t i c u l a r iz e cl i n im a g i n a tio n ; ctio n
e v e r ywh e r e
p r e domi n a t e s ov e r f a ct
But t he im ag i n a ti v e g ift which proc e e d s
f r om the co n c r e t e n e s s of m en t a l a ctivity
a ll t he mind a t wo r k with s timulu s t o t he s e n s e
o rg a n s wh e n at wo r k at a ll i s a v e ry di ffe r en t
m a tt e r I t i s o p e n e y e d a n d s a n e o n t he s id e
c o n t r oll e d b y t he o ut e r r e a lit y I t i s
o f s en se
co n t r o ll e d n o le s s by t he i n n e r r e a lity o f
thou g ht d em a n di n g l o g ic a l u n ity in a l l m en t a l
m a n if e s t a t i o n s C e ltic im a g i n a tiv en e s s ha s this
an d thus it m a y b e a rg u e d t o p r oc e e d
s a n ity
from th a t whol e n e s s o f r e a ctio n o r co n c r e t e
which a s we h a ve s ee n a ccou n t s in s o
n ess
m a ny o ther w a y s fo r t he ob se rv e d c h a ra c
t e r i s t i c s o f t he C e lt
,
The G ae l i n
L i t e rat u r e
m to h a v e s pok e n o f im ag i na
tio n a s if it were co n c e rn e d o n l y with vi s u a l
c r e a tio n ; but thi s w a s m e r e ly fo r cl e a rn e s s
o f id ea s s o f a r
a n d the a ctivity o f the ea r
n o le s s th a n th a t of t he e e
is
co
c
d
in
n
r
n
e
e
y
the c o n c r e t e n es s of m en t a l a ction as h e r e c o n
s id er e d
The g ift o f wo r d s i s i n p a r t a g ift
o f ear
and
a s a whol e
is n o doubt r e l a t e d
cl o s e l y t o o r a l im a g i n a ti v e n e s s Thi s pl a y s
o n t h e o r g a n s o f a ticul a ti o n
o n t he o n e h a n d
a n d k e e p s them e v e n du r i n g s il e n c e i n a c o n
O n t he
ditio n of n a s c en t v a ryi n g a ctivity
oth e r h a n d it reacts o n t he central s p e e ch
c e n tr e wh e r e t o put it m e t a pho r ic a lly th o u g ht
i s coi n e d i n to wo r d s u n d e r t he s timulu s i n thi s
In thi s
c a s e a t l e a s t o f o r a l im a g i n a tio n
s timulus a n d t h e g uid a n c e th a t g o e s with it lie
the s e c r e t of t he m e l o di e s o f s p e e ch If t he
s p e e ch c e n t r e b e d o mi n a t e d s ol e ly by thou g ht
th e n thou g ht i s e xp re s s e d but w ith littl e o r
I f it b e domi n a t e d
n o mu s ic in t he e xp r e s s i o n
by t he o r a l im a g i n a ti o n t he e a r a s w e sa y
th en mu s ic a l e ff e ct p re v a il s ov e r m e a n i n g ;
m ay
see
20 5
The G en i u s
t he
of
G ae l
c om e
I
.
Wh en a s o ng is w r itt en to mu s ic t he ear
pl a inly l ea d s t he thou g ht Wh e n philo s ophic
thou g ht is w r itt e n in v e r se t he po s ition should
be r e v e r se d thou g h t he or a l imag i n a tion ha s
inuence e v en th en r e sh a ping it s e lf fr ee ly t o
f a ll i n with t he thou g ht but a pt in t he e n d
to e ff e ct a compromi se o n ly An o r din ar y
p e r s o n with s om e pow e r o f v ers i c a t i o n may
ob s e rv e wh e n he ha s s om e thi ng t o e xp r e s s
i n v e r s e how he c a s t s a bout fo r a m e t r e a n d
r hym e i n to h a r mo n y with which it n a tu r a lly
f a ll s Wh e n thou g ht is h a mm e r e d o ut int o
a d e nit e m e t r e t he lif e f a d e s in both thou g ht
,
d u b t t h m u cl
c c d i n thi di p i ti
1
No
on er n e
es o f a r
os
on
to
20 6
tic u l t i
l
m t ic l p ech
a
e r
o n a so
ar e
.
arg e
ly
The G ae l
i n L i t e rat u re
20 7
The G en i u s
of
t he
Gae l
sight s ? A r e n o t o u r im ag es of s i g ht mo r e
r e a li s tic th a n tho s e of s o u n d ?
D o we n o t o n t he oth e r h an d ex e r ci se o u r
p a r e c r e a t i ve fa n cy mu ch m o re in t he regi o n
of s ou n d th a n in that of s i g ht ? I t is n a t ur a l
th a t thi s s hould b e s o s i n c e w e c a r r y a bo ut
w ith u s a lw a y s our o w n ob j e ctiv e s ou n d o rgan
i e
t he voic e
C er t a i n ly t he ea r a s t he
e xt e r n a l c o n t r o ll e r o f lit e r a r y e xp r e ss io n wo r k s
m a i n ly by r e f e r e n c e t o w h a t might a lmo s t be
c a ll e d st r uctu r a l law s o f mu s ic a l f o rm I n oth e r
wo r d s it ha s a s p e ci a l lit e r a r y fu n ctio n a s the
o rg a n o f mu s ic r a th e r than as a n o rg a n o f
ob se rv a tio n I n d ee d in li s t en i n g to the o u t
s id e wo r ld
the g ood l i te r a ry e ar s e l e ct s r a th e r
the mu s ic a l s o u n d s a n d n eg l e ct s t o h ea r a t a ll
I ts lit e r a r y qu a lity tu r n s on this
t he n oi s e s
With o ut thi s h a bit t he e a r r e
s e l e c t iv e n e s s
acting o n t he wo r d s an d s en t e n c e s suggested
by thoug ht would be a pt to l e t t he u n mu s ic a l
p a s s r e a dily i n to b e i n g
But the f a s tidiou s
n
s
i hibit t he i n h ar mo n iou s
r e j e ct s
ear
ph r a se s ; a n d t he lit e r a r y e a r i s f a s tidi o u s in
,
'
20 8
The G ae l
i n L i t e ratu re
2 09
The G en i u s
of
t he
G ae l
21 0
The Ga el
i n L i t erat u r e
in o r d e r o v e r t he varied s l o p e s and th r ou g h
the v a ll ey s h a de s M e t a phor a p a r t thi s n e
qu a lity of e x po s itio n i s not s impl e : it s e em s
to turn chi e y on a pt n e ss to s e iz e the c ent r a l
i d ea of t he th e m e t o k e e p it w e ll in V iew
throu g hout t he whol e d e v el o pm ent o f the
s ub j e ct
to g ive t he r ea d e r a g r a s p o f
and
it n a lly as a s i n g l e whol e
Contr a s t s o f i n t e ll e ctu a l m e thod s uch a s thi s
tend to di s a ppe a r or to be ton e d down a s
c o mmunicati o n between t he in t e ll e ctu a l cl a s s es
i n cr e a s es i n t e rn a tion a lly When my f a th er w a s
D ubli n the d i s
a s tud e n t in T r i n ity Coll eg e
t i n c t i v e ch a r a ct e r of French m a the m a tic a l t e xt
book s w a s much mor e marked than it i s now
N othi n g to comp a r e with th em w a s w r itt e n
in En g li s h a t th a t tim e an d th e y w e r e t he
book s pr e s c r ibe d fo r t he D ubli n s tud ent s o f
that g en e r a tio n When these m en grew up
how e v e r th e y b r ok e the lon g s i len c e of their
U niversity by w r iti n g g r e a t bo ok s on m a th e
m a t i c s th em s e l v e s which s oon b e c am e pop ul a r
i n E n g l a nd a l s o a n d s timul a t e d imp r ov e m e n t s
21 1
The G en i u s
of
t he
G ae l
wo r k s of t he l a t e D r Sa lm o n in p a r ticul a r
we r e t r a n s l a t ed i n to French an d b e c a m e fo r
t he s ub j e ct of which th e y treat t he t e xt b o o k s
used i n French U n ive r s iti es Th e s e D ublin
book s an d t he old e r French boo k s s t an d now
o n my lib r a r y s h e lv es
The y a r e o l d f r i e n d s
t o whi ch I o w e muc h
I n s tyl e a n d m e thod
they ha v e t he same li g htn e s s o f touch a n d
s w if tn e s s o f m o v em e nt
advancin g w i th much
le s s concr e t e il lu s tr a t i o n a n d pr a ctic a l a p plic a
ti o n th a n d o t he Eng li s h b o ok s to r ea ch mo re
r a pidly t he culmi n a tion o f t he a r um e nt
Thi s
g
qu a lity a ff e ct s o n e lik e plot i n t e r e s t w e ll
s u s t a in e d and quickly d e v e lop e d in a s to r y
H e n c e t h a t sense o f unity in s ubj e ct m a tt e r
with corr es pondin g int ell e ctu a l g r a s p which
s o oth e s a n d charms the mind
I t is in s ci e n tic r a t h er th an in lit e r a r y
wo r k th a t thi s tr a it s hould be obs e r v e d b e c au s e
it g o e s without s a yi ng a s a ch a ra ct e r i s t i c o f
n e lit e r a tur e
Wh a t has b een said s o fa r
th a t French s ci en tic
a mou n t s i n f a ct t o thi s
wo r k 1 8 e xpou n d e d in a lit e r a r y m ann er I
thi n k the sa m e qu a lity will be found t o c h a ra c
.
'
21 2
The G ae l
i n L i te ratu re
I r i sh wo r k o f t he same kind s o fa r a s
it g o e s The I rish s kill in t e a chi n g is co g n a t e
t o it
But t he co n t r a s t b e tw e e n I rish a n d
E n g li sh is a very s m a ll m a tt e r a s compa r e d
with t he cont ra s t b e tw e en G e rm an an d French
The s a m e b e n t fo r u n ity o f compo s itio n
s how s it s e lf in t he C e ltic st o rie s as com a r e d
p
with the No r s e The No r s e s ag a is in fo r m
a s T e uto n ic a s a m o dern G e r m a n treatise o n
th e olo g y I t begin s n o t m e r e ly a t but b e fo r e
t he beg inning an d t e ll s y o u how thi n g s c a m e
With
t o be wh a t th e y were wh e n th e y b eg a n
and they a r e n e it ha s
a l l i t s n e qu a liti e s
n o t th a t s wift ch a r a ct e r iz a tio n which carries us
int o t he f e e li n g o f the st o r y a t its out s e t and
b e a r s us quickly o n
perh a p s
The C e ltic t a s t e fo r ly r ic is
The u n ity
a s s oci a t e d with t he same qu a lity
r
f
of a po e m i s in p a t unity o mood o n e
mood o r a cor r e l a t e d g r oup The ly r ic clo s e s
back o n it se lf s wiftly a n d is compl e t e a s o n e
mi g ht s ay i n a s ingle s w e e p o f thou g ht I t
i s in o n e mov em e n t a n d b r i ef e n ou g h to b e
compl e t e b e fo r e the op e n i ng m o o d di e s down
t er iz e
21
The G en i u s
t he
Gae l
Hen c e
21 4
The G ae l i n
L i t e ratu re
m a ki n g a man s pe e chl e s s
Eloqu enc e
impli e s a wid e r e a chi ng a n d r ea dy pl a y of
f e e lin g a bout thou g ht with o ut a n y lo s s o f
tho u g ht in f e e li ng
I t impli e s j u s t t he w e ll
b a l a nce d co n c r e t e s t a t e of mind thou g ht d a r t
ing o u t int o f e e li n g but s e lf s u s t a i n e d f e eli ng
r e a cti n g
di r e ctly o n thou g ht in s timulu s t o
hi g h e r e ffo r t s A magnicent co n t ro l of wo r d s
may be given in thi s c a se by t he s pu r o f
e m o tio n a l excitement which thus e s c a p es fro m
it s e lf a s mere f ee li ng m o ving a l l t he ci r cl es
o f mind to m o re a ctivity
A n a tu r e m er ely
p r o n e to emotio n t he s en tim en t a l n a tu r e
m e lt s int o f ee li n g o a t o f tho u g ht and is s il en t
in p r opo r tio n a s it is mov e d To be e motio n a l
m e r e ly i s to be n o t e lo qu en t Eloqu en c e i s
pr e s e n t wh en the m en t a l m an if e s t a tio n is s o
whol e a n d a t o n e th a t thou g ht is b o rn n o l e s s
o u t o f a m a t r ix o f feeling th an it is cloth e d
im a g e s a n d h a rmo n ie s
a s it r i se s in w o rds
Th a t the C e lt is e loqu e n t is ob viou s e nou g h
I t i s not a t a ll s o w ell kn o wn t h a t he is n ot
s e ntim e nt a l
A cc ordi ng to a l l this it would a pp ea r th a t
an d
'
The G en i u s
of
G ae l
t he
co n c r e t e mi n d e d C e lt i s s o fa r a s hi s b r a i n
pow e r g o e s t he bor n lit er a r y a rti s t of Europ e
Thi s ha s been s a id o f him be for e n o w and
a tt e mpt s have not b e en l a cki n
how
th
t
s
a
t
o
g
E n g li sh lit er a tu r e in pa r ticul ar ow e s t he b e tt er
p a rt o f i t s e xi s t e nc e to his p resence in t he
b a c kg r ou n d o f Briti sh h e r e dity But g e n eal o
f
i
o
es
genius form a n ob s cu re an d di fcult
g
s ub j e ct
n o t to be a r g u e d h e r e
My imp r es
s ion i s t h a t E n g l i s h lit e r a tu r e is g r e a t b e c a u s e
th e r e we r e g i an ts o f lit e r a tu r e in t he l an d
n o t b e c a u s e th e y w e r e p e r s on s of a n y p a rticul a r
r a ci a l s t r a i n
Ou r co n c e rn is with t he o r di n a r y
C e ltic I r i sh a n d t he lit e r a r y f a cility a pa r t f r om
a l a ck o f p r o p o r tio n between
1 n e ffe ct i v e n e s s
the p r omi s e an d t he f r uit Wha t o f this ?
In t he r s t pl a c e it is obviou s th a t wh e r e
mo s t p e opl e h a v e s om e tu rn fo r lit e r a ture
t he
216
i n L i t e ra t u r e
The Gae l
21
The G e n i u s
of
G ae l
t he
'
'
V II
CELT
IN RESPEC T O F
SPI R ITUAL
INS G HT
I h v f lt
Ap
c t h t di t u b m w i t h t h j y
Of l v t d t h ug ht ;
ublim
O f m thi g f m d p ly i t f u d
Wh dw lli g i t h lig h t f tti g u
A d th
ud c
d t h livi g i
ky
A d t h bl u
d i t h mi d f m
A m ti
piri t th t im p l
d
All thi ki g t hi g ll bj ct f ll th u g h t
ll th ug h ll t hi g
A d
W W
An d
r es e n
e e a e
so
o se
e ro
e s
on
ro
an
sen se
or e
ro
ar
an
se
se
n er
an
ee
ea n ,
n s,
a r,
an :
e s
O R DS
O RTH
C HA P TE R
VI I
T H E C E LT I N RE S PE CT O F S PIR I T UA L
IN S I G H T
titl e o f t his ch a pt e r in dic a t e s a s ub j e ct
th a t cann o t be d ea lt with a d e qu a t e l y in g en e ra l
t e rm s till s uch time a s c a r e ful s tudy has b e en
d e v ot e d to its e lucida t i on by duly qu a li e d
ob s erv er s i n e a c h o f the C e ltic count r i e s
Th es e s hould be p e r s on s o f s u fci en t a n a l y tic
intelligence and a ccur a cy a s o bserver s w ho
h a v e a l s o themselve s e x p e ri en c e o f t he psychic
r
s
ift
to
the
p
c
which
in
ot
e
a
s
r
s
e
n
o
f
e
e
h
g
th e y h a v e to weigh t he e v id en c e O f lit e ra tu r e
o n t he s ubj e ct in this s e n s e th e r e i s littl e s o fa r
as I k n o w a lthou g h th e re is with o ut d o ubt in
co untries co n t ai n in g a C e ltic popul a tion
a ll
a cl e a r co n sen su s of o pini o n a m o n g t h o s e who
TH E
22 1
The G en i u s
of
t he
G ae l
22 2
The C e l t
i n Spi ri t u al I n sigh t
s o c a ll e d a s hidden f r om co n s ciou s n e s s
ift
g
i n r e s p e ct o f i t s c a u sa l ori g in th a t g ift of
s up e r n a l
s pi r itu a l
insight which i s fully
described by tho se who have stu d ied o n the
inside t he d e v elopm ent o f Ch r i s ti a n lif e in
t he liv e s o f t he s a int s from S t Pa ul h im s e lf
onw a rd s
Th e c a se o f the G a e lic seer as for e x ampl e
t he H i g hl a nd e r who pr a y s i n the n a m e of t he
co ng r eg a tio n with g ift so p en e t r a ti n g th a t
e v e n t he c a r e l e s s on es
lo s in g touch of s e lf
a n d mundane c a res f e e l t h e m s e lv e s in t he v e ry
pr e se nce of the Et e rn a l hi s c as e if t h i s pow e r
ha s co me to him with l e s s than the n o rm a l
is cl ea rly th a t of
a mou n t o f a rduou s tr a i n in g
o n e s o co n s titut e d by n a tur e t h a t in hi s a c t of
no doubt a l s o in ot h e r fervid
a dor a tion
as
a ct s hi s whol e energy o f co n s ciou s n es s i s a s
H i s s pi r itu a l
a m a tt e r o f cou r s e a b s o r be d
uplift is impassi o ned and i n volv es his whole
p e r s on a lity
A p e r s o n o f thi s kind would
n a tura l my s tic
a s I u n d e r s t a nd be c a ll e d a
22 3
The G en i u s
of
G ae l
t he
by t h o se who a r e l ea rn e d in t he hi s tory an d
have studied t he p s ycho l og y o f Chri s ti a n
my s tici s m The y wo uld n o t ho wever m ea n
m o re by t h i s th a n th a t s uch a p e r s o n if s e lf
trained a s the g re a t mystic s a int s trained t h em
se lv e s
to make t he mo s t o f al l hi s pow e rs
for t he a pp r ehe n s ion and u s e o f s pi r itu a l
t ru th would c om e mo r e e a s ily int o hi s vi s ion
o f t he Et e r n a l R e a lity
a n d b e mo r e e ff e ctu a l
a l s o in c o mmunic a tin g t he s e n s e o f it to oth e rs
The g r e a t my s tic s w e r e g r e a t b e c a u s e t he
whol e n a tu r e in them w a s g r ea t a n d s a intly
n o t s imply b e c a u s e th e y ha d
in t he r s t in
s t a nc e
an u n t r a in e d f a cility to tread the
my s tic w a y N o n e t he l e s s is it a gift t o h a v e
this n a tur a l f a cility s i n c e thus o n e is e n a bl e d t o
make t he m o st of s uch pow e r s oth e rwi s e as
o n e m a y h a p e n to h a v e t o m a k e t he mo s t
p
a l s o a n d thi s i s mo r e impo r t a n t o f that a cc e s s
to grace t he t r a n s c e n d en t lif e f o r c e s u rg i ng up
from the d e e p s whe r e t he D ivin e i s imm a n ent
I t is a g i ft to be a bl e to
i n the huma n s pirit
co n c e n t r a t e t he p s ycho phy s ic a l energy a t a n y
.
224
The C e l t i n
point
Spi r i tual I n si g h t
The
ere
ren
ea
h rd by J
ea
e sa
en o n
e
a so
e e
o an o f
Ar c
a r
oo
e s
oc u
s o ns o
22 5
o c es o
r s
s o n , an
ea
an
es ern
es
The G en i u s
of
G ae l
t he
s
n
thi s is to b e a my s tic illumi n a t e d s o
c l u io s
A pe r s on mi g h t have
fa r a s the visi o n g o es
s
s
n
e
s
r
t
gift
great
o
portu
iti
in
thi
sense
e
a
p
g
but by n eg l e c t o f th e i r cultiv a tion might l et
th em b e com e o f no e ff e ct The d ea dli es t kind
of n eg l e ct i s di s ob e die n c e t o the vi s ion ; an d
this fo r t he p l a i n p s ych o lo g ic a l r ea s on that
f
mind
divided
a
a
i
n
s
t
it
s
e
lf
t
h
d
ing
e
o
o
a
g
h
n
n
r
t
e
it a t w a with
k owi g can n ot m a in t a i n
i t s p o w e r o f c o o r din a t e uplifti n g a s a whol e
U n ity o f life a t i t s hi g h e s t l ev e l i s the sag e s a im
s
2 26
The C e l t
i n Spi ri t u al I n si g h t
s
r
n
for
mo
t
r
n
k
as
s
a
i
t
a
n
d
t
e
a
ch
s
e
e
s
a
St
t he
P aul St Catherine St F ra n ci s St Te r es a ;
r o u n d th e s e fou r t he wh o l e d o ctrine may b e
p r ot a bl y di s cu s s e d
We kn o w much less
a bout t he inn er hi s to r y o f the C e ltic s a i n t s :
The
The Mysti c
Way
von
E U d hill ;
H ug l
.
er
2 27
The My s ti ca l El em en t
The G en i u s
of
G ae l
t he
mo s t p a r t th ey w e r e m en an d wom en
o f a ctio n
r a th e r
th a n w r it e r s a s fa r a s w e
k n ow Thi s w a s e s p e ci a lly the case with t he
B riti sh Apo s tl e o f I r el a nd St P a t r ick Never
t he l e s s we have s om e fe w r e liqu es
f r om hi s
h a n d a n d with th em we m ay begin o u r inquiry
Tw o
int o t he e vide nc e o f C e ltic s pi r itu ality
docum e n t s in L a ti n a r e ascribed to St P a t r ick
The Co n f es s io n
and w r itt e n in hi s name
Epi s tl e t o C o r o t i cu s
I t i s t he
t he
and
fo rm e r which reveals the inner n a tu r e o f
t he writer and with which we a r e c o n c erned
h er e
for
t he
1 , Pa
The
t ick i
F i thf u l
r
m tul
s nn e r ,
d f ll
f m
y m t d pi d
n ear n e
os
an d
an
es
os
se
I u ff d c p t u t h
t f u ll i x t
I k w t th t u G d d l d w y
I t p t ivi ty with th u d m
br u g h t t I l df t t w ll d r d
W
wi thd w u lv
F
w f m G d h d f
n o
H e g o es
on
ee n
an
s an
re a n
ro
no
as
or
ca
en
re ,
no
ne
ere
o r e,
a e
oo
ra
ar
to r e cou n t how
e s e ve
i n hi s
rs e
s ix
F gu
er
so n ,
l d i t E g li h bl k v
r a n s at e
n o
2 28
an
er s e
es
y ea r s
S mu l
a
The C e l t
captivity the
i nn oc en c e :
i n Spi r i t u al I n si g h t
Lo r d
Ik w
Ad m n i h d m
A f th
m ig h t
Y e a,
o o se
twi x t
me
g av e
a so n
youth
hi s
on
g oo
an d
l i
an d
ill
o n so at o n
t u ch
The
an d
er
Thu s he
a s it w e r e
%
to
ne
e re
had pity
an d
pp h i
en s o n o f
re
my
God,
Th f t
My i g n r n
i t h m m t di l
u Ihv tl d
; b
Wi t h b vi ty d l g c f p h
T t
h w t h S piri t m v
t d p t hi g
Th
u l ff c t i
mi d
d th hum
it g i n t m
it i t m
B t w
I w u ld t l g b l w t i g Hi pr i
Ev t h ug h t m p h c i n t hi I m
u mp t u u wi th my u d d t mm i g t g u
P
t mm i g t g u
Y t i t i wri tt n t h t t h
S h ll y t b wif t t p k t h w d f p c
e r e o re
o a
o - d ay
ce
ec a
an
re
e so
r es
e s
no
e s a
o s
ea
s n
an
an
2 29
ea r n e
e as
erc
sc o s e
e ec
e s o
so
an
as
on
an
s,
ons
ve
no
en
e re
es
se
e e
ee
r ea
an
so
a se
or
se e
er n
s a
on
er n
e,
es
on
ea e
The G en i u s
m u ch
Gae l
t he
h n li th t h rg
W h Ch i t pi t l
t
f
nd
t h w ld
B
w rd f hi lv t i
d
t ind
L d w d b ut w d f p w w t i
h
N t wi t h p
i k b u t by t h Spi i t f G d
d i qui
H
it r i d m up
wh w
M \
f li h m f m m id t f th m t m d
d l w l
Wi m
d d i p w r f p ch
A i n ll l
p p t t d i pi d
M
v n m t h b utt f thi w ld c
Ab v t h t t b wh t w I m
H whil t t l t wi t h f
d r v r n
F i thfu l i h t d u mpl i i g ly
I v t hi p pl t wh m t h ch i ty
O f C hri t ig m f my t f lif
If I b w thy ; th t wi t h h u mbl h t
A d t u t hf u l lip I t
h it
Ho w
o,
s e
ea r n e
or
ear an
re
e,
s er e
re
no
ee
s o rn ,
ce
e e e
ar
r es
e ar
ea c
a n n
or
e,
or
nc o
e,
or
ns
es ee
ear a n
ns
lo n e
an
an
an
eo
as s
o en
ea r ts,
n o ur
ri
a se
earn e
ar e
er
as
s
e o n us ,
ee
eas
e ar
no
or
on
e r es
ro
e se
e,
He
sa
er e
en an
e,
es,
r e,
se
es
or
en - n
oo
o re
s,
e,
t he
r s
ea r
of
v e r t s to the hi s to r y of his co n v e r s i o n
in t he wood s an d o n the mou n t a in s
re
h ly f
f i th
I n r d i n m th t i
i gl d y
I
id m y
h un dr d p y
r f w ; t h t ft
A d i t h n ig h t
I n w d d th m u t i I
mi d
b f d yli g h t t hr ug h w
A d ri n t p y
T h u g h f t t h u g h r i n d y t I t k ill
w
th i n m t h
u g ht l w
N
w
pi i t f G d wi thi m b u d
F
t h n th
An d
e,
c e ase
ve
oo
or
or
as
e s
ra
en
2 3o
er s ,
ve
oo
as
s o
sn o
a ne
re
an
so
n a ns
ro
er e
er
e or e
er
ra
ros
on
sc a c e
s an
ro
a s n
as a
se
an
as
sa
ea r an d
no
rn e
no
,
The C e l t
i n Spi r i t u al I n si g h t
ni g ht in s l e e p a v o ice d e cl a r es to him
th a t he s h a ll s e e hi s l a n d a n d h o m e Ag a i n it
sa ys
Beh o ld thy s hip i s r e a d y
S o he
e s c a p e s with many t r i a l s f r om hi s se r vitud e
O n c e mo r e a mid s t hi s o w n pe opl e there pr e
s e n t l y com e s to him the c a ll f r om I r e l a n d i n a
n i g ht vi s io n t he p s ycholo g ic a l i n t e r es t o f which
is co n s id e ra bl e :
One
I n n ig h t i i I b h ld m
C mi g tw r f m I l d V ic t h
I u m bl l tt br ug h t h
m t
d I d
li n
t
H g
f th I i h
it
Th v ic
d m th ug h t I h rd t h y
A d whil I
O f t h m t h t by t h w d f F l t h dw ll
O
yi n g t h u
B id t h W t
C m h ly y u th d w lk m g t
m
All wi t h
v ic I t t u ch d m t t h h r t
d
d m
wk
A d I c u ld
t h n ig h t I k w t I
A d
w if tw wi t hi n m
wi th u t
G d k
p y d wi th w d x c di g xqu i i t
O
I u ld t u d t d till t t h cl
H wh g
hi
p k i thi wi
ul
H
t h i H w h p k 1 I w k wi t h j y
F
c
I
H
im
p yi g i t w
w
A d
Wi thi m d I w my lf th ug h
V s on
as
er a
nn
es o
e,
one
no
ne
ra
e s
or
no
e,
an
an
so
no
us,
er s a n
ee
se
ea
ra
se
sa
23 1
ea
o s e,
av e
o
as
as
no
co
e or
sa
on e
on
er
s,
o re,
cr
sa
oc u
or
as
ee
s,
no
co
an
an o
on
ea
c ea n ,
r ea
e,
ra n ,
so
oo
e s e rn
one
e,
o ne
re a
or
e :
r s
rea
an
re an
re a
ro
ers
es
e e
ave
er e
so
The G en i u s
t he
of
G ae l
Wi thi n m y lf d r m th t i
Ov th i
I h rd H i m p y
m
S t g ly wi t h u rg n t g
my lf t h whil
A m d d w d i g w h h uld p y i m
se
er
an
o ve
nner
an ,
r on
an
on
ea
ra
ro a n s ,
az e
e,
er n
se
ra
I w k d c ll d
T m m y wh t Hi
p tl y
Th S pi i t h lp t h w k
f
p y ;
F
wh w p y d k w t w u g h t
Wh t t p y f t h S pi i t H im lf d th p y
F
wi th g i g i x p ibl
N t t b p ut i
Tur n in g now t the e a rly Chri tian G lic
o
or
en
or
or
ra
us
s a
ra
an
o r,
roa n n
an
os
ea
e sa
no
o ur
ra
as
ne
re s s
er
e o
se
n e ss o
no
ra
ae
ra s e
ss
se
o-
on
r n
ree n es s ,
r ea o r
2 32
e,
an
o n e s s on
e e e
en s
ne
The C el t
i n Spi ri t u al I n si g h t
I u p i my lf t d y
By t h
vi tu f t h B ir th f C hri t w i t h hi
B p ti m
B y t h vi t u
f Hi C u i x i
wi th Hi B u i l
By th
d A c
ir t f Hi R u ti
i
B y t h vi t u
f Hi C mi g t t h
nt n f t h
Ju dg m nt
I u p i my lf t d y
By t h
irt u f t h S phim l v
b di
f A g l
(Th vi t u t h t bid ) i n t h
ti
I th h p
f R u
u t t h r w rd
f th P t i
In th p y
h
I t h p dic t i
f t h P ph t
I th t
hi ng f t h A p tl
f th C
I t h f i th
f
c f H ly V i g i
I th i
f ig h t u m
I th d d
I u p i my lf t d y
B y t h li g h t f t h
n
f h
; by t h vi t u
f
w th f c f
Th whi t n
f li g h t i g t h
Th
wift
p d f t h wi d
Th d p t h f t h
t bili ty f t h
th
Th
f
ck
Th m
I u pr i my lf t d y
p w t pil t m
By G d
Th mi g h t f G d t u plif t m
f G d t l d m
Th k wl d g
f G d t l k b f
m
Th
y
r a se
se
ue
es
e v
ra
re
ea c
nn o c en
ons
s
e o
ess
n ess
e e
no
e o
ce
ro
o-
er
ns
ea r
s
e s,
or
e
ee
e,
e o
enc e
es ,
en
e,
s ea ,
se
a se
se
en s o n ,
e s,
n n
n ess
ro
s un
e s a
sn o
s,
os
eo
a r ar c
r a
o n es s o rs ,
n o
on
o-
an
rr ec
se
e o
r a se
on
r re c
es
es
ers
ee
e s
on ,
er a
o-
se
ra s e
oo
e,
ea
e o re
e,
23 3
re
e a ve
The G en i u s
The
of
e ar
God to
t he
of
G ae l
me,
ea r
w d f G d t m k m l qu t
Th h
d fGdt df dm
Th p t h f G d t li b f
m
Th
hi ld f G d t h lt m
Th h t f G d t g u d m
F m th
f d m
F m t h t m pt t i n f i
F m t h d ir f tu
F m ll t h t m di t t il g i t m
The
or
an
os
e s n ar e s o
ro
ro
ro
Al
es
Af ar
and
es o
na
a n ea r,
o n e an d
in
e,
e,
e,
o n s,
s o
e,
ar
en
e o
er
e o re
ro
e en
v c es ,
re ,
a e ev
mu l ti tud
a ns
e,
h v I i v k d ll th p w
B tw
m y lf d v y d g u m cil p w r
O pp d u t my b dy d m y ul
Ag i t t h i t ti
p ph t
f f l
Th bl ck l w
f h th n d m
Th f l
l w f h y t h c ft f id l t y
Th
p ll f w m
d mi t h
d dr u id
A d ll k wl d g t h t h t h d l d t h
ul f m
Ch i t d f d m t d y
d
Ag i t p i
d burn ing
g i t d w i g
wu d
U til mul ti tu di u w d h f ll t m
C h i t b wi t h m C h i t b f m
C h i t b hi d m C h i t wi thi m
C h i t b l w m C hri t b v m
C h i t t my ig h t h n d C h i t t my l f t h d
C h i t i n b d th C hri t i l g th C h i t i h ig ht
So
a e
ee n
se
o se
a se
r s
e s,
ra
o a r
s , an
ro
a se
an
es s
s,
e so
an
ro
a ns
an
n n
s,
s re
re a
r s
2 34
en
en
e,
e or e
r s
e,
av e
ar
r s
e,
e o
er e s
no
er
so
an
r s
ea
e ro
an
en ,
an
ons o
er s
e er
o so n
r s
e en
a ns
r s
no
r s
r s
an
n c an a
es e
n o
a ns
e,
e,
r s
an
The C el t
i n Spi r i t u al I n sigh t
C h i t i n th h t f ll w h thi k m
C hri t i n t h m u th f ll w h p k t m
C h i t i n v y y th t
m
C hri t i v y t h t h m
I u p i my lf t d y by m ig h ty irt u
I v c ti f t h T i i ty
I b li v i
Th
f i f O
w ith c
i
th C
t f th l m t
D mi i t l u D mi i t l u C hri t i t l u
it
S l u t D mi
mp
bi
m
r s
er
er
r s
ea r s
ra s e
n e ss
on
es
ua,
se e s
ear
o-
e a rs
r n
ea
rea o r
s,
ne,
se
e,
on ess o n
sa
an
ree n ess
on
se
e e e
es
sa
en s
s,
er n o
sc u
ne
es
sa
S id e
D li g h tfu l w u ld i t
o
pi
be t o m e
cl f ck
T h t I m i g h t ft
f th
Th f c
c
On
nn a
a e o
23 5
e o
ro
en see
e o
ea n ;
The G en i u s
T h t I m ig h t w tch
a
Ov
it s
wid
th y h n t m u i
t he
er
eav
o f t he Gael
i ng w v
a es
e sea ,
Wh n
th ir F t h
t
Up t h w ld c u ;
T h t I m ig h t i t l v l p kli g t d
I t w u ld b
cu f
w;
T h t I mig h t h r t h g f t h w d f u l bi d
S u c f h ppi
;
T h t I m ig h t h t h t h u d f t h cl m u w
Up t h ck ;
Th t I m i g h t h r t h
by t h id f t h ch u ch
O f t h u u di g
;
Th t I mig h t w tch i t bl u f
f ll w
d ;
G
t t
T h t I m ig h t b v i t bb d d
I n t h ir cycl ;
Th t m y m y tic l m m ig h t b i f i th
Cu l ri E i ;
T h t m y h t c t i ti mi g h t f ll
ki g u p h
O l
T h t I m i g h t b w il m y vil ll
T h ug h i t w r t y t umb t h m ;
T h t I m ig h t bl t h L d
Wh
d
ll ;
H v wi t h i t c u t l b i g h t d
L d t d d d;
T h t I m ig h t
h i n ll t h b k
T h t whi h w l d h lp m y ul ;
e
on
s c
or
s ee
r e o
e ro
rr o
r o ar
on
er
er o
or o
s er
no
on
e s
er s
an
oo
es
na
e,
r n
on
on r
ear
oo
on
no
ess
or
s r an
ea s
or
an
es s
ti m
er
ou
es s
or
er s ,
oo
so
At
oo
s ea rc
er s a
ea e n
an
er
e e
on
e o
sea
re a e s
so rro
or
s,
av e s
ea
e s
n ess
ear
on
s ra n
ar
e so n
se
er
rs e
e e
ea
e no
i ng i ng p lm
sa
2 36
my hea r t ,
The C e l t
i n Spi ri t ual I n si g h t
At ti mes medi t a ti ng
C hi f
e
At t i mes
of
on
h ly
t he
t he Ki ng
o n es
wor k w i t hou t
at
mpu l si on
co
Thi w u ld b d li g h tf ul
A t t i m pl u ki g d ili f m
s
es
A t th
o
t m es
er
At t i m es di str i bu t i ng
At t i mes i n
sc
hi
s
f Hea ven ,
ro
t he
ro
f ood
t o t he
poor ,
her mi ta g e
from t he presen ce of
vouc hsaf ed t o m e
God
i n g wh m I r will k p f m
All t hi n g th t w u ld d i m
The K
ee
se ve
ng
Ha s been
ck
ro
ec e v e
me
E H ull p
.
1 1 1
The G en i u s
Hig h
G ae l
t he
G od run aw y u n t u g ht
him se lf
of
a
c ll
he
'
'
I wi h 0 S f t h L ivi g G d 0 A ci t E t l
Ki n g
hidd h u t i t h wild
i m pl cl u d d
F
t hi g
hi pl c
ch ti g hi
ll bli t h li t h li tt l l k i
Th
li g h t m l y
p l f t h S pi i t g c w hi g my
Th c l m cl
i wy
A wid wild w dl d
v y id i t h d t h
u y
O f g l d v ic d g t w h t d y d w h t t h ir
w t p lm f m
t h th
A u th
p ct t
b k
th
s
on
en
ern a
en
or a
e r n e ss ,
e se
e a
s ns
an
as
ra e ,
an
oo
on
er
e,
es
r ser
a e,
oo
e ar
so
ar
e rn
as
s er s ,
or
sa
ee
so
so n
ca c
A ch ic l d ich with g r i u
f m my d
ro
an
ac o
o or
n c
an
s un ,
oo r ,
o
238
roo
ac r o s s
dw t
g if t
s,
n-s r et c
hi
ng
The C el t i n
Spi ri t u al I n si g h t
f
I w uld p i m
wi th
t nt d p w
T i thy p i t h ug h u t
l h u
Few m en
s e,
an
and
ca
ra se
ro
dy
t he
s at
ea s
n ee
Thi
The
e en ,
o ur
en
an o n
mo
o ur
on e ,
f g
h u mbl
ar e
d t
es
oa s
ng
im p l f
r ee ,
us
ra n
b ti
no
ar e ,
h b n dry I h
lb iu
t l k b u t my d
th
i s t he
ra
ch c
ee
or r
ea
c on
i f m l b tw wh pr y r i d
d u p ply ;
N gr d i
h
impl f
f th
ib ld y
Br
en
r ze,
er ,
ra se
ese
ee
b ee
o o se ,
or o
e,
t he
and
he n
o or,
s,
R u g h r i m n t f tw d
n d thi will my
gh f
Ki g ll w ;
A d I t
b
i tti g d p yi g t G d u d v y
l fy b g h
o
en ou
or
ee
e s
ou
ea
ee
an
ra
er e
er
h a v e ex pr e sse d in thi s s ev e n th
c e n tu r y po em t he a n tiqu e spirit o f j oyful
co n t e n t and piou s a s pi r a tio n which endures to
thi s day a n d d ig n i es life in t he cott a g e
hom e s o f Western I r e l an d
I t must how e v e r be r em emb e r e d th a t this
j oyful co n t empl a tion in tender ki n dly I rish
f a shion o f nature and man and the i n t e r fu s ion
Th P m B k f t h G l E H u ll p p
7 8
Her e y o u
'
oe
oo
ae
2 39
1 1
The G en i u s
of
G ae l
t he
with the pr e se nc e o f G o d b e lo ng s r a th er
to t he r e st time o f t he pr a ctic a lly energetic
C e ltic sa int I n thi s r e s p e ct t he e a r ly Chu r ch
o f I r e l a n d fu r n i s h e s a shinin g e x a mpl e of the
Chri s ti a n life id ea l i n op e r a tio n
Fo r wh a t
i s th a t lif e id ea l clo s e ly co n s id e re d ? R e li g iou s
lif e in e s s e nc e i s lif e in t he s en s e o f the D i v i n e
pu r po s e lif e in a l l i t s m an if e s t a tio n s This
I
impli e s
a n i n n e r lif e co n f o rm a bl e t o the
)
mind o f Chri s t s o as to make of the s oul
a D ivine i n s trum en t a pl a c e wh e r e t he D ivin e
n
s
c
y
m
to minds o f an ex tro s p e ctiv e
r
ea
n e es s a
The My sti c
Way
E U d hill p
.
2 40
er
65
The C el t i n
Spi r i t u al I n si g h t
d e v e lopme n t
Wo r k is a kin d o f p r a y er
pr o vided it i s G o d di r e ct e d wo r k The pu r s uit
o f the i n n e r o r m y s tic way
hidden with Christ
in G od i s o n t he oth e r h a n d n e c es s a r y t o
s e cu r e c o i n h e r e n c e o f t he m a n s lif e pu r po s e
in t he lif e o f G o d and s o to p re s er v e him f r o m
w a s t e o f energy a n d t a l en t o n t a s k s th a t have
no
re a l
Such g r o w th t o w a r d s
s i g n ic a n c e
t he lif e o f G od mu s t impl y a g r o w th i n t he
pow e r o f s e lf e xp r e s s io n under two o r d e r s t he
et ern a l
and
the co n t empla ti v e
t he t emp o r a l
and t he a ctiv e
Thu s the t r ul y illumi n a t e d
m an
ow s o u t in univ ers a l
s a y s R uy s b r oe ck
He
ch a r ity tow a r d s h e aven a n d upo n earth
i s t he i n t e rm e di a r y between G od a n d c r e a tio n
Fo r t o u s e t he matchless m e t a ph o r o f St
P a ul
the w hol e creati o n travaileth a n d
gr o aneth t o g e th e r w a iti n g fo r t he r e v e l a tio n
of the s o n s of G od
th a t revelati o n b y
which a n d by which al o ne t he l o n g p a i n ful
p r o c e s s o f e v o lutio n i s e n a bl e d t o enter o n i t s
l a s t great stage o f d e v elopm e n t in a cco r d a n c e
with id e a l s of t he e n d tow a r d s which it m o ves
%
24 1
The G en i u s
of
Gae l
t he
i d e a l s o f a wo r ld movi ng f r ee ly in all i t s pa r t s
tow a rd s t he r e a liz a tion o f s pi r itu a l comm u n io n
within it se lf a n d with G od
Th e r e w a s no l a ck o f P a ulin e pra ctic a l re
in the I rish s a int s o f t h e s e old en tim es Their
p a g a n in h e r it anc e o f her o ic en erg y and e nt e r
pri se w a s touch e d to new i s s u es but s u ff e r e d
no
diminutio n
P a t r ick s missi o n i n e ffe ct
ch a n g e d a l l bu t d e s tr o ye d n othin g
I r el and
a b a ndon e d t he r ol e o f t he her o fo r t h a t o f t he
thou g h invested s till with the h e roic
s a int
t e mp e r a nd i t s thirst fo r d ee d s
Her w a r
policy ha s c ea s e d and the p ea c e policy o f
mi s s io n a r y l ab ou r t a ke s its pl a c e L ong a ft e r
Columb a s time his follow e r s c a r r y o n their
a n d e xt e n d their c o n qu e s t s
s pi r itu a l w a r f a r e
ov e r N orth e r n E n g l a n d and t he Midl and s
Mo n a s t e r i e s t r a ci n g t h e i r o rigin t o I o n a a r e
pl a n t e d throu g h o ut S a x o n B r it a i n and a t o n e
tim e it s eem s lik ely t ha t I ri s h r a th er th a n
R om a n Ch r i s ti a nity is lik e ly t o r ei gn in t he
E ng li sh l an d C o lu mb an u s who w as tw enty
t w o y e a r s youn g e r than Columb a g o e s with
.
24 2
The C e l t
i n Spi ri t u al I n si g h t
24 3
The G en i u s
t he
of
Ga e l
244
The C e l t
i n Spi ri t ual I n si g h t
c a ll e d Whit e M a n s La n d o r I r l a nd hy t m y k l a
t e
G r e a t e r I r e l an d
S uch an en t e r p r i s e a s thi s would how e v e r
i n a l l p r ob a b ility have s prung n o t s o m u ch
f o m t he humani s tic mi s s i o nary impul s e a s
f r o m de s ire t o p i e r c e t he my s t e r i e s o f th a t o ther
wo r ld b e y o n d t he o c e a n w a v e t he idea o f
which ha d pl a y e d s o l a rg e a p a r t in s haping
the im age s of C e ltic p a g a n myt h o lo g y The
mi s s i o n t o Eu r op e co n c e rn s u s mo r e
The I r i s h g r ip o n t h e Ch r i s ti a n id ea l in tho s e
e a r ly day s
mu s t h a v e b ee n s o m e thin g m o r e
i n tim a t e a n d wh o l e n a tu r e d th a n u s u a l t o
a ccou n t f o r i t s e ff e ct in thi s a bu n d a n t o utput
of h e r o ic e n te r p r i s e thi s wid e s p r ea d f e r v o u r
d e dic a t e d to s pi r itu a l u s e s S ignicant t o o
i s the fact that wh e r e a s the C e ltic Church
it s e lf o n t he m o d e l o f t he civil
o r g a n iz e d
instituti o n s o f t he cou n t ry and w a s f r i en dly t o
native t r ib a l l a w and t he b a r dic lit e r a tu r e the
The Vi ki ng s
r d r wh
d t il t t h
The
e a
ea
s as
b y t m yk l a
-
C F K y
t d will d i t hi b k f u th
i i t
t di t i
p r i t nt N
b ut I l d
in
Wes ter n
Chr i stend om ,
n
n e res e
e s s e
orse
24 5
ra
on a
oo
ear
r an
er
The G en i u s
of
t he
Gael
246
The C el t i n
S pi ri t u al I n si g h t
I r i sh Na ti on a l i ty ,
A S G r n pp
.
24 7
ee
0
9 ,
91
The G en i u s
of
t he
G ae l
24 8
The C e l t
i n Spi rit u al I n si g h t
24 9
The G en i u s
of
t he
Gae l
ywh er e sa y H e r e ends l eg en d h er e b e g in s
hi s to r y
At rst we a r e inclined t o doubt
t he a ccu r a cy o f any p a rt o f t he s tory ; but a s
w e contin u e o ur e x a mi n a tio n w e a r e surprised
at the s ub s t a n ti a l co r r e ctn e s s o f t he a n ci en t
r e co r d s
s o fa r a s w e a r e a bl e t o t e s t th e m
whether o n t he hi s to r ic a l o r the so ci a l s id e
The p o e t i s never wholly po e t he is a l s o pr a c
tic a l man ; an d t he hi s tori a n i s n e v e r wholly
ch r o n icl e r and a n n a li s t he is a l s o a t t he b a ck
o f hi s mind folklo r i s t l o v e r o f n a tu r e d r ea m e r
I t i s t he puzzl e a n d t he charm o f I r e l a nd
Tho s e w hom it m er e ly puzzl e s esteem it a s
madness and co n fu s io n ex c e pt in s o fa r as th ey
m a y b e puzzl e d s till mo r e by t he f r e qu e n t s h a r p
o utb r ea k s of shrewd wit h o mely co m mo n s ense
Tho se w hom
a n d keen ob s e rv a tio n o f n a tu r e
it ch a rm s will s e e k to und er s t an d it ; a n d it
I b e li ev e be b e s t un d e r s t o od a s a n a tu r a l
can
m a n if e s t a tion of the hum a n mi n d under a pr o
fou n d s ense of s om e a l l e mb r a cin g r e a lity o ve r
l y i n g and un d e r lyi n g o ur wo r ld o f hum an
an
f the
Ga el ,
2 50
E H u ll p
.
xx
iv
The C el t i n
S pi r i t u al I n si g h t
I t d u c ti by St
T
W
R
ll
t
Fi
f
Se e
Deed s
on
n ro
nn ,
o p fo r d
es o n
25 1
B ro o
t o The
Hig h
The G en i u s
t he
of
G ae l
e
r
r
l
cl a e visi o n of a l that is implied even o ut
s id e p a r ticul a r r e li iou s ordi n an c e s an d learned
g
f
o
deniti o ns o d ctrine in t he G od a bov e a ll
w o rking in a l l a n d e v e r m o ving t he s pi r it o f
A s p a g an
man to b e c o op e r a n t with H im
o r a s Ch r i s ti a n the C e lt has a lwa y s
s o fa r a s
hi s light w e nt
been farther be n
Th r o u g hout the c e n tu r i e s t he G a e lic p e a s an t
ha s e volv e d a rare i n tim a t e s en s e o f un seen
r e a liti e s in co n t a c t w ith his n a t ur e as a wh o l e
and in ue n ci n g hi s life in a l l p a r ticul a r s H e
d o e s n o t o f cou r s e e x pr e s s him s e lf in l a r g e
but with hom e ly
g e n e r a liz a tio n s like the s e
di r e ct n e s s and witho ut s e lf co n s ciou s n e s s L e t
u s l o o k a t the e vid e n c e a s it re v e a l s t he I r i s h
pe a s an t of t he We s t to d a y H e it i s who b e s t
r e p re s e n t s
the ch a r a ct e r i s tic G a e l
Al s o I
thin k t he C e lt o f Wa l e s will con c e d e to him
s o m e s t a n di n g a s the ch a r a ct e r i s tic C e lt
,
252
The C e l t i n
S pi ri t ual I n si g h t
W e turn r s t to the p r ic e l es s
ou r c e o f i n
f o rm a tio n which ha s b e e n op en e d up t o t he
wo r ld by D r D o u g l a s H yde i n hi s coll e cti o n
a t rst h a n d f r om I ri s h s p e a k e r s
of the Rel i
i
D r H y d e s k n ow
g o ns S on g s of C o n n a cht
l e d g e o f t he p eopl e a n d th e i r language i s
p r of o u n d A s a G ae lic s p e a k e r a n d th e i r c o
r e li g io n i s t
His
he has n a tu ra l advantages
w o rk fo r I r e l an d a n d I r i s h nati o nality i s k n o w n
t o th e m a n d give s him fu r th e r a cc e s s t o th e i r
mi n d s Thi s i s his e s tim a t e o f th e i r s pi r itu a l
e n dowm e n t
A piou s r a c e i s t he G a e lic r a c e The I r i s h
G a e l is piou s by n a tu r e He s e e s t he hand o f
G od i n every place in e v e r y time a n d in e v er y
thing
The s pi r it a n d the thing s o f the s pirit
a ff e ct him mo r e pow e r fully than the bod y a n d
In t he things he d o e s
t he thing s o f t he body
n o t s e e he d o es n o t b e li e v e the l e s s fo r n o t
a n d in t he thing s he se e s he
s eeing th e m ;
will s e e mo re than a m a n o f an y o th e r r a c e ;
what i s i n v i s ibl e fo o th e p e o pl e i s v i s ibl e fo r
him G od i s for him a thing assured true
-
2 53
The G en i u s
of
t he
Gae l
invisible pow er s b ef o r e
him a n d by his s ide an d at hi s b ack th r ou g hout
the d a y and th r ou g hout t he night I t i s f r om
this f e e li n g th a t t he o rdinary e xpr e s s io n s and
s a lut a tio n s of t he I r i s h language com e
Th e s e he d e t a il s they speak fo r th em s e l v e s
and a s you pictu r e to y ou rse lf in im a g i n a tion
t he old m a n the hom e ly moth e r t he fresh l a d
o r t he dainty maiden who might b e S peaking
you fe e l behind t he wo r d s the pu r e s incerity
Fo r
G ood
o f dir e ct i n t en tio n in t he mind
mo r n i n g t he I rish G a e l s a y s G o d salute
you
and the cu s tom a r y r e s po n s e com e s
G od and M a ry g re e t y o u
To a p e rs o n
enga g ed in a n y wo r k he s a ys
P r o s p e r it y
f r om G od o n you and fo r a bl e s s i n g i n
n
n
G
od
lif
l
e
th
e
you
I
n
e
ral
M
a
e
n
e
g
y
g
s uch a n interchange o f cou r t e s y as t he taking
o f s n u ff f r om y ou hi s g re e ti n g e xt en d s ch a r a c
t e r i st i c a l l y to kindred a n d pi e r c e s the unseen
The bl e s s in g of G o d b e with t he s oul s o f y o u r
d ea d
B e tt e r k n own th a n mo s t of th e se is
the phr a se
G od rest hi s s oul w h ich in
i n t el l i g i bl e
He
s e es
2 54
The C e l t i n
C a thol i c I r e l a nd o n a l l o cc a s io n s public a s
w e ll as private follow s t he s pok e n r e f e r e nc e
to t he name o f o ne dead O n great oc c a s io n s of
n a tio n a l a ss embly when s p ee ch turn s t o r em i n
i s c e n c e o f t he h e ro es who h a v e f a ll e n by t he
w a y even t he s tr a n g e r if sensitive to inu enc e
b e come s a wa r e o f a d ee p und e rlyin g n ot e in
t he corpo r a t e con s ciou s n e s s
a s en s e of t he
e t e r n a l s pi r itu a l p r e s en c e a n d of s oci a l s olid
I have in my
a r i t y with t he ho n ou r e d dead
mind a s p ee ch a t t he I r i s h N a tio n a l C on v en
tio n 1 9 1 2 and a sudden p a s s a g e in it o n
the her o ic d e a d throu g h which r a n t he refrain
instin ctively breaking o ut a t t he end o f every
p e r iod G od b e with the dead I a lw a y s s a y
N o r is it to honou r e d frien ds a lon e th a t this
t r ibut e is p a id i n toke n o f s a c re d c o mradeship
between the living a n d t he dead Speaking o f
a politic a l fo e who i s dead
t he s impl e p ra y e r
s p r in g s n a tu r a lly t o the
G o d r e st hi s s oul
lip s o f the I rish N ati o nalist a t W e s tmin s t e r
An E n g li s h M emb e r o f Pa rli am en t onc e
des c ribed to me an occ a s io n in t he old g ht
,
255
The G en i u s
of
t he
G ae l
d a y s wh en t he H ou s e w a s s t a r tl e d by thi s
utt e r a n c e followin g t he n a m e of M r W E
F o r s t e r f r om the mouth o f o ne w ho w a s a t that
time a v e r it a bl e s cou r g e to a ll op po n en t s of
H om e R ul e
M y friend un d er s t o od and was
touch e d but th e re were tho se to who m a t r s t
the wo r d s u n e xpe ct e d a s th e y w e r e seemed
a h e a r tl e s s mock e r y
But th a t w a s lo n g a g o
Tu r n again t o D r D o u g l a s H y d e a n d hi s
Western pe a s a n t s Follo w i n g o n hi s e x ampl es
o f s a lut a tio n a n d bl e s s i n g he s a y s :
G od i s th e r e i n hi s m o uth a n d b e fo r e his
H e i s the true s o n o f
eyes d a y an d night
tho s e old s a int s who s pr e a d t he li g ht of Christ
th r ou g hout t he wo r ld H e is n o w by n a tu re
a Chri s ti a n f r om t he d a y o f hi s bi r th to t he
h o ur o f hi s d e a th
Thu s thi s c a r e ful o b s e r v e r s umm a r iz es t he
co n clu s i o n s to which he i s l e d by a ll t he f a ct s
o f deed a n d wo r d o bserved a mo n g t he living
p e opl e the m s e lv e s fro m whom a l s o he
l a b o r i o u sly co lle ct e d by wo d of mo uth a
mi s c e ll a n y of r eli g iou s s o ng s which ll t w o
i ng
2 56
The C e l t
i n S pi ri t u al I n si g h t
'
d d d wi t h u t l i
fl h d
wi th u t li g d d d
rt h h
Th t i t h
t i g h t d t f ll w
Th t i t h d d g t ff i t
Do g oo
Do
ee
es
oo
e one
s ra
e r oa
an
a se
e or
ee
s o n ea
r oa
oo
no
ere,
r
l
h
e
s
n
h
r
deeper
vou
t
o
p
y
a
i
n
a
l
s
t
e
a
e
r
s
a
g
o
th a t a re for u s e during the p er f o r m
in s ng
ance o f hom e ly tasks a bout t he hou s e and in
the e ld s E ach littl e h e a r th s on g e xp r e s s es
.
2 57
The G en i u s
of
Gae l
t he
I v t hi
m
Ev
ig h t
m
C
h
i
v
t
;
y
O th t p f th h u
l t M y
L t B id i
t h m iddl b
As
sa
en s o
re t o
sa
ar
se
r s
m e vivid s e ns e o f t he u n se en comp an y
and s impl e tru s t in th e ir p r ot e c ting lov e is
One
s hown in the f o llowi n g morni n g p r a y e r
need n o t be a C a tholic to r ea liz e the comfo r t
i n g tenderness o f this s pi r itu al intima cy with
t he fri e ndly ho s t unseen
Th e
sa
Gd
o
an g e s
An d
sa
M ay G o d
us
and
M a c Duag h
c mp y
whil w liv
h ly M y
be
b ed
Aft
.
er
Br
id
hi
e
t he
is
an o
R
th
o sa r
e,
ar
M ac Da ra
and
p t ct
u til
ro e
s av e u s
an
An d C o l u m c i ll e
An d
o ur
e ve
us ,
.
y w u ld b id b f
m f B id g t
er n a
e sa
or
2 58
e o re
go
ng
to
S pi r i t u al I n si g h t
The C e l t i n
A s p e ci a l i n t e re s t a tt a c h es t o the e v e ni n g
p r ay e r f r om which i s given b e low the begin
ning and t he e n d I t w a s fou n d in In n i sm a a n
in t he i s l a n d o f A r a n An ot h e r v e r s ion o f
t he sa m e po e m
di ff e r i ng v e ry s li g htly
and
f r om it w a s fou n d i n Loch a b e r S cotl an d I t
would se em th e r e f o r e th a t w e m ay have h e r e
a n e xpr e s s io n o f G a e li c r e lig iou s traditi o n th a t
dates b a ck to v e r y e a r ly tim e s
C o mpari ng thi s p r a ye r with t he l a s t the
reader will n otic e the p r e s e n c e i n it o f a mo re
d e v e lop e d con s ciou s n e s s t he c r a vi n g fo r G o d
nearness a s a shield f r om s in
Thu s it
op e n s :
'
'
d w wi t h G d d m y G d l i d w wi th
Th t I m y t li wi th t h Evil
A d t h t t h Evil m y
t l i wi t h m
li e
no
an
no
me ,
i dl f B ri g i t b hi d my b k
f M y b f
d t h m tl
m b
c m t m 0 Mi h l Og
d by t h h n d l d m
M ay t he g
An
An d
An
e o
an
e o
ar
e,
ea
2 59
ac
e o re
ae
e,
The G en i u s of
t he
Gae l
t he
I m k my p c wi th
a
dr p
On e
Fo r
my
on
v ry
si n
e e
t he
ea e
So n
c ear
G od
of
h t f T hy m r y d w h w
Ih
i d t Th
e ar
av e s n n e
ee
n -s
e c
er
Th i s next i s m o r e o f t he n a tu r e o f a d enit e
a c t of cont r itio n
The s ense o f s i n is troubl e d
but i t s chi e f interest to my mind
a n d d e e pe r ;
lies i n the r s t li n e implyin g as it do es that
i n n e r s e a rch fo r G od a n d Hi s th o ughts
unde r as t he po em s a ys the thoug h t o f
t he hum a n min d
.
'
h ug h t m y I G d th ug h t
f my i
c p m y mi d
id did t y
F
wh t I
At t h th
f c
f i I t n d t hi
ly u ff i g
0 J u
U d
H lf
n
er
my t
or
s ns
es a
sa
or
ron e o
es
I tu
O n e m or e
rn
sa
o n ess o n
Th
x ampl cl a im
n d ,
s a
ee a g a n
er n
no
s s or e
to
d ay
tt ention I t i s
I t s t r ik es
a pr a y e r to b e said durin g M a s s
Th i t m di t li
i v k t h i d of t h Ap tl
d P u l by
i n p t ic ul P t
m
e
ar
n er
ar
a e
e e r an
n es
na
260
e a
os
es ,
The
Ce l t i n Spi r i t u al I n sigh t
n
tio , o n the oth e r inspirati o n a n a c t o f grace
As in t he oth e r p r a y e r s o ng s the s a int s thi s
e
t
h
e
tim
Virgin o n ly a re invit e d to partici
pate
as
w T h my u l T h u Ki g f g c
t l ;
A d l t it
t f ll
f T hy c
t
wi t
O Bl d Vi g i M y
I n t h h d f thy S d I l y my u l
Cut
b i g h t th t h
i
S hi ld m f m ill wh n t h
es t o
ee
no
B e ar
so
n ess ,
an
ou
e s se
on
ro
ra
e,
o n ro
ar
an
er
n enan c e
so
s un ,
e rac e
r un
Th e s e a re a fe w illu s tr a tion s o u t o f m a ny
th a t mi g ht be given Th e y are o f t he p e opl e
h o m e ly vivid p en e t ra ti ng f r a g m en t a r y s ign s
a s it were
o f a s ubtl e spiritual s to r m clo a k t o
w r a p a l l lif e a bout a n d shield t he s o ul f r om
w oe
Comin g o u t o f c h urch o n Sund a y s they
oft e n s a y :
G ood by e Christ ; g o o d by e
M a y t he Apo s tl e s keep u s t ill we
M a ry
com e a g a in
Anot h e r witness cl a im s o ur a tt e ntion a ju s t
,
261
The G en i u s
of
t he
G ae l
'
262
The C el t
i n Spi ri tu al I n si g h t
'
oe
oo
ae
263
The G en i u s
of
t he
Gae l
e n e rg i e s
in a tt ention within o r wit h out a
co ncr et e a tt ention in whi ch the compo s it en es s
e
a
i
s
v a r i d r e ction
not lo s t thi s is
o f their
t he q u a lity whi c h ha s b ee n e volv e d by t he
C e lti c r a c e mor e p a rticul ar ly i n t he c our se of
264
The G ae l
i n S pi r i t u al I n si g h t
265
The G en i u s
t he
G ae l
s c io u s n e s s
s t he
'
266
V II I
GAEL C ETHOS
T hi c u t y
s
rs
is
n db n k t h w u p by
th I t i
ci t l n d
no sa
ro
c t pri f
h u d i n t h r hi
f civili t i
bl i t
t
n t iq u i ty by i t pi ty i t v l u d i t uff i g Ev y
f
t
h
i
h
E
u
p
c
t
t
r
iv
t
m
t
t
g
I i h mi d
so
of
n r
on o
en
re
ca
re
r s
a c
re a
ce
ro
ea n r a e
ear
ve s
a o
a s se n
an
za
r, a n
s s
on ,
s s
ea
en
an
r ac ea
er n
o
n o
er
e r
er o
HO M AS
AVIS
C HA P TE R
VI I I
T H E GAE L I C E T H OS
T H R OU G H OUT the p r e c e di n g p ag e s C e ltic
character ha s been illu s t r a t e d chi e y by refer
en c e
to t he f a ct s o f I rish human nature
We l sh and F r e n ch an d H i g hl an d Scotch a r e
rightly held to have a cle a r sh a r e in t he C e ltic
h e r it a g e but ine vit a bl y the min d g o es back
t o I r e l a nd as to the % ion o f t he C eltic r a c e
There is the hom e o f the C e ltic idea Ar e w e
justie d i n tr e a ti ng i t s p e opl e a s t he typic a l
e x a mpl e o f C e ltic n a tu r e ?
What ha s e thn ol o g y
to s ay o n t he sub j ect ? H o w fa r i s I rish
h e r e dity a fact of C e ltic r a c e ? Ar e t he I r i s h
m o re C e ltic o r l et u s s ay much mor e C e ltic
th a n a n yb ody e l s e ?
Eth n ol og y do e s n o t return s o very certain
.
2 69
T h e G en i u s o f
t he
Gae l
27 0
The G ae li c E t h o s
Ib e r i a n i n du s t r i o u s p a ti en t pe rs i s t en t a n d
n
r
r
e
h
e
e
rhap
m
l
choly
was
th
b
fo
C
lt
e
s
e
a
e
e
t
e
p
and w a s n o t o ut r oote d by him I t may be th a t
t he C e lt of mod e r n hi s tory i s
for t he mo s t
p a r t r a ci a lly a C e lt Ib eri a n The Celt of G a ul
in C aesar s time w a s a s C aesa r t e ll s us f a ir
haired a n d fair skinned a s w e ll as t a ll a n d
blu e o f ey e H e i s m a r k e d out cl ea rly f r om
t he sm a ll e r d a r k I berian
S o we c a ll th em :
o f their l a n g u a g e in I r e l a n d w e have n o tr a c e
B ut the mod e r n C e lt is mo r e oft e n than n o t
d a rk o f h a ir thou g h the blu e g re y o f his ey e
set l a r g e and expres s ive b etween thick bl a ck
l a sh e s m a rk s him lik e a l a b e l In s t a tur e he
,
'
27 1
The G en i u s
of
t he
G ae l
'
'
27 2
The Gae li c Et h o s
The G en i u s
of
t he
G ae l
it by contra s t with t he mo d e rn We l s hm a n s
persistence a hint for t he presence in h im o f
Ib e ri a n qu a lity a s judged a l s o by t he light
o f the R om a n con qu e ro r s e x p e ri e nc e
H e re
we d ea l with a f a ct not an o pi n ion The
s ti ff es t
resistance t he R om a ns met with in
'
B ritain w a s from t he Ib e r i a n Silur e s o f S o uth
W a l e s N o d oub t t he Silure s are th e r e s till
a p a ti e n t
u n fo rg e tti n g pe opl e In their s tout
ness as ght ers th e y s h o w mor a l a s n o doubt
they ha d r a ci a l a f n ity with th o s e unfree tribes
in I r e l a nd who sub ju g ate d by t he c o n quering
M il e s i a n s were used by th em in mo r e co n s t a n t
military s e r vic e th a n could be required o f f r e e
t r ib e sm e n a n d who made o f th e ir s ubj e ctio n
in this r e s p e ct a g re a t oppo r tu n ity The f r e e
m e n of t he domi n a nt r a c e could n o t be com
e rv e i n the e ld fo r mo r e than a
e
l
l
e
d
t
o
s
p
lik e the mod e r n B r ito n
s ho r t tim e e a ch y e a r :
th e y had oth e r things t o do The s ub j e ct
r a c e s s upp li e d t he w a r r io r c a s t e livin g by t he
chase a n d by plund e r o f e n emi es as when
u n d er their m a s t e r s name of Scot s an d in
'
27 4
The Gae l i c E t h o s
27 5
The G en i u s
Wh e n
o f t he Gael
t he
27 6
The Gaeli c E t h o s
27 7
The G en i u s
th a t
G l by l
of
G ae l
t he
h
e
in
main
t
g
a G a e l by n a tu r e a l s o
The G a e l by l a n g u a g e
w a s the man t o whom a l l G a e lic t r a dition s o f
cultu r e s to r y a n d m a nn e r s c a m e down Into
that herita g e a l l the ra c e s o f a n ci e n t I reland
entered at an ea r ly d a t e th o ugh equality bef o re
t he l a w a n d r e c o g n iti on at cou r t o f t he s ub j e ct
p e opl e s lit e r a tu r e a s a G a e lic cl a s s ic did n o t
take pl a c e till t he t e n th c e n tu r y Thi s lit e r a
tu r e w a s t he s to r y o f t he Fianna o f Erin : u p
t o t he time o f the g r ea t f a mi n e it w a s s till
g reen in t he W e s t
With t he r i se o f t he Fianna o f Erin from t he
inte rmarriage be tw e e n t he r a c es
s ub j e ct r a c e s
m a y have b e com e m o r e common th a n be fo r e
thou g h w e h e a r o f it even in t he o l d Ulidi an
The daughter o f % u ee n M ea v e i s
s to r i e s
to the Fi rb ol g ch ampi on Fe rdiad
a f a n c e d
I nt erm a r r i a g e ha s in f a ct b e en go ing o n a l l
throug h t he c e n tu r ie s N 0 o n e c a n f e e l s ur e
but t he n a l impr e s s ion is th a t t he F i r bol g ha s
been fo r t he mo s t p a r t a bs o rb e d th a t it i s
t he G a e l w ho look s o u t o f t he big viol e t e ye s
t he
ae
u ag e
an
is
not
'
27 8
The G aeli c E t h o s
27 9
The G en i u s
of
t he
Gae l
2 80
The Gae li c E t h o s
28 1
t he
T h e G en i u s o f
G ae l
s ubj e ct
s
ho w e v er a n d n o doubt t he
t rib e
'
See
I t d u c ti
n ro
C l tic T x t
e
on,
Ei
El
I r i sh Li tera ture,
o n
s,
vo l
vii
M a c Neil ,
ea n o r
H ull
28 2
The Lay s
an d
Pa r
a so
Tex t B ook
-
t I I ch p
.
Fi on n ,
vi
The Gae li c E t h o s
283
The G en i u s
of
t he
G ae l
2 84
The Gae li c E t h o s
m ay
28 5
T h e G en i u s o f
t he
G ae l
An ob j e ction how e v e r s u g g e s t s it s e lf an d
demand s a r e ply C e ltic a n d th ere fo r e G a e lic
n a tu r e as d es c r ib e d in th es e p a e s s ee m s to
g
turn upo n a v e r y e s s e nti a l ch a r a ct e r i s tic r oot e d
in r a ci a l physique If this be s o how i s it
po s s ibl e that it s hould be acquired by a n alien
under a ny educative proc e ss ?
h
t
e
s
i
s
In
r t pl a c e it a qu a lity a not a bly
28 6
T h e Gae li c E t h o s
h a vi n g cl a im to but a sm a ll s hare if a ny in
t he ancient G a e lic s t o ck
To the G a e l him s elf it i s n ot the racial s tock
in the e s h that s eem s t o m a tt e r but t he ideal s
o f t he r a c e a n d th e i r p r e se rv a tio n fo r t he I rish
p e o pl e and tho u g h he m a y n o t think o f it fo r
t he wo r ld
I t i s t o t he s pi r itu a l I re l an d a s
t o t he
I s r a e l that t he p r omi se s
s piritu a l
are fulll e d
B e for e the r s t N o rm a n s et hi s foot up o n
I ri sh s oil t he I r i s h n a tio n had achie ved a
t r uth
s piritu a l r ea lity a grip o n the e t e r n a l
f
r
l
civilizati
n
that could n o t be
o
ea
o
I t had fu s e d a ll e l em ent s of t he
a n n ull e d
p r ehi sto r ic a n d old e r hi s t o r ic s t o ck it had
it did in tim e
a s s im il a t e d t he D ani s h s e ttl e rs
ab so rb the N o rm an s and t he train that f o llow e d
th e m Then c am e t he l o n g dark c e n turi es
du r i n g which t o a l l o ut w a r d s e emi ng t he
I r i sh nati o n s u ff e r e d s hip w reck a n d w a s
d e s t r oy e d But the ideals o f I rish civiliz a tio n
were ne v er d e s troy e d a n d w o rked like l e a v en
in the s up e r i n cumb e n t a li en m a s s The seed
,
28 7
The G en i u s
lif t he
of
t he
G ae l
piritu a l I re l a nd g r ew s e c r e tly
thr o u g h a ll t ho se darkened tim e s
Now it
ha s g r own to full e r m a nif e s t a ti o n than ever
b efo r e a n d s t an d s fo r th t a ll a n d s t r on g i n t he
eld o f t he wo r ld with the a li en e l em e nt s o n ce
mor e g r a ft e d i n to it T h i s i s the triumph o f
I r i s h n a tion a lity it i s t he t r iumph o f t he C e ltic
spirit in h i s tory : c onqu e r in g nothing it wi n s
The s pi r itu a l I r e l a nd was t o o
by con se nt
r e a l to d i e t oo tru e to h um an typ e O ut o f
lo n g tribulati o n it arise s an d r en e w s i t s
u s in g n o w in t he wi de r circl e s o f the
s t r e n g th
E ng li sh s p ea kin g wo r ld i t s g ift o f drawin g o u t
t he n e humanity o f oth e r s whic h in practice
is t he e s sen c e o f the genius o f the G a e l
of
28 8
B I B L IO G RA PHY
EAR LY H IS T O RY IN ST I T U T IO N S AN D
C I VI L I % A T I O N
E p ch f Iri h H i t y El
H u ll ( D vid Nu tt
,
et c
9 04,
.
r e an
ar
r s
ac
r s
r een .
ee
ers
c e
r e an
ee
o s.
en e
on s o n
e s
re an
eo
er
an
an
an
e c
an
es
or
o n es
er
r s en
es e
s or
rr a
on, 1
er
ar
o n
W l h P pl
J Rhy d B y m J
U wi )
(Fi h
I l d d t h C l tic C h u ch G T S t k ( H dd
St u g h t
8 86
Th Vi ki g i
W t rn C h i t d m C F K y
U wi
( Fi h
E ly H i t y f I t i tut i
Si H M i
(J h
M u y 87 5
The
re an
an
an
r e an
C0
%
as , 1
o
c
an
an s ,
co
s or
re an
ona
on
an ,
r ar
Pa g a n
ean o r
s or
I l d
E ly C h i t i I l d
Th M ki g f I l d
A S G
d it U d i g
( M mill
I i h N ti li ty A S G r n (H m U iv i t y
L ib y
S ci l H i t y f An i nt I l d P W J yc v l
Gr n
C )
(L g m
C l tic S t l d W J S k
t
( Edm
D ug l 886
C l t i I l d S phi B y t (K g P ul T r n h
%
s o
e ar
n,
ns
on s
a ne
289
'
The G en i u s
%
or s
ss o n ers
ns
an
ann e r s a n
es
s o
or
r e an
s o
an
o s
c e
n c en
u rr
a e,
ar
an
r s
an
c e
s, 1
or
on
n ro
Gae l
t he
f
R p t f C mmi i
p ubli hi g t h A i t
L w d I tit ut f I l d 8869 8 6 v l
f t h An i n t Iri h
M
E OC y
d Cu t m
wi t h I t d u ct i by W K S u lliv
(Willi m
N gt
E ly C h i ti A t i n I l d M g t S t k
H ll
(C h pm
An i n t M u ic f I l d
E B u t i g ( H dg
Fi g g i 8 4
H i t y f Iri h M u i
G tt Fl d (B w
Nl )
a
of
s or
ar e
ar
es
es
0,
o an
r e an
re an
s c
an
ra
oo
ro
EAR LY L I T ERATU RE AN D F O L K L O RE
T xt B k f I i h Lit tu
El
H ull v l
S
(G ill
9 6
B d
f th G l
G Sig
d G ll
(Fi h
U wi
Th P m B k f t h G l
E H ull (C h tt
Wi d u
Th
R lig i u S g f C ch t D u g l H yd
U wi
( Fi h
Th L v S g
f C
ch t D ug l H yd (Fi h
U wi
S ir S F g u
Th R m i
f St P t i k
(S ly
B y
W lk
My th
d f t h C l tic R c
T W
d L g
C
R ll t
(G G H rr p
Cu h ul i t h H u d f U l t
R t ld by El
H u ll (G G H rr p C
-
oo
r s
on s,
ar
o s
e rs o n
er
ae
o nn a
as
n,
onna
s o
as
er
n,
a ns o
ers
es o n
a n
.
en
so n
er
ea
er ,
a r c
an
an
on
on
er
oo
s,
ean o r
ae
oe
re
n,
e ra
s er
29 0
e o
ea n o r
Bi bl i og rap h y
%
D d f Fi m R t ld by T W R ll t
wi h I d u ti by St pf d B k (G G H p
The
H ig h
t
ee
s o
nt r o
Co
e o
on
H i t y f I l d H ic
L w
M t
(S m p
s or
s on ,
r e an
on s
89 9 ,
et c
arr a
an
ra d y
87 8 ,
r s
e s on ,
S t di h O G
I i h T x t S ci ty
t he
id
a rs o n , 1
f
ublic t i
( D vid N u t t
Per
ero
ro o
or
vl
o s
A FEW B O O K S I LLU S T RA T IN G
T H E M O D ERN IRI S H L I T ERARY RE V I VA L
Th
W k f J h M S y g (M u ll c m p l t
dit i n
V l I
Ri d t t h S
W ddi g
Th T i k
Th W ll f t h S i t
I t h Sh d w
f th Gl
V l II
Th Pl yb y f t h W t r n W ld
D irdr f t h S w
V l II I
Th Ar n I l d
V l IV
Wi kl w d W t K y
Th W k
f W B utl
p i lly
Y t
P m
( Fi h r U n wi n
C t hl Ni H u lih
(B u ll
S v S h t Pl y
L dy G g y ( M u ll
Th
Pl y ;
L d
d P m
P d ic C l u m
( M u ll
Th
D
d
Th
T th Pl y R ut h f d
My
I i h Idyll J B l w ( H dd
St ug h t )
e
or
ers
or
r s
n se
ne
or
es e
es
ea s , e s
e rr
ec a
an
an
en
orro
s an
a n s
er
en ,
re
an
or
oe
n se
s :
ra
ro ne
e e
een
an
s o
or
e en
e
oe
er s
n se
ea
an
ro
s :
er o r
an e
ar o
29 1
er
on
The G e n i u s
t he
of
G ae l
T H E IRI S H PO L I T I CA L REVI VA L
L if f C h l S t w rt P ll R B rry O B i
vl
t
l y (M th u
d I l d L d Ev
Gl
F m w k f H m R ul
E ki C hild
Th
a r es
e o
ad s o n e a n
ra
r e an
or
( Edwar d
rn o
an
er
r s
an o n
e rs e
r en
o s
ne
rs
L if
an a
s ra
8 87 )
e a nd
(M
en ,
Th ug h t h
ro
New
e rs
C mm w l th
on
H.
n t e re s t e d
in
ea
an on
n,
son ,
W d Dw y
av
og an
s ra as a
W lk
(SeqlmB ryer s
i n Au t l i
Pr o g r e ss
oo
H
J J
a es
ar s o n ,
r s
er s
M t
I i h i Au t li
R ead
ea
en ,
s or
an
r s
The
1
A ld
Lo w
%
or
T H E GAE L IN T H E NEW W O R LD S
I i h A m ic H i t y f t h U i t d S t t
C
O H l
W lk r Du bli
(S ly B y
in C d
N Fl d D i n (S mp
Th I i hm
a rn e
ar
ne
Mich l D vi tt
ae
R dm d
on
er,
t he
t u dy
of
C h i t i My t ici m
r s
an
d ised t t u t t Th My tic W y by Ev ly
U d hi ll (p ubli h d by D t S
i n whi h
b k th y will l d mp t t g u id n t t h t h
li t r tu r b t h l d d w
th
u bj c t
f I i h Abili ty
D J
Th G g p hic l D i t ib u t i
C
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W OKI NG
AND LONDON