WORLDS SET APART

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 149, 21 December 1936, Page 23

WORLDS SET APART

ISLETS OF IRELAND

LOCAL "SOVEREIGNS"

: Strange islands line the* Irish coast and one of the strangest of them all is Tory Island—the ancient stronghold of the Formoriens, a legendary race of gigantic pirates whose chieftain (1200 8.C.) was the one-eyed Balor of the Mighty Blows, writes Richard O'Hanrahan in the "New York Times." This tiny island of 300 souls came into the public eye with the death of Mary O'Heraghty, "Queen." She was the first lady of the land for thirtyodd years, having succeeded her father, Patrick O'Heraghty, who, in contrast with the tall islanders, was but a little more than 4ft in stature. '; The island governed by the O'Heraghtys lies nine miles from the mainland and is only three miles long and one mile wide. It is almost completely isolated from civilisation. It is wellnigh impossible to land there in a rough sea; when one has landed, it is still more difficult to leave there. The island contains 1200 acres, of which, roughly, one-sixth is capable of cultivation. The i inhabitants therefore look to the mighty Atlantic for a living, and the Tory Islanders have no superior as fishermen in any part of the world,. They are 6ft tall, and have handsome and' intelligent features, with dark compexions of a Spanish cast. "MOTHERS OF TITANS." The women also are tall, dark featured, well formed; in size and mould they might seem to have been intended to be the mother of titans. There is an air of dignity and solemn majesty in all their movements, as if the spirit of the sea, which- is ever about them, had become a part of their being. Tory Islanders are . highly civilised, speak the Irish language, and live under laws that may have been part of the famous Brehon Code, or else a code particularly drawn up for their isolated sojourn on this desolate stronghold rising from the ever restless waves of the Atlantic. About ninety years ago there was no Magistrate or clergyman, dector or lawyer on the island, but that is changed now. The island maintains a modern church, a post office, an up-to-date lighthouse, and a school where all instruction is imparted in the Irish tongue. All the land was formerly held by the old "rundale" tenure, by virtue of which each tenant had a proportion of every kind of land and no one a permanent possession of a separate part. This has long since been changed an,d land tenure is now on the same basis as on the mainland of County Donegal. The cliffs of Tory rise precipitously from the sea and on Tormore, which rises more than 280 ft from the sea, is a large and apparently loose boulder called the Wishing Stone. They say that whoever reaches this stone, plants himself on it, and turns round three times, will have his wish gratified. Very few have attempted this feat, as in turning round one runs the risk of toppling over into the sea. The antiquities of Tory Island consist of a round tower and the ruins of a monastery and the Seven Churches. A peculiar custom prevailed there in the olden days of having a millstone or "quern" placed in the foundation of every house or building. LIVED A NORMAL LIFE. The First Lady of the island, Mary O'Heraghty, was not easily distinguished from any" of the other women; she lived their normal life, tended her spinning wheel and took on all the domestic duties of a good housewife. However, in legal matters or petty disputes of any kind, she was virtual dictator and so just were her decisions that seldom, if ever, was there any grumbling or a desire to question the wisdom of her findings. She was the descendant of kings and queens of the island from time immemorial, and it is believed that several centuries ago members of her family held the lands for the benefit of the Church and were, although belonging to the laity, recognised as archdeacons. When the laws of the Church were changed in this respect, the family retained its lordship, or kingdom, but in fairness to the islanders in general those of the royal house never attempted to hold or have more than their ordinary neighbour. Another strange "kingdom" off the Irish Coast is that of Dalkey, Muglins, the Holy Island of Magee, Lambay, and Ireland's Eye. Four out of the five islands are uninhabited and all lie off the shores of Dublin County in the Irish Sea. The last of the ancient coronation ceremonies (lately revived) of the "Kingdom of Dalkey" was held in 1797, the year before the rebellion, and the chosen and popular monarch was one Stephen Ai'mitage, an eminent merchant of Dublin renowned for his agreeable singing. Tribute of three white rabbits, three young sea gulls, three large lobsters, a firkin of mushrooms, a firkin of oysters, | a firkin of cockles, an antique mether of whisky, a wreath of mistletoe, and a robe of sea wrack was paid annually.

; In 1934 the coronation ceremony was revived and a popular member of the Dublin Corporation—Alderman Tom Kelly—is the new "King of Dalkey." The ceremonies in 1934 were held in July; in 1935 they were held in August.