SNAKES IN IRELAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 131, 6 June 1939, Page 10

SNAKES IN IRELAND

DISCOVERY LAST CENTURY

Driving the snakes out of Ireland has always been regarded as St. Patrick's greatest miracle, but, in spite of the saint, there have been snakes in Ulster as recently as the last century, says the "Manchester Guardian." They were taken there by an Irishman, a Mr. James Cleland, of Rathgael, County Down, in 1831, and caused a great commotion. Apparently he was anxious to discover if snakes could live in his country. He brought half a dozen of the common harmless English snakes in Covent Garden and took them to his home in County Down, where he let them loose. Almost immediately one was seen crossing a road and killed. People, remembering the legend of St. Patrick, could scarcely believe that it was a snake, but the pronouncement of Dr. J. L. .Drurrimond, a celebrated naturalist of the time, stopped all argument.

The news caused consternation. A newspaper declared that, it was a sign foreshadowing the doom of Ireland. A clergyman preached a sermon predicting that the snake was the forerunner of the Last Day. Old halfforgotten prophecies were recalled. More practical people, however, offered a reward for any snakes killed, and soon three more of Mr. Cleland's collection were caught. What happened to the remaining two is a secret which has never been solved. The story that the snakes had been brought to Ireland leaked out and aroused great indignation, but Mr. Cleland — fortunately for himself—managed to keep secret the part he had played in the affair.