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 >n Ulster as recently as the last century’. says the Manchester Guardian. They were taken there by an Irishman, a Mr. Jernes Cleland, of Rathgael. County’ Down. In 1831, and caused a great commot ion. Apparently he was anxious to discover if snakes could life in his country. He brought half a dozen of th? 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 cross-
ing 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. Drummond, 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.
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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 142, 19 June 1939, Page 9
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258SNAKES IN IRELAND Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 142, 19 June 1939, Page 9
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