THE STORY OF IRELAND

New Zealand Tablet, 30 October 1919, Page 9

THE STORY OF IRELAND

(By A. M. Sullivan.)

CHAPTER XXXVII.—HOW COMMANDER COSBY HELD A "FEAST" AT MULLAGHMAST; AND HOW "RUARI OGE" RECOMPENSED ~ THAT "HOSPITALITY." A VICEROY'S VISIT TO GLENMALURE, AND HIS RECEPTION THERE. :-.,":-,- Before passing to the next great event of this era, I may pause to note here a few occurrences worthy of record but for which I did not deem it advisable to break in upon the consecutive narration of the Geraldine war. My endeavor throughout is to present to my young readers in clear and distinct outline a sketch of the chief event of each period more or less complete by itself, so that it may be easily comprehended and remembered. To this end I omit many minor incidents and occurrences, which, if engrafted or brought in upon the main narrative, might have a tendency to confuse and bewilder the facts in one's ■recollection. It was within the period which we have just passed over that the ever-memorable massacre of Mullaghmast occurred. It is not, unhappily, the only tragedy of the kind to be met with in our blood-stained annals; yet it is of all J.™ vividly perpetuated in popular traditions. In 15/7, Sir Francis Cosby, commanding the Queen's troops in Leix and Offaly, formed a diabolical plot for the permanent conquest of that district. Peace at the moment prevailed between the Government and the inhabitants; but. Cosby seemed to think that in extirpation lay the only effectual security for the Crown. Feigning, however, great friendship, albeit suspicious of some few "evil disposed" persons, said not to be well-affected, he invited to a grand feast all the chief families of the territory; attendance thereat being a sort of test of amity. To 'this summons responded the flower of the Irish nobility in Leix and Offaly, with their kinsmen and friends—the O'Mores, O Kellys, Lalors, O'Nolans, etc. The "banquet"—alas!— was prepared by Cosby in the great Rath or Fort of Mul-lach-Maisten, or Mullaghmast, in Kildare Co. Into the great rath rode many a pleasant cavalcade that day; but none ever came forth that entered in. A gentleman named Lalor who had halted a little way off had his suspicions in some way aroused. He noticed, it is said, that while many went into the rath, none were seen to reappear outBide. -Accordingly he desired his friends to remain behind while he advanced and reconnoitred. He entered cautiously. Inside, what a horrid spectacle met his sight! At the very entrance the dead bodies of some of his slaughtered kinsmen! In an instant he himself was set upon; but, drawing his sword, he hewed his way out of the fort and back to his friends, and they barely escaped with their lives to Dysart! . He was the only Irishman, out of more than 400 who entered the fort that day, that escaped with life! The invited guests were butchered to a man, 180 of the O'Mores alone having thus perished. The peasantry long earnestly believed and asserted that on. the encircled rath of slaughter rain nor dew never fell, and that the ghosts of the slain might be seen, and their groans distinctly heard "on the solemn midnight blast" s: O'er tho Rath of Mullaghmast, On the solemn midnight blast, What bleeding spectres pass'd With their gashed breasts bare! ; - : Hast thou heard the fitful wail t That o'erloads the sullen gale When the waning moon shines pale ■ • O'er the cursed ground there? - Hark! hollow moans arise Through the black tempestuous skies, And curses, strife, and cries, N -_ From the lone rath swell; For bloody Sydney there Nightly .fills the lurid air With pompous glare , Hi _"'" ->w" v- Of the foul, deep hell. .. | -., '■ = False Sydney! knighthood's stain! - '£v The trusting brave vain \ ;: •.'.; Thy guestsride o'er the plain -. g |!'_';' .'"' ~ i : _,~' To thy dark cow'rd snare; I t Flow'r of Offaly. and Leix, ■ 1 ' ' ' ; iChey have come thy board to grace ; V : ;.l, 'Fools! to meet a faithless race, -': ■••■'■ •"';;£.■*.■ ■.*; v' ■» .J;-£.si'7<> Save with true swords bare."

While cup and song'abound, ' N ' " • The triple lines surround vThe closed and guarded mound, :' In ' the night's dark noon. Alas! too brave O'Moore, : —< Ere the -revelry was o'er, , >,.''"' They have spill'd thy young heart's gore, Snatch'd from love too soon At the feast, unarmed all, Priest, bard, and chieftain fall - ' . In* the treacherous ; Saxon's hall, O'er the bright wine bowl; And now nightly round the board, ..•','-'?' With unsheath'd and reeking sword, Strides the cruel felon lord Of the blood-stain'd soul. Since that hour the clouds that pass'd O'er the Rath of Mullaghmast, One tear have never cast ■^■ v .... On the gore-dyed sod For the shower of crimson rain That o'erflowed that fatal plain, ;<-■ ; f Cries aloud, and not in vain, To tho most high God! (To be continued.)