THE ISLANDS OF IRELAND, one important feature of Ireland, hitherto passed over in a vague and general style by all writers, consists in the great number of islands scattered round her shores; in most of which, the Irish language is generally, in many, almost exclusively, spoken. The extreme length of Ireland, is 306 miles, its extreme breadth 207, and, speaking loosely, the circumference is about 880 miles. " The sinuous line of its sea-coast, however, exclusive of such parts as lie within, estuaries, or above the first good anchorage in every harbour, but inclusive of the river Shannon, as far as the tide reaches, and the shores of Bantry Bay, Dunmanus Bay, and Kenmare river, will, if accurately followed through all its windings, be found to measure 1737 miles. In this line, there are not fewer than one hundred and thirty harbours, and places where ships may anchor for a tide, or find shelter. Round the coast of this fine country, and including her inland lakes, the number of islands and islets cannot be calculated at less than six hundred. In Clew Bay alone, on the west coast, the islands, islets, holms, and rocks, above the surface of the water, have been rated, I think, as high as three hundred, which, if they were planted, would cause this inlet of the sea, to exceed in picturesque beauty, any thing of the kind in Europe. In Strangford Lough, on the east coast, there are fifty-four islands, small and great, known by particular names, besides many others nameless. As to inland lakes, to say nothing of Lough Coirrib, Lough Ree, or Lough Deirgeart, from the centre of an island in Lough Erne, called Ennismacsaint, may be seen twenty-seven islands in view at once.Close upon our native shore, (yet as devoid of all the calm and profitable satisfaction which books afford, as if they had lain in the bosom of the Pacific,) here it is, that as far as Christianity is concerned, our own countrymen have seen Sabbath after Sabbath pass silently away, from one year's end to the other, — no church-going bell — no gatherings of the people to hear the sweet sounds of divine merecy, or, as the native Irish say, " the story of peace ;" they have for ages lived and died amidst one unbroken famine, not, indeed, of bread and water, but of hearing the word of the Lord.
Of these Islands, at least one hundred and forty were inhabited twelve years ago. Some were very small: seventeen contain only one family in each and ten, not more than three in each; but some are large, and the aggregate population of the whole, amounted to not less than 43,000 souls.
I will mention a few particulars of only two of them. Raghlin, Rathlin, or Ratherin, the Rienea of Pliny, the Ricinea of Ptolomy, about six miles distant from the north coast of Antrim, is nearly five miles long, and three and a half in extreme breadth, it abounds with some curious arrangements of Basaltic pillars, similar to those of the Giants' Causeway *. It affords a considerable quantity of sea-weed for kelp, and where cultivated, produces excellent barley. A religious establishment was founded here, in the sixth century, by Columba, but in 790, it was ravaged by the Danes. The attachment of the natives to their little island is extreme, and one of their worst wishes to any neighbour who has injured them is, that he may end his days in Ireland +. Raghlin is memorable as the retreat of Robert Bruce of Scotland. It was here that he planted his standard, and obtained some aid from the native Irish, before he proceeded to the Hebrides. Dr. Francis Hutchinson, Bishop of Down and Connor, who published an Irish almanack, and a defence of the ancient historians, with application to the history of Ireland and Great Britain, in the year 1712, procured for the inhabitants of this island, a translation of the Church Catechism into Irish, with the English annexed. It was printed at Belfast, but in the Roman letter, and the orthography of both languages was interfered with, which was not a judicious step ; I know not whether a single copy of the Raghlin Catechism remains in Ireland.
Tory, about ten miles or more off the coast of Donegal, but united to the parish of Tullaghabigly, is about three miles long, and one broad. The name of this island is thought to be of Runic etymology, and Thor-eye, now corrupted into Tory, denotes that it was consecrated to Thor, the Scandinavian deity, who presided over desolate places. The inhabitants are unacquainted with any other law than that of their old Brehon code. They choose their own chief judge, and to his mandate, issuing from a throne of turf, the people yield a ready obedience. Round a tower and church built by Columkill, there is a graveyard, to which peculiar sanctity is ascribed, and where no one is permitted to be interred. The people but very seldom come to the main land. About two years ago, a fishing-boat, containing seven or eight men, being driven by stress of weather into Ards Bay, on the coast adjoining, it turned out that not one of these men had ever been in Ireland before! The trees belonging to Mr. Stewart of Ards, (the uncle of Lord Londonderry,) actually astonished them, and they were seen putting leaves and small branches in their pockets, to show on their return. In August, 1826, the poor people in this island, amounting to nearly 500, were visited by a great calamity. A strange and unforeseen storm set in from the north-west, which drove the sea, in immense waves, over the whole flat part of the island; the waves beat even over the highest cliffs — all their corn was destroyed, their potatoes washed out of the ground, and all the springs of fresh water filled with that of the sea. Their deplorable situation constrained them to several communications with the main land — their condition, in other respects, then excited pity. It was then arranged that an Irish teacher be sent them, and so this frowning providence may prove to have been only the precursor of better days than they have ever seen.
Innismurry, about six miles distant from the coast of Sligo, is but small, containing about 130 acres of shallow soil. In this isle there is a large image rudely carved in wood, and painted red, which the people call Father Molash, to which it is affirmed they pay devotion; and they have an altar built of loose round stones, called " the cursing altar," to which they are said to apply, if any one has injured them.
L. C.
[Anderson's Historical Sketches of the Ancient Native Irish.]
* See Saturday Magazine, Vol. II., p. 50.
+ The Capers, or inhabitants of Cape Clear Island, cherish so ardent an attachment to their apparently desolate Island, that even temporary banishment to the main land, has been found so severe a punishment, as effectuall to prevent crime.
Of these Islands, at least one hundred and forty were inhabited twelve years ago. Some were very small: seventeen contain only one family in each and ten, not more than three in each; but some are large, and the aggregate population of the whole, amounted to not less than 43,000 souls.
I will mention a few particulars of only two of them. Raghlin, Rathlin, or Ratherin, the Rienea of Pliny, the Ricinea of Ptolomy, about six miles distant from the north coast of Antrim, is nearly five miles long, and three and a half in extreme breadth, it abounds with some curious arrangements of Basaltic pillars, similar to those of the Giants' Causeway *. It affords a considerable quantity of sea-weed for kelp, and where cultivated, produces excellent barley. A religious establishment was founded here, in the sixth century, by Columba, but in 790, it was ravaged by the Danes. The attachment of the natives to their little island is extreme, and one of their worst wishes to any neighbour who has injured them is, that he may end his days in Ireland +. Raghlin is memorable as the retreat of Robert Bruce of Scotland. It was here that he planted his standard, and obtained some aid from the native Irish, before he proceeded to the Hebrides. Dr. Francis Hutchinson, Bishop of Down and Connor, who published an Irish almanack, and a defence of the ancient historians, with application to the history of Ireland and Great Britain, in the year 1712, procured for the inhabitants of this island, a translation of the Church Catechism into Irish, with the English annexed. It was printed at Belfast, but in the Roman letter, and the orthography of both languages was interfered with, which was not a judicious step ; I know not whether a single copy of the Raghlin Catechism remains in Ireland.
Tory, about ten miles or more off the coast of Donegal, but united to the parish of Tullaghabigly, is about three miles long, and one broad. The name of this island is thought to be of Runic etymology, and Thor-eye, now corrupted into Tory, denotes that it was consecrated to Thor, the Scandinavian deity, who presided over desolate places. The inhabitants are unacquainted with any other law than that of their old Brehon code. They choose their own chief judge, and to his mandate, issuing from a throne of turf, the people yield a ready obedience. Round a tower and church built by Columkill, there is a graveyard, to which peculiar sanctity is ascribed, and where no one is permitted to be interred. The people but very seldom come to the main land. About two years ago, a fishing-boat, containing seven or eight men, being driven by stress of weather into Ards Bay, on the coast adjoining, it turned out that not one of these men had ever been in Ireland before! The trees belonging to Mr. Stewart of Ards, (the uncle of Lord Londonderry,) actually astonished them, and they were seen putting leaves and small branches in their pockets, to show on their return. In August, 1826, the poor people in this island, amounting to nearly 500, were visited by a great calamity. A strange and unforeseen storm set in from the north-west, which drove the sea, in immense waves, over the whole flat part of the island; the waves beat even over the highest cliffs — all their corn was destroyed, their potatoes washed out of the ground, and all the springs of fresh water filled with that of the sea. Their deplorable situation constrained them to several communications with the main land — their condition, in other respects, then excited pity. It was then arranged that an Irish teacher be sent them, and so this frowning providence may prove to have been only the precursor of better days than they have ever seen.
Innismurry, about six miles distant from the coast of Sligo, is but small, containing about 130 acres of shallow soil. In this isle there is a large image rudely carved in wood, and painted red, which the people call Father Molash, to which it is affirmed they pay devotion; and they have an altar built of loose round stones, called " the cursing altar," to which they are said to apply, if any one has injured them.
L. C.
[Anderson's Historical Sketches of the Ancient Native Irish.]
* See Saturday Magazine, Vol. II., p. 50.
+ The Capers, or inhabitants of Cape Clear Island, cherish so ardent an attachment to their apparently desolate Island, that even temporary banishment to the main land, has been found so severe a punishment, as effectuall to prevent crime.