The Geographical Distribution of Irish Ability

O'Donoghue, D.S

Irish Ability

Chapter XXX — 'Galway'.

In every kind of human activity Galway's record is very remarkable. It is almost impossible to do justice to it in an article like this, but the attempt must be made. As administrators, soldiers, writers, lawyers, scientists, Galway men have been very much to the front. Take the literary men first. In general literature we have Thomas M'Nevin, author of "The Confiscation of Ulster", and "The Irish Volunteers", whose early death was a blow to historical literature; Mrs. Nannie Power O'Donoghue (nee Lambert), a clever journalist; Dr. William James M'Nevin, the '98 man, and author of "Pieces of Irish History " ; Edward A. Moriarty, the German scholar and translator ; and several others less well—known. Charles O'Kelly, the historical writer, author of "Macariae Excidium" and other works; the Rev. Dr. John Lynch, who pulverized Giraldus in his "Cambrensis Eversus," and wrote other very learned books; James Lynch, Hardiman, the eminent Irish scholar and historian of Galway; Roderick O'Flaherty, whose "Ogygia " is greatly esteemed by the learned; Florence Conry, the seventeenth century scholar; and the Most Rev. Francis Kirwan, Bishop of Killala, are a few of the earlier names of real importance connected with the history of Galway. Sir William Ouseley, F.R.S., the Orientalist, was also of Galway origin. Among novelists are the names of M. D. Bodkin, author of some clever and popular books; Miss Annie Keary (whose father was from Galway), author of the admirable "Castle Daly " and other novels; Miss Violet Martin ("Martin Ross") who collaborates so well with Miss E. O'E. Somerville; Mrs. Bell Martin, whose novels were once much read; and Eyre Evans Crowe, who was not born in the county, but was of Galway family: His "To—Day in Ireland " and other similar books will repay reading even now, a great many years after their publication. Another writer, more famous, whose family belonged to Galway, was the Rev. Henry Francis Cary, the best of the English translators of Dante, John Wilson Croker, a bitter critic, a powerful writer, and still more notable as a politician, was, as everybody knows, a Galway man, and Peter Finnerty, one of the most prominent journalists of the same period, also came from the county. The late Ulick Ralph Burke, the Spanish scholar, must also be named.

Of poets there are many, and mostly good ones. Mary Kelly ("Eva " of the Nation), has written much verse, and one or two of her poems will always have a place in Irish anthologies. "Tipperary" and "The Patriot Mother" alone justify her reputation. Francis A. Fahy perhaps the best of all Irish song writers, whose humorous and social lyrics are too good ever to be forgotten, has of late years received the praise which is his due, but the author of "The Ould Plaid Shawl" is destined to be still more popular among all lovers of Irish song. Other poets to be named are Michael J. M'Cann, author of "O'Donnell Aboo"; the Rev. Michael Mullin, who wrote "The Celtic Tongue", an eloquent plea for the native language; Anna L. Hildebrand, a clever but little known poetess ; and Patrick O'Kelly, whose amusing satire, "The Doneraile Litany", is the best of his productions.

In art there is not much to be said but Francis Coles, an eminent painter of the eighteenth century, and his brother Samuel Cotes, were of Galway parentage. Joseph P. Heverty, R.H.A., a well—known painter of the last century, was from Galway, and I think the clever landscapist of the present day, Miss Rose Barton, is of Galway origin. Augustus Burke, R.H.A., ought also to be mentioned. Science is represented by Richard Kirwan, F.R.S., the mineralogist; John Birmingham, the astronomer; Count Patrick D'Arcy, the naturalist; John S. Townsend, F.R.S., a great authority on electrical science, and Henry B. Medlicott, F.R.S., the geologist. Professor P. J. Freyer, MD, a notable living surgeon, and Sir Henry Marsh, the famous physician of last century, are also eminent Galwegians, who have contributed something to medical science. And it may be noted that the great French physiologist, Professor Brown—Sequard, had a Galway father. To the science of geography, Galway has given some notable names. That extraordinary man, Sir Richard F. Burton, explorer, solider, and poet, was of undoubted Galway family, and though not born there, must be considered as one of its greatest sons. It would take too much space to tell of his adventures, his valuable records of travel and exploration, his fiats of scholarship, such as his wonderful version of "The Arabian Nights", or of his very clever translation of Camoens. It is sufficient to say that no more striking personality, or more versatile genius, lived in the nineteenth century, of which he was unquestionably one of the greatest genius. Robert O'Hara Burke, the Australian explorer, who died a martyr to his thirst for knowledge, was a native of Galway. The Australians have put up a monument to him in recognition of his services.

Galway has reared some notable military men. One of the best known is Sir Hudson Lowe, a distinguished officer, who, as the jailer of Napoleon at St. Helena, of which he was governor, has been much abused by various writers. At the same time, it seems clear that Lowe was not the petty tyrant he has been pictured, and many excellent authorities demur to the hostile descriptions of him. He had a distinguished military career, and bore a character as a humane and kindly man. The Lally family, the greatest representative of which was the accomplished Count Lally, Marquis de Tollendal, the unfortunate French commander, was also from Galway, and Sir Edward Blakeney, an eminent British general, belonged to the same county. Sir John Bermingham, a noted Galway warrior of the fourteenth century; General Sir Ralph Ouseley, General Sir Henry Dermot Daly, General Sir John Taylor, General Henry Hall, General Kirwan, General William O'Shaughnessy, of the French service, and Colonel Francis French Staunton, also claim notice in this list, which is not by any means complete. Perhaps this is the best place to name Surgeon—General C. R. Kilkelly.

Laurels have also been won by Galway in diplomacy and administrative capacity. Sir William Henry Gregory, the late Governor of Ceylon, Sir Dominic Daly, the Australian administrator; Sir Malachy B. Daly, of Canada ; and Sir Gerald Fitzgerald of the Indian Government, were distinguished in their several appointments; and Richard Le Poer Trench, second Earl of Clancarty; Sir William Gore Ouseley, and especially Sir George Leonard Staunton, were noted diplomatists. Staunton went to China with Lord Macartney, and his book on China is a most valuable one. His son, Sir George Thomas Staunton, F.R.S., was one of the best Chinese scholars and Orientalists of his time. Of prominent Irish officials there have been several, including Sir Thomas Redington, and William Gregory, Under Secretary at Dublin Castle, whose interesting correspondence has been published by Lady Gregory. Sir Andrew Reed, another Irish official of recent years, may be added; and Under—Secretary Thomas Henry Burke, who was assassinated in Phoenix Park, is probably better remembered than any of them. Aedanus Burke, the statesman, and Governor Thomas Burke, the patriot, both of America, must also be included.

There are also some well—known writers still to be named. Of the Gaelic poets, John O'Dugan and Raftery are the most important. Lady Gregory and Edward Martyn, in our own time, cannot be left unnoticed. In past times, the, Rev. John Day Collis, an excellent, classical scholar, and Ulick de Burgh, Earl of Clanricarde, author of a volume of its famous "Memoirs", claim attention, Francis Stoughton Sullivan was a learned jurist and legal writer; and among Protestant divines we have Bishop Robert Daly, who was prominent in Irish affairs in the early part of last century; celebrated preacher Walter Blake Kirwan; and the Rev. Gideon Ouseley, a learned Methodist. I have already named several learned Catholic ecclesiastics, and need only add here the Rev. Francis Martin, a learned Augustinian; the Rev. Dr. Nicholas Murray; the Rev. Richard Lynch, S.J.; the Most Rev. Edmund French; the Rev. Peter Lynch, the Dominican; and the Most Rev. James Lynch, Archbishop of Tuam. Father Tom Burke deserves a place apart; as a great preacher and as a personality his name stands high among Irishmen. His sermons and his brilliant lecturers and addresses on Irish subjects are most admirable. His wit and humour are often quoted — his biographer, W. J. Fitzpatrick, has perhaps laid too much stress on the serious side of his character.

Denis Daly, of the Irish Parliament, and Richard Martin, the humanitarian, to whose exertions much of the present kindness to animals is due, were well—known Galway men. The late Lord Morris, though, perhaps, better remembered as a wit than as a lawyer; Chief Justice Monahan; Richard D. Ireland, of the Australian bar; and the notorious Judge William Keogh, who was connected with Galway, were lawyers of considerable reputation, though the last—named was rather politician than judge. The Hon. Archer Martin, a judge in British Columbia, is also a Galway man. Only one Galway musician is known to me the late Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore, of American fame. Finally, Richard Daly, a theatrical manager of some note in the eighteenth century, and; Captain Wilson Rathborne, a distinguished naval; officer of last century, close the present attempt at a fairly, complete record of what Galway has done in intellectual fields.