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February 24 marks the 40th anniversary of the Tinker decision, a landmark Supreme Court case affirming students’ First Amendment rights to free speech in public schools. In honor of this anniversary, the ACLU has released a short video about a Florida high school that banned students from wearing clothing supporting equal rights for gay people. The principal at Ponce De Leon High School censored Heather Gillman and other students after they began wearing clothing with rainbows and other symbols of support for gay equality in response to anti-gay harassment at the school. After a trial, a federal judge ruled in Heather’s favor, finding that the school violated Heather’s First Amendment rights. Heather and countless other courageous students have followed in the footsteps of Mary Beth Tinker, her brother John, and their friend Christopher Eckhardt, who were suspended from Des Moines public schools in 1965 for wearing black armbands in protest of the Vietnam War. With the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, the students filed a lawsuit, Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, which was eventually appealed to the US Supreme Court. In a landmark decision on February 24, 1969, the Court ruled in favor of the students, holding that students don’t lose their constitutional rights at the classroom door. The Tinker precedent is still used to determine whether a school’s disciplinary actions violate students’ First Amendment rights.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

High School Basketball: Your Stepping Stone to a College Basketball Scholarship

There have been countless films on playing high school basketball and by doing this, the lead actor has landed a college scholarship. This isn’t just a Hollywood make-believe event. It can happen even to an unknown athlete in your school-or it could happen to you. 

When you believe that you were born to fulfill your destiny as a basketball star and that most of your time in high school was spent in trainings and basketball games, then you are on step one. As a high school basketball player, it is important for you to be noticed by, not only by the swooning girls but also, your basketball coach. He may be able to make the recommendations that you need to land a college basketball scholarship. Although this isn’t a guarantee, it pays to do well in every training or game and to stand out. 

Your high school basketball coach might not know coaches of different colleges so it is also highly advised that high school players make themselves known to them. Unless you play like Michael Jordan, then you have to be able to sell your skills to these coaches. Make them notice you. Don’t wait for any college basketball coach to recruit you. You must confidently submit a resume or profile of your personal basketball history and let your track record be tangible proof for them. 

The next rule is probably one of the most important things that any high school basketball player needs to know-and that is to achieve good grades. Although basketball may be unrelated to language proficiency or mathematics, the fact remains that most colleges that offer basketball scholarships will want their applicants to have outstanding grades. What do these grades prove? They only tend to prove that despite the rigors of trainings and games, the player remains disciplined to finish other tasks. The grades will also mirror how well you balance your time on different endeavors. So the next time you start thinking that your English grade means nothing to your college basketball scholarship, think again.

Generally in the United States, athletic scholarship applications are best done right after high school graduation. The standing rule for age is 18-24 years old. The great news in the U.S. is that, there are a booming number of colleges and universities that offer scholarships. You have a lot of choices so take a pick and start sending your resume to some of the colleges that you like. 

Participate in ranking tournaments and give each one of these games your best shot. When you are ranked high, of course, the chances of getting a good scholarship will be greater compared with mediocrity in regional or national ranking.

To be able to land an athletic scholarship, you should understand the sophisticated processes of recruitment. You just don’t go about telling every college basketball coach you meet that you can play the game. Know which colleges you want and be able to impress that you can play basketball on a non-neophyte level. Promote your skills and sell your talents.

Behave yourself. Basketball coaches want to work with an individual who has a clean track record and who they can mold into the athlete that they envision. If you have a smeared record, chances are, coaches might shun away from meeting you. 

When you have finally decided which college will be able to offer you the best scholarship, begin processing not just your resume but also other important credentials such as transcript, your ACT and SAT scores, samples of completed work (in short, your portfolio). These are just some of the necessities so it’s important for you to ask your chosen college’s specific requirements. There are, of course, different requirements for different colleges. 

There are many hurdles to acheiving an athletic scholarship. The requirements include a lot of physical and mental preparation. If you believe you have what it takes to succeed, then you have already succeeded.

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Best answer:

Answer by mastergee444
your situation sounds to me like the rules of a specific league regarding playing eligibility. Although I’m really not sure about high school sports recruiting…

Give your answer to this question below!

Ned Kelly


Image by yewenyi
It has been a long time since I stopped in Gelnrowan. As I had left from my sister’s place it had taken me longer to get up the highway. I stopped here for lunch at a place across the road form Ned. A steak sandwich with the lot. It was as perfect as a steak sandwich can be.

Ned Kelly was a bush ranger who roamed the north east of Victoria in the 19th century. His gang was cornered and then captured in this town. Ned was hung later at the Melbourne Goal.

AUS Vic Gelnrowan 20061126 IMG_5116-2.jpg

Ned wrote this letter:

Dear Sir,

I wish to acquaint you with some of the occurrences of the present past and future. In or about the spring of 1870 the ground was very soft a hawker named Mr Gould got his waggon bogged between Greta and my mother’s house on the eleven mile creek, the ground was that rotten it would bog a duck in places so Mr. Gould had abandon his waggon for fear of loosing his horses in the spewy ground. he was stopping at my Mother’s awaiting finer or dryer weather Mr. McCormack and his wife. hawkers also were camped in Greta the mosquitoes were very bad which they generally are in a wet spring and to help them Mr. Johns had a horse called Ruita Cruta although a gelding was as clever as old Wombat or any other Stallion at running horses away and taking them on his beat which was from Greta swamp to the seven mile creek consequently he enticed McCormack’s horse away from Greta.

Mr. Gould was up early feeding his horses heard a bell and seen McCormack horses for he knew the horse well he sent his boy to take him back to Greta. When McCormack’s got the horse they came straight out to Goold and accused him of working the horse; this was false, and Goold was amazed at the idea I could not help laughing to hear Mrs. McCormack accusing him of using the horse after him being so kind as to send his boy to take him from the Ruta Cruta and take him back to them.

I pleaded Goulds innocence and Mrs McCormack turned on me and accused me of bringing the horse from Greta to Goolds waggon to pull him out of the bog I did not say much to the woman as my Mother was present but that same day me and my uncle was cutting calves Gould wrapped up a note and a pair of the calves testicles and gave them to me to give them to Mrs McCormack. I did not see her and I gave the parcel to a boy to give to her when she would come instead of giving it to her he gave it to her husband consequently McCormack said he would summons me I told him neither me or Gould used their horse.

he said I was a liar & he could welt me or any of my breed I was about 14 years of age but accepted the challenge and dismounting when Mrs McCormack struck my horse in the flank with a bullock’s skin it jumped forward and my fist came in collision with McCormack’s nose and caused him to loose his equillibrium and fall postrate I tied up my horse to finish the battle but McCormack got up and ran to the Police camp. Constable Hall asked me what the row was about I told him they accused me and Gould of using their horse and I hit him and I would do the same to him if he challenged me McCormack pulled me and swore their lies against me I was sentenced to three months for hitting him and three months for the parcel and bound to keep the peace for 12 months.

Mrs McCormack gave good substantial evidence as she is well acquainted with that place called Tasmania better known as the Dervon or Vandiemans land and McCormack being a Police man over the convicts and women being scarce released her from that land of bondage and tyranny, and they came to Victoria and are at present residents of Greta and on the 29th of March I was released from prison and came home Wild Wright came to the Eleven Mile to see Mr Gunn stopped all night and lost his mare both him and me looked all day for her and could not get her Wright who was a stranger to me was in a hurry to get back to Mansfield and I gave him another mare and he told me if I found his mare to keep her until he brought mine back I was going to Wangaratta and seen the mare and I caught her and took her with me all the Police and Detective Berrill seen her as Martains girls used to ride her about the town during several days that I stopped at Petre Martains Star Hotel in Wangaratta.

She was a chestnut mare white face docked tail very remarkable branded (M) as plain as the hands on a town clock. the property of a Telegraph Master in Mansfield he lost her on the 6th gazetted her on the 12th of March and I was a prisoner in Beechworth Gaol until the 29 of March therefore I could not have Stole the mare. I was riding the mare through Greta Constable Hall came to me and said he wanted me to sign some papers that I did not sign at Beechworth concerning my bail bonds I thought it was the truth he said the papers was at the Barracks and I had no idea he wanted to arrest me or I would have quietly rode away instead of going to the Barracks.

I was getting off when Hall caught hold of me and thought to throw me but made a mistake and came on the broad of his back himself in the dust the mare galloped away and instead of me putting my foot on Halls neck and taking his revolver and putting him in the lock up. I tried to catch the mare. Hall got up and snapped three or four caps at me and would have shot me but the colts patent refused. This is well known in Greta Hall never told me he wanted to arrest me until after he tried to shoot me when I heard the caps snapping I stood until Hall came close he had me covered and was shaking with fear and I knew he would pull the trigger before he would be game to put his hand on me so I duped, and jumped at him caught the revolver with one hand and Hall by the collar with the other.

I dare not strike him or my sureties would loose the bond money I used to trip him and let him take a mouth ful of dust now and again as he was as helpless as a big guano after leaving a dead bullock or a horse. I kept throwing him in the dust until I got him across the street the very spot where Mrs O’Briens Hotel stands now the cellar was just dug then there was some brush fencing where the post and rail was taking down and on this I threw big cowardly Hall on his belly I straddled him and rooted both spurs onto his thighs he roared like a big calf attacked by dogs and shifted several yards of the fence I got his hands at the back of his neck and trid to make him let the revolver go but he stuck to it like grim death to a dead volunteer he called for assistance to a man named Cohen and Barnett, Lewis, Thompson, Jewitt two blacksmiths who was looking on I dare not strike any of there as I was bound to keep the peace or I could have spread those curs like dung in a paddock they got ropes tied my hands and feet and Hall beat me over the head with his six chambered colts revolver nine stitches were put in some of the cuts by Dr Hastings And when Wild Wright and my mother came they could trace us across the street by the blood in the dust and which spoiled the lustre of the paint on the gate-post of the Barracks Hall sent for more Police and Doctor Hastings.

Next morning I was handcuffed a rope tied from them to my legs and to the seat of the cart and taken to Wangaratta Hall was frightened I would throw him out of the cart so he tied me whilst Constable Arthur laughed at his cowardice for it was he who escorted me and Hall to Wangaratta. I was tried and committed as Hall swore I claimed the mare the Doctor died or he would have proved Hall a perjurer Hall has been tried several times for perjury but got clear as this is no crime in the Police force it is a credit to a Policeman to convict an innocent man but any muff can pot a guilty one Halls character is well known about El Dorado and Snowy Creek and Hall was considerably in debt to Mr L.O. Brien and he was going to leave Greta Mr O. Brien seen no other chance of getting his money so there was a subscription collected for Hall and with the aid of this money he got James Murdock who was recently hung in Wagga Wagga to give false evidence against me but I was acquitted on the charge of horsestealing and on Halls and Murdocks evidence I was found guilty of receiving and got 3 years experience in Beechworth Pentridges dungeons.

this is the only charge ever proved against me Therefore I can say I never was convicted of horse or cattle stealing My Brother Dan was never charged with assaulting a woman but he was sentenced to three months without the option of a fine and one month and two pounds fine for damaging property by Mr. Butler P.M. a sentence that there is no law to uphold therefore the Minister of Justice neglected his duty in that case, but there never was such a thing as Justice in the English laws but any amount of injustice to be had. Out of over thirty head of the very best horses the land could produce I could only find one when I got my liberty. Constable Flood stole and sold the most of them to the navvies on the railway line one bay cob he stole and sold four different times the line was completed and the men all gone when I came out and Flood was shifted to Oxley. he carried on the same game there all the stray horses that was any time without an owner and not in the Police Gazette Flood used to claim He was doing a good trade at Oxley until Mr Brown of the Laceby Station got him shifted as he was always running his horses about.

Flood is different to Sergeant Steel, Strachan, Hall and the most of Police a they have got to hire cads and if they fail the Police are quite helpless. But Flood can make a cheque single-handed he is the greatest horsestealer with the exception of myself and George King I know of. I never worked on a farm a horse and saddle was never traced to me after leaving employment since February 1873 I worked as a faller at Mr J. Saunders and R Rules sawmills then for Heach and Dockendorf I never worked for less than two pound ten a week since I left Pentridge and in 1875 or 1876 I was overseer for Saunders and Rule.

Bourke’s water–holes sawmills in Victoria since then I was on the King River, during my stay there I ran in a wild bull which I gave to Lydicher a farmer he sold him to Carr a Publican and Butcher who killed him for beef, sometime afterwards I was blamed for stealing this bull from James Whitty Boggy Creek I asked Whitty Oxley racecourse why he blamed me for stealing his bull he said he had found his bull and never blamed me but his son-in-law Farrell told him he heard I sold the bull to Carr not long afterwards I heard again I was blamed for stealing a mob of calves from Whitty and Farrell which I knew nothing about. I began to think they wanted me to give them something to talk about.

Therefore I started wholesale and retail horse and cattle dealing Whitty and Burns not being satisfied with all the picked land on the Boggy Creek and King River and the run of their stock on the certificate ground free and no one interfering with them paid heavy rent to the banks for all the open ground so as a poor man could keep no stock, and impounded every beast they could get, even off Government roads. If a poor man happened to leave his horse or bit of a poddy calf outside his paddock they would be impounded. I have known over 60 head of horses impounded in one day by Whitty and Burns all belonging to poor farmers they would have to leave their ploughing or harvest or other employment to go to Oxley.

When they would get there perhaps not have money enough to release them and have to give a bill of sale or borrow the money which is no easy matter. And along with this sort of work, Farrell the Policeman stole a horse from George King and had him in Whitty and Farrells Paddocks until he left the force. And all this was the cause of me and my step-father George King taking their horses and selling them to Baumgarten and Kennedy. the pick of them was taken to a good market and the culls were kept in Petersons paddock and their brands altered by me two was sold to Kennedy and the rest to Baumgarten who were strangers to me and I believe honest men.

They paid me full value for the horses and could not have known they were stolen. no person had anything to do with the stealing and selling of the horses but me and George King. William Cooke who was convicted for Whittys horses was innocent he was not in my company at Petersons. But it is not the place of the Police to convict guilty men as it is by them they get their living had the right parties been convicted it would have been a bad job for the Police as Berry would have sacked a great many of them only I came to their aid and kept them in their bilits and good employment and got them double pay and yet the ungrateful articles convicted my mother and an infant my brother-in-law and another man who was innocent and still annoy my brothers and sisters and the ignorant unicorns even threaten to shoot myself But as soon as I am dead they will be heels up in the muroo.

there will be no more police required they will be sacked and supplanted by soldiers on low pay in the towns and special constables made of some of the farmers to make up for this double pay and expence. It will pay Government to give those people who are suffering innocence, justice and liberty. if not I will be compelled to show some colonial stratagem which will open the eyes of not only the Victoria Police and inhabitants but also the whole British army and now doubt they will acknowledge their hounds were barking at the 20 wrong stump.

And that Fitzpatrick will be the cause of greater slaughter to the Union Jack than Saint Patrick was to the snakes and toads in Ireland. The Queen of England was as guilty as Baumgarten and Kennedy Williamson and Skillion of what they were convicted for When the horses were found on the Murray River I wrote a letter to Mr Swanhill of Lake Rowan to acquaint the Auctioneer and to advertize my horses for sale I brought some of them to that place but did not sell I sold some of them in Benalla Melbourne and other places and left the colony and became a rambling gambler soon after I left there was a warrant for me and the Police searched the place and watched night and day for two or three weeks and when they could not snare me they got a warrant against my brother Dan And on the 15 of April Fitzpatrick came to the Eleven Mile Creek to arrest him he had some conversation with a horse dealer whom he swore was William Skillion this man was not called in Beechworth, besides several other Witnesses, who alone could have proved Fitzpatricks falsehood after leaving this man he went to the house asked was Dan in Dan came out.

I hear previous to this Fitzpatrick had some conversation with Williamson on the hill. he asked Dan to come to Greta with him as he had a warrant for him for stealing Whitty’s horses Dan said all right they both went inside Dan was having something to eat his mother asked Fitzpatrick what he wanted Dan for. the trooper said he had a warrant for him Dan then asked him to produce it he said it was only a telegram sent from Chiltren but Sergeant Whelan ordered him to releive Steel at Greta and call and arrest Dan and take him into Wangaratta next morning and get him remanded Dans mother said Dan need not go without a warrant unless he liked and that the trooper had no business on her premises without some Authority besides his own word The trooper pulled out his revolver and said he would blow her brains out if she interfered.

in the arrest she told him it was a good job for him Ned was not there or he would ram the revolver down his throat Dan looked out and said Ned is coming now, the trooper being off his guard looked out and when Dan got his attention drawn he dropped the knife and fork which showed he had no murderous intent and slapped heenans hug on him took his revolver and kept him there until Skillion and Ryan came with horses which Dan sold that night. The trooper left and invented some scheme to say that he got shot which any man can see is false, he told Dan to clear out that Sergeant Steel and Detective Brown and Strachan would be there before morning Strachan had been over the Murray trying to get up a case against him and they would convict him if they caught him as the stock society offored an enticement for witnesses to swear anything and the germans over the Murray would swear to the wrong man as well as the right.

Next day Williamson and my mother was arrested and Skillion the day after who was not there at all at the time of the row which can be proved by 8 or 9 witnesses And the Police got great credit and praise in the papers for arresting the mother of 12 children one an infant on her breast and those two quiet hard working innocent men who would not know the difference a revolver and a saucepan handle and kept them six months awaiting trial and then convicted them on the evidence of the meanest article that ever the sun shone on it seems that the jury was well chosen by the Police as there was a discharged Sergeant amongst them which is contrary to law they thought it impossible for a Policeman to swear a lie but I can assure them it is by that means and hiring cads they get promoted I have heard from a trooper that he never knew Fitzpatrick to be one night sober and that he sold his sister to a chinaman but he looks a young strapping rather genteel more fit to be a starcher to a laundress than a Policeman.

For to a keen observer he has the wrong appearance or a manly heart the deceit and cowardice is too plain to be seen in the puny cabbage hearted looking face. I heard nothing of this transaction until very close on the trial I being then over 400 miles from Greta when I heard I was outlawed and a hundred pound reward for me for shooting at a trooper in Victoria and a hundred pound for any man that could prove a conviction of horse-stealing against me so I came back to Victoria knew I would get no justice if I gave myself up I enquired after my brother Dan and found him digging on Bullock Creek heard how the Police used to be blowing that they would not ask me to stand they would shoot me first and then cry surrender and how they used to rush into the house upset all the milk dishes break tins of eggs empty the flour out of the bags on to the ground and even the meat out of the cask and destroy all the provisions and shove the girls in front of them into the rooms like dogs so as if anyone was there they would shoot the girls first but they knew well I was not there or I would have scattered their blood and brains like rain I would manure the Eleven mile with their bloated carcasses and yet remember there is not one drop of murderous blood in my Veins.

Superintendent Smith used to say to my sisters, see all the men I have out today I will have as many more tomorrow and we will blow him into pieces as small as paper that is in our guns Detective Ward and Constable Hayes took out their revolvers and threatened to shoot the girls and children in Mrs Skillions absence the greatest ruffians and murderers no matter how deprived would not be guilty of such a cowardly action, and this sort of cruelty and disgraceful and cowardly conduct to my brothers and sisters who had no protection coupled with the conviction of my mother and those men certainly made my blood boil as I dont think there is a man born could have the patience to suffer it as long as I did or ever allow his blood to get cold while such insults as these were unavenged and yet in every paper that is printed I am called the blackest and coldest blooded murderer ever on record.

But if I hear any more of it I will not exactly show them what cold blooded murder is but wholesale and retail slaughter something dif-ferent to shooting three troopers in self defence and robbing a bank. I would have been rather hot-blooded to throw down my rifle and let them shoot me and my innocent brother, they were not satisfied with frightening my sisters night and day and destroying their provisions and lagging my mother and infant and those innocent men but should follow me and my brother into the wilds where he had been quietly digging neither molesting or inter-fering with anyone he was making good wages as the creek is very rich within half a mile from where I shot Kennedy.

I was not there long and on the 25 of October I came on Police tracks between Table top and the bogs. I crossed them and returning in the evening I came on a different lot of tracks making for the shingle hut I went to our camp and told my brother and his two mates me and my brother went and found their camp at the shingle hut about a mile from my brothers house saw they carried long firearms and we knew our doom was sealed if we could not beat those before the others would come As I knew the other party of Police would soon join them and if they came on us at our camp they would shoot us down like dogs at our work as we had only two guns. we thought it best to try and bail those up take their fire-arms and ammunition and horses and we could stand a chance with the rest We approached the spring as close as we could get to the camp as the intervening space being clear ground and no battery We saw two men at the logs they got up and one took a double barreled fowling-piece and fetched a horse down and hobbled him at the tent we thought there were more men in the tent asleep those being on sentry we could have shot those two men without speaking but not wishing to take their lives we waited McIntyre laid the gun against a stump and Lonigan sat on the log I advanced, my brother Dan keepin McIntyre covered which he took to be constable Flood and had he not obeyed my orders, or at-tempted to reach for the gun or draw his revolver he would have been shot dead but when I called on them to throw up their hands McIntyre obeyed and Lonigan ran some six or seven yards to a battery of logs insted of dropping behind the one he was sitting on, he had just got to the logs and put his head up to take aim when I shot him that instant or he would have shot me as I took him to be Strachan the man who said he would not ask me to stand he would shoot me first like a dog.

But it happened to be Lonigan the man who in company with Sergeant Whelan Fitzpatrick and King the Boot maker and constable O. Day that tried to put a pair of hand-cuffs on me in Benalla but could not and had to allow McInnis the miller to put them on, previous to Fitzpatrick swear-ing he was shot, I was fined two pounds for hitting Fitzpatrick and two pounds for not allowing five curs like Sergeant Whelan O. Day Fitz-patrick King and Lonigan who caught me by the privates and would have sent me to Kingdom come only I was not ready and he is the man that blowed before he left Violet Town if Ned Kelly was to be shot he was the man would shoot him and no doubt he would shoot me even if I threw up my arms and laid down as he knew four of them could not arrest me single-handed not to talk of the rest of my mates, also either me or him would have to die, this he knew well therefore he had a right to keep out of my road, Fitzpatrick is the only one I hit out of the five in Benalla this shows my feeling towards him as he said we were good friends & even swore it but he was the biggest enemy I had in the country with the exception of Lonigan and he can be thankful I was not there when he took a revolver and threatened to shoot my mother in her own house it is not fire three shots and miss him at a yard and a half I dont think I would use a revolver to shoot a man like him when I was within a yard and a half of him or attempt to fire into a house where my mother brothers and sisters was. and according to Fitzpatricks statement all around him a man that is such a bad shot as to miss a man three times at a yard and a half would never attempt to fire into a house among a house full of women and children while I had a pairs of arms and bunch of fives on the end of them that never failed to peg out anything they came in contact with and Fitzpatrick knew the weight of one of them only too well, as it run against him once in Benalla, and cost me two pound odd as he is very subject to fainting.

As soon as I shot Lonigan he jumped up and staggered some distance from the logs with his hands raised and then fell he surrendered but too late I asked McIntyre who was in the tent he replied no one. I advanced and took possession of their two revolvers and fowling-piece which I loaded with bullets instead of shot. I asked McIntyre where his mates was he said they had gone down the creek, and he did not expect them that night he asked me was I going to shoot him and his mates. I told him no.

I would shoot no man if he gave up his arms and leave the force he said the police all knew Fitzpatrick had wronged us. and he intended to leave the force, as he had bad health, and his life was insured, he told me he intended going home and that Kennedy and Scanlan were out looking for our camp and also about the other Police he told me the N.S.W Police had shot a man for shooting Sergeant Walling I told him if they did, they had shot the wrong man And I expect your gang came to do the same with me he said no they did not come to shoot me they came to apprehend me I asked him what they carried spenceir rifles and breech loading fowling pieces and so much ammunition for as the Police was only supposed to carry one revolver and 6 cartridges in the revolver but they had eighteen rounds of revolver cartridges each three dozen for the fowling piece and twenty one spenceir-rifle cartridges and God knows how many they had away with the rifle this looked as if they meant not only to shoot me only to riddle me but I dont know either Kennedy Scanlan or him and had nothing against them, he said he would get them to give up their arms if I would not shoot them as I could not blame them, they had to do their duty I said I did not blame them for doing honest duty but I could not suffer them blowing me to pieces in my own native land and they knew Fitzpatrick wronged us and why not make it public and convict him but no they would rather riddle poor unfortunate creoles.

but they will rue the day ever Fitzpatrick got among them, Our two mates came over when they heard the shot fired but went back again for fear the Police might come to our camp while we were all away and manure bullock flat with us on our arrival. I stopped at the logs and Dan went back to the spring for fear the tropers would come in that way but I soon heard them coming up the creek. I told McIntyre to tell them to give up their arms, he spoke to Kennedy who was some distance in front of Scanlan he reached for his revolver and jumped off, on the off side of his horse and got behind a tree when I called on them to throw up their arms and Scanlan who carried the rifle slewed his horse around to gallop away but the horse would not go and as quick as thought fired at me with the rifle without unslinging it and was in the act of firing again when I had to shoot him and he fell from his horse.

I could have shot them without speaking but their lives was no good to me. McIntyre jumped on Kennedys horse and I allowed him to go as I did not like to shoot him after he surrendered or I would have shot him as he was between me and Kennedy therefore I could not shoot Kennedy without shooting him first. Kennedy kept firing from behind the tree my brother Dan advanced and Kennedy ran I followed him he stopped behind another tree and fired again.

I shot him in the arm pit and he dropped his revolver and ran I fired again with the gun as he slewed around to surrender I did not know he had dropped his revolver. the bullet passed through the right side of his chest & he could not live or I would have let him go had they been my own brother I could not help shooting there or else let them shoot me which they would have done had their bullets been directed as they intended them. But as for handcuffing Kennedy to a tree or cutting his ear off or brutally treating any of them, is a falsehood, if Kennedys ear was cut off it was not done by me and none of my mates was near him after he was shot I put his cloak over him and left him as well as I could and were they my own brothers I could not have been more sorry for them this cannot be called wilful murder for I was compelled to shoot them, or lie down and let them shoot me it would not be wilful murder if they packed our remains in, shattered into a mass of animated gore to Mansfield, they would have got great praise and credit as well as promotion but I am reconed a horrid brute because I had not been cowardly enough to lie down for them under such trying circumstances and insults to my people certainly their wives and children are to be pitied but they must remember those men came into the bush with the intention of scattering pieces of me and my brother all over the bush and yet they know and acknowledge I have been wronged and my mother and four or five men lagged innocent and is my brothers and sisters and my mother not to be pitied also who has no alternative only to put up with the brutal and cowardly conduct of a parcel of big ugly fat-necked wombat headed big bellied magpie legged narrow hipped splaw-footed sons of Irish Bailiffs or english landlords which is better known as Officers of Justice or Victorian Police who some calls honest gentlemen but I would like to know what business an honest man would have in the Police as it is an old saying It takes a rogue to catch a rogue and a man that knows nothing about roguery would never enter the force an take an oath to arrest brother sister father or mother if required and to have a case and conviction if possible.

Any man knows it is possible to swear a lie and if a policeman looses a conviction for the sake of swearing a lie he has broke his oath therefore he is a perjurer either ways. A Policeman is a disgrace to his country, not alone to the mother that suckled him, in the first place he is a rogue in his heart but too cowardly to follow it up without having the force to disguise it. next he is traitor to his country ancestors and religion as they were all catholics before the Saxons and Cranmore yoke held sway since then they were perse cuted massacreed thrown into martrydom and tortured beyond the ideas of the present generation What would people say if they saw a strapping big lump of an Irishman shepherding sheep for fifteen bob a week or tailing turkeys in Tallarook ranges for a smile from Julia or even begging his tucker, they would say he ought to be ashamed of himself and tar-and-feather him.

But he would be a king to a policeman who for a lazy loafing cowardly bilit left the ash corner deserted the shamrock, the emblem of true wit and beauty to serve under a flag and nation that has destroyed massacreed and murdered their fore-fathers by the greatest of torture as rolling them down hill in spiked barrels pulling their toe and finger nails and on the wheel. and every torture imaginable more was transported to Van Diemand’s Land to pine their young lives away in starvation and misery among tyrants worse than the promised hell itself all of true blood bone and beauty, that was not murdered on their own soil, or had fled to America or other countries to bloom again another day, were doomed to Port Mcquarie Toweringabbie norfolk island and Emu plains and in those places of tyrany and condemnation many a blooming Irishman rather than subdue to the Saxon yoke Were flogged to death and bravely died in servile chains but true to the shamrock and a credit to Paddys land What would people say if I became a policeman and took an oath to arrest my brothers and sisters & relations and convict them by fair or foul means after the conviction of my mother and the persecutions and insults offered to myself and people Would they say I was a decent gentleman, and yet a police-man is still in worse and guilty of meaner actions than that The Queen must surely be proud of such herioc men as the Police and Irish soldiers as It takes eight or eleven of the biggest mud crushers in Melbourne to take one poor little half starved larrakin to a watch house.

I have seen as many as eleven, big & ugly enough to lift Mount Macedon out of a crab hole more like the species of a baboon or Guerilla than a man. actually come into a court house and swear they could not arrest one eight stone larrakin and them armed with battens and neddies without some civilians assistance and some of them going to the hospital from the affects of hits from the fists of the larrakin and the Magistrate would send the poor little Larrakin into a dungeon for being a better man than such a parcel of armed curs. What would England do if America declared war and hoisted a green flag as its all Irishmen that has got command of her armies forts and batteries even her very life guards and beef tasters are Irish would they not slew around and fight her with their own arms for the sake of the colour they dare not wear for years. and to reinstate it and rise old Erins isle once more, from the pressure and tyrannism of the English yoke, which has kept it in poverty and starvation, and caused them to wear the enemys coats.

What else can England expect. Is there not big fat-necked Unicorns enough paid to torment and drive me to do thing which I dont wish to do, without the public assisting them I have never interefered with any person unless they deserved it, and yet there are civilians who take firearms against me, for what reason I do not know, unless they want me to turn on them and exterminate them without medicine. I shall be compelled to make an example of some of them if they cannot find no other employment If I had robbed and plundered ravished and murdered everything I met young and old rich and poor. the public could not do any more than take firearms and Assisting the police as they have done, but by the light that shines pegged on an ant-bed with their bellies opened their fat taken out rendered and poured down their throat boiling hot will be fool to what pleasure I will give some of them and any person aiding or harbouring or assisting the Police in any way whatever or employing any person whom they know to be a detective or cad or those who would be so deprived as to take blood money will be outlawed and declared unfit to be allowed human buriel their property either consumed or confiscated and them theirs and all belonging to them exterminated off the face of the earth, the enemy I cannot catch myself I shall give a payable reward for,

I would like to know who put that article that reminds me of a poodle dog half clipped in the lion fashion, called Brooke E. Smith Superin-tendent of Police he knows as much about commanding Police as Cap-tain Standish does about mustering mosquitoes and boiling them down for their fat on the back blocks of the Lachlan for he has a head like a turnip a stiff neck as big as his shoulders narrow hipped and pointed towards the feet like a vine stake and if there is any one to be called a murderer regarding Kennedy, Scanlan and Lonigan it is that mis-placed poodle he gets as much pay as a dozen good troopers, if there is any good in them, and what does he do for it he cannot look behind him without turning his whole frame it takes three or four police to keep sentry while he sleeps in Wangaratta, for fear of body snatchers do they think he is a superior animal to the men that has to guard him if so why not send the men that gets big pay and reconed superior to the common police after me and you shall soon save the country of high salaries to men that is fit for nothing else but getting better men than him self shot and sending orphan children to the industrial school to make prostitutes and cads of them for the Detectives and other evil dis-posed persons.

Send the high paid and men that received big salaries for years in a gang by themselves after me, As it makes no difference to them but it will give them a chance of showing whether they are worth more pay than a common trooper or not and I think the Public will soon find they are only in the road of good men and obtaining money under false pretences, I do not call McIntyre a coward for I reckon he is as game a man as wears the jacket as he had the presence of mind to know his position, directly as he was spoken to, and only foolishness to disobey, it was cowardice that made Lonigan and the others fight it is only foolhardiness to disobey an outlaw as any Police-man or other man who do not throw up their arms directly as I call on them knows the consequence which is a speedy dispatch to Kingdom Come, I wish those men who joined the stock protection society to with-draw their money and give it and as much more to the widows and orphans and poor of Greta district wher I spent and will again spend many a happy day fearless free and bold as it only aids the police to procure false witnesses and go whacks with men to steal horses and lag innocent men it would suit them far better to subscribe a sum and give it to the poor of their district and there is no fear of anyone stealing their property for no man could steal their horses without the knowledge of the poor if any man was mean enough to steal their property the poor would rise out to a man and find them if they were on the face of the earth it will always pay a rich man to be liberal with the poor and make as little enemies as he can as he shall find if the poor is on his side he shall loose nothing by it, If they depend in the police they shall be drove to destruction,

As they can not and will not protect them if duffing and bushranging were abolished the police would have to cadge for their living I speak from experience as I have sold horses and cattle innumerable and yet eight head of the culls is all ever was found I never was interfered with whilst I kept up this successful trade. I give fair warning to all those who has reason to fear me to sell out and give P10 out of every hundred towards the widow and orphan fund and do not attempt to reside in Victoria but as short a time as possible after reading this notice, neglect this and abide by the consequences, which shall be worse than the rust in the wheat in Victoria or the druth of a dry season to the grasshoppers in New South Wales I do not wish to give the order full force without giving timely warning. but I am a widows son outlawed and my orders must be obeyed.

St Mary’s Galway


Image by Fergal Claddagh
ST. MARY’S OF THE HILL, GALWAY.

THE Dominicans came into possession of this abbey, which had formerly belonged to the Premonstratensian Canons of Turin, in 1488, by apostolic brief of Innocent VIII., dated the fourth of December of that year. It appears from the brief that the canons had deserted it and that it had been in the hands of the secular clergy for many years. It had fallen completely into ruin, being valued at the time at only a pound a year. The brief was obtained by three secular canons of the diocese, at the desire of the citizens of Galway.

The work of rebuilding the ruined chapel and abbey was commenced at once and James Lynch Fitz-Stephen, who was mayor in 1493 and whose name has gone down to posterity as the executioner of his own son, built the choir at his own expense: " 1493, Mr. James Lynch Fitz-Stephen built at his own cost and charges the choir of our blessed Lady’s church in the West of Galway."
He also left six pounds in his will, made in 1508, " to the works of the chapel of the Blessed Mary of the Hill, in the west part of our town."

The fathers appear to have remained in undisturbed possession of the abbey during the reigns of Henry. VIII. and Edward VI.

1570. March 9. Queen Elizabeth granted to the corporation of Galway part of the possessions of the abbey, then lately dissolved.

1578, Sept. n. Lease to the mayor, burgesses and commonalty of Galway, of the Dominican, Franciscan and Augustinian mona.steries. Fiants, Eliz.

We find from the Provincial’s records, that in 1629, there were four fathers in Galway, five professed clerics and some novices.

Some time before the war of the Confederation, the fathers regained possession of the abbey church (the abbey itself appears to have been demolished before this), though they continued to reside in the centre of the town. In 1642, Lord Forbes, on landing here, erected a battery in the church against the town, but having failed, he defaced the church, and, in his brutal rage, dug up the graves and burned the coffins and bones of the dead. In 1648, the Nuncio interdicted their church on account of some public contentions about precedence between them and the Franciscans. In the following year, Thomas Lynch FitzMark left 250 to the fathers, to support two of his own kindred of the same Order, at their studies in Paris.

1651. The citizens fearing that Cromwell’s forces, about to besiege the town, would convert the church into a battery, as Lord Forbes had already done, made an agreement with the fathers of the community that the church should be razed to the ground and afterwards rebuilt at the expense of the town, when peaceable times would return. The original indenture is still preserved in the convent archives, and is given in full, in the appendix to O’Flaherty’s West Connaught, p. 274. This indenture is of great historical interest, as it gives the exact dimensions of the church, taken before the demolition, the number of windows and other details.

Some of the fathers, braving the edicts, appeared to have stayed at home during the Cromwellian regime, and, soon after the Restoration of Charles II., there was a flourishing Dominican community in the town again. In 1674, the Ven. Oliver Plunkett writes: " They [the citizens of Galway] support no less than three convents, one of the Dominicans, another of the Augustinians and a third of the Franciscans. The Dominicans have the best and most ornamented church that is in the entire kingdom." Memoir etc., p. 148. From the Provincial’s records of 1686, we learn that there were then in community twelve fathers, five novices and two laybrothers. Just before going into exile, in 1698, the fathers left the plate and other valuables of the convent in the hands of a Mr. Valentine Browne, who gave them the following receipt for them :

" JESUS, MARIA.
" To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come, I, Vallentine Browne, of Gallwey, Merchant, sendeth greeting. Know you that I the said Valentine hath received into my custody and keeping, to be kept as safe as my owne orary of my owne goods or property, the severall goods following : videlicet, elleven casulas, one canopy, two red dalmaticas, two cappas whereof one white and the other redd, two smale frontales, ten ould silk scarfes, six bursas, five pallas, five vellums, sevrall smale coatts for ye Image of Jesus, two silke coatts for to make antependiums of sadd coloure, thirteen towells, four albs, two peir of beads, two singing books, four antipendiums, five corporalls, one alter stone, one girdle, ten amicts, one smale chest wherein are the silver plate of the convent, videlicet, ten silver chalices, whereof four are gilted w h gould, one silver ciborium, one silver remonstrance, a silver crown for the Image of our blessed Lady, two smale silver ampullas, and one smale silver crowne, one smale box containeing bills and bonds and other papers belongeing to the convent, a big brass ringeing bell belongeing to the chaple and a brandiron, from and by the hands and delivery of Gregory ffrench FitzRedmond, by the consent, assent and approbation of the Society or Community of the Dominicans fryers of our blessed Lady’s Chappell in the West of Gallwey, whereof the s d Fr. Gregory ffrench is prior at present. … as witness my hand this fifth day iqf Aprill, 1698. Memorandum it is the reall intent and meaning of the above nam’d Vallentine Browne, and so declares at the possession heerof, that he will keepe all the above goods for the use of the above Frs. pryors and community the best of his power skill and caring and deliver them also at any tyme demanded.
Vallentine Browne.

Present fr. James Browne, present. Fr. Augustine Browne.
" Endorsement M. Vallentine Browne his note for all ye goods received frome the convent of Gallwey of St. Dominick’s order."

It is satisfactory to know that most of the plate came back to the community and is still in their possession. See General Exile of 1698, by the present writer, tfrish Eccl. Record, Jan., 1899.

The general exile of 1698 denuded Galway for a short period of all regulars, but they soon returned and two fathers were there, according to the Provincial’s records, in 1702, viz., Gregory French and Nicholas Blake.

The act prohibiting regulars from returning after exile was rigorously enforced at this time. In the assizes, at Galway, on March 10, 1702, "Daniel MacDonnell was found guilty, the Lent assizes before, of coming into the kingdom, contrary to the late act of Parliament, the same being a Dominican fryer under judgment to remain in. gaol a twelvemonth and to be transported by order of the government." Returns: Religious: Popish: Record Office, Dublin.

Father Geoffrey French was also captured and kept in prison, for two years ; and during that period, the whole care of the nuns and the other duties of the ministry fell upon Father Blake alone. He has left us the following pathetic verses describing his desolation, the manuscript of which is still preserved by the Galway community :

" Querimonia splitaris Monachi in absentia fratrum suorum incarceratorum.
Solus ego vivo, solus mea tempora sumo ;
Solus ego timeo, solus ad astra gemo.
Passer ego solus sub tecto, solaque hirundo,
Et lugubris meditor, maesta columbae sono ;
Turtur ego solus, gemebundo pectore deflens,
Dilecto orbatus complice, solus ego.
Angelus e superis Gustos rjragcordia pulsat,
Ingeminans ; sortem suspice charae clinentae.
Suspice promissi placidissima sidera coeli,
Infundent animo gaudia vera tua.
Hie ego, si patiar rerum dispendia, dices,
In coelis amplum glorias foenus erit.
Sit tibi vita Chaos ; urget fortuna procellas,
Quas modo, si vincas, sidera portus erunt.
Cecinit Fr. Nicholaus Blake."

We subjoin the following translation :
Lament of a Friar left alone by the imprisonment of his Brethren.
Alone I live, alone my days I spend ;
The heavens receive my lone and fearsome sighs.
"The lonely sparrow on the roof" am I.
Like to the lonesome dove, of mate deprived,
Sadly my plaint I make with heaving breast.
O guardian angel, look upon thy charge,
And, midst the heavenly chants, my sighs regard.
Take heart, my soul, and gaze upon the stars
Whose placid light new hope should bring to thee.
Here, if I bear with adverse fortune,
can I doubt That heavenly joys will be my sure reward ?
Let trouble bring new life to me ;
these storms Are but the prelude to the gates of bliss.
Fr. Nicholas Blake.

It is a notable proof of the steady zeal and stability of the small community in those times of disturbance and persecution, that the daily accounts of receipts and expenses, beginning in 1725, were regularly kept during the whole century. These account books supply us with many interesting details of the lives of the fathers in those times. For instance, they throw a curious and amusing side-light on the execution in Galway of the order made by the Lords’ Committee in 1730, that an account should be returned of " all the mass-houses in the town, which of them had been built since ist Geo. I., and what number of priests officiated in each ; and also an account of all private mass-houses and popish chapels and all commonly reputed nunneries and friaries, what number of friars and nuns were in each, and what popish schools were within the town." The mayor, Walter Taylor, accordingly issued his warrant to the sheriffs, requiring them to " apprehend and commit all popish archbishops, bishops, Jesuits, friars and all other popish ecclesiastical persons, whom they should find within .the town and county thereof ; and likewise to suppress all monasteries, friaries, nunneries and other popish fraternities and societies. The search was made and a long report sent to Dublin, the portion touching the Dominican friary being as follows: "They also searched the friary in the west suburbs, called the Dominican friary, wherein is a large chapel, with a gallery, some forms, and an altar-piece, defaced ; in which said reputed friary, there are ten chambers and eight beds, wherein, they believe, the friars belonging to the said friary usually lay, but could find none of them. That it is a very old friary, but some repairs lately made in it."

This report to all appearance shows that the order was thoroughly carried out, and indeed, Walter Taylor, the mayor, was voted special thanks in the House, for his zeal in searching out popery ; but the following item, taken from the account books of the convent, puts a somewhat different complexion on the search and shows that the sheriffs and friars were on very good terms :

"For claret to treat ye Sheriffs in their search, y e nth as. ad."

In 1756, there were nine fathers in community. In 1792, the present convent was built, and, in 1800, the old thatched chapel was replaced by a better building on the same site.

During the early part of the last century, the most eminent member of the community was Father Edmund French. Originally, with his brother Charles, a convert to the Catholic religion, they both entered the Dominican Order. Elected warden of Galway in 1812, he made his tenure of office memorable by introducing the Presentation Nuns to the town and also .by building the parish church which now serves Galway as a cathedral. He was made bishop of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora in 1824, and was allowed to retain the wardenship of Galway, of which he was the last representative. He died in 1852.

During the Famine period, in 1847, Father Rush erected what he called the " Claddagh National Piscatory School," capable of accommodating 600 children. The primary idea was to teach the children of the Claddagh, the little fishing village that adjoins the convent, industries connected with their future calling, such as spinning and net-making, and, towards this object, generous donations were made for some years by the Irish Peasantry Society, London. But the time was not yet ripe in Ireland for a school of the kind and before long the industrial teaching was given up and it became an ordinary National School, with the prior of the convent as manager.

In 1892, the prior of the time being handed over the school to the management to the secular clergy.

A beautiful new church, built of Galway granite, was opened on Oct 25, 1891.

John O’Heyne writes:
GALWAY, which gives also its name to the county around it, is a large seaport, where a fine river full of fish rising out of a lake called Lough Corrib, which is thirty miles in length and six miles wide in some parts flows into the sea. The town presents a fine and solid appearance owing to the houses being built of hewn green marble. It is situated at the mouth of the river and the high tides from time to time overflow into the lower parts. In other kingdoms it would be considered a very beautiful city, but the English baptise places according to their own rules and fancies. It was founded about 1300, and the rightful inhabitants, I speak of the Old Catholic families, are dwelling at Athenry, more than eight miles off. In this place, outside the walls and also beyond the river, on the western side on the seacoast, there is a Dominican priory under the title of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The church was very beautiful but was deliberately demolished by the Catholic citizens, lest the Cromwellian enemies, who were about to lay siege to the town, should make a fortress of this church. The corporation promised unanimously that, on the return of peace, the whole priory should be rebuilt in its previous form at the expense of the citizens. If that hoped-for tranquillity had shed its light over the country, they would certainly have done it, for they were both very pious and very wealthy, their great riches arising from the large seaborne commerce by which this place grew to be more important than the other ports of the kingdom.

This priory was in former times a vicariate of Athenry Priory, but was raised into a priory, and deservedly so, by the General of the Order, Sicci of Pavia, elected General in the year 1612.

The original church and monastery belonged at first to the monks of Saint Bernard (Cistercian), but when the magnificent royal monastery of the same Order had been erected in the year 1190 at Knockmoy, a very beautiful place, by Cathal O’Connor, King of Connaught, surnamed of the Red Hand, and the monks had been drafted in from the monasteries of that order at Boyle and from that of Galway, this latter monastery was in a desolate state for about fifty years possessing only one or two monks. Now when Athenry priory had been built about 1241 the Bernardines delivered up their Galway house to the priests of that community, the agreement to this effect being procured about the year 1249 by Phelim O’Connor, the son and heir of King Cathal. All this I learnt from many antiquaries in Ireland, from Father John Browne, a former provincial and a most worthy member of the community, and from old citizens of Galway who assured me that the original agreement was still to be found in the municipal archives. This house produced many distinguished men; that is from the time of its erection as a priory, for before this period they used to be professed for Athenry priory.

AMONG THOSE KNOWN TO ME BY REPORT WERE:-
FATHER STEPHEN LYNCH, commonly known as Black Lynch, who after finishing his studies at Burgos in Spain, was appointed master of novices at Athenry, soon after his return home. He filled this position almost all his life both in Athenry and in his own convent of Galway, and indeed with such great success that novices trained by him were recognised at once in Spain, as was told to me by Father Peter de Hontilera, an octogenarian, who had been master of novices himself for thirty years at Burgos and Vittoria. Father Stephen died with a great reputation for virtue in or around the year 1648.

FATHER PETER MARTIN studied in Spain with great success, as he afterwards clearly showed on his return, principally at Galway, which was then a large emporium of maritime commerce. The citizens were much impressed by the argumentative eloquence of this wise man, and even debated questions among the clergy and bishops were passed on to him as to an oracle. He was truly pious and in the odour of good repute with clergy and people, died fortified by the last sacraments in the year 1645.

FATHER GREGORY FRENCH (according to John O’Heyne) studied in Italy and on his return to Galway showed himself to be the model of piety and regular observance. He used sometimes to visit a certain nobleman of Connaught, a friend of his, who on one occasion showing him the happy circumstances of his position and his estate, said:
“There is there a small field belonging to a good man and it is so necessary to me that I am most desirous to acquire it at any price even double the value; but the owner has constantly refused to sell it to me; I hope however to get the better of him in the end, for I cannot rest till I get this field.”
“The just God, the Father of the poor,” answered Father French, “will deprive you before death f the light of those eyes with which with insatiable avarice you have coveted the inheritance of your neighbour.”
On the following day this nobleman, on awakening in the morning, could see absolutely nothing, and remained blind until his death many years afterwards. This venerable father, driven from Ireland, after the taking of Galway and the subjugation of the whole whole kingdom by the Cromwellians, went to Italy, and after some years died with a reputation for virtue at Viterbo, in the convent of Sancta Maria de Querica. I heard from many in Ireland that he was a very prudent and pious confessor and a great promoter of the Holy Rosary.

FATHER Gregory French, (according to Ambrose Coleman) who, as O’Heyne says, was thrown into prison on his return, is marked in the Provincial’s records as living in Galway in 1702. He is probably the " one James French, a regular Popish clergyman," who, according to the mayor of Galway’s letter to the Secretary of State, in 1714, "had lain in gaol a long time, committed for high treason for returning from beyond seas after being transported, but could not be tried for want of a Protestant jury of freeholders." Though at the time when O’Heyne published his book, Father French was living with his brother, having given security, we are not to suppose he would be free from all disturbance in the future, for, in 1711, the Secretary of State ordered the mayor " to cause all the popish priests in Galway to be secured," and, in a subsequent despatch, expressed his hope that he would continue his "endeavours to banish the priests, those enemies to our constitution, out" of the town, and cause those you have apprehended to be prosecuted at law with the utmost rigour." Father French was probably banished on the former occasion and returned home again, for which offence he would be committed to prison on the charge of high treason.

FATHER THOMAS LYNCH studied well at Salamanca, and then taught philosophy and theology for a long time with success at Louvain in the college of the Holy Cross; thence returning home, he gave edification to everybody. By the cruelty of the Cromwellians, this courageous champion of Christ was compelled to go to Belgium and was thence sent on very soon to Lisbon in Portugal. On his way thither, turning into the convent of Saint Stephen at Salamanca, which had nourished him with the pure milk of religion and science, he was invited on a certain day to the weekly theses, as was told me by my learned and pious old master, Father Francis Reluz, whose like or at least whose equal was never known to me in our Order, at which so brilliantly and profoundly did he argue, showing himself master of the subject, that the most learned were astonished at his deep knowledge and clear exposition. This good and pious man died at Lisbon.

FATHER OLIVER BURKE, (according to John O’Heyne) of the same community, studied with success at Burgos in Spain and then after going to Belgium was rector of our college at Cesar’s Fort. He was very well versed in sacred and profane history and was a very prudent in business matters. On his return home, he was made vicar-apostolic of the diocese of Kilmacdugh, by the Holy See, in the absence of his maternal brother, Doctor Hugh Burke, a Franciscan, who although he had been consecrated bishop of Kilmacdugh was not able to come at the time to his diocese, as he was soliciting succour in France and other places from Catholic princes for the Irish Catholics.
Father Oliver governed the diocese with prudence for three years till the return of his brother. When certain persons rose against the authority of the Apostolic Nuncio, amongst whom were two brother of this priest, namely, John Burke, archbishop of Tuam and then president of all Connaught for the catholic party, and Hugh Burke, the bishop already mentioned, Oliver opposed them to their faces, because in truth they were very reprehensible.
This priest was presented to the Holy See as a fitting successor in the see of Clonfert to Walter Lynch, its bishop, who had just died, but as everything was upset in the country, the Protestants being in possession everywhere, he would not accept this honour, “Because,” said he, “I am not able in such times with this burthen upon me to serve God as I ought or the flock that would be placed under my charge.” Wherefore, forced by the enemy, he departed to France, where he lived until the restoration of our king.
Then he came to London where he was received by the king, he had known this priest very well at Paris, and having obtained abundant travelling expenses from his majesty and a safe conduct to dwell freely wherever he wished in the kingdom of Ireland as long as he lived, whatever persecution might occasionally arise, he came to Dublin. The news of his arrival being spread, William Burke, the illustrious earl of Clanrickard, who was a great friend of the priest, and once sent horses and the necessary equipage for him to Dublin, sixty miles distant, to bring him home to his own house, with whom he then lived for some years, a well-cared-for and honoured guest, and often lovingly visited his own convent of Galway. At length under the weight of seventy-four years passed in meritorious labours, he rested in the Lord in the year 1672, fortified by the last sacraments, very resigned, weeping tears of penance and apostrophising his habit spread before him on the table.

FATHER OLIVER BURKE. (according to Ambrose Coleman) THE courage shown by Father Burke in standing up in opposition to his two brothers, both of them bishops, and taking the part of Rinuccini, the papal nunico, in worthy of admiration. But he was only following the example of his Dominican brethren, all of whom stood by the nuncio, except one, Father Dominic Burke of Athenry.

It is evident from the honour and kindness shown him later on by the earl of Clanrickard, that the latter esteemed him all the more for following the dictates of his conscience, though, in defending the nuncio, Father Burke had to put himself in opposition to the earl himself.

FATHER JOHN O’CONNOR, (according to John O’Heyne) of the same community, was a distinguished master of sacred theology, whether however he taught anywhere I am unable to say, though I know from the testimony of others that he was well versed in every kind of knowledge, principally in the lives of the saints, in sacred Scripture, the Councils and the Holy Fathers; he had a good knowledge of Hebrew and Greek, in a word, he was a finished scholar. He filled the office of general procurator for his province at Madrid and Rome, with care, prudence and diligence for a long time. He procured the convents of SS Sixtus and Clement in Rome for the Irish Province and provided good professors and an excellent course of studies. He was very austere and ascetic by fasting, prayer and pilgrimages to holy places in Italy, and especially to the Holy House of Loreto, which he often visited with profound devotion.

FATHER O’CONOR (according to Ambrose Coleman) was confessor for many years to a Spanish duchess, Eleanor de Cajetani Pimentelli, and accompanied her from, Spain to Rome. He not only obtained from the General of the Order the convents of San Sisto and San Clemente for the Irish province, but was the means of having them richly endowed, getting for this purpose a legacy of 6,000 Roman crowns from his illustrious penitent as well as a further grant of 4,000 from her brother, Dominic Pimentelli, archbishop of Seville and a member of the Order. He died in the house of the duchess, at Rome, in December, 1678, and was buried in San Sisto.

FATHER NICHOLAS LYNCH, master of sacred theology, of the same community, was provincial of Ireland. He was also definitor in the general chapter held at Milan under the General, Father Nicholas Rodulpho, where he was made master. He was a pious man, a restorer of the Rosary in Galway and promoted that devotion most zealously throughout the kingdom.

FATHER NICHOLAS O’HALLORAN studied with success in Spain, and returning directly to his convent applied himself to preaching, in the discharge of which duty he made such progress that he could easily be reckoned among the best preachers of the kingdom. He was often prior of his convent of Galway and during his last period of office, received me with great kindness when I was about to go to Spain for my studies in the year 1667. He was a good, pleasant and affable man and did his duty to God and religion with humility and charity. Fortified by the last sacraments and conscious to the last, he died in Galway in the year 1673, at the age of seventy-five. He was a celebrated promoter of the Rosary and in all things a most devoted client of the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God.

FATHER DOMINIC LYNCH studied in Spain, and on his return lived a very exemplary life. Although he was the son of a Protestant minister, he clearly showed that the operations of faith and grace do not come to a man through birth or nature but from Almighty God Himself through Jesus Christ. For he was so much adverse to Protestants that he would in no manner of way mix with them, though they, as well as the Catholics, anxiously sought his company, for he was very agreeable and merry, while never exceeding the bound of religious gravity. He suffered a great deal in the persecution of the year 1680; he was closely imprisoned for a year, which he bore with patience and used to speak jestingly with the Protestants who on their part admired his constancy. Fortified by the last sacraments, after he was released from prison, he died peacefully in the year 1686.

FATHER LAZARUS LYNCH, of the same community, studied with success in Andalusia; he taught in Lisbon and having returned home after a long time abroad, lived an angelic and exemplary life. He was a sagacious and prudent confessor. Expelled in the last exile, he died a pious death at Nantes in the year 1704, full of years and fortified by the last sacraments.

FATHER PETER FRENCH, studied in Andalusia, and on the completion of his studies went to the West Indies, where for thirty years he zealously did the duties of a missionary in the kingdom of Mexico and other places. He learnt the Indian language of those places where he worked so accurately that he composed a native catechism. Having gained many souls to God, he was made preacher-general in that province of Mexico and then returning to Galway, constantly preached the Word of God to his fellow citizens, successfully enough indeed though not very eloquently, on account of his long absence from Ireland in those distant regions. His preacher-generalship was recognised in the Irish Province, in which he lived for a long time, giving the best example to the Order and the laity, for he was a man full of simplicity, fearing God and avoiding evil. He left a good deal to his convent. At length when on a visit to a relative outside Galway, gangrene set into his breast, by the action of which all his flesh mortified up to the neck, a frightful ill which he bore with admirable patience. Fortified by the last sacraments his soul departed in the year 1693.

FATHER DANIEL O’HOULAGHAN, in English Father Daniel Nolan, received the habit when he was only fourteen and made his novitiate at Athenry. Being professed at the hands of the provincial, the elder Father William Burke, about the year 1649, he embarked immediately for Spain. But this tender youth of sixteen years and two months felt captured by the sea wand was so frightened that he was stricken with a fever that rose so high that he was on the point of death. The Protestants themselves pitied him for he was of very pleasing aspect; and so he was brought to London where the magistrates sent him to the house of an apothecary that he might take charge of restoring the youth to health.
He lay sick here for a year and some months, and at length was restored to perfect health. His host, a very old man, having died in the meantime, he remained in the house not knowing whither to turn, nor daring to confess himself to be a religious. While in this state of extreme anxiety, he was tempted by the widow of his deceased host, who was still a young woman without any children. Enticed by her favours and riches the young man yielded and remained with her for about a year and a half. Then, having gone across to Ireland to seek a sum of money owed to his supposed wife in Galway, he was very warmly received by the Protestants, but seeing this, all the Catholics, even his own brothers and sisters, fled from his company even as one would fly from a serpent.
At length on the merciful invitation of God, he reflected seriously on his condition and having arranged his affairs went back to England and gave in his returns to this woman, deducting nothing but his small travelling expenses. He then immediately began his journey to Louvain and on his arrival, like the prodigal son, in a spirit of the most profound humility he implored mercy with tears, and begged to be received again among the brethren, saying he was prepared to do any penance they might impose on him.
The same provincial, in whose hands he had been professed in Ireland, was then staying at Louvain and he at once sent word to the most reverend General, Father de Marinis, of his fortunate return to the bosom of the Order, giving him a full account of the affair. The General being overjoyed like the father in the Gospel, bestowed every mark of favour on him. He there studied philosophy and theology with the greatest success and in all things showed himself a model of religious amiability.
In the year 1665 he was sent back to Ireland where he preached like a sounding trumpet, confirming the Catholics in the faith and confuting the Protestants in all patience and sound doctrine. He was most fluent in English as well as in his own tongue. He was a sound theologian much given to study; he was a finished controversialist, and efficaciously convinced several Protestants. In both his English and his Irish sermons, with equal grace and eloquence he employed both languages, he used modestly and to the great edification of his hearers to tell the story of his fall, not indeed from the faith but from his vows. He was prior of Galway and built a large and beautiful chapel, ruling with prudence and giving an example of probity and integrity. In the year 1677, on his way to Dublin, distant about forty-four leagues from Galway, to buy an organ for his convent, he was stricken down with fever and after some days, fortified by the last sacraments, gave his soul to his Creator at Dublin, in the midst of his brethren.

FATHER O’HOULAGHAN; In the same house there was another priest of the same surname, whose Christian name I do not remember, who married a relative of his, and lived with her in chastity for an entire year, when both by mutual consent received the habit of our Order, to the great admiration of the citizens, and both likewise made their profession at Galway. He was ordained a priest and lived an exemplary and pious life down to the year of 1638, when he died a good death in the same town after receiving the last sacraments. His wife lived for many years, and we shall refer to her again when we come to speak of our nuns there.

FATHER JOHN BROWNE, master of sacred theology, having made profession at Galway, came to Louvain where he finished his studies with applause. He gave great satisfaction there as a lector of philosophy, master of students and also as prior. He gave great help in the construction of the buildings erected at that time, not only by providing funds but even by working assiduously and laboriously with his own hands. After honourably completing his term of office at Louvain, he returned to his own convent in Ireland where he was four times prior and once provincial. He largely decorated with his own handiwork the chapel previously erected at Galway and the whole house of the friars, and preached frequently and with success at home and abroad. Under the Orange Usurper he was detained in Galway prison, with many other religious and ecclesiastics, for four entire months and fifteen days. In the year 1680 he suffered greatly, hiding in the mountains whilst the fierce persecution lasted. He clothed not a few good young men in the habit and was a man praiseworthy in all things and remarkably meek. At length, expelled from the country in the general exile, he made his way to Louvain where he was received by all with pleasure; amongst whom he lived affectionately till the twenty-third of August, 1700, when he died in the Lord with piety and resignation after receiving the last sacraments.

FATHER DOMINIC LYNCH, to crown our account of the members of the religious community of Galway, we must come to a distinguished man, eminent at least as regards science above all others, the distinguished Father Dominic Lynch, the learned master of sacred theology. Received to the habit and professed at Galway, he went to the province of Andalusia, where he pursued his entire course of studies in the royal and most religious convent of Saint Paul at Seville. While still a tyro he made wonderful progress, so that the profound and penetrating genius of the youth, enhanced by his virtues, became patent to the most learned men of that great convent, and especially to the directors of the great school there. Whereupon he was affiliated to the same convent and taught philosophy there, also filling the post of master of students, to the praise of all and with great success. Promoted to be regent of theology, he shone like a burning lamp, spending many years in teaching and expounding with wonderful clarity the angelic theory of our angelic doctor. On account of his merit he received the degree of master in that great province of Andalusia, so fruitful in learned men. He was free from the schools for some years but not from study, for this venerable priest knew well that the frequent nocturnal study of sacred letters mortifies the body and effectually keeps it from vice, and then he published his philosophy, which although a little diffuse is commended by all learned men, on account of its clear, strong and profound style of reasoning, according to the genuine sense and the unshaken and most secure conclusions of the Angelic Master.

About the year 1674, if I am not mistaken, the noble, learned and religious college of Saint Thomas, at Seville, resolved to call this distinguished master to be the first and perpetual regent of the college, that although they were themselves learned, they might become more learned still, as scholars under his most excellent tuition. Wherefore that they might explore and make certain of his profound knowledge, the learned collegians sagaciously threw a bait into this deep well of science; for they propounded certain propositions to Father Lynch, begging for an ultimate analysis of them from him, he at the same time not being aware why they asked him. The collegians who had proposed the questions at once sent them to the most distinguished and truly learned Father Francis Reluz, then for seventy-seven years a famed professor in the University of Salamanca, begging for his approval and judgement on them. Meanwhile the intention of the college and the transmission of the answers were intimated to Father Lynch, who thereupon wrote to me, then doing my third year of theology under the tuition of Father Reluz. Father Lynch, I may say, from my first going to Castile honoured me frequently with letters, as I had brought letters to him from home.

Saint Dominic’s Altar


Image by Fergal Claddagh
ST. MARY’S OF THE HILL, GALWAY.

THE Dominicans came into possession of this abbey, which had formerly belonged to the Premonstratensian Canons of Turin, in 1488, by apostolic brief of Innocent VIII., dated the fourth of December of that year. It appears from the brief that the canons had deserted it and that it had been in the hands of the secular clergy for many years. It had fallen completely into ruin, being valued at the time at only a pound a year. The brief was obtained by three secular canons of the diocese, at the desire of the citizens of Galway.

The work of rebuilding the ruined chapel and abbey was commenced at once and James Lynch Fitz-Stephen, who was mayor in 1493 and whose name has gone down to posterity as the executioner of his own son, built the choir at his own expense: " 1493, Mr. James Lynch Fitz-Stephen built at his own cost and charges the choir of our blessed Lady’s church in the West of Galway."
He also left six pounds in his will, made in 1508, " to the works of the chapel of the Blessed Mary of the Hill, in the west part of our town."

The fathers appear to have remained in undisturbed possession of the abbey during the reigns of Henry. VIII. and Edward VI.

1570. March 9. Queen Elizabeth granted to the corporation of Galway part of the possessions of the abbey, then lately dissolved.

1578, Sept. n. Lease to the mayor, burgesses and commonalty of Galway, of the Dominican, Franciscan and Augustinian mona.steries. Fiants, Eliz.

We find from the Provincial’s records, that in 1629, there were four fathers in Galway, five professed clerics and some novices.

Some time before the war of the Confederation, the fathers regained possession of the abbey church (the abbey itself appears to have been demolished before this), though they continued to reside in the centre of the town. In 1642, Lord Forbes, on landing here, erected a battery in the church against the town, but having failed, he defaced the church, and, in his brutal rage, dug up the graves and burned the coffins and bones of the dead. In 1648, the Nuncio interdicted their church on account of some public contentions about precedence between them and the Franciscans. In the following year, Thomas Lynch FitzMark left 250 to the fathers, to support two of his own kindred of the same Order, at their studies in Paris.

1651. The citizens fearing that Cromwell’s forces, about to besiege the town, would convert the church into a battery, as Lord Forbes had already done, made an agreement with the fathers of the community that the church should be razed to the ground and afterwards rebuilt at the expense of the town, when peaceable times would return. The original indenture is still preserved in the convent archives, and is given in full, in the appendix to O’Flaherty’s West Connaught, p. 274. This indenture is of great historical interest, as it gives the exact dimensions of the church, taken before the demolition, the number of windows and other details.

Some of the fathers, braving the edicts, appeared to have stayed at home during the Cromwellian regime, and, soon after the Restoration of Charles II., there was a flourishing Dominican community in the town again. In 1674, the Ven. Oliver Plunkett writes: " They [the citizens of Galway] support no less than three convents, one of the Dominicans, another of the Augustinians and a third of the Franciscans. The Dominicans have the best and most ornamented church that is in the entire kingdom." Memoir etc., p. 148. From the Provincial’s records of 1686, we learn that there were then in community twelve fathers, five novices and two laybrothers. Just before going into exile, in 1698, the fathers left the plate and other valuables of the convent in the hands of a Mr. Valentine Browne, who gave them the following receipt for them :

" JESUS, MARIA.
" To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come, I, Vallentine Browne, of Gallwey, Merchant, sendeth greeting. Know you that I the said Valentine hath received into my custody and keeping, to be kept as safe as my owne orary of my owne goods or property, the severall goods following : videlicet, elleven casulas, one canopy, two red dalmaticas, two cappas whereof one white and the other redd, two smale frontales, ten ould silk scarfes, six bursas, five pallas, five vellums, sevrall smale coatts for ye Image of Jesus, two silke coatts for to make antependiums of sadd coloure, thirteen towells, four albs, two peir of beads, two singing books, four antipendiums, five corporalls, one alter stone, one girdle, ten amicts, one smale chest wherein are the silver plate of the convent, videlicet, ten silver chalices, whereof four are gilted w h gould, one silver ciborium, one silver remonstrance, a silver crown for the Image of our blessed Lady, two smale silver ampullas, and one smale silver crowne, one smale box containeing bills and bonds and other papers belongeing to the convent, a big brass ringeing bell belongeing to the chaple and a brandiron, from and by the hands and delivery of Gregory ffrench FitzRedmond, by the consent, assent and approbation of the Society or Community of the Dominicans fryers of our blessed Lady’s Chappell in the West of Gallwey, whereof the s d Fr. Gregory ffrench is prior at present. … as witness my hand this fifth day iqf Aprill, 1698. Memorandum it is the reall intent and meaning of the above nam’d Vallentine Browne, and so declares at the possession heerof, that he will keepe all the above goods for the use of the above Frs. pryors and community the best of his power skill and caring and deliver them also at any tyme demanded.
Vallentine Browne.

Present fr. James Browne, present. Fr. Augustine Browne.
" Endorsement M. Vallentine Browne his note for all ye goods received frome the convent of Gallwey of St. Dominick’s order."

It is satisfactory to know that most of the plate came back to the community and is still in their possession. See General Exile of 1698, by the present writer, tfrish Eccl. Record, Jan., 1899.

The general exile of 1698 denuded Galway for a short period of all regulars, but they soon returned and two fathers were there, according to the Provincial’s records, in 1702, viz., Gregory French and Nicholas Blake.

The act prohibiting regulars from returning after exile was rigorously enforced at this time. In the assizes, at Galway, on March 10, 1702, "Daniel MacDonnell was found guilty, the Lent assizes before, of coming into the kingdom, contrary to the late act of Parliament, the same being a Dominican fryer under judgment to remain in. gaol a twelvemonth and to be transported by order of the government." Returns: Religious: Popish: Record Office, Dublin.

Father Geoffrey French was also captured and kept in prison, for two years ; and during that period, the whole care of the nuns and the other duties of the ministry fell upon Father Blake alone. He has left us the following pathetic verses describing his desolation, the manuscript of which is still preserved by the Galway community :

" Querimonia splitaris Monachi in absentia fratrum suorum incarceratorum.
Solus ego vivo, solus mea tempora sumo ;
Solus ego timeo, solus ad astra gemo.
Passer ego solus sub tecto, solaque hirundo,
Et lugubris meditor, maesta columbae sono ;
Turtur ego solus, gemebundo pectore deflens,
Dilecto orbatus complice, solus ego.
Angelus e superis Gustos rjragcordia pulsat,
Ingeminans ; sortem suspice charae clinentae.
Suspice promissi placidissima sidera coeli,
Infundent animo gaudia vera tua.
Hie ego, si patiar rerum dispendia, dices,
In coelis amplum glorias foenus erit.
Sit tibi vita Chaos ; urget fortuna procellas,
Quas modo, si vincas, sidera portus erunt.
Cecinit Fr. Nicholaus Blake."

We subjoin the following translation :
Lament of a Friar left alone by the imprisonment of his Brethren.
Alone I live, alone my days I spend ;
The heavens receive my lone and fearsome sighs.
"The lonely sparrow on the roof" am I.
Like to the lonesome dove, of mate deprived,
Sadly my plaint I make with heaving breast.
O guardian angel, look upon thy charge,
And, midst the heavenly chants, my sighs regard.
Take heart, my soul, and gaze upon the stars
Whose placid light new hope should bring to thee.
Here, if I bear with adverse fortune,
can I doubt That heavenly joys will be my sure reward ?
Let trouble bring new life to me ;
these storms Are but the prelude to the gates of bliss.
Fr. Nicholas Blake.

It is a notable proof of the steady zeal and stability of the small community in those times of disturbance and persecution, that the daily accounts of receipts and expenses, beginning in 1725, were regularly kept during the whole century. These account books supply us with many interesting details of the lives of the fathers in those times. For instance, they throw a curious and amusing side-light on the execution in Galway of the order made by the Lords’ Committee in 1730, that an account should be returned of " all the mass-houses in the town, which of them had been built since ist Geo. I., and what number of priests officiated in each ; and also an account of all private mass-houses and popish chapels and all commonly reputed nunneries and friaries, what number of friars and nuns were in each, and what popish schools were within the town." The mayor, Walter Taylor, accordingly issued his warrant to the sheriffs, requiring them to " apprehend and commit all popish archbishops, bishops, Jesuits, friars and all other popish ecclesiastical persons, whom they should find within .the town and county thereof ; and likewise to suppress all monasteries, friaries, nunneries and other popish fraternities and societies. The search was made and a long report sent to Dublin, the portion touching the Dominican friary being as follows: "They also searched the friary in the west suburbs, called the Dominican friary, wherein is a large chapel, with a gallery, some forms, and an altar-piece, defaced ; in which said reputed friary, there are ten chambers and eight beds, wherein, they believe, the friars belonging to the said friary usually lay, but could find none of them. That it is a very old friary, but some repairs lately made in it."

This report to all appearance shows that the order was thoroughly carried out, and indeed, Walter Taylor, the mayor, was voted special thanks in the House, for his zeal in searching out popery ; but the following item, taken from the account books of the convent, puts a somewhat different complexion on the search and shows that the sheriffs and friars were on very good terms :

"For claret to treat ye Sheriffs in their search, y e nth as. ad."

In 1756, there were nine fathers in community. In 1792, the present convent was built, and, in 1800, the old thatched chapel was replaced by a better building on the same site.

During the early part of the last century, the most eminent member of the community was Father Edmund French. Originally, with his brother Charles, a convert to the Catholic religion, they both entered the Dominican Order. Elected warden of Galway in 1812, he made his tenure of office memorable by introducing the Presentation Nuns to the town and also .by building the parish church which now serves Galway as a cathedral. He was made bishop of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora in 1824, and was allowed to retain the wardenship of Galway, of which he was the last representative. He died in 1852.

During the Famine period, in 1847, Father Rush erected what he called the " Claddagh National Piscatory School," capable of accommodating 600 children. The primary idea was to teach the children of the Claddagh, the little fishing village that adjoins the convent, industries connected with their future calling, such as spinning and net-making, and, towards this object, generous donations were made for some years by the Irish Peasantry Society, London. But the time was not yet ripe in Ireland for a school of the kind and before long the industrial teaching was given up and it became an ordinary National School, with the prior of the convent as manager.

In 1892, the prior of the time being handed over the school to the management to the secular clergy.

A beautiful new church, built of Galway granite, was opened on Oct 25, 1891.

John O’Heyne writes:
GALWAY, which gives also its name to the county around it, is a large seaport, where a fine river full of fish rising out of a lake called Lough Corrib, which is thirty miles in length and six miles wide in some parts flows into the sea. The town presents a fine and solid appearance owing to the houses being built of hewn green marble. It is situated at the mouth of the river and the high tides from time to time overflow into the lower parts. In other kingdoms it would be considered a very beautiful city, but the English baptise places according to their own rules and fancies. It was founded about 1300, and the rightful inhabitants, I speak of the Old Catholic families, are dwelling at Athenry, more than eight miles off. In this place, outside the walls and also beyond the river, on the western side on the seacoast, there is a Dominican priory under the title of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The church was very beautiful but was deliberately demolished by the Catholic citizens, lest the Cromwellian enemies, who were about to lay siege to the town, should make a fortress of this church. The corporation promised unanimously that, on the return of peace, the whole priory should be rebuilt in its previous form at the expense of the citizens. If that hoped-for tranquillity had shed its light over the country, they would certainly have done it, for they were both very pious and very wealthy, their great riches arising from the large seaborne commerce by which this place grew to be more important than the other ports of the kingdom.

This priory was in former times a vicariate of Athenry Priory, but was raised into a priory, and deservedly so, by the General of the Order, Sicci of Pavia, elected General in the year 1612.

The original church and monastery belonged at first to the monks of Saint Bernard (Cistercian), but when the magnificent royal monastery of the same Order had been erected in the year 1190 at Knockmoy, a very beautiful place, by Cathal O’Connor, King of Connaught, surnamed of the Red Hand, and the monks had been drafted in from the monasteries of that order at Boyle and from that of Galway, this latter monastery was in a desolate state for about fifty years possessing only one or two monks. Now when Athenry priory had been built about 1241 the Bernardines delivered up their Galway house to the priests of that community, the agreement to this effect being procured about the year 1249 by Phelim O’Connor, the son and heir of King Cathal. All this I learnt from many antiquaries in Ireland, from Father John Browne, a former provincial and a most worthy member of the community, and from old citizens of Galway who assured me that the original agreement was still to be found in the municipal archives. This house produced many distinguished men; that is from the time of its erection as a priory, for before this period they used to be professed for Athenry priory.

AMONG THOSE KNOWN TO ME BY REPORT WERE:-
FATHER STEPHEN LYNCH, commonly known as Black Lynch, who after finishing his studies at Burgos in Spain, was appointed master of novices at Athenry, soon after his return home. He filled this position almost all his life both in Athenry and in his own convent of Galway, and indeed with such great success that novices trained by him were recognised at once in Spain, as was told to me by Father Peter de Hontilera, an octogenarian, who had been master of novices himself for thirty years at Burgos and Vittoria. Father Stephen died with a great reputation for virtue in or around the year 1648.

FATHER PETER MARTIN studied in Spain with great success, as he afterwards clearly showed on his return, principally at Galway, which was then a large emporium of maritime commerce. The citizens were much impressed by the argumentative eloquence of this wise man, and even debated questions among the clergy and bishops were passed on to him as to an oracle. He was truly pious and in the odour of good repute with clergy and people, died fortified by the last sacraments in the year 1645.

FATHER GREGORY FRENCH (according to John O’Heyne) studied in Italy and on his return to Galway showed himself to be the model of piety and regular observance. He used sometimes to visit a certain nobleman of Connaught, a friend of his, who on one occasion showing him the happy circumstances of his position and his estate, said:
“There is there a small field belonging to a good man and it is so necessary to me that I am most desirous to acquire it at any price even double the value; but the owner has constantly refused to sell it to me; I hope however to get the better of him in the end, for I cannot rest till I get this field.”
“The just God, the Father of the poor,” answered Father French, “will deprive you before death f the light of those eyes with which with insatiable avarice you have coveted the inheritance of your neighbour.”
On the following day this nobleman, on awakening in the morning, could see absolutely nothing, and remained blind until his death many years afterwards. This venerable father, driven from Ireland, after the taking of Galway and the subjugation of the whole whole kingdom by the Cromwellians, went to Italy, and after some years died with a reputation for virtue at Viterbo, in the convent of Sancta Maria de Querica. I heard from many in Ireland that he was a very prudent and pious confessor and a great promoter of the Holy Rosary.

FATHER Gregory French, (according to Ambrose Coleman) who, as O’Heyne says, was thrown into prison on his return, is marked in the Provincial’s records as living in Galway in 1702. He is probably the " one James French, a regular Popish clergyman," who, according to the mayor of Galway’s letter to the Secretary of State, in 1714, "had lain in gaol a long time, committed for high treason for returning from beyond seas after being transported, but could not be tried for want of a Protestant jury of freeholders." Though at the time when O’Heyne published his book, Father French was living with his brother, having given security, we are not to suppose he would be free from all disturbance in the future, for, in 1711, the Secretary of State ordered the mayor " to cause all the popish priests in Galway to be secured," and, in a subsequent despatch, expressed his hope that he would continue his "endeavours to banish the priests, those enemies to our constitution, out" of the town, and cause those you have apprehended to be prosecuted at law with the utmost rigour." Father French was probably banished on the former occasion and returned home again, for which offence he would be committed to prison on the charge of high treason.

FATHER THOMAS LYNCH studied well at Salamanca, and then taught philosophy and theology for a long time with success at Louvain in the college of the Holy Cross; thence returning home, he gave edification to everybody. By the cruelty of the Cromwellians, this courageous champion of Christ was compelled to go to Belgium and was thence sent on very soon to Lisbon in Portugal. On his way thither, turning into the convent of Saint Stephen at Salamanca, which had nourished him with the pure milk of religion and science, he was invited on a certain day to the weekly theses, as was told me by my learned and pious old master, Father Francis Reluz, whose like or at least whose equal was never known to me in our Order, at which so brilliantly and profoundly did he argue, showing himself master of the subject, that the most learned were astonished at his deep knowledge and clear exposition. This good and pious man died at Lisbon.

FATHER OLIVER BURKE, (according to John O’Heyne) of the same community, studied with success at Burgos in Spain and then after going to Belgium was rector of our college at Cesar’s Fort. He was very well versed in sacred and profane history and was a very prudent in business matters. On his return home, he was made vicar-apostolic of the diocese of Kilmacdugh, by the Holy See, in the absence of his maternal brother, Doctor Hugh Burke, a Franciscan, who although he had been consecrated bishop of Kilmacdugh was not able to come at the time to his diocese, as he was soliciting succour in France and other places from Catholic princes for the Irish Catholics.
Father Oliver governed the diocese with prudence for three years till the return of his brother. When certain persons rose against the authority of the Apostolic Nuncio, amongst whom were two brother of this priest, namely, John Burke, archbishop of Tuam and then president of all Connaught for the catholic party, and Hugh Burke, the bishop already mentioned, Oliver opposed them to their faces, because in truth they were very reprehensible.
This priest was presented to the Holy See as a fitting successor in the see of Clonfert to Walter Lynch, its bishop, who had just died, but as everything was upset in the country, the Protestants being in possession everywhere, he would not accept this honour, “Because,” said he, “I am not able in such times with this burthen upon me to serve God as I ought or the flock that would be placed under my charge.” Wherefore, forced by the enemy, he departed to France, where he lived until the restoration of our king.
Then he came to London where he was received by the king, he had known this priest very well at Paris, and having obtained abundant travelling expenses from his majesty and a safe conduct to dwell freely wherever he wished in the kingdom of Ireland as long as he lived, whatever persecution might occasionally arise, he came to Dublin. The news of his arrival being spread, William Burke, the illustrious earl of Clanrickard, who was a great friend of the priest, and once sent horses and the necessary equipage for him to Dublin, sixty miles distant, to bring him home to his own house, with whom he then lived for some years, a well-cared-for and honoured guest, and often lovingly visited his own convent of Galway. At length under the weight of seventy-four years passed in meritorious labours, he rested in the Lord in the year 1672, fortified by the last sacraments, very resigned, weeping tears of penance and apostrophising his habit spread before him on the table.

FATHER OLIVER BURKE. (according to Ambrose Coleman) THE courage shown by Father Burke in standing up in opposition to his two brothers, both of them bishops, and taking the part of Rinuccini, the papal nunico, in worthy of admiration. But he was only following the example of his Dominican brethren, all of whom stood by the nuncio, except one, Father Dominic Burke of Athenry.

It is evident from the honour and kindness shown him later on by the earl of Clanrickard, that the latter esteemed him all the more for following the dictates of his conscience, though, in defending the nuncio, Father Burke had to put himself in opposition to the earl himself.

FATHER JOHN O’CONNOR, (according to John O’Heyne) of the same community, was a distinguished master of sacred theology, whether however he taught anywhere I am unable to say, though I know from the testimony of others that he was well versed in every kind of knowledge, principally in the lives of the saints, in sacred Scripture, the Councils and the Holy Fathers; he had a good knowledge of Hebrew and Greek, in a word, he was a finished scholar. He filled the office of general procurator for his province at Madrid and Rome, with care, prudence and diligence for a long time. He procured the convents of SS Sixtus and Clement in Rome for the Irish Province and provided good professors and an excellent course of studies. He was very austere and ascetic by fasting, prayer and pilgrimages to holy places in Italy, and especially to the Holy House of Loreto, which he often visited with profound devotion.

FATHER O’CONOR (according to Ambrose Coleman) was confessor for many years to a Spanish duchess, Eleanor de Cajetani Pimentelli, and accompanied her from, Spain to Rome. He not only obtained from the General of the Order the convents of San Sisto and San Clemente for the Irish province, but was the means of having them richly endowed, getting for this purpose a legacy of 6,000 Roman crowns from his illustrious penitent as well as a further grant of 4,000 from her brother, Dominic Pimentelli, archbishop of Seville and a member of the Order. He died in the house of the duchess, at Rome, in December, 1678, and was buried in San Sisto.

FATHER NICHOLAS LYNCH, master of sacred theology, of the same community, was provincial of Ireland. He was also definitor in the general chapter held at Milan under the General, Father Nicholas Rodulpho, where he was made master. He was a pious man, a restorer of the Rosary in Galway and promoted that devotion most zealously throughout the kingdom.

FATHER NICHOLAS O’HALLORAN studied with success in Spain, and returning directly to his convent applied himself to preaching, in the discharge of which duty he made such progress that he could easily be reckoned among the best preachers of the kingdom. He was often prior of his convent of Galway and during his last period of office, received me with great kindness when I was about to go to Spain for my studies in the year 1667. He was a good, pleasant and affable man and did his duty to God and religion with humility and charity. Fortified by the last sacraments and conscious to the last, he died in Galway in the year 1673, at the age of seventy-five. He was a celebrated promoter of the Rosary and in all things a most devoted client of the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God.

FATHER DOMINIC LYNCH studied in Spain, and on his return lived a very exemplary life. Although he was the son of a Protestant minister, he clearly showed that the operations of faith and grace do not come to a man through birth or nature but from Almighty God Himself through Jesus Christ. For he was so much adverse to Protestants that he would in no manner of way mix with them, though they, as well as the Catholics, anxiously sought his company, for he was very agreeable and merry, while never exceeding the bound of religious gravity. He suffered a great deal in the persecution of the year 1680; he was closely imprisoned for a year, which he bore with patience and used to speak jestingly with the Protestants who on their part admired his constancy. Fortified by the last sacraments, after he was released from prison, he died peacefully in the year 1686.

FATHER LAZARUS LYNCH, of the same community, studied with success in Andalusia; he taught in Lisbon and having returned home after a long time abroad, lived an angelic and exemplary life. He was a sagacious and prudent confessor. Expelled in the last exile, he died a pious death at Nantes in the year 1704, full of years and fortified by the last sacraments.

FATHER PETER FRENCH, studied in Andalusia, and on the completion of his studies went to the West Indies, where for thirty years he zealously did the duties of a missionary in the kingdom of Mexico and other places. He learnt the Indian language of those places where he worked so accurately that he composed a native catechism. Having gained many souls to God, he was made preacher-general in that province of Mexico and then returning to Galway, constantly preached the Word of God to his fellow citizens, successfully enough indeed though not very eloquently, on account of his long absence from Ireland in those distant regions. His preacher-generalship was recognised in the Irish Province, in which he lived for a long time, giving the best example to the Order and the laity, for he was a man full of simplicity, fearing God and avoiding evil. He left a good deal to his convent. At length when on a visit to a relative outside Galway, gangrene set into his breast, by the action of which all his flesh mortified up to the neck, a frightful ill which he bore with admirable patience. Fortified by the last sacraments his soul departed in the year 1693.

FATHER DANIEL O’HOULAGHAN, in English Father Daniel Nolan, received the habit when he was only fourteen and made his novitiate at Athenry. Being professed at the hands of the provincial, the elder Father William Burke, about the year 1649, he embarked immediately for Spain. But this tender youth of sixteen years and two months felt captured by the sea wand was so frightened that he was stricken with a fever that rose so high that he was on the point of death. The Protestants themselves pitied him for he was of very pleasing aspect; and so he was brought to London where the magistrates sent him to the house of an apothecary that he might take charge of restoring the youth to health.
He lay sick here for a year and some months, and at length was restored to perfect health. His host, a very old man, having died in the meantime, he remained in the house not knowing whither to turn, nor daring to confess himself to be a religious. While in this state of extreme anxiety, he was tempted by the widow of his deceased host, who was still a young woman without any children. Enticed by her favours and riches the young man yielded and remained with her for about a year and a half. Then, having gone across to Ireland to seek a sum of money owed to his supposed wife in Galway, he was very warmly received by the Protestants, but seeing this, all the Catholics, even his own brothers and sisters, fled from his company even as one would fly from a serpent.
At length on the merciful invitation of God, he reflected seriously on his condition and having arranged his affairs went back to England and gave in his returns to this woman, deducting nothing but his small travelling expenses. He then immediately began his journey to Louvain and on his arrival, like the prodigal son, in a spirit of the most profound humility he implored mercy with tears, and begged to be received again among the brethren, saying he was prepared to do any penance they might impose on him.
The same provincial, in whose hands he had been professed in Ireland, was then staying at Louvain and he at once sent word to the most reverend General, Father de Marinis, of his fortunate return to the bosom of the Order, giving him a full account of the affair. The General being overjoyed like the father in the Gospel, bestowed every mark of favour on him. He there studied philosophy and theology with the greatest success and in all things showed himself a model of religious amiability.
In the year 1665 he was sent back to Ireland where he preached like a sounding trumpet, confirming the Catholics in the faith and confuting the Protestants in all patience and sound doctrine. He was most fluent in English as well as in his own tongue. He was a sound theologian much given to study; he was a finished controversialist, and efficaciously convinced several Protestants. In both his English and his Irish sermons, with equal grace and eloquence he employed both languages, he used modestly and to the great edification of his hearers to tell the story of his fall, not indeed from the faith but from his vows. He was prior of Galway and built a large and beautiful chapel, ruling with prudence and giving an example of probity and integrity. In the year 1677, on his way to Dublin, distant about forty-four leagues from Galway, to buy an organ for his convent, he was stricken down with fever and after some days, fortified by the last sacraments, gave his soul to his Creator at Dublin, in the midst of his brethren.

FATHER O’HOULAGHAN; In the same house there was another priest of the same surname, whose Christian name I do not remember, who married a relative of his, and lived with her in chastity for an entire year, when both by mutual consent received the habit of our Order, to the great admiration of the citizens, and both likewise made their profession at Galway. He was ordained a priest and lived an exemplary and pious life down to the year of 1638, when he died a good death in the same town after receiving the last sacraments. His wife lived for many years, and we shall refer to her again when we come to speak of our nuns there.

FATHER JOHN BROWNE, master of sacred theology, having made profession at Galway, came to Louvain where he finished his studies with applause. He gave great satisfaction there as a lector of philosophy, master of students and also as prior. He gave great help in the construction of the buildings erected at that time, not only by providing funds but even by working assiduously and laboriously with his own hands. After honourably completing his term of office at Louvain, he returned to his own convent in Ireland where he was four times prior and once provincial. He largely decorated with his own handiwork the chapel previously erected at Galway and the whole house of the friars, and preached frequently and with success at home and abroad. Under the Orange Usurper he was detained in Galway prison, with many other religious and ecclesiastics, for four entire months and fifteen days. In the year 1680 he suffered greatly, hiding in the mountains whilst the fierce persecution lasted. He clothed not a few good young men in the habit and was a man praiseworthy in all things and remarkably meek. At length, expelled from the country in the general exile, he made his way to Louvain where he was received by all with pleasure; amongst whom he lived affectionately till the twenty-third of August, 1700, when he died in the Lord with piety and resignation after receiving the last sacraments.

FATHER DOMINIC LYNCH, to crown our account of the members of the religious community of Galway, we must come to a distinguished man, eminent at least as regards science above all others, the distinguished Father Dominic Lynch, the learned master of sacred theology. Received to the habit and professed at Galway, he went to the province of Andalusia, where he pursued his entire course of studies in the royal and most religious convent of Saint Paul at Seville. While still a tyro he made wonderful progress, so that the profound and penetrating genius of the youth, enhanced by his virtues, became patent to the most learned men of that great convent, and especially to the directors of the great school there. Whereupon he was affiliated to the same convent and taught philosophy there, also filling the post of master of students, to the praise of all and with great success. Promoted to be regent of theology, he shone like a burning lamp, spending many years in teaching and expounding with wonderful clarity the angelic theory of our angelic doctor. On account of his merit he received the degree of master in that great province of Andalusia, so fruitful in learned men. He was free from the schools for some years but not from study, for this venerable priest knew well that the frequent nocturnal study of sacred letters mortifies the body and effectually keeps it from vice, and then he published his philosophy, which although a little diffuse is commended by all learned men, on account of its clear, strong and profound style of reasoning, according to the genuine sense and the unshaken and most secure conclusions of the Angelic Master.

About the year 1674, if I am not mistaken, the noble, learned and religious college of Saint Thomas, at Seville, resolved to call this distinguished master to be the first and perpetual regent of the college, that although they were themselves learned, they might become more learned still, as scholars under his most excellent tuition. Wherefore that they might explore and make certain of his profound knowledge, the learned collegians sagaciously threw a bait into this deep well of science; for they propounded certain propositions to Father Lynch, begging for an ultimate analysis of them from him, he at the same time not being aware why they asked him. The collegians who had proposed the questions at once sent them to the most distinguished and truly learned Father Francis Reluz, then for seventy-seven years a famed professor in the University of Salamanca, begging for his approval and judgement on them. Meanwhile the intention of the college and the transmission of the answers were intimated to Father Lynch, who thereupon wrote to me, then doing my third year of theology under the tuition of Father Reluz. Father Lynch, I may say, from my first going to Castile honoured me frequently with letters, as I had brought letters to him from home.

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