ILLUSTRIOUS IRISHWOMEN. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. EARLY IRISH PERIOD. IN the early history of every nation it will be found that mythologic legend is largely blended with plain matter-of-fact. This assertion is said to be especially applicable to early Irish history, although why such an invidious distinction should be made it is difficult to say; for the same thing holds good concerning the early history of Rome, of Greece, or, indeed, of any other antique nation. The story of Rhea Silvia, and that of Romulus and Remus and the wolf, which are so gravely recorded as historical facts, have no more claims to be believed than have the half-mythical, half-real stories whence the history of the ancient Irish must necessarily be compiled; and surely they have quite as good a right to pretend to historical accuracy as has the Iliad or the Odyssey. No one attempts to dis prove the admixture of poetic fiction, bordering largely on the marvellous, which is interwoven with probabilities in these early romantic chronicles. At the same time, no person of ordinary reflection for a moment doubts but that these half legendary ⚫ tales represent accurate historic facts and personages. Moreover, it will be admitted that, however obscure, and in many cases irreconcilable, these legends be in themselves, yet they represent these facts more truly and more clearly than can now be done by substituting in their stead any other hypothesis founded upon the so-called wisdom and experience of more recent times. Eve, according to orthodox belief, changed the whole course of affairs for mankind in her search after knowledge: the subtlety and affection of the mother of Moses provided the Jews with a leader, and a receiver and giver of laws, which influence them down to the present day: Helen of Troy and Cleopatra successively overturned empires: the influence of Elizabeth is the turning-point in the history of England's religious opinions, of its commerce, and of its literature: the political affairs of France have, in all ages, been largely influenced by women Roger Palmer, afterwards Lord Castlemaine, sold his wife-not at Smithfield, but at Whitehall-to his Majesty King Charles II., for the sum of one peerage, and that an Irish one taken on consideration. That woman-Barbara Villiers, Lady Castlemaine, afterwards Duchess of Cleveland-brought England to bankruptcy, and was the indirect cause of the National Debt. Other instances, gathered from the histories of many lands, might be quoted of the enormous influence exerted by women upon the destinies of nations. But this being a work purporting to be solely about Irishwomen, it remains therefore to be seen how and what they have contributed to the history of their country-whether politically, socially, or intellectually. There are five great events in the early history of Ireland, and these occurrences have taken place through the instrumentality of women. 1st. The building of the Palace of Emhain-Macha, which subsequently became the residence of the Ulidian kings. The founding of this fortress fixes the first probably accurate date in Irish history. 2nd. In the reign of Queen Méave (or Medbh, the Queen Mab of Shakspeare) occurred the famous Cattle-Spoil, or Cattle Plunder of Cuailgné.* The account of this expedition, undertaken by Queen Méave against Daire Mac-Fiachna, forms the subject of the celebrated Tain-Bo-Chuailgné, the * A district now called Cooley, in the modern county of Louth. |