Standish O’grady

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. At school and in t.c.d. I was an industrious lad and worked through the curriculums with abundant energy and some success; yet in the curriculums never read one word about Irish history and legend, nor ever heard one word about these things from my pastors and masters. When I was 23 years Of age, had anyone told me - as later on a Professor Of the Dublin University actually did - that Brian Boromh was a mythical character, I would have believed him. I knew absolutely nothing about our past, not through my own fault, for 1 was willing enough to learn anything set before me, but owing to the stupid educational system Of the country. I knew Sir Samuel Ferguson and was often his guest, but knew him only as a kind, courteous and hospitable gentleman; no one ever told me that he was a great Irish poet.

At school and in t.c.d. I was an industrious lad and worked through the curriculums with abundant energy and some success; yet in the curriculums never read one word about Irish history and legend, nor ever heard one word about these things from my pastors and masters. When I was 23 years Of age, had anyone told me — as later on a Professor Of the Dublin University actually did — that Brian Boromh was a mythical character, I would have believed him. I knew absolutely nothing about our past, not through my own fault, for 1 was willing enough to learn anything set before me, but owing to the stupid educational system Of the country. I knew Sir Samuel Ferguson and was often his guest, but knew him only as a kind, courteous and hospitable gentleman; no one ever told me that he was a great Irish poet.