And it was but at the time of the Parliament leaving College Green they
began to wear the Soutane that they wear now. Up to that it was a
bodycoat they wore and knee-breeches. It was their vote sent the
Parliament to England, and when there is a row between them or that the
people are vexed with the priest, you will hear them saying in the house
in Irish 'Bad luck on them, it was they brought misfortune to Ireland.'
They wore the Soutane ever since that time."


ROBERT EMMET

"The Government had people bribed to swear against Robert Emmet, and the
same men said after, they never saw him till he was in the dock. He
might have got away but for his attention to that woman. She went away
after with a sea captain. There are some say she gave information.
Curran's daughter she was. But I don't know. He made one request, his
letters that she wrote to him in the gaol not to be meddled with, but
the Government opened them and took the presents she sent in them, and
whatever was best of them they kept for themselves. He made the greatest
speech from the dock ever was made, and Lord Norbury on the bench,
checking and clogging him all the time. Ten hours he was in the dock,
and they gave him no more than one dish of water all that time; and they
executed him in a hurry, saying it was an attack they feared on the
prison. There is no one knows where is his grave."


O'CONNELL'S BIRTH

"O'Connell was a grand man, and whatever cause he took in hand, it was
as good as won. But what wonder? He was the gift of God. His father was