Gerald, whose Catholic wife has deserted him, lives in an old half-ruined family castle, near Armagh. The book is an interminable (1698 pp.) series of petty scandals and flirtations, gossip, and matchmaking among the titled persons living in “Doneraile Castle,” and “Lisburn Abbey.” The insipid affairs of an out-of-date beau monde. This Author also wrote Uncle Peregrine’s Heiress, Conviction, Guilty or not Guilty, and many other stories.
KENNEDY, Patrick; “Harry Whitney.” Born in Co. Wexford, 1801. In 1823 he removed to Dublin, and for the greater part of his life he kept a bookshop in Anglesea Street. His sketches of Irish rural life as he had known it are told with spirit, and with a kind of photographic literalness and exactness. They are very free from anything objectionable. Dr. Douglas Hyde, speaking of his folk-lore, says that “many of his stories appear to be the detritus of genuine Gaelic folk-stories filtered through an English idiom and much impaired and stunted in the process. He appears, however, not to have adulterated them very much.” In the Pref. to Evenings in the Duffrey he says (and the remarks apply to his other books), “On all other points [viz., than the matrimonial fortunes of his hero and heroine] there is not a fictitious character, nor incident in the mere narrative, nor legend related, nor ballad sung, which was not current in the country half a century since. The fireside discussions were really held, and the extraordinary fishing and hunting adventures detailed, as here set down.” He died in 1873.
⸺ LEGENDS OF MOUNT LEINSTER. Pp. 283. 16mo. (Dublin). 1855.
Title of a miscellany published under pseudonym of “Harry Whitney.” Contains: “Three Months in Kildare Place,” “Bantry and Duffrey Traditions,” “The Library in Patrick Street”; in all nine sketches, four of which are stories supposed to be told at fireside of Wexford farm-house. Careful picture of manners and customs. No. 1 is a story of the time of Brian, c. 1001 A.D. 3. A love-tale of the days of Sarsfield. 6. Penal days, a hunted priest.
⸺ FICTIONS OF OUR FOREFATHERS. 1859.
⸺ LEGENDARY FICTIONS OF THE IRISH CELTS. (Macmillan). [1866]. Several eds. since.
Over 100 stories, given, for the most part, “as they were received from the story-tellers with whom our youth was familiar.” They are derived from the English-speaking peasantry of County Wexford. They include “Household Stories” (wild and wonderful adventures), “Legends of the Good People” or fairies, witchcraft, sorcery, ghosts and fetches, Ossianic, &c., legends, and “Legends of the Celtic Saints.” All these are in this book published for the first time. All through there is an interesting running comment, introductory and connective. The book is hardly suitable for children.
⸺ THE BANKS OF THE BORO. Pp. 362. (M’Glashan & Gill). 2s. [1867]. New ed., 1875, &c.
Into the tissue of a pleasant and touching story of quiet country life in North-west Wexford the Author has woven a collection of tales, ballads, and legends, some of which are of high merit. They contain a wealth of information on local customs and traditions. Incidentally, Irish peasant character is truthfully painted in all its phases—grave, gay, humorous, and grotesque. The moral standard is very high throughout. There are many vivid descriptions of scenery. The whole is told in a simple, pleasant, genial style. The Author tells us that the chief incidents, circumstances, and fireside conferences mentioned in the book really occurred.