BUTLER, Mary E. Mrs. O’Nowlan. Daughter of Peter Lambert Butler, and granddaughter of William Butler, of Bunnahow, Co. Clare. Educated privately, and at Alexandra College, Dublin. Married (1907) the late Thomas O’Nowlan, Professor of Classics and Irish in University College, and at Maynooth. Lives in Dublin.—(Cath. Who’s Who).
⸺ A BUNDLE OF RUSHES. Pp. 150. (Sealy, Bryers). 1s. 1899.
A little volume of short stories, pleasantly written; Irish in tone and poetic. Well received by the Press, and by the public—(Press Notice). Fifteen stories in all. Six are prose idyls of ancient Celtic inspiration, nine are lively little modern sketches in which he and she get happily married in the end.—(I.M.).
⸺ THE RING OF DAY. Pp. 360. (Hutchinson). 6s. 1906.
A romance the interest of which centres in the aspirations of the Irish Ireland movement. Highly idealized, but full of intense earnestness and conviction. The characters are types and talk as such. Eoin, however, is a strong personality.
BUTT, Isaac. Born in Glenfin, Co. Donegal, 1813. Son of Rev. Robert Butt, Rector of Stranorlar. Educated Royal School, Raphoe, and T.C.D. Helped to found the Dublin University Magazine, 1833, and was editor from 1834-38. Was called to the Bar and distinguished himself there. Opposed O’Connell and Repeal. Defended Smith O’Brien, 1848, and the Fenian prisoners in 1865-9. Became a Home Ruler, practically founded the party in 1870, and worked strenuously for it. Died 1879. Wrote important works on many subjects, Irish and other.
⸺ IRISH LIFE IN COURT AND CASTLE. Three Vols. (London). 1840.
Story of a young barrister named Tarleton, who while studying in London forms a firm friendship with Gerald MacCullagh (really O’Donnell), who becomes a nationalist leader. The latter, in spite of himself, sees the national movement drift into one of incendiarism and robbery, resulting, among other things, in a night attack (fully described) on Merton Castle, somewhere in Co. Clare. Tarleton refusing to give up his friend is disowned by his father, and comes to live in a Dublin boarding house. There are good pictures of Dublin life, the amusing foibles of a peculiar section of the upper classes being well hit off. The Author gives his views on the various questions of the day. Shows how the Bar was injured by the prevalent jobbery. There are a good many incidents, but perhaps they scarcely rescue the book from being dull.
⸺ THE GAP OF BARNESMORE. Three Vols, each about 335 pp. (London). 1848.
“A tale of the Irish Highlands and the Revolution of 1688.” Appeared without the author’s name. An attempt to portray, without partisan bias, the events of the time and the heroism of both sides in the Williamite Wars. The whole question at issue between the colonists and the native Irish is well discussed in a conversation between Father Meehan, representing the latter, and Captain Spencer, representing the former. Every word of it applies, as it was meant to apply, to modern times.