Studies in Irish craniology (Aran Islands, Co. Galway) : a paper read before the Royal Irish Academy, December 12, 1892 / by A.C. Haddon.
- Alfred Cort Haddon
- Date:
- 1893
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Studies in Irish craniology (Aran Islands, Co. Galway) : a paper read before the Royal Irish Academy, December 12, 1892 / by A.C. Haddon. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.
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![possession of the fortifications found seven large pieces of cannon, with a considerable quantity of arms and ammunition ; they seized also a French shallop of 28 oars, and several large boats. “ The late proprietor of the islands, Sir Eohert Lynch, was declared a forfeiting traitor, and his right made over to Erasmus Smith, Esq., one of the most considerable of the London adventurers. This gentleman’s interest having been purchased by Eichard Butler, created Earl of Aran in 1662, the title of the latter was confirmed by the Act of Settlement (cf. p. 795). “ On the surrender of Galway to King William’s forces in 1691, Aran was garrisoned, and a barrack built, in which soldiers had been quartered for many years after. “In 1762 Arthur Gore was created Earl of Aran. At this time [1852] the ownership of the islands is in the Digby family, to a member of which they are said to have been mortgaged by a Mr. Fitzpatrick of Galway for £4000. On failure of payment, the mortgage was foreclosed. During the documentary period of its history these islands have changed hands more frequently than is mentioned in the foregoing sketch, but there is nothing to show that fresh blood was introduced into the population. It is mainly owing to their lying at the mouth of Galway Bay that the Aran islands have had such a chequered history. VIII.—Ethnology, Several authors regard the existing Aranites as descendants of the Firholgs. This belief is doubtless due to the reputed Firbolg origin of the forts. The latter may be true, hut even so, it does not afford proof for the former statement. If the foregoing sketch of the pre-Christian history of the Aran Islands he only approximately correct, we have grounds for heEeving that the Firholgs did not remain undisputed owners of the islands. Sir Samuel Ferguson says {loc. cit., p. 496):—“ These islands when Enda first obtained his alleged grant of them from Aengus, King of Cashel, had no population to instruct, all the souls to he cured were on the mainland ”... and on p. 497 he adds, after mentioning that Enda according to tradition returned from Eome with a hundred and fifty monks about the year 580 and established himself at KiU-any. ‘ ‘ The island at this time appears to have been wholly depopulated of its Fir-Volg colony. We read of no occupants besides the religious and occasional, “gentile” visitants from the adjoining district of Cor- comroe. The captain of these pagans was one Corban; and Enda, after](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b22473178_0077.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
