Above : St. Columbanus The introduction of Christianity had a profound influence on the Gaelic language. The culture of the new religion, accompanied by the increased use of writing, created a new technical vocabulary. New words had to be created for the new worship and its ritual, its clergy, and its churches, and these were, of necessity, borrowed from the Latin language. From Latin also were taken nearly all the words relating to everything connected with writing and reading. Nearly all the Gaelic ... Read More

Above: The American War Lord Harcourt, coming as lord lieutenant in 1772, was well received by the leaders of the opposi- tion. On the assembling of parliament in October, 1773 a bill was introduced at his suggestion to put a tax of two shillings in the pound on the incomes of those absentee landlords who did not reside at least six months of the year in Ireland. But through the influence of the great landed proprietors it was re- jected. At this time ... Read More