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| SHANE'S CASTLE, CO. ANTRIM. -Although finally unsuccessful in his fight for liberty, and cursed with not a few of the vices of the age in which he lived, Shane Dymas, or Shane the Proud O'Neill, ranks among the ablest and bravest of the many chieftains of his gallant, kingly house who fought and died for Ireland. Had he known, like his kinsmen and successor, the great Hugh, how to conciliate the Irish as well as thrash the English, Ulster and, probably, all Ireland, would have been freed from the Saxon yoke. His many victories over the generals and soldiers of Elizabeth are still remembered with pride by Irishmen who cherish a pride of race. Tradition says that Shane the Proud resided during most of his career in the castle whose ruins are pictured above. It suffered from the blasts of war, but underwent its greatest damage in 1816, when it was nearly burned to the ground. It stands on the banks of Lough Neagh, on the estate of Lord O'Neill, who has partially restored the ruin. While a stone of it stands on another, Shane the Proud will be unforgotten. The Scotch marauders whitened when his war-cry met their ears, And the death-bird, like a vengeance, poised above his stormy cheers; Aye, Shane, across the thundering sea, out-chanting it, your tongue Flung wild, un-Saxon war-whoopings the Saxon court among! |
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