Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 29, 1918.djvu/303

 Folklore and History in Ireland. 293

down the river, in order to assert and make good his right of being admiral of the river Shannon. On Thursday, the 1 2th of September (sic), the Mayor held a Court of Admiralty on the island of Inis Scattery, and on Friday, the 13th, he sailed to the mouth of the Shannon, where, between the heads, he threw a dart into the sea to point out the limits of his jurisdiction ; at the same time it happened that a sloop of war entered the river, whom the Mayor compelled to lower her colours and her foretopsail in acknowledgement of his Power of Admiralty in said river Shannon. The Mayor and Corporation returned to Limerick on Saturday, the 14th, by ringing of bells, etc."

In connection with this there is a feature of the famous Claddagh village that is worth repeating. Hardiman, in his History of Gahvay, in a long footnote on the Claddagh community and customs, mentions the following: "This colony from time immemorial has been ruled by one of their own body, periodically elected, who somewhat resembles the Brughaid or head villager of ancient times, when every clan resided in its hereditary canton. This individual, who is dignified with the title of mayor, in imitation of the head municipal officer of the town, regulates the community according to their own peculiar laws and customs, and settles all their disputes. His decisions are so decisive, and so much respected, that the parties are seldom known to carry their differences before a legal tribunal, or to trouble the civil magistrates. They neither understand nor trouble themselves about politics, conse- quently in the most turbulent times their loyalty has never been questioned, and they arc exempt from all government taxes. Their mayor is no way distinguished from any of the other villagers, except that his boat is generally decorated with a white sail, and may be seen at sea (at which time he acts as admiral) with colours flying at the mast-head gliding through their fleet with some appearance of authority."