21. GEOFFRY KEATING

As Geoffrey Keating studied for the priesthood in France his young heart was often saddened by news of his native land. He heard tales of war and plunder, of people driven from their homes and their lands, and of chieftains being forced into exile. Irish boys were not allowed to study for the priesthood there, but had to go to a foreign country as he himself had done.

Keating studied very hard and became a Doctor of Divinity. He then returned to Ireland, and with the help of another priest he built a little church at Tubrid in his native Tipperary. Soon his fame as a preacher spread through the land and large crowds flocked to his church to hear his sermons.

One day there was a rich lady present who took grave insult from his words. She left the church in anger and complained to her friend, the English Lord President of Munster. There were harsh laws against priests in Ireland at that time, and a force of soldiers was immediately sent to seize the preacher and bring him a prisoner to Cork. But Keating's friends warned him of the danger and he fled to the Glen of Aherlow at the foot of the Galtee mountains. This was to be his hiding-place for many years, and here he decided to write a history of Ireland from the earliest times to the Norman conquest.

His study and dwelling-place was a cave in the mountain ; but to get material fro his book he had to travel in disguise through every part of Ireland. His life was often in danger, for the soldiers were still searching for him. But the great Irish families welcomed the learned priest and allowed him to examine and copy their precious hand-written books. They gave him food and shelter and passed him from place to place in safety. Year after year he worked hard, travelling, studying and writing. At last his book was finished. Hundreds of hand-written copies were made and spread throughout the country.

Many of the hand-written books from which Geoffrey Keating copied since perished. But thanks to his work the record of the Gaelic reace which they contained has been saved.