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On one of these she called it 'The Return of O'Caharney' she bestowed such labour and study, that her uncle would sit for hours watching the work, not knowing if his heart were more stirred by the claim of his ancestor's greatness, or by the marvellous skill that realised the whole scene before him. The head of the young chieftain was to be filled in when Dick came home.
In the guidebooks we read that it was once a place of strength and importance, and that Hugh de Lacy the same bold knight 'who had won all Ireland for the English from the Shannon to the sea' had taken this castle from a native chieftain called Neal O'Caharney, whose family he had slain, all save one; and then it adds: 'Sir Hugh came one day, with three Englishmen, that he might show them the castle, when there came to him a youth of the men of Meath a certain Gilla Naher O'Mahey, foster-brother of O'Caharney himself with his battle-axe concealed beneath his cloak, and while De Lacy was reading the petition he gave him, he dealt him such a blow that his head flew off many yards away, both head and body being afterwards buried in the ditch of the castle.
'What is that? cried he suddenly; 'sure it's not putting myself you are in the picture! 'Of course I am, sir. Was not the O'Caharney your ancestor? Is it likely that an old race had not traits of feature and lineament that ages of descent could not efface? I'd swear that strong brow and frank look must be an heirloom. ''Faith, then, almost the only one! said he, sighing.
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