Travel writer recalls 17th century Ireland as bleak place where ignorant men ate soap

Trust IC to 'illustrate' this article with a depiction of an event that occured 250 years later. They should consider renaming this site ' IrishFamineCentral '.

I like "usquebagh!" It sounds like, even back in 1600, it's superiority was recognised by natives and foreigners alike. I learned, as a young man, that my morning's after were much less painful than with other spirits. As a old man, I have learned my limits and have found that moderation (but not abstinance)makes my mornings even better. Bushmills touts its original grant of 1608 and Jameson its establishment in 1780. I wonder how much what I now enjoy has changed from what Fynes Moryson tried in his four years spent in Ireland. Hey, that means he spent a THIRD of his twelve years traveling and writing his travelog IN IRELAND! I wonder if it could have been the usquebagh that kept him hanging on?

WKnee. Good point.

Shows the difference between the English in Ireland and the Spanish in the New World. Lots of Spanish tried to learn Indian languages, even they published grammar books of things like Quechua. But the English never showed the slightest interest in Irish culture. This guy Moryson wouldn't have bothered trying to learn two words of Irish. He was in modern terms a racist.

Bohmerland is Bohemia, a provinve located in today's Czech Republic.

A pan fried roo fillet and a bottle of Grange hemitage 1991 what a dream meal.

He also included his impression of "... a lande downe under wheare they be of ignorant convicte stock where they do like, for sustenance, mainly to partake of kannagarooes..."

Typical rantings of an ignorant prat.

More self loathing from Irish Central.

Christ, usual crap from the Irish Central natives, taking umbrage from a 17th century work. Words fail me how some people can leverage what is a mildly interesting, though biased, account of 17th century Ireland for some political capital.

You can find almost the exact same descriptions of Native Americans by early English colonists. Indeed the English developed their whole colonial strategy from what they learned in treating with the Irish Tribes. Import some foreigners of low status, give them privilege above the natives, and allow them to take the heat for the decisions of the masters. Protestants to Ireland, Indians to Africa Ect.

English propagandist libels Ireland. Plus ca change...

Where can I get a copy of Moryson's Travel Stories? Where is Bohmerland? The English had terrible dwellings too made of straw and daub with dirt floors and no windows. Did Moryson run into prostitutes on his visit to Ireland - I understand the prostitutes would hide in the bushes near the roads leading to the Dublin barracks.

A report from the 17th century. Why have you found it necessary to include a depiction of the 19th century Famine?

Pity it wasn't an Oxford man writing an account. I dare say that at least we would have gotten a ripping yarn out the thing rather than this Cambridge bloke's bile.