The Irish Penny Journal, Vol. 1 No. 45, May 8, 1841

In Short

This issue of a nineteenth-century Irish magazine blends antiquarian scholarship, legendary local history, and social commentary into an entertaining tapestry. The primary essays trace the true physical ancestry of the Irish wolf-dog and catalog the historic signets of medieval Irish chieftains. Alongside these historical investigations, the issue features light satirical verse praising rural Irish women, a dramatic portrait of a Tipperary land dispute, short reflections on human nature, and statistical profiles of contemporary London. It has survived as an illuminating window into early Victorian Ireland’s intellectual curiosity, local folklore, and romantic nationalism.

The Story

The text begins with a spirited defense of the native Irish wolf-dog, written by an author who admits to abandoning his former belief that the animal was a heavy, mastiff-like beast. Citing ancient records, naturalists, and historical letters, he argues that the breed was actually a large, rough-coated greyhound. He traces how the dog was brought to Scotland during early migrations, becoming known over time as the Highland deer-hound. After examining historic testimonies—including a 1623 request from Lord Deputy Falkland for white greyhounds to send to European nobility—the text presents the hound "Oscar" as a rare surviving specimen. The discussion culminates in a dramatic account of the destruction of the last wolves in County Tyrone, where a young boy and his courageous hound slay a wolf inside a sheepfold.

From natural history, the journal turns to decorative arts and formal antiquarian study. A brief entry highlights the exquisite, costly craft of Florentine pietra dura mosaic work, contrasting its laborious stone inlay with Roman mosaic techniques. This is followed by an essay by George Petrie read before the Royal Irish Academy on the signet seals of Irish chiefs. Petrie champions the study of signets to trace historical truth and architectural taste, noting that native Irish rulers used signets mirroring Anglo-Norman designs. He illustrates his thesis using the thirteenth-century seal of Felim O’Conor, King of Connaught, and the fourteenth-century seal of Donald Og Mac Carthy of Desmond.

Interspersed with these academic studies are creative and philosophical pieces. A lighthearted poem celebrates the natural charm and modesty of the "Girls of the West." A longer prose piece chronicles the wild career of Mick Connell, a "Dare-devil" from Thurles who organized Tipperary tenants to aggressively resist legal ejectments and bailiffs. Connell’s exploits escalate from courtroom maneuvering to building an earthen fort, repelling armed assaults, and fighting off the civil authorities until he is ultimately tracked down and shot by a vengeful bailiff. The issue concludes with brief moral maxims on human extravagance, true friendship, and a philosophical reflection viewing all living human beings as transient apparitions walking the earth.

How It Unfolds

Defending the native hound The author presents historical evidence from ancient historians, naturalists, and royal correspondence to prove that the Irish wolf-dog was a tall, rough greyhound. He argues that the breed migrated to Scotland, surviving there as the Highland deer-hound after dying out in Ireland.

The wolf-hunter's stand A dramatic story relates how a young boy and a faithful wolf-dog defend a sheepfold in County Tyrone. The dog subdues the wolf in the dark, allowing the boy to drive a spear through the predator's neck.

Analyzing royal seals George Petrie demonstrates the historical value of Irish signet seals before the Royal Irish Academy. He examines the seal of Felim O'Conor, King of Connaught, and a physical seal belonging to Donald Og Mac Carthy of Desmond to illustrate Anglo-Norman influences on native Irish heraldry.

The legend of Mick Connell An account details the rise of a small, fierce Tipperary man who turns his physical daring into a business defending distressed landowners from legal process. Connell organizes local tenants into a disciplined force that successfully baffles lawyers and repels bailiffs.

The siege at the earthen fort Connell builds a fortified earthen structure to defy court-ordered dispossession, firing on approaching forces and sparking a deadly skirmish. Though he initially escapes the battle, a vengeful bailiff eventually tracks him to his hideout and shoots him dead.

Reflections on life and cities The issue shifts to brief observations on society and human nature, contrasting the extreme wealth and vast infrastructure of London with philosophical notes on friendship, youth, and the fleeting, ghost-like nature of human existence.

The People

• H. D. R.

The natural history contributor who sets out to correct common misconceptions about the Irish wolf-dog. He advocates for the preservation of the rare hound breed, backing his arguments with historical texts and public records.

• George Petrie

An antiquarian scholar presenting his research to the Royal Irish Academy. He seeks to establish the historical importance of Irish signet seals as tangible proof of native governance, art, and civilization.

• Felim O’Conor

A thirteenth-century King of Connaught whose historical seal serves as a primary subject of Petrie's study. Elected, deposed, and restored to power during a turbulent era, he was buried in Roscommon Abbey as a praised protector of his kingdom.

• Mick Connell

A formidable, small-statured Tipperary "Dare-devil" who becomes a legendary figure by helping impoverished landowners resist legal ejectments. His violent defiance of sheriffs and bailiffs eventually leads to his death at the hands of an enemy.

In Its Own Voice

"It is the object of the present paper to show that not only did Ireland possess a peculiar race of dogs exclusively devoted to wolf-hunting, but that those dogs, instead of being of the mastiff kind, resembled the greyhound in form..."

Context: H. D. R. introduces his central thesis regarding the true physical characteristics and lineage of the ancient Irish wolf-dog.

"The boy immediately threw open the gate of the fold, and took his seat in the inner part, close to the entrance; his faithful companion crouching at his side, and seeming perfectly aware of the dangerous business he was engaged in."

Context: A local historical narrative describes a young boy and his hound waiting in the dark to ambush the last wolf in County Tyrone.

"Writs were sent out, but had no return, and now and then the same might be said of the bailiffs who ventured to bear them."

Context: The narrator explains how Mick Connell systematically disrupted legal proceedings against struggling local landholders.

What It's Really About

The issue examines the preservation of Irish identity, history, and natural heritage during a period of rapid cultural shift. Through its study of the Irish wolf-dog, the text laments the decline of native animal breeds while establishing a proud connection between Irish and Scottish traditions. George Petrie’s essay on heraldic seals counters the notion that pre-modern Ireland lacked refined legal and administrative institutions, using material artifacts to prove the sophistication of native rulers. Simultaneously, the profile of Mick Connell captures the deep-seated tension surrounding nineteenth-century land ownership, legal oppression, and tenant resistance in rural Ireland. The text balances romantic pride in the nation's past with a sharp, clear-eyed observation of its social realities.

Why Read It Today

This issue appeals to readers fascinated by nineteenth-century periodicals, Irish history, and historical natural history. It offers an engaging snapshot of early Victorian popular scholarship, blending serious academic research with folk storytelling and light prose. Reading the text feels like stepping into a nineteenth-century Dublin lecture hall or reading room, where natural science, local legends, and antiquarian studies share equal space.

The main challenge for modern readers lies in its varied format and historical context. The text moves abruptly between academic natural history, medieval land charters, dialect-flavored rural tales, and dense statistical listings. Furthermore, the legal terminology surrounding nineteenth-century Irish land tenure and ejectments requires attentive reading. However, these obstacles are easily outweighed by the authorial clarity and genuine passion of the contributors. The vivid account of the night-time wolf hunt and the dramatic rise and fall of Mick Connell remain memorable stories that vividly capture the spirit and folklore of the period.