How little history and less geography most of us know.
I doubt whether 1 per cent. of the readers of this column is familiar with the facts I am privileged to reveal regarding the Principality of Thomond and the Most Honourable Dalcassian Order of the Princely House of Thomond. The trouble is where to begin. Perhaps here, with the Dublin Evening Mail of January 14th, 1950, as unimpeachable source: BIRTH "O'BRIEN OF THOMOND—Colonel His Highness Prince Count of Thomond and Pogla (The O'Brien) has pleasure in announcing the Birth,_By the Grace of God, of a Catholic Heiress to the Principality of Thomond (Clare) in the person of Her Highness Princess Grania Bebhinn. The birth occurred at a private nursing home on January 3rd last, and Her High- ness was baptised solemnly into the Traditional Faith of the Sovereign Princely House of O'Brien of Thomond, whose Senior Catholic Branch has owed Spiritual Allegiance to the Holy See since the dawn of Christianity in the Emerald Isle. Sponsors present were:—His Majesty Marziono II, Tit. Emperor of Constantinople, Prince of Turgoville, Duke of Savoy-Villars, etc., Their Serene Highnesses Prince and Prin- cess Hohenlohe-Schillingsfuerst, Ratibon and Corvey, etc., His Imperial Highness Prince Pietro Amorose d'Aragona, Duke of Rijeka, G.C.D.O., etc., Their Serene Highnesses Prince (K.C.D.O.) and Princess Zappala-Lascaris, Duke and Duchess of Dorilea, etc."
(It is understood that only urgent business in Devonshire pre- vented Archduke Thomas Cobley, Hereditary Landgrave of Widecombe, etc., from being present with several friends.) But here is this paper shortage. and my story not really started. Wait as best you can for a further instalment next week. But you may as well know at once that Thomond is in Clare, and Clare is the county of that name. • Is Eire all Republic?
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