NA

Points of interest:
Celts had no towns: every Irish town can be traced to Danes, Normans [or Planters].
Celtic literature almost silent on lower classes - first good evidence comes from sixteenth century English, who speak of them "in some pity and consideration".
A good phrase: "the Irish seeing the first little Danish settlements twinkle at night on the edge of the sea."
By twelfth century, archbishopric of Armagh had passed by hereditary succession for 15 generations, and in 8 cases had been filled by married laymen.
Description of "The Parliament of Clan Thomas", a Gaelic satire c 1650 showing upper class animus against lower class.
Tom Moore noted in his diary that Archbishop Troy died worth tenpence, while the Protestant Archbishop of Armagh left £130,000.
Early Maynooth largely staffed by French Gallican professors, eg Delahogue and Anglade.
Point of disagreement: "What has given the Catholic clergy their social prominence to-day is their political influence." Reason for this statement is that they did not become prominent until they entered politics. They may not have been prominent before in the newspapers, but that doesn't mean they weren't in fact.
An author commissioned to produce a book like this could treat the subject in hundreds of different ways. O'Faolain has chosen to write a psychological history of the Irish. He closes by dividing the Irish into five types - the Peasants, the Anglo-Irish, the Rebels, the Priests, the Writers. This does fill the bill surprisingly well, but he fails to give a clear picture of the psychology of any of these - except possibly the Priests and there, as I have said, I think he is wrong. A book which makes some interesting points but does not achieve the aim its author set for it.
(notes written 1952 or 1953)