Froude was an ardent patriot, and his early studies in hagiology had led him to the conclusion, not now accepted, that St.Patrick never existed at all.

His scepticism about St.Patrick might have been forgiven to a man who had probably not much belief in St.George.But Froude could not help running amok at all the popular heroes of Ireland.

In the first of his two papers describing a fortnight in Kerry he went out of his way to depreciate the fame of Daniel O'Connell.

"Ireland," he wrote, "has ceased to care for him.

His fame blazed like a straw bonfire, and has left behind it scarce a shovelful of ashes.