A chara, - Anne Bodkin Parker's letter (August 27th) is factually incorrect in its chronology of the settlement of Montserrat. The island was named "Santa Maria de Montserrate" by Christopher Columbus, who came by it on November 11th, 1493. Itwas subsequently visited by both the French and British. The first known inhabitants were not the Caribs but the Amerindians, who travelled from Venezuela around 200AD. They were followed by the Caribs, who later abandoned the island because of its lack of natural resources.
However, when the first European settlers arrived, the Caribs, who then inhabited some of the surrounding islands, still considered Montserrat (which they called "Alliouagana") their territory and carried out frequent raids on the settlers there.
Contrary to Ms Bodkin Parker's letter, the first European settlers (and they were settlers) were Catholic Irish from nearby St Kitts in 1632. More Irish followed from Virginia (in what is now the US) in 1634. The island soon became a recognised religious asylum for Roman Catholics fleeing religious persecution in nearby British colonies. In 1649, after the battle of Drogheda, Cromwell deported Irish political prisoners to Montserrat and on one of his expeditions even visited the island himself.
The British soon consolidated their control of the island, introduced slaves and set up sugar plantations. They introduced a unique, three-tier society with the Irish in the middle and the African slaves at the bottom. As the Irish were the largest group on the island, a series of Anglo-Irish governors were introduced, the better to control them. Most Irish were small landowners, indentured servants and middlemen on the large estates. They were discriminated against for their religion and were not allowed to participate in civil or political life. In parallel with their native country, they assisted the Catholic French in raiding the island on a number of occasions. The British eventually only granted civil, political and religious emancipation to the Irish in order to create white solidarity against the growing black slave population. Many Irish also kept slaves but, in keeping with their lesser wealth, in smaller numbers. It is generally accepted that the Irish treated their slaves in a kindly fashion, although there is little evidence to support this.
In later years wealthier Irish families bought sugar estates on the island, such as one of the island's present-day tourist sites, the Galways Estate on the side of the now erupting Soufriere Volcano.
Beautiful Montserrat has endured many tragedies over the past centuries, both man-made and natural. Let us hope that recent events do not spell the end of its long history and that its natives can again pick up the pieces and start again. Despite a visit to Ireland by its then Chief Minister Osborne a number of years ago and a documentary film made by Michael D. Higgins in 1985, the Irish Government has largely ignored our historical links with the emerald isle of the Caribbean.
Let us now in their hour of need open our doors to the newly dispossessed of Montserrat. Those of us who have spent time there will testify that they are indeed a most friendly and charming people. - Le meas, SIMON P. HADEN,
Ballyvaughan, Co Clare.