In 1172, the English invaded Ireland, planted their flag, and built a great big fence. That barrier, known as the English Pale1—from pale, meaning a stake or picket—defined the world for those invaders. Within their pale, all was safe, true and good, a civilized land ruled by English law and institutions. Beyond the pale, on the other hand, lay bad news. That’s where mayhem, murder, and madness resided. Most who ventured beyond it were never heard from again. And the few who did manage to return weren’t always welcomed with open arms. They were no longer trustworthy; they might have seen too
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