ST. PATRICK’S NIGHT

Evening Star, Issue 17922, 18 March 1922, Page 6

ST. PATRICK’S NIGHT

IRISH CONCERT.

An Irish national concert, held under the auspices of the local Irish Society, was given at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening to mark the celebration, in common with Irishmen all over the world, of St. Patrick’s Day. A splendid programme of singing,* instrumental, and dance items was arranged, and was carried through before a largo and demonstrative audience. In fact, so enthusiastic did those present become in listening to tho national airs and watching tho national dances that nearly every _ performer was recalled two or three times. The pupils of St. Philomena’s College sang very acceptably ‘God Defend New Zealand,’ ‘ Ireland is Calling You,’ and ‘lreland a Nation,’ and looked extremely well in their neat white dresses. Vocal items were given as follow : —Mr Bert Bawlinson (‘The West’s Awake’); Mrs Wilfred Andrews (‘Has Sorrow Thy Young Days Shaded ’ and ‘ Believe Mo If All Those Endearing Young Charms ’); Miss M. M'Ewen (‘Kathleen Mavonrneen’ and ‘The Dear Little Shamrock’); Mr Angell, (‘The Soldier’s Song’ and ‘Brian of '"Glcnanaan ’); bliss M. Paine (‘ Dish Folk Song’); Miss H. Grant (‘Killarney’); Mr M. O’Sullivan (‘The Minstrel Boy’); 'Miss B. M'Callum (‘_Sho is Far From the Land’); Miss B. Baird (‘Kerry Dance’); Miss F. Gardner (‘My Dark Rosaleen ’); Mr James Roxburgh (‘Acushla Machrcc’); and Misses M. Goughian and Bert Bawlinson (duet, ‘ Tue •Moon Hath Raised’). Throe girls of St. Philomena’s College, attired in _ national costume, danced an Irish reel in excellent style, and Mies_ Beulah King showed her ability in an Irish jig. A horn solo (‘The Last Rose of Summer’) was contributed by Mr D. Whelan; and Mr J. Wallace gave a violin solo (‘ Fantasia Irelandia’), his fine interpretation of popular Irish airs arousing much enthusiasm. The success of tho evening was largely contributed, to by Miss Clara Hughes’s work as accompanist. Mr D. Whelan acted as musical director, and Mr J. Kilmartin as stage manager. --The entertainment concluded about 11 o’clock with tho singing by tho pupils of St. Philomena’s and by the audience of ‘God Save Ireland.’ Daring an interval Bishop Whyte made a few remarks thanking tho performers for providing such an excellent entertainment. Referring to tho state of Irelnad at the present time, Bishop Whyte said that out of the changes which were at present taking place in Ireland they might look for some new national songs and dances which would express tho true spirit of tho people, and which could well take tho place of the so-called Irish songs heard in tho music halls of London and even in New Zealand. They would then hope to see these songs relegated to tho oblivion which they so richly deserved. (Laughter and applause.) As for the dances, tho three children who had just contributed an Dish reel had tho proper conception of what was required—namely, as was said in Ireland, to tread so lightly that if they stepped on an eggshell it would not lie broken. Now that Ireland had time to bring out tho best that was in her tho whole nation would see her as she really was, and not through the grimy spectacles of “ Welsh wizards ” and others, as in tho past. Dr Whyte went on to say that when tho Irish Treaty was signed he had not noticed any of those “wild orgies of Mafeking fame or infamy,” .but merely a discovery on tho part of the newspapers that Mr Michael Collins, who had formerly been a demon, had been transformed into an angel. They had been doubtful as to what had been clone, and had perhaps still reason to doubt whether Ireland was the free State in reality as it was, at all events, in name. When people had boon telling lies for years, he continued, as tho compilers of the cablegrams had been doing, it was very difficult for them to get back to tho prosaic duty of telling tho truth, and hence we still Lad accounts of murders and accidents in Ireland. He wondered what opinion the outside world would have of Now Zealand if the cable men at this end sent out only murders and accidents, and if nothing were published in the newspapers about onr Civil Service economies, our increased railway facilities,and tho fact that the Government had decreed that, appropriately enough, all teachers should take tho oath of allegiance on the Ist of April. (Laughter.) Speaking, of education, it would interest them to know that tho funds accruing from that concert were going to be used to enable children in tho Catholic schools who had won scholarships, and who were not allowed to accept them in the State schools, to take them out in their own schools. The New Zealand Government apparently did not want these brilliant children of the present or at any future time, and tho federation had therefore decided that the efforts of tho Brothers and Sisters who had educated these young folk should not go for naught. Hence it had decided to provide the necessary funds for the scholarships, and ho urged j them all to assist tho federation in this praiseworthy object by joining its ranks. Dr Whvte, in. conclusion, again thanked | the performers and the organisers of the concert.