THE POETS AND ORATORS OF IRELAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4852, 5 June 1877, Page 4

THE POETS AND ORATORS OF IRELAND.

■Sl-cu wasthesjbject of a lecture delivered at the Lorue-street Hall, last eveni n ,, by the Rev. Father Rice, Catholic is at present on a mi.sion through the colonies collecting funds for a cathedral which is being erected in Queenstown, Cork The Rev. Father Fyn. *, Vicar-Genera! ( ,f tn !i Diocese, presided. The subject of the lecture, as the lecturer found, was a most comprehensive one, too extensive, indeed, to bj dealt with in one evening's (Ihcoums, especially to a man like Father Ilioe, who evidently loved his .subject, and felt at a lo.ss as to what features of tho great characters with which he dealt, he should give greatest prominence to. Grappliusr, however, with the difficulties which encompassed him, Father Rice succeeded in lucidly placing before his audionce tho leading features of tho great orators of Ireland and the times in which they lived. With the poets he had to deal very brielly. Evidently the subject should have been divided into parts, and throughout the lecturer laboured under the difficulty of endeavouring to cramp into a narrow comuass subjects which of themselves would prove too comprehensive for a single lecture. The llobson Baud, which was in attendance, opened the proceedings by playing the Irish quadrilles, after which the Misses 2*aughton, Miss Sheehan, Miss Connolly, Miss Sehultz, and Miss Shanaghan, the latter presiding at the piano, sang Moore's song. " Let Erin remember the days of 'old. , '—The Chairman introduced the rev. lecturer, who was received with cheers. In :i graphic and enthusiastic manner he then pioc=ededto refer to Curran, to his Parliamentary and forensic career, as well as his humour, his pathos, and his witticisms. He next referred to the brilliant career of the great orator, Edmund Burke, and followed with references to K. L. Sliiel, orator and reviewer; and '1 , . B. Maher, orator and patriot, the references to tho latter being necessarily brief. An interlude then followed, in which Miss Xaiighton sang " Krin, the tear and the smile in thine eye" so sweetly a? to raise a demand for au encort. which "was responded to by the substitution of "Tara's Hall." Miss Sheehan and Miss Loudergau then sang a duet very sweetly, after which the choir sang in chorus " The Minstrel Boy" with excellent effect. The gem of the evening's musical performance then followed, when Miss Sliauaghan. accompanying herself, sang. ; 'she j s far from the land." The association with the precoding address was so striking, the ex-c-l!enee and pathos of the reudering so unique, and the general effect so perfect, that the audience, which had listened eagerly to the song, marked their appreciation by most hearty applause and an enthusiastic call for an encore. To this Miss Shanaghan gracefully responded by substituting the song " l>ear Little Shamrock," which was as effectively rendered as its predecessor. The Rev. Father Rice then continued Ills lecture, brielly referring to Moore, Goldsmith, Grittin, aiid Cullen, and concluded by saying that what he had said wont to show that Ireland, which was famed for its oratory, was famed also for its sons and storj , . (Cheers.) A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the lecturer, and a similar compliment was paid to the chairman. The baud played several selections, including tho " Carola" waltzes, and the entertainment—for such it really was—concluded with the Natioual Anthem.