MOTIVE OF IRISH FIRE

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1928, Page 11

MOTIVE OF IRISH FIRE

VISIT OF PRINCESS MARY POSSIBLE POLITICAL REASONS. BITTER ATTACK BY REPUBLICANS. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian Press Association. Received Oct. 7, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 6. It is announced that Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles will arrive in Dublin this morning and will motor to the Vice-Regal lodge, where they will be the guests of the Governor-General and Mrs. Mac Neill until they proceed to Portumna by motor. The original arrangement was not to stay in Dublin but to proceed direct to the train from the boat. Great interest has been aroused, in the visit of a member of the Royal Family in the Free State. There is some Republican criticism, but there is every reason to believe Princess Mary is assured of a welcome. The Irish Times states: “Princess Mary's informal visit to Southern Ireland before she goes north is an act of goodwill and courtesy. We had supposed that not even the most illiterate fanatic could put a political aspect on the visit; yet what other motive for the Portumna fire can be conceived!” The Morning Post says the fire at Portumna came. only after a most bitter attack against Viscount Lascelles and Princess Mary in the Republican Press, but the Princess, with characteristic courage, was not prevented from visiting her husband’s Irish home. Two arrests have been 'made at Loughrea in connection with the fire. A later message says Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles were warmly welcomed on arrival at Dublin, though they were an hour late. They breakfasted with Mr. and Mrs. Mac Neill at the Vice-Regal Lodge, and later proceeded in an all-steel, bullet-proof motorcar and under a strong guard to Portumna, where the crowd cheered them. Monsignor Joyce, the parish priest, was invited to dine last night with the visitors, who this morning attend a harvest festival at a Protestant church.