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New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 51, 18 April 1874, Page 11

THE IRISH AT THE VATICAN. Bomb, Jan. 10 1874. A BOKO the various and numerous deputations who have visited the Holy Father to vympathise with him, and to express their devotion to the Apostolic See, •which have boen thronging to the Vaticin during the last two or three weeks, the Irish residents in Rome demand a special chronicle. On the eve of the Epiphany a numerous aud distinguished deputation of the Catholics of Ireland gathered around th« throne of the successor of St. Peter. Among those present I may name the illustrious Bishop Conroy, of Ardagh, who read the address ; his Grace Archbishop Lynch, of Toronto, Canada ; the Very Rev. Father Mullooley, Prtp 1 of St. Clement's, accompanied by the Irish Dominican Fathers ; the Very Rev. Father Kehoe, Guardian of St. Isidore's Irish Franciscan Convent ; Rev. Father J P. O'Hanlon, late guardian of the same convent, now appointed principal of tho Franciscan College, Clonmel, Ireland, with the Fathers and Brothers of St. Isidore's ; Very Rev. Father O'Kerffe, Prior of tho Irish Augustinian College of St. Mary in Posterula ; Very Rev. Momignor Kirby, Rector, snd Rev. J. Maher, Vice-Rector, of the Irish College of St. Agatha, with the students from the same college ; Dr Maziere Bra 'y, recently received into the Catholic Church; "Rev. A. J. O'Heilly, author of "The Martyrs of the Coliseum," and Ute Missionary Apostolic to the Cape of Good Hope ; Rev. Father Doyle, O. S. F., English Confessor »t St. Peter's, and a host of others, amongst whom was your Special Correspondent. About half an hour after midday the Sovereign Pontiff, attended by a number of Cardinals tnd Prelates, as well as by other members of his Court entered, the Consistoiial Hall where the deputation awaited him. A hush of silence passed through the Assembly as they all knelt down before Christ's Vicar upon earth. Prom the circle which the deputation formed around the Pontifical throne, the Bishop Of Ardagh stood forward, and having paid his homage to the Sovereign Pontiff, read a noble and eloquent address. When the Bishop of Avdugh concluded thereadi.ig of the address the Rertor of tho Irish College, Monsignor Kirby, went forward to the steps of the pontifical tlirone and presented the Holy Father with the offering of the Irish— 2o,ooo francs — which the Holy Futher handed to an attendant prelate. Then the Sovereign Pontiff arose, and throwing back the scarlet cloak in which he was enveloped, stood up in the white habit which he wears, and which gives such a dignity and a venerable appearance to him, and which Btood out so picturesquely against the crimson back-ground. His Holmes replied in feeling language dwelling ou the fact that Ireland has never forgotten its affection to the Holy See, retaining the faith through ages of persecution. — American Paper.