IRELAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 63, 11 July 1874, Page 10

IRELAND.

The grave, supposed to be that of St. Patrick, in (he burial-ground attached to the ancient Cathedral of Downpatrick is very much neglected. Nothing remains of the sepulchre but a deep, yawning hole. This is the result not of irreverence, but of mistaken veneration. Country people carry away clay from tho grave as a sort of talisman, or preservative against evil. Emigrants bring witli them to he other side of the Atlantic a handful or two of tho " holy earth" o be placed in their coffins when they die in the far-off land. We are well aware that Mr Bell, who has charge of the churchyard, as endeavoured to protect the grave and prevent its further desecraon, but the burrowing still goes on. Surely the grave of St. Patrick ught to be an object of caucern to all Irishmen. There exists no monument to preserve ; but why should there not be oue raised ? A foreigner would suppose that the noblest of Celtic crosses would have been raised over the the tomb of the Patron Saint of Ireland. What would, be his opinion of the people who contentedly leave his restingplace in a condition so shameful and so barbarous ? According the old monkish verse, " Hie fcresin Duno. tumulo cmnulantur in uno Brigida, Puti'icius atque Columbus pius." Messrs Thomas Sheridan and Co. are about casting, at their foundry, Church street, Dublin, one of the largest bells ever made in Ireland. It has been ordered by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, and it is to be placed on the coast nt Cork us a fog signal bell. The same firm are after casting a great bell of magnificent tone for the Rev. John Fageu, P.P., British Caffraria, Cape of Good Hope. Intelligence reached Dublin on the 15th April, of the death of Michael Conrad de Courcey, 29th Lord Kingsale, tho Premier Barou of Ireland, whose patent of Peei-oge dated from the year preceding the Conquest of Ireland by Henry 11, The iatc Peer was in his 42ud year. In virtue of precedence, he possessed the singular privilege of wearing his hat in presence of royalty, — a privilege which he exercised at a levee held by the Queen some years since, on his accession to the title on death of his brother. The pr-ernge now goes to his cousin, John Alrnemus de Courcy, who is in his 32nd year. The ' Flag of Ireland ' (newspaper) hrs been " warned " a first time under the Press clauses of the coercion statute, known as the " Peace Preservation Act," in connection with certain paragraphs which appeared in that joural on the llth May, which the authorities deem to contain expressions " treasonable and encouraging and propagating treason." If the paper does not " mend its hand " after three '• warnings," the Lord Lieutenant will issue a warrant for the seizure of the types and other property in the office.

On the 12th April between two hundred and three hundred weavers, in tho employ of Maconn and Co., of Lurgan, struck work in consequence of a proposal on the part of the firm that a reduction of wages should take place. Mr Thos. Jennings, of the well-known firm of Jennings Biothers, Cork, the eminent mineral water manufacturers, has died in his 69th year. He was a man of great scientific attainments, which contributed materially to the high position attained by his firm. Recently a boy named Kelly, a chimney sweeper, and three others were engaged sweeping the chimneys of Bullymore Custle, when Kelly was suffocated, lie endeavoured to get up one of the chiinnevs, bnt being unable to effect his way he got upon tho roof and went down the flue. Having remained in the chimney for a considerable time, fears were entertained for his safety, and the constabulary were instantly sent for, and every exertion was put into operation to rescue the lad from his dungcrous position, or to recover his body ; but I regret to state that, their efforts were unavailing until Sunday morning, when Kelly's remains were taken out. An inquest was held on the remains of Kelly by Martin Pclly, Esq., Coroner, when the jury returned a verdict to tho effect " that death was caused by sufiocation, and that no blame can be attached to any person in connection with it" His companions were, however, committed to Eyocourt Bridewell.

At the anniversary meeting of Sf. Putriek'u Benevolent Society, held in Dublin, an old New Zealand veteran spoke. General M'Cleverty, in returning thanks for the army, said that the gallant and skillvu young officer who had just brought the Ashantee war to a successful conclusion was an Irishman. (Cheers). An ancestor of !Sir Garnet Wolesley had saved Enniskillen at a most perilous time, and it was owing to the foresight of Sir Garnet himself that our forces in Asbantee had been provided with everything needful. Ours was au incomparable army, composed as it was of English, Irish, and Scotcl). It was of them that the great Napoleon said they did not know when they were beaten. (Cheers).

The Qome Rule party are fully equal in wealth, and social position and education to their lellow members. Lord Robert Montagu, son to the laic Duke of Manchester, himself a statesman of ability; Lord Francis Conyngham, son of the late Marquis of Ely ; Hon. Wilfred O'Oallughan, son of the Earl of Lismore ; Hon. Col. White, son to tho Earl of Anually; Hon. Charles French, son to Lord de Fr yne. Four arc baronets ; several are D.L.'sj many Oi hers aye eminent in -various ways, either in tho army, navy, or learned profession s With few exceptions, the men of the Home Rule party have received a University education, such us America is not yet able to give. A large portion of their number, moreover, are owners of very large estates — millionaires, in fact — but, like the Blennerhassets, Esmondes, and Montagues, are fur more proud of their descent from Norman ba ons, companions of William the Conqueror, or like the O'Conor Don, whose great estates in Rosconnnon and Sligo, are a part of the patrimony m tho possession of his forefathers bofore history began to iuruitih a fuiihiul record. The Home Rule party has nothing to do, us a party, ft ith religious affairs ; besides, many of them are Protestants, eleven of whom have been returned for Catholic constituencies. In uu especial rnanuer the leaders are mostly Protestant, as ij the leader, Mr Isaac Butt.

A man navned Thomas O'Donnel was arrested at the Cork terminus on a charge of causing the death of Daniel Crowley, a pilot, whose body was found recently in the canal at Tralee. The prisoner was going to America.- He was sent to Tralee in custody. A man named Barton, residing on Staff Island, Lough Earn,"while fishing for pike in GKllygowan Bay, succeeded in captu.ing a splendid trout, apparently of the Gillaroo species, which, when put into the scales, showed the enormous weight of lllbs odd. The ' Limerick Reporter,' of March 10, speculating on the forthcoming Queen's speech, says. — "A really justifiable ground for congratulation, would be the great moral progress of Irelacd aa evidenced by the criminal returns at the assizes, and in a less degree by the good conduct of the people at the late election, which last, no doubt, is partly owing to the Ballot Act."

On the 6th of February, His Holiness Pope Pius IX. was pleased to confer on William Devlin, Esq., of New York, who is at present sojourning in the Eternal City, the decoration of the gold cross of the Knights of St. Gregory the Great. Tlie recipient of this distinguished honor, the highest of the kind the Pope confers, is, we understand, a native of Buucrana, Couuty Donegal.