DUBLIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 214, 1 June 1877, Page 9

DUBLIN.

Thk national anniversary was most and best celebrated in the churches throughout Dublin, and a brisk spring holiday flooded the city with strangers The congregations at a hundred Masses were enormous. Panegyrics of the saint were heard from the pulpits. Father Burkes eloquent voice sounded his praises in St. Saviour's. Out of doors the wearing of the shamrock waa almost the only token of the day. It is a little singular that, while salvoes of Irish-American artillery were pealing across the New World, while speeches were making about the day around French and English boards, and toasts passing in far Australian huts, the only public celebration of the anniversary in the capital of the Irish race 3hould be made in Dublin Castle. It is none the les3 true. The ceremony of trooping the colours at the Esplanade in front of the Royal Barracks, and that of relieving guard in the Upper Castle Yard, were marked with particular military emphasis; and the custom of exhibitin<* the shamrock bedecked viceroy to his subjects wo 3 carried out in°better earnest than it has been for year 3. The various garrison guards assembled on the Esplanade at eleven o'clock, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel M' Blanc, of the Highlanders, who was officer of the day. H R.H the Duke of Connaught, as commandant of the Rifles, was with his men A squadron of the Iriniskillingj Dra"cons brought their band. The bands of the Highlanders and of the 23rd Fusiliers joined the array. Having completed the tame ceremony of trooping the colours, the column set off with drums beating to mount guard in the Upper Castle Yard. The castle cruard was increased that the ceremony of relieving them might be more imposing. As the gallant Inniskillingers marched in under the archway, they struck up " St. Patrick's Day," and the three bands ranged themselves to right and left of the portico under the State apartments, while the two bodies of guards in the centre were chan<nno- places. When the relief was accomplished, the Lord Lieutenant came out on the red-clothed balcony over the portico, surrounded by a brilliant party of ladies and officers, and waa received with evidently oordial cheers all over the square. His Grace wore the indispensable bunch of shamrocks on his left breast. When the Duke of Connaught was espied on the balcony, loud huzaas went up from the crowd. His Royal Highness wore another monster knot of shamrocks on the breast of his dark green -tunic. The festival was observed in a becoming manner in the provinces. — Un iverse.