THE POPE'S IRISH SCHOOL FELLOWS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 326, 18 July 1879, Page 11

THE POPE'S IRISH SCHOOL FELLOWS.

Mob. Tobias Kirby, the venerable Rector of the Irish College, Rome, and a class fellow and competitor of Giovanni Pecci, now Leo XIII gloriously reigning, sends the following interesting letter to Father r. C. Meehan, the well-known Irish historian : Yesterday I had the honour of an audience of his Holiness, at which I had the pleasure to lay at his sacred feet your three most interesting works, which his Holiness was pleased to accept with great pleasure. He looked over them with great interest, and fixed his eyes particularly on the Latin verses at pp. 114, 115, of the Geraldmes, which he read through. He expressed his regret that you did not publish the text of the " Geraldines," as it would have been a comfort to him to have it along with the English translation. I alao gave him your letter, which his Holiness opened in my presence and read to the end. He smiled when you spoke of the school days in the Roman College, and said he had a distinct recollection of one of the Irish students, and mentioned " Quinn, Andrea" (now parish priest of Athy). His Holiness authorised me to convey to you his thanks for your valuable gift, and his Apostolic benediction. His Holiness greatly admired the beautiful binding of your books, as we all did in the College. In our library we have the " Flight of the Earls," Franciscans, " Geraldines," Marchose's " Painters and Sculptors," and Confederation of Kilkenny." His Holiness authorised me to convey to the firm of the Messrs. Duffy his Apostolic blessing in consideration of their great merits in printing and circulating so many useful Catholic works.