THE ARCHBISHOP OF CASHEL IN NORTH TIPPERARY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 22, 21 September 1883, Page 19

THE ARCHBISHOP OF CASHEL IN NORTH TIPPERARY.

The correspondent of the Freeman, writing on July 16, says :— Yesterday the new church of Ballioahinch, County Tipperary, was dedicated by His Grace the Archbishop of Cashel to the name and in the honour of St. Joseph. There was an immense gathering of people from the three converging counties of Clare, Limerick and, Tipperary. High Mass was sung by the Rev. Thomas O'Dwyer, C.C. f and the dedication sermon preached by the Rev. James Cant well,. Adm., Thurles, The village of Ballinahinch was most tastefully decorated, bands and banners without number enlivened the scene, and the occasion was availed of by the Town Commissioners of Nenagh, headed by their respected chairman. Mr. P. J. O'Brien, to present an address to the Archbishop, bidding him a hearty welcome to North Tipperary. The clergy of Cashel and Killaloe were largely represented, and a collection was taken up which realised a con* siderable sum. After the sacred ceremonies had concluded, Sir. P. J. O'Brien, chairman of the Nenagh Town Commissioners, read the address, from which we take the following passages : — " We gladly take advantage of this joyful occasion to give public expression to the sentiments of pride and pleasure with which we have witnessed your Grace's public career aince first you came amongst vs — a heaven-sent messenger — to edify us. by your zeal for I the glory of God and the interests of religion ; to animate us by word and example in the struggle for our rights — the right to live in the land of our birth, to eat of the fruits our toil has produced, and to give to our children the education that would fit them for life's duties here, and for the better life hereafter. Your commanding influence was ever used to quell the passions that bad laws and worse administration could not fail to arouse, and that the refusal of redress tended to intensify and perpetuate. We, the representatives of the people, desire to assure your Grace that we, too, are as our fathers were, heart and soul with you in the cause of God and country, looking for your lead in the fight for freedom, and full of hope that we shall see in your day the dream of our childhood, the hope of our fathers—our country's rights fully restored, ard making its own laws for its people's good, In conclusion, we have the pleasure to bid your Grace welcome to North Tipperary, and to assure you that in the event (which we hope is not far distant) of your Graces-h onouring our town — its capital — with a visit, that the good people of Nenagh (whom we here represent) will Joyfully receive your Grace with a cead milefailte." The address was signed by Patrick J. O'Brien, chairman ; and John Gleeson, Town Clerk. His Grace replied as follows : — Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I know not in what terms to acknowledge and thank you for the very eloquent and exhaustive address just read for me, and which, apart altogether from the too flattering reference that it makes to myself, deserves, I think, to be called a historic document. It epitomises the history of Ireland for a long series of years, and, in language at once calm, clear and convincing, it sets [forth the indisputable fact that the struggle now going on in our midst for the right to live and thrive in our native land is only a continuance of the lengthened and hereditary contest that has been sustained though with varying success, by the men of our race for many centuries. The very insignificant part that I have played in Irish political affairs within the last few but eventful years— however, in your,kindness, you may be disposed to exaggerate its importance and magnify its results — is as nothingcompared with the great deeds of the good and glorious prelates who illustrated our country even in the days of her deepest gloom ; and you do well to name at least one amongst them, the staunch and saintly Bt. Laurence O'Toole, of Dublin, who, when he failed toachieve for his native land what he desired, either by persuasive speech or at the point of the sword, went for ever from her shores,, and sought in exile that comfort and independence which hig high soul could never realise in a land subjected to foreign and unfriendly rule. As for me, lam disposed to take a hopeful view of things in Ireland at present. ' What it is that has inspired me with these cheer* ing anticipations it were needless now to say ; but surely one cannot help looking forward to bright and prosperons days for a people whohave clung firmly to the faith of their fathers through ages of trial and persecution, gallantly maintaining an unequal straggle for right and life and liberty through the dark and dreary night of seven centuries. Having always ardently desired to visit old Nenagh town, the capital of North Tipperary, I am now placed under a double obligation of doing so, for, in the first place, I wish to make some return to you for the high compliment you have this day paid me ; and,, in the second place, I am most anxious to meet again and renew old acquaintance with your laborious and venerated pastor, Dr. Pyne, whom I knew in my college days, and whose many sterling qualities of head and heart I even then had learned to recognise and respect. Por the xeot, earnestly recommending to you gentlemen, and to all others assembled here, the good work which Father M'Keogh has on hand, I beg you to accept, in conclusion, my very Bincere thanks for your beautiful address, and for the great honour you have done me by the public presentation of it in presence of this large and representative gathering of Tipperary men, and of other friends from the adjoining: counties of Clare and Limerick (applause).