Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 3, 4 November 1892, Page 9

Irish News.

Antrim*— The mucb-dreaded potato blight has made its appearanco in several fields around Ballycastle. It has caused considerable uneasiness amongst farmers and others, who fear that the crop which now looks fairly well may be serionßly damaged. The death of an old '67 man, Mr Michael Parrel 1, of 77 Tow o fiend street, Bel fas', occurred recently. Mr Farrell's work in the national cause was not confined to the troublous Fenian timee, for he took part in every movement down to the present year. His death was quite unexpected, as he appeared in his ordinary health the day preceding his demise. Armagh* — As a Nationalist band was passing by Corrans recently shots were fired at them, and a boy named Francis Harvey received a rifle bullet in the lower part of the body, The shots were fired after they bad passed the bouse of a Protestant named Kernagban, and Thomas and John Kernaghan have been arrested on buspicion. The wounded boy is in a critical condition. Cavan*— At a petty sessions, held at the Courthouse, George's Cross, near Wilkinstown, Father Clarke, Kingscourt, was returned for trial to the next Assizes, for having as alleged, on July 14th last, on the occasion of the polling for the North Meath election, at Ncbber, assaulted and caused grievous bodily harm to an old man named Owen Beilly. Defendant was admitted to bail pending his trial, himself in £100 and two sureties of £50 each. Two priests are his sureties. This is the second priest of the diocese of Meatb sent for trial on trumped-up charges of violent conduct during the election in North Meatb: In the course of the evidence, direct and cross, it

transpired that Father Clarke merely struck O'Reilly with his open hand, and the latter, being lame in the leg, fell. A few minutes after the occurrence be was again demonstrating around the booth in a noisy and offensive manner towards the defendant. la both hiß direct evidence and in cross-examination he admitted be was in fault. Clare*— The genial sunshine of the past two weeks has dooe much in dispelling the gloomy forebodings entertained as to the prospects of the different crops. The potato crop especially has thriven wonderfully under the heat, and promises to turn out a good crop. The cereal crops look well and promise a good yield. Hay is now being extensively cut down and rapidly caved. The outlook is decidedly encouraging. Cork*— Mrs Barry of Guroagrague, near Mallow, who was evicted in the early Land League days, has been re-instated in her farm. The land was derelict since the eviction, aod near the ruined homestead stands the remains of an old mill, the result of the landlord's fruitless attempts to keep the tenant out of possession. Mrs Barry and her sons express themselves as being grateful to Mr Nagle, the agent, for bis efforts to bring round a settlement. Maurice Moriarty, auctioneer, who was instructed by Mrs Barry, held an auction of meadowing on the lands, which was attended by a great concourse of people, the meadowing realising high prices. Derry.— At a meeting of Nationalist workingmen in Derry last week a resolution was adopted protesting against the systematic attempts to disfranchise the workingmen of the city by the refusal of the official concerned to return on the list tbe names of those who have changed houses in tbe city during the j ear, thereby imposing

the necessity of having to appear personally to prove their claim*, and in tbe matter of bogus ejectment proceedings. Tbe resolution further complains of stuffing the ledger lists, demurs to the re-appoint-ment of Mr Lawson as revising barrister, and calls on the Irish party to make use of their opportunities in the preset t Parliament to defeat these mtneeavre?. The meeting furthermore protestel against the appeal of the local Tory organ to the Protestant employers to get rid of Catholic employees, and it was suggested that in the workingmen'i defence an association be formed for Derry and surrounding district. Dublin.— Tbe Lord Lieutenant has appointed Sir Patrick Keenan, and D. P. W. Joyce additional Commissioners for the publication of tbe Ancient Laws of Ireland, Gal way*— A Connty Galwayman accompanied the immortal Genoese, Christopher Oolambus, to discover a new hemisphere. The Galwayman 'b name is recorded thus " Guilielmo de Galray," and there can be no doabt that he stuck to his great leader through thick and thin with all tbe pluck and tenacity for which Galway is famous. When Columbus bad perfected bis discovery of the New World, aod sailed for Spain the Galwayman w«s among the garrison left behind to defend the new possession of Spain. After Columbia's departure, however, the little garrison was massacred, the brave Galwayman amoog tbe number. Fifteen year* later a proclamation was issued at Seville calling on the relations of the deceased to come forward and draw the pay due to them. We wonder if there be any of the famous " Guilielmo's " descendants living to-day, for if there be, wealth beyond tbe dieams of avarice would be theirs. The money is still owing, and at a moderate interest would amount to a fabulous aam. It has been stated that tbe name of tbe Galwayman wts Byre. Limerick*— At a meeting of tbe Limerick members of the Boyal Society of Antiquaries, convened by the local secretary, G.

Barry, held recently at the Chamber of Commerce, Maurice Lenihan presided. Those also present were Michael Bgan, Pery Square, J. Flynn, Cruise's Hotel ; B. Fogarty, architect ; J. Browne, do ; Mr Walsh, Eilmallock. Interesting observations were made regarding the Badly neglected condition of Ireton's House, Mary street ; Queen Anne's Prison, the remains of the great Franciscan Abbey, etc., which it was suggested should be taken within the compass of the Irish National Monuments. The once great Abbey was fading every year. The cha'rman remarked that some years ago the Rev Mr Cooke, a Wesleyan, was desirouß of visiting that portion of the Abbey which Wesley, on his visit to Limerick, used as a place of worship. At that time the place in question was nearly perfect ; it has disappeared since, as have many of the time-worn relics of other days in the Englisbtown and Irish town. The remains of the Dominican Abbey in the Englishtown are admirably preserved by the truly angelic Sisters of Mercy, whose magnificent convent and grounds are beautified by the existing walls of the ancient abbey, which Donough Oarbraic O'Brien built and in which he willed that he should be buried and an elaborate marble monument raised over bis remains. LfOUtb* — Excitement seems to be subsiding on the Massereene estate. No account of any recent landlord outrage on the people has been reported. Lord Massereene, who has obtained such unenviable notoriety through the heartless evictions of his tenants, owns 7,193 acres in the country, the valuation of which is £5,234. Mayo*— Thousands of persons are making the annual devotional pilgrimage to Croaghpatrick and the Blessed Well at Eilgeever On the crest of the beautiful mountain is a little church, erected there by Father John Stephens and Father Clarke, where Maaa has been celebrated.

Monaiplratl.— Mnch excitement has been caused in Monaghan during the pait week owing to the tactics of a party of travelling street preachers in charge of a van. Bach day and night attempts have been made to hold meetings for the purpose of enforcing the peculiar doctrine) of tha evangelists. These performances are strongly resented, and fears {are entertained*;that a breach of the peace will occur. A case which has gained considerable notoriety through a letter of Bey W. O'Doherty, in the Daily News (copied into the Irish News), came before the Carrickmacroes Board of Guardians last week. In was that of Brian Keelaghan of Caelane Mountain, aged 85 years, who was a tenant on the Shirley estate, and evicted recently. After his eviction he lived in an old quarry hole on the farm, and as no one could be got to take up the patch of land he had formerly occupied, he planted a few potatoes there, on which be hoped to subsist during the winter. This little crop was just coming into maturity when Mr Gibbings, agent of the Shirley estate went out with some bailiffs and assistants and cut down the stacks, thus destroying the growth and rendering the crop useless. The relieving offcer handed in two reports from Dr Kisbey, medical officer of the district, showing the feebleness of the man, Dr Cullen stated that he had been informed that the police went out to this old man's place last week and threatened to arrest him for trespassing. Chairman — That threat would have a very bad effect on the poor man in his present state. All I can say is that if they arrest that old man and the arrest is followed by fatal consequences, I, as Coroner, and my jury will hold them responsible. Tippcrary,— The demolition of the O'Brien Arcade, New Tipperary, was commenced last week. Some months ago, on tbe application of Smith* Barry, an order was made by the Master of tbe Soils directing William Hurley, on whose grounds the Arcade was

erected, to pull it d own. la the event of Mr Hurley refusing to remove the building, Smith-Barry was authorised to do bo himself, and to make Mr Hu rley responsible for the cost A number of employees of the Pro perty Defence Association have entered on the ■work of destruction, and are being protected by a large force of police. The doors of tbe Mart are kept closed, so that the operations «re screened from the public. Tyrone, — A letter-carrier died recently in the town of Drottore. During his illnesi his duties were discharged by a young man named Johc Higgins. After his death applications for the vacancy were invited by the post-office, and among the applicants were John Higgins, who continued to discharge the duties of the office. On May 23 he received notification of his appointment, and on May 30 was served with a suit of uniform, and signed the papers usual for candidates to sign on appointment to such situations. About the same date the unsuccessful candidates, Beattie and Lavery, received intimation that another candidate had been appointed, and their papers were returned ; bnt Higgios bad one disqualification in the •eyes of certain parties in Dromore — he ia a Catholic. A petition or memorial was prepared asking for his removal, and it bad the desired effect. It was intimated to him through the local post office on Saturday last that his " appointment was cancelled." Higgins is a wsll-educated young man, fitly qualified for the situation, aod much beyond the average of his class in intelligence. The person who supplants him has one unquestionable qualification— be is of the right sort. "Wicklow.— a new departure has been made in the streetpreaching crusade conducted by the Protestant clergymen in Arklow. The local rector, Mr Hallowep, and his curate, Mr Harrison, at an early hour one day last week took up their positions in the main itreer, opposite the Protect ant church, and sang hymns until late in

the evening. Those who attended the fair with cattle suffered much in consequence, the passage through the main street being entirely blocked by the clergymen and their supporters In the Queen's Bench Court, Dublin, before Justice Madden, in an action ia which the plaintiff is Bey Frederick Carroll and the defendent is Mrs Catherine Parnell, widow of the late Charles Stewart Parnell, an action was brought to recover £128 14s, being two and a half years' rent of certain lands called Garrymore in Bathdram, County of Wicklow, and held from year to year by the late O. 8. Parnell. The case has not yet concluded.