THE REMARKABE INDUSTRIAL TOUR OF THE COUNTESS OF ABERDEEN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 24, 13 October 1893, Page 6

THE REMARK ABE INDUSTRIAL TOUR OF THE COUNTESS OF ABERDEEN.

Speaking at Drogheda on the conclusion of her remarkable tour from Limerick through Olart, Galway, Sligo, Donegal, Derry, Tyrone, and Monaghan, the Countess of Aberdeen made the following most interesting speech :— ln some parts of the West of Ireland we have had the p'easure of seeing what great advantages there are from tourists to help us in our efforts, and we hopa very much that there will be an increasing number to enjoy the beautiful scenery and healthful air along the West Coast of Ireland. I have particular pleasure in seeing the eff jrtß made to leceive such tourists as may come to such places as the little towns of Lahincb, wbich is being greatly improved, and Kilkep, and if our association can do anything in endeavouring to help forward the tide of tourists the effort will not be wanting on our part (aj plause). At Galway, again, we had am opportunity of seeing the product of the home industry which is carried on in Clare and Galway, and we are told that this branch might be greatly developed. I myself think the clotb so charming aad so characteristic in its individuality that I should hope we might be able to get it more into the fashionable world. From Galway we went to Westport, and on the way we saw specimens of the small weaving industry which we hope may receive some careful attention. From there we went to Foxford, wb^re the cloth weaving is carried on so successfully. The Rev Mother Bernard has succeeded in establishing that Bplendid industry there which gives employment to a large number of people in the district. This is only an illustration of what the convents and industrial schools can do in tbe way of training tbe children. At Rallaghadereen we also saw some admirable industrial work io the convent there from which Foxford has originated. At Sligo, which we next visited, there is a very flourishing and well-managed school in connection with the convent. The Irish Industries Association has long been acquainted with these schools, as we have much of our underclothing made therp, and whenever we have an order which we want specially well made we always know it will be made to perfection in the school of embroidery and needlework in connection with the Sligo Convent (applause). In this convent the elder girls are alao trained for domestic service in every section of service, and it is a marvel to c. c how tbe nuns seem to have grasped the details which will fit the girls to m .ke a struggle for life. It is a pity, as 1 have beard, that many of our girls are trained in the industrial schools of the West only to go to America. Doubtless they may get on there, but we should like to keep a good many of them at home. I was told in the North of Ireland that if only we could send from the West and South some thousands of these girls they would be very grate ul to us. From Sligo we crossed to Carrick, and had there tbe great a 1 vantage, u oiler theguidince of Mr Micks, the secretary of the Cjn^ested Distnc s Board, of seeing some of the operations of that boaid, and their success in establishing the fish curing stations, but besides (bat we saw what affected us more particularly, and that is the home spinning and knitting and what remains of the sprigging industries of that part of Donegal. We had a most interesting day in examining the centres of this work, and bearing from the people what they think of the possibilities of

still farther developing it. There again we will be able to be of some use in sending teachers or adding to their patterns in conjunction with the Congested Districts Board, who from what I hear are very willing to co-opiate with us in any way (hear, hear), rhen we had an opportunity of hearing of the success which has attended the Strabane Industrial Show of the Industries Society, the fame of which has spread far and wide. From this we went to Derry, there to hear more of the home industries which are carried on to such perfection round about that city (applause). We also went there with an ulterior motive, inasmuch as we had the hope that some day some of the large houses in Derry would help us in taking over tome of the workers whom we had trained in the earlier stagei of the work in the West of Ireland. We ware received so kindly in Derry that I trust as the work goes on we may claim a good deal of help from them. They were prepared to take a practical step there at onoe, inasmuch as they propose to organise a sale of Irish industries there next year, so that we may have a sure market for the goods manufactured in the homes of the people (applause). To-day we had the pleasure of visiting a new branch of the Irish Industries Association formed in Monaghan in a very spontaneous way through the good offices of the bishop, Dr Donnelly, and Father M'Meel, and other 1 adits and gentlemen of the district. They formed this branch and got a teacher from Clones to teach the crochet. There is one little industry that I should have mentioned in the West—the basket industry at Letterfrack, Oonnemara. With all these things that we have in hands, our two depotß in London and in Dublin, with the new work which we are undertaking in acquiring the business of the late Mr Ben Lindsay in connection with the lace industry and with the Irish Village at Chicago— with these thing* I think you will agree that we have our hands full (hear, bear).