Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 25, 16 October 1896, Page 21

Irish News.

, .. (Fi*om Contemporaries.) ANTRlM.— Conflagration at Belfast.— Belfast has seen, one of the largest conflagrations that have visited the North, for many years. It took place in the Queen's ' Island shipbuilding yard of Messrs Harland and Wolff and started some time . about midnight. Of course the various fire brigades were on the scene up to time, but very little assistance could be given. The fire spread with incredible rapidity from the joiners' department, where it originated, so that by the time the fire brigade arrived it was found impossible to save the buildings. There were eight (steamers at work on the river helping to extinguish the flames, but without avail, as the wood buildings and sheds succumbed like matchbox wnrk. There were thirty lines of hose turned on, but the ravages could not be checked. They were, however, kept to the two buildings. The damage is heavy. In the engine-room of Messrs Workman and Olark, it is understood, two new engines, each valued -at £6,000, were in course of construction, and both have been completely destroyed. The plant of the engine-room is alone, it is believed, worth £250,000, aud the entire amount of the damage caused by the fire cannot fall short of £400,000. This is all covered by insurance. Harland and Wolff's yards were entirely destroyed, and a part of the shipping in course of construction. ARMAGH.— Rector of Propaganda College.— The Right Rev. D. Camassei, Rector of the Sacred College of the Propaganda, has been visiting Ireland. He was the guest of his Eminence Cardinal Logue, and was present in St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh, during the celebration of the twelve o'clock Mass. In an interview with a journalist, he remarked that he was deeply edified by the piety and devotional bearing of the congregation, and particularly impressed with the recollection and devotion of the soldiers from the local depot, who always attend this Mass in a body. In reply to a query as to what he thought of the Catholic cathedrals and churches he had seen during his visit to Ireland, he declared they were Bplendid specimens of G-othic architecture, and in ithis particular style he considered that the Irish churches excelled even those of Italy. During his stay with the Cardinal Primate Dr. Camassei visited Carlingford, Warrenpoint and Rostrever, all of which he pronunced as charming and picturesque health resorts. In the neighbourhood of Armagh he was shown round all the historic spots, including Emania. the celebrated Xavin Ring. CORK. — Ordinations at Youghal. — For the first time since the prelacy of the. celebrated Dr. Coppinger, Bishop of Cloyne, during the troublous times that prevail ed one hundred years ago, the solemn and impressive ceremony of ordination took place in St Mary's parish church, Youghal. The three young deacons who ■were elevated to the priesthood were the Rev. Patrick Farrell (Frogmore, Youghal), the. Rev. Father Bruno (Mouutmellery Abbey, Cappoquin, County Waterf ord), and the Rev. Father Patrick (Mountmellery Abbey, Cappoquin, County Waterf nrd). His Lordship the Most Rev. Dr Browne, Bishop of Cloyne offijiated. Visit of the Archbishop of Cashel.— His Grace the Most Rev. Dr Croke, Archbishop of Cashel paid a visit to Uathclare House, Buttevant, being the guest of Very Rev. D. Burden, P.P. As the visit is entirely of a private nature there has been no public demonstration of respect and welcome to the great Archbishop. His Grace, accompanied by the respected pastor of the parish, visited the schools and the convent of the Sisters of Mercy, and many in Buttevant who remember his fine physique, when he was a frequent visitor to their town some thirty years ago, were struck as he passed by the very slight change which time and the cares of his exalted and sacred office have produced in his still vigorous-looking and erect figure. DUBLIN— Death of the Bishop of Clonfert.— At an early hour on Saturday morning, August 15, the Most Rev. Dr. Duggan, Bishop of Clontert, died in Jervis street hospital. Dublin. The deceased prelate, who was in his eighty-fourth year, was greatly esteemed by all classes. Throughout his long life he witnessed many vicissitudes of Irish life and was ever conspicuous, even among his brethren, for his whole-souled devotion to the cause of the people. By his death-bed were the Most Rev. Dr. McEvilly. Archbishop of Tuam, the Most Rev. Dr. Healy, Condjutor-Bishop of Clonfert, who succeeds him, the Right Rev.R c v. Monsignor Madden, P.P., of Tynagh, and Dr. Cavan, nephew of the deceased, who arrived from Liverpool. On Saturday evening the remains were removed from the hospital to the Jesuit Church, Gardiner street. At eleven o'clock on Tuesday Office and High Mass were celebrated in the presence of a large congregation. His Grace the Archbishop of Dublin presided, and there was a large gathering of bishops and priests from various parts of Ireland. The remains were interred in Glasnevin beside those of the late Cardinal McCabe, whose class-fellow and life-long friend the deceased was. GAL WAY.— Author of Ballyhooley and Killaloe visits Galway. — Mr. Robert Martin of Ross, better known as Ballyhooley and Killaloe, after his songs on those subjects, attended a bazaar at Galway for the promotion of a Catholic and truly charitable enterprise on behalf of the Magdalens who are cared for by a sisterhood in the ancient city. It was called by the Irish term for a vale of tears, and a sum was collected which may assist in stemming the floods of woe among those poor unfortunate creatures. Upwards of one thousand pounds were handed as the result by the active and kindly Father Dooley to. the good Sisters of Mercy, and the foremost among the contributors were Protestants of Galway, for there is no distinction of religion, we are glad to say, when the deserving are to be considered. The gifted Irish composer is one of the dominant

creed, but he is no ; niggard in the cause of gracious bounty, and, although his countrymen could wish that he was more national in his sentiments, he was received with enthusiasm, for he is a great favourite at home, and his efforts at " piano-smashing " atfwhich he is no novice' were saluted Jwith salvos of cheers. He told some anecdotes of his adventures on the road to fame in London. Amongst the other things he t offered two songs to a publisher for a ten pound note, but the man of capital did not find the " Man from Galway " suitable to his fancy. In a wort! , he refused to treat with him as he could not see any comicality in Irish songs. Bob Martin was happy, as that refusal helped him to luck and reputation For the want of taste of that publisher he got the profits on a sale of seventy -five thousand of one of these rejected songs. The publisher changed his opinions about Irish compositions shortly after, for he requested another song by the same brains. Bob set his wits to work and for the. royalty of that song written by him on the stimulus of the occasion he received six hundred pounds. That was better than a property in Connaught and the encumbered estates in commissioners' hands. There was more money in a humorous stave by Lonnen on the stage than in a sheaf of notices to quit to unfortunate tenants-at- will in the ancestral country of the Martins of Cromartin. But we would be better pleased if Mr. Martin had made his dollars by writing somewhat after the style of Percival Graves in "father O'Flynn." Pat is an affectionate being, not a type of besotted and whimsical buffoonery of the bludgeon-waving and whiskey-drinking class, even though he may call the whiskey lemonade, as in Ballyhooley. KERRY.— Fatality at Killarney.— Michael Griffin and George French were drowned in the Lower Lake, Killarney, opposite Munfallen Island, by the upsetting of a boat. Mr. Joseph Beaumont, Killarney, and Mr. Cronin made a gallant attempt to rescue the men. Mr. Beaumont almost perished in the effort. KING'S COUNTY— A " Model " Parish.— A strange and almost incredible state of affairs has been revealed in connection with Leinonaghan parish, an extensive and populous district between Ballycumber and Ferbane. How most of the inhabitants are compelled to live first came to light in connection with an attempt to have 1117 perches of a new road constructed between Leabeg and Leinonaghan Castle, at an estimated cost of £750. The project was supported by Mr. David Sherlock, landowner in the district concerned, and by the entire population. In spite of the opposition, a presentment for the work was passed at Garrycastle Presentment Sessions, the county surveyor stating that |the work could not be carried out for a lesser sum than £1141. On the matter coming before the grand jury, a farmer named John Daly was examined, and deposed that the road would benefit eighty families, who had no means of drawing away the produce of their land to the surroundingtowns. In cases of illness the people were unable to obtain the services of a clergyman or doctor, as there was no means of access to their houses. A man had been killed and a woman drowned through want of the road, and the dead had to be conveyed in boats alongthe River Brusna for interment. Very Rev. Canon Columb, Ballinahown. corroborated, stating that the district in question is in his parish. When the Brusna was flooded people had to go many miles to attend Divine worship, and very many of them had been unable to <ro to any such place for years. The presentment was unanimously passed. LIMERICK— Most Rev. Dr. O'Dwyer and " the Castle.'' — The Most Rev. Dr. O'Dwyer, the Bishop of Limerick, seems greatly surprised at one of his letters miscarrying on its way to the Castle. His Lordship and the Lord-Lieutenant have been having a sparringmatch for some time past over the Roxborough Road School affair, and in reference to some clause in this scheme Dr. O'Dwyer posted a letter containing his objections to the manner in which the school endowment was being managed. This, it seems, was received but not shown to his Excellency, who finally approved of the scheme. Then the clerk of the Privy Council wrote to the Bishop to inform him that his letter did not reach its destination in time to receive consideration, and this fact aroused his suspicions of unfairness. He called for the envelope ; there was no envelope forthcoming, and. after waiting five days, the only satisfaction that he received was -that it could not be found, and. furthermore, that the belief of the Lord Justices was that it had been destroyed. In this belief his Lordship fully concurs. His Lordship has now discovered '• all of a sudden " that the Castle has been playing tricks, and that he, no more than any other Irishman who looks for redress of grievances, cannot hope for anything from the uncompromising Tory. Alas for the vanity of human wishes ! His Lordship is now much wiser. LONGFORD — O'Connell and the Orangemen.— A link with the past is broken by the announcement which has appeared in the Press of the death of Miss Jane C. Lefroy at Carrick glass Manor, County Longford, in the i)6th year of her age. She was the eldest daughter of the Right Hon. Thomas Lefroy, many years M.P. for the University of Dublin, and afterwards successively a Baron of the Exchequer and Lord Chief Justice of Ireland. The father of the deceased lady was a bitter enemy of the majority of the people of this country and an unrelenting opponent of O'Connell, who naturally detested him in return. Amongst O'Connell's correspondence is preserved a letter in which, on the 16th May, 1827, he sought, through the medium of the then Knight of Kerry, to induce the Government of the day to dismiss the " Orange sergeants.' 1 In this letter he wrote as follows :—": — " Lefroy is an exceedingly poor creature in point of intellect, and Blackbourne is excessively overrated. If they were dismissed it would give infinite satisfaction. Really, it is not honest to have such a man as Lefroy. in office when he has to exercise judicial functions." So gross and notorious became Lefroy "s Orange tendencies and sympathies that in 1830 Lord Anglesey, as LordLientenant, refused to permit him to go out, as he had previously done, as a Judge of Assize. By way of protest, he resigned his sergeantcy, and became more violent than ever in his antipathies.

O'Connell regarded him as a p .litical trickster, and warned the Government against attaching an\ importance to him or to the intolerant faction ot which he was the spokesman. In IS 11 Sir Robert Peel, however, made Letroy a Baron of the Exchequer, from which position he clambered to the Queen's Bench. TIPPERARY. - Return of a Distinguished IrishAmerican. — Under this heading a correspondent ot the Tipperary Nationalist. August 12. writes .—The arrival is announced ot Mr. John O'Dwycr to his native tow n after an absence of twenty-nine years. Tall of stature, towering over most men. broad shouldered. and possessing almost herculean strength, he is indeed a splendid type of a Tipperary man. And though now in the autumn of life. time has dealt gently with his iron constitution, which has retained unimpaired all the vigour of youth. Mr. O'Dwyer played a chequered, if not glorious, part in the stormy and troublous .fays, of '<i.") and '67. Then a national school teacher, he became an ardent follower ot James Stephens, the C.0.1.R.. and readily joined the ranks ot the Fenian Brotherhood. Being a man ot fertile brain and of indomitable will, he soon became one ot the leaders of that gallant band. Arrested in '<><> under the Habeas Corpus Act. he was sent to Mountjoy Prison. Dublin, where was confined for twelve months. Instant dismissal from his position as school teacher followed his imprisonment. Shortly after his release troin Mountjoy the "rising" at Ballyhurst in Y>7 took place, in which the recently released •' suspect " took a prominent part. After the abortive '• rising " he settled down and opened a school in Tipperary. which he conducted for some months, but finding that he was a ■• marked." man he bade adieu to his native land, and sought refuge beneath the Stars and Stripes, where a successful career awaited him. Resuming once more the role ol teacher, he readily found a market for the talents, which were of no mean order. His abilities being duly appreciated, his progress was rapid ; promotions followed in^ quick succession, until at length he attained the position of principal of the leading academy of the States. Thus did this Irish rebel become an honoured American citizen. Availing himself of his holidays to revisit his native land that he loved so well, his presence has arousal a pleasant sensation amongst his fellow-townsmen. Heartily has he been greeted by those who knew him in days of yore, and by none more heartily than by the men ot the " Old Guard." who shared with him the dangers of '<>.-> and '(i 7. And when he returns once more to the land of his adoption, he may rest assured that he will bring with him the good wishes ot his fellowcountrymen lor a long and prosperous career amongst his exiled countrymen in the great republic ot the West. TYRONE-— Meeting of Tenant Farmers— A public meeting of the tenant farmers of East Tyrone and Sonth Derry was held at the National Hall, Dirnan, Lissan, to discuss the Land Bill. There were some hundreds of farmers present. Mr. John Hagan, Rossmore, acted as secretary to the meeting. On the moti- nof Mr. Patrick McKenna, seconded by Mr. Patrick Corr, the chair was taken by Mr Thomas Crilly. The appended resolution was adopted • '• That in consequence of the abnormally low prices of agricultural produce, and the continuance of unproductive seasons, we appeal for an immediate reduction of at least ."><) per cent, on present rents. and to make such provision that the judicial term be reduced to ten years. WATERFORD.-A Stained Window for Dung-annon Church-— ln the beautiful Church of the star of the Se.i. Dungaimon, Waterford. a very tine stained-gl iss window has lately been erected by the Very Rev Cuv.n Doyle. It illnstr ites the baptism ot our Lord and a penitent at His feet. The window is most beautifully coloured, and the expression of the faces are full of love and devotion, whilst the garments are covered with rich diaper The w ork has been executed by the well-known Catholic firm of Messrs Atkinson Brothers. Xewcastle-on-Tyne. GENERAL. Irish Athletes in England-— The brilliant success of the little band of Irish athletes who stood up for the honour of the old country against the best men England could produce at the championship meeting held at Northampton speaks well for Ireland's superiority in the athletic arena. Owing to various causes the full number of Irish competitors did not put in an appeirance. but nevertheless they brought five championships home with them. The Irish weight-throwers were invincible, and scared away all English competitors. Flanagan, of Kilmallock. and H organ, of Banteer. had matters all their own way, and divided the honours of the weight-throwing contests equally between them. The agile Mortimer O'Brien placed another championship to Ireland's credit by his display in the high jump performance, and two other members of the Irish contingent, Morgan and Meredith, easily outdistanced their opponents in the hundred yards and quarter mile. Had more of Ireland's representatives been able to compete, a greater proportion even than five out of the thirteen championships would have remained at this hide of the Irish Channel for some time. Lord Russell of Killowen In America. —The Lord chief .lustier, who will be better known to our readers as Sir Charles Russell, now Lord Russell of Killowen. has been received with unusual respect in America, where he is prized as a scholar, an orator, and a great legal luminary. He delivered a splendid address at the annual meeting of the Bar Association at Saratoga. His fame as a statesman is widespread in the United States as in this country, and better than any praise is the notorious fact that he is a good Catholic and a sound Irishman, whose last act has been te plead for the release of an American lady, Mrs. Maybrick. Irish Cyclist at Copenhagen.— Reynolds, of Dublin, the amateur cyclist, who was rejected by an English association for no reason save that he was a rattling good performer on the wheel, has vindicated his powers at Copenhagen, where he carried off the championship in the rate for a kilometre which is clone on a mile. In a t'-ial with professionals he was beaten only by a matter of a

few inches. This victoiy is to the credit of old Ireland, where they still have bright honour in more respect than filthy lucre. The cricket mat -h with Australia at the Oval conclusively established that .C s d is the prime motive with Englishmen. The Holy Father and Ireland.— Never was anything more well-timed than the beautiful message addressed by the Holy Father to the great Irish Convention which commenced its sittings on September Ist in Dublin. It shows the deep interest taken by his Holiness in Irish affairs, and how cognisant he is of the real extent ot the evils brought about by that greatest of all evils so far as Ireland is concerned— disunion and dissension. We are sure the head ot the Catholic Church will rejoice when he hears that Bishop 0 Donnell. ot Raphoe. was chosen chairman of one of the most important assemblies ever brought together. The special correspondent ot the nniln Chrouicl, was immensely impressed by his Lordship. He describes the Bishop's opening address as '■ a masterpiece ot eloquence and tact." and if. the writer adds, the selection ot Dr. O Donnell was made on the spur of the moment, '• I must write him down one ot the best impromptu speakers the world has ever seen. God be thanked, the priests and people of Ireland are still linked hand in hand, and as long as. that union remains unbroken the cause of Ireland is safe. It seems to us that the Convention is approaching its work in an absolutely unbiassed spirit, and this being the case, we cannot imagine any individual, or body 01 individuals, refusing to obey its commands. In case such refusal should happen, then the Irish nation will be able to perceive who are the real authors, of disunion and dissension.