Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 10, 9 July 1897, Page 9

Irish News.

(From Contemporaries.)

ANTRIM.— The Giant's Causeway.— The Viw-chanceiior has decided against the claims of the public in connection with the Giants Causeway. The difficulty vhich the defendants had to meet was that they had to e.-tabli.sh a right of access by all the public to the places of interest in the Causeway. «md the establishment of this right involved le-ral considerations far beyond those which are concerned in an ordinary c.i-' oi presumptive ri.rhl.--ui way of individuals or inhabitants of a p IMI We gather from the decision (says tlv Dublin I'mmuin) tli.it me Vice-Chancellor was of opinion that a rightofway for the piopieof tin neighbourhood might possibly have be n < stablishtd. whereas a genera] light -•! Die publii could not. In any case, in order that the Causeway might, be oi u-e to natives the general right should be establi-bed. We do not enter into the complicated legal considerations which are sown thick through this case. The decision gives the syndicate the right to grab the Causeway, and that is the sum of it. While not doubting the juristic skill of the learned Vice-Chancellor, we however,hope that the case will not be dropped here, but that before the public cause is given over the decision of a higher tribunal will be challenged. CORK.— The Irish Mackerel Fisheries :An over-abun-dance. — So enormous have been the catches with the mackerel fleet around Skibbereen during the past week, says the Fvrt man of May 8, that the markets became hopelessly glutted, with the result that the prices suddenly fell from £ 1 and 22s down to 10s. the latter figure being the price paid in Baltimore on Friday last, but the heavy takes continuing that night again they were literally unsaleable on Saturday. Two heavily laden steamers left Baltimore for New Milford on Friday afternoon with about 4,000 boxes of fish on board, while large consignments were also sent off by rail. One local boat, the Pet of G-landore, had the enormous haul of It* .000. another Skibbereen boat had 11,000, the St. Kerames, the St Anne (local) had 6,000; Eleanor, of Sherkin Islands, 7,000: Self. Port St Mary, 12,000 ; Heronine. 4.000 ; Blue Bell, 8.000 ; while three LoweRtoft boats had 24,000 amongst them, and three Frenchmen 91,000. The waters are actually alive with the fish e\ en after the exceptional quantities netted last autumn and the complaint now is of the over-abundance, which makes what was a luxury a fortnight ago a drug in the market to-day. DONEGAL.— An Interesting- Find.— Aj»-oj>os of the coming centennial oi St. Columba, it is extremely interesting to learn that some months ago Dr. Kuno Meyer discovered in the Bodleian Library. Oxford, a number of poem«. hitherto unknown, ascribed to St. Columb.i. The sunt was disunguishul for his great industry in coj ying manu-cripts and lor hi- u-al in multiplying and having the Holy Sciiptures studied. This spirit lie left as a tradition to all the Columbian monasteries and it is to this tradition we owe the Book ot Durrow and the tar-iained Book of Kells— the most beautitul manuscript of the Scriptures in the whole world. DUBLlN.— lmportant Action of the Dublin Victuallers' Association. — The abandonment of sheep-rearing by a large number oi Irish farmers ;i s the r. suit of the 10-s, s suffered in that branch of their in<!u«.uy Ji.m: di^ea-o and unsatisfactory weather has led the Dublin Victualler Association to take important action. At their last meeting attention was drawn to the fact that the shortness of the supply m the Dublin market oi good sheep make it difficult for thtm to mett the requirement* of their trade, and it was decided to write to the Veterinary Department of the Pn\y Council to know if English sheep could be imported alive into Dublin. The incident supplies an excellent commentary upon the general depression w Inch at present is felt by Irish agriculturists. GAL WAY— " Where the Stately Corrib Flows."— The Galway Pilot of April 21 had the following :— ■• Where the stately Corrib flows." Our local scenery flattered.— The foil >wing very nicely worded poem iippeaml in a recent issue of the U'ukhf Jn.sh Time* over the name oi Kui>ene Sullivan. We do not happen to know thi- gentleman, but he certainly deserves our thanks for his flattering statements about our local scenery. Taken all round the composition is \ery amusing, especially to us Galwegians. Here is the poem .—. — Fairest spot in Ireland lit a in the beauteous West. When the Summer s sun is setting behind yon mountain crest ; When the woods are hushed in silence and the birds have sought repose, Beside the town of Galway, where the stately Corrib flows. The ever welcome blackbird, of all the feathered throng, Still lingers in the woodlands, to give a parting song ; But night it, fast appronehiny. and he, too, must seek repose Beside the town ot Uuhvay, uhere the stately Corrib flows. In the shades ot twilight, if the heart is full of care, Alone within those s } h-an glades you'll find a solace there , For Nature in her .grandeur a glamour o cr you throws Beside the town ot Uilway, where the stately Corrib flows. The fairest flowers that blossom with perfume scent the breeze. As the soft south winds of Summer play gently 'mong the trees : The lily oi the valley and the sweetly scented rose Are found in rare abundance, where the stately Co rib flows, And of all spots in Ireland, I lo\e this one the best. When the Summer's day is closing and the birds retire to rest ; There's an all-pervading blissfulness, a calm and sweet repose,' Beside the town of Ualway, where the stately Corrib flows. KILDARE.— The Catholic Soldiers' Institute, Curragh Camp.— On Thursday, April 29, Field- Marshal Lord Roberts, of Candahar, commanding the forces in Ireland, opened the new Catho-

lic Soldiers' Ii ititute, Curragh Camp. The occasion was one of exceptional interest, and was attended by an exceedingly large and distiguished number of ladies and gentlemen. Lord Roberta left Dublin accompanied by Major Streatfield, Bart., military secretary. Lord Settrington. A.D.C., Colonel Kelly, D.A.G. On arriving at the camp the party were received by Father Delaney, military chaplain ; Major-General Combe, C.8.. commanding Currngh district ; Captain K. Combe, A.D.C , Colonel R. G. Allen, Major P. J. Lewie. D.A.G , Major Stewart French, district inspector of musketry ; CaDtain Crampton. Lieutenant-Colonel Cockburn, R.E A large and distingui-hed gathering had also accepted invitations ai:<l were present to meet Lord Robert*. Luncheon was served in the gy, nn.-isiu >:. The chair was occupied by the Rev. Joseph I) lnuey, I unl Rob ,-ts sitting at his right hand. 'After luncheon, •wh.eh was iollow c t I y the u-nal loyal and complimentary toasts. Lord Roberts •and party procetded to the new institute, and his Lordship was pros, nttd with a golde 1 key for the building. The visitors then | assembled in the great hall of the institute— a splendidly-designed apartment— at one end of which a stage is erected, where Lord Roberts. Father Delaney, the members of the committee and others occupi. (1 seats. Father Delaney read a report which showed that after paying for the original contract for the buildiug, £100 remained in hand t> meet further liabilities amounting toabout £600. In addressing the meeting Lord Roberts said :—": — " Ladies and gentlemen. — I accepted, with the greatest pleasure, the invitation of the Rev. Joseph Delaney and the committee of the Catholic SoldieiV Institute. Curragh Camp, to open this institute. Before, however, proceeding to perform this, to me. most agreeable duty, I wish to express my thanks to the rev. gentleman and to those associated with him tor their courtesy in arranging the date for this meeting to suit mr convenience. In June of last year I had the gratification of opening the Church of England Institute in this camp ; and, if I remember righ«\ on that occasion I dwelt on the importance of soldiers having comfortable and suitably-furnihhed rooms to which they could resort when the day's work was over, and where they could spend their leisure hours in a rational and improving manner. I know, from experience, the value of soldiers' institutes, and I much doubt if there is any station for troops where they are more needed than at this Curragh Camp. I am sure that the Catholic soldiers quartered at the Curragh would wish me to say how thankful they are for having such a comfortable, well-planned institute provided for their use, and to express their gratitude to the liberal-minded people who so generously subscribed the funds for its erection. As commander of the forces in Ireland, I beg that the Rev. Joseph Delaney and the members of the committee will accept my warmest thanks for the great trouble they have taken in the matter. Their labours are. I can assure you, most thoroughly appreciated, not only by the officers and men at the Curragh, but by those belonging to her Majesty's army throughout Ireland. I desire to express, on Lady Robert- part, her great regret that she was unable to be present to-day She has taken, as you know, a deep interest in the work, and hoped up to the last moment ro have been here. I now declare the institute open." KILKENNY— A New Church for Kilkenny : Erected at a cost of £30,000 by the Loughlin Family.— On Sunday May l?. the Most Rev. Dr. Brownrigg. Bishop of Ossory, laid the foundation stone of the new Church of St. John at Kilkenny. The co-.t ot the building will, inclusive of its tower and spire, be close on t^o.ooo, all ot which the Loughlin family have undertaken to defray. Mr. William Hague is the architect. The character of the design which ho has supplied cannot po««ibly be better described than in the words of Bishop Brownrigg in hi* impressive address, when he said that " within the length and breadth of the diocese of Ossory there would be nochurch that can compare with it for grandeur and magnificence " The new building is very picturesquely situated on a plot of ground presented by the Marquis of Ormonde. The plan consists of a large central front porch beneath a tower of massive proportions, flanked by two other porches for access to aisles, nave iiott. by :ioft. Sins., aisles each %ft. by 15ft., sanctuary and apse -Hit. :Uns. long by 27ft. «ins. wide, side chapels Soft, by 13ft, (uns.. and sacristies I!.". ft. by Kift. (iins , beneath which are storerooms and heating chamber, and space for vaults. Adjoining the aisle pjrehes are the baptistry and a votive chapel. Tne tower is 2~>tt. square externally, and the total length from inside of tower front* all to inside wall of apse is 152 ft. Gins, by a width across nave and aisles of (JOft. clear. The approaches to the old church u ere spurned by arches of e\ erg reen with silken garlands bearing words of welcome to the donors and to the bishops. The church was densely crowded, amongst those present being the members of the Loughlin family. High Mass was celebrated at 12 o'clock ; the Most Rev. Dr. Brownrigg, Bishop of Os»ory, preached. The sermon was preached by the Must Rev. Dr. Sheehan, Bishop of Waterford. His Lordship preached from the text, "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd giveth His life for His sheep." After the High Mass the solemn ceremony of laying the corner stone of the new building \va» performed by his Lordship the Bishop of Ossory. With the -,tone was enclosed a parchment with the date and a Latin inscription recording the fact : -The above-mentioned church wag built to the memory of Martin Loughlin, who died recently in Australia, by his brother, Michael Loughlin. and the two sons of the latter." MAYO.— New Church for Castlebar.— The erection of th e much-required new church has commenced, and it promises to be one of the finest and most spacious churches in the province. About 100 mechanics and labourers have already been employed, and the work goes on under the superintendence of Mr. Reidy, Mr. Heally's representative. The chur his expected to be complete in eighteen months, and the contractor. Mr. Heally, has made the necessary arrangements to accomplish the same in his specified time. The Rev. P. Lyons, P.P.. who is providing the new church for hia congregation, has received already substantial support, even from

sources unexpected. His energy and zeal on behnlf of his parishioners are most commendable, and deserve a fitting reward. TIPPERARY.— Death of a Smith-Barry Evicted Tenant. — It is our sad duty to record the death, at an early age, of Mrs. M. M. Moclair, wife of Mr. P. Moclair, P.L.G., Cashel, following within a week of the death of her mother, Mrs. M. Carew. Rarely has such a feeling of deep and widespread regret been created in the district. On all sides are heard expressions of the most profound sympathy with her husband and his helpless family in their very sad bereavement, a feeling that will be shared in by many of his old Nationalist friends far outside the county. By her death the last direct link is severed of an old and respected family of this city, her father, the late Thomas Carew, being at one tinis one of its principal traders. WATERFORD.— Origin of the Word " Fenian."-The Citizen of April 30 stated : — "We have recived a copy of No. 12, Vol. 111. of the Journal of the Waterford Archaeological Society, which contains many excellent papers dealing with matters of local history and archaeology. The Rev. Edmund Hogan, S.J., F.R.U.1., writing under the head ' Worthies of Waterford and Tipperary, 1 gives a most interesting sketch of Father Stephen White, S.J., theologian and polyhistor. born in Clonmel about 1 573, and who won a world-wide fame for his learning. The Rev. P. Power, F.R.S.A.. contributes further details concerning ' The Ancient Ruined Churches of the County Waterford. 1 From a highly interesting paper on ' Pre-Patrician Lismore,' by W. H. G rattan Flood, we take the following as to the very ancient and local origin of the word Fenian : — ' In the third century Lismore was known as Magh Sciath — the plain of the shields, from the number of battles fought in the vicinity. There are traces yet of Finn Mac Cumhaill (d. 288), whose daughter, Sambair, was the wife of Cormac Cas above mentioned, and their daughter G-renie eloped with Dermott, son of O'Downey. The famous warrior (whose name is popularly written Finn Mac Cool), and his trained soldiers or Fenians, had many a campaign on the banks of Aw Mor, Lisfinny Castle, Tallow ; the Fiann bhotha, or hunting-boxes of the Fenians ; the Fulachta Fiann, cooking places, are still to be seen ; as also Drumfineen, one of " three most excellent hills of Ireland." ' The Rev. R. H. Long writes of ' Earliest Monuments in Cashel and Einly,' and Mr. James Buckley contributes what is, perhaps, the most interesting paper in the number, namely, • An Account of the Taking of Waterford in 1052 ;' the Rev. W. Healy, P.P., relates ' The Legend of the White Lady of Besbborough ;' and Major Otway Wheeler Cuffe contributes ' Archaeelogical Notes, 1 etc." WESTMEATH.-Death of T. P. O'Connor's Father.-At the weekly meeting of the Athlone Board of Guardians, May 4, Mr. Charles O'Donoghue, J.P,, presiding, Mr. Andrew Moore, ex-chair-man of the Board, proposed a vote of sympathy with Mr. T. P. O'Connor, M.P., and the other members of the family, on the death of his father, Mr. Thomas O'Connor, Baylough Cottage, Athlone, whom he described as one of their oldest and most respected inhabitants, which was unanimously adopted. On Sunday the interment of Mr. O'Connor took place at Drum. Deceased, who died at the advanced age of K«5, enjoyed the distinction of being a veteran of Father Mathew's movement in the midlands, having been identified with the temperance cause since IM4. He was also the oldest, as he was one of the most respected, inhabitants or Athlone. No less was his patriotism conspicuous in his conduct than was his deep religious piety. He was buried in the habit of the Third Order of St. Francis, and he was the oldest member in Athlone. and one of the oldest members in Ireland of this great religious society. He received, shortly before his death, the last sacraments from the Right Rev. Monsignor Kelly, Dean of Elphin, his intimate friend. Though one of the oldest residents in Athlone, Mr. O'Connor was not a native of the town. He was born in Enniscorthy, and his father was also a Wexford man, and enjoyed the distinction of being amongst the first who part in the memorable battle of Vinegar Hill, while he was himself a '48 man. GENERAL. Ireland and the New Budget.— lreland gets nothing out of the Budget outlined by Sir Michael Hicks- Beach if we except a •mall sum which is likely to be set apart for technical education. According to the estimates that have been made of the revenue for the coming financial year, and taking the present scale of expenditure, there ought to be a surplus of something over a million and a half. With this sum something handsome might be done for Ireland without the British taxpayer feeling any burden. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach proposes to dispose of all the money in increased expenditure. Ireland yets, as we have said, practically nothing. There are to be some small postal concessions such as taking a halfpenny off the foreign postage and giving a penny rate for small packets, of which England will reap the greatest advantage. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach was able to boast that the indirect taxation, which was 71 per cent in the Three Kingdoms in 1836, was now only 4-t per cent of the whole. But 70 per cent of Irish taxation is still indirect, which is as eloquent a fact aa could be of how all the benefits for the British taxpayer have reacted against Ireland. It will be the duty of Irish representatives of courso to enter a strong and united protest against this Budget, which ignores in a contemptuous manner the solemn conclusions of the Royal Commission on the subject of Irish over-taxation. Rewards for Irish Bravery.— Writes the London correspondent of the Dublin Fncman, under date of April 27: "In a long list of awards yesterday announced by the Royal Humane Society for acts of conspicuous gallantry in saving lite brought under its notice this month from various parts of the United Kingdom, India and the colonies, there were several from Ireland. Thomas Geehan, 32, railway porter, and Constable E. Walsh, same age, both of Maynooth, County Kildare, were unanimously voted handsome testimonials for their combined acts of bravery on the evening of the

17th ult. The case was represented by Lord Frederick Fitzgerald, who described the rescue of Christopher Toole, aged Bix, aa one of great courage and promptitude in action. The boy had climbed up on the battlements of the canal bridge to watch a passing train, and in his temporary excitement lost his balance and fell some twenty-three feet into deep water. Geehan, hearing the cries for help, at once ran to the spot, and without removing his clothing plunged in. The boy by this time had disappeared, but the plucky railwayman dived repeatedly, and at last got him from the mud and swam with him to the nearest bank. Constable Walsh, who appeared on the scene a minute previously, also plunged into the water and assisted Geehan to land the boy, and at once commenced resuscitating him. the treatment after half an hour proving successful. On the same date, at Ballinskelligs, County Kerry, a child fell from the pier into the sea, which at the spot was about ten feet deep, with a heavy swell running. Edward A. Stimson, a lad of sixteen, plunged in fully clothed and at great risk got the child safely to a boat which had put off from the pier. An able-bodied seaman named S. J. O'Connor, now third officer of the steamer Matabele, also received the medal for his gallantry in a case of rescue reported by Donald Currie and Co.