COUNTY NEWS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 23, Issue 47, 23 November 1899, Page 10

COUNTY NEWS.

ANTRIM— A Priest Composer.- Catholics all the world over not long since read with pride and pleasure the news of the success of the young Italian priest, Father Perosi, who, endowed with great musical ability, was devoting all his talent to the service of the Church. Catholics of Ireland, and those of Down and Connor especially (says the Sancta Maria), will learn with surprise and pleasure that there is in their midst a young priest who, much after the manner of the better known Perosi, has, in the leisure time given him from the discharge of his sacrei duties been pouring forth his soul in the composition of sacred music. The Rev. A L. Greaven, B.A , CO., Ballymena, is the clergyman referred to, and our readers will be glad to know that upon the first Sunday of October, in St. Patrick's Church, Belfast, there will be pprformed for the first time, with full orchestral accompaniment, a 'Ma&s in C in honour of the Holy Face of our Lord, for solo voices, chorus, an \ organ, from Father Greaven'a pen. CAVAN.— A Shocking Example of Catholic Bigotry — 1 A Protestant,' writing to a Cavan newspaper, pays : ' You, Catholics of Cavan, are a queer lot. Who is it you have appointed to the first positions of emolument at your disposal in Cavan, Belturbet, and Cootehill .' Three Protestants as borough onjjineerp. Oh, you awful Papist bigots.' The enlightened people of lielfast, or at least those in power there, dj not act thus ; the highest position to which a ' Papist ' might attiin in that city is that of street sweeper. DERRY.— A Despicable Outrage— A despicable outrage was perpetrated at St. BaitMn's Catholic Church, in the village of St. Johnston, near Derry, on the night of September 30. A large cross had just been completed over the apex of the main gable, but the scaffolding was not removed. During the night some miscreant mounted the scaffolding and lopped off the arms of the cross and otherwise dinfigured it. Considerable indignation prevails in the district. St. Baithin's is unique in its architectural beauty, being a very perfect specimen of Gothic, from the designs of the Mon&ignor Stephens, and looked on as an ornament to the district. The present pastor, Father John Doherty, is popular with all classes in the neighbourhood, and has not been aggressive in aoy way. The district is intensely Orange, but except in political matters, the people live harmoniously enough. The outrage, pendiog investigation, must be set down to wanton fanaticism or , drunken vandalism. GAL WAY.— Departure of a Popular Priest— *'he friends — and they are many — of the Very Rev. Father O'Keefe, 0.5.A., will, says the Galway Pilot, regret to hear of his departure. He has been appointed to Rome, to the post late'y held by the Very Rev. Prior Glyun. He will proceed to Rome about the end of the month. Father O'Keefe, who is a native of Kilkenny, is one of the most cultured gentlemen in his Order. His departure from Galway will be much regretted, for he was very popular, particularly with the congregation attending the Augustinian Church KERRY.— The MuckrOSS Estate.— A Dublin newspaper of October 7 fays : Sir Robert Hunter, cha'rman of the Executive committee of the ' National Trust,' anil Mr. Hugh Blakiston, the secretary, are on a vibit to Dublin and Killarn^y in connection with the sale of Muckross. These gentlemen and Mr. F W. Crossley had an interview with the Lord Mayor in til** Mansion House on Saturday morning, and subsiq'iently w ith Mr. Ja-ues 11. North. It is hoped that the council of the ' X it ; o.ial Trust ' will secure this property for the people on reasonable terms Sir Robert Hunter, Mr. F. W. Crossley. and Mr. H. Blakiswm afterwards proceeded south by the Killarney expresd. MAYO —Mr. Davitt and the County Council —Mr. Davitt denies that he was a candidate for the becretaryship of the Mayo County Council. He says : ' I have no intention of offering myself as a candidate for the post in question, and no person has been authorised to use my name in any such connection, or to make any such statement. Under these circumstances I would deem it an honour to serve my native county in any such capacity, to the best of my humble ability, and would feel proud to acwpt employment from the people with which our English rulers bhould have no concern. But these " other circumstances " would mean my retirement from active public life, and I need not assure you that I have no present intention of backing out of the National struggle against English rule and Irish landlordism.' MEATH. — Clerical Changes- — The following changes among the clergy of Meath have been recently nude :— The Rev. William Rooney, C.C., Mullingar, to be Adm. Loagwood ; Rev. William Bracken, CC. Tullamore, to be C.C. Mullingar ; Rev. Edward Cre.m, C.C. St. Mary's, Drogheda, to be C.C. Tullamore ; Rev. James Clavin, C.C, Delvin, to be C.C. St. Mary's, Dros-heda ; Rev. P. Cantwell, C.C, Drumraney, to be C.C Delvin ; Rev. M. Dillon, C.C, Longwood, to be C.C Prumraney. GENERAL. The Irish Granite Quarries.— it is to be hoped (writes the Weekly Reghtt r) that the owners of the Irish granite quarries will place no obstacles in the way of allowing the fullest expansion to an industry that promibes to prove a valuable addition to the rather impoverished industries of that couutry. During tbe present year there has been a ste.ulily increasing demand for giatiite betts ;' the value of the stone has almost doubled icself, and to meet the demand, large quantities are being imparted from France and Scandinavia. It is well known that there are a large number of granite quarries in Ireland containing btone of good grade, and which, as yeb, has been practically unworktd. Negotiations with the holders of Irish quarries are btill progressing, which, if brought to a satisfactory conclusion, must necessarily do much towards providing the country with a new industry that will occupy many, thousands of unemployed hands.