Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 18, 3 May 1900, Page 8

Irish News.

CLARE— Not a very Serious Offence.— At the Clare Winter Assizes Mr. Martin MCarthy was charged with taking forcible possession of a house at Clonulla from which he had been evicted. M'Carthy told Chief Baron Palles that he had a large familyyltndlwai;; besides the support" df a father and mother of over 80 yefirii of age. All he desired w&s/a settlement from the landlord. He was ttischajrged on a, promise to give np possession. DERRY.-St Eugene's Cathedral.— The Most Rev. Dr. O'Doherty, Bishop of Derry, has issned a strong appeal for funds to complete the Cathedral church of the dioceße, the erection of which was commenced fifty years ago. In the course of the address which he has issned to his people Dr, O'Doherty says : ' I wonld wish you to look on the work as the restoration of that noble Cathedral- built by Flathbert O'Brolchain, the first Bishop of the See of Derry, when at the Synod of Brigh-mac-Thaig, in Meath, the abbacial Church of St. Columba was in 1150 elevated to the rank of a new See which was to comprise in one the ancient episcopal territories of Bathlury and Ardstraw. It was a noble, a royal work, not unworthy of the generous King of Ireland — Maurice MacLaughlin (O'Neill), who then held hie Court at Aileach, and whose munificence assisted in 1164 to build the sacred fane. Its towers raised their summits on high, and its bells awoke with their silvery tones the eohoea of the mountains, and mingled with the murmnrs of the .Btreama ■ that Jiurried through the valleys of the Foyle. It was truly called the "Temple Mor, or Great Church of Derry. But Doowra, the agent of Elizabeth, with his English followers, murdered in 1601 Redmond O'Gallagher, the aged Bishop of the diocese, and- to build the walls of their new oity tore down the Temple Mor, leaving scarcely sufficient rains to mark the site where it had stood. For weary years the Catholics were debarred by persecution and by the -plunder of their goods from having or attempting to build a church, much less a Cathedral, to take the place of the glorious one so shamelessly destroyed. But the long dark night of oppression passed slowly away, and the dawn of liberty gradually dispelled the- gloom. A new era began, and a Cathedral now exists— magnificent and noble, but still an unfinished pile.' DUBLIN.— The Golden Jubilee of Archdeacon Brady.— The citizens of Dublin are taking fitting steps to present the Yen. Archdeacon Brady with a testimonial of their affection and congratulations on the occasion of his attaining his Golden Jubilee in the sacred ministry. The High Sheriff presided at a preliminary meeting, at which practical action was taken towards rendering the laudable project as notable a success as possible. Supporting the Celtic Drama.— Last year (says a Dublin correspondent) a tentative move was made by the Irish Literary Theatre to introduce to a Dublin audience thoroughly wholesome Celtic drama, and a moderate measure of success was achieved. Recently the campaign in favor of a National drama was carried a step further. Three Irish plays by Irish writers were produced in the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, and met a very warm reception. These were • The Last Feast of the Fionna,' by Miss Milligan ; ' Maeve,' by Mr. E. Martyn (author of last year's success, 'The Heather Field ') ; and • The Bending of the Bough,' by Mr. George Moore. Each in its own way was instinct with the Celtic spirit, although the epochs were centuries apart. Miss Milligan's little play dealt with Finn MacCumhail and Ossian, Mr. Martyn's longer piece with modern times, while Mr. Moore's elaborate drama of to-day was a slashing exposure of the petty ways of social West Britonism in Ireland. Large and enthusiastic audiences attended every performance, and the result of this year's venture is most encouraging to those who hope to see the National spirit kept alive in Ireland. A Novel Strike* — Dublin is threatened with a novel strike. The city hearse-drivers' are not satisfied with their wages, and there a talk of a general cessation of work. GAL WAY.— Death of a Galway Man in America— The death is reported from Philadelphia of Mr. Edward Hesson, who served in the Papal army against GaribMdi in 1860. The deceased was born in Tuam, County Galway. Shortly after 'his return from Italy he settled down in England, *nd ; about twenty years ago went to the United States, starting .m'Jbifisineaa soon after in Philadelphia. The deceased was about sixty" y«ißil^-6f*ajje. L - LIMERICK— Death of a prominent Limerick Man in America. — News has been received in Ireland of the death in New York of Mr. Joseph P. Ryan, secretary of the Irish National Federation of America^ Mr Ryan was the promoter of the famous Hoffman House Irish Parliamentary fuud, through which thousands of dollars were contributed to the Irish cause. He was a native of Limerick, Ireland. He was educated in the schools of the Christian Brothers, taking a post-graduate course in the private schools of Rohan and O'Neil. The Secretaryship of the County Council.— There was brisk competition for tie valuable post of secretary to the Limerick County Council. The -issue remained between Mr; Robert Roche and Mr. Mitohell, nephew of the chairman of the Council. Mr. Roche received 16 votes and Mr. Mitchell 15. An objection was lodged against one of the votes cast for Mr. Roche. Seeing that the Laborers get Justice.— The limerick Corporation have unanimously adopted the following resolution :— That the resolution in reference to employing regular labor, etc., be amended, and read aa follows — That in all future advertisements inviting tenders for works, and in all contracts the following clause shall be inserted : — ' The Council will require the contractor whose tender may be accepted to pay not less than the minimum standard

rate of wages at the rate paid in Limerick, and to observe the hoars and conditions recognised as proper in the city ; and that in every contract proper, penalties shall be provided in case the contractor shall violate the above conditions, or shall sublet aiiy itortion of his contract without consent in writing previously obtained. That it be made a condition of all corporate contracts that regular tradesmen only be employed to perform the tradesmen's work. That local labor shall be availed of to the fullest extent, and Irish material used, where practicable.' ... ... . , , y£'^r^%: MONAGHAN.— A Distinguished Pupil.— Lord R&Wja received his early education at the* Grammar School, Carrickmacross, County Monaghan. Death Of a Centenarian.- There recently died at Smithsborough, Monaghan, Jane Jones, at the age of 107 years. She was one of the oldest inhabitants of the district, and was in failing health for some time past, being both blind, and deaf for the last two years. The deceased had a son who was killed in a colliery accident in Scotland a number of years ago. The colliery owners awarded the bereaved mother a pension of 7s per week, which enabled her to spend the remainder of her life in comparative comfort. : , , a L;. V V SLlGO.— Generous Treatment of Tenants-— A correspondent of a Sligo newspaper points out the extremely favorable terms which Colonel Howley, County Councillor, is offering his tenants with a view to the wiping out of the arrears of rent. All arrears on the Geevagh estate will be cleared off on the payment of one year's rent at an abatement of 45 per cent on non-judicialj udicial rents and 20 per cent on judicial rents. The value of the concession is apparent when it is stated that some of the tenants owe as far back as 1890.