Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 43, 25 October 1900, Page 9

Irish News.

GENERAL.

ANTRIM.— KiIIed by a Rocket— A rocket deflecting from its course during a pyrotechnio display in the Agricultural Grounds, Balmoral, Belfast, killed James McMorran, a 17 year old spectator. His skull was crashed in a fearful manner. Death of a Member of Parliament.— in Belfast the news Of the death of Mr, Edward M'Hugh, M.P.,at Margate, was received with deep regret. Deceased belonged to an old and respected family in Belfast, hi* father being the founder of the well-known firm of MesflTß. B. and B. M'Hugh, drapers, Rosemary street. Mr. M-Hugu was born in 1846, and received his education at St. Joseph's, Clondalkin. On the termination of his studies he joined hia father in the business. In 1872 he established a branch of the firm in New York. After some yeare he became a partner in the Belfast establishment, and on the death of hia father assumed complete control of the business, and in 1890, when it was converted into a limited liability company, he became managing director, which position he retained until 18 months ago, when forced to retire by illhealth. ARMAGH.— The Completion of the National Cathedral"—The work of completing Armagh Cathedral is being pushed forward rapidly. The erection of the high altar, of which the contract price is £6000, has been begun by Signor Gazzerini, of Carrara. DUBLIN.— The Ballsbridge Horse Show.— Dublin's great annual carnival (says a correspondent writing during the last week in August) came off thie week at Ballsbridge. The people not alone of Dublin but of the provinces, and even many from over the water look forward annually with pleasure to the arrival of this great fete. The horse show itself is unequalled, while the magnifioent specimens of men and women who come from all parts of the country excel anything that can be seen at similar shows. This year faces that for years past were familiar were missing. The attendance from the provinces was not at all equal to that of previous years. Many of the country families are in deep mourning and are precluded from taking a part in the great show. Many a stalwart figure wont to attend Ballsbridge in past years now lies stiff and Btark on the South African veldt. This fact appeared to have an effect on the gathering which distinctly lacked the joyous oharaoted which characterised it in past years. Newspaper Amalgamation. — The Daily Independent being unable to pay its way, an official liquidator was appointed. After very keen competition between the Freeman's Journal and the Daily Nation the latter has been declared the purchaser. The Nation and Independent will be amalgamated. It is said that a sum of over £80,000 was lost by the proprietors of the defunct Pamellite organ Bince it was established. Death Of a Religious- — The death is announced of Miss Mary McNally (in religion Sister Martha), which occurred at the Loretto Convent, Balbriggan, on the Feast of the Assumption. Sister Martha, who was a native of Baldaragh, Damastown, County Dublin, was aged 76 years, and was in the forty-fourth year of her religious profession. GAL WAY-— Memorial to a Peasant Poet.— Dr. Douglas Hyde attended the interesting ceremony at Killeen, near Craughwell, County Galway, on the occasion of the erection of a headstone with a suitable Gaelic inscription over the grave of Rafferty, the wellknown peasant poet, who flourished half a century ago. Mr Edward Martyn, of Tnllyra Castle, was also present. KERRY.— SaIe Of a famous Herd— The sale of the great short-horned herd of the late Mr. W. T. Talbot Crosbie, Ardfert, Kerry, took place recently, and attracted breeders and stock-owners not alone from all parts of Ireland and Great Braitain, but even from Canada and the United States. The herd was in existence for more than half a century, during which time the dissemination of the pure bred young stock had been of incalculable advantage to herds throughout the British Isles as well as to breeders in the colonies and on the Continent. The sale proved one of the most successful in the history of the herd. The enormous price of 115 guineas wan realised for a handsome nine months old heifer calf by British Hope. This calf iB full sister to Mr. W. Mullins's celebrated bull Silver Bean, which carried off first prize at the recent Kerry Agricultural Show, and was exhibited against the Queen's celebrated bull in Dublin recently, when the judges had considerable difficulty in deciding between them. Some in-calf cows realised as high as 105 guineas, and the 112 animals sold fetched the handsome total of £5,500 The O'Connell Memorial Church.—The Very Rev. Canon O'Riordan, P.P., Cahirciveen, speaking at a concert organised by the local branch of the Gaelic League in aid of the fund for the completion of the O'Connell Memorial Church, said that arrangements were being made which would enable the work, commenced many years ago by Canon Brosnan, to be resumed. A sum of £3000, continued the Canon, is available, and the worknen will soon be busy on the walls and roof of the Memorial Church. LIMERICK-— Clerical Changes.— The Rev. John Sheahan, Ardpatrick, has been appointed parish priest of Ardagh and Carrickkerry, in succession to the Rev. Thomas Walsh, deceased. The Guardians and the St. Vincent de Paul Society — The Limerick Guardians recently decided to ask the co-operation of the ladies of the St. Vincent de Paul Visiting Committee to assist the Board in looking after the children who were placed with snrses outside. A reply has been received acceding to the request

on condition that the arrangements be left with the Ladies' Committee and their secretary exclusively or acting in conjunction with the relieving officers. MEATH.— Practical Instruction in Fruit-growing.— The Board of Agriculture has determined to give practical demonstrations in fruit growing to Irish agriculturists. It is intended, as a commencement, to establish a model farm in the County Meath. Four plots of a rood each will be laid out in strawberries, and other marketable fruits will also receive due attention. Farmers in the neighborhood will be at liberty to visit the farm and make them6t,l\cs acquainted with all the details of the culture, besides acquiring information as to the beat varieties and other necessary particulars. Trim Catholic Church-— The splendid church in Trim, dedicated to the National Apostle, which is at present in course of erection, will, when completed, rank as one of the finest of the many imposing sacred edifices in the extensive diocese of Meath. The old church of St. Mary began, late in the eighties, to show signs of decay, and the then pastor of Trim, the late lamented Very Rev. P. Behan, P.P., V.F., Tullamore, in council with his parishioners, decided that a new church should be erected. The work so ably begun by the late Father Behan, and carried on bo indefatigably both by him and his successor, Father Callary, has devolved upon the present worthy pastor, Father Woods. MONAGH AN— Royalty at an Irish Fair.— Princesses Margaret and Patricia, daughters of the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, accompanied by their governess, had a novel experience recently. Leaving Castleblayney at an early hour, they went by train to Clones, where, it being the monthly fair day, they had an opportunity of witnessing, unknown and unobserved, all the varying phases and side-shows peculiar to an Irish fair. Before taking their departure in the afternoon for Castleblayney, their Royal Highnesses visited the Round Tower and other places of note in the distriot, being highly interested in all they saw. ROSCOMMON-— Return of Priests from America— The good people of Roscommon extended a most cordial welcome to Fathers Cummins and Gearty on their return from America, where they were engaged in collecting for the Roscommon Cathedral. Father Cummins, in returning thanks, paid an eloquent tribute to the generous manner in which their mission had been received by the Irish in the States. TIPPER A RY.— Death of an American Priest— The Rev. Michael O'Brien, St. Patrick's Church, Lowell, Mass., U.S.A., one of the oldest and most respected priests of the archdiocese of Boston, who had been travelling in Europe, died on Tuesday morning, 28th August, at the home of his sister, Mrs. Bonfield, Shallee, Nenagh. Father O'Brien, or as he was more familiarly known in his adopted land ' Father Michael,' was born at Inchtnore, Killaloe, about 75 years ago. His preparatory studies were made in hig native land. He was ordained priest by Bishop Tynan in Buffalo in 18 IS. Two years ago he celebrated his golden jubilee in the priesthood, at which were present a large number of priests, with many bishops and archbishops. He visited Ireland frequently of late years, and was known to many of the Irish clergy. This year he visited Rome to make the Jubilee, and was received in private audience by his Holiness. Death Of a Young Lady. — The death is announced of Miss Gertrude Cleary, daughter of Mr. Stephen Cleary, Clomnel. The deceased young lady, who had only just returned from Paris, where she completed her education, succumbed to a short illness. After Solemn Office and High Mass the remains were interred at New Inn Cemetery. Opening of a Catholic High School at Clonmel.— The opening of a new Catholic High School by the Christian Brothers at Clonmel has been a great event for the town and neighborhood. The Bishop of the diocese, the most Rev. Dr. Shechan, came to bless the building, and was surrounded by a very large number of clergy and most influential laity. Amongst tr-e visitors was the Rev. J. L. Lonergan, 0.5.8 , Sion Abbey, Chudleigh, Devon. The Bishop delivered an eloquent and stirring speech on education He spoke with pride of the work of the Christian Brothers aud of the affection felt for them by their pupils. How long would it take the Government of this country to recognise that the laborer was worthy of his hire and that the Christian Brothers deserved to receive their share of the public money provided for the system of primary education. WEXFORD.— Clerical Appointments.— The Right Rev. Dr. Browne, Bithop of Ferns, has appointed the Rev. M. Fanning 1 , Kiverchapel, to be parish priest of Ballygarret, rendered vacant by the death of the late lamented Canon Furlong. Father Farming's appointment to such an important pastoral charge has given the greatest satisfaction to the people of the district, who are to be congratulated on having such a zealous priest for their pastor. The Rev. Francis O'Rourke, late of the South African Mission, has been appointed curate of Riverchapel. Death Of a Nun.— The death is reported of Sister Mary Gabriel (Miss Annie Scallan), which took place on a Sunday recently at the Convent of Mercy, Wexford, after a protracted and painful illness. Sister Mary Gabriel, who was one of the most popular and talented members of the Community, was a daughter of the late Mr Scallan, Slaney Hill, Wexford, and was connected with several of the most respectable families in the county. She entered the convent almost twenty years ago, and devoted her talents to the duties of the schoolroom. She was much beloved both by the Community, the pupils, and the poor whom ahe met on visitation.

The next Lord-Lieutenant.— it is believed that the Duke of Argyll will succeed Earl Cadogan as Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. Catholic Colleges and the Intermediate Examinations. —St. Colurnba's College, Derry, has greatly distinguished itself at the Intermediate Examinations. The Derry Journal says : 'Of the three Gold Medals awarded for first place, Blackrock College gets the senior grade, Clongoweswood the middle grade, and our own flourishing College of St. Columb the junior grade. Our young townsman, William P. Flanagan, who leads the van of his 271*1 rivals, not content with placing one gem on the brow of St. Coluinb'a, adds blill xivaUh lu o tre to hi* Alma Ma tor and himself by securing a second Gold Medal for Classics.' Thirty -eight students of the College passed. Their successes include, besides the gold medal for Classics, five exhibitions of £f>o, three of £.iO, five of £40, and two of £20. Blackrock College, County Dublin, has carried off the Blue Ribbon of the Intermediate Examinations this year, Master Thomas Rahillv obtaining first place in the Senior Grade and the large gold rmdtf attached to that distin -tion. He has also taken the gold medal for Classics, first place in Celtic, and Beoond place in French. No less than three Exhibitions in this grads, out of a total of 20, fell to Blackrock. First, third, and fourth places in English in the same Grade are also won by Blackrock students, Austin Moran winning the gold medal for this important subject. In the Middle Grade the results are equally good — first place in Latin, Greek, French, and Italian, with the gold medal for modern languages, four new exhibitions, nine retained exhibitions, and eight prizes. Rockwell College, Cashel, again holds its place in the front rank amongst the colleges of Ireland. In the incomplete list which appears it has obtained 110 passes, 16 exhibitions (three of them being in the senior grade, and this is the highest number obtained in that grade by any college), 1 1 retained exhibitions, and 2!) prizes, making a grand total so far of at least 56 distinctions. Sir Charles Gayan Duffy's Tribute to the late Lord RuSSelL— ln a recent issue of the Speaker Sir Charles Gavan Duffy pays a generous tribute to the patriotism of the late Lord Russell of Killowen. He says — ' I remember on one of his visits to Ireland with what pleasure and pride I read his address to the children of the Catholic school where he had been educated, teaching them how to be always good citizens, good Catholics, and good Irishmen. Again, in the United State*, while he was the guest of the Bench and the Bar he found time to accept the invitation of an Irish social organisation, and discoursed to them on their duties and opportunities as Irishmen, as Theobald Mathew might have done. It is needless to say how ensily the fl.ime of religious bigotry is kindled or how many honest fouls or fanatics would havo cHnior. d against him on the first suggestion that he w<*s carrying the robes of the Chief Justice to unsuitable places. Nubody^knew this better than Lord Russell, but the simplicity and manliness of his nature compelled him to defy consequences wh^n duty spoke. The place of the great lawyer and the great judge may. perhaps, be adequately filied ; thero is at lea*t one lawyer with gifts like Lord Russell who breaks from his p-irty whenever his conscience points the other way ; but who shall fill the vacant place of the foremost Irishman of his time — who set his countrymen a great example of duties nobly performed and sacrifices cheerfully borne, but above all of unwavering filelity to dear mother country.' A Condemnation of Boycotting.— The Most Rev. Dr. Clancy, Bishop of Elphin, has been giving some timely counsel to his flock in respect of the growing tendency to glorify boycotting and to disregard religious precepts observable in some localities a"t the present time. One of the mo-»t fruitful sources of the evil, his Lordship points out, is the reading of novels and magazines wherein vice is often painted as something to be admired, and also the teachings of some newspaper politicians, in which uncharitableness and vituperation are the prevailing features. Our Holy Father Pope Leo XIII., whose championship of the cause of political and personal freedom no one will question, has emphatically condemned boycotting. Dr. Clancy does not mince matters in this connection. The merits of any political organisation acceptable to Irish Catholics should be so obvious as to render unnecessary any recourse to such unchristian and cowardly subterfuges as boycotting in furtherance of its propaganda. For this the organisation is not responsible, however one or two isolated branches may err. The meaningless attacks and recriminations of the Press in the country generally are also a Bource of grave scandal, as are a great deal of the prints which it is the present fashion to call popular. Dr. Clancy, whose patriotism is beyond question (says the [/Liter Examiner), has not spoken a moment too soon, and his advice should be looked upon as that of a warm and foreseeing and also a candid and outspoken friend.