Irish News

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 46, 16 November 1905, Page 9

Irish News

ANTRIM— A Generous Offer Sir Donald Ourrie, who is a native of Belfast, and chairman of the Union Castle Line, has promised to give £20,000 to the Queen's College, Bellast, provided an equal sum is raised from other sources. It is understood a considerable portion of the amount has already been promised. CLARE— A Presentation In the Temperance Hall, Ennis, on September 24, Father William Armstrong was the recipient ot a handsome presentation, on his departure for Sandhurst, Australia. CORK— A Venerable Religious Much regret was felt in Queenstown at the death of Mother Mary Vincent M'Mahon, of the local Convent of Mercy. The deceased went to her reward at the ripe old age of eighty years, fifty-four of which she spent in the work of educating the Catholic children of Queenstown. Revisiting his Native Land John O'Reilly, aged 110 years, a native of Goleen, County Cork, ianded at Queenstown early m September from New York, having crossed the Atlantic on boaid the White Star liner ' Oceanic,' accompanied by his wite O'Reilly, notwithstanding his great age, seemed to be hale and hearty, and during the voyage was the object of much attention by the saloon and other passengers. Many years ago he left (Jolecn with his wife, who is some years his junior, and booked a passage to New York in an old sailing packet. The First St. Leger TJie St. Leger, which is run at Doncaster, though it dates from 177G, when it was established by Colonel St. Leger, .was preceded by another St. Leger race, which deserves to be remembered, because it was the first steeplechase of which there is a record The Colonel St. Leger who founded the Doncaster event is said to have been a member of the St. Leger family whose head is Lord/ Doneraile The St. Legers have been settled for centuries at Doneraile, County Cork, and are now represented there by Lady Castlctown, wife of Lord Castletown, of Upper Ossory. Lord Inchiquin's manuscripts at Dromoland, County Clare, are said to include an account of the fiist St Leger race, which was run in 1752 The starting point was Buttevant Church, County Coik, and the winning post of all places, was the steeple of the St Leger Church at Doneraile, four and a hall miles distant Not alone did this race across a rugged country originate stecplechasing, but it ga\e its name to that form of racing It is called steeplechasing because, as 'in the case of the St. Leger Church, the steeples ot churches were chosen as winning posts. DUBLIN— A Meeting of Protest On September 21 a meeting was held in the Round Room, Rotunda, Dublin, to protest against the action of the Treasury in withdrawing the grant for the teaching of Irish in National schools Dr Douglas Hyde, President of the Gaelic League, presided, and the Round Room was thronged So laige was the at tendance that an overflow meeting was held in an adorning hall. The chairman proposed a series ot resolution^, v\hich were seconded by Mr. John Dillon, MP , and supported by Mr. John MacNeill, Captain Oiway Cufie, Rev. Father MacEnerney, Lord Castlctown of Upper Ossory, and Rev. Father Munnelly. FERMANAGH— Lord Dudley in Danger The Lord Lieutenant had a nanow escape from drowning in Lough Erne on 'September 21 lie was sailing a yacht of the colleen class in the race m the L»ugh when the craft upset, precipitating the occupants, who included Lady Mabel Cnghton, daughtei of the Earl of Erne, into the water They were rescued by a steam launch that was tollowing the race. Lough Erne Lough Erne, where Lord Dudley and a distinguished party had a narrow escape from drowning while Taking part in a yacht race, is one of the most picturesque places of northern Ireland, and is certainly far less known than it deserves to be. It divides the County of Fermanagh and, running from north-west to south-east, is forty miles long. On a tiny island, about the centre of the lake, called Inniskilhng, the town of Enniskillen stands. Many notable people have their residences

amidst some of the many delightful bits of scenery in which the shores of the lake abound. On the upper lake is Crom Castle, the home of the Earl of Erne, and not' far away, on the other side, is Castle Saunderson, the residence of Colonel Saunderson, M.P. The Marquis of Ely's seat, Ely Lodge, is on the lower lake, not far from Enmskillcn. At the extreme end of the lower lake is situated Belleek, where the world-famed pottery of that name is manufactured, and where the Hivcr Erne empties itself into Donegal Bay, we find Bundoran, one of the most attractive seaside resorts on the western seaboard. QALWAY — Demise of a Leading Merchant The death is announced of Mr Joseph Semple, J.P., aged 8!), a leading; merchant in (Jalway, and proprietor of the Atlantic Sawmills. He was High Sheriff of the city as far back as 1880, and was a Grand Juror in the old Recorder's Court. He was a member of several local boards, a large shareholder in the 'G-alway Bay Steamboat Company, and chairman of the Board of Directors Galway and Sal thill Tramways Company. KERRY— Serious Fire A serious fire broke out at the farmyard of Mr. Lindsay Talbot Crosbie, Ardfert Abbey, on September 25 Five large barns, in which was stored the whole gram produce of the season of the home farm, were completely demolished, and it was with extreme difficulty the flames were prevented from spreading to the celebrated and valuable Crosbie cattle sheds adjoining. The damage was estimated at £2000. LIMERICK— The Rector of the liJsh College Writing to the Mayor ot Limerick, "Very Rev. Dr. Delany, University College, Dublin, asks leave to associate himself with the ino\ement which is on foot to promote a testimonial to the Very Rev. Dr. O'Riordan. liis claims on the gratitude of Irish Catholics are not, he says, bounded by the limits of the city or county of Limerick. Why Churches are needed Speaking the othei day at (he opening of a bazaar held in connection with the ieno\ at ionY>l the church at Dromin, Limeiick, the Bishop of Luneiick referred to the charge of extravagance in chuich building so commonly made- against the Catholics of Ireland. He said • ' Theie aie a number ot people here, non-Cath-olic-, who join this chorus of criticism, and I assure 3on it nntates me peisonally beyond any power of words to explain to listen to them. When lam coming liom m\ residence at Corbally to Limerick, every day 1 pass our own old beautilul Calhedial of St Mary, built liv Donogh O'Bnen in the twelfth century to the gloi\ <>t God and the honor ol the Blessed Virgin \Lu\, and dedicated to the Mother ot God under the linocation ot her Assumption 1 <ant tell you how my heai t sinks when 1 see hoisted o\er the tower of that old Catholic building, not the symbol of man's ledemption that }ou see o\er our churches, but the I moil Jack of England. And when these gentlemen talk about our building churches, let them think that they are in possession of our own old church and of similar churches all over li eland. It is a good sign, it is a healthy sign, and it is a noble and hopeful sign of the Irish people that they have the generosity and the courage and the spirit of leligion to rebuild their churches once again.' LONGFORD— A New Temperance Hall His Eminence Cardinal Logue opened a new Temperance Hall at Longtoid on September 2j. He was accompanied by I lie Archbishop ot Trinidad, the Bishop of \rdagh and Clonmacnoiso, and the Bishop of Newport. His Eminence wa-> presented with addresses from the Longlord I iban Council and the local branch of the (iaelic League, and deh\ered mteiesting replies. The paity subsequently \isited St Mel's College and other educational establishments m the town, and the Cardinal delueied other speeches m reply to addresses presented to him A New Church The new chuich of Si Bngid, Aidagh, County Longfoid, was consecrated on Sunday, September 21, under tha most auspicious ciicumstanccs Cardinal Logue was present at t-he ceremonies, and the Bishop of the diocese, Dr Iloaie, celebrated the High Mass. The pieacher was the Most Rev Dr. Iledlcy, Bishop of Newport. The Most Rev. Aichbishop Flood, a distinguished Irish Dominican, who presides o\er the See of Trinidad, was also piesent After the consecration an address was presented to the Cardinal, who, in his icplv, said that the effort to revive the spirit of Nationality in Ireland would be usdess if Nationality were not consecrated by religion.

MAYO— A Parish Court In the neighborhood of daremorris the Rev. Father McHugh has established a parish court, which deals with cases of trespass and with personal disputes. Summary justice is administcied by two arbitrators, and it is claimed that this court saves legal expenses and mitigates ill-feeling between disputants. It is stated that the magistrates at the last petty sessions at Claremorns gave it their approval, and rcieired to it foi settlement a number of cases of assault and trespass MEATH— The Bishop's Farewell In the couise of his pathetic farewell address fiom the Bishop of Meath to his people, Dr tiafiney says 'There could be no greater pleasure given to me than to have strcne;ih and sie;ht to woik for Meath in mv short future as in the long past, but the experience of the past lew weeks, when I lived m comparative rest, doing nothing except what was necessary to provide for the wants of the diocese m the quietest way, and yet the strain was most fatiguing, h.is confirmed me in my resolve. There is much work to be done, and it requires a strong hand and heart t« do it. While I hope my retirement will be employed in the better preparation for the end which is fast nearing, 1 shall not forget the co-operation, generosity, and gracious kindness of my flock. And outside its fold there aie many noble spirits to whose genuine wortli I bear glad testimony A spirit ol haimony pi e\ ails on all sides and a toleration not known m the past ' An Old Residence Killeen Castle, County Meath, the lesideiue ol the Earl of Fingall, who is suftenna; iiom concussion ol the brain, the result of a carnage accident, is one of the oldest inhabited residences in lie-land Kinp; John was a guest at Killeen Castle when he was entertained by the ancestor of the present Lord Fmgall, whose peerage as Baron, Killeen dates so far back as 1181. TIPPERARY— Death of a Brother The death is announced of the Rev Biofhei Kki.iu Egan, of Rowkwell College For the past I v entv -nine vc.us he had labored /calously m Ihe college \s manager ol the college farm, Brother Kieran was widely known and respected by all with whom he so irequently came into contact. GENERAL Shabby Treatment At the lequest of the Tie.ianv, the mis-nann d National Hoaul has tamely absented in tin wnhdiaval ol the sum ol LJIHIu a year which ha, bci n paid in fees iov the te.uhmir ol Irish as an e\li.i subnet in the piiiihin schools ol the countiy Irish Kui^uam' and Irish histoiy, and in 'act even thing appei taming io Ireland, aie being banished from the National schools in these magnaies Irishmen and the Faith Bishop lledlev miaht ha\e been an lii-hman, <■ o helingly did he speak in his sermon at \td.m.h ol ll.e faith ol the lush people, and especially ol tin mi.ndian spirits lieland possesses m the saints she has riven to the Chinch 'The seimon w.is ilist mi;iiish< d l.oih by beauty ol expression and lendeiness oi s\mp.iib\ T'ae land, said the Bishop, belongs to the samls \ <>v cannot look o\ei the map without realising dial the saints ha\e taken hold of its ancient boundni les— its kingdoms, its ii\ers, its mountains — and ibiisteued them afresh. You cannot tia\el without v*hc old historic names striking the ear or the o\e, and amusing the mind back to holy memories Not only is thisiem.uk of the Bishop's true, but m the Irish I.mgu.'ge ihe ordinaiy salutations of the people *i\oke blessings lmip Ciod through the intercession of the Blessed \ im;in and Ihe saints II the Irish ha\e proved true to the Faith, the traditions handed dn'ui Horn men who led noble lives ha\e certainly had a powerful influence m pieserving that fidelity and, doubtless, th» Irisli saints have m no small measure helped *<> maintain in all its vigor Ihe spiritual vitality of the race. The Land Purchase Act The latest return of the proceedings undei the various Land Acts brings the statistics down to the end of June By that time applications lor advance 1 - unih i the Land" Act ot I!MH amounting to 423,5J'.),7(M had been received 1 , advances amounting to only 4!(.,?ir>,X \1 sanctioned, and advances imnuntim; to only £I),'22(K!)H issued To _me.cl the block in the Land Puichase, therefore, something more than Iho provision of money is required It is evident that the Commissioner"! have not yet got a staff sufficient to open their envelopes.