Irish News

New Zealand Tablet, 1 June 1911, Page 1015

Irish News

KERRY—Death of a Veteran Priest The death of the Rev. Daniel O’Keeffe, Killeentierna, which occurred at the residence of his brother, Mr. Jere-; miah O’Keeffe, J.P., Mounthawk, Tralee, on April 6,7 removes one of the most genial and popular pastors of y the Kerry diocese.. Father O’Keeffe was born at Killeacle, Ardfert, in 1845. He received his early education at Pierce’s Classical School, Ardfert, and later oh at McCarthy’s Classical School, Tralee. He entered Maynooth in 1865, where his promising collegiate course was marred by several attacks of illness. Despite this, however, he persevered and was ordained priest by Dr. Moriarty at Killarney in 1871. His first mission was Tuogh, where he remained for a year, after which he was transferred to Screen, under the parish priest, the late Very Rev. Canon Davis. After five years there he went to Millstreet, where he worked for.three and a half years under the late Canon Griffin. From Mill street he was transferred to Lixnaw, where for eight years he labored under the late Father Thomas Nolan thence he went to Ardfert, and in 1898 he was promoted to the pastoral charge of Ballyheigue, where he worked zealously until his appointment to the Killeentierna parish. DUBLIN—A Popular Citizen Passes Away h Mr. Edward Kearney, 8.L., a well known and much esteemed Dublin citizen, died at his residence on the North Circular road on April 7. Deceased, who occupied the position of chief clerk in the Lunacy Department, had attained the age of sixty-five. He identified himself with and took a great and practical interest in many Catholic societies and movements. He was one of the founders of the old Catholic Literary Association, afterwards followed by the Catholic Union, which established the Catholic Commercial Club. He was also one of the founders of the recently-established Christian Brothers’ Union, and was made president by his fellow-members. GALWAY—Proposed Sale of an Estate Matters on the Rodney estate have been for some time in a very unsettled condition. The agent, Mr. Kirkin, at the last Quarter Sessions, obtained decrees against some eighteen of the tenants, who have since been in _ hourly expectation of a visit from the bailiff. Early in April a deputation, consisting of some of the tenants, with Canon Geraghty, waited on Mr. Kirwin with a view to arriving at a settlement. Arrangements were made whereby Mr. M. F. Neary is to give up a large farm, consisting of about 200 acres, and Mr. J. Morgan another large grass farm, on receiving compensation, the amount to be fixed by arbitration, the tenants to get the grazing of the farms ponding their sale to the Commissioners, and division amongst small holdings. KILKENNY—Death of a Monsignor The Right Rev. Mgr. Howley, V.G., Dean of Ossory, a distinguished priest, who was held in high esteem by rich and poor alike, died suddenly on April G. Ho retired to rest in excellent health, but shortly after midnight was taken ill and expired in a short time. Monsignor Howley was ordained at Maynooth College in 1863. He was intimately associated with most of the events that have taken place in the diocese of Ossory ever since. Every good work has had his whole-hearted sympathy and support. He was, before all things, a model priest, sincerely devoted to the interests of his flock. Charitable, sympathetic, and ever in close touch with his people, he was an ideal pastor. "While mainly devoted to his spiritual duties, he was keenly interested in the temporal welfare of the people. He was a sterling Nationalist, and took an active part in all the National movements of recent years. He was looked up to and universally esteemed'by his brother clergy. WATERFORD—PubIic Performances in Lent The Waterford Corporation, by resolution, prohibited public performances in the City Theatre during Lent, with the exception of St. Patrick’s Day. WESTMEATH—Gathering of the Clans Under the auspices of the Association of the Irish Clans preparations are being made throughout the Midlands for a notable Irish gathering which is to be held at Enfield (Westmeath) on Whit Sunday (says the Freeman’s Journal). On that occasion there will be a gathering of the six Irish clans, a spectacle that has not been seen in Ireland since the days of Elizabeth. The purport of the revival is to establish great Irish games and musical festivals—-to revive the ancient ‘ Gathering of the Clans ’ — which it is expected will be attended by Irishmen from other lands. A very special feature of the approaching festival will be the appearance of the colored plaids, or tartans, of the clans. The day will be devoted to com{jetitions and tournaments of skill in dancing, singing, larp and pipe playing. The undertaking, which is creating much local enthusiasm, has the active support of such distinguished Irishmen as Lord Inchiquin, Sir Michael Q’Loghlen, Bart., the Very Rev. Canon McNamara, the

Rev. John Quinn, M. O’Carroll (of Ely O’Carroll), and many more representatives of the ancient Irish houses; For the dancing and’ singing competitions many ' valuable prizes will be given. An imposing element in the .gathering of the day will be the presence of the various war pipers’ bands of Ireland in traditional national costumer Judging from the preparations being made and the great number of excursion trains arranged for. the occasion, the gathering will be as large as it promises to be notable. . WEXFORD —White Gloves for the Judge . C. .. County Court Judge Barry, on being presented with white gloves at New Ross Quarter Sessions on April 6, said he attributed the crimeless condition of County Wexford to two —the remarkable advance made in the cause of temperance, which had been so - successfully promoted by the clergy, and the fact that the people, by land purchase, had acquired a real interest in their holdings. ’ GENERAL A Cable Telephone Mr. John Lee, 8.A., Telephone Traffic Manager of the General Post Office, London, delivered an interesting lecture at Liverpool recently under i the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce, on 1 The Post Office and the Telephone,’' He said they had decided to build a cable from Holyhead to Ireland, fifty-six miles long. This would be the longest telephone cable in the world, and if their experience and experiments gave trustworthy results it . would enable them to give the public good speed to all parts of Ireland at a reasonable charge. One cable, containing three pairs of wires, from Holyhead would cost them £75,000. ‘ It is your money,’ he added, ‘ and it must be spent with due regard to the great responsibility. We do not shrink from the responsibility, and where we have vast sums of money to handle successfully it can hardly be said, if we are duly cautious and hesitant, that the Post Office is not enterprising. If it were our own money we might build many cables from Holyhead to Kingstown, but it is your money, and it is a great charge.’ ' St. Patrick’s Day in Panama St.- Patrick’s Day was celebrated throughout the Panama Canal ■; zone with more than usual"enthusiasm this year. Irish exiles, Americans, and, in fact, almost every nationality represented on the Isthmus, were ‘ patriotic Irishmen,’ ; The banquet given by the Irish Catholic Club at the Cristobal Hotel was attended by 250 men and women, principally Americans ami those of Irish descent. Formal celebration of thp day was also observed by the Knights of Columbus, Panama Council. ~1-.. The Irish Trade Mark ; ; ' Much more valuable to this country, and of far- greater importance to all its people than the negotiations for an Alliance between Great Britain and the United States against Germany, is the effort made by the leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party to secure legislative and official recognition for the Irish Trade Mark in-the great American Republic (remarks the Irish Weekly). Mr. Redmond’s action has been timely and practical and, with the cooperation of our people across the Atlantic, it should result in a concession of vast importance to Irish manufacturers and all the Irish workers dependent upon the prosperity of our industries. His letters to President William Howard Taft are an extremely able presentation of the Irish case. There is an immense market in the United States- for Irish-made goods. ' Canada is willing to alter her entire financial system in order to get her agricultural produce into the Eastern States under favorable tariff conditions. Though high tariffs militate against the success of Ireland’s efforts to place many manufactured articles before the American purchasing public, the industrial population of this country is far more seriously handicapped by the practical' impossibility of identifying Irish goods across the Atlantic. Belfast linen cannot be ‘ imitated ’ to any great extent, because America is not a linen-making' country, and the olden reputation and extensive importation of the local staple manufacture in the States tell against serious attempts at fraud. But even linen manufacturers will find it profitable to adopt and utilise the Irish Trade Mark if Mr. Redmond’s efforts succeed in securing its legal recognition in the States as the ‘hallmark of goods ‘made in Ireland ’ while those engaged in a hundred minor industries can appeal to the patriotism of the immense Irish population of the Republic, and to all Americans who are friendly towards this country, under circumstances more advantageous than those enjoyed by manufacturers in any Other European territory. When American purchasers learn to recognise the Trade Marlas the certificate of real worth and the infallible token of genuineness, they will look for Irish-made articles and buv them with .the certainty that they are not being deceived. Where Toleration is Practised : . Mr. Stephen Gwynn, M.P., writing in the Scotsman. says: — ‘ Mr. Sinclair writes that the : effect of Mr, Birrell’s Irish Universities Bill has been “to make Irish University education sectarian in three-fourths of Ireland,” and that the National-- University, although a handful of Protestants are on its governing body, is Roman Catholic from top , to bottom,’.’ ~ I am closely associated with’the working of the Universities Act, and I sgy that a more ignorant

statement could not be penned. The colleges are Catholic in the same sense that Oxford and Cambridge are Protestant; most of the students and professors are Catholics. That they are sectarian 1 deny. Recently the governing body in Galway, Catholic by two to,one, had to recommend two professors, one of law and one of engineering, for appointment. They recommended two, Protestants in each case, against well-qualified Catholic competitors; and this although Catholics are very inadequately represented on the teaching staff. In Dublin, Professors Hyde, Mae* Alister, Mac Neill, Oldham, MacClelland, and Crofton are Protestants; all new appointments except Professor MacClelland, who was employed previously by the Jesuits. Sir Thomas Drew, lately deceased, was another distinguished professor of the same religion. Turn now to Belfast. There is, I believe, one Catholic on the staff, a priest appointed to teach scholastic philosophy; and the Senate have been, actively emplpyed in trying to get rid of him. The statutory commission, recognising the importance of making Belfast attractive' to Catholics, withheld this Chair, it being the view of the Roman Church that no student should be set to study metaphysics and morals without reading the distinctively Christian philosophy as well as the nonChristian. The result has been that Catholics have come in great numbers to this Protestant-manned institution. It would almost seem that the Senate deprecates this mingling of the two elements in the University, and are actually trying to check this unsectarian movement by abolishing the Chair. Finally, let me recall that under Mr. Balfour’s Ministry the principalship of Belfast fell vacant. It was demanded as of right that a Presbyterian clergyman should be appointed, and the demand was granted; though in Galway, where 95 per cent, are Catholics, the principal has been a Protestant for all but about two years in the last half-century. I ask your readers to consider fairly which part of Ireland has the more sectarian spirit, and to value Mr. Sinclair’s views in the light of their conclusion.’ Financial Relations’ Committee The names of the committee who have been appointed I to ascertain and consider, amongst other things, the existing financial relations between Ireland and the other component parts of the United Kingdom, and to distinguish, as far as possible, between Irish local expenditure and Imperial expenditure in Ireland,’ have been published; and they are names that invite general public confidence — especially when it is known that the work of the committee is being carefully watched by the leaders of the Irish Party who, in their turn, have the advantage of skilled assistance from outside their own ranks. In Ulster (says the Irish Weekly) we know Lord Pirrie, and his name inspires confidence. Outside Ulster the Right Rev. Bishop of Ross is esteemed one of the ablest and shrewdest of Irish economists—a prelate practical to his finger-tips. Mr, Adams was until quite recently Chief of the Statistical Section of the Irish Department of Agriculture; and .under his supervision the first efforts were made to measure the volume of Ireland’s import and export trade. The English members are all experienced financiers; and we shall assume their disposition to be as just as were the majority of the members of the Childers Commission seventeen years ago. When the committee’s ‘findings’ are published they can be examined. Until then the members can claim public forbearanceif assistance cannot be rendered them. Progress of Land Purchase Replying to a question in the House of Commons , the' other day, Mr. Birred stated that the rate at which estates, the subject of pending purchase agreements, are dealt with, and the purchase money advanced, depends not only on the amount of money which may be available during each year, but also on the number of vendors who may elect to accept payment either wholly in stock, partly in stock and partly in cash, or who decide to wait for payment in cash. Under the regulations vendors have up to April 1 in each year to elect for the succeeding year to accept payment either wholly or partly in Stock, and the Estate Commissioners cannot possibly forecast how many vendors may so elect each year, or the amount of money which may be available for land purchase in such year. The amount of advances made under the Irish Land Act, 1903, in each of the last five years is as follows; Year ending March 31, 1907, £5,941,348; year ending March 31, 1908, £5,156,904; year ending March 31, 1909, £6,562,801; year ending March 31, 1910, £7,062,082; March 31, 1911, £7,344,952.