Irish News

New Zealand Tablet, 14 September 1911, Page 1811

Irish News

CLARE—Retirement of a Schoolmaster The announcement is made of the retirement from active duty of a notable figure in the educational life of the County Clare. In response to the demand which ; advancing years makes for rest, Mr. Patrick O'Grady, master of the Caher National School, retires on a pension,, after fifty-seven years of unbroken service as teacher in the parish of Feakle. Mr. O'Grady was an able educationist, and he also taught by the force of his own good example. His old pupils have found their way into many quarters of the globe, and the ■ prayers and good wishes, as well as those of numerous other friends, will follow Mr. O'Grady into his retirement. Opening of a New Church The erection of churches proceeds quietly but steadily throughout the country, affording proof that the Faith which St. Patrick brought to Ireland still burns brightly. Seldom a week passes that some new church is not dedicated, or an old one re-opened after being improved. On Sunday, July 23, at Ruan, in County Clare, St. Mary's Church, which was erected through the exertions of Father John Garry, P.P., was solemnly dedicated by the Right Rev. Dr. Fogarty, Bishop of Killaloe, in whose diocese it is situated. His Lordship presided at High Mass, which was attended by a large congregation. The Right Rev. Dr. Gilmartin, Bishop of Clonfert, preached the dedication sermon, which was one of great power. He said the church that was opened that day would be known as St. Mary's of Ruan. It would not be less acceptable to God because it was called after His own Mother, nor would it make it less dear to a people to whom devotion to the Blessed . Virgin was as the air they breathed. After Mass, the Right Rev. Dr. Fogarty, addressing the large congregation, said there was only one drawback to the festivities of the day, which had passed off so well, and that was the absence of their beloved parish priest, Father Garry, owing to a bad accident. He thought he was not exaggerating when he said that only for Father Garry they would never have had the courage to begin that church, and it was to him, under Heaven, that they owed its erection. It was Father Garry's great popularity as a priest, who had spent his life in fighting for the rights of the people, that attracted so much support and sympathy towards their big undertaking from people outside the parish. In concluding the Bishop said the ways of God were wonderful, and it had really been a blessing to Ireland that the people had been obliged to support their religion by their voluntary contributions. While the Faith was dying in Portugal, France, and Italy, and other countries, it was flourishing, thanks be to God, in Ireland. There were many reasons for that, but one was that the people had always been making sacrifices for their religion. CORK—-An Eminent Gaelic Scholar The Very Rev. Canon O'Leary, Castlelyons, has received the following letter from the Right Rev. Dr. Browne, Bishop of Cloyne: —' My dear Canon O'Leary, —I have read in the newspapers of to-day with great delight and a general feeling of commendable pride as Bishop of Cloyne, that you are to receive the Freedom of Dublin capital of your country recognition of your eminence as a Gaelic scholar and of your many books of highest linguistic excellence in our native language. You are bracketed in this honor, very properly, with the first scholar in Europe in the depart- • ment of Gaelic studies, Dr. Kuno Meyer. I offer you personally my heartfelt congratulations; and I thank you, in my position of Bishop of Cloyne, for the distinguished honor you have brought to this diocese of Cloyne by your literary eminence in Gaelic learning.' DOWN— Lough Neagh Fisheries The ' decision of the English Law Lords on the question of the rights of the Lough Neagh fishermen was received with consternation, followed by the deepest

indignation, not only by the fishermen and . their dependents, but by the whole country. From time immemorial the people have enjoyed the privilege of fishing in the Lough, and now (says a correspondent of the Daily News) their precarious living has been f swept away by the decision of the Lords. In all there are about 800 fishermen, splendid specimens of Irish manhood, and on these depend about 3000 souls for their livelihood. Interviewed on the subject, Mr. Francis J. Biggar, of Belfast, who has taken a keen interest in the struggle, said the feeling all round the Lough was naturally very bitter. The fishermen had never had anyone to lord it over them in regard to their rights to fish in the Lough, and now, after centuries of undisputed possession of their rights, they were told that they were poachers and outlaws fishermen being, in point of fact, the most law-abiding community of men in Ulster. The men, however; do not by any means intend to desist from fishing, and they will, acting on the highest advice they could get in the land, continue to pursue their avocation as usual. DUBLIN—The Augustinian Order A Chapter of the Irish Province of the Augustinian Order was held on July 18, in the Convent of St. John the Baptist, Thomas street, Dublin. The Right Rev. Father Rodriguez, Prior-General of the Order, presided, and the Very Rev. Father Maurice McGrath, D.D., late Rector of St. Patrick's, Rome, was elected Provincial. A Distinguished Journalist The passing away, after a brief: illness, of Mr. Charles Ryan, who for over thirty years was a member of the reporting staff of the Freeman's Journal, paused profound regret not only amongst the members of the profession with which he was so long and honorably associated, but throughout Ireland. In the discharge of his duties during the King's visit Mr. Ryan suffered sunstroke and had to be moved to his residence in Rathgar, where he was attended by Surgeon McArdle, Dr. Cox, and Dr. Thornton. Notwithstanding their unremitting attentions, he expired on July 22. Mr. Ryan was born of Irish parents in Newport, near Cardiff, and educated at Ratcliffe College, Leicester. His first engagement was on the staff of the Cork Examiner, to which he was attached for some years. In 1876 he joined the Freeman's Journal, and his connection with that paper was indeed a varied one. He was present at many scenes during the land agitation. He was the chief of the Freeman's Journal reporting staff, to whom the old Irish Party entrusted exclusively the reporting of debates in Committee Room Fifteen, and the task of supplying full reports of the proceedings to the English and the Irish press; and he was the chronicler of the incursion into Canada by Mr. William O'Brien to attack the Viceroy, Lord Lansdowne, over the Plan of Campaign evictions at Luggacurren. It is a circumstance worth recalling that the Times and the other London dailies contained laudatory notices of the manner in which the Freeman staff under Mr. Ryan supplied them each evening with full and accurate reports of the proceedings in Committee Room Fifteen, which led to .' the Parnell Split,' as it has since come to be known. Mr. Ryan was admittedly one of the most expert shorthand writers in the United Kingdom, and was frequently engaged, reporting the proceedings of Royal and Vice-Regal Commissions. A man of remarkable literary attainments and possessing a charming manner, he was esteemed by everyone who knew him. The attendance at his/funeral bore striking testimony to the great regard in which he was held. : His memory will long be cherished in the city in which he spent the greater part of his life and to which he was deeply attached. KERRY—Death of a Venerable Killarney Man The death of Mr. Michael Cahill, of Shanacluan, Lower Beaufort, Killarney, took place on July lo! The deceased was in his 81st year. His three sons' Rev. Brother Andrew, 0.F.M., Glasgow; Rev. Brother Lambert, 0.F.M., Buckingham; and Rev. Brother Pascal, 0.5. F., Galway, had the consolation of being present in his last moments, * - *

LIMERICK—Diamond Jubilee of an Archdeacon After a brilliant collegiate course, Ven. Archdeacon Roche was ordained on July 21, 1851, and ministered as curate for fifteen years, when he was appointed to a parish. Subsequently he was promoted to a more extensive one, and twenty years ago he was transferred to Glin, where he has since labored unceasingly for the spiritual and temporal interests of his flock, who love and esteem him for his saintly life, nor is this deep affection confined to the members of his own faith. His zeal as an educationist has been fraught with the best results for the youth of Glin. His open-handed generosity to the poor is unbounded, and as an ardent supporter of the Irish Party he has whenever the occasion presented itself given proof of the political faith that is in him. Out of his slender means he has made God's househis parish church—a thing of beauty. Though now in his 88th year, thanks to a splendid constitution, he enjoys good health, and his people one and all hope and pray that he will be long spared to guide their footsteps. MAYO—Restoration of Stolen Property The precious stones which were removed and taken away from the door of the tabernacle in the new church, Claremorris, about three or four months ago, have been returned by registered letter. The outrage at the time created the greatest. indignation, but public feeling has now been appeased, by this act of restitution. The announcement of the restoration of the stones, which were rare and costly, was received with feelings of the greatest satisfaction. The re-setting of the stones in their positions is now only a matter of detail. WATERFORD—Death of a Canon The death occurred at Kilcop, Passage E., County Waterford, of the Very Rev. Canon Flynn, of Crooke and Killea, on July 20, at the age of 70 years. The deceased priest was a native of Dungarvan, 'and was ordained in 1853. His earlier years as a priest were spent in the diocese of Limerick. Canon Flynn was very highly esteemed for his zeal and kindliness, and his death has caused the keenest regret throughout a very large area. WEXFORD—Death of a Well-known Man After an illness of a few weeks' duration, the death took place at his residence, Ballybrennan House, of Mr. John Eyre, on July 16. The deceased, who was about 74 years of age, was senior partner of that well known commercial establishment, White's Hotel, Wexford. He took a prominent part in many local movements, notably that of the Barony of Forth Farmers'. Association, and was held in the highest esteem by all creeds and classes.