Irish News

New Zealand Tablet, 23 November 1911, Page 2371

Irish News

ANTRIM—The Glory of Clonal*! The splendid church which has been provided by the Redemptorist Fathers for the people of Clonard, West Belfast, was solemnly dedicated by the Right Rev. Dr. Tohill, Bishop of Down and Connor, who also preached the dedication sermon. In concluding his Lordship said there was once in Ireland another Clonard— the territory of Meath, near the banks of the Boyne. Its monastery was one of the most celebrated of the sixth century. Its founder, St. Finian, came to be known as the 'Tutor of the Saints of Erin,' owing to the number of holy men that were trained under his influence. The writer of his life said that his school and monastery was in quality a holy city, full of wisdom and virtue. The Dane, the Norman, and Dermot McMurrough—an evil name in Ireland's history—blotted out the Clonard of St. Finian. The spiritual glory of ancient Clonard, he felt confident, would be revered in that new Church of St. Alphonsus, and Christ's work of teaching, sanctifying, and directing souls in the way of salvation and perfection would be well and faithfully done, as it had been done for the past fifteen years in the adjacent temporary church. CORK—Evicted Tenant Provided for Mr. Michael Keohane, of Newtown West, Ban try, who was evicted in 1880, has been allotted by the Estates Commissioners about 40 acres of the townland of Ardaneny, near Durrus, together with a grant of £3lO to enable him to erect buildings on the holding and stock the land. Mr. Keohane attributes his good fortune in getting this grant to the efforts of the United Irish League and Mr. Daniel O'Leary, 8.L., Bantry, on his behalf. DERRY— Discovery of Iron Ore In the last six years prospecting work showed several fair seams of iron ore on Slievegallon, County Derry, but a discovery in the present year bids fair to outrival all precedent. In the bed of a stream in the mountain, near a property formerly exploited by Mr. Stopford, a seam of ore has been uncovered showing very rich ore. The company interested have bought up the mineral rights of about 800 acres of the mountain, and prospecting work is beginning immediately under the supervision of Mr. Mitchell, M.E. DONEGAL—Church Dedicated The beautiful new church which has been erected at Edinifagh, near Glenties, through the exertions of Canon McFadden, formerly pastor of Gweedore, was dedicated recently by the Right Rev. Dr. O'Donnell, Bishop of Raphoe. His Eminence Cardinal Logue preached on the occasion. He said it was fitting that a people so devoted to the Holy Mother of God should have provided for them a building in which they could give fullest expression to their devotion. It was specially fitting that that temple should be thrown open to them on the great Feast of the Holy Rosary. Having dwelt eloquently on Ireland's devotion to the Blessed Virgin, he spoke of Catholic and national progress, and said a prominent English politician said recently that the Irish people were prepared to give up their religion for Home Rule. Happier days, he trusted, were dawning for their country, but if they came they must come with the unclouded light of God's blessing brightening their morning, flashing on their noontide, and shedding on their eve that rosy glow which' promised the calm of everlasting peace; otherwise they would have none of them. No, the Irish people would not give up their religion for Home Rule. Had they given up their religion in the past, they would long since have had Home Rule, or rather, they would have no need for it; they could have fully participated in the emoluments, the honors, the influence, and the glory of the Empire. DUBLlN—Reform of Education Board A public meeting held in Kingstown unanimously adopted resolutions, proposed by Mr, Rochford, D.C.,

demanding the reconstruction of the National and Intermediate Education Boards, so as to bring them into line with Irish educational work. Mr. P. H. Pearse, 8.A., 8.L., urged radical reform of the Board on national lines. Mr. William Field, M.P., said a revolution in the Irish system of education was absolutely necessary. The Lord Lieutenant had no right to nominate a Board of this kind. The people would not tolerate the anti-National Board much longer. The sooner there was an insurrection against the present system the better. Mr. William Redmond, referring to the attitude of the Irish Party towards the language movement, said that any Irish politicians he had any friendship with never refrained from active work in the language movement because of want of sympathy, but because they were engaged in other work, which the people who elected them considered they should devote their attentions to. He heartily supported the resolutions calling for the reform of the existing Boards. Mr. P.. O'Daly also spoke. KILKENNY—Wedding Bells In the O'Loughlin Memorial Church, Kilkenny, on September 29, took place the marriage of Mr. Thomas J. O'Loughlin, of Killarney Villa, Ballarat, and Miss Kathleen Murphy, fifth eldest daughter of Mr. James Murphy, Bally bur Castle, Kilkenny. The handsome church in which the ceremony took place was the gift of the bridegroom to the parish of St. John's. His Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. Brownrigg performed the ceremony and celebrated the Nuptial Mass. Amongst the clergy attending on him was Canon Mackey, uncle of the bride. LONGFORD—A Priest's Benefactions On September 8, 1798, General Blake, one of the leaders of the Irish forces during the Rebellion, was mortally wounded at an encounter with the English at Ballinamuck, his men, who numbered 3000, worn out by fatigue and lacking a sufficiency of ammunition, being defeated by Lord Cornwallis with a force of 30,000 strong. He was interred at Tubberpatrick, his grave being marked by a grassy mound surrounded by a roughly carved stone. Now, however, thanks to the patriotism of Very Rev. Lawrence Cosgrove, of Rosemount, Minn., U.S.A., an appropriate memorial to General Blake is in course of erection over his last resting-place. Father Cosgrove has been ever mindful of the district, and has made many presentations to the churches in the district, Legga, Moyne, Drumlish, and Ballinamuck churches being recipients of his benefactions. Only twelve months ago a beautiful set of Stations of the Cross was erected by Father Cosgrove in Tubberpatrick. MAYO—A Priest Honored Rev. Father D'Alton, the author of the History of Ireland, who is parish priest of Ballinrobe, County Mayo, has been raised by Most Rev. Dr. Healy, Archbishop of Tuam, to the dignity of Vicar Forane and Canon of the Cathedral Chapter. It is said that Canon D'Alton is at present engaged on another important work. MONAQHAN—An Eleventh Century Crucifix There is at present being exhibited in Belfast (says the Irish Weekly) a unique example of ancient Irish art which is well worth inspecting. It is a bronze crucifix dating from the 11th century, and still almost perfect. It was recently discovered in the parish of Donagh, in County Monaghan (where the ancient Irish Cross was set up again during the past summer), and is now restored, and about to be handed over to the Cathedral of St. Macarten at Monaghan by Mr. Shane Leslie, of Glasslough. This was considered a more interesting and instructive way of presenting such a relic, where it would be put to its old use, than simply having it conserved as a specimen in a museum. The cross, which is twelve inches high, was doubtless a processional one, as could be seen by the rivet holes at its base, where it was jointed into the staff. The head and the arms have enlarged terminals, each of which was jewelled and ornamented in the old Irish way with silver and precious stones.

WEXFORD—GoIden Jubilee of a Convent The golden jubilee of St. Mary's Convent of the Faithful Companions of Jesus, Newtownbarry, County Wexford, was celebrated with great solemnity and rejoicings recently, the town being en fete for the occasion. Right Rev. Dr. Browne, Bishop of Ferns, presided at the High Mass, and there was a great attendance of clergy. Not Competent Judges A committee of twelve members of the New Ross (County Wexford) Board of Guardians had before them recently tenders for whisky for the workhouse. They had discussed the matter for half an hour, after which they brought the various samples to the chairman, saying: 'We are all teetotallers, and we cannot agree as to the best sample.' 'Go back and bring in a verdict,' said the chairman, amidst laughter. They went back, and eventually a choice was made. Only One Criminal Case Judge Brereton Barry opened the New Ross (County Wexford) Quarter Sessions on September 28. There was only one criminal case —a larceny casein which the accused, who is an ex-soldier of the English army, was bound over. At the previous Quarter Sessions there was not even one criminal case before the Court. GENERAL Agricultural Returns The Department of Agriculture has issued a return showing the acreage under crops and the numbers of live stock in Ireland in the year 1910-11. It states that the total area of corn and green crops, including flax and fruit, amounted in 1911 to-2,348,821 acres, as compared with 2,371,134 acres in 1910, a decrease of 22,313 acres, or 0.9 per cent. There is an increase in Minister of 1823 acres, or 0.4 per cent., and in Connaught of 4201 acres, or 1.4 per cent. There is a decrease in Leinster of 22,329 acres, or 3.5 per cent., and in Ulster of 6008 acres, or 0.6 per cent. The area under flax is 66,618 acres in 1911, as compared with 45,974 acres in 1910—an increase of 20,644 acres, or 44.9 per cent. The increase is general throughout the flax-growing counties. The total area of fruit is returned in 1911 at 14,045 acres, as compared with 12,994 in 1910—an increase of 1051 acres, or 8.1 per cent. A Protest Mr. Pearce O'Mahony, ex-M.P., writes to the Irish newspapers protesting, as a Protestant, against the statement of the Right Rev. Dr. Bernard, Protestant Bishop of Ossory, that the majority of the members of the Protestant Church in Ireland are opposed to Home Rule. Substantial Dividend At the ordinary general meeting of the proprietors of the Ulster Bank, Ltd., the statement of accounts of the working of the Bank for the past year showed that the net profits over that period amounted to £115,974 15s Id, or, adding the balance brought forward from last account, £153,065 16s sd. ' Two halfyearly dividends and bonuses, amounting to £IOO,OOO, equal to 20 per cent, for the year, had been paid. Land Sales to Tenants A report of the Estates ♦Commissioners under the Irish Land Acts, 1903-9, issued as a Blue-book, states that the advances made of all classes of sales amounted to £7,190,483 in the year ended March last, and from November 1, 1903, to March last, £41,097,939.