Irish News

New Zealand Tablet, 17 September 1914, Page 39

Irish News

GENERAL.

Kilkenny Castle, Ireland, is one of the oldest inhabited houses in the world,‘many of the rooms being much as they were 800 years ago. Scannel O’Neil, writing in the Catholic Citizen, says: ‘Lieutenant John G. Porte, who is to attempt to cross the Atlantic in an aeroplane for a prize of £ 10,000, was born in Cork.’ . > While James Forde, Muckross, Co. Leitrim, was having some old stakes which surround St. John’s Island, Muckross Lake, Ballinamore, pulled up that they might be utilised in fencing, the workmen disturbed an ancient oak boat, 12 feet wide and 70 feet in length, which had in it about 18 tons of iron ore and the remains of an ancient shovel. Mr. E. P. O’Kelly, M.P. for West Wicklow, died in London a few weeks ago. He had attended the Party meeting two days previously, and thereafter was taken suddenly ill. Removed to a nursing home, he died, strengthened by the last Sacraments, in his 65th year. The Requiem Mass was celebrated at St. James’, Spanish Place, and the interment took place at Baltinglass. The Irish Party passed a vote of condolence. Journalism has lost a unique character by the death, at the age of 94, of Mr. Benjamin Hughes, who for three generations was connected with the Wexford Independent. Commencing his career ns a working compositor, he went through every branch of the business as printer, proof-reader, reporter, sub-editor, editor,' and proprietor. He took the pledge from Father Mathew, which he kept to the end, and always enjoyed marvellous health. A martyr to duty, Dr. J. J. Nolan, J.P., County Coroner of Carlow, has just been carried- away at his residence, Bridge street, Tullow, by typhoid fever contracted from the patients in the local hospital, whom he was attending during an outbreak in the district: Dr. Nolan had been forty years practising in Tullow, and he had been County Coroner for eighteen years. lie had been all his life unwavering in his fidelity to the national cause, and was vice-president of the Tullow branch of the U.I.L. The annual pilgrimage to the summit of Croagh Patrick, the mountain in Co. Mayo on which St. Patrick prayed that the Irish race might never lose the Catholic faith, took place a few Sundays ago. Thousands of pilgrims attended votive Masses on the summit from early morning until noon. Many of them had remained on the mountain overnight. Sermons in Irish and English jyere preached by Father Fitzgerald, a Dublin Franciscan, and Father Murphy, C.SS.R., of the Redemptorist House, Athenry, Co. Galway. The Yen. Archdeacon Whitty passed, away recently at the Parochial House, Newtownbarry, Co. Wexford. Deceased was born at Buenos Aires, South America, although his parents hail from Kilrane, Co. Wexford. He studied at St. Peter’s College, Wexford, at St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, and was ordained at the House of Missions, Enniscorthy, in 1871. He was appointed in 1897 parish priest of Lady’s Island, where he remained for ten years, during which time he was made a Canon. He was transferred to the Archdeaconry of Newtownbarry in 1907, where he had been stationed for seven years. He was an eminent preacher and lecturer, and he translated from the French a work of Father Lambert. His death was most sudden, and he died in the midst of performing his daily duties. He had attained the age of 65 years.

NATIONALISTS, AND THE LATE MR. JOSEPH -I £s I CHAMBERLAIN. ...f C’.,

Some comment has been made in.,' certain Liberal journals on the fact that Mr. Redmond did not join with"- Mr. Asquith, the Leader of the Opposition, and Mr. Balfour in the eulogies of Mr. Chamberlain which were paid in the House of Commons (says the Man-

Chester Catholic Herald). Mr. Redmond’s silence is easily understood by Irishmen the world ; over, : and they would not have had him act *in any ‘ other way than by refusing to utter sentiments with regard to Mr. Chamberlain which neither he nor any other Irishman can sincerely believe to be true. To the Irishman Mr. Chamberlain was not only an implacable foe out a - renegade and a traitor to a cause of which, prior to his secession in 1885, he was one of the most eloquent and ardent exponents. One has only to read Mr. Chamberlain’s speeches on the Irish question before he. split the Liberal Party and compare them with his cynical and utterly hostile attitude since then to understand, from Ireland’s point of view, the measure of his iniquity. MR. HAZLETON’S RE-ELECTION. Mr. Richard Hazleton has been returned unopposed as Parliamentary representative of North Galway.: He handed to the Sub-Sheriff, who sat in the Courthouse to receive nominations, six papers, which were signed by priests from all parts of the constituency and by prominent public representatives. Mr. John Muldoon, M.P., as the representative of the Irish Party, was present at the nomination. In proposing a vote of thanks to the Sub-Sheriff, Mr. Hazleton said that, while the field was open to one and all to challenge them, no one had come forward, and he found himself once more in the proud and happy position of being their Parliamentary representative. He thought the fact that their position remained unchallenged—and let him say unchallengeable—spoke for itself. Mr. Muldoon, in seconding the vote of thanks, said that he was extremely disappointed that no one had come forward to test the feelings of the constituency of North Galway on issues which were raised elsewhere. DEATH OF A NOTED PRACTITIONER. With deep , regret his numerous friends at home and in many distant lands will ' hear of the death of Sir Christopher Nixon, Bart., which took place a few weeks ago at his residence, Roebuck Grove, Clonskeagh, County Dublin. Deceased, who had long been recognised as one of the leading members of the medical profession in Dublin, where he had many distinguished colleagues, was born in the city where his life was spent, in June, 1849. Me was educated first in the Catholic University School of Medicine, Cecilia street, and later on at Trinity College, where he obtained the M.B. degree. He was also an M.D. of the Royal University. A successful and popular practitioner, he had the honor, some years ago, of holding office as President of the Royal College of Physicians. Other highly valued honors followed. As a member of the General Medical Council, to which he was elected, his advice was freely sought and much appreciated. He was senior physician to the Mater Misericordise Hospital, and in the Chair of Professor of Medicine in University College he gained distinction as a teacher, and won the esteem of the students. Outside the sphere of his profession his varied qualifications were acknowledged, and in more than ' one instance received practical recognition. Among the other public bodies. that conferred honors upon him..were the National University, of which he was the Vice-Chancellor : the Royal Institute of Public Health elected • him to the roll of its Fellows ; and he was appointed , first President of the Royal Veterinary College of Ireland, which he took great interest in establishing. His publications include A Handbook of Hospital Practice and, Physical Diagnosis , and several valuable papers on ‘ Diseases of the Heart and the Nervous System/ In 1895 he was created a knight, and in 1906 a baronet of the United Kingdom.