Irish News

New Zealand Tablet, 26 November 1914, Page 39

Irish News

GENERAL.

Cardinal 'Logue has .addressed a‘letter to Mr. T. O’Keeffe, the General Secretary of the Irish Evicted Tenants’ Association, in which iiis Eminence says that he has now, as always, sincere sympathy with the evicted tenants. He adds: ‘ I feel that, from whatever cause, their case has been sadly neglected, and any effort made to repair that neglect will liave my best wishes for its success.’ ' '

The death has occurred in Dublin of Mr. E. Haviland Burke, M.P., one of the Whips of the Irish Nationalist Party, and representative of the Tullamore* division, of King’s County since 1900. Mr. Burke wasthe eldest son of the great Edmund Burke’s greatnephew and heir-at-law. He contested Kerry in '1892, South County Dublin in 1896, and North Louth in 1900. He went through the Greco-Turkish War of 1897 as a war correspondent.,.

The registration of voters has always been vigorously looked after in the North, and the present occasion is no exception to the rule. A Revision Court has. been dealing with claims in the County Tyrone, and. the Revising Barrister having finally ruled the lists, acareful scrutiny showed a clear Nationalist gain of,fifteen at Pomeroy. The claim of the Rev. H. McDermott, C.C., Pomeroy, as a lodger was objected to by the Unionists .on a question as to the form of claim,, but was allowed by the Revising Barrister, Mr. S. C. Porter, B.L.

Recruiting has been going on steadily at the Dublin-, headquarters, Brunswick street, at the rate of about. 150 a day. During one week a short time ago there, were days when as many as 200, and in one instance, nearly 250, were dealt with, and, as a result, the staff; in the office has been kept steadily ’ busy. The newlyformed ‘ pals ’ battalion is, we are told, drawing considerable support, the members daily joining it being between 70 and 80 —at least that was the percentage, on a recent Thursday. All enlistments in Ireland arefor Irish corps, with the exception of non-commissioned, officers and men rejoining the colors, who will be sent, to their old battalions.

As regards recruiting in Ireland the War Office, has instructed that students of colleges, schools, members of societies or other associations wishing to join the* Army will be allowed to enlist together, and the military authorities guarantee that as far as possible the. persons so enlisting will be kept together in the samecompanies or battalions so that they will be enabled, to serve with their friends and under the same officers.

The Catholic Earl of Granard, Master of the Horse, to King George, has been appointed to the command of the Fifth Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment. Lord Granard’s brother, the Hon. Fergus Forbes, has. been killed in battle. .

REMARKABLE COINCIDENCES.

‘Old Timer’ writes to the Irish Weekly: — ‘Up. to the present I have not seen any notice in the Irish press of a few remarkable coincidences. The Home Rule'Bill was signed on September 18, 1914, which was. exactly the 47th anniversary -of the Rescue of Colonel Kelly and Captain Deasy from the prison van. near Manchester —an episode of the old struggle for Irish freedom which has certainly left its mark deeply engraved on the course of modern Irish history. Mr.. Will, Crooks, an Englishman, said Ireland”' at Westminster on September 18 this year. The words-, were first spoken in the dock, and under the shadow of.' the; scaffold, by Captain Edward O’Meagher Condon,, who organised the rescue on September 18, 1867—andl .who, most happily, is still hale and hearty, and a steadfast supporter., of. the policy triumphantly carried into effect by the Irish Party and the United Irish League.; His visit to Belfast some years ago on the invitation of Mr.! Devlin, M.P., will be readily recalled. Last Sun-

day—two days after Home Rule was passed-was the 20th of September;, and it was the 111th anniversary of the execution of Robert Emmet in the ■ public thoroughfare of Thomas street, Dublin. Emmet planned and fought against .the hideous consequences following the destruction of Ireland’s Parliament three years previously; and he was amongst the most notable, if he was not the first, amongst the vast multitudes of Ireland’s sons who sacrificed their lives, liberties, possessions, and all that human beings in every country hold most dear to them during the intervening 111 years in the effort to regain the legislative freedom so foully filched from our nation in 1800. Now we have won the main battle. Let us face the ensuing “ affairs of outposts” with stout and confident hearts and spirits.’. The Irish Weekly adds: We thank our correspondent for his timely reminder of notatjje national anniversaries.

THE NATIONAL VOLUNTEERS.

Mr. Redmond has not wasted any time in reorganising the administrative body of the Irish National Volunteers. On September 30 a meeting of 25 members of the Provisional Committee (constituting the majority of the whole membership) was held in Dublin, Mr. Joseph Devlin and Colonel Moore being in attendance. In a’ press report issued it is stated that Mr. Redmond was elected president, and Messrs. J. T. Donovan, M.P., and L. J. Kettle, secretaries of the new committee, Colonel Maurice Moore being appointed officer in supreme command of the Military Council. Resolutions were adopted, authorising the executive to secure central offices, to establish an official organ, to arrange for the holding of a convention,'and to make it known that the National Committee now appointed holds none of the funds that have hitherto passed into the hands of the previous Provisional Committee, and that the new committee can be responsible only for funds received from this date. An appeal was issued for contributions towards organising, equipping, and training the National Volunteer force. The government of the Irish National Volunteers was formerly vested in a National Convention which is to meet at least once in every two years. Pending the first, meeting, the National Committee now constituted will act as a national directory. Mgr. Ryan, of Tipperary, presided at the meeting. The honorary treasurers appointed include Canon Murphy, Macroom ; Mr. William Redmond, M.P., and Mr. John Gore. The trustees are Mgr. Ryan and Mr. Sweeney, chairman of the Carlow Urban Council.

DUBLIN HIBERNIANS.

Much activity is being shown in Hibernian circles in Dublin at present, and a programme has been mapped out for the autumn and winter seasons which might with much advantage be followed all over Ireland. At the Central Club premises in Rutland Square, which are the headquarters of several of the largest divisions, an attractive programme has been arranged. On every Monday night a high-class concert is to be given for the benefit of all the members and their friends. Then a debating society has been established, which will meet on every Wednesday night. This society will be run on novel lines. It will form a representation of an Irish Parliament as constituted under the Home Rule Act; and will discuss current national and political affairs,‘as well as the many reforms which are necessary for the development of the national and economic life of the country. Saturday evenings will be given over to social functions, such as whist drives, etc. In addition there will be lectures, debates, and social functions promoted by individual divisions, so that altogether the coming season will be a busy one with Dublin Hibernians,- and the interest of the members will be maintained. Now that the society has numerous halls scattered all over the country something in this way can be done by the divisions. A special committee should be appointed, by each division possessing a suitable hall or building which would make it its business to provide interesting amusement for its members as well as intellectual entertainment. ■ ,