IRISH NEWS

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 43, 15 October 1924, Page 43

IRISH NEWS

HARVEST PROSPECTS.—A PROTESTANT BISHOP’S VIEWS.SEVENTH CENTENARY OF THE DOMINICAN’S IN IRELAND.—ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE TO CROAGHPATRICK.—STUDY OF IRISH FOLKLORE.

I have just returned from a pretty long trip through the country and never yet have I seen promise of better crops and a richer harvest (says a contributor to a Homo paper for August 2). In spite of all that one hears as to the rains having destroyed the crops the facts as seen by me during the week-end all point the other way. I have no hesitation in saying that if the ripening period of the next couple of weeks is accompanied by a fair amount of sunshine, this will be one of the best years Irish agriculturalists have been favored with for a long time past. The haulms, or “stalks” of the potato crops present a luxuriance of growth indicative of a very high yield of tubers. The corn crop is very heavy and very little of the corn has been “lodged.” Despite the rains a fairly good proportion, of the hay crop is already fairly safe and root crops of all kinds are, as might be expected,, doing splendidly. Pasture lands have produced nearly twice the amount of pasturage of other years, and if we have had less sun, we have also had less injury to cattle from the activities of the gadfly. All things considered this will be one of the best years the farmers of this country have had for a decade, and when they are doing well the whole country will do well. Despite all the croakings one hears everywhere, any unjaundiced observer passing through the country cannot help thinking that Providence lias been most bountiful to the people of Ireland this year. If the people could only realise their good fortune in living in such a pleasant land, so singularly favored by nature, and learn to make the most of what they have got, good days would be in store for all in this old but ever new country.

Addressing the annual Anglican Synod at Carlow, Right Rev. Dr. Day said that, looking back over the last year, they could find much cause for thankfulness and encouragement. “The country is now settled and peaceful,” he declared. “The Government have faced great difficulties with courage and firmness and have won the admiration of all classes by the way they have done their work. “Under more settled conditions the prosperity of the country has begun to revive, and such isolated .instances of lawlessness and outrage as may occur here and there are being dealt w ith by a strong hand. And among our own people, especially in the farming community, one is thankful to find a growing spirit of confidence and hope. Our people have passed through very troublous and trying times. Many of them have suffered grievous loss ; but rt is most cheering and encouraging to hear them talk. Far from being de° pressed or pessimistic, they are doing their work cheerfully and bravely, living at peace with their neighbors, and looking out to the future with a courageous and trustful spirit. (Applause.) Of course, we are not as many as w r e wmre. Some of our people have left the country. Some have been driven out, and their loss has been felt in many ways. “But I hear that many are anxious to return. “They find they cannot settle down. They cannot make themselves happy outside their native land, and in spite of what they suffered they would rather live in Ireland than anywhere else. (Applause.) After all we Irish churchmen are real Irishmen, with deep patriotic love of our country, and its people which nothing can destroy and we believe we have a place in the life and service of our country, and that it would be vastly the poorer by our loss, and surely it is a matter for satisfaction that members of our community are occupying influential positions and doing valuable work in the public service. One must say that by their fairness and impartiality in making recent appointments that the Government have gone the right way to make Ireland a happy and united country.”

The seventh centenary of the coming of the Dominican Friars to Ireland was celebrated recently in a very special manner in Drogheda, where the Order established its house in 1224. The only relic of this remaining to this day is the venerable belfry tower of the Abbey which stands on an eminence on the Louth side of the town. High Mass was offered at the celebration. Most Rev. Dr. O'Donnell presided. The Mayor (Aid. P. Monahan) and six members of the Drogheda Corporation attended, and a company of the Civic Guard were also present. The church and grounds were very beautifully decorated for the occasion. The following telegram was received from Rome: "On the occasion of the seventh centenary of the foundation of that historic Convent, the Holy Father sends your community, benefactors, and the faithful attending that church the Apostolic Benediction.—Cardinal Gasparr i." His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. O'Donnell, delivered a sermon. The history of Church teaching and the important work in that regard done by the Dominican and Franciscans was traced interestingly. In Dominic's mind the conviction was overwhelming that the best Way to combat heresy was to preach the doctrine of Christ in the spirit of Christ. He resolved to form an Order of Preachers. Like all things destined to greatness, Dominic's project encountered difficulties at the start, but, once Papal approval was secured, the Order grew as if men were multiplied by miracle. In 1216 the Dominicans numbered 16 all told; five years later, when St. Dominic died, they constituted eight provinces, and by the middle of the century they counted 7000. The Dominicans have flourished ever since in the Church, to its great advantage, and with them the Second Order of the Tertiaries. When the Dominicans came to Drogheda they came to a very important town, possessing and professing the same Faith as they preached then and as they preached now. Their convent and church grew into a noble pile on the most prominent site in the place, and Popes and Primates, Kings and Parliaments fostered, the establishment. *» « ' Notwithstanding rigorous weather conditions, the number who ascended Croaghpatrick recently was greater than ever participated in the great pilgrimage before. Wonderful scenes of piety were witnessed. Difficult and trying under the best conditions, the steep climb became doubly arduous in the torrential downpour. As though further to test the ardor of the devout thousands who came from all parts of Ireland to take part in the annual pilgrimage to Croaghpatrick, a day which began with brilliant sunshine closed with rain teeming from, the heavens. A sermon in Irish was preached on this occasion. Masses were celebrated in the pretty little church on the summit from 6 a.m. onwards. * * a Dr. Sydow, Professor of Folklore and Traditional Culture of Sweden, is on a visit to Ireland to gather Irish folklore and cultural traditions. In Dublin he visited Carysfort Training College, where there are 200 nuns from all parts of Ireland following an advanced course in the Irish language. In a brief address to the nuns, Dr. Sydow said that real national culture is preserved by the common people in countries like Ireland and Scandinavia. One must get in touch with the living traditions in the Gaelic speaking districts in story, poem and music. Dr. Sydow will visit Cork, Kerry, the Aran Islands and Tirconaiil..