ST. PATRICK'S DAT AT ST. BATHANS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 60, 25 March 1870, Page 3

ST. PATRICK'S DAT AT ST. BATHANS.

And O, it were a gallant deed To show before mankind— Ho\v every race and every creed Might be by love cofabined ! • • • flight be combined, 'yet not forget ; : The fountains-whence they rose, As, filled by many a r rivulet, i ... The stately Shannon flows !■ So sang Tom Davis, one of Ireland's modern poets; and if the brave large hearted - fellow were alive, and at Saint Bathanss on the he would have seen his wish realised on a small scale. He would have seen Scotchmen, Welshmen, Englishmen, and other. Europeans, . cheerfully marching alongside his ■ own countrymen, to tne tune of St. Patrick's. Day in tae morning— good humor ; stamped on every face. ' And here let 3ne state that the only expression I have heard from Irishmen here in connection with the picnic is one of thanks and -gratitude towards all the ladies and gentlemen of 'Welshmans Gully, Hills Creek, Rough Eidge, German Hill and Tinkers Gully, who so- freely accepted their invitation to come and help them to celebrate their national festival. -The music consisted of fifes, drum, flute and concertina, and the performers were Messp. Kelty, Pyle, Dillon; Watson and Gillies. Every person wore a beautiful rosette (the handiwork of Miss llyan) composed of white and green ribbon. To Messrs. G. P. Gilinore and Thos: O'Doud, supported by J. .Marphy and M. Hanrahan, was awki€e'd the honor of bearing aloft tlieir country's flag: —a . handsome piece of green ' bunting, 9 feet by 6, having a beautifully executed harp of gold in the centre, the back of the harp representing a graceful female figure, and at her feet, circling, half-way around her, a beautiful wreath of shamrocks. The procession formed opposite the campat 12 o' clock, and marched to the picnic ground; situ ate below Mr. Allan's station, and miles from town: The day being so fine made the walk out ' very : enjoyable. .After the footmen came the cars, and then ladies and gentlemen on horseback. J The spot, selected was a small terrace of crescent-

shape, with a stream of clear water . washing- its base, and the ground from the roadside gently dipping into it at an angle of 35 degrees, thus forming an admirable natural gallery for those who desired to look on and have a rest at intervals. Arrived there, and meeting the contingent from Hill's Creek and Sough Eidge, the number of persons on the ground was over 250. The refreshments provided * by tae Committee, thanks to their friends of all denominations in St. Bathans, were ample, looked well, and tasted better, and were nicely spread in Mr. King's best style. The stewards were Mr. Wilkes of Hills Creek, and Mr. Brown of Welshmans, with the members of Committee. Mr. Purton. was on the ground from early morning, in order to ' have things ready when the procession ' would arrive, and, with Messrs. Kenny, and Hanrahan, stood by the refreshment board all day; while Messrs. Gilmore, Mallon, Mulvey, O'Regan, !Fitzpatrick, and G-affney were bustling about over the crescent*well pleased to wait on their numerous and welcome guests. After partaking of the good things prepared for the occasion, dancing was gone into, and kept up with great spirit for about an hour, and then a few games, for which trifling prizes were offered, came off with*the following result:— *" Sack Eace, distance 60 yards, J. M'Cormac, Ist; J; Murphy, 2nd. Foot Eace, 200 yards, Gentries, Mr. Robinson, Ist. Hop Step and Leap, T. Hanrahan, Ist. • Boys' Eace. ■ Master "Wheeler, Ist ; Master Smith, 2nd. Boys' Eace, Master Hanger, Ist; Master Dongee, 2nd. Putting the Stone, Mr. Mathieson, lst % Football.—This was a very exciting game played by IS on each, side, and captained by Mr. P. Hanrahan and Mr. P. Barron" respectively. Hanrahan, however, had the strongest team,and the best players, and in a few minutes took the' ball close 'to the enemy's gate ; but here the latter put on steam, and a most -exciting contestensued, lasting for a long time, the jball \ coming to the very goal, and " fouling"! past it several times, and as often sent | back for some distance. The goal was i at last won for Hanrahan by a lucky , kiclt given by Mr. Inder. Dancing continued with-little or no intermission all the time. By this time it was getting late, the "fall in " was sounded on a large bell, and amid many gratulations on all sides for' having spent a very happy day, the people of Hills Creek and Rough Eidge went their way home, and those who came a long distance, and not having time to return to their homes that night, joined the procession on its return to St. Bathans, where.it arrived at seven o'clock p.m. The procession then marched through the town as far as the Montezuma Hotel, at which point it wheeled -round, and, returning up the street, came to a final halt opposite the O'Hara Burke store. Here three cheers were given in honor of St. Patrick and old Ireland, three for the musicians, three for the ladies in general, and Miss Eyan in particular for the great amount of trouble she had taken in making such a large number of handsome rosettes. ; and finally three cheers were given for the residentsof the places already men- - tioned for joining their Irish friends in celebrating St. Patrick's Day ; and so ended what every one present acknowledged to be the "most agreeahle day they ever spent up country. I should have.mentioned that, the .Rev. Father Eoyer rode out with the procession, and remained for, some time, and was much pleased with the cordial soirit he saw manifest ' itself everywhere. I should also say that Mr. M'Phail is very much thanked for the preparations he made in preparing the woolshed for the accommodation of all parties in case of rain. A ball, given by Mr. P. Hanrahan in the evening was well attended, and conducted in a most, sober ard orderly manner.—A.B.C.