Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 1, 4 January 1900, Page 9

Irish News.

CAV AN.— Re-union of Cavan Men in Glasgow—The annual re-union of Cavan men in Glasgow took place during the first week in November. The Bishop of Eilmore was to have presided, but was unable to fulfil the engagement. The VicarGeueral, the Very Rev. Father Finnegan, did duty for him, and was supported by the Rev Father McGurrin (another Kilmore priest), the Rev. T. P. O'Reilly, M.R., St. Alphonsus, and the Rev. Fathers O'Driscoll and M'Menenny, St Patrick's, Glasgow. Father Finnegan gave an interesting sketch of the Church's history in Ireland, and short addresses were also delivered by Fathers McGurrin and O'Reilly.

CORK.— Death of a Venerable Ecclesiastic— Many will learn with very deep regret of the death of the Right Rev. Mgr. Mazuire, P.P., of St. Finbars, Cork, an old and much-respected Irish ecclesiastic. Death supervened after an operation which he underwent in London. Mgr. Maguire was a native of Cork, where he laboured long and zealously, and brother of the late Mr. John Francis Maguire, MP. for that city, who years ago took a leading part in Irish politics, was the author of a life of Pius IX. under the title Rome and its Jluler, and proprietor and editor of the Cork Examiner. Mgr. Maguire resembled his distinguished brother in a ready command of fluent and forcible oratory. He was an earnest, practical, and convincing preacher, and full of the missionary spirit which has always characterised the Irish Church. At the time of the Crimean War he volunteered his services as an army chaplain, went through the entire" campaign, administering spiritual consolation to dying and wounded soldiers, often under circumstances of grave personal peril, and on his return had a private audience of the Pope.

DOWN- — Honouring a Venerable Priest —Sunday November 12, was a red-letter day in the history of Catholicism in Banbridge. The old town (says the Irish Weekly) was the scene of an extremely interesting ceremonial, of which the chief figure was the venerable and universally esteemed parish priest, the Very Rev. John O'Brien, V.F. For forty years Father O'Brien has laboured unceasingly among a loyal and devoted people, and gained not only the affection and love of his own parishioners, but the hearty goodwill of all classes of people of other denominations. Fifty years ago Father O'Brien began his priestly career in Newry, and not a few of the Catholics of the gallant old frontier town travelled on Sunday to Banbridge to join in the honour paid him. For the last forty years he has been unwearied in his ministrations to the Catholic people in Banbridge, and his labours have borne abundant fruit in the spiritual and temporal domain. Last year when the venerable priest celebrated his sacerdotal golden jubilee his parishioners approached him with a view to the presentation of a testimonial. Father O'Brien declined any personal gift whatever, and the good people then diverted their attention to presenting their beautiful church with a splendid organ, which will remain as a permanent memorial of the good priest's work and worth. In an appropriate address to Father O'Brien, his people refer to his services in words of the kindliest and tender import. Past and present, they aver in very eloquent words, they have at all times known Father O'Brien as ' an exemplary pastor to your flock, a kindly consoler to those in grief or trouble, an energetic, faithful,: and arduous worker in your high calling, an earnest and able exponent of our faith, and a patriotic son of our common fatherland. 1

DUBLIN. — Trinity College Historical Society -The opening meeting of the 130 th session of the Trinity College Historical Society, at which the Right Honourable the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Lord Ash bourne, presided, took place on Wednesday, November 1. The subject of the inaugural address, which was delivered by the auditor, Mr Ernest Victor Long worth, was ' The Present State of Ireland.' The paper dwelt principally on the encouragement of Irish agriculture and industries, and the auditor based his hopes for the future of Ireland on the fact that now, at last, the people of Ireland were taking their welfare into their own hands. Many men had been working silently for years in the direction of economic reform, and it was chiefly to the success of Mr. Horace Plunkett's movement for the introduction of co-opera-tion amongst the farmers and the establismnent of agricultural banks that induced Mr. Gerald Balfour to introduce his Agriculture and Industries Bill, which has received the sanction of Parliament. The speaker dealt with his difficult subject in a masterly and skilful manner, steering clear of politics with much dexterity. The other contributors to the discussion, who were Mr. Horaoe Plunkett, Rev. T. A. Finlay, S.J,, Mr. Justice Ross, Mr. Brereton Barry, and Lord Ashbourne, admirably acquitted themselves, and throughout the interest of the audience was not allowed to flag for a moment. In the oourse of his able and practical speech the Rev. T. A. Finlay stated that it was a matter of much importance that those who by their intellectual position were capable of influencing publio opinion in Ireland should occupy themselves with the present problem of Irish economic life, for an Irish system of successfully organised industry was the most pressing need of the nation, and without it the Irish, as a nation, could never flourish.

Death Of a Popular Lady. — Widespread sympathy is felt for Mr. T. D. Sullivan, M.P., in the bereavement which he has Buffered through the death of his wife. Mrs. Sullivan was greatly esteemed by a wide circle of friends.

Retirement of Professor Mahaffy.— The impending retirement of Professor Mahaffy from the Chair of Anoient History in Trinity College is announoed. The professor has filled the position for thirty years. The retirement takes place in February.

Death of a Well-known Publisher— The death la announced of Mr. Charles Eason, the senior member of the wellknown publishing firm of Messrs Eason and Son. The deceased was highly respected by all classes in Dublin, where he resided for nearly half a century and built up a splendid business, which is now managed by his sons. His high character and spotless integrity were the admiration of all who knew him.

Death of a Venerable Religious. -Death has deprived the Dominican Nuns, Cabra, of Mother de Ricci Maher, who for over fifty years wan a valued member of the Community and was beloved by all with whom she came in contact. Deceased was born in 1824 at Donore House, Bagnalstown, County Carlow. In 1842 she entered the Dominican Novitiate, in 1843 was professed. While a young nun she was elected Prioress of the institution for deaf and dumb girls, to the furtherance of which she devoted her whole life and with great results.

GALWAY.— St. dolman's Church, Gort.— The interest with which the people of Gort, County Gal way, regard the completion of their church was evidenced by the large numbers who assembled on Wednesday, November 1, to witness the unveiling of the beautiful new shrines in the sacred edifice. The ceremonies were performed after High Mass by his Lordship the Most Rev. Dr. M'Cormack, Bishop of the diocese, who preached an eloquent sermon in which he referred to all that had been so successfully done in extending, completing, and beautifying the church. Few churches in Ireland could boast a larger number of charitable presentations, which in beauty of design and execution were worthy of the first church in the country. In conclusion, his Lordship earnestly appealed to the people to be true to their usual generosity and to help their enlightened and energetic pastor to clear off the debt which had been incurred in the various improvements of their church so that the opening century might see them entirely free from the burden which now weighed on their sacred building.

KERBY.-The O'Connell Memorial Church.-The Very Rev. Canon O'Riordan, of Cahirciveen, left Queenstown on November 1 9 for America. He intends to make a lecturing tour through the States, his subject being the life and character of O'Connell. The proceeds will go towards the completion of the O'Connell Memorial Church. It is to be hoped that the Canon's zealous efforts will win much practical sympathy for the work of completing the fine churoh, the erection of which was commenced by the late Canon Brosnan.

Lord Castlerosse Disfranchised.— it is said that owing to the disfranchisement of Lord Castlerosse at the recent Revision Sessions in Killarney his Lordship is now disqualified to act on the County Council, and he will be compelled to retire immediately.

TYRONE.— The Strabane Guardians and the Sisters of Mercy. — The action taken by the Strabane Guardians in deciding to grant permission to the Sisters of Mercy to visit the patients in the workhouse hospital (says the Irish Weekly) ia in strong contrast to the intolerant and bigoted action of the County Down Infirmary Board, who persist, by a specially framed order, in preventing the nuns visiting the sick of their own creed. At a recent meeting of the Strabane Guardians, on the question being brought forward there was some attempt at opposition on the part of several Protestant members. It is pleasing to learn that this unworthy course was not persisted in, and that finally Mr. M'Caffrey's motion was agreed to in an amended form. By the way, it is a curious fact that the majority of the members of the Down Infirmary who recently voted against the admission of the Sisters of Mercy are military men — at any rate they bear military titles — whether they be on the retired list or on the rolls of the gallant militia battalions matters not. Yet, while these sons of Mars at home are not ashamed to display their intolerance of the nuns the British military authorities at the Cape are glad to aocept their heroio services in the hospitals at Ladysmith and Kimberley.

WEXFORD.— Death of a Priest— The death is reported of the Rev. David O'Hanlon Walsh, which occurred at his residence Kiltealy, County Wexford, during the first week in November. The deceased clergyman was born at Knocktartan, Ballymitty, in 1844. Having pursued his preliminary studies in St. Peter's, Wexford, he went from there to the University of Louvain, where he distinguished himself at his studies. He was ordained by the late Most Rev. Dr. Furlong, and was appointed to the curacy of Cairn. Father Walsh was a zealous and devoted priest, and wherever he laboured he won the warm affection of his parishioners. During the great land agitation Father Walsh played a prominent and important part. He sacrificed a beautiful home for the advancement of the people's cause. He was instrumental in securing very substantial reductions for a large number of the tenants on the Ely Estate, where his unselfish exertions will long be remembered.

A Visit from His Eminence Cardinal Logue.— Hia Eminence Cardinal Logue visited historic County Wexford for the first time recently, and, aa might be expeoted, he met there with a reception which, for genuine warmth and enthusiasm, could not be surpassed even in bold Donegal, his own native county. The object of his visit was to preside at the dedioation of a new church at Ballyfad, near Gorey, which haa been erected by the Very Rev. Canon O'Neill, P.P., who not only raised the funds to build the sacred edifice, but also designed and planned it himself. The Most Rev. Dr. Browne, Bishop of Ferns, the Most Rev. Dr. Brownrigg, Bishop of Ossory, and a large number of distinguished ecclesiastics attended the ceremony. The dedication sermon was preached by the Very Rev. Canon Furlong, P.P., Gorey.

GENERAL.

A Prize for a Medical Essay-— The Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland, offers a prize of £120 for the best eisay on the

state of the medical profession, hospital*, and medical schools of Great Britain and Ireland.

Purchasing Remounts for the Army— During the latter part of the autumn a number of Government agents connected with the War Department were in Ireland and put themselves in communication with breeders of horses and stud owners with a view of purchasing horses and mules. It is understood that several purchases of hunters, young horses, and mules were made.

A Remnant of the Penal Days.— a ward of the Irish Court of Chancery recently determined to enter the Jesuit novitiate. All important steps taken by wards of Court are recorded in minutes, which, in due course, come before the chief clerk of the Court of Chancery. When the minute in this case came before the chief clerk he attached a note stating that the Society of Jesus was an illegal body. The Lord Chancellor then declined to sign the minute, and it stands for argument in the Chancellor's Court.

The Irish Local Government Act-— in a recent issue of the Speaker there is an interesting article by Sir Thomas Grattan Esmonde on the working of the Irish Local Government Act. In the most convincing manner he points out the fact that the gloomy forebodings of those who prophesied for the new local bodies a career of incompetence and corruption have been falsified. He shows that ' in less than six months from the inception cf the Local Government Act practically every Council in Ireland has drawn up its standing orders, organised its staff, compensated retiring officials, made out its schemes for roads and rate collections, discharged the liabilities of its Grand Jury predecessor, and made arrangements for the meetings of its own body. In fine, the entire machinery of Local Government has been set up from one end of the country to the other. In no other country would a similar work have been accomplished with greater speed or with greater efficiency. 1 This is a splendid record for a people who are branded as unfit to manage their own affairs.