Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 47, 22 November 1900, Page 9

Irish News.

ANTRIM— A New Training College— On Saturday morning, September 22, the Most Rev. Dr. Henry, Bishop of Down and Connor, solemnly blessed St. Mary's Training College, Falls road, Belfast. The new institution is under the care of the Dominican nuns and is a splendid building. Already there are over 100 teacher* in training there from various centres of the country. To aspiring teachers from the iNorth of Ireland Uit new college will be a gr«at blessing.

DOWN.— A Pleasing Incident.— A Unitarian minister was being ordained at Dromore, County Down, and at the public luncheon after the ceremony a distinguished Catholic cleric not only attenilsd, but spoke. The Rev. Mgr. M'Cartan, the gentleman in question, lamented, in the course of his address, the death of the late Unitarian minister aa 'a saintly pastor who was a favorite minister of the Lord.' Speaking of the kindly relations which existed between ' the Unitarians and my people,' he said : ' We are all made by the same hand of God. Therefore, how can anyone say, " I love God," and at the same time hate his neighbor V

DUBLlN.— lmprovements in the Metropolis.— Here is a list of some of the improvements carried out by the Dublin Corporation within the past few years :— lt has spent over £100,000 in the olearance of insanitary areas, built artizans' dwellings and lodginghouses, erected public baths at a cost of £13,000, and abattoirs at a cost of £16,000. Improvements and new streets have involved a oost of £120,000. It has also built city markets, established libraries, introduced the electric light, a water supply, and improved the drainage of the city.

QALW AY.— lnauguration of a Convent of Mercy— On Sunday, September 23, in Woodford, an interesting event took place. It wm an inauguration of a new foundation of the Sisters of Mercy in the town. There was a large congregation present at High Mass. The Most Rer. Dr. Healy, Bishop of Clonfert, presided. After the first Gospel his Lordship preached a very eloquent sermon, in the course of which he said a convent of nuns, as most of them knew, was a community of holy women who took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and devoted their whole lives to the service of God, and to the poor of God, in accordance with a rule approved of by the Church of God. In other words, they renounce the world to lead the divine life which our Saviour recommended to His own chosen souls by word and example. It was no wonder that such religious communities had always arisen in the Church of God, and have always been regarded as the fairest offering which the Spouse of Christ can make to her Divine Lord, and no other country had, even in unfavorable times, given more of her fairest and noblest daughters to the service of God in the religious life than our own Irish land. St. Patrick in hia confessions recorded, with commingled pride and pathos, how the daughters of the Knights of the land longed to become Virgins of Christ, and how they joyously received the veil at his hands, and in spite of the threats, and sometimes of the persecutions, of their parents. Such was the great St. Bridget, of Kildare, the queen of all nuns of Erin, and others. But they need not go back to ancient times to find the daughters of Ireland giving their pure hearts to the service of God in ieligion. Let them look all over the land, from Fair Head to Cape Clear, and where was there a town, he might say even an important village, that had not its own convent — nay, more, in America and Australia, England and Scotland, wherever the English language was spoken, they would find convents mainly filled with maidens of Irish birth doing the same noble work, and propogating the Gospel by training their pupils to become the holy mothers of families, who would never abandon the faith which they had learned at a pioui mother's knee.

KILKENNY.- Centenary of the Presentation Convent — The centenary of the foundation of the Presentation Convent, Kilkenny, was celebrated on the 25th September with great eclat. The Bishopa of Cork and Ossory were present during High Mass.

LIMERICK —Presentation to a Priest.— The Rev. Gerald O'Connor, who was recently transferred from St. Mary's, Limerick, to Bruff, has been presented with a beautiful silver lamp and writing case by the Women's Total Abstinence Society of St. Mary's parish. The lamp, which is of solid silver, is of chaste design. It bears the following inscription : ' Presented to the Rev. Father O'Connor by the Women's Total Abstinence Society, St. Mary's, Limerick, Bth September. 1900.' The writing case is made of polished oak, and contains a clock in the centre, cut-glass inkholder, and silver candlestick.

LONGFORD— Mr. Justin McCarthy's Retirement.— The retirement of Mr. Justin McCarthy from the representation of North Longford no doubt marks the termination of his work as an active politician. For some time past his health has been in a precarious condition, and he feels that it would be unwise to subjeot it to further strain by attendance in Parliament. There are few men living (says the Catholic Times) who have had more interesting associations with public life in this country than Mr. McCarthy. Coming into contact with Cobden and Bright early in his career, he edited the Star, which was the journalistic exponent of their views. When the Home Rule agitation began to make headway under the leadership of Mr. Paraell Mr. McCarthy entered Parliament, and he proved a valuable lientenant to the Irish chief, for he had gained and waa exercising great power both as a pressman and an author. After division had arisen in the party, the Nationalists who refused to accept Mr. Parnell's guidance showed the esteem in which they held Mr. McCarthy by unanimously electing him as their chairman. Whilst holding that position he failed in the difficult task of preventing diseemion, bat he preserved to the fullest extent the

genuine regard entertained for him by thoee who acknowledged hia political authority. Indeed, he counts amongst his friends not merely Nationalists and Liberals, but many Conservatives for uncompromising as he is in his adhesion to principle, he has ever been distinguished in private and in public life by a kindly and winning courtesy. s

TIPPERARY.-Death of the Pastor of SilverminesThe priesthood of Ireland, and more especially the diocese of Killaloe, have sustained a eevere loss in the death of the Rev. Michael D. Lenehan, P.P., which occurred late on Wednesday A. T -,? ' at^ is residoilc e. Silvermines, County Tipperary, after a short illness. The late Father Lenehan was a typical apeciu.eu u r thp TriPh 'fioegarth.'and hia decease at a comparatively early age will be heard of with regret not only in his native dioceaa oi Killaloe, but throughout the whole south of Ireland

TIPPERARY.-Success of the Christian Brothers' High School —The new Catholic High School recently opened in Clonmel by the Most Rev. Dr. Sheehan is proving a great success The number of pupils already attending is far more than waa anticipated, and the Christian Brothers in charge will have to increase their staff of professors to meet the growing needs of the establishment.

TYRONE.— A Comprehensive Scheme.— Mr. t. w. Russell signalised the opening of his electoral campaign in South Tyrone by a proposal that the Government should buy out the landlords of Ireland holus-bolus, paying them £120,000,000 for their claims on the land, Such a proposal, drastic as it may seem, is neither novel nor impracticable. The principle of laud purchase is already at work in Ireland. Government advances certain sums as loans to the tenants. With such a loan a landlord is bought out. Then the tenant pays the Government as return of the loan the sum he formerly paid as rent to the landlord. In 2" years, at the outside the loan is paid off and the tenant has his land rent free. Mr Kußsell p proposal is merely that the application of this plan should be general instead of partial. The landlords are willing to accept it, for it gives them a fancy price for their interest. This, of course the tenant in the long run would have to pay; but even at that better 20 years' extortion than a rackrent for ever. '

WATERFORD.-A Generous Gift to the Citizens of Waterford.— The Mayor of Waterford (Councillor Alexander Nelson D.L ) has bought the premise* in Lady Lane, Waterford, recently held by Mr. John Adair, and his handed the site over to the citizens for the purpose of utilising it for the erection of a free library, readme: room, ami mn-eam. The miyor's generous action is much appreciated by his fellow-citizens

GENERAL.

The Irish Language Movement.— Sound, practical work is being done by the Christian Brothers in furtherance of the Irish, language movement, which h™ t-iken «uth a firm hold on (he country within recent years. In this patri.,t.c work they are aided and encouraged by their past pupils A number of the latter met in Richmond street school", Dublin, recently and inaugurated a project under which students who distinguish themselves in the study of the ancient tongue will be presented with medals Those present subscribed a substantial sura of money with which to carry out the object in view, thu^ proving the taith that is in them. Guaranteeing Funds for the General Election —The Directory of the United Irish League, at a meeting held m Dublin prior to the General Election, decided to appeal to Irishmen of means to advance on loan to the treasurers of the Parliamentary fund such sums of monoy as they could suitably furnish, the loans to be a first charge on the fund then being raided The following guarantees were immediately forthcoming -—His Gr.ue th» Vrotfbishop of Cartel and Etuly, per Mr Wm. O'Brien. £.;» ; AldJrman Stephen O Mara, Limerick, €500; Captain Donelan, MP £100 • Rev. Father Clancy, P.P , Killimor (for West Clare). £ioo'; William O'Brien, 1100 ; John E. Redmond, M.P., Chairman Iri*h Parliamentary Party, £100 ; Jokn Dillon, M.P., £100; Thomas Sexton £100 • J ° hn ™ mai l < for S° uth Tipperary), £200 ; Frank Mahoney, Blarney, £100; Alfred Webb, £100; Laurence Gnmel) BL £100Joseph Devlin (for Belfast). £200. > ■ •> »

Emigration Statistics-— Mr. Swift MacNvni, M p., did not use extravagant or exaggerated terms when, at a recent meeting in Donegal, after giving some Irish emigration statistics, he exclaimed • What a shocking subject to contemplate ! ' Here are th s figures : «% £ ce 7nB7 n8U ™ D lTel^ nd - in } 9il Bhowed the P°P«lation°to be 8,196,597. The population of the country has been reduced to an appalling extent because of the system of tyranny and injustice. Literally, the life-blood of the country had been ebbing out In Donegal the population in 1841 was 29G.145, whilst in 1897 it was 193,855 The population was now less by 142,51)3 individuals than it was half a century ago. The flow of emigration was also appalling. The number of emigrants during the .10 years waa 109,499, whilst m 1898 2770 emigratory laborers left DonegaHo reap the harvest across the water. This was all due to the system of rackrentmg and oppression— a system which the United Irish League was determined to put an end to. In IS4I in Donegal there were 51,33'J inhabited house?, in 1884 the number had decreased to 37,679, or, in other words, in those years no fetter than 13,710 human dwellings had been destroyed.

A Pathetic Scene.— A very pathetic scene was witnessed at the North Wall, Dublin, on Wednesday 2Gth September, when about 40 young Irish ladies embarked on a holy mission to join the community of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio. Texas These young ladies were drawn, by the same inspiration* from different parts of Ireland. They were seen off by their parents relatives, and friends, with tears of joy and sorrow mingled, and with the best wishes of the large crowd of spectators, amourst whom were a good many priests. *

The National Synod — The proceedings of the Irish National Synod were brought to a dose in Maynooth on Tuesday, September 11, when the anjhbishops, bishops, and other ecclesiastics who took part in the deliberations of the >\> nod, and a large number ot priests from different parts of iho country were present at High Mass. The decisions arrived at will bo submitted to the Holy See for approval. The archbishops and bishops have issued a Pastoral Address to the Irish people not only in Luglish but also in Irish. The usual October meeting of the bishops was not held this year.

A Dramatic Clirmx — The Athletic Union Field Games. held recently on the Columbia Field, New York, had a dramatic climax Th<* cotnpeti H >n f^r pntHng th^ Ifilh ahnf wt« nbnnt- tn begin, and the candidates, including the well known athlete, Sheldon, had formally entered the arena, when the announcer of the events made a jocular remark about their wanting Penis Horgan, and carried on his joke by facetiously summoning the Irish weight-putter to eompct" Thereupon, to the amazement of the onlookers Horpan himself, whose presence was unknown, walked Out from the spectators' enclosure, was allowed to compete, and scored 4*! ft Hin, winning 1 easily. Sheldon was third. Horgan explained that he had only arrived in New York from Ireland by the steamship Saxonia on the eve of the games, and had looked in as a spectator to watch them.