Irish News

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 34, 20 August 1903, Page 9

Irish News

CORK. —Death of a Priest

The death is announced of the Rev. T. M. O'Callaghan, Rathcormac, County Cork. Father O'Callaghan was well known throughout the diocese of Cloyne, not only as an eloquent and devoted priest, but as a sterling patriot, who was always an energetic and enthusiastic worker in the National cause. In the beveial paribheh with which he was connected during his missionary career he never failed to do solid and substantial work for faith and fatherland. There was no room for National apathy in the arena where Father O'Callaghan ministered, his enthusiasm was infectious, and local organisation was always the better for the part he took in it. In the days of stress and trouble he did not shirk the ordeal, and at many conventions he was a prominent and eloquent figure who always dared to stand up for the right against all odds. It is sad to think that death Should have claimed him just at the moment when the cause for which he battled so ardently and so long seems to be on the threshold of success. A Profitable Crop

The growing of early potatoes for the English markets seems likely to become a most profitable source of income for the farmers of the South of Ireland. Several growers in the Clonakilty district (Cork) laid down land for this purpose some time ago, and as a result thdy have done remarkably well, the crop having turned out a big success. Early in June the dealers went into the district from England and bought up the growing crops as they stood, paying at the rate of £40 an acre for them, and undertaking all the expenses of lifting and marketing the tubers. At this price whole fields have been purchased, and the farmers are jubilant at their success. A crop that will secure £40 per acre net from buyers must be a paying one for the cultivators. Further, as the result of the tests the growers say they can markeft their early potatoes a week or a fortnight earlier than the English growers do. They intend in future years to extend operations considerably. In trade distributive circles the success of these South of Ireland potato-producers has caused some excitement, for the areas suitable for the business in the County Cork and elsewhere are more extensive, and dealers see that early potatoes from this new centre will certainly affect production. The handsome margins left over after allowing for all expenses in culture has somewhat surprised even the Irish potato-raisers themselves Next season the output will be trebled at least, and within a year or two probably thousands of acres will be devoted to the crop by local growers. When the usual expense of railway carriage, salesmen's commission, and market tolls are considered, it will be seen that the price paid is really equal to £50 per acre DERRY-— St. Eugene's Cathedral

In the early part of June the work that had been going on at St Eugene's Cathedral spire for the last tlm\e years was brought to completion by the erection of a beautiful cross of Ncvvry granite on its summit. Catholic citizens one and all fervently longed for this day, and all now are gratified by seeing the giaceful spire and tapering cross rise over the majestic pile and by hearing the musical notes of the magnificent peal of bells ringing out from its turrets. The cross is eight feet in height and weighs about 15cwt It is secured in its place by a connecting rod of gun metal which is built some 30ft. into the spire, and secured beneath by a cradle of the same kind of metal. The spire now .surmounted by its cross is considered by all who have seen it as very beautiful and a decided ornament to the city. On its erection the bells pealed forth from the tower as a signal to expectant citizens that the spire was now surmounted, and that the long labor of over half a century had been bi ought to a happy completion in the episcopate of the revered Bishop of the diocese, the Most Rev. Dr. O'Doherty. DUBLlN.— Ordinations The Right Rev. Dr. Higgins, Bishop of Rockhampton, ordained 15 young ecclesiastics to the priesthood in the Chapel of All Hallows' College recently. His Lordship afterwards presided at the annual distribution of prizes and delivered an interesting address. GALWAY.— Dedication of a Church The Most Rev. Dr. Healy dedicated St. Brendan's new church, Annadown, County Galway, on Sunday, July 12. His Grace preached the dedication sermon. KILDARE.— Demise of a Priest The venerable Canon Matthew Langan, V.F., Kilcullen, passed to his eternal reward about the middle of June. _i_,.J.Sib

WEXFORD — An Appointment

Past students of St. Peter's College, Wexford, will welcome the announcement that a former alumnus, Professor Arthur W. Conway, P. R.U.1., has been selected at the recent meeting of the Irish Bishops to an important lectureship in Maynooth College. It is not generally known that Thomas D'Arcy McGee was also a brilliant pupil of St. Peter's College, Wexford, from 1833 to 1836 —the lovely collegiate church of which was designed by Welby Pugin, and founded on June 18th, 1838, under the auspices of Dr. James Keating, Bishop of Ferns. St. Peter's still flourishes, and will soon be celebrating its centenary. WICKLOW.— A Memorial of '98 The monument raised to the memory of Father Michael Murphy, who fell in the fight at Arklow in June, 1789, was inaugurated on the last Sunday in June by a great National demonstration in the famous Wicklow town. Students of Irish history will remember that Father Murphy was killed at the battle of Arklow after a gallant fight in which for a time victory appeared to rest with the Irish forces. After his death his body fell into the hands of the brutal Yeomanry, who behaved with most disgraceful savagery. The monument, which is a fine piece of sculpture, resting on a granite base, beprs carved on its panels medallions of Wolfe Tone, Anthony Perry, and Esmonde Ryan, and is crowned with a marble statue of Father Murphy, carved in heroic size, with outstretched hand pointed towards Dublin, whither he vas on the march when death met him on the spot where the statue stands. The gathering was attended by a great number of the clergy in Wicklow, and by representative detachments from various National organisations in Dublin and Wicklow County. The principal speaker was Father Kavanagh, 0.5. F., himself a relative of the murdered priest. Mr. P. H. O'Rafferty, Hoboken, U.S.A., attended as representing the American promoters of the memorial. Mr. Dillon, Mr. Davitt, Mr. O'Brien, and a number of other Irish members wrote expressing great regret at being unable to attend. The proceedings passed off with the utmost enthusiasm. GENERAL Distinguished Visitors Three Australian Prelates— the Right Rev. Dr. Higg>ns, Bishop of Rockhampton , the Right Rev. Dr. Gallagher, Bishop of Goulburn ; and the Right Rev. Dr. Heville, O S A., Bishop of Sandhurst— were in Ireland about the beginning of July. Irish Missionaries After the annual ordinations had taken place at All Hallows Foreign Missionary College, Drumcondra, the Right Rev Dr. Higgins addressed the young priests and students. In the course of his reanarks he said that there were few things mote worthy of recognition than the services which the children of Ireland had rendered to God, both in America, in his own Australia, and in other portions of the English-speaking world. Her sons were to be found in various foieign climes, laboring with zeal and self-sacrifice — her daughters were also to be found working for religion. When Ira\elhng recently through 1 lie East he \lslted the cornents at Ilong Kong, Honolulu, Yokohama, and other places, and in e\ery one of them he found daughters ot Erin working away to attain the great end of their holy profession. Workhouse Population On January 3rd of this year the inmates of the Irish workhouses numbered 43,600. We (' Freeman's Journal ') ha\e not to complain that there is a numerous and distinct able-bodied pauper class, as in England and Scotland. So fai back as 1853 the Commissioner reported that the workhouses were occupied by the t)ld, the feeble, the sick, the infirm, or the very young, and that there weie practically no able-bodied inmates in the workhouses. The recent figures confirm* this Of the 43,000, 16,000 were sick, 13,617 aged and infirm, 819 mothers with infants, 5821 children and infants under 15, 2352 lunatics, idiots, and epileptics. Maynooth Union

This year's meeting of the members of the Maynooth Ijnion was larger than any of its predecessors The annual report, which was lead by Dr. Mannix, was most satisfactory The membership, it stated, had substantially increased, and the financial condition of the Union was materially better than it was 12 months ago. Father Ilarty was appointed lion, secretaiy instead of Dr. Mannix, and Father Mornsroc was appointed treasurer. Monsignor Murphy's term of office as acting president having expired, his place was filled by the election of Dr. Mannix. Very Rev. Dean Mulcahy, chairman of the English branch of the Union, was co-opted to fill the place on the Council of the late Rev. Dr. O'Leary, Oscott Topics of Catholic and National importance were thoughtfully and learnedly dealt with in the essays read at the general and sectional meetings. In the discussion that en-

sued, the freedom with which expression was given to widely different views showed that the Union is no mere mutual admiration society. Catholic Truth Society

There must be considerable disappointment caused (says the ' Freeman's Journal ') by the printed answer given by Mr. Bonor Law, Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, to the question put by Mr. James O'Connor, M.P., relative to tobacco-growing experiments in Ireland. In 1901 the Department of Agriculture experimented at tobacco growing in two selected centres, the crop produced being purchased by a Liverpool firm of tobacco manufacturers. Last year the Department experimented only in a four acre field at the Munster Institute, Cork, the crop having been sent to the French Government manufactory at Paris, and the result has not been communicated as yet. This year no tobacco is being grown in Ireland, so far as the Department knows. This would seem to indicate that the 1901 experiment was a dead failure, an explanation quite untenable by those who had the opportunity of testing the manufactured tobacco, which, if decidedly strong, was of good flavor and seemed to give great promise of future development. We cannot expect much from last year's half-hearted experiment. Some explanation is certainly due for the manner in which the Department has dropped these expenments, for in the past, long before the time of Agricultural Departments and modern methods, some excellent tobacco was grown in Ireland. A Strong Man

At the quarterly meeting of the Catholic Truth Society of Ireland, under the presidency of the Archbishop of Tuam, and with a very large and representative attendance of members, a very interesting and most promising report was read. During the thiee months no less than 158,933 penny pamphlets weie sent out from the offices of the Society. This, it appears, -with necessary deductions, gives an average of about 11,000 per week to the branches of the Society in Ireland. 'As these latter,' says the Report, ' number about 1000, it follows that ele\en books on an average aie purchased by each branch per week.' This is certainly a very high average. Within the quarter no less than 21 new branches were established, making a total of 1022. This seems to be a \ery large number, but it does not, all the same, satisfy the committee of the Society, who point out that as there are 1100 parishes in Ireland, and as many of them have more than one church, whilst there are also many churches ser\ed by the regular clergy, the branches of the Association might easily be much moie numeious After all, howe\cr, those o\er a thousand blanches out of ele\en hundred panshes " is a gieat success The list of the Society's books is now pretty long, and there are few of them that have not proved -invaluable to Irish Catholics, both from the Catholic and the Irish point of uew. The Catholic Truth Society of Ireland has pro\ed to be a most valuable help to the people from the religious and the racial point alike.