The Gaelic Revival: A Suggestion

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 39, 28 September 1905, Page 19

The Gaelic Revival : A Suggestion

To the Editor.

Rev, Sir,— l morticed with great pleasure that a Kaikwira correspondent has been drawing your readers' attention to the duty of helping on the movement for the revival of the Gaelic. If J am not dpeeived,. the writer's patronymic indicates that .he is a practical business man. As saich, he will naturally ask himself : ' How is this business to be effected ? How are we to get the Catholic High Schools and our other schools to ta<ke up the teaching of Gaelic] ? ' They won't do it for mere sentiment— whilst they would, no dotobt, be willing enough to profit by the sentiment of others.

lam gl-ad to know the H.A.C.B.S. in New Zealand, is credited with strong sentiment in this matter, as in everything Irish. They voiced their sentiments at their Timaru gathering. They recommended the ecclesiastical authorities to have Irish taught in the Catholic schools. Now, what hiave they done since the Timaru gathering in the way of strengthening in this regard the hands of the ecclesiastical authorities ? Personally, I am not 'aware of anything they have done since. I am root blaming them. I only think it is a pity that something practical was not suggested and adopted". Knowing something of the H.A.C.8.5., and taking some interest in its welfare, I make 'bold to suggest that a Hibernian Scholarship be founded to carry out the Timaru recomnnendation. One shilling annually from each member im New Zealand will suffice to start the affair. Let at be open alike to boys and girls. The successful competitor should have the option of taking out the Scholarship at the nearest Catholic High School or Convent A list of schools in which there is someone competent and willing to instruct in Irish could easily be made out. Your last issue contains a timely advertisement from L. Gillc, of Sydney, that he stocks all the necessary books for beginners in Gaelic. This, in. my judgment, is'an opportunity for the Hibernians to do iifaemsehes as a body, and the cause they love, an immense service. If they 'h>a\e any better scheme for carrying out ttoetir lia<u enable purpose of helping the Gaelic reviValj I am sure your readers will gladly hear of it. • With fraternal greetings to Benjamin B.", I am, -etc., IRENAEUS IRONSIDES. Milton.